Chapter 17: Akito and Tohru

Princess Sango

When the two zodiacs arrived home, Sachiko looked at Yuki for a good long minute. He shifted under her gaze, wandering what his daughter could be thinking. Sure, he lived near her, and tried getting as close to her as he could, but he wasn't with her all the time. "Uncle Yuki, I don't hate you either." Yuki didn't know how to react to his daughter's words, and only nodded dumbly.

Sachiko came up and hugged him tightly, "Uncle Yuki, it's impossible for me to imagine the other cat hating you. Mom won't talk about him, and others won't either. Will you tell me please?"

Yuki's face tensed and then softened, and he kneeled down next to her, "We don't talk about him, Kyo, because it upsets Tohru, Shihan, and sometimes even Kagura and me. We can talk about him though, if you really need to know, we can talk about this."

Sachiko smiled, "I would like that Uncle Yuki." She hugged him once more, causing him to topple over. Yuki laughed at this, they looked like two kids, and others might have looked away in disgust.

That's how Kagura found them though, "So you two going to stay there all night or are you going to come inside?" The two only laughed and stood up, and walked inside the door. Sachiko went and ran into the room where Ai was. Kagura hugged her husband, "Getting close to your daughter?"

Yuki smiled softly, "Just a little bit, maybe some good will come out of this."

Kagura nodded, "Something has changed, and I guess we're just going with it this time?"

Yuki kissed her forehead, "It'll be okay." Walking away, he went to Ai's room where Sachiko and Ai were playing dolls. "Hey Ai-chan, we're going out for dinner." Ai looked up at Yuki, flashing a brilliant smile, and Sachiko was right behind her. "We're all going, so get ready to go!"

Both girls nodded and scurried to put away the toys that scattered the floor. Kagura came up behind him, "So what's for dinner?"

Yuki gently smiled, "It's your choice Kagura."

Kagura nodded and decided to go for some Italian food. The girls were just putting on their shoes when a knock came to the door. Kagura walked away to go answer it, "Hello?"

"Hey Kagura!" came Shigure's voice, "Is Yuki around?"

Kagura nodded dumbly because it was unusual for Shigure to come inside the estate unless on business. "What brings you here Shigure?"

Shigure was about to tease her, but then in came Yuki, and the two girls. Ai and Sachiko hugged him, before walking backwards to see him. "Um, well can I talk to Yuki please?" Yuki nodded and told the girls to go start the car, but Shigure shook his head, "Sachiko needs to stay here too please." Sachiko stopped in her tracks and looked at Shigure warily.

Yuki sighed and asked, "Does she have to stay?"

Shigure nodded, "It would be best if you and her stayed."

Sachiko stopped and stood still as Ai and Kagura ushered themselves out the door. Sachiko quietly sat down on the chair closest to her. Shigure gave her a reassuring smile, but none was returned to him. Yuki didn't smile either, "So what do you want with us? Is this day ever going to end?"

Shigure sighed, "Yuki, Yuki…"

Yuki bit the inside of his cheek, "Don't play games with me Shigure!"

Shigure held his hand up, "Alright, alright, fair enough. I got a call from Hatori and decided to see how Sachiko was doing. Yet, oddly enough, no one was home when I called and then found out you went to Kazuma's house." Shigure took a deep breath, knowing what he was about to say could make things worse, "It's about time that she knows the truth Yuki, how deep your family ties with hers."

Yuki bit his lip then, "No Shigure, Tohru doesn't want her to know! We are going to wait!" He looked over ay Sachiko, and then back at Shigure, "Does she even know that you're doing this?"

"Tohru and Ayame, yes they just talked to me, and they said it was time," Shigure answered in a tired out voice.

Sachiko still stared, and wondered what the fuss was all about. "Tell me what?"

Shigure turned to Sachiko, "You'll find out tomorrow, just have a good time tonight alright? Yuki, Tohru wants you to stay home tomorrow, and bring Sachiko to Hatori's around noon." Before anyone could object, Shigure left.

Sachiko shivered, feeling something bad coming together. Walking up to Yuki she grabbed his waist, "Uncle Yuki, what did he mean, what did you want to tell me when I was older?"

Yuki was still gazing off into the distance, but then turned and smiled down at her, "Nothing, you'll find out tomorrow, just like Shigure told you. Now let's go get some food!" With that he picked her up and placed her on his shoulders. She giggled and held onto him for dear life. When they got into the car, Kagura gave Yuki a questioning gaze, but he shook his head and mouthed 'later.' She nodded, and turned on the radio.

Later that night…

The kids were all put in bed, and that's when they started talking. "They want to tell her now."

Kagura's eyes widened, "That's a very sore subject with our two families isn't it?" She took Yuki's hands in her hands. "It was so hard for me to tell Tohru what was happening between us, and she was upset yet happy. She would've found out either today or sooner or later."

Yuki put his head at the crook of her neck, "I prefer later, do you think I could talk to Tohru about this?"

Kagura sighed, "You should, so go Yuki, go talk to her." Yuki nodded, and stood up and left the room. Kagura watched him leave, and tears fell down her cheeks. She knew what she was in for when she married Yuki, but she slowly fell in love with him and couldn't help it. Kyo was taken from her so long ago, and the opposite of Kyo was Yuki. She wanted to turn to him, but Tohru had him, and that got in the way.

Sure, Kagura started dating after awhile, but all she could think of was Yuki and Kyo. Then she heard of Tohru's problem, and she wished to look after the new cat, for she had loved the old one. Then, she found out that Yuki wasn't with Tohru anymore, and soon they ended up together. Telling Tohru, was one hard thing, but Tohru only smiled and told her that it was okay. Yet to Kagura, she felt guilty later on, but she knew there was consequences to her relationship, there always was for a zodiac member.

With Tohru, Ayame, and Yuki…

"Why now?" Yuki asked as he rushed in, "Why now?"

Tohru looked away, "I'm sorry Yuki, but now would be the best time."

"Why?" which was the only word Yuki used for now.

Ayame looked at his beloved brother, "Yuki, with everything that's happened, I thought it'd be best if we told Sachiko now, instead of later. She will have time to grow into a hopefully successful life, then."

Yuki sat down next to Tohru and hugged her, and when he didn't transform Tohru shook her head sadly, "Yuki, now the tattoos were activated, any zodiac member can hug…" she winced and coughed up blood.

Ayame gently rubbed her back, and held her hair away, "Yuki, take the pot and put it under her mouth!" Yuki did so, but was in a daze as Hatori came inside.

"Not again!" He gently pulled up the back of her shirt and found the dragon tattoo and instantly pushed it softly. A light appeared and he placed a calm pill over it, watching it dissolve into her back.

Tohru suddenly calmed down, "Thank-you Hatori-san, thank you for helping me."

"It's the same thing Akito had, you're as much our god then Akito is," Hatori whispered, and pulled down her shirt back down.

"I think Sachiko should know now, because something might happen to me. I never know anymore about my future Yuki."

"What do you mean?" Yuki demanded.

"I might die the same time Akito dies, and that is an uncertain future Yuki," Tohru answered in a hoarse whisper. With that said, everyone went dead silent.

TBC…