Chapter 3 War Prayer
It was the day of graduation. Tohru was a nervous wreck. As she and Yuki and Kyo headed out of the house Shigure took her by the arms.
"Remember Tohru-kun, this is your day. This is the day you fulfill your promise to your mother. It should be a joyous occasion, not one fraught with worry. We can worry together tomorrow. For today be happy. You've earned this happiness little flower." He then patted her on the head and waved her on her way. As the three of them walked to school together Tohru knew this was her last chance to ask them to run away with her again. They had already both turned her down several times individually. She didn't have any time left to be afraid. Taking a deep breath she took both of their hands in hers as they walked along.
"I am so happy to be graduating, yet I wish this day had not come so quickly." Kyo and Yuki were both too busy delighting in holding her hand to notice her walk had slowed to practically a stand still. "Will you two please come away with me? Tonight, the three of us can just leave." It took the two boys a minute to register what she had said. When they did they looked her in the eyes. She was desperately hoping they would agree with her this time. Yuki dropped her hand and just shook his head.
"Dummy." Kyo said. "I already told you I couldn't. You know the reason why." Unlike that damn rat however, he held Tohru's hand in his, refusing to relinquish a second offered to him when he could touch her.
"Kyo, I won't leave you locked up in that place."
"Little idiot, Akito will never allow you in, the choice won't be yours." Though his words were harsh his voice was gentle.
"Akito can't stop me forever." Yuki watched Tohru's chin lift to a determined angle, worry blossoming in his heart.
"Honda-san must not cause Akito-sama to be angry with her." The very thought made him green. It evidently upset Kyo as well.
"Tohru, if you don't respect Akito's wishes and stay away from the compound he could have Hatori erase your memories." Tohru's eyes flashed blue fire and her nostrils flared. Kyo was transfixed. Tohru had been living with him at Shigure's house for four years and he had yet to see her angry. Yet here she was working herself into a fine rage. She was stunning. He noted that that damn Yuki was staring at her, similarly transfixed.
"Understand this, both of you, I will never allow Hatori to take what's mine! In the beginning, I just wanted what was best for the Sohma family. If that meant erasing my memories, that was okay. But since memories are all I am to be left with I will not relinquish them. Ever. Not to anyone for any reason. Hatori has no right to enter my mind and if he tries he will find a not so compliant Tohru on the other end of his stare!" Unaware that she had grabbed Yuki's hand and was squeezing both boys arms beneath hers she marched ahead in a rage. Yuki and Kyo were a bit shocked at Tohru's passion but had no time to comment.
"Ahh, such pleasant vibes. Yuki, Kyo, are not Tohru's vibes very pleasant this morning. Her strength is startling, is it not?" Hanajima was walking toward them her voice falling hollowly into the silence between them.
"Yo, what's up with you guys, you should be really excited, today's the day we all graduate!" Arisa's deep voice was irritated at what she felt was the boys failing in not arriving to school with a smiling Tohru. It was the last time either of the boys were able to be alone with Tohru for the rest of the day. Anytime they tried to be with her either Hana, Uo, or the two of them were at her side. That day the senior class was staying after school for graduation ceremonies. The entire Sohma clan with the exception of Kureno and Akito had arrived to show support for Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru. Tohru wept as she accepted her diploma. Ayame immediately swept her up in his arms as she stepped off the stage, proclaiming her the epitome of womanhood, ripe for the fantastic and romantic adventure of adulthood.
"And if my darling little brother had not already stolen your heart my dear Tohru, I Ayame Sohma, would sweep you into the night and shower you with the enchantment of my love!" Tohru blushed, but laughed, Ayame's good humor contagious.
Shigure kissed her softly on her cheek. "Our little flower has blossomed into the most beautiful white rose." Hatori took her hands in his, a small half smile crooked his lips as he gazed on her in approval, unaware of the rapidly approaching Hana and Uo who had broken ranks with the senior class the second Hatori had touched Tohru. Electricity caressed Hana's onyx tresses lightly as she glided close to Tohru, Uotani's eyes held a menacing look of bloodlust as her right hand dove into her gown to grasp her metal pipe.
"Tohru, I have never been more proud of anyone in my life. You finished high school, just as you always said you would, you managed to hold not just a part time job but the full time job of caring for our family as well as doing well enough in your studies to get accepted to college." Tohru blushed lightly as Hana and Uo took up protective ranks, flanking her on either side. Hatori drew back slightly as the two girls pulled Tohru away before she could even finish her muttered thank you.
"Tohru mutti! Momiji shouted as he ran up to her. "Here is a present for you. Your mutti would be so proud of you Tohru!" Tohru reached down gently to take the package from Momiji, her eyes straying up to Hatsuharu who stood behind Momiji smiling gently at her. She felt her heart do a little flip flop. He was almost as devastating as Yuki was when he smiled like that.
"Th-th-thank you, Momiji-kun." She unwrapped the small gift and almost burst into tears. It was a picture taken at the lake house. A picture of Tohru in between Kyo and Yuki, an exuberant Momiji winking at the camera standing in front of her. They all looked so happy, but what took her breath away was the tender way Yuki and Kyo were both smiling at her. Kyo had his a finger wrapped around a strand of her hair and Yuki had a hand wrapped around one of her own. She was smiling. She remembered how happy they had been that day.
"Momiji-kun, it's the best gift ever, thank you so much!"
"Yay! Tohru liked my gift Haru, you were right it was a good idea." As Momiji laughed Tohru made eye contact with Hatsuharu and she mouthed a thank you to him . He smiled and turned, returning to the family. They were still waiting for the Sohma name to be called. Yuki and Kyo had yet to walk across the stage.
"Are you alright Tohru?" Arisa asked her softly. "When we saw the doctor approach you we came as fast as we could." Tohru nodded.
"I'm fine, thank you guys for looking out for me."
"They still won't come with you, will they?" Hanajima said softly. It was more of a statement than a question but Tohru answered anyway.
"No. Their bond is too strong. I cannot break it. I must become stronger." Hanajima and Arisa exchanged a look above her head. They knew Tohru had not told them the full truth. This was the first they had heard of a bond. They each nodded slightly to the other, making a mental note of the slip. Although they both respected Tohru's right to keep her secrets, they knew too, she sometimes kept to herself things she should be telling others. She put too much of the blame on herself and that wasn't healthy for her. Tohru returned to her seat at the front if the stage where everyone was sitting after receiving their diplomas and Hana and Uo got back in line.
When the ceremonies were concluded there was a huge reception held in the courtyard. Yuki's fanclub was there trying desperately to get his attention. The Sohma's were spread out. Ayame and Hatori were speaking with Yuki, Haru and Momiji were teasing Kyo about something and he looked like he was getting upset. Hana-chan and Uo-chan stayed by Tohru through the whole thing.
It was late and the crowd had thinned significantly. Megume was congratulating Hanajima when he slipped on someones discarded cap. Uo-chan was at his arm and she leaned over casually to help him up when it happened.
"Tohru!" Momiji shouted exuberantly. He leapt from the floor and up into her arms. Tohru's eyes widened in shock. She had a choice, miss him and let him fall, or hug him and allow him to transform, one thing was for certain there was no way to avoid his embrace without risking him hurt.
Hatsuharu and Yuki saw her problem a second too late, they ran toward her but were just not quick enough. It was Shigure who saved them. He had been trying to get Tohru away from her friends for the last half hour, but it was as if they had blockaded Tohru from being alone with any of the Sohma's. He almost believed it was deliberate, but subterfuge was so beyond the realm of what he expected from Tohru that he put it from his mind. His arm shot out as Tohru embraced Momiji. PYON! He changed from a beautiful young man into a small yellow bunny. Shigure half scooped her up half pushed her into the hallway near a fire exit.
"Quickly, Tohru-kun! Tori has a car waiting we have to get Momiji in it before someone notices he has disappeared." Shigure intoned urgently, smoothly guiding her to the Limo Hatori had waiting for them.
"Hai!" Tohru stated determinedly, completely unaware of the danger she was allowing herself to be caught in. Her first priority was to protect the Sohma family secret. She slid into the car quickly. Shigure slid in as well sitting in the seat opposite her. Yuki followed in behind her as Kyo entered from the other side. She was effectively sandwiched between the two boys she loved more than anything in the world, Momiji, still in his bunny form snuggling up to her. Hatsuharu was sitting across from her next to Shigure. Ayame and Hatori were in the front. Hatori put the limo in gear and Tohru realized the Sohma's had quite smoothly separated her from her friends. Her eyes slowly lifted from the bunny to meet Shigure's. His gaze was unreadable; he had a blank smile on his face. She looked to Hatsuharu who refused to look at her.
Tohru was not the smartest person. Nor could she be said to be possessed of an especially quick wit. Her strengths were emotional, intuitive leaps of emotion meeting logic. That was her specialty. She suddenly had one of those leaps. She wasn't going to be given the two days she desperately needed to say goodbye to the Sohma's, they were going to do it tonight. She inhaled sharply. Looking down she saw the tears falling from the bunny's eyes as he clung tightly to her arm.
"Momiji-kun…" she breathed, a sharp pain twisting in her heart. Once again he would be abandoned and forgotten, and after she promised him he wouldn't be. She squeezed him close to her. Hatsuharu held out his arms.
"Let me take him." Wordlessly she handed the small bunny over. She glanced first to her left at Yuki, his face a blank mask, then to the right at Kyo who was studying her hair intently. These were her last moments with them. Oh, mom! She thought, please get Uo-chan and Hana-chan here quickly! Help me to be strong until they arrive. I don't want to lose my memories. I don't want to forget Yuki and Kyo. I don't want to lose all my precious memories of Momiji-kun…
She felt a hand slide through her hair. She looked up to see Yuki smile softly at her. She reached up and grabbed his hand pulling it to her heart.
"Yuki-kun…"
"Honda-san… we will be watching you… we will make sure that you are… taken care of." His voice barely choked out the last and he fell silent before he disgraced himself by crying in front of her. Tohru, felt the fluttering of panicked wings inside her chest, but she tried to maintain her calm. She had never wished so desperately to hug him before as she did now. She knew he needed it almost as much as she did. Intuitively she reached for his neck, somehow she knew, in these, last moments, he would not resist her. She pulled his head to her chest and he rested there, his trembling hands coming up as if to grab her before limply falling to his sides.
She turned her head to Kyo who sat stoically silent on her right.
"Kyo-kun…"
"You really do… work too hard… trying to take care of other people. You should take better care of yourself. Its alright to complain once in a while." She reached for him, her hand caressing his cheek pulling him down to her face she had him rest his head against her own. She could feel his breath on her cheek. She closed her eyes. And prayed.
Mother, I have always been so lucky. When I was alone, the Sohma's found me. For four years they have stood with me and helped me keep my promise to you. I know you would be so proud of me for graduating and you would be even more excited that I had gotten into college. But I know that if you were here you would fight for them. You would never let them lock Kyo up in the dark. You would fight to keep Yuki and Momiji free, and sheltered in your love. You would do your best to banish the darkness in Hatori, and bridge the gap between Yuki and Ayame. You would fight Akito with all the fury of the Red Butterfly and all the love you so freely gave to me and you would protect Kisa and Rin and Hiro from her anger. But Mom, I am not as strong as you were. Help me protect them mom. Help me become strong for them. And please mom, help me find a way to stop Hatori from taking my memories. I would rather be dead than be without them. Grant me strength this day.. please make there be a little bit of butterfly in me... Make me strong… for them!
The ride was over far too soon. Tohru and her boys were the last out of the car. Kyo and Yuki both wanted to spend as long as they could holding Tohru before she forgot about them. But when the moment could not be put off any longer they slowly disentangled themselves from her. Kyo's eyes met hers. She smiled at him
"It's going to be ok, Kyo, I will fight to keep what is mine."
Kyo looked away half hoping she would win. She turned to Yuki as Kyo climbed out. He looked into her amazingly expressive eyes. He saw fire and sorrow. He saw fear but he also saw strength.
"I will come back for you both. Trust in me." He nodded half-heartedly, unsure what she meant. He held onto her hand as he exited until he could no longer do so without pulling her behind him.
Tohru finally stepped out of the limo. Hatori and Shigure stood beside Kyo. He wouldn't look back at her. She stiffened her spine Hatsuharu and Momiji were next to Yuki and Ayame stood uncharacteristically silent behind his brother. Her eyes turned to the house and a tall slender shadow disengaged itself from one of the pillars holding up the porch.
"Hello. Tohru Honda." The voice was low and even, modulated to be calm. Tohru knew all too well how quickly that calm could evaporate. She froze. Akito stepped towards her with small, even steps. She was dressed as a man again. Her suit was all black she even carried a reed thin black cane.
"Hello, Akito-sama." She bowed low. When she rose up she found herself unnervingly close to Akito. Akito smirked into her startled eyes.
"Do you remember? The promise I made you at the lakehouse?" Akito's hawk-like gaze would not allow her to look away. She nodded dumbly. "The day is here. I am closing up Gure's house. I am taking back what's mine." Her smile slipped and a vicious light flared in her dark eyes. "We will lock the gates. The cat will be separated from us, and you- little Tohru… you will not remember a thing." Akito smiled at her gasp of pain. Tohru straightened abruptly, her feet braced slightly apart. Her hands fisted at her side.
"No."
There was an audible gasp from the assembled spectators. Tohru seldom went against the wishes of others. And she knew well the cost of standing against the will of Akito's. She'd experienced it firsthand when, in a rage, Akito had split her cheek open. But she stood there, this lone girl, so small, so timid, standing against the wrath of a god-ling grown men would not stand against.
"You have no right to take my memories. I have always kept the secrets of the Sohma family. I never told anyone any of it. Now you have come to take your family- the family I love as much as you Akito! And all I will have left is the memories… and so… I do not wish to forget… You cannot have them!" Her shaking voice strengthened on an endnote of defiance.
Akito's eyes widened at her outburst. She smiled and then started to laugh. "You love them… like I do—oh that's rich, hahahaha! You do not wish it. Oh my! A hahahahaha!" Tohru stepped back unnerved at the maniacal note that had entered Akito's laughter.
"You could not possibly love them like I do, I am their God!"
"But you will lock Kyo-kun up in a dark place and you will stop Yuki's smiles and you will hurt Kisa-kun and Rin-san. You will hurt Hiro's heart and Haru and a love that hurts like that… that can't be love… that can't be the way love is meant to be!"
"And what would a stupid, ugly girl like you know about it!" Akito raged advancing on Tohru. She raised her cane above her head, her face twisted in rage. "Your wishes are not what matters! Your memory will be erased but not before I teach you to respect a God!" Akito brought the cane down toward Tohru's face. Instinctively Tohru crossed her arms in front of her face, blocking the blow of the cane.
"Aaaaah!" She couldn't contain the cry of pain as the weapon cracked harshly across her wrists. Her knees buckled and she involuntarily fell toward the ground. Akito drew back to strike again.
"Noo!" Shouted Yuki, he ran placing himself between Tohru and Akito.
"You bastard!" Kyo screamed, he tried to get to Tohru, but Hatori and Shigure held him back.
"Hold him Gure!" Hatori shouted, Kyo was really fighting them, his elbow slammed into Shigure's face. Hatori pulled out a hypodermic needle with some kind of medication in it and quickly injected the cat in the shoulder with it. Kyo looked at him in shock, the betrayal in his eyes like a knife in Hatori's heart. He truly was as cold as snow. Kyo screamed an inhuman sound of rage and pain. From some impossible reserve of strength born of need to be at Tohru's side he threw off Shigure and landed a blow to Hatori. He stumbled forward two steps. He called her name, and then slumped to his knees. Hatori caught him as he fell to the ground.
There was a low roar of tires spinning and gravel being churned up as two brilliant headlights flooded the clearing with a silver glow. There was the whine of brake pads worn down to nubs as a beat up tan car screeched to a stop. And then twin sisters of Vengeance and Fury emerged from the vehicle.
An electric light flashed from vengeances midnight tresses as her gaze sought and found Tohru.
Fury held her pipe like a warriors blade and wielded it with brutal and lethal efficiency. Hatori cried out as Arisa slammed the pipe into his wrist. He heard the sound of snapping bone. His wrist was broken. Without pause Arisa slammed the pipe across the side of Shigure's jaw. She heard the sound of dislocated bone and grinned in feral exuberance.
"You dare place yourself between me and my vengeance Yuki!" Akito screamed. Yuki bit his lip to keep from whimpering. When Akito raised that cane to strike Tohru, something inside him screamed to life. He knew what it was like to be on the other end of that cane. He knew the damage that Akito could do with it. He could strip the flesh from bones, he could crack ribs, he could scar.
Yuki couldn't allow that to be done to Tohru. He stood in front of her his arms open wide as the first of the insane blows from Akito landed on him. Tohru's eyes met his. He was going to take this beating for her. He was going to suffer because of her. She flinched as she heard Akito's mad screeching and watched a shudder ripple through Yuki's thin body as he took yet another blow meant for her. He was biting his lip to keep from crying out and blood ran from his chin. She heard Kyo shout her name. She looked to the side and watched him fall to his knees. His head lolled back. Kyo was suffering as well. It was as if everything was moving in slow motion. She saw Uo-Chan land a blow on Hatori's wrist, saw his flash of pain as he fell. She saw her strike Shigure. She knew Uo would take care of Kyo. She turned back to Yuki. He was yelling at her, telling her… something. She watched another shudder rip through him and his chest lurched forward.
NO! She couldn't help Kyo right now, but she would help Yuki! She wrapped her arms around him. PYONG! Suddenly where Yuki had stood was a small white mouse in her arms Tohru fell forward and hunched low to the ground. When the first blow landed she screamed at the fire running the length of her back, but she hadn't even finished the first cry when the second blow landed. Yuki was struggling to get away but she held him tight to her cradling him to her neck as blow after blow landed.
"No! Honda-San, noo!" She heard Yuki cry out as if from far away.
"Not for me Yuki-kun, you will not suffer for me." Tohru smiled softly before another scream escaped her as another blow landed. Suddenly the blows stopped. Tohru didn't know how or why, she only knew she had to get to Kyo's side. Cradling Yuki close to her heart she crawled in agony toward where she had seen Kyo fall. She made it, but only with Arisa's help.
"Kyo," she croaked through her broken voice. "Kyo, can you hear me. She slapped his face, he didn't respond.
"That doctor did something to him." Uo-chan barked. There was a poof of smoke. Arisa gasped as suddenly Yuki was right beside them, he was naked as a newborn and there was blood running down his back. Ayame and Haru ran to his side.
"Yuki are you ok?" Haru cried. Yuki nodded, his eyes were riveted to the blood soaking through the back of Honda-sans graduation robe. A shrill cry suddenly broke through the clearing
"Hatori!!" Yuki, Ayame, and Haru all turned and gasped at what they saw. Lightning arched and cracked between Hanajima's upraised hands. Sweat ran down her face and she was breathing hard. Smoke curled from Akito's hair and she was on her knees clutching her chest.
"Hatori!" Akito cried again, "help me!" Hatori was helpless to resist such a summons from his god. He stood and ran to her side Shigure ran as well. He would not allow anything to happen to Akito. The thought filled his heart with raw terror.
"Stop it Hanajima!" He shouted. She turned to him strain evident in her face.
"I am trying!" She gasped out. "The vibes- I can't control- Aaaaa!" She screamed and lightning arced from her hands to a tree just behind Shigure's shoulder, The trunk exploded. Splinters rained out. One of them struck Shigure in the shoulder. He cried out.
"Get that woman out of here!" Hanajima gritted through clenched teeth. "She hurt Tohru. My entire being is crying out for her death. The only reason she lives now is because… she is protected somehow. If you value her life take her now… I cannot hold onto this forever." Hanajima fell to her knees, lightning swirled and arced around her. She tried to breathe deeply, tried to lock away the rage that consumed her but she kept seeing that thing- that man woman striking her Tohru- her precious Tohru. She screamed as an agony of power lanced through her begging for release.
"Hana-chan!" Tohru's concerned voice cut through her rage like an arrow through the air. Her eyes locked onto Tohru's. The worry and fear Hanajima saw reflected there dispelled the last of her rage and Hanajima stumbled to her feet, slightly dizzy from the sudden loss of power and ran to her friend's side.
Tohru took in the drawn concerned faces of her friends. She heard the limo pull away as Shigure, Hatori, and Akito left. Yuki was pale and bleeding.. Ayame was practically holding his brother up, Hatsuharu was cradling Kyo's head in his lap. Her eyes were drawn to the side of the house. A small shadow twitched.
"Momiji-kun!" She cried. With a sob he launched himself at her. Haru wouldn't let me help you! I tried Mutti! I tried but Haru wouldn't let me!" His arms flew around her and with a Pyon! He was a small yellow bunny. Uo-chan and Hana-chan stared in disbelief at the weeping rabbit. Tohru sighed wearily.
"It's too much," She grunted. "We have to get out of here. I'll explain everything to you later." Tohru turned to look at the Sohmas one last time. They all looked at her bloodied form with newfound respect. This day, their tiny Tohru had stood against a God proclaiming her love for them. She had saved one of their own from a beating and fought to keep memories that would only bring her pain.
Ayame, took her face in his hands and pressed his cheek to hers. "I love you as well, little flower. May you find joy wherever life takes you."
"You really are amazing." Haru said softly. He laid his hand on her shoulder squeezing softly. "Whoever ends up with you will be a lucky man indeed. Good Luck Tohru." He stood and walked away. Her eyes immediately went to Yuki's. He pushed a loose strand of hair back over her shoulder. "I never got to tell you… how much you mean to me."
"I love you Yuki-kun. Uo-chan and Hana-chan they are going to help me become strong. When I am stronger I will come back for you. I will save you all. A world… without Yuki-kun is a world I never want to know. So I will leave you for a little while. But high walls will not hold me out forever. Fire burns down walls that reach too high." He was mesmerized. I love you Yuki-kun. His heart was ready to burst. Her fire had burned down all his walls. This was his last chance. She'd taken a beating for him.
"I… Love you Tohru Honda-san!" He burst out. Her eyes widened. She'd known, she'd always known, inside herself. But hearing it aloud… It changed everything. She put her hand at the base of his neck and pulled his face toward hers. She pressed her lips to his. It was not the greatest kiss in the history of the world. In fact it was more a simple touch of skin to skin with lips. Nonetheless fire arced and jolted through Yuki from his lips to his curling toes. Tohru was affected similarly.
"Tohru, are we taking him with us?" Arisa asked, gesturing to Kyo. Yuki was alarmed. If Tohru tried to come between Akito and a member of his Juunishi- even the cat, she would never stop hunting her.
"No, Kyo said the same thing this morning that he's always been saying. I sometimes think he feels he deserves to be locked up." She turned to Yuki. "I know you can't interfere in Akito's plans. But please… tell him I'm coming back for him." Yuki nodded wordlessly. He was a bit nonplussed when she lowered her head and kissed that stupid cat on the lips. "Tell him I love him." She whispered studying Kyo's face as if memorizing the details. She then rose quickly.
She ran into the house and a few moments later she was back at Kyo's side she pulled out a small square frame. In it was the picture of her mother.
"Give this to Kyo. She'll watch over him when I can't." Yuki couldn't believe it. She was giving that cat the picture of her mother. He watched her lovingly stroke Kyo's cheek with her hand. "He will be alone in that house. He'll need her…besides," she looked up at him with troubled eyes, "I think I might have to do some things mom might not approve of…" She looked away and slowly stood. She looked to Arisa and Hanajima. They were calmly waiting for her.
"I made a promise to my mom that I would graduate. Now I make a promise to Yuki and Kyo and any member of the Juunishi who wants to be free. I will become stronger. I will find a way to free you. I will be back." She turned away from them then so they wouldn't have to suffer any more of her tears and stepped into the car.
Arisa turned on the ignition and the tan car disappeared from sight. It would be a long time, a little over a year, in fact, before any member of the Sohma clan would see her again. During that time though, there were those who remembered her promise, Ayame referred to it as her War prayer for love, and they hoped.