Tense and slightly bored, Usagi had taken to trying to tug on Hatori's coat with out him noticing. What she hadn't picked up on, as she reached toward his white coat, was that he was watching her out of the corner of his right eye. A small smile was inverted on his face as Hatori observed Usagi's childish reactions. Then small fun was cut off before it could truly take off as the heavy knock on the door had the two swiveling to face it.
Hatori stood from his chair and marched over, opening the door to allow Usagi to see Kureno. "It's your turn Usagi." His crispy voice intoned. Usagi nodded, before unwinding her knees from beneath, and gently grasping her crystalline gift. Standing she walked over, ignoring her racing pulse that threatened to overwhelm her. As she passed Hatori, he laid a gentle hand on her right elbow.
"Be careful, and good-luck." He wished her. "Usagi." Hatori added, in respect, and Usagi flashed him a tiny smile. Then she was beside Kureno, glancing up at him. The door slid shut behind them, and now Usagi was left with Kureno.
Kureno glanced down, once again reassembling the situation he had first met the blond in. A mental wince came to him then, Akito did not look kindly on those who could be listed as a fool. He only hoped that Usagi would do well within the meeting, else her memories could be forfeit, not to mention Akito could seek out more repercussions.
Usagi flicked a look up feeling the heavy gaze of Kureno. "Is Akito-sama as cruel as the others made him out to be?" She asked him. Kureno blinked, exactly wondering how he could answer that question. Yes, Akito had did things that were cruel, but if the clan head was a cruel persona, he couldn't answer.
"I cannot answer that." Kureno stated, and then fell silent. He also stopped and turned to a dark, but grand set of double doors. Resting his pale hands on the door, he curled one to knock. "Good luck little one." Kureno whispered softly, and then allowed sound to flow from his hand to the doorway.
"Come in." A voice intoned, it was hard to say exactly what the tone could be. Usagi straightened her clothing, and checked the gift in her hand, before gently pushing the door open. Reciting everything that Shigure and Hatori had told her, she daintily stepped in. Immediately she fell to her knees, and bowed her head, forcing herself to stay still even though her whole body screamed at her to fidget. Curiosity gripped her when she heard the soft sound of cloth rustling. Again she stilled herself, keeping her head down respectfully. Before her bowed eyes, two sickly pale feet entered her vision.
"Look at me." The voice that belonged to the feet commanded her. Usagi slowly brought her head up to stare into the pale darkness that swam in the clan head's eyes. They were a dark teal, and Usagi was entranced by the empty swirls she found there. Trying not to squint, she alighted her eyes on the clan head's hair, it was a dark plum almost pitch black in this lighting. Usagi felt her lips forming words before she knew that she had spoke.
"Pretty." She whispered, and then bit down on her lip, bowing her eyes away. Usagi missed the thin smirk that covered the pale lips of Akito.
"I did not say you could look away." The voice was soft and threatening. Usagi immediately drew her eyes back to the clan's head. She was again locked in a staring contest with the dark teal orbs, as if they were searching out several secrets. Normally Usagi could easily read someone's body language and eyes, but the dark shadows were playing tricks on her. This time she did not miss the smirk that chased the pale petals on the face. "Do you fear me?" It was a very simple question, with a leading tone.
Usagi considered the question, trying to understand exactly what Akito might of been asking of her. "No, should I Akito-sama?" Her voice was innocent and curious.
"So, you do not fear me?" Again Akito asked.
"No, I do not fear you, I do fear what you may do." Usagi answered honestly.
"What I may do?" Silky, the question surrounded Usagi. "Most say it's a guarantee that I will do something." The voice was lowered then, and yet, the eye contact was not broken. "Once more, do you fear me?" Now it was beginning to sound like a threat. Usagi steeled the resolve in her eyes and answered Akito.
"No, I do not fear you." Usagi stated, and made a silent challenge with her eyes.
"It's a nice day out." Akito commented.
"That it is." Usagi agreed.
"It's within my power to make it so you never see the light of day again." Angered, the voice came out like a rasp.
"Whatever for?" Usagi inquired, and Akito finally looked away, releasing the spell of those eyes.
"It's because I can do so." Akito returned.
"Why?" She was ultimately curious about this puzzle in front of her.
"Why not?" Akito pipetted.
"It's inhuman." Usagi told Akito.
"Perhaps." Akito agreed. Then the clan head walked away from Usagi, as though ignoring her presence all together. Sliding their outer side door open, they curled in the sun. "Come." Akito ordered. Usagi unfurled her legs from beneath her and walked toward the clan head. Then she sat beside the clan head like Akito gestured.
"Why do you hurt?" Usagi asked, and furious teal eyes turned to her. A quick hand wrapped around her throat in warning, but Usagi calmly retracted the hand from her throat. "Why do you hurt yourself and others?" Innocence pouring from her. Again Akito reacted angrily grabbing Usagi's hair and entangling their hand deep. Usagi didn't react, allowing this tantrum to continue. "You haven't answered my question." She pointed out.
"I do not need to." Akito snarled, twisting the hair and tugging. Usagi didn't react to the pain, but be sure when she left this, she would let out a long agonized scream. "You act like you know everything about me." The clan head bit out, twisting and waiting for a cry of pain from Usagi.
"I know nothing but what you show me." Usagi responded. "At a time in life, I think I believed in happy endings." She started, but was tugged forward by a vicious yank.
"Happy endings.." Akito sneered out.
"I said, believed, that time has passed, I am no longer a child." She calmly explained. "Now, I only believe in what can be, if we make it so, no ending is happy." Usagi remarked.
"Explain." Akito was intrigued.
"Endings cannot be happy, death takes someone from someone else, and whoever is left is sadden." Usagi explained. "Children never know their parents, friends never share another ice cream, parents never know their children." She remark. "The end is just that, a means to an end." Her voice was soft as she spoke.
"Shut up." Akito snarled, though the grip on her hair lessened. "Just shut up." The clan head screamed at her. "What do you know?" It was hissed out.
"I know pain, sickness, hope, death, happiness, sadness, failure, and triumph." Usagi whispered. "The same as you." She told the clan head.
"I am a god!" Akito told her, shaking her furiously.
"Even God seeks relief." Usagi bespoke. Akito released her hair then, blinking confused at the unshaken blond. "Reveal to me what hurts you, and I will offer whatever relief I can." Usagi ordered then.
"I will find no relief, not until death." A dark voice echoed from the clan head. "Can you grant me death?" Akito hissed out, the twin teal pools flashing dangerously.
"Death is a coward's way, you Akito-sama do not strike me as a coward." Usagi responded.
"Hmph, empty promises." Akito said and gripped her chin tightly. A small warmth shocked the fingertips, and the clan head felt a bit of easing of burden passing from them. "Tell me then, can you cure this curse?"Akito asked. "Can you carry it instead?" It was a sniped question.
"You do not deserve this fate, and if I could carry this burden I would." Usagi spoke. "The best people are always struck unfairly, and those who do not suffer never know the price that is paid so they do not." She whispered, her eyes taking on a faraway gaze.
Akito released her in disgust, lips pulled back in a sneer. "What do you know of suffering?" The clan head hissed.
"Senshi." A parted whisper escaped her lips, but her conscious wasn't here. "Home." She continued, unmindful that Akito was watching her closely. "Death." Usagi stated, and then her eyes refocused, though Akito noticed a new addition, a crescent moon flickered to life on the blond's forehead for a second.
Pale hands came together in pleasure, finally the puppets had brought something of excellent use. Ears perked up as the words 'senshi,' passed the cherry lips. Akito had heard of the mythic warriors in the Juuban district, and here was a link to them. "Usagi." Akito called, drawing her attention.
"Yes, Akito-sama." She returned.
"Step out for a moment, and tell Kureno to fetch Hatori." Akito ordered. Usagi bowed and nodded, quickly she left the dark presence. As she stepped out, Kureno walked forward.
"Akito wants Hatori." Usagi informed him, missing the small expression of sadness that flickered in the red eyes. Obviously Akito had grew angry with the blond.
"Very well, stay right here." Kureno ordered, and Usagi nodded. Kureno vanished into the darken hallways. Usagi passed the time letting the shadows of the hallway play off the gift that she had wished for, for Akito. Hearing footsteps she gazed up to see the elder two walking quickly. Kureno urged Hatori in while staying out, not wanting to hear the dreaded order.
"Hello Hatori." Akito spoke as the doctor slipped in. "You know what this means." The clan head mused.
"Her memories are to be wiped clean." Hatori responded evenly.
"Yes, but I want all her memories wiped clean." Akito stated. "Then, modify them so that she is a Sohma, one completely loyal to me." The clan head ordered. Hatori rocked slightly on his heels after hearing that. He had the power to erase memories, but he didn't know about his ability to modify and such. Mentally he wondered about what Usagi had said to cause the clan head to order this drastic change. 'A non-sohma, initiated into the inner circle?' Hatori remarked mentally. However, he didn't rise from his position on the floor, he had not been dismissed yet.
"I must thank that rebellious horse for finding this delectable treasure." Akito crowed, while Hatori raised a hidden eyebrow. "Right now, that outsider is a threat, with a free mind." Akito continued while Hatori still tried to fathom what Usagi may be able to do. "However, under my power, she would be my greatest puppet and asset, not to mention I could grow to enjoy her company." The clan head remarked. Hatori withheld a blanch, Akito was going to end up scaring the tender blond. Outside he didn't twitch a single muscle, though inside he was going through every possible option to get the blond out of the clutches of the clan head. Akito must of sensed his thoughts because the clan head turned to him. "She could possibly be the answer to the curse." This statement was dipped in poisonous honey.
Hatori's mental process stopped, he lost control of his widening eyes. Though he kept his head down, he wondered if that fallen statement could be true. Hatori missed that manipulating smirk on the clan head's lips. "Now, dismissed and wipe that girl's memories, then bring her back here." Akito ordered. Hatori saw every option he imagined go vanishing into the air.
Stepping outside, he gestured for Usagi to follow him. The pair made their way to his office again. Hatori gestured for Usagi to sit down, while he collapsed into his arm chair. He was mentally getting ready to hand this innocent over to the dark clan head with nothing but a pretty bow.
Akito listened as the door closed and footsteps receded. A smirk etched their face, and they lowered their kimono sleeves a bit to reveal skin to the fresh air. Light brushed the revealed skin striking bandages around the chest. Thin nimble fingers slipped under the tight wrapping, and loosen them a bit. The loosen wrapping contracted to the contours of the hidden body, and two angles jutted through the wrapping betraying the clan's head true sex. "Yes, she will make my greatest puppet." Akito whispered while licking her fingers. Then a buried conscious kicked up, much like it did when Akito had her last 'talk,' with Tohru.
"It's a pity I have to take her from her family, but she should of never gotten involved with the Sohma family." Akito whispered. Her body shuddered, and she collapsed to her knees, angrily she glared at her body's betrayal. "Though at the cost of finally eradicating the curse, she is expendable." Akito thought out loud, eyes of teal watching the birds in the garden. She reached out, and a small bird landed on her fingers. Idly she gazed at the bird with a small smile, before it turned mocking. "Must be nice to have such freedom, little birdie." Akito whispered to it.
The bird hopped closer, chirping while it did so. Then it hopped on the clan's head shoulder, and curled up beneath her earlobe. No one ever saw the clan head in these times, it would not do well to control the extensive family members. It was hard to require respect when one is always sick, and Akito frowned. Yes, she had an unhealthy obsession with the mouse, Yuki, but in retrospect wasn't it that creatures fault they were cursed in the first place? Her argument of course made no sense, especially since their was more behind her reasoning. True to tradition, it is aloud for members of the Jikkan Juunishi to have relationships between one another, in-fact it's almost smiled upon. Akito huffed while leaning against the sliding door, like 'God,' could have a relationship. Sickness racked every part of their body, bones easily broke, and fevers struck constantly. Those whose daughter or son is born as 'God,' could enjoy the grandest that the ancient Sohma line could have. Nothing was to much for the parents of the carrier of the curse.
However, the child was forced to live a life of suffering. Akito tilted her head toward the blue sky. So she forced others to suffer with her, that old proverb misery loves company was true. Yet, none sought pass the cruel front she puts up, too afraid of reprisal, even that Honda Tohru. She scoffed at this, how easily she wound each of the sohma zodiac around her finger, including the estranged cat. Not even Tohru could deal with the true form of the cat. Yet, Akito would have control of the only one that could, giving her vast control over the cat. Yes, finally she would have a complete package of power, and a possibility of a everlasting companion. Tilting her head back, she wondered on the time length that Hatori had been gone.
Hatori sighed and kneeled before Usagi, laying a soft hand on her brow. Reaching deep within himself, he activated his latent power that came with being the dragon of the zodiac. A soft white light slipped from his tan weathered fingers toward the cranial lobe of memories. Yet, instead of a quick flash, Hatori was instead pulled into her memory area.
Opening his eyes he was greeted by sixteen different shades of eyes. Though that was their only defining feature as they were covered by different colored lights. However, he had a strange feeling that these were all females that stood guard over Usagi's memories. One pair of Violet eyes tinged with bits of red, and other pair of Amethyst tinted with specks of black glared at him.
A bow of fire was held in the hands of the deep red column that had the eyes of violet. The other pair raised a wicked looking scythe reaching from the dark purple column. Each pointed their weapons at him, directing him silently to disperse or he would be in serious trouble. Hatori nodded holding pacifying hands upward, the columns didn't lower their weapons. All he saw as he was forced out of Usagi's memories was a long key like staff, and a sharp saber sending him on his way.
As Hatori made peace with his body, he turned his opened eyes to the tranced Usagi. A silver star played on her brow, and a stronger light originated from her. The star was awash by a golden upturned crescent which dotted her brow, before she bowed her head and inhaled. Eyes slid open slowly as the light receded, however as the light died away, it reached and touched his injured left eye. In a long time, Hatori was gifted once more with twenty-twenty vision.
"Hatori, why are you kneeling before me with your hand on my head?" Usagi asked him. Hatori blinked confused, obviously the guards of her memories also guarded them from her as well.
"Ah, just checking on you." He responded automatically. Kureno walked in, and turned his attention to the pair.
"Akito wants her presence now." Kureno passed on the order. Hatori nodded, offering a hand up to the blond, the two followed Kureno. The air was once again tense, for Hatori was faced with a major problem.
"I asked for just Usagi." Akito's voice chimed as they entered.
"Akito-sama, I." Hatori was halted by a movement of his head flying to the side.
"I did not request you to speak." Akito intoned and Usagi gasped while reaching up to lay a cooling hand on Hatori's warm cheek. Akito and Hatori watched as a small light left Usagi's fingers and heal the bruising that had began to show. Usagi had not seen for she was glancing sadly at Akito.
"Akito-sama, he could have something important to tell you." Usagi spoke up, removing her hand from Hatori's cheek. Akito glanced intrigued at the blond before glaring at Hatori.
"Speak." Akito ordered.
"She rejected the process." Hatori coined, and awaited his punishment.
"Really?" Now Akito was really interested. "Fine dismissed." Akito chimed, and waved Hatori away. "Come, sit with me Usagi." Akito ordered, and Usagi followed the clan head.
The pair sat back outside, where the same bird alighted on Akito's outreached fingers. Another followed, nestling into Usagi's hair, which had her pouting. Artemis was going to try to eat her hair when she got back! The pout grew deeper as she thought, and a unique sound rung in her ears. She turned to see a bubble of laughter spilling from the clan head. Usagi blushed lightly at her childish action, before her eyes darted down in shame. However, before they could drop to the ground, she had caught sight of the white wrapping and what it hid. Usagi gasped and glanced up to locked gazes with darkly amused orbs.
"You are a girl?" Usagi asked surprise.
"Yes." Akito responded.
"Oh." Usagi commented turning red, and Akito sensed a chance of controlling the blond. Long fingers slipped under Usagi's downed chin.
"Why?" The clan head asked, and Usagi mumbled something. Akito smirked, she had heard what the blond said, but she wanted to hear it again. "What was that?" Akito inquired.
"I said I had thought you were cute." Usagi spoke in a rush, Akito raised a brow.
"Now, I'm not?" Akito asked, Usagi waved her hands.
"No, I mean your are pretty, but.." Usagi got out, her cheeks dyed red.
"Yes?"Akito purred.
"Ah..I felt attracted to you." Usagi finally got out. Akito smirked wider, then lifted Usagi's head up to lock gazes.
"What about now?" Again the clan head purred, hypnotizing the blond Usagi.
"Ah...yes." Usagi admitted quietly. Akito slid her fingers to turn Usagi's head a little. Usagi blinked, why did this feel so familiar? For a second, she caught teasing navy eyes with sandy blond hair. Followed by long raven hair in a tight ponytail and dark blue eyes in her mind's eye. Usagi squirmed lightly trying to wrench out of the possessive hold the clan head had her in. However, she stilled when Akito leaned forward, but her fear was unfounded as Akito merely brushed pass her cheek with her own.
"Our little secret." Akito whispered in her ear, before pulling back and letting Usagi's chin go. Lightly she wondered at the implication that the clan head had spoke. Then Usagi realized that most of the Sohma's didn't know that Akito was a girl! Usagi nodded quickly, showing an easy obedience to get out of this embarrassing situation. Another dark laugh slipped from Akito, and Usagi blushed, one of her hands darting in her pocket subconsciously. Her fingers struck an odd shape, and her eyes lit up in excitement.
"Akito-sama?" Usagi ventured, and Akito turned her attention back to her.
"Just Akito, but only you can say that Usagi." Akito purred, easily leading the blond into her graces.
"Akito, I have something for you." Usagi told her, her fingers grasping the crystal object.
"Hmm." Akito marked, her teal eyes sparkling at the sapphires.
"Here." Usagi squeaked while handing over the gift. Akito's delicate fingers softly lifted the crystal birds perched on the open magnolia from Usagi's hands. For a few minutes there was a contemplative silence, before Usagi felt Akito shift. Usagi noticed the girl looked paler then before, and she laid a caring hand on the clan's head brow. The tips of her fingers brushing the locks that draped in her eyes. "Akito, may I brush your hair?" Usagi asked, playing with the tips like one sister would do to another.
"Yes." Came the tired response, Usagi missed the weak smirk on the clan's head face. Usagi pulled a hairbrush from her subspace pocket, mentally remarking over Luna's lecture on senshi space. 'Ah well, what she doesn't see, she can't scold.' Usagi chirped mentally while slowly drawing the soft bristle brush over the dark plum hair. She spent several minutes on each lock, trying to bring forth the dull shine that hid in the hair. After awhile she noticed that Akito rested against her chest, and that the clan head's breath had even out. Usagi stopped, placing the brush away and gently laid the clan head down in the sun. Akito opened her eyes for a minute long enough to say one thing. "You can go now Usagi." Akito excused her. Usagi kowtowed to Akito and walked out of the room. Only to see Kureno enter right after her to check on the clan head.
"Kureno, place this on my mantle." Akito ordered handing over the crystalline gift. Kureno nodded, and did as he was ordered. "Now leave, oh and draft a letter to Usagi's parents." Akito added, and Kureno briskly left. He wondered at the implication that followed, Usagi had charmed the clan head, but could she be in even more danger because of it.
Usagi wandered toward Hatori's office, and slipped in to see a surprise doctor and a chittering Ayame. "Usagi, you were gone far too long, I have come to rescue you!" Ayame claimed while spinning the blond about, Usagi merely giggled. Dutifully she turned to follow, but not before running up and hugging Hatori. Both Ayame and Hatori winced, but Hatori didn't experience a change. Then he thought over the small experience of diving in her mind. Perhaps he activated a latent part of her hidden powers? Nothing more could be thought of as Ayame laughed boisterously, and dragged Usagi out. She was being escorted back to Shigure's house.
There 23 pages worth. So, this is her first meeting with Akito. It seems like Akito has something planned for the young blond, and I bet I have you guessing with the non reaction when Usagi hugged Hatori. Well, I'm not telling right now. Please enjoy and review. Best Wishes, WCB. :)