Yo. Sorry it's been so long. I really don't have a good excuse... but I will try to do better!
Wow... Lots of pretty reviews! I'm happy. Let's see...
cocoke5: You had to wait awhile for this chapter. Gomen nasai.
Cai-nikz: This may be the chapter you have been waiting for.
Crimson-Juno: Dude, this fic is so depressing, I'm gonna have to write a happy Furuba fic soon. I'll try to give it a happy ending!
sakuraloveskyosohma: Yeah, but this is set when he's in his thirties... and now I'm confused too. .
Lorelyne: Dude, I love Akito. I didn't want to kill him off, but this fic required it. One of these days, I'm going to write an Akito centered fic! Then we can both smile, ne?
Angel of Laments: Wow... I'm so happy you like this so much! But I do feel bad, because I haven't updated in so long... I'll try to do better!
sango92: I'm so happy you liked it! I'll try to update better!
Another HUGE thankyou to all of you who reviewed! But please don't stop! I love reviews!
This chapter should help some things make more sense. This chapter is very much needed, and so... I hope you like it!
Stabbing Immortal Regrets
Chapter Nine
The Hungry God
(Seventeen Years Ago)
That smell... the smell of sakura blossoms falling to the earth... which created them. The plain, dirty earth, created such beauty. It let them grow, it let them take in the sun, let them drink of it. But as the earth watched, it grew so jealous. It watched alone as its creation selfishly became happy. The earth grew to hate the tiny lives, and when they fell, it didn't show them any mercy.
Akito Sohma watched this with steel eyes. He had no need to care for a reflection of his heart. In his hard, unchanging mind, he would always be right.
However, there was one thing that drove the god crazy... and her name was Tohru Honda. Year after year, she only made things worse. They loved her more and more. She gave them more and more hope, as she got closer and closer to breaking the curse.
The truth was that Akito did not want the damn curse lifted. It gave him power over these people, and the closer that girl got to breaking the curse, the closer she got to taking that power away. He could not allow it. Without power, he was just like the rest of those pathetic people outside of his world. Perhaps even moreso. The mere thought made him gag. People were a disgusting thing. And to be just like them was sickening. He would rather die young then to be normal. He would delight in his family suffering through the eons. It was what they deserved for forgetting their master.
But how could he stop her? He wanted to kill her. He would... if not for all theywwould... if not for all they who loved her. No, he had to be more elusive, but so much more cruel. Not only to her, but all of them. But how...ould... if not for all they who loved her. No, he had to be more elusive, but so much more cruel. Not only to her, but all of them. But how... who loved her. No, he had to be more elusive, but so much more cruel. Not only to her, but all of them. But how...
Damn. Such complicated matters made the god's head hurt. He needed to... kill this wretched pain, this anxiety. Oh, how he lusted for something to kill. But she, that horrible wench, was making all of his little toys too strong. She ruined everything. Her light erased his dark power. If only he could make her light go away...
Akito sat up abrubtly. Make... her light... why had he not thought of this before! It was brilliance. All one needed to disable the sun's power was to cut off the light. And he could do it. He could torment and choke that light out of her. He could shut off the light and bring his deciples back to the endless dark they belonged in... an endless dark where they would be with him. Forever. He would be their all. He would be their reason for survival. Oh, it was genius! All he had to do was kill the light of the sun.
But... how could he do that? That ugly Honda girl was surrounded by a bunch of worthless idiots who loved her and would give up everything to protect her. How could he possibly get away with breaking her?
But then, if she was willing...
Yes! Yes, of course! That foolish woman had such a kind heart, it would be so simple to lure her in, make her think he was just lonely. So simple to snap that bitch in half. He smiled at his plan and walked towards the phone.
(Shigure Sohma's Estate)
"That is it, you damn rat, I am sick of you!"
Life at Shigure's was ordinary. Yuki and Kyo trying to kill each other, Tohru making dinner. The dog smiled at the familiar environment. He liked this. It was... comfortable. He leaned back in his chair, brewing up delectable schemes to torture his editor. Ah, life was good.
For about ten more seconds.
"Rrriiiinnnnnggggg!"
Shigure looked up. Who would be calling at this time of night? He walked over to the phone.
"Hello, Sohma's!" the dog sang into the phone.
There was a moment of silence, and then...
"Hello, Shigure."
The dog froze. "Akito."
"Heh, what's wrong? Unhappy to hear from me?"
Shigure smirked. "Not at all."
"Well then, sorry to disappoint you. I need to speak to Miss Honda immediately. If that's alright..."
"Oh, absolutely. One moment."
Shigure put the phone down and took a deep breath. "Tohru! You have a phone call!"
Tohru looked up. "Oh! Be right there!"
Tohru ran over and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
Yuki and Kyo did not cease their conflict. Shigure walked outside. He looked at his yard, the forest surrounding it. So many good, happy times came to mind. He gave a sad smile at how much had happened. Now, he was going to just let it change. He was truly the worst of the worst. He just let things happen around him. ALl the time. It was pathetic, and he knew it. But that was how he was. And he really had no desire to change at all. That was why he was Akito's bitch. He let the master do what he would without protest whatsoever.
He came back inside. He looked over at Tohru. "What did he say?"
TOhru smiled. "I'm supposed to go see him tomorrow."
Shigure nodded. "I see. I think Akito san is having a rough time, by the way. I would suggest you keep this visit from Yuki and Kyo."
Tohru looked slightly surprised. Then she settled and nodded. "Alright. I guess I can see the logic in that."
Shigure nodded. "Well then, what's for dinner?"
"I thought I would make beef stew tonight, actually."
"Beef stew?" Yuki said coming in, a bloody Kyo right behind him.
"Kyo!" Tohru gasped. "Are you alright? You're bleeding!"
"I'm fine," Kyo snapped. He sat down.
Tohru sighed. "Ok. How was everyone's day?"
(Next Morning)
Tohru woke before anyone. That is, except for Shigure.
"You off?" the dog asked.
Tohru nodded. "He told me to come early."
Shigure nodded. "Sit down for a moment."
Tohru tilted her head, but did so.
Shigure lit up a cigarette. "Since you've lived here, what all have you come to know about Akito?"
Tohru thought about it for a minute. "He's in a lot of pain."
Shigure sighed, somewhat disappointed. "What else?"
"He's very angry inside. I want to help him, though. I really think that he's just lonely. If I can help him... there just has to be a way. Maybe it's the way to break the curse. Then, all this sorrow I've seen, it would end."
Shigure thought for a moment. "Do you really think you're strong enough to overcome the god's schemery?"
Tohru nodded. "I think I can. It could be my only chance, Shigure. I have to try."
Shigure closed his eyes. "I will not stop you, however, I would never be able to forgive myself if I did not warn you how powerful he can be." He took a deep breath. "Tohru, Akito loathes you. He will try to bring you down in the worst way possible. The only way to stop him is to bring him down first." He looked at Tohru.
Tohru shook her head. "I am not going so I can break him. I really think I can make it. I really think I can help him. That's what I want to do."
Shigure looked away. "Then do what you will. But take my word, you are in for disaster."
Tohru closed her eyes. "Thankyou for everything, Shigure. I will not forget it." Then she bowed, and left.
(Present)
Shigure inhaled his death stick, his eyes unbearebly sad.
"If only... I had stopped her..."
(End)