The Untouchable

"Miss Honda..?" Yuki peered around the doorframe. Tohru was sitting in front of their small table, knees tucked under her. She was smiling, staring down at the food and taking a small spoonful of the soup, still hot. She looked up and her smile broke wider.

"Welcome home, Yuki!" She stood and bowed, staring up through her bangs. He smiled nervously and walked into the room.

"You did all this...?"

"Oh! Yes! It was nothing, really!" She bowed again and laughed. "I thought it could be sort of a... I don't know... 'pre-festival'. Since we're all going to be there." She paused, something clearly on her mind. 3... 2... 1... "Where were you, Yuki?" Yuki had been expecting this question. He sat down and picked up a pair of chopsticks.

"Visiting Akito." He took up some leeks, shoveling them into his mouth. "Delicious, as always, Miss Honda."

"You think so? It's not too bland?" He shook his head and she too sat down. They ate together in silence for a while before Yuki got his courage.

"M-miss Honda?"

"Mm?" Tohru looked up, chopsticks still in her mouth. Yuki showed his emotions in front of Tohru usually, but today he kept them down in the pit of his stomach.

"Would you..." I can't say it. I can't ask her to stay home. She's so excited about this... she cooked a meal on it, she's been asking questions about it for the past week... I can't. I can't...

"What is it, Yuki?" She cocked her head to the side, chewing slowly and setting her chopsticks onto the tabletop.

"Nothing..." Another moment of silence passed. "Miss Honda... do you know why Akito called for you to visit yesterday?"

"N-no!" She seemed as though she hadn't even thought to ask her business in going there. "Do you think I should've said something? Why does he want to see me?" All those thoughts are just occurring to you now? Yuki smiled and laughed, a small sound, unpracticed.

"I was just curious." He paused, mentally preparing himself before starting again.

"Miss Honda..." I'm going to say it. I'm just going to ask.

All of a sudden, the door slid open and a red-haired boy entered.

"What's with the food?"

"It's good to see you too." Said Yuki coldly. "Miss Honda made it."

"Yes! Please sit and eat some!" Kyo peered at Tohru, one eye shut, a look of indifference printed across his face. Then he sighed, acting defeated. He said nothing, simply sat, legs folded Indian-style underneath the low table. He picked up some chopsticks and immediately began devouring the sashimi and even had a small bowl of miso soup. He stuck his nose up to the leeks lying on Yuki's plate. "How is it, Kyo?"

"Fine." He chewed slowly, eyes locked on Tohru, who was looking around the room with a giddy look. He swallowed. "What's it for though?"

"The festival!" She closed her eyes, breaking into a wide smile.

Yuki felt like he was going to be sick. How could he ask this? How could he even suggest...?

"Excuse me." Yuki stood up. "It was delicious, Miss Honda, thank you." He left the room quickly, thoughts of Tohru being alone this upcoming New Year's stabbing into his mind.

Akito sat looking out into his garden, his haven. This was his house. His people to control. They were his puppets, toys for an angry child. He had a frozen smile locked onto his impassive face, eyes flashing. He lay on his porch, the air cold in the dead yard. Few birds clung to the barren trees these days and patches of snow hid under shadows.

This was all Akito's. This dead, lonely place of residence. And he was the ring leader in his own twisted circus of wild animals.

They were all his.

Akito's eyes flashed once more as a dark bird took flight in the sky, calling forth a new morning.

The morning Tohru was to visit him.

"I'm off!" Tohru waved to Shigure, who smiled and held up a hand in parting. "Bye Yuki-san! Kyo-kun!" Yuki looked worried, showing his fleeting emotion through those deep lilac eyes. Kyo turned his head, mumbling something.

Tohru was picked up by Hatori, who was on his way back to the Sohma house anyway. Tohru spoke politely of school and how well she thought Yuki and Kyo were getting along. Hatori always nodded his head, occasionally making a small sound as if to agree. The car pulled to a stop. They had arrived.

Tohru walked up the stone steps to the large household. She saw Akito, hanging out a circular window, staring out at her. The wind picked up, sweeping his dark hair over those frigid eyes...

Tohru kneeled in front of Akito.

"Um... hello Akito..." Hatori was busy with patients, the Sohma's were busy preparing for tonight's festival, and no one was near the grand house that was solely Akito's.

"Hello Miss Honda." He spoke in his unfeeling tone, his voice low and smooth, gliding along the air like a poisonous fog.

She bowed her head and he continued. "Yuki told you, didn't he?" Tohru looked confused.

"Told me-?"

"So he didn't. How very interesting." He sat up, loose robes hanging on his gaunt figure. "He may need to be punished, don't you think Miss Honda?"

"Y-Yuki! N-no! No..." Her eyes were wide with fear as Akito laughed, the empty sound resounding throughout the room.

"No. But he does need to be taught, doesn't he?" He was staring into her eyes, making her silent and still, a chill running up her spine. "Maybe I'll show him exactly what I mean when I say I rule this family."

"W-what are you going to do?" Tohru's eyes were livid and wide, tears threatening to pour over her lashes. She thought this might be the day she was to be welcomed into the house, finally accepted. But it seemed this was another idea of Akito's.

Another way to get Tohru away from Yuki.

But why Yuki?

And why Tohru?

"Don't worry Miss Honda. He won't ever have to know he'd been punished at all. That is, unless you tell him." Those icy eyes flashed as a phantom wind ran through the room. He was standing up know, leaning against his weak legs for support.

He seemed weak.
But was he?

No... he wasn't at all. For his eyes held strength. A dark, brooding, oppressive strength.

A strength aimed at Tohru.

He lunged forward, clutching her hair, pulling it up towards him. His impassive mask had broken revealing an ugly face of rotted malice. He leaned in to her face. "He'll be punished for not telling you, Miss Honda. And he won't even know it."