Chapter 5: Truth Behold
"Isamu I don't wanna go..." said a redheaded boy, his hand trapped within the elders hand. Isamu smiled down at Natsu warmly.
"It's fine... it's an all boys school, you shouldn't be scared." explained Isamu, pushing Natsu forward towards the school a bit. Natsu turned around to face him. "You can walk home by yourself, I have other things to attend to when you get out of school. You're a big boy, you can find your way home." Natsu nodded his head and walked toward the school.
Natsu was scared... he had never been out of the gates before. The last time he was outside the house hold was a terrible experience. He had went to preschool and all was going well until she showed up. She just had to go to the same preschool and run into him. Ever since then, he couldn't stand her. The stupid rat, he hated her. Natsu gripped ed the straps of his book bag as he walked in. Thinking about that just made him feel sick.
Natsu dodged the older children as he made he way to his classroom. He felt small as he entered the large room. He took a seat and sat their quietly. A person sat next to him and smiled.
"Hi! I'm Sano, how are you?" asked the cheeky child, smiling at Natsu. Natsu blinked a couple of times.
"I'm... Natsu..." he said softly, his voice cracking a bit. Sano smiled a happy grin.
"I like your hair! Its really orange. I wish I had your hair, that would be awesome!" A smile began to form on Natsu's face as Sano babbled on. He felt that kindergarten wouldn't be that bad... and that it would be a whole lot better than preschool.
A servant of the Sohma house dusted the picture frame near the door to the house. Since it was the beginning of school, he could do his cleaning and work in peace instead of having annoying little kids run around his feet. He smiled at the though, but shook his head as he went back to cleaning. A couple approached him, and started to make their way out the door. The servant spun around to notice Sakura and Mamoru exiting out the door.
"When should we expect you back Mrs. Sakura?" he asked politely. Sakura looked at him but walked out of the house quietly, Mamoru doing the same. The servant stood there, confused. Why would the young masters not mention when they were to be back?
"Natsu Sohma, you're parents are
waiting for you down in the office. Gather your stuff, you're going
home," spoke the teacher before the beginning of the lesson after
lunch. Natsu gathered his stuff, thinking that Isamu was coming to
take him home early. He was disappointed that he had to be called
out, he was having fun with Sano and the other children in his class.
For once he felt welcomed, he felt like he was loved by other people
than Isamu. Natsu made his way down the hall to the office and
stopped in his tracks. There stood Sakura and Mamoru. Natsu blinked,
confused. Why where they here?
"What do you want?" Natsu
asked, a little scared to go near them. He knew they were his
parents, but they never faced him... they never talked to him or
cared for him. They were there now though, in front of him..
"We're going for a drive sweetie," said Sakura, her voice trembling. Mamoru grabbed Natsu's hand and dragged him out of the school. Natsu wiggled and struggled on the way to the car.
"Lemmie go! Please," cried Natsu, struggling against the grip of his father. Outside, Mamoru tied a blind fold around Natsu's eyes so he couldn't see anything and sat him in the backseat of the car. Mamoru got into the driver side of the car and Sakura the passenger side.
"Where are we going?" Natsu squeaked, his stuff sliding into the floorboards."Somewhere." replied Mamoru as he pulled out from the school and drove away.
The drive was long and the city slowly turned into the woods. The woods were close to the Sohma house, but it would be hard to find your way out unless you saw the way you came in. Mamoru slowly pulled off the road and began to drive deeper into the forest. Natsu bounced in his seat, the whole time his mouth shut. He was scared... he didn't know what was going on or what was happening. He wanted to go back to school... to be with his friends instead of in the car with his mother and father... The car slowly came to a stop. The door opened and Natsu felt himself being lifted out of the car. Mamoru walked Natsu over to a fallen log and knelt down next to him. He slipped the blind fold off and looked at his son. Natsu blinked and looked around. He was confused... why was he in a forest? And in the middle of nowhere too..
"Why am I here?" he asked, looking back at his father.
"Natsu... it's better this way," Mamoru said softly. A confused look fell upon the poor child's face.
"What do you mean? I don't understand..."
"Natsu... its better for your mother and I... if we just left you here. I'm sorry," Mamoru said softly and he got to his feet and got in the running car. Natsu stood there confused, his tiny brain trying to comprehend what was just said. Leave him there? He didn't understand. A pair of soft eyes was now looking into his. It was his mothers...
"Mommy..." whispered Natsu, his arms reaching out for her. He was scared... he wanted to be held and his child instincts took over. Sakura's eyes were filled with tears and soon hatred.
"Stupid child... This is where you belong... Cursed and alone..." she whispered, grabbing Natsu's arm and pulling off the juzu beads. She got up quickly and ran into the car. "Go!" she shouted and the car was soon out of sight.
Natsu stood there, his eyes wide. Then finally his body began to transform. His heart raced as he felt his body began to change shape. He could feel his skin begin to melt, a burning sensation going through out his body. He could smell his flesh melting and he let out a scream. The pain... the pain was unbearable. His spine began to grow, vertebrae by vertebrae it grew. His legs grew longer, his arms growing and his shirt ripping. Natsu could feel an evil presents inside of him. He flung his arms to the side and screamed loudly, it echoing throughout the forest. Natsu looked at his hands and was terrified by the shape and the smell of them. He ran to a near by lake and looked at his reflection. There staring back at him was a monster... a horrible monster. There in front of him... was his true self... a monster.
The room was tense as Isamu looked down at his hand. Juzu beads....
"We must find him... and fast..." said Isamu, showing the group the bracelet that sealed the demon inside the cat. Small gasps were heard around the room as they looked upon the bracelet. Never in their minds would they think that someone would unleash the monster inside the cat... never.
"Where is he though?" asked Seiko, his adrenalin running. A soft howl was heard and Masa's head perked up. His eyes were distant as he focused on the wall in front of him.
"He's in the woods... a couple miles away," Masa stated.
"How do you know Masa?" asked Kisho, his ears not as sensitive as the dogs.
"Because my snake friend, I can hear the howl of the wolves," Masa said softly, his eyes intense. Isamu was tired of standing around and shoved the beads into his pocket, his jacket getting tugged on as he walked toward the door.
"Lets go," he said, his jacket swaying as he exited the house. One by one they exited the house and soon it was silent, with only a pair of innocent eyes peering out from under a table.
Miki watched from under the table as the group left. She was confused. Why did they leave quickly? She didn't understand. The little girl slowly crawled out, sitting quietly by herself. A small shiver went down her spine... she was alone... Miki was scared of being alone... she always had... especially since she was the rat...
"Why are you here all alone by yourself... Miki?" came a quiet voice from behind her. Miki turned around the notice a nine year old boy leaning a little weakly against the door frame, his deep colored eyes staring into her purple eyes.
"Haruko..." she said softly. Haruko slowly moved from the wall but stumbled and fell towards the ground. Miki darted up and caught the falling God and slowly sunk to the ground. "You should be resting..." Miki said softly, looking worriedly at the young boy in her arms. Haruko smiled a gentle smile.
"I'll be fine," he said. He saw a couple bruises upon her face and pulled back from her. "Miki... what happened to you? Did you get hurt by that cat?" Miki shook her head.
"It's nothing... just a couple bruises... I got into a fight at school..." she explained softly. She felt a hand upon her cheek and felt a thumb stroke her cheek gently.
"You shouldn't let them pick on you, they don't understand how special you are... no one does... but me," said Haruko, his thumb stroking her cheek gently. Miki grew quiet. Special... her?
Thunder crackled softly and rain began to come down. Heavy breathing was heard near a lake. There stood a monster... Natsu looked at his reflection as the rain came down. How could he go on living like this? His mother abandoned him... his own mother! His father did nothing to help him... he was lost... alone... unloved... A blood curdling cry escaped the beast's mouth. Natsu tore at his chest with his claws, his chest heaving up and down. It would be better if he would just die... no one loved him... everyone hated him...
You... you... I hate you you cat!
Natsu growled... that stupid rat! Natsu fell to the ground, his hands breaking away from his chest. He should just die... Everyone would be a lot better without him... If he were dead they all would be happy... They all would...
I told you... watch yourself.... I told you!
Those words stung him as he remembered how disappointed Isamu had sounded that day at preschool... Natsu couldn't do anything right either... Tears strolled down the cheek of the heartbroken beast... He couldn't live on this earth anymore... he couldn't stand to be alive... he brought to much pain... and to many people brought pain to him... Natsu looked down at his bloody claws and felt the warm blood trickle down his chest. It was little, but he knew if he were to push deeper he could finish himself off.
"Goodbye..." he said softly, and slowly put the claws to his chest and began to push.
"Natsu, don't!" cried a voice from behind him. That voice... It's for the best... Natsu slowly turned towards the soaked man staring at him.
Isamu was frightened by the spirit of the cat. He was... hideous.. and the smell was so strong... The eyes were angry, but deep down, Isamu could see that Natsu's soul was crying to be helped... to be loved.
"Natsu... please... come home with me..." he said softly, walking slowly toward the monster. Soft calls of Natsu's name echoed through the trees while the others looked for the monster. Natsu walked backwards, his foot barely hitting the water of the lake.
"Stay away... I deserve to die..." said Natsu, his claws against his chest.
"You don't... No one deserves to die... we are all put on this earth for a reason..." coaxed Isamu, walking towards the scared soul. Natsu snorted, his eyes glaring down at Isamu.
"A reason... My reason is to be shunned by everyone... Even my own parents!" he cried, falling to his knees. No one loved him... no one cared... Natsu let out another scream into the air as the rain bared down upon the pair.
"You are not shunned... I'm here for you... We all are here for you... If we didn't care about you we wouldn't be here looking for you... Natsu..." said Isamu, standing inches away from Natsu. Natsu looked down on Isamu as items flashed inside his head...
"I can't do this!" cried a little Natsu as he threw his shoe to the side. Isamu smiled at him and picked up the shoe. He knelt down in front of the little guy and put the shoe on him. He grabbed Natsu's hands and lead them through the shoe tying process. Natsu sniffed as he saw his shoe tied. Isamu handed him the other shoe.
"Go ahead..." Natsu fumbled with the laces and finally a small bow was on his shoes. His face lit up with a smile and he began to laugh.
"Isamu! Isamu! I did it!" he cried, hugging onto the older one, laughing against his chest. Isamu patted his head.
"Good job Natsu... good job..."
Natsu cried as he ran towards the road after a ball but someone grabbed him before he set foot on the road. Natsu swung his arms around but heard a loud vroom sound and a popping noise. Natsu looked at the squished ball and saw the dust fly up from the car speeding by.
"Be careful Natsu, you don't wanna get yourself killed," said Seiko, putting the young boy down. Natsu looked up at Seiko and gave him a smile.
"Tank you..."
Natsu began to cry, his arms slowly slipping from his chest. Isamu grabbed his arm and shoved the juzu beads upon his wrist. Natsu's eyes became wide as he felt his body begin to shrink and he cried out loudly. The pain... it wasn't as bad as the first, but it still hurt. He stood there naked in his human form, his chest bloody from the wounds. He collapsed into Isamu's chest. He felt strong arms wrap around him. The heart beat... Natsu listened to Isamu's heartbeat and slowly drifted off into a slumber.
Isamu looked down at the little boy in his arms and slowly picked him up. The small boy slept peacefully in his arms. Isamu smiled.
"Guys! I found him!" cried Isamu. Minutes later, the group formed around Isamu and looked down upon the cat. There slept Natsu, peacefully and no one dared to wake him...
The group entered the Sohma house and noticed Miki sleeping near the door, curled up in a small ball. It was obvious that she had been waiting for them to return home and they all smiled. Masa picked up the sleeping rat and they all broke up, heading to their respective rooms.
The room was dark, the only light to reach the room was the lightning that shown through the windows of the room. Two people sat close to each other, their heads casted down.
"Are you sure about your decision?" asked Haruko, standing in front of the couple. The one spoke up softly.
"I have to... I can't go through life without holding my child... knowing that he is a monster... I wish he was never born... I wish I never had him... I should have aborted him when I had the chance..." whispered Sakura, her hands shaking.
"And I wouldn't be able to bare the thought of her not knowing about our child and I would..." finished Mamoru.
"Very well..." said Haruko and he exited the room. Haruko nods toward Ryu who steps up and enters the darken room.
Authors Notes: I hope you are enjoying this story! I'm in love with this story... I'm very proud of it myself :) Thanks for all your kind reviews, I love you all for reviewing and reading this ficcie! .
