The stillness in the air surrounding Tohru caused her lungs to depreciate. Every corner of the room was filled with a hazy glow of shadows, her body hidden within it. Her muscles tugged at her as she writhed on her bed. The bitter draft swept through her veins and that was when she awoke from her nightmare. Her body ached as if she had undergone intensive surgery. Her eyes had become tiny slits, her hair was frizzy and she saw that there was a growing dimness outside the window. The light must have played a trick on her mind; there was no way possible that fog could float around in her room.
She sat up and scooted over towards the edge of the bed. As her toes touched the floor timidly, she felt a shiver run up her back. With all the strength she could use, Tohru pushed herself to stand. In a matter of a second, her knees buckled and she winced as her knees hit the floor. Her arms held her up, and she crawled slowly to the door. She slid it open and then pushed herself up again, using the wall to aid her.
The strength inside of her was fluctuating but the stream of sunlight guided her down the stairs. She had to go to the Sohma House before they would start to wonder what happened to Akito. Her life was crumbling, her frizzy hair portraying that.
..:-:..
Everyone had already made it to the house. The walk there was in eerie silence. This is how everyone felt each time they went to visit the head of the Sohmas. Shigure was the first to step through the gate. As he did, the feeling in the pit of his stomach subsided and he smiled. For the first time, he felt like a regular person, there was no condemning no person to answer to, and he knew that in his heart. The celebration ended in a moment, when everyone came inside and felt the same lack of worry inside of them. There was something wrong.
A door opened in the distance, and Hatori stepped out. Yuki dropped his jaw, as did everyone else, when Hatori came running towards them laughing cheerfully.
"Everyone is here! It's so wonderful! Come! There's a feast inside!"
Suddenly, everyone turned their heads to the left as the squealing melodies of Ayame's theater voice sang to the strumming of his guitar.
"What a wonderful day it is today! Let's join together as I say! It will be marvelous like Hatori, but maybe you'll do something to him and say sorry!"
Kyo walked up to Ayame, whose silver hair shined brilliantly in the sunlight. He fumed and rolled his eyes.
"That made no sense at all."
"So?" He strummed his guitar once again, "it's still a song and I feel as pretty as a songbird! Say, where's dear Tohru?"
Silence emitted from the group gathered in the courtyard and then Kagura spoke up while rubbing her arm.
"She's not feeling that well. So Tohru stayed home."
Hatori returned back to his regular state of mind and looked at her with concern.
"Is she all right? Should I go check up on her?"
"Oh no, I think that won't be necessary Hatori. Kagura gave her some tea and she's resting in bed. I think she's caught a cold."
Hatori cocked his eyebrow at Shigure who was smiling sheepishly. Yuki looked towards the house gloomily and then looked away, the memories haunting him.
"So, you said there's food?"
"Plenty! What's a beautiful day like this without a feast?" Ayame asked gloriously.
Right then, there was a crack of loud thunder above them, and to their surprise, the sun had disappeared in a matter of moments behind a sky filled with ominous gray clouds. Kyo immediately scurried across the courtyard and into the safe comfort of the house. Kagura followed right after, and the rest of them came in as well. In the main dining room, there was a long table filled with every kind of food. Ayame and Shigure started to pour the drinks for everyone, and then suddenly the door slid open.
Kisa, the little orange-headed girl, was stepped inside timidly as Hiro followed her with folded arms.
"Well look who it is! I'm so glad the two of you are here!" exclaimed Hatori.
"Don't forget me!"
Momiji came bouncing in after them and headed straight for the table. Soon enough, everyone began to talk and laugh as the thunder boomed outside. No one paid any notice of it however, and the party continued without any interruptions.
"Isn't this fantastic? Almost everyone in the zodiac is here! Where's Hatsuharu?" asked Ayame.
"You know, I'm not too sure, but I think he said that he and Rin had gone somewhere."
Shigure and Ayame laughed hysterically as they poked each other in the ribs. Hatori came over to them and sighed.
"Will the two of you ever grow up?"
"Come on Hatori! It's fun to be crazy and wild, like us!"
Somewhere in another corner of the room, Momiji and Kisa were dancing to some music on the radio. Hiro kept eyeing them, a scowl placed on his face. The soft hush of the rain bounced off of the porch and that was the only reason why he wasn't mouthing off. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Hiro loved Kisa, and this would finally be the day that he would be able to tell her. They had grown up a bit since Tohru had come to resolve the issue of Kisa's coyness.
Yuki stood alone near the porch. He was the one who had opened the door a bit, and he couldn't help but stare out at the rain. The foggy blur and the puddles on the ground vibrated with each drop of water. The impact seemed to strike him as if the rain were plummeting down on top of him. His body felt heavy for some reason, and the more he tuned out from the noise of the party, the more he began to worry about Tohru. Something was wrong, it was subtle, and no one seemed to talk a word about Akito's disappearance. But he knew perfectly well why everyone was in a cheerful mood, and that exactly why he couldn't be as joyous as the rest of them.
..:-:..
Tohru had struggled to walk on her own to the house. The entire time she was alone with her thoughts, and she couldn't bear to hear the conflicts rising inside of her mind. There wasn't enough time to fight herself though, and when that was the case, it was really a fight with Akito. His voice popped into her head ever so often, and teased her. Finally, the rage inside of her heart piled up into one huge ball and she felt the electricity in the air around her. As she neared the house, she looked up and saw that the thunder had finally let loose a wave of rain. Each drop pushed her down more, weakening her, yet when she finally came to the gates of the Sohma residence, she merely stood in front of them, letting the rain soak through to her pale skin. She didn't feel the cold seeping into her head, her hair straight and sleek, dripping along with the rain. Her clothes pressed against her arms and legs, and then finally she pushed the gate open. Each step she took, she took with an overbearing weight that kept her planted firmly to the ground.
Yuki kept his gaze out into the courtyard. Suddenly, he saw it open and when her small frame stepped through, his eyes widened and he gasped. Yuki pushed the door ajar and leapt out into the rain. He winced as the rush of rain fell onto him with more force than he had initially imagined. Tohru didn't pay any attention, and all she did was focus her eyes on the ground. Yuki was soaked within seconds of coming outside, but he didn't care. As soon as he reached her, the puddles around his feet flooded into his shoes and then Tohru just stood. She slowly raised her head and what Yuki saw made him step back in shock.
Her eyes were drooping in their sockets. Her nose was blotched red and her bangs sliced against the skin of her forehead. She was shriveled in her wet clothes and her arms were hanging against her body limply. Her lips parted and she gasped for breaths.
"Do they know? Am I late?"
All Yuki could do was shake his head in response. It pained him to see her state worsen like this, but he didn't have the time for a talk; he had to get her inside before she died from hypothermia.
"Come on Tohru. I have to get you inside."
She shivered when he touched her, but Tohru let the warmth of his hand seep into her shoulder. They made their way towards the open porch doors, in which almost all of the members of the Sohma family were standing in. Kisa watched in horror as Tohru's ill form came closer to her view. She whimpered to see her friend in such a state, and Hiro noticed this. He took her hand and held it tight. Kisa looked up to him, her golden eyes round and afraid.
"It's all right Kisa. Tohru is going to be fine."
He tugged on her arm and they left the group. She followed hesitantly as he lead her to a corridor and into the kitchen. He showed her the desert treats on the table and her tears softened. She let go of his hand and wiped her eyes so that they were dry.
"Look Kisa! We can be the first ones to get whatever desert we want! What do you think? The chocolate supreme cake, or the banana split, with whipped cream and a cherry on top?"
She smiled meekly and found herself laughing along with Hiro. Kisa scratched her head and then took the banana split.
"I'm going to take this! It looks almost too pretty to eat!"
Hiro took the plate with the slice of cake and then looked right into her eyes.
"It's not as pretty as you are though…"
Both of them blushed madly, but the dim kitchen hid their flushed faces. Suddenly they both jumped when the door in the dining room was slammed shut.
"Kagura! Get her a couple of blankets!"
Hatori led the shivering girl into the other room. Shigure went to fix the fireplace immediately and then Tohru sat down in the oversized chair that was placed right next to it. Kagura rushed into the room with a bundle of blankets, which she handed over to Yuki. He wrapped Tohru in them and then took one for himself. Kyo stood away from the fireplace, observing what was happening. The trail of water stains came from the dining room and ended right where Tohru sat. Suddenly, the festive atmosphere of the party had ceased to exist. Momiji knelt beside her and looked at her with worry.
"Tohru, are… are you all right?"
She didn't even look at him. She stared off into space, the voices in her head becoming stronger. Hatori took Shigure aside with Ayame, and the three of them held a concerned conference.
"It seems to me that she is out of her mind," said Hatori.
"Well, she was acting a bit strange around the house…"
"Come now, dear Tohru is simply having a very overt case of the hilly pox!"
The two of them looked at Ayame with annoyed confusion. He cleared his throat in explanation.
"You see, every girl has a case of the hilly pox before she matures into a beautiful woman, as graceful as a swan! She is in the process of figuring out what it means to have emotional attachments for the opposite gender! Oh how unfortunate it is that Tohru must suffer so!"
Hatori smacked Ayame on the back of his head and then Shigure rolled his eyes. Ayame was known for not being serious at times when things weren't so funny as he thought they were.
"I'm going to try to forget that he even thought of that excuse. I should examine her as soon as possible and figure out what's happened to her mind."
The three of them nodded and then turned their heads to look at Tohru, who was now warming to the flames of the fire. Amber sparks glinted in its light and her eyes shadowed the hollow flames inside of her soul.
'You must do it Tohru… you must do it…'
She shook her head furiously and closed her eyes. Momiji stepped back as the droplets of water flew from the ends of her hair. Yuki knew what was happening to her, more or less. The trauma of what had happened to her must have been enough to cause mental damage inside of her mind. He felt his limbs wearing down to the ground and he began to slouch as he watched the emptiness inside of her grow with each second that passed by. The room was silent and the dull roar of thunder escaped into the fireplace causing the flames to flicker momentarily.
Shigure watched her aching movements, the way her head hung low and her eyes gazed at nothing in particular. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach, his worry not just for her, but for the rest of them as well. As soon as she had stepped inside that house, the dreadful void was filled once again. Akito might not have been there, and no one really knew why, but each knew better than to ask Tohru about it.
"Get me to my room."
Yuki moved at once and helped her stand up. The blankets were soaking now, and as they fell onto the chair, she fumbled with her fingers so that she could grab onto Yuki's arm. The two of them left the room, no one daring to say a word to Tohru. Her presence had been made, her power already making the invisible barrier delve into their hearts. They walked up the stairs in silence and without knowing where they were going; they headed straight into Akito's old room. Tohru let go of Yuki's arm and she stared at the bed for a few minutes, not blinking once.
'You and I are one… one…'Yuki saw Tohru suddenly jolt out of her trance and he pulled her into his arms. For a second, she seemed to resist, pushing him away feebly. Yuki was much stronger than her, and in a matter of moments, his warmth caressed her body and she sighed heavily. He stroked her stiff hair and then held her.
"Why did you come here Tohru? Why did you leave?"
Her muffled sobs echoed into his chest and she pulled on him tighter.
"I don't know Yuki… I don't know anything anymore… except for the voices in my head… he really won't leave me alone…it's horrible…"
"Who won't leave you alone?"
She stepped back and gazed into his cloudy eyes.
"Akito! I told you before… please believe me Yuki… you have to help…"
He focused on her eyes, how they dilated and contracted within seconds even though the amount of light hadn't changed at all. She shivered then, and he knew that when she closed her eyes, something was happening to her.
'He can't help you… make him leave…'"Tohru?"
She swallowed hard and then stood up straight. When she opened her eyes and let the air out of her lungs, she looked directly into his eyes with commanding.
"You have to go Yuki. Please leave me."
He shook his head. There was no way he was going to leave her now that he was alone with her.
"I can't do that Tohru. I have to stay with you."
She stepped right up to him and lifted her head as she tilted it to the right. Her eyelids were half closed and she peered at him from underneath. Yuki had the strange sensation that he was talking with someone else beside Tohru.
"Do you want me to hurt you Yuki? I'll do it if I have to. Remember before?"
The walls seemed to close in around him as he looked into her eyes. He had to break the eye contact, and only then was he able to breathe.
"I need to be alone for a while. I'll come down when I'm better."
Yuki detested himself for stepping through the open doorway, and then closing it behind him, but he had no other choice. Slowly, he walked down the stairs and made his way back to the room with the fireplace. Kagura rushed over to Yuki and looked at him pleadingly.
"Yuki? Is she all right? What's wrong with her?"
He shook his head and braved a smile.
"Tohru said she feels better when she rests here…"
Hatori came up to Yuki, who seemed to be just as tired as Tohru.
"Are you all right yourself?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
He walked past them all and went to go sit down in the chair where Tohru had sat minutes before. Yuki leaned his cheek on his hand and sighed. Everyone looked around aimlessly, the music no longer present in the house.
Hiro and Kisa were laughing joyously in the kitchen. Apparently, because of the darkness, Hiro had slipped and his face had fallen into another cake. He began to wipe the icing off of his face, but suddenly he felt a soft kiss on his right cheek. Kisa held her lips against his skin for a moment and then licked his face. She smacked her lips together as her tongue wiped the icing off of her mouth. Hiro smiled to himself and laughed.
"Thanks for helping Kisa."
"Sure! Do you want to go find a bathroom with a sink?"
"Okay… let's go."
He took her hand once more and they left the kitchen. They heard hushed whispers coming from the room where everyone was gathered. Thinking that Tohru was still there, Hiro guided Kisa up the stairs. She began to worry a bit because of the dim lighting, so she squeezed his hand tighter.
"There's nothing to worry about Kisa. Up here it's great. No one will be able to tell us what to do! We could even have our own adventure!"
They found the bathroom and went inside so that they could clean Hiro's face.
In the room at the end of the corridor, Tohru sat on her bed silently. She focused on the bed sheets and hung her head low. Suddenly, there was a boom of thunder and she froze with shock. Her eyes darted up and in the illuminating light of the room; she saw his figure sneering at her. Akito stood there translucent, yet very much alive. The overwhelming dread seeped into her body again and she edged towards the wall behind the bed.
"What do you want?"
The lightening lit up the room once more and this time, his ghostly figure was more shadowy than before, stirring up the fear in her throat.
"I'm glad you came back here… this is a special place Tohru…"The slouching figure darted towards her in a second and then the air particles, which held his image, became heavier and when his fingers grabbed her wrist, she felt him. Her eyes widened as his mouth covered hers. She expected the kiss to kill her, everything up until then had been torture enough, yet he didn't kiss her, and the more time passed, she realized that she didn't really feel him up against her. It had all been an illusion caused by the fear. Akito was gone; he couldn't come back to life. Even though he wasn't kissing her, she still felt the wind knocked out of her lungs. When he floated away towards the wall, he stood sneering once more. She sat up with more confidence this time, and she didn't feel anything at all. Her whole body was numb, but it wasn't just that. Tohru was incapable of understanding emotion right then, and when she heard his voice, she stood up at once.
"You need to separate happiness. Go to them, and make sure they know the truth behind their love. Go Tohru, and become one with me…"
She nodded and then slipped away from the room. Tohru slid the door shut and then turned her head towards the other end of the corridor. She heard faint giggles and then she narrowed her eyes. Her feet moved gracefully and with a hidden force she didn't have until that moment. When she reached the bathroom, she stood outside of it, ready for them to come outside of it.
"You're so funny Hiro… you always make me laugh!"
"I'm happy that you're happy Kisa. I need to tell you something… Kisa… there's no one else I'd rather be with than you…"
At that moment, the door flung open and Kisa's bright smile shrunk into nothing but a small oval. Tohru's eyes bore down into hers and then Kisa began to shake violently in fear. Hiro narrowed his eyes and started to reach for Kisa's arm so that he could protect her. Unfortunately, Tohru had developed faster reflexes than a cat in those few moments, and she snatched Kisa away by the hair on her head. Kisa cried out in pain and then found herself clinging to Tohru's arm out in the hallway. The light of the bathroom flooded onto Tohru, and Hiro could see that she had transformed into a powerful woman. She wasn't so weak anymore and there was a tiny bit of his heart that wanted to flee in fear, but he knew he couldn't.
"Tohru… why are you hurting me?" Kisa's small voice trembled as she asked.
"Listen to me Kisa, listen to me well. Hiro is a liar. He will hurt you so much that you will live in darkness for the rest of your life. You need to be with me, be with your true friend. I will protect you from hurt."
Kisa whimpered as the tears fell down her face. She looked into Hiro's helpless eyes, trying to reach out towards him. Kisa was lost, unable to define which was the truth. Tohru was her friend and she trusted her, yet she felt an inseparable bond with Hiro. She looked up to Tohru and then shrank further as the hollow circles filled her thoughts.
"Kisa… I would never hurt you!"
At that moment, all she heard was a loud slap, and then she saw that the left side of Hiro's face was bright red. Tohru stood above him and warned him.
"Don't lie again."
It was that simple. All she had to do was say those three words and he would obey, he had to. Hiro took one last glance at Kisa, who was whimpering still. As he began to make his way towards the stairs, he changed his course at once and then took Kisa into his arms. He closed his eyes tightly, hoping that Tohru wouldn't kick him aside, but suddenly he felt that he was holding onto nothing. Hiro opened his eyes and took a step back as the clouds receded. A small tiger lay curled up on the floor and she cried hopelessly. Tohru picked Kisa up into her arms and then looked into Hiro's eyes cruelly.
"See what you've done to her? Go. And don't speak a word of this to anyone. Understood?"
Hiro nodded quickly and then bounded down the steps. His heart was filled with rage and sorrow for the loss of his love.
Tohru slipped back into her room and settled into the bed with Kisa in her arms. She tucked her clothes under the sheets and then held her close to her body, trying to comfort her. Kisa soon fell asleep in Tohru's arms and then popped back into her regular form. Tohru dressed her and then rested her head on top of Kisa's.
Sometime afterwards, Yuki saw Hiro come into the room. He was surprised that it was only Yuki there alone.
"Where did everyone go?"
The rain had subsided outside and the storm had passed.
"They went to bed. You should go too… where's Kisa?"
Before he could get an answer, Hiro had vanished from his view. The fire had simmered down to a soft glow and Yuki stood up, his body aching. He walked up the stairs as if he was an old man, too much on his mind and heart to think about. Yuki yawned as he opened the door to Tohru's room. He was taken aback when he saw that Kisa was sleeping with Tohru, each had their hair sprawled out on the pillows. He could see clearly that Tohru was troubled, even though she was sleeping. The only thing he could do was go to her and fall asleep, so as soon as his arms were around her protectively, he closed his eyes and let the dreams take him away from all of his troubles.
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A/N: Was that an okay chapter? Confusing, or stupid? I don't know what to do anymore… school is taking over my life… so I'm sorry, but the update for this might come in another month… please review before you go! It will help me when I need inspiration, for "reviews are a writer's food". :D Thanks so much for reading! Have a wonderful day!
-Monika-