Here it is- chapter 16. I know it's been awhile. Funny, i've had it done all this time : )
Chapter 16: Well Deserved Explanation
Akemi went home that night feeling more depressed than when she had left.
She couldn't understand.
Why had Haru acted so violently? What was it Kyo had said about him? He was…black?
Akemi thought back to when she had first met Haru.
"Tell me…do you think all things White…are fragile?"His words flashed back into her mind. What could this mean? Was it possible that whomever he had been that night was someone else? Some completely different side of her?
Now it was the next day, and Akemi was simply exhausted. Amaya had left to run errands (whatever that meant) and left her alone to wallow in misery.
She had left her window wide open to let the breeze in. The weather was getting warmer, but even that could not cheer her spirits now.
She felt as if she had lost a friend. Now what would she do?
At least Kyo had come to her aid. She smiled at the thought. He really wasn't as nonchalant and uncaring as he played himself out to be.
There was a sudden noise coming from outside. It sounded like a bell ringing. Akemi went to the window and peeked her head out – she gasped in surprise.
Haru was outside of her house!
"Haru!" She hissed, "what are you doing here?"
She thought back to the day she had a conversation with Kagura about their family. She didn't dare ask her parents about the Sohma family…what would they do if they found one on their property.
Haru saw her through the window and motioned for her to come down. She ran from her window and rushed to open the front door. "Haru…"
"Hey," he said casually. He looked around. "Um..is there somewhere we can talk in private?"
She nodded and quickly led him to her bedroom and shut the door.
"Well, sit down, I guess," she said, pointing to a chair in her room.
The two shifted quite uncomfortably, until Haru said, "look, I'm here for a reason. I want to apologize about what I did-"
Akemi shook her head. "Nothing would have happened if not for me. I'm so sorry for being such a bitch last night. But…may I ask you something?"
Haru nodded. "Go ahead."
"Why…is it you acted that way? Kyo…he called you Black Haru. Why?"
He sighed; it was the one question he could not answer.
"I don't know," he said in reply, his hazy gray eyes meeting her dark green ones. She nodded and let her head fall. She started to shake slightly, her shoulders hunched.
'Is she…crying?' Haru thought, looking at her closely. He walked over to her and kneeled at her feet. "Oh Akemi," he said with a sigh, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"Haru," she said, looking at him with tear stained cheeks, "I was so scared of what you would do. It was as if you were a different person altogether!"
'I was, Akemi, I was,' his mind screamed, but instead he said nothing. He simply put his hands to her cheek and wiped her tears away. His hand came to a spot on her face and she flinched slightly.
"…Is that where I…I hit you, didn't I?" He asked reluctantly.
She nodded, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
'Don't cry,' he thought pleadingly. He wanted so badly to wrap his arms around the sobbing girl and promise that he would never make her cry again. He wanted to tell her every little secret that he held. But he couldn't: the curse made sure of it.
"Akemi, you're my friend. And…I want to tell you everything. Aobut why I acted the way I did last night. But there's something else I have to explain first. Let me tell you…let me show you." He grabbed her hands for a moment and sighed. She looked at him confusedly for a second, before he pulled her into a deep hug.
There was a sudden puff of smoke and he was gone. Akemi looked around wildly and said "Haru? Where'd you go?"
"I'm right here."
She nearly screamed. Before she got the opportunity to, the door barged open.
"Kemi I went to the store and I picked you up some – OH MY GOD! THERE IS A COW IN YOUR BEDROOM!" Amaya let out a blood-curdling scream before Akemi pushed her out of the door.
"Haru…is that you?" Akemi asked the cow tentatively.
"Yeah, it's me. I had to tell you- the Sohma family is cursed. When hugged by a member of the opposite sex, we turn into animals of the zodiac," Haru said. This was strange. Akemi had never seen a talking cow before.
"…All of you?"
"Not all of us. But most of the family members you know. Yuki, Shigure, Hatori, Momiji, Kagura, even Kyo."
"Oh," Akemi said, processing things. Now everything made sence. "So that's why Kyo thought I was a guy."
"What?"
"Well, I hugged Kyo last night…he didn't turn into an animal. He sounded surprised and asked me if I was a guy. Now that makes sense."
There was a sudden puff of smoke and Akemi let out a small yelp before turning around to face the wall.
"I forgot," Haru said, embarrassed, "to tell you that we're naked when we transform back." He sighed. "Well, I suppose I just really screwed things up. I can't imagine how you'd want to be friends with us after that."
"Are you kidding?" Akemi said. "I don't care about any of that – you're still the same people, no matter what. Without you guys, I would hate it here. You guys have shown me so much. None of that matters. You're still the best friends I've ever had. I don't care what you turn into."
"Oh, uh, you can turn around again," Haru said.
Akemi raised her eyebrows. "That was impressive. You're fast."
"Well, after awhile, you get used to it," he shrugged and sat back down on the bed. "Akemi," he said seriously, "the other thing I need to tell you is about the darker side of me…ever since I was little, I've had problems controlling my emotions. Sometimes I do really stupid things, the most dangerous is that. When I get too angry and I can't control it, I become this completely different person. Everyone calls me Black Haru when I'm like that…because I've done some bad things. I'm so sorry I took it out on you…I never meant it. I just…I can't stop it from happening…" he ran hands through his hair in frustration.
Akemi put her hand on his shoulder and sat next to him. "Don't worry, it's alright. I don't mind it, really. I'm sorry to have ever gotten in the way of it."
"Akemi," he said with a smile, "thank you, so much. I never imagined you'd be this accepting of me…and everyone else." He stopped for a moment. "Oh, and this is a huge secret. You can't tell anyone…in fact, I might get in trouble for this…" He winced. "See, I told you I do stupid things."
"I'm glad you told me, "Akemi assured him, "I won't tell a soul." She frowned for a moment. "Oh shit. Amaya."
She opened the door reluctantly. Amaya, who was still standing there, started to scream again.
Akemi clapped her hand over her mouth in annoyance. "Shut up and sit down on the bed."
Amaya did as instructed. She looked around wildly. "Where'd the cow go?" She stared at Haru. "And where'd you come from?"
Neither Akemi or Haru said a word, just looked at each other awkwardly.
"Oh. My GOD!" Amaya said, suddenly putting two and two together. "I don't believe it! How…how is that possible?"
Akemi sighed. This was going to take a lot of explaining.
"How could you do something that stupid, Haru?" Kyo yelled, pounding his fists on the table.
"It wasn't stupid," Haru objected, "she had the right to know!"
"No, if you weren't being so selfish-" Kyo began.
"Boys!" Shigure cut in icily, for once rising above their childish fighting. "This is a very serious matter." The two shut up. Yuki sat at the other end of the table, listening quietly. "Now," he said in a softer tone, "I've had to contact Akito…he wasn't particularly happy. It was a sticky enough situation when Tohru found out, but Akemi and Amaya are part of the Kamikara family. I would not be surprised if he ordered their memories erased immediately."
Haru looked down at the table guiltily. He had never thought about the consequences that way. He was in trouble now. What would happen to Akemi now?
"Shigure, may I use the phone?" He asked calmly.
"Sure Haru, you're always welcome to it," Shigure said, pointing at it, "just don't stay on too long." He nudged him, going back to his regular, joking self.
Haru nodded and went to the phone. He quickly dialed Akemi's number.
"Hello?"
"Akemi?"
"Yes…is this…Haru?"
"Yeah. Akemi, I've got some bad news.." he said reluctantly.
"…what is it?" she asked, very hesitantly.
"Well, Akito, the head of our family isn't very happy that I told you, or that your sister found out. And…we may have to…well, erase your memory…" he said sadly.
"all of it?"
"no, not all of it. Pretty much…meeting all of us. Once you're memory is wiped, you won't remember the Sohma family at all."
"Oh god," she said, "Are you sure…do I have to forget you all?"
"If Akito so decides it, then yes. I'm so sorry Akemi. I never meant to put you in this position…" He spoke softly.
"No, it's alright. I understand. Will you re-introduce yourself, if I do have to forget?" She asked.
"Of course," he said in immediate reply, "we just can't let you know about the curse again."
"Say…where does this um, Akito live? He doesn't live with Shigure-"
"No, he lives at the main house on the east side of town. That's where most of us live. Kyo never really belonged at the main house…and Yuki hated it. That's why they're living with Shigure. You should come and visit sometime…as long as you don't tell anyone about being a Kamikara…"
The two talked for a little while longer, until Akemi excused herself to go.
"I'll talk to you soon Haru…I'm sorry to make things complicated," she said, a plan forming in her head.
"No, you didn't. I did. I'll talk to you tomorrow." The two hung up.
Akemi felt out of breath and out of courage as she stood outside the entrance to the Sohma Estate. It seemed to be larger and more splendid then the Kamikara estate – not good for self esteem. Akemi herself had always been accustomed to small life- this was overwhelming. She thought of Haru and of Kyo and Yuki and Tohru. Her friends. She had no idea what she would do if she did not have them with her in this strange new life. She had to salvage these friendships by any means possible- even if it meant talking with Akito.
From the sounds of it, he was not a pleasant person. Akemi heard it in the tone of Haru's voice over the phone – this would not be good. She took a deep breath.
"Don't be such a scardy-cat," she said to herself outloud. She set her bike against a nearby tree and began to walk the path up to the main gate.
The front door was extravagant. Before she could even knock the door slid open.
"Why Miss Kamikara, what are you doing here?" Hatori asked her kindly, a small smile on his face.
"Well…I'm here to see Akito, actually," She said, trying to gather her nerve.
His smile was quickly wiped from his face and was replaced by a look of astonishment. "A-Akito? Are you…certain you want to do that?"
She nodded slightly. "Yes. There are matter to discuss," she said, not really sure if she should explain. Hatori nodded.
"I see. Follow me," He said, opening the door and letting her in. She followed him down the grand hallways to find Akito. "I assume this has something to do with Hatsuharu's foolish actions in revealing our curse."
Akemi said nothing, only nodded.
"To let you know…I don't know what Akito is thinking. If he orders your memory erased…I'll have no choice but to do it. I'm sorry, Miss Kamikara."
"No," she said, "I guess…if that's what has to happen. But, I'm here to try and stop it. You all have changed my life so much…I can't bear losing any of you. I don't care about any stupid curses…I don't want to lose my friends."
Hatori stopped at a door and turned to face her. A kind smile graced his face. "Well, we are certainly lucky. You certainly rise above the assumed Kamikara reputation – I will be disappointed if I have to take you away from the children." He knocked on the door. "Good luck."
He walked away, leaving her in the hallway alone.
"Come in," came a voice from the other side of the door. She opened it slowly. A young man stood at the window, head turned from her. He looked fragile and distant – simply staring out the window at the outside world. He turned to face her and let his hazy, uncaring eyes gaze upon her. It was obvious he didn't recognize her. "Who are you?" he said, in the same muddled voice. It was soft and almost mysterious.
"I am Akemi Kamikara…I have come to ask for your forgiveness, and for a favor." She got on her knees in front of him. "Please…don't blame Haru for telling me about the curse. It was foolish of him, but it's really my fault. Do whatever you want to me, but please, don't harm Haru. I beg of you, please forgive him." She could feel herself shaking under his piercing gaze. He scared her to no end, yet she did not falter.
He bent down and lifted her chin with his finger. "Such pretty eyes," he mumbled softly, then he smiled. "Stand up. There's no need for you to be on the ground. You may keep your memory…just don't go about telling. There are many in your family that know about the Sohma family curse…I guess you could say we have a…History." His smile changed to a smirk as he turned away from her. Akemi stood and brushed off her knees.
"You may go," he said, shooing her with one hand. When he saw that she did not leave, he turned back to her and assured her, "I know what you're thinking, and don't worry: I will not lay a finger on Hatsuharu."
She bowed her head. "Thank you so much…thank you." She left the room, her heart slightly lighter than when she had entered the room. She softly shut the door and left.
Akito's smirk grew to a full fledged grin as he said, "No Miss Kamikara…thank you."
Creepy. Some interesting stuff is coming soon...
Love you all! Don't forget to review (i really do need comments at the moment - what you like and dislike-what i need to work on, etc. It will help me improve, i swear)
Lola
