The Return Of Tenshi
Ch16
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or Sailor Moon.
AN: Sorry for the long delay. I've been hoping to update this chapter by Christmas, but I had been so busy. I hope everyone had enjoyed their vacation and had a great holiday.
Usagi stood in complete shock as she felt Akito wrapping his arms around her body and pressed her against him. His lips were tightly pressed against hers as he sneakily slipped his tongue into her mouth when she gasped. She could hear the shocked gasps coming from her friends as they watched frozen stiff at Akito ravishing her lips. Usagi didn't know what to do, all her life there was only one person who she had always kissed and that was Mamoru. Feeling guilty for dishonoring his memory and repulsed at herself for just standing still, she pushed Akito away and covered her mouth with both her hands.
Akito was shocked to see Usagi go against his actions. Ever since she was little, she had always allowed him to do what he wished; if she was against it, he usually did it when she wasn't around. When he saw that she was about to run away from him, he wasn't willing to let her leave again. The young head grabbed Usagi's arm and pulled her back to him.
Akito's eyes became angry when he stared at Usagi and she saw that she looked like she was disgusted with the kiss. He placed the entire blame on her family, perhaps during her absence from him, they had brainwashed her into hating him when they were still alive. Or it could've been the other juunishi or Tohru, they often did have the knack of disobeying him and probably influenced his angel to go against him. But they weren't the only ones he blamed, he placed the majority of the fault on Mamoru Chiba, Usagi's ex-boyfriend and fiancé. When Hatori and Kureno told him about their relationship, he was filled with anger and jealousy. How dare this unworthy man even think about seducing his pure angel into falling in love with him? That was all Akito could think about, how this one man managed to get Usagi fall in love with her and then abandon her like that, dismissing the fact that Mamoru had no choice when it comes to death. "Why?" he hissed, his grip tightening around her arms, "Why do you still want that man? He's dead, for goodness sake!"
"I love him," Usagi murmured softly.
Akito's eyes widened. "What?" he whispered, hoping that he didn't really hear what he thought what he had heard. It can't be true that she really thinks she loves this Mamoru character, after all, he's God, she's his angel, his forever loyal servant and admirer.
Usagi looked at Akito as tears filled her eyes for the umpteenth time that day. "I love him," she shouted loudly, "I don't care if he's dead because I still love him! Our love…our destinies were intertwined."
"Destiny?" Akito repeated. He had heard that word over a hundred times wince he was little. It was the very word that his father had told him when he was little, that it was his destiny as someone special, the god of the juunishi with the never ending banquet of happiness. Jut as it was Kyo's destiny to be locked up after graduating from high school and everyone's destinies to be with him until he or they die. From those details, destiny appears to be a very good thing, but hearing how Usagi's and this man's, who is dead, love was destined, angered Akito. He pulled Usagi closer to him. "Your destiny is to be with me!" he shouted.
Not being able to stand back and watch Akito try to take control over his friend, Seiya grabbed Usagi and pushed Akito away. Usagi was very dear to him, from the minute they met, he knew that despite his childish crush, she would never love him and betray her boyfriend. And even when she found out that they were the Starlights, despite all the opposition her friends had, she still wanted to be friends. If it weren't for her, none of them would be alive. "That's enough," he snarled, "I told you that I'm not going to allow you to do anything that'll make her upset."
"Why don't you have a little more respect for Mamoru-san?" Taiki asked, "You may be against the relationship they had, but he did pass away and you shouldn't speak kill of the dead." Taiki may not had admitted it, but he often found Usagi's courage to find a peaceful way to settle things something to be admired. Sure, he may had criticize her for being naïve and dependent on her friends, but it was then he realized during the battle with Chaos, it was her friends who were dependent on her, on the light she has and possesses to get them out of the darkness.
"I suggest you hold your tongue," Akito said. He turned his attention to Shigure, who jumped slightly and straightened his back. "We'll continue this conversation tonight," he said. And with that, Akito left with Hatori and Kureno following after him. When they left, it felt as if the cold and air and pressure had left the room with them. Having the feeling that the Sohmas would want to spend some private minute with each other, the principal had everyone go back to their classrooms.
"What in the world could be going on in his mind?" Yuki asked, "I don't know what it is, but he's scheming something."
"Whatever it is, I'm betting that it's something I'm not going to like," Kyo said.
Ayame's green eyes were closed for a second when he opened them again. "I think I might know what he's planning," Ayame said, seriously for once.
Still holding Usagi somewhat close to him, Seiya asked, "What is he after?"
"Probably the same thing he wanted all those years ago," Hatsuharu said.
"There's no way in hell!" Kyo and Yuki shouted at the exact same time when they understood what Hatsuharu was talking about.
"You know, ever since Shi-nee came back, you two had been acting weird," Hiro said, "You're actually agreeing with each other and you're saying the same things at the exact same time."
"You stupid brat!" Kyo shouted, grabbing Hiro's collar of his shirt, "We're being serious here. If what we're thinking is really what Akito's after, then Sagi's in trouble."
Shingo clung to Usagi's waist in a fearful manner. "Why? What is Akito-san trying to do?" he asked. He turned to his sister and held onto her tightly. "Onee-chan, what are they talking about."
"Akito-san might have me go back to the main house," Usagi replied, "And I'm pretty sure that he'll have me drop out and study at the main house as well."
"You can't! You can't go back, if you do then we can't be together!" Shingo shouted, "That's unfair! I just lost kaa-chan and tou-chan, I don't want to lose you too."
"If you don't want to go, then don't," Yaten said, "I don't get why you all do whatever that spoiled brat tells you to do." His green eyes stared at the Sohmas, who looked at him in complete shock or looked unsure about his suggestion. "Why are you guys so afraid of him for?" he asked, still not understanding the rules of the Sohma family.
"We can't go against Akito-san like that, Yaten," Usagi said, "Akito-san's orders must be followed and we can't go oppose him just because we want to." She shook her head and pulled away from Seiya and stared at Shingo with a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Shingo, but you know that as a member of this family we are bound to his will."
Shingo glanced at the floor with a sad look. "I know that. It just seems so unfair," he muttered, "And what about ChibiChibi? Will she stay with you or us?"
"I don't know," his sister whispered, "I don't know. I just hope that everything works out for the best."
"Me too, odango," Seiya said. He hugged her in a brotherly way. "The love I once felt for you may have changed into one with a sibling, but I'll still risk my life to protect you. If anything ever happens, you know you can call us." Usagi smiled sorrowfully and nodded her head.
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As Akito had ordered, every one of the juunishi went to Shigure's home that night. Shingo was sitting by Usagi's side, refusing to budge while glaring at Akito, with ChibiChibi sitting on her lap, curiously staring at the juunishi spread out around the room; Artemis and Luna were sitting right by Usagi, making sure that this man won't do the same thing that Shingo had told them what happened at the school. Tohru was at work that night so Shigure promised to fill her in when she gets home. Despite the fact that the three singers wanted to stay and protect her as their princess had asked them to do, Usagi ordered them to return to their apartment in a tone that would've made her senshis proud.
Nobody made a sound or even move from their spots as they all stared at Akito, who was sitting across from Usagi and silently daring anyone who was thinking about going against him. "Usa-chan, you are to return to the main house tonight, alone" Akito said the words that everyone dreaded.
"But, Akito-san, why so soon?" Shigure asked, "Couldn't she go to the main house tomorrow?"
"And what? Give you a chance to get her as faraway as possible?" Akito slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "I've expected the cat to be the one to go against me, not you, Shigure, not in a million years." He glanced over at Yuki and Kyo with a cold glare. "Or perhaps this must be the influence of Tohru Honda-san." When he saw the panicked looks on everyone's faces, he knew that they were caught in a trap. Either they give up on Usagi or keep her with them, either way they still lose.
Usagi, herself, was cornered just as well. If she stays with the juunishi, then Akito would have Tohru's memory erased, but if she goes, there's a chance that she would never see anyone ever again. No. Usagi shook her head. This isn't the time to be selfish. During the past six years, her cousins had suffered and sank into darkness and she didn't come to help them. And it wasn't because of her parents wanting to break ties with the Sohmas and forbid her to come. While she did want to go and save them, there was her fear of being sucked back into the darkness with them and of Akito's wrath and possessive behavior over her. And because of that fear and selfishness, the juunishi suffered until they met Tohru Honda, someone who brought them back into the light. Despite she had the right to come back, being their cousin and all, she was still intruding into their lives, so she can't let anything happen to Tohru. Usagi shut her eyes and embraced ChibiChibi close to her body before opening her eyes once more. "I'll go back," she announced, earning everyone's surprised expressions and Akito's pleased one.
"Sagi, do you know what you are saying?" Kyo shouted, standing up, "You're actually going back to that hellhole that your parents took you away form!"
"I'm going back Kyo," Usagi said stubbornly, "And there's nothing you could say to stop me."
Akito smiled and stood to his feet. "I'm glad to see that you haven't changed a bit, Usa-chan," he said. He planted a kiss on her forehead, causing Shingo to flinch at his closeness to his sister. "I'll be waiting in the car. Go pack your thinks and say your goodbyes." And with that, he left the house.
"Onee-chan, why are you going back?" Shingo asked.
"Why, indeed?" Kyo shouted, "Sagi, I though you had more common sense than this You were given a chance to escape him, so why aren't you taking it?"
"Because if I stay away from AKito-san, then he'll have Tohru-chan's memory erased, "Usagi said, "She's done so much for you and I won't be able to live with myself if that happens."
"But, Usa-chan, what about you?" Shigure asked, "I don't think Tohru-kun would be happy to hear that you're sacrificing your happiness for her."
"And what about me! What about ChibiChibi?" Shingo shouted, "I don't want to lose you too!" He jumped to his feet and ran to the attic, ignoring his cousins who were calling out his name. He leaped onto his bed with Luna, who had followed him, curling up beside him, trying to comfort him as best as she could.
"Gure-nii, can I ask you to do me a favor?" Usagi asked. The tall novelist nodded his head. "I don't know how many ties I could be able to come here, so do you mind looking Shingo and ChibiChibi?" she asked, "If you can't watch over her, I could ask Seiya and the others to do it for me."
"I can do it," Shigure said, "If I need help, I could ask the others."
Hatori placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come, let's not keep Akito waiting," he said, "Kureno already placed your belongings in the car."
Usagi nodded her head and was about to stand up when she felt herself being crushed into a group hug. "Minna, this isn't goodbye. We'll see each other again, perhaps on New Years or when I sneak out to see you," she said with a sad smile. She quickly took a piece of paper and jotted some things down before handing it to Shigure. "Can you give this to Shingo?" she asked. She patted ChibiChibi on the head as the toddler started to cry. "Be a good girl, all right, ChibiChibi?" she said.
ChibiChibi tearfully nodded her head. "Be good," she said. She clung tightly onto Usagi's legs. "Chibi be good," she said.
Usagi walked out of the door with Hatori and Kureno escorting her to the car. From the attic, Shingo heard the car door slam close and immediately panicked. The eleven-year-old boy rushed down the steps, stumbling a few times in his rush, and ran out side where everyone was standing. "Matte!" he shouted, trying to chase after the accelerating car. Through the back windshield, he could see the back of Usagi's head. "Onee-chan!" he yelled right before he tripped and slid a few inches on the ground. Drops of tears fell down to the soil as Shingo pounded his fists on the ground. "I…I didn't get to say goodbye," he whispered.
"Shingo-kun, Usa-chan wanted to give you this," Shigure said softly. In his hand was a folded piece of white paper.
Shingo stared at the paper for a second in a dazed motion. He quickly snatched the paper and opened it. "Shingo-kun, by the time you read this, I'm probably back at the main house. Do know that I didn't leave without saying goodbye because I didn't love you or wanted you with me. The reason is because if I did go and say goodbye to you, I may not want to leave your side ever again. I love you. Shingo, you are my precious little brother and nothing in the world can ever change that. As much as this pains me, I must go and to the main house with Akito-san, by doing that, he won't lay a hand on you. It may take months, it may take years, but we will meet again. Until that time comes, please look after ChibiChibi, Luna and Artemis, look after our cousins. You must be strong, Shingo, no matter what happens, don't ever give up. I love you more than life itself and I'm willing to sacrifice my freedom and happiness, if it means I can protect you. Usagi Tsukino."
Shingo felt his eyes grow blurry with tears as he whispered softly, "I love you too, onee-chan." He felt a pair of tiny hands on his arms and saw ChibiChibi looking at him with the same bright blue eyes Usagi has. He quickly enveloped the toddler in a hug as the two cried together with Luna and Artemis looking at the ground with sadness. The juunishi all looked away from each other as some cried out loud while others tried to hide their tears.
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Akito was holding Usagi's hand as held her down the familiar hallway to the very bedroom she stayed in when she was little. "I'm so glad that you decided to come back, Usa-chan," Akito said, smiling gently at her, "It's not healthy to be around the juunishi so much, it's practically degrading. Don't forget, they're all inferiors and should be treated like so."
"Hai, Akito-san," Usagi said softly, but in her mind she disagreed wholeheartedly. Her cousins may be mere juunishi and he is the god, but it doesn't make much difference between them and it certainly doesn't mean that they're inferior. She shook her head and looked up to see that they had arrived at her room. "Akito-san, may I be left alone please?" she asked, looking down.
"Of course you may," Akito said. He placed a light kiss on her lips and walked away.
Usagi closed the doors behind her when she entered the bedroom. Everything was as she left it. A pink futon was laid out by the wall where the moonlight shown through the window. A small wooden table was in the middle of the room with four pillows on each side. Akito must've figured out that she would return one day and kept her room spotless for that day to come. Usagi stalked over to window and fell down onto the big white pillow. She rested her arms on the windowsill and sighed, dropping her head onto her arms, as she stared at the bright moon that looks like it was trying to cheer her up.
"What am I going to do?" Usagi whispered softly. She glanced at the bright moon and could envision the deceased lunarian queen and the rest of her sailor guardians. "Minna, please guide me to do the right thing," she said, as a tear fell down her cheek.
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"Onee-chan, I know why you're doing this, but…is it still selfish of me to not want you to leave," Shingo said. He thought back to all the fights they had when then they had lived in Juuban. If the people there had ever seen their cousins, they would often view their arguments, as something similar to what Yuki and Kyo would do, the only difference is that they never fought like they wanted to kill each other off.
Shingo was sitting on the porch, as Luna and Artemis were asleep on the floor beside him. ChibiChibi had fallen asleep with her head on his lap. Even if she wasn't really related to him or even human, he still thought of her as his little sister ever since she appeared into his life when everything was just right, where his parents were still alive and where his sister was happy and free from Akito. Usagi hasn't been gone for more than a few hours and already he misses her. Many people had often thought that with their arguing and fighting, that they hated each other's guts, but the truth of the matter is, is that they love each other very much. Usagi's always worried if something bad would ever happen to him as he admired her strength in believing and trusting people, who everyone would deem an outcast.
Despite all the disputes and quarrels, all they really have is each other back then if anything ever happened to their parents, he was her only brother just as she was his only sister, of course they had to care for each other. He thought back to this one time when his parents went to visit their grandparents and were delayed because of a bad storm. He was about six years old and got scared because his mom wasn't there to tuck him in to bed, it was then that Usagi came in and gave him a big hug and tucked him in, in their mom's place. And there was that song their mom once sang when they still lived over at the Sohma and Usagi was staying the night that stuck in his mind. He glanced sorrowfully at the moon and took a deep breath, not realizing that Usagi was thinking the same memories as him. Then as if they had rehearsed it and planned it, the two of them began to hum the exact same song.
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(AN: the part that Shingo sings is bold while the part that Usagi sings is in italics and when they sing together it is both bold and italicized.)
Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
( "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram)
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Usagi smiled gently at the moon as the memory of her mother's soft voice singing that song to her when she was very young and then she ended up singing that song with Shingo when their parents were held back from coming home because of a storm. "You were so scared, Shingo," Usagi whispered, "You kept wishing that okaa-san and otou-san would arrive home that very minute, but they were kept far away. Then I came into your room and you hugged me like it was one of those days I would visit from the main house. I tucked you in bed and crawled in with you and we sang that song together until we fell asleep." She was so caught up in her memories that she didn't realize that someone was watching her from outside of her room.
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Akito was passing by when he heard Usagi singing so he stopped and listened in with a soft smile. It wasn't until he heard her mention her little brother's name when he frowned in disappointment. "So, she still insists on wasting her time with those inferiors. Brother or not, he is still one of those who stand in my way of claiming Tenshi for my own," he snarled silently. With a quick turn of his kimono, he hurried to his room, calling for Hatori to come. "Well, I'll make sure that none of them will be my obstacle for long. After all, they'll be nothing but a passing memory."
TBC
AN: A bit of angst in this chapter, huh? So just what is Akito planning? I'll leave that for your imagination, but I'm pretty sure everyone will figure out his plan. I have the whole month off from school, so I'll try to update the other chapters by then. But even if I don't have school, I still have work, but I'll try my best. Send your reviews and I wish everyone a happy new year!