Akito's Sister

Don't kill me because I don't own the rights.

Note: This story take place after episode 26 of the TV series.

Chapter Fourteen

It was quiet as the snow drifted down. It had only been a week, yet he had not said a word. Ren was confined to the Cat's room, he had not spoken at all to her since then.

The zodiac and some of the family had been called together for the funeral.

As he sat down at the dinner he cleared his throat.

"If you all would excuse me, but I have something to say."

Dozens of eyes turned to him.

"Many of you may not have known, but I had an older half sister. Ashi, she was normally called, but her full name was Ashirin. For years, I burdened her. Again I say that many of you may not have known, but Ashi took the frustrations of her own brother upon herself to better the lives of all of you and keep me happy in the ignorant state I had only created for myself. Don't misunderstand me, but I had thought she had done that for so long because I forced her to, but I was wrong." Akito told everyone. "Ashi had known for a long time what would happen if she continued. But she wasn't afraid. She was the bravest person I knew, but I knew after it was too late to tell her. A week ago I told Ashi that I was stepping down as the head of the Sohma family, I thought myself to be unworthy. In all truth she deeserved it from the beginning, she cared where I did not. In coming here to attempt to persuade me otherwise, Ashi lost her life in an incident I would rather not speak of. I have lost my sister to a tragic and untimely end, but more than that, I've lost my good friend, though I never spoke those words to her."

* * *

"Are you alright Akito?" Tohru asked him as he sat out on the patio later.

"I don't know Tohru. I feel strange, it's as if I'm not alone, even though I am." He told her.

Tohru smiled slightly and sat down next to him. "Well, that's because you aren't."

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well, my mother once told me that the ones that you loved that have left you, haven't really left you. They're still there, you just can't see them." Tohru told him.

"Sounds like a haunting to me."

"Go ahead and think that if you want, but I doubt she would want you to think that." Tohru told him getting up.

"Thank you." He told her after a moment. "For everything, not just that."

Tohru blinked once then smiled. "I considered Ashi my friend, Akito, I would like to do the same with you." She said walking away.

Akito smiled. Ashi, you sure made one big impression on people. But I'm glad, it means that some people will remember you for your smiles, instead of your tears. Akito thought.

He looked across the yard to see two gravestones. One, had been there for years, and belonged to his father; the other was newly placed and polished to a gleaming shine so bright he could read it from where he sat- though he knew those words by heart.

Ashirin Takade-Sohma, dedicated daughter, beloved sister. A friend until the end.

Akito smiled slightly as he looked to the sky and felt tears run down his face, remembering the words she had said to him before she was lost to him.

"Don't you cry for me. Besides, I'll see my father as well as yours, so I don't want you to cry, if anything be happy for me. The pain of the world won't reach me there. Let me go Akito. I believe you are ready to let go."

Those words that she had said had not only applied to her, but to himself. The anger that he had built up over the years since his fathers death. The anger at his father, at their mother, at the world, came pouring out in tears as he smiled slightly. Ashi was indeed still with him, in memory, and he now realized the true meanings of everything she had done for him. In that way, at least, he knew she was there.

* * *

She knew he couldn't see her, no living thing could, but she still came around to see him.

"Are you ready?" Came a voice she knew from behind her.

"Not quite yet, Akira. He still has a lot to learn." She replied.

"Let him go Ashi. I think my son will be fine on his own now." He told her putting a hand on her ghostly form. "Thank you."

"I know, I know." She told him turning around. "I just worry about him sometimes."

"That can't be helped. Sometimes you need to take it on faith that he knows what to do from what you've taught him." He told her.

"But will that be enough?"

"Like I said, you just need to have faith in him. If he doesn't know, he'll learn." He told her.

She sighed. "Where to now, then?"

"Well, first off, there's someone who really wants to meet you..." He said as they both walked off and vanished.