Chapter 18: Life and Death

Princess Sango

Tohru crossed her arms over her chest, "Yuki, I know this is sudden, but now since everything isn't certain, she needs to know."

Yuki took in Tohru's pale skin, her red eyes, and the bags that went under them. She looked weak, and tired. Yuki wished he could hold her, like she was his again. If it wasn't for his daughter, none of this would've happened. That wouldn't be right though, the blame should be blamed on the curse, not the person. "Why are you like this Tohru and what's with the tattoos?"

Tohru shook her head, but Ayame answered it for her, "We didn't know she had these tattoos until yesterday. Tohru never mentioned them, but right away Hatori knew what to do. He explained to me that the curse is known to have a carrier for human souls as well, but it was unusual, Tohru caught some of our animal souls as well."

"When did you first get them Tohru?" Yuki asked her, hoping for an answer.

Tohru sighed, "I got them as soon as Sachiko was born, and I got Akito's two days ago. He was the one who ordered me to do it in the first place. I didn't want to go against him, the first tattoo I was given was yours Yuki. Once you were connected to me, I could feel your feelings. I then knew how you felt, at all times. I try not to tune in most of the time."

"Most of the time?" Yuki asked her.

"You're feelings come in words and waves of emotions. Like Kagura, she is kind of depressed because she's thinking of us, and how it upsets her every time you go to me and leave her behind. She's anxious to have the baby, and is wondering what we all are doing right now. Akito is sick in bed, wondering when he's going to die. Ayame is thinking how I could look so beautiful as I explain all this," Tohru explained and blushed, "Shigure's watching porn in his room. Momiji is sleeping, thinking about his mother."

Yuki, Hatori and Ayame stared at the Onigiri as she stated facts none of them would know unless told to by the other. Yuki smiled softly, "I'll bring Sachiko in tomorrow, but I better get going now, it's getting late."

With that he got up to go, but Tohru's parting words stopped him for a second, "Yuki, you're scared to see what will come of this. I'm scared too." Yuki didn't argue but walked out with Hatori, and went on his way.

Ayame and Tohru…

Tohru watched as Yuki left her room. Kagura was so upset about the relationship they once had. Ayame hugged her close, "Which zodiac are you looking into love?"

Tohru looked at Ayame and buried her head in his chest, "Kagura's…" Tohru let a sob creep out of her mouth, and sucked in a deep breath, "She loves me and hates me, and don't try t-to reassure me. I-I can read her thoughts too."

Ayame held her close, and laid down on the bed, "It is okay love, because you even said she loves you too. There's always hope then." Tohru nodded and placed her hands on Ayame's chest, to reassure herself that someone could hold her head into the light at the darkest times.

With Yuki and Kagura…

Yuki sat down at the edge of the bed but was focused on Kagura. Her eyes were red, and her swollen while her pregnant stomach jutted outwards from her, but she looked warm and comfortable. Kagura was drowsy now, and had her eyes half open. "So how'd it go?"

Yuki crawled next to her and cradled Kagura to him, as close as he could. "No use, Sachiko's going to find out tomorrow, because Tohru's connected to each of the zodiacs, even Akito."

Kagura looked up at him with a fear traced in with her brown eyes, "What do you mean?" She grabbed Yuki's shirt into fists, and then waited for his answer.

"She might die at anytime Kagura, and Tohru doesn't wish for Sachiko to know that, but she does want the truth to be known about me. So when she goes, she'll know that she still has one parent…" Yuki trailed off, and blinked back the tears, because he was scared.

Kagura noticed that and whispered gently, "It's okay to cry Yuki. I'll understand." She placed a hand on her cheek when she felt the first tear run down his cheeks.

"I'm scared, because I don't know how Sachiko will react. Akito's in bad condition right now, but knowing him, he'll die soon. We all could live with that, but not Tohru; she had brought us so much light. The hardest part is letting go," Yuki whispered.

Kagura nodded, "For me, the hardest part was letting Kyo go. Then having to tell Tohru I was with you. I'm still dealing with it Yuki, but I don't regret it…" Tears raced down her cheeks as well.

Yuki kissed her cheek, "It'll soon go away…but not without some dent." Kagura held onto him, and they both fell asleep, trying to reassure each other.

Next afternoon…

Sachiko and Yuki were about to set out when a call came. Yuki answered it, "Hello?"

"Yuki, this is Hatori, Tohru's not doing so good. Best not to come, something else came up also…" Hatori's voice trailed off on the other line.

"What?" Yuki asked him curiously.

"Tohru's pregnant again, this time with Ayame's child. She's so weak, we don't know if she'll be actually be able to give birth and survive at this time. She won't give up the baby though," Hatori's voice trailed off when a commotion was heard in the background, "Damn it all, Yuki I'll call and tell you later!"

Before he could say anything else, he hung up the phone. Sachiko turned to Yuki, and Yuki put on a smile for her, "It turns out something came up, so why don't you go back to Ai?"

Sachiko accepted this answer, and hugged Yuki before skipping out of the kitchen. Kagura entered then, "Not going?"

"No, Tohru isn't well, and she's pregnant again," Yuki explained, "It's probably going to be a while before we go see her."

Kagura nodded and then started making lunch, "So I guess we'll be living off of the Sohma check for both of us huh?"

Yuki smiled softly, "Just for awhile." He looked at Kagura who was so healthy, and then thought about Tohru, who was the strongest girl he knew, well one of them.

With Ayame and Tohru…

"My love, I love you too much, we can always have another child," Ayame tried telling her.

Tohru shivered at the very idea, "I told you, I'm going through with this Ayame." She leaned in and kissed him softly, and pulled away, "I'd rather die giving birth to the one I love, then to die anyway, giving up another life for mine. I know the risks, I knew them all along, and I'm going through with this."

Ayame hugged her close, "Okay, okay I'll let you do this, because I see you're determined to." Ayame hugged her close then, never wanting to let go.

9 months later…

Sachiko's POV…

I walked inside Uncle Yuki's house, which has become my personal home. Kagura had the baby three months ago, and he's so cute! His name was Kazuki, and he brightened the house a whole lot more. I had heard the news that mom was going to have a baby on my seventh birthday party. Mom was there, and so was dad, but since mom's been in and out of Hatori's care, she now lived with Yuki.

Sitting down at the table, Kagura placed a plate of cookies and milk out for her. Kazuki was asleep then, and she sat down with me while I started my homework. Today, Kagura smiled at me, "We're going to go take you to see your mom today. At any moment now, she could give birth."

I smiled at her, "What was it like, when I was born?" It was a question I wanted to ask, but never seemed to ask at the right time, but right now it seemed right.

Kagura smiled at her, "A breath of fresh air, and your mom and I were so happy! In fact, the whole Sohma family inside came and welcomed you." She kissed the top of my head and started cleaning the dished. The phone rang and Yuki picked it up from the living room where Ai was with him.

Two minutes later, Yuki came inside, carrying Ai, "Get in the car, its Tohru, she's having her baby!" I was so shocked, that it took me a second to rush back to the front door and pull on a pair of sandals. Kagura ran back to Kazuki's room and picked him up. We all then ran to the car, locking ourselves in.

When we got in the car, he was speeding through the estate. When we got to Hatori's house, everyone ushered out, and I flung open Hatori's door. Momiji and Kisa were outside the door, but I ran straight ahead to where my mother was. She looked frail there, and I saw her eyes full of pain. My dad was holding mom's hand; his eyes had fear in them.

Regular POV…

Sachiko raced up onto the bed next to her mother. She started stroking her forehead, and listened to Hatori's commands. Then they heard a baby's cry, and Sachiko knew that she now had a baby brother, because Hatori yelled out about a brother, but then mom let out another pained scream. "There's one more," Hatori answered.

Tohru closed her eyes and gave a couple more pushes. Soon another baby's cry was heard, this time a girl. When that was done, I was ushered out of the room, because something else had gone wrong. Mom started coughing up blood, and Hatori had to do other things more complicated then giving birth.

Sachiko sat in Yuki's lap then, and held fast to him crying, "Am I going to lose her?"

Yuki looked down at his daughter, "I don't know Sachiko." He kissed her forehead as they waited.

Four hours later…

Hatori came out in what used to be his white coat, but now it was stained in dark brown. "She lost a lot of blood, and I was able to get her stable again, but barely. If Sachiko wishes, she can go see her family."

Sachiko slid off of Yuki's lap and walked inside her mother's room, the door sliding shut behind her. She tiptoed in, and saw her mother's eyes half open, and her father was sitting there, the twins were already in their cribs in this room. Sachiko sat next to her mother then, and Tohru hugged her close, "I can't stay in this world forever I suppose."

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Sachiko asked her scared.

"I'm not going to make it, but I want you to stay with me for ten minutes, then let Yuki come inside with other's. I need to see them all, and then I want you to come back. I knew the day I gave birth was the day I would die. It's nice way of thinking, life and death," Tohru whispered, and then turned to Sachiko, "I love you, and I need you to promise to be good."

1 hour later…

Sachiko sat there, tears streaming down her face, "Why?"

Ayame held Sachiko's crying form, "It'll all work out Sachiko, shh, don't cry."

Sachiko looked at her hands, "Why did she have to die? This wasn't supposed to happen! What now dad, what are we going to do now?"

Ayame hugged her, "Well, we're going to name that sister of yours Tohru, and the brother is going to be Kyo. I'm naming them this way, because the sister is Tohru's blood and Kyo was the cat before you, as a remembrance."

Tears poured down her face then, and in came Kisa, tears flying down her face, "Sachiko, I was sent to tell you to go to Akito."

Ayame's face widened, "I'm going, we can't let her…"

Kisa shook her head, "Ayame, Akito said if you disobey this one then you're guaranteed the next person dead."

Ayame stopped and looked down at the ground, "Go with Kisa, Sachiko."

Sachiko looked confused as she was led out the door to wherever Kisa was leading her. After ten minutes of walking, they arrived at Akito's room. Sachiko went in there and bowed deeply to Akito, trying to show respect. Akito came up to her, "Time to see your true form."

Akito then grabbed her by the hair and threw her outside into the mud. Pulling off her bracelet, Sachiko felt the familiar pulling and twisting of this transformation, and she smelled it. Akito glared as if she waited for some kind of shock, but none came. Sachiko was numb, but Akito wasn't happy by this. He ran back in his room and pulled the whip out, and started lashing out against her. She refused to utter a whimper, but felt the pain all the same.

Then Akito threw the bracelet at her, "I want you to go back to your house, and I want you to pack all your things. If that snake or rat try to stop you tell them Akito told you to leave." With that, Akito disappeared from view, leaving Sachiko shivering out in the cold.

Two hours later…

It rained that day, when Sachiko came home with bruises from the whip, and was crying. Everyone tried to console her, but she moved like a drone. She told them what Akito ordered. When she got back, Akito smirked and grabbed her by her hair, "You miserable creature! Who said you get perfect life? Not me bitch!" He continued to rant until he came to a certain pitch-black room. He threw her in there then, and slammed the door. Before Akito left he whispered in her ear, "Let life from hell commence."

TBC…