A/N - I apologise for how long it took me to get this chapter up. I can only plead RL. Please, enjoy if you're still around. It's drawing to the end now...
Chapter 8 – The Dark
As soon as I entered the place Akito was taking me, I realised at once where I was. Yuki's torture room. The place where Akito had systematically demolished his self-esteem. Seeing it for real, I could tell why. Suddenly my room upstairs that had seemed like a prison was now like paradise. And Akito hadn't even started talking. I told myself that whatever she might do, I couldn't give in to the darkness. I had to be strong, and someday, I would get out of this dream-turned-nightmare and go home, where I belonged. Seeing Yuki and living with Shigure had been fun, while it lasted, but as soon as Akito had entered the picture, she had ruined it, as usual. I shuddered to think what the situation would be like at home. My parents had to be worried sick – I had been gone almost two weeks (give or take a couple of years that I was still not sure of.)
Akito pushed me inside, Momiji long forgotten. In a way, I suppose, that had been my overall goal – to save Momiji, although I wasn't sure I had wanted all of Akito's attentions on me, seeing as how I had been desperately trying to avoid them the past few days. But it couldn't be helped now. For better or worse, I would take the punishment for Momiji.
Better me than him, was my only thought of consolation as Akito advanced on me, eyes burning. I fell back from the hatred in those eyes, cowering in the corner even as Yuki had done, no matter how much my mind told my heart to be strong.
Akito stood there for a moment, at an apparent loss for words. I held my breath, waiting. What form would her torment take?
Then she slapped me, and I reeled from the blow. It was the first time someone had actually hit me, and I had no protection. Treacherous tears sprang to my eyes and threatened to fall down my cheeks. Akito's silhouette became blurry.
"Who do you think you are?" she spat, hitting me again. I cried out, pressing myself even further back into the corner, trying to make myself small. "Do you think you're God? Well, do you?" Even if I had tried to answer, I wouldn't have gotten the chance because she steamrollered ahead.
"You disgust me. My own sister, trying to usurp my place among the Juunishi." I opened my mouth, but no words would come.
"Did you think that by appearing kind and gentle you would gain their favour? You're wasting your time, onee- san," she cried. "They don't understand kindness. They don't need it. They're animals! Inside… and out."
I didn't trust myself to answer. I wanted to say "you're wrong," but that would only aggravate the situation. I was smart enough to realise that.
"Well, say something, dammit!" Akito said, hitting me again. I collapsed to the floor, curling about my stomach. I couldn't speak. Akito laughed, a cruel, grating sound.
"Are you only just realising how meaningless it is trying to refuse me what is mine? How meaningless your own life is? Did you think you could suddenly appear and destroy all I have laboured to create? You are a mistake, a lunatic's bastard offspring."
The tears that I had been suppressing broke free at those words. It wasn't true. It wasn't! I had parents – this was the mistake.
"Don't you see? The Juunishi are MINE!" She kicked me. "Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine!" Each time she said it, a kick accented her words. The pain was overwhelming. On the last, I heard a sickening crack, and a searing fire shot up my side. Cracked rib, said the part of me that was still sentient, then blackness began to creep around my eyes. The last thing I saw was Akito bending over me, seemingly genuinely sorry about what she had done.
"Onee-san?I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me… I'll get Hatori. You hang on, okay? Hang on, onee-san." There was sweetness and sadness and kindness in that tone. I almost smiled, thinking about what I knew Akito would become. I knew no more.
The next face I saw was Hatori's, looking down at me.
"You seem to have a knack for getting into trouble in this world, don't you?" His voice was stern, but his eyes were kind. I smiled, the expression just about the only thing I could do in my current state. Over Hatori's shoulder, I could just see above his shoulder that I was still in the dark room. So Akito had been worried enough to get Hatori, but hadn't allowed me out of the room.
"Akito sounded pretty worried when she went to get you… before I blacked out," I said. Hatori looked at me uncomprehendingly.
"You mean… you're actually worried… about her?" he asked, "after what she did to you?" I supposed he wasn't trying to hide "her" because he knew that I knew.
"I know that there's some good in her, if that's what you mean," I replied, "and I don't like anyone to worry."
"Well… You just caught me by surprise is all…" He recovered quickly.
"I believe there's someone who wants to see you. It would have to be brief, since Akito would not sanction it, but I believe I will be able to keep her away for a while."
My heart lept, then sank below my feet. It had to be Yuki. What would he think? Was he here to break it off? Had my being Akito's sister ruined our relationship? Of course it had. Why would he want to be with the sister of his worst enemy?
"Please… I want to see him." I really did. Just this one last time. To prove to myself that it was not all a dream. Then whatever else happened to me didn't matter.
Hatori nodded, and looked over his shoulder, calling.
"You can come in now. But be quick." Then he bowed to me and let himself out.
Yuki entered, stopping just inside the door. I couldn't put a name to the emotions on his face, and didn't try. I didn't want to speak, and, apparently, neither did he. I just kept looking at him. Seeing his face in three dimensions was still a novelty. He was so beautiful… it never failed to take my breath away. Finally, I knew I had to speak.
"Yuki-kun…" my voice trailed off, unsure. Were we still on first-name terms?
"Kokoro-kun." Apparently not. "Why…? What…?" There were too many questions for him to voice. He fell silent, waiting for an explanation, any explanation.
I hung my head. What could I say? "I'm sorry… I didn't know. I had no idea… This is all news to me… I'm starting to think living in other worlds isn't as perfect as I first thought. All I want to do is go home – but I don't even know how to do that!" Tears began to fall from my eyes as I finally spoke the concern that had been haunting me since I first entered the new world.
He nodded. "You should go home." A sob escaped me. I knew this was how it was supposed to be, but it still hurt. I inhaled sharply – crying hurt my ribs.
He was instantly there. I was so surprised that I stopped crying. He caught my tear on his finger, just as he had that first time on the roof. I looked up at him, startled, and saw that he was smiling kindly. Was I delusional?
"Oh… Kokoro." I noted the use of my name. "I'm sorry. I just was so worried about you. I'm sorry." He put his arm around me, no longer shocked that he didn't transform.
"For what?" I was so confused. Wasn't he supposed to be mad at me?
"I couldn't protect you," he said. "I came with you to the main house to keep you from Akito, and now look what's happened." He looked at me with concern. "What lies has he told you?"
Brokenly, I told him. He shook his head.
"That's a blatant lie. You shouldn't trouble yourself about it any more." I smiled, grateful to him, but still I wondered: how could he so easily dismiss Akito's lies towards me when he couldn't in himself?
I was sill having a hard time getting my head around it.
"You mean… you're not mad at me?" Yuki chuckled and shook his head. "I couldn't be farther from it, Kokoro. I was just anxious. That's all."
I laughed a little, then stopped when it hurt my ribs. "I'm so glad," I said. "I don't know if I could stand you being mad at me."
He kissed my cheek. "That's why I never will be," he said. "I couldn't possibly be angry after what you did for Momiji. Hatori told me," he said to my questioning look. "and I think it was very brave." I blushed – I hadn't been brave at the time.
"That said," Yuki continued, and I looked up suddenly at the change in his tone, "what I said before still stands. You should go home. You have Akito's hatred now, and this world is not safe."
I looked down again. I knew he was right, but could I go back to merely looking at him on a page or on a television screen when I knew I had once had the flesh and blood with his arms around me?
He hugged me rather hesitantly, guessing my thought. "It's all right, Kokoro. I will still be here, and whenever you want to, you can think of me. Maybe someday, when everything's calmed down, you can come back. But right now, we have to get you out of here." I nodded. My eyes were dry. I knew that as soon as things "calmed down", Akito would be revealed as a woman and Yuki would be in love with Machi. It was a shame. What we could have had… But it was all a moot point. The storyline would be dramatically different if Yuki was my boyfriend instead of Machi's. Still, it hurt.
"Without giving away too much, Yuki," I said, "I have to tell you – if you ever find someone else, don't worry about me," I said. "I probably won't be coming back." He started to speak, but I stopped him. "You can deny it all you like now," I said, "but the truth is, you have to be with someone else. For the good of the storyline." I shook my head. "It was a dream, Yuki. Nothing more."
"I don't believe you," he said, but didn't continue.
I looked down again. What could I answer to that?
Hatori's voice came from somewhere near the doorway.
"Yuki, I would make myself scarce if I were you. He's coming."
Yuki hesitated, and then kissed me. Properly. I gasped a tiny bit, ignoring the pain it brought.
"I'll be back, Kokoro," he said. I was too startled and pleased to say anything. The next second, Yuki had slipped out and escaped. I lay back down, putting a hand to my lips. I wanted to take a picture of that moment and put it in a box forever. But I knew I would have to be content with memories. Witting or not, Yuki had just made it ten times harder for me to leave this world. But Yuki had to be with Machi. That was how it had to be… if I could ever leave this world.
Hatori entered again. "Did you have a good time?" The corner of his mouth turned up in a rare smile, and I knew I didn't have to answer. "I'm guessing you don't want to see Akito?" I hesitated.
"No, not right now." he nodded. "I thought as much," he said. "Pretend you're asleep. You're recovering, so it's plausible. She's coming now." I smiled, and closed my eyes. I would have turned onto my side, but it hurt my ribs too much, so I didn't.
"I'm sorry, Akito," came Hatori's voice, "but she's sleeping. You hurt her fairly badly, and her body is recovering. You'll have to come back later."
I listened for Akito's reaction. This would show how mad she still was at me.
"Damn weakling," she growled, "didn't put up any resistance at all."
Hatori was silent. "You are very overbearing, Akito," he said finally.
"What's that supposed to be?" she asked him, her voice now deadly calm. She knew exactly what it was. I held my breath. Hatori knew how to take care of himself. I couldn't protect him, not like this.
"You know exactly what that is. The truth. She had no defences at all. I don't think she'd ever even been hit before."
Akito laughed. "Then I had the honour of being the first? Dubious, perhaps, but there you have it. Onee - san needed to grow up. I helped. That's all there is to it, Hatori!"
Hatori said nothing. I let out my breath, being careful to control it so that it didn't attract attention. Hatori certainly did know how to take care of himself. He knew how to divert Akito's rage expertly.
"Well, it seems the little brat is going to ignore my wishes once again. I'll be back."
"Of course, Akito." I heard footsteps moving away. A short time later, Hatori's voice came above me again.
"It's all right, Kari-kun," he said, "She's gone." I opened my eyes.
"That was a masterful performance," I said. Hatori looked away. "I have practice," he replied.
I nodded. Eventually, Hatori turned back.
"We have to get you out of here, and out of this world. You'll only get hurt if you stay here." I nodded again. "Of course, we can't move you in this state, but when you get better, you have to get out."
"You're right," I said. He left the room.
"Don't forget to sleep," he said, "It will make you heal faster." The door closed, and I was alone.
I closed my eyes, but had no intention of going to sleep. I wanted to plan how to get out when the chance came. But before long, despite my best intentions, my eyes dropped closed and I dozed.
This time, instead of dreaming of Fruits Basket, I dreamed of home. Suddenly, I became aware of another presence in my dream.
"Who are you?" I asked. Visions of my room were suddenly replaced with utter blackness, with only a small glow in the dark.
Someone close to you. The erethral voice came from the glowing orb in the midst of the darkness. I suddenly felt comforted, even though I didn't know who it was. The fact that you have become aware of me already bodes very well. I may even be able to show myself to you sooner than expected. But you have much to learn before then, so it would be best if you forgot about this for now.
When I woke, several hours later, I had no memory of the incident.
For several days, I recovered in Yuki's penitentiary, and all I saw was Hatori. He somehow managed to keep Akito away from me, and for that I was very grateful, because I knew that it had to be very hard. But somehow he managed it, and I slowly got better. But things couldn't stay like this forever. Either I had to get out, or Akito had to see me.
A/N - If you thought that sounded like a segue into another story... You'd be right! I do plan on writing another one connected to this one... whether I do or not remains to be seen.