Chapter 11

Hatori's pounding footsteps echoed around the Sohma estate as he reached the main house. Don't do this Akito, he thought heatedly as he pulled open the door and marched down the corridor to Akito's den. There was no light shining from inside, the only light visible was that from the street lamp outside in the garden. As he approached the door to her room, Hatori slowed to a halt, breathing slowly, silently; and listening to the voices within.

"How dare you go near my Yuki? How dare you try to befriend him?" Akito screamed, throwing Akina to the floor by her hair. She then kneeled by the girl and cupped her face in her hands. Akina sobbed, terrified of what Akito would do next. "So, tell me Miss. Saito. What is it that drew you to my dear Yuki?" her voice was high, soft, cold. It alone made Akina heart pound against her ribs. "Is he nice?" she asked, digging her nails deep into Akina cheeks. Akina gritted her teeth and winced, trying her hardest to fight the pain. "Did he make you feel happy for the first time in your pathetic little life?" Akito dragged her nails hard down Akina's face, leaving long deep scratch marks, blood emergent from her wounds. More tears spilled from her eyes and mixed with the blood. Akito threw Akina to the side and got back to her feet.

Shigure pulled up outside the Sohma estate.

"S-Sohma!" spat Akisame, in complete disbelief. "You guys are Sohma's?"

Shigure ignore her and jumped from the car, as did the rest of the group. Akisame slowly pushed open her door and climbed weakly to her feet.

"Akina has been hanging around with Sohma children? No wonder she has been targeted! I bet it's that sick head of your family! Sohma's! I can't believe it!" Yuki stopped and turned to Akisame, feeling extremely annoyed.

"Yes! Sohma's. We are Sohma's. Your sister has been hanging around with Sohma's! But who cares? It's just a name! What do the petty arguments of our ancestors matter to us? It's just a name!" Yuki yelled. Just a name…the words echoed around his head as they entered the gates and marched to the main house; Shigure leading the way, Akisame trailing behind, tears spilling down her flushed cheeks.

Akito grasped the sharp silver object in her hand. A crazy grin plastered on her face, her eyes wide with glee.

Akina held her hands up to her face and screamed as loud as she could.

"Oh dear, no one can hear you, what ever will you do?"

Akina sobbed hysterically, her arms still shielding her face.

"I'm going to make you regret the day you ever crossed the path of the Sohma family!"

As they reached the door leading into the house, Shigure spotted Hatori at the end of the corridor and made his was silently towards him. He made a gesture over his shoulder to tell the rest of them to stay where they were, but Yuki couldn't. He darted down the corridor, pushing past Shigure and Hatori and burst straight into the room.

"Akito!" he yelled furiously, seeing her looming over the girl, holding a glinting knife in her hand.

He dived at Akito, knocking her to the floor; the knife flew from her hand as she screamed with fury. They hit the floor and skidded into the wall, knocking over the small table holding the vase, which smashed centimetres from them.

"What are you doing!" she screeched, throwing Yuki away from her. He had landed badly on his arm and was cradling it, wincing with the pain. Akito noticed this and knelt by his side.

"Oh Yuki, have you hurt yourself? You silly boy… Let me see," she said in her usual manipulative icy voice.

Yuki stared at her in horror and backed against the wall.

He spotted Akina huddled in the centre of the room. "What have you done to her?" he spat venomously.

"Don't speak to me like that Yuki…" Akito said, her voice gaining a cruel forcefulness.

Yuki breathed heavily, before crawling quickly across the room, using his only good arm, desperate to get to Akina's side.

Akito was too quick for him as she darted over to him and kicked him as hard as she could in the stomach, narrowly missing his cradled damaged arm. The wind was knocked out of him as she fell to the floor and rolled onto his back, trying desperately to regain his breath.

"Do not defy me Yuki or would you like me to lock you back into that special little room I keep only for you?" Yuki's eyes widened as she bent over him and placed her hand gently against his cheek.

"Don't you miss me? I bet you wish you could only have that special treatment I used to give you. But you know it's not fair on the others." She released his chin and got back to her feet. She spotted the knife lying meters away from her and caressed it in her fragile hand. "And now to finish the job I started before you interrupted Yuki, would you like to watch your little girlfriend die?"

This was enough, Hatori and Shigure burst into the room. Hatori ran to Yuki and Akina's aid as Shigure made strait for Akito. He took hold of her wrist and wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her into a tight hug.

"What are you doing?" he whispered into her ear; still not releasing her wrist with the knife held firmly in her hand. "Put it down Akito."

"You can't tell me what to do," she barked, although she had stopped fighting against his grip.

"Put it down," he repeated gently.

Hatori bent over Akina who appeared to have passed out. Yuki was okay accept for his damaged arm and slightly winded breathing.

"I-Is she okay?" he breathed, wincing as his arm gave another minor jolt of pain. After a long pause whilst he examined her, Hatori answer.

"She's not hurt too badly. There's a lot of bruising and these large cuts down her cheeks need cleaned up; but other than that she should be okay. She just needs a lot of rest." Yuki breathed a heavy sigh of relief, but soon ceased when his arm gave a particularly nasty throb.

"Yuki let me see your arm." Hatori commanded. He didn't have to look too long before announcing. "It's broken." Yuki watched as Shigure held Akito and felt his hatred towards her boil over.

At this moment, a frantic Akisame came running into the room.

"Akina!" she cried, collapsing to the side of her little sister. She sobbed at the sight of her; her face covered in blood, her arms and legs bruised. Akisame then turned to see Akito grinning wickedly at the scene.

"It was you!" she screamed, jumping to her feet and diving at Akito. Hatori's quick reaction stopped a fight from breaking, but Aki fought as hard as she could against his grip around her waist.

"Shigure, get Akito out of here!" he called, struggling with Akisame. "Ms. Saito please stop fighting with me, Akito is going now."

Akisame cried out with frustration as Shigure lead the grinning Akito from the room. She pushed Hatori away and wiped at her mouth with her sleeve.

"Who the hell do you think you are? She nearly killed my sister! That sick bitch deserves what's coming to her!" she yelled.

Hatori sighed. "I'm sorry Ms. Saito but I cannot allow you anywhere near out head of house, especially in this state. I think it would be best if we concentrated on young Miss. Saito right now." Akisame looked back at her sister, slowly covering her mouth with her hands.

"Is she okay?" she asked quietly, tears welling in her blue eyes.

"She will be, with a lot of rest." Hatori replied. "Now I must go and help Shigure restrain Akito." He left Yuki and Akisame to tend to Akina, who was still lying, as though asleep, on that hard wooden floor. Tears spilled to the floor as Akisame knelt by her sister, caressing her hand gently.

"Please wake up Akina, come on, wake up," she whispered.

Yuki watched her, and then looked at the bloody face of Akina. He took hold of the bottom of his shirt and then picked up a sharp piece of the broken vase and cut off a piece of material. He dipped it in the spilled water and then gently dabbed at the scratches on her cheeks.

Akisame watched Yuki as he tended gently to her sister and felt a small smile played across her lips.

"You really care about her… don't you?" she asked him quietly.

Yuki looked up at Akisame and noticed she was looking right at him. He looked down at Akina and continued to cleanse her wounds.

"I… yes, I do."

Aki smiled and nodded slowly. "She's been through more than you will ever know… but you'll take care of her, right?"

Yuki smiled slightly and nodded. He really did care for Akina, and she understood him better than anyone. He only wished he was worthy to show her what she has shown him.

Slowly the girl's eyes flickered open she spotted Akisame and Yuki leaning over her.

"Akina!" cried Akisame, hugging her sister tightly. Akina lay stunned for a moment before her expression softened and she patted her sister gently on the back.

"I'm okay," she whispered, closing her eyes. A few tears spilled down her wounded cheeks.

Yuki watched the sisters hold each other. They are so close… I don't think they realise how much they need each other.

Akina then reopened her eyes and looked at Yuki. He looked at her. And in that moment… all was forgiven.