Why?
Because I am god. Because I can. Because I love you, Hiro.
My head feels better, considering. I am at least well enough to meet with you, my lamb, my sneering, so-called indifferent lamb. Even now, you sit with your large brown eyes closed, your forehead bowed to the tatami mats of my receiving room's floor.
"Hello, Hiro." You are a stickler on customs and etiquette, to be sure. Only when I address you do you sit up, straight-backed with your strong youth. I wonder what is happening, behind your forehead.
Do you think at all in there? I doubt it. You're still not able to understand the necessity of your and Kisa's separation. If I don't do this now, you might truly fall in love with her, even though she's a good girl and wouldn't do the same back.
You're only allowed to love me, don't you see?
"Akito-sama, why was I called in today?" I can hear the impertinence in your voice, just dying to get out. You're hard-put to hide it, aren't you? You would go against your very nature to avoid offending me?
"I want you to know that what happened to Kisa will never happen again, so long as you follow my orders." Are you going to cry? Out of relief, or dismay, I wonder?
"What would I have to do, Akito-sama?" No, I suppose a big boy like you wouldn't weep in front of anyone, least of all me.
"Stay away from her, Hiro. Stay away from my darling tiger. She knows that I'm the only one worthy of your love, and so do you." You hold my stare for a long while, longer than even Shigure might. Then, you stand up, to walk to the window, darkened now with twilight.
There is silence for a long while. I find my mind straying to Hatori, and I wonder if his dinner is going well. Fie on that Mayuko woman.
I am content to stay like this with you, waiting until those slow cogs in your brain turn full circle. Past your silhouette, I watch the sky turn to a deep purple, and stars begin to sparkle. A summer breeze brushes past my cheek, and I can see that a sakura blossom falls into your outstretched hand.
"Akito-sama." My eyes rivet on you, my sneering lamb. What do you ask of me? You walk over to me, and kneel only a few feet away, holding out the flower.
"Kisa-chan is dear to me. I want to protect her as much as this flower. She's so fragile, anything might make her stop talking again, like before. Please don't make me try to forget her. It didn't work. I…can't stop loving her."
"Hiro…" I nearly purr, even though I know that I can't permityou such a thing. I notice thatyou areshivering, with your school uniform shorts on and no coat. I carefully don't mention the tears that have started to fall ontoyour knees, though I'm sure that the water isn't helping. I hold open my outer robes, and beckon to you. "Come here."
Looking confused, you comply, hesitating at first until I pull you the last four inches. Isn't that warmer? I always have wanted to try embracing you, Hiro.
Afterward, when you have stopped sobbing silently and I let go my arms from hugging you, you still seem bewildered. You don't think at all, do you?
"Why?" That is the only word you speak, before you leave.
"Because I am god. Because I can. Because I love you, Hiro."
And I do. Still, I do.