This title's chapter comes from "Kettering" by The Antlers. It mostly applies to the second part, since I was listening to that CD while writing. If you excuse the words and only go by mood, I feel like the whole album could describe Akito.
When Kasumi first gave him the note, Momiji has to admit, he was a little surprised. For all his planning and scheming, he always had – in the very back of his mind – an unyielding doubt. But that doubt is almost what keeps him going, to see if he really can gain freedom for his family, Akito included. It makes this whole plan a test of his willpower and cunning. If he believes, if he hopes, if he works hard enough, can he save them? Can he see his mother again, and Momo? Can he see Tohru again?
He reads her neatly-written response three times, each more slowly than the last, taking in her words and her hand one letter at a time, drinking them up, and dreaming of when he may get to hear her voice instead. He holds the letter to his heart and closes his eyes, taking a moment for her words to be his and no one else's, even though the content regards someone else entirely.
He takes a deep breath, and just like that, the moment is gone. It's time to stir the pot.
On his way to the infirmary, he thinks on the disaster that was two days ago. He hasn't been able to get the sight of Kyo's blood-drenched torso out of his mind. The first time was bad, but the second was worse. The second was his fault. Momiji thought that letting him use his long-lost skills would help summon the fighter in him. He used to be so rebellious and fiery, but since he's been in that room, it's like he's lost his will. The Rabbit had considered the possibility that – through his fists – Kyo could tap into that anger, that fire, and maybe, just maybe, he would begin leaning toward the possibility that he could have Tohru, freedom, and security. Well, it certainly did tap into that fire – that uncontrollable wildfire that set his eyes to blazing and his limbs to full blast. At that moment, there was a craze in Kyo's eyes that Momiji had never seen before and that he never wished to see again. That craze, that wildfire, only landed him in the hospital – again. But perhaps it did its job, despite the consequences. Whatever the case, Momiji is soon to find out – surely.
Outside of the infirmary, Momiji reads the note one more time after making sure the coast is clear. He mentally prepares himself for the battle, and opens the door, the paper hiding, folded, behind his back.
Kyo is lying on his back and staring out the window, as he can be found doing ninety percent of the time. Haru is in the chair by his side, his feet lounging on the bed, picking at his fingernails. They both turn at the sound of the door opening. Instead of the exasperated expression Momiji expects from Kyo, he instead looks expectant and anxious, almost nervous, but also fiercely determined.
"Haru, it's time to switch out," Momiji says. "You can leave now."
"No, I think I'd like to say. This should be pretty interesting." He gives Kyo a knowing look.
"Momiji – " Kyo begins as he sits up.
"Wait! Before you start, I have something to show you. I know how much you don't want to do this, but – "
"Momiji – "
"I have something you'll really want to see." He waves the note. "See, I have some connections – "
"Momiji – "
"And I was able to send a letter to – "
"MOMIJI! Shut – up!" Momiji purses his lips and waits. This had better be important. "I've made my decision." He takes a breath and braces himself. "I'm going to help you. In any way I can."
The room is silent. Momiji notices a short, silver chain catching the light around the Cat's neck that he didn't see before.
"Really?"
Kyo nods, his brow creased just a little, making him look a little innocent. Or is that… desperation? At that moment, Momiji realizes he has a decision to make. He doesn't exactly need Kyo to see this note anymore. The point was to convince him to decide what he already has, and if he already bit the hook, then baiting it is moot. Tohru's words really can be Momiji's own. He doesn't have to share them with anyone.
But as he looks at Kyo, at his now obvious desperation, he just can't. He has to give him the word from Tohru. Kyo deserves it after all he's been through. Momiji stretches out his arm and offers it up like a heart.
Kyo glances at it, then slowly takes it from his hand, mildly suspicious. Momiji watches his face as he reads, quickly going from curious to astonished. He gulps. His hands begin to shake. He stares at the paper, his wide eyes glued to the page. Haru is peeping over his shoulder, his eyebrows getting higher with each word that he reads.
"You – how did you get this," Kyo breathes.
"I told you. I have connections to the Outside."
"Does anyone else know about this?"
"Nope. Just my messenger."
Kyo looks up, desperate again. "Who is it?"
"That's classified."
"Please, Momiji! Tell me! I have to know! I have to know everything! Is she okay? What's she doing? Is she smiling? Is she well-off? Does she have a job? Does she live in an apartment? Does she ever see Shishou? Does she still get to cook? Does she have a roommate? Do they get along? Wait, what am I saying? Of course they get along! It's Tohru! Unless they're mean to her. Ohh, if anyone, even someone who pays half her rent, has the gall to be mean to my Tohru, I swear – "
"Kyo! All that can be answered later. Right now, we have some things to discuss. For starters… do you plan on responding?"
o.O.o.O.o
Hatori isn't sure what he's going to say. But he's been given a task to do, and although he doesn't exactly relish in receiving orders by someone ten years younger than himself – someone he used to babysit, no less – he plans to accomplish it. He honestly believes that Shigure or Kureno would be more suited for the job, but neither of them has been welcomed "into the loop" just yet due to their affinity for the head of the family. So that leaves him, as he seems to be the third in the line of "closeness" with Akito.
As he saunters down the hall, he wonders how this will pan out. Akito has been especially ambiguous lately – this particular scene could be like pulling teeth or plucking daisies, depending on the Head's mood. Hatori hopes desperately for the latter.
As he reaches the door, he pauses before knocking, pulls out his box of cigarettes from the pocket of his slacks, and lights one briefly. He's been told many times by many people about the irony of a smoking doctor, but when that doctor's number one patient is Akito, a cigarette every once in a while is almost a necessity.
He takes a single drag, letting the nicotine permeate his molecules, slowing them down and calming his nerves. Then, after a single, settling moment, he knocks.
There's no sound at first. He slides the door open a bit, just enough to peer inside. Akito is lying on his side, curled in a loose ball, his robes draped over him like blankets. Hatori opens the door wider.
"Akito," he says, the cigarette in his mouth bobbing. He hears the head of the family sigh, as if Hatori has interrupted a pleasant daydream. "Are you feeling alright?"
Akito rolls lazily onto his back and stares at the ceiling for a moment before his eyes glide over to the Dragon's stoic face. "I suppose." There's a long pause where Akito stares above once more and Hatori stares at him. "Come in." He does as he's told, closing the door behind him. "Sit down. Relax." Hatori kneels. The smoke from his cigarette rises in wisps and disperses into the wide, open room. A bird whistles from outside the grand window.
"Akito."
The Head slowly droops his eyelids. "Yes?"
"I would like to talk about Kyo."
Akito's sigh is almost a groan. "I think I'm getting tired of talking about that thing."
"I'm sorry, Akito. I'll try to make it brief. I would like to see about… taking him out."
"Out?" Akito gives a side-long glance, cracking his lids just a bit.
"Yes. Out."
"You mean… outside of my walls?"
This is it. This is the moment when Hatori learns what kind of conversation this will be. "Yes."
Akito pauses. Hatori holds his breath for a moment before deciding on something better. He slips his cigarette in between two fingers and takes a long drag.
"And why should I allow that?"
Hatori exhales, the smoke pouring out from his lungs and into the air. This is a good response from Akito, a calm response. "That's a very good question. You're right. There's no reason why you should have to do anything that you don't want to. But, speaking as his doctor, it would be good for his mental state to have some exposure to the outside world."
"And why should I care about the mental state of a monster?"
"Because he's your monster, Akito. You are one to take care of your pets, aren't you?"
Akito inhales deeply, slowly – pauses – and exhales the same way. Hatori mimics his master but with the addition of beautifully murderous chemicals.
"How is the outside world any better than ours, right here?" he asks finally.
Tohru, of course. But that would be the worst thing to say. Hatori thinks, quickly rummaging through his brain for an answer, not quite panicking just yet.
"It's louder. More chaotic. Busier. Too much monotony isn't good for the brain."
Akito turns his head and looks at Hatori full on, his eyes deadpan and showing nothing. A full minute passes.
Then, he turns back onto his side, away from the Dragon, towards the window. "I'll consider it."
Hatori takes that as his cue to leave.
I would put a spoiler alert here, but, hey, if you've been reading this story, you've had plenty of spoilers already. Anyway, I know that Akito's actually a girl, but I figure that Hatori would be so used to referring to her as "he" and "him" to other people, that he would do it in his head as well. Also, I don't know if you picked up on this, but the fight from two chapters ago inadvertently did its job, since that's probably the deepest sleep Kyo's had since getting out of that room, and without such a deep sleep, he wouldn't have had that memory-dream. I forgot to mention that in the story last time. Oops. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! Now let's see if we can get cooking! 8D