Chapter 3. In Life and Death I'll Love You
Kureno could hear Akito's screams and cries almost all the way from the cat's room. He quickened his pace to Akito's chambers, breaking into a full out run. He arrived in time to hear the last of Akito's cries for Haru. Akito turned around to see Kureno standing in the threshold, with a look of shock on his face."Kureno…..Kureno, Hatsuharu left me….he left. How could he just
leave? Our bond…..what happened to our bond, father said…….he said that
the juunishi were born to be with me, so how could he just leave me?"
Akito sobbed out the sentence and Kureno contemplated what to say to
him.
"Akito…..maybe he just needs some time away…" Akito slapped him.
"Don't
you even say it, IT'S NOT TRUE! They NEED me! They all do, they can't
be separated from me! You won't leave me will you Kureno"
"No Akito, I won't leave you"
"How
did this happen? When did I lose my connection with them? They all just
started drifting away, leaving me one by one." Akito continued to sob
and cry into Kureno's shoulder. Kureno moved over to the bed and gently
laid Akito's weak body on it. Akito had fallen into a stress-induced
sleep, so Kureno left to find a maid to tend to him.
As the days continued to pass Akito's condition worsened, what had been a small head-ache had turned into a fierce fever. Akito would pass in and out of delusions constantly, calling out the names of the juunishi, mostly Haru. They were all called to the main house, to be with Akito in what was seeming to be his last few hours. They began to arrive a little less than an hour after the summons to the main house, not that they needed it, they felt Akito's need for them to be there. The firsts to arrive were Hatori and Momiji, both looking tired and distraught. Hatori went immediately over to Akito and began to check his condition. He turned to speak to the maids, Momiji and Kureno who was already there.
"Akito….doesn't have much time left, I don't understand this fever and I've done all I can do to bring it down but it seems his body isn't letting the treatment work." He looked solemnly at Kureno. Kureno didn't look back, his eyes were fixed on Akito's fragile form lying on a small bed in the middle of the room.
As he finished speaking Shigure and Yuki came in and quietly took a seat next to Momiji. Hatori repeated his explanation to them and returned to Akito's side. Shortly afterwards Hiro and Kisa came in, accompanied by Ritsu and Ayame. Kisa's large eyes gazed at Akito for a moment and filled with tears before she went to sit next to Hiro and proceed to gently cry into his shoulder. Kagura came in alone dressed in a formal kimono. She sat by Ayame who, for once, was being completely silent, listening for Hatori's annual updates on Akito's condition
. The last to arrive were Rin and Haru. Rin was also dressed up in a Formal Kimono and her now short hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Haru grabbed her hand when he saw that they were the last ones to arrive and he pulled her over to the final two cushion seats that resided next to Kagura. Rin's face went pale when she saw Akito lying on the bed. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes but she fought to keep them back. When they were all there the maids quietly left the room and Hatori prepared to reiterate his report on Akito's deteriorating condition. He was about to speak when Akito interrupted him.
"No Hatori, I'm tired of hearing that I'm going to die every five minutes. I've known for some time that the end was nearing. I'm just glad that all of you were able to come to me. I realize now that I've made many mistakes during my rein, and all I can do now is apologize for it. I've hurt you all, some….more than others." He directed his gaze towards Hatori, then Rin. He focused on her for a moment, making her freeze up under the intent gaze.
"Isuzu, come here." Akito motioned to her to come to the bedside. Everyone in the room stared over at her, making her even more nervous. She hesitated for several seconds, but was pushed forward slightly by Haru. She turned her head back to look at him. "Go Rin, its ok now, just go." He whispered to her. She could see the apprehension in his expression as she walked up to Akito's bed and knelt beside it. Akito raised up a pale shaking hand to her face. He pressed it there for a minute and let his arm fall back to his side.
"Isuzu,
I'm sorry for what I did to you….you didn't deserve it, I know…..I
overreacted….I will die happy if you tell me that you accept my
apology." She gazed at him with a profound look of confusion on her
face. "I…I can only forgive you if you promise me one thing."
Akito closed his eyes and sighed deeply before answering ."What is it
Isuzu?" "I want you to promise that no matter what, I can be with
Haru." Everyone in the room made some sort of quite reaction, but she
only saw Haru's slight expression of joy.
"Fine,
you may be with him, I've learned that I cannot so easily dictate the
feelings of others, Hatsuharu has shown me that. "Then yes, I forgive
you Akito." Akito closed his eyes at hearing those words and kept them
closed for sometime after motioning Rin to leave his side.
Then he prepared to speak with the last of his strength, everyone was silent.
"I
want to apologize to all of you individually, but I know I don't have
the time nor the strength left for it…..so please just accept my
apology to all of you. I really do regret the things I have done in
this life…….I-I'm sor……sorry…….." and with that Akito fell silent for
the final time. Hatori rose to check his pulse, it had indeed stopped.
"Shigure, go tell the family that Akito has died, Ayame, go with him." Shigure and Ayame rose from their seats, nodded and left without a word. Everyone else began to follow suit, and left in a slow precession one or two at a time, respectfully bowing before Akito's still form before they left. Rin and Haru were the last to leave. Rin couldn't believe it, Akito had apologized……but why? What had suddenly come over him?
She couldn't bring herself to worry about it at the time, not with Haru
there, welcoming her into his arms with no thought of the
repercussions. "I can't believe it….we can finally be together…..after
so long." Rin said softly as she reluctantly began to weep.
"Believe it Rin, Your mine, I love you and I'll never let you go again"
"I love you too Haru…."
-Hahaha, I bet your thinking…… "Hey, didn't you skip something?" well yes I kinda did……I will be writing a chapter about the time between Rin's rescue and Akito's death….it'll be the next chapter…..which is coming along soon by the way! So don't worry! It will be a sappy, love-filled chapter focusing on Rin and Haru's past, present and future relationship! Yay!-
