A/n: Penultimate chapter
"TOHRU!" he yelled shocked, Kyo and Yuki bolted down the stairs, tripping over each other, and all three stared at her.
"We… have your things." Yuki said eventually sounding sadder than she had ever heard him before.
"I'm Kyo… this is Yuki… and the dopey looking one is Shigure." Tohru blinked for a moment not understanding them. Then she remembered… she was supposed to have forgotten. In all the excitement of coming home she had forgotten why she'd left. Without warning she flew at them hugging all three of them. There was a poof and they all turned into their respective Zodiac signs.
"Akito's officially gonna kill us." Yuki moaned climbing onto Shigure's head.
"Well… he won't be too happy to say the least." Tohru giggled.
"What's with you, why're you laughing you're supposed to be all… ARGH ANIMALS." Kyo said arching his back and running in a circle, imitating Tohru when she had first laid eyes on the zodiac animals.
"I remember." She laughed picking Kyo up and putting him on her lap. "I remember all of you." She stroked Shigure behind the ear and smiled as Yuki scuttled onto her shoulder. She nuzzled him gently, both her arms being occupied.
"You remember us?"
"That's what I said! It's late. I'll go start dinner." Tohru stood up and went into the kitchen as though nothing happened.
"O-kay… what just happened?" Shigure asked raising one eyebrow.
"She's so… calm…" Yuki said as with a boom he changed back, followed momentarily by Kyo and Shigure. The three dressed, and heard Tohru humming as she prepared food in the kitchen.
"She's so… unfazed." Shigure said in amazement, he'd always known she was strong but…
"TOHRU WHAT'S YOUR DAMN PROBLEM!" Kyo snapped. "You have us all worried sick over you then come walking right in here like nothing's happened! And who said you could even stay here we'd already unpacked your room and…" He trailed off, her face looking crestfallen, realising he was getting angry at her for things that weren't her fault.
"What he means…" Yuki said placing a hand on Kyo's shoulder. "Is welcome home, Tohru." Kyo nodded.
"Yeah, that too." he said gruffly, Tohru grinned.
"I'm sorry to just assume it's okay to come back, but this is my home. And Akito told me to return here." She smiled and continued making dinner. Setting it out in bowls she made sure everyone else was served before herself, tucking her knees under.
"So… did he hurt you?" Yuki asked eventually
"Akito? No not really." She rubbed her cheek which was visibly a little sore from all the times Akito had smacked her.
"You really are something." Kyo said. "You can really melt anyone's heart. Even that crazy bastard." Yuki was tempted to smack Kyo for his language at the table but restrained himself with a pained smile. No more fighting.
"He's not crazy, just… misunderstood." She sipped at her soup thoughtfully.
"Can you find the good in anyone? You really are some kind of Angel… and this food!" Shigure grinned broadly as though he was in heaven, but Tohru was thinking, remembering earlier Akito having told her Kyo loved her. After finishing her soup she smiled at them all.
"Kyo… Come with me?" Kyo, who had not yet finished, set down his bowl obediently and followed her outside.
"So… why did Akito want to erase your memory… did you find out he was gay?" He climbed a tree with ease and onto the roof as Tohru did the sensible thing and climbed the ladder.
"Akito's not gay…" Tohru smiled sitting beside him, Kyo rolled his eyes, Tohru could be so dense. "But… he wanted to erase my memory because…" She knew she couldn't tell him the truth, and although she hated lying to him, it really was the perfect opportunity. "Remember the scene I caused at new years? I… asked Akito for permission to ask you out." She blushed furiously.
"Wh… wait what?" He blinked at her and she realised with a sickening guilt Akito may have tricked her. What if Kyo really didn't like her?
"I mean I know I should probably have asked YOU before I asked Akito I just… I wasn't sure if Akito would approve and… I'm sorry." Tohru turned scarlet. "But… after saying no at new years' he brought me in and we talked… he gave us permission… I mean if you wanted to… what am I saying of course you don't I'm just that girl who cooks the food." She was cut off from her rambling rant as Kyo's lips found hers in their first kiss.
"You went through all that, and were willing to have your memory erased, for me?" He asked as they broke off. She nodded. "Stupid girl." He laughed at her, they kissed again but this time Tohru broke it.
"Akito will probably revoke his permission though… stay with me anyway?" Kyo looked a little torn before nodding.
"Sure thing." He kissed her cheek. The two lay on the roof, speaking casually for a long time after that, content that she was truly home.
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"Shigure?" Akito said, stepping out into the room, she was wearing the black heels, the black jeans and the black and red stripy shirt that pulled across her chest. Her voice was her scarcely used feminine one. Because Tohru was not around, her hair remained down.
"You look…"
"Like a woman?" She asked raising one eyebrow. Shigure nodded. "Do you find me attractive?" She asked but her voice was hollow, cold… She would not allow herself to be seen as weak, and now looking more vulnerable than usual she felt she had to display strength in her voice.
"Yes, I have always found you attractive." Shigure's voice was calm as Akito kneeled beside him. She struggled a moment with the angle she chose to splay her legs at (if girls sit back on heels it hurts) before facing him directly.
"I have… accepted who I am." She said, her voice still cold. "Yet… you still look at me with such sad eyes. Why Shigure do you push me away… when I've been right here the whole time?"
"The same reason I pushed you away when we were younger." Shigure's voice was calm, and his eyes distant, as though he didn't dare look at her. "You're just a child. Immature." Akito had been called a lot of things but never immature.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IMMATURE!" She squawked. "Says the man obsessed with High School Girls!" She thumped her fist on the wooden floor and her eyes lit up with rage. Shigure just smiled.
"You say you've accepted who you are… when you run from it now more than ever."
"MEN MAKE NO SENSE!" Akito fumed standing up and kicking the kotatsu violently. "I HATE YOU SHIGURE. I HATE THIS STUPID FAMILY. YOU SHOULD ALL DIE! YES YOU SHOULD ALL JUST GO AWAY AND DIE!" She crossed her arms with a pout, and he smirked.
"Did anyone ever tell you you're pretty when you're angry?" She grabbed his hair and growled menacingly, she tugged his head back forcing him to face her.
"What do you mean I'm immature?"
"Akito could you be a dear and let go of my head, it hurts a little." His voice still remained calm as she let him go. "By immature… you stand here in front of me… a girl. Not a woman… you may talk the talk as they say… but you don't walk the walk." Akito tentatively put one foot in front of the other testing out her balance on the heels. Shigure smiled and shook his head "I didn't mean like that." He sighed and stared out the window. "I'll show you, wait here." And with that Shigure entered the gardens. He returned a moment or two later with a small box usually used to cover the milk bottles.
"Tell me Akito, what do you see." Akito blinked, how could he think she was still so stupid? She was not a child.
"I see a box…"
"Elaborate." He instructed. She stared at the box in his hand looking for something extraordinary to leap out at her.
"It's… a small, black box, that you stole from my garden." She stated looking perplexed. He smiled and opened the box to reveal a delicate looking flower. Akito furrowed her brow.
"You tricked me!" She snapped.
"I did think you'd say that." He smiled. "If Kureno were to walk in now." Shigure closed the small box once again concealing the flower. "What would he see?"
"A box." She said simply. Shigure nodded.
"You're the flower Akito." He took the flower out of the box and handed it to her. "But you hide yourself. THAT'S why you're immature. You're afraid… like a small child you fear, your mother… your family." Akito hung her head. He was right. However uncomfortable she was standing here in female attire in front of Shigure, she knew she would never be okay with telling her mother she wanted to be a woman. "And until that day you can hold your head high and tell the world you are a flower… you remain nothing but a box." He placed the box on her palm and patted her head.
"Do not patronize me." She growled batting his hand away. "So… hypothetically IF I told my mother, IF I told the zodiac… then you would consider me mature…"
"Indeed I would, but… I somehow doubt you're brave enough just yet. You should stick with Tohru she's a good influence on you." Akito stared at her feet. Tohru Damn Honda again, why did he think she was so great, what made her so mature. She quelled her jealousy as best she could.
"You underestimate me Shigure. I do not need that stupid girl's help to decide who I am. Bring her over later. Kyo and Yuki too, at 3pm. If you're late…" She paused thoughtfully. "You will pay dearly."
"Oh I have no doubts I will." Shigure said brightly. "Anything else?"
"Yes, Tohru seems to have taken a liking to the cat… I trust you to ensure nothing happens."
"Immature." Shigure sang, and then he left.
Akito peered at the box, it was far from elegant made of black card, opening the lid she frowned at the exquisite flower. Without another word she crushed the box in her palm.
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(Again 'he' in front of Yuki and Kyo etc)
"I'm nervous." Yuki muttered straightening his shirt, it was a rare occasion all the zodiac were in one room, even rarer the cat was present. Tohru, who had also been invited loitered anxiously near the doorway despite Kyo trying to convince her several times to sit down. Every Zodiac member was dealing with their anxiety at being called into Akito's domain differently. Ritsu was panicking, Ayame was combing his hair and trying to comb Yuki's, Yuki was determinedly pulling away from his brother and trying to avoid smacking Kyo for his irritating finger drumming which he was doing partially to annoy Kagura, straightening her dress repeatedly, Momiji was humming his song over and over, Haru was whispering with a cold looking Rin. Hatori, Kureno and Shigure however seemed to know what was going on. Hiro and Kisa, the youngest Zodiac members were visibly frightened, having bad previous experience with Akito. He swept into the room, his robe looser than ever and his eyes seemed cold. His bare feet shuffled along the floor.
"Why are you standing!" He barked at Tohru raising his hand. Tohru remained calm.
"I told you what I'd do, if you hit me Akito." remembering her feeble promise to hit back Akito smirked cruelly before bringing his hand down on her face. Kyo leapt up to prevent her getting too badly hurt, but surprising a lot of people in the room Tohru smacked Akito across his face before Kyo had interfered, Shigure tugged Kyo down, having promised to keep them apart. Everyone stared at the innocent Tohru, shaking a little.
"You little…" Nobody had ever hit him like that, apart from possibly Haru when he went black.
"I warned you." She sighed, and as she made to go for her seat among the stunned animals she felt awfully guilty, she would apologise profusely later. Akito tugged her back and whispered in her ear.
"I'm coming clean… to everyone." Tohru blinked, then surprised everyone once again by hugging the Soma family leader.
"THAT'S WONDERFUL!" She squeaked. Realising she was causing a confusing scene she hurried to the table and sat beside Kyo who, having recently re-seated himself, looked astonished. She was either very brave or very crazy and he couldn't decide which.
"We are still one attendee short." Akito scanned the room.
"Your mother was clear in the fact she'd be…" The door slid open to reveal a woman with long dark hair, although pretty she was tired looking and cruel eyed, it took nobody by surprise she was Akito's mother. "Late. Good afternoon Ren."
"It is not often I am called to the main house. What may I ask is the commotion?" Her voice was similar to Akito's male one, straight forward and to the point, yet for the few graced enough to have heard Akito's true voice… there was no resemblance.
"Mother." Akito said bluntly. "I have conformed, cowered under you for too long. I'm sick of it." The zodiac though forced to remain silent were shocked to hear that Akito was afraid of anyone, much less his mother. Yuki felt a pang of guilt, knowing his own feeling towards his mother and realised how similar the two were. "I want to be, what I was born as. WHO I was born as."
"You can not be serious, foolish child." Ren said her eyes lighting up dangerously.
"I AM NOT A CHILD MOTHER!" Her voice cracked a little. "You forced me to live a life I didn't want to live! And I hate you for that." Ren did not say another word, simply swept from the room, disappointed in her daughter. Akito stood in the room, despite being surrounded, she looked more alone than ever. Tohru clambered to her feet (Kyo: get back here agh! What're you… Damnit TOHRU!) and placed one hand on Akito's shoulder.
"Are you…" Before she could ask 'okay' the elder whispered.
"I can't do this."
"Yes you can." Tohru promised. "I'm right here, it's not your fault. You're strong remember."
"I'M NOT STRONG!" Akito threw Tohru to the ground. "I'M NOT LIKE YOU HONDA! I NEVER WILL BE!" Tohru blinked up at everyone feeling slightly dizzy.
"Akito is right." Shigure said calmly. "He is not strong, merely a child." Akito growled and helped Tohru up.
"Sorry."
"It's fine… Shigure don't use reverse psychology!" Tohru scolded. "It's mean."
"I have countless times been beyond cruel to you… Rin." He inclined his head towards the black haired horse. "Kisa, and Kagura." Kisa smiled shyly and Kagura nodded. "You three in particular… have suffered, as has Tohru. Yet you never asked WHY… never questioned my actions. Foolish women. All of you. You really are. Kisa and Kagura, you have no backbones." Akito growled. "You folded under the pressure and collapsed like rag dolls when I touched you. Pathetic. Rin and Tohru… you two." Akito smiled. "Defied me in every way possible. I could punish Rin for defying me, she didn't do it well at all. Argued with me, but didn't stand up to me. She let her own guilt be her drive for yelling at me, her own love for Hatsuharu."
"Does this have a point?" Haru said, worried about Rin who was clenching her fists at the table, her nails digging into her palms, looking like she wanted to punch someone.
"Tohru… showed me something. Women are not weak, they are sometimes stronger than even they know. When Rin could not beat me she backed down. Tohru kept trying. Ignoring the fact I tried to erase her memory… she fought on. She even… hit me back."
"Well… you threw shoes at me." Tohru said embarrassedly, trying to compensate for her over violent action. She definitely felt bad about it.
"Silence." Akito said firmly, but did not seem angry. "My attitude towards women has… changed slightly. I no longer see the pitiful beings, but I still think every woman has her weaknesses. Just as every man does."
"Yours being your mother?" Asked Yuki raising one eyebrow. Akito nodded.
"I hated you Yuki. Did I ever tell you why?" Yuki looked darkly at the floor.
"Because you're a twisted person?" He suggested.
"Because I was JEALOUS you fool." Akito rolled his eyes then turned to Tohru still standing obediently at his side. "Unwrap me."
"Are you sure?"
"I said do it, so do it!" Tohru unwrapped the ties for Akito's robe allowing it to fall away. She wore the black dress, clinging to her curves. Tohru used her own hair bobble to tie up Akira's into a ponytail. She nodded in appreciation.
"My name is Akito Soma." She said in her gentle female voice, looking at the shocked faces of her zodiac members. "And I am a woman."
A/n: ooh. Revealed.