Author's Note (May 8, 2013): I know I haven't updated in a while… But I do want to finish this one-day! Even if it takes me ten years! I just love little Akiten so much! I can't abandon her! T_T Enjoy!

Chapter 5

The New God

Akiten was shaken abruptly from her slumber in the wee morning hours.

"What have you done?"

The intensity in Shigure's voice made her shrink back from his rough hands. What was he talking about? She was sleeping. What could she have possibly done that deserved to be forcefully shaken awake?

He pulled the eye mask from her face and she squinted back into his wide eyes. The sun was barely over the horizon and cast an orange glow through the window of her room and heightened the dark circles under his eyes.

"Do you have any idea what you have just done?" he demanded vehemently.

She whimpered from the lingering growl that escaped from his lips. He realized that he wasn't helping the matter at all and released her as he cleared his throat. Calm down, he told himself as he pulled away from her. He pushed his fear and anger into his gut and tried to ask her again more softly. "Do you know what role and responsibilities you have just accepted?"

She blinked back at him in confusion. Her vision was clearing and she found that the light wasn't bothering her eyes. She could see him so much clearer than she had before. Much more than the human eye was ever capable of seeing in fact. She looked into his eyes and could see into his soul. It was a swirling mass of confusion, worry, anxiety, despair… and remorse. There was more there, but she tore her gaze away, her eyes growing larger as the secrets spilt forth through Shigure's tears.

"It wasn't just a dream…" she uttered in shock. "I am…"

Shigure pulled her into his arms and buried his head into her shoulder. He was crying the same way he had when Akito was born… but this time it was different. This time it was his daughter, whom he hardly knew but was now bound to in more than one way. The emotions were over-powering for him and he didn't know what to do or what to think or what to say. It was all just too much for him to take in and he began to shake uncontrollably.

How can this be?

X

Hatori hung up the phone after speaking briefly with Shigure. He too had the dream and woke up crying. He sighed worriedly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes swiftly. There was no denying that Akiten was somehow offered the role and accepted it, perhaps without even understanding what was taking place. There was no going back now. God had chosen her. What's done was done. All that remained now was how to handle it.

A gentle rapping on his door announced the presence of someone outside. Wondering whom it could be so early in the morning—especially when he had cancelled the appointments that were scheduled for the day—he opened the door to a pale, young Sohma woman.

She wrung her hands together nervously, her eyes glancing in brief intervals from him to the ground under her feet. "Sumimasen Hatori-sama…" she apologized in a quiet and timid voice. It had been a few years since the last time she saw their family doctor when she had a bad case of the flu. He was more handsome than she could recall. He was always a little off-putting, but she was very distraught and didn't know what else to do. "I hope I'm not intruding on anything…?"

Hatori shook his head slightly. "I don't have any appointments scheduled for today." It was at this time that he would normally be checking Akito's health. With new concerns on his mind regarding God, he still was not able to sleep in a little.

She nodded her head without meeting his eyes, still wringing her hands together. Hatori beckoned her inside. The morning air was a bit nippy and he didn't want her to catch a small chill. He asked her to have a seat on one of his chairs in the living room while he made her some hot tea. He returned a few minutes later with a steaming cup of green tea and handed it to her before asking her what the purpose was for her unexpected visit.

She stumbled over her words, not quite sure of how to describe it. Hatori nodded his head as she spoke, turning her words over in his mind as he thought about what she was describing. His eyes widened when she reached the conclusion of her tale. If what she described to him was the truth (and he had no doubt that she would be telling anything but), then there was only one possible answer…

"Hatori-sama?" she asked almost on the verge of tears. "I'm very scared! I-I don't understand what's wrong with me! Am I dying?"

Hatori couldn't shake the thoughts out of his head. She had described blood… lots of blood… Could it have been…

He looked at her reassuringly, although sadly at the same time. "I'm sorry Akane-san," he said gently, "but I believe you had a miscarriage."

…God?

X

Ayame arrived around ten o'clock that morning.

"Gure-san! I came as quickly as I could! Is it true? Is she our…"

"God? Yes Aaya, it seems to be that way," Shigure replied. He couldn't bring himself to look his closest friend in the eyes. He was still struggling with the mish-mash of emotions flowing over him.

Ayame brought with him a new outfit for Akiten to wear to her mother's funeral that afternoon. It was a simple design that he thought she might like. It was a black kimono with a few small silvery-white and blue flowers and petals flittering around. There was a thin silver trim on the bottom of the kimono and on the edge of the sleeves. The obi was solid black. He had wanted to make a little dress for her, but given the situation, he called in a favour from his silk provider for the simplest black kimono he had in a child's size first thing that morning.

"I wish I could stay longer Gure-ni, but I must pick up Yuki-kun from the airport. He'll be landing in thirty minutes and time is ticking!" he declared, brushing his long hair over his shoulder. "Please give Aki-chuu a little kiss for me, will you? I will see you later at noon."

"But of course Aaya," Shigure answered, holding the kimono in one hand and the door in the other.

Ayame winked before trotting off.

Shigure sighed as he closed the door. He felt like an old man in that moment. He felt an emptiness in his stomach, and although he hadn't eaten anything for breakfast that morning, he couldn't bring himself to eat anything either. He looked at the kimono in his hands and knew that he should get Akiten ready for the funeral.

He went upstairs and rapped lightly on Akiten's bedroom door. When he got no answer, he slowly opened the door and peaked inside. His daughter had fallen back asleep, this time without the blanket over her head. She looked so peaceful with her pale white skin glowing in the sunlight and her black hair cascading across her face in gentle wisps. She reminded him so much of Akito in her younger years. The thought gripped his heart tightly and he blinked back the tears that began to sting his eyes.

"Aki-chan," he whispered as he gently nudged her. He didn't know how she could have fallen back asleep after discovering that she was the new God, but somehow she did. He certainly won't be sleeping well over the next few days, that was for sure!

She moaned a little, her eyebrows drawing together. "More sleep…"

A slight grin pulled the corners of his mouth up a little. She was definitely his daughter. "Well, unfortunately you can't sleep all day. We have a funeral to go to."

"But… but… we have lots of time… more sleep…" she groaned, turning over so that her back was facing him and pulling the blanket over her head.

Shigure shook his head. "Sorry kiddo, we have to leave in an hour. That means you have to be showered, beautified via Ayame, and dressed."

She immediately pulled back against the wall, her eyes wide open, at the mention of Ayame touching her. "No! Not him!"

Shigure chuckled. "Maa maa… jodan desu. I'm just joking. Ayame was here though, but he just dropped off your kimono to wear to the funeral."

Akiten sighed with relief; her heartbeat started to slow down after being unexpectedly kicked in her chest. Her grey eyes glanced at the black silk Shigure had placed at the foot of her bed. A kimono? For her? She reached out and touched the soft fabric that shimmered under her fingertips in the sunlight. Her eyes grew larger, that something so pretty was for her.

Shigure took this opportunity to draw Akiten to him and gently kiss her forehead. "From Aaya oji-san."

She was still staring at the kimono in awe that she hardly even noticed the kiss. This was the nicest gift she had ever received… even if it did come from that crazy lunatic.

"Come on," Shigure said abruptly, "let's get you showered and dressed."

"Again?" she grunted as Shigure took her hand and hauled her out of bed. She had never been washed two days in a row before. Wasn't she clean enough still?

"We must be cleansed and purified for the funeral," Shigure told her. "Don't worry. A quick shower is all you will need."

He led her into the washroom and started the shower for her so that it had a chance to warm up. He showed her how to turn it off when she was done. He didn't have any nice shampoo for her (he only had a manly scented one), but he figured since she washed her hair yesterday, that getting it wet would be enough. He told her just to rub some soap on herself, rinse, and hop out. At least his little bar of soap wasn't a manly scent…

He left her in the bathroom and hurried downstairs to get changed and warm up some leftover rice and milk for her to eat for breakfast. Akiten joined him about five minutes later in the kitchen wearing her dirty rags. He lowered the newspaper he had been reading and scowled that such material should touch her skin. No matter, once she was done breakfast he would get her dressed. He was all ready to go himself. He wore black dress pants with a white shirt. He had the black jacket and tie hanging up by the front door for him to grab on their way out.

He patted her cushion at the kotatsu (low table) and she eyed the steaming bowl of white goo. "I… I'm not very hungry."

Shigure blinked dumbly. "Oh? But we have a big day ahead of us. You'll want something in your belly."

Akiten tilted her head to the side slightly.

Shigure nodded his head, knowing that she wouldn't know anything about what takes place at funerals. "Have a seat and I'll tell you all about it."

She bit her lower lip, but did as she was told. She still did not feel like eating… and the "porridge" didn't look very appetizing as well.

"The Sohma family has two gravesites. One is here in town, not too far from the Honke that you grew up in—where we all grew up in," he explained as a smile slowly began to spread across his face. "But we Juunishi have another burial site—just for us. And it's in a very special, sacred place."

"Where is it?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Shigure's grin grew broader. "Fuji-san."

"Fuji-san?" She didn't understand. Who was Fuji-san?

Shigure's grin slowly dissipated. She didn't know what Fuji-san was? But a new idea popped into his head, and he gave her a small smile. "You'll see. Now eat."

She looked down at the lumpy goo in front of her. She never had breakfast before… and looking at it didn't encourage her appetite either. Nevertheless, to please her father, she picked up her spoon and dipped it into the milky white slop. She noticed there was some brown stuff mixed in it. Was it supposed to have brown stuff in it? She noticed Shigure watching her closely. He didn't poison it, did he? She shook her head gently to clear it of crazy thoughts and lifted the spoon to her mouth.

"How is it?" Shigure asked as she chewed a little and swallowed.

"Not bad. A little sweet," she replied, dipping her spoon into the bowl for some more.

He nodded with a little smile. "I added some brown sugar. Kids like their sweets."

She shrugged. She never had any sweets before, and she had eaten worse things than this. Like a good girl, she ate as much as she could (which was only half of the bowl) while Shigure told her the plan for the day.

They would drive to the Buddhist temple near the Sohma Estate that would perform the funeral and cremation. The entire Sohma family was invited to those services. After the cremation, and Akito's bones and ashes were collected in jars, they would go to the gravesite. Only the Juunishi members and their immediate "non-Juunishi" family members would be allowed to go to the gravesite specifically chosen for the Juunishi—which was at Fuji-san.

"So we have a long and busy day ahead of us," Shigure concluded.

She nodded, starting to feel nervous. She sat on her hands and chewed on her bottom lip as she stared at her rice porridge. "What am I supposed to do?" she wondered out-loud. Although she was just a child—and Akito's daughter—she was also God now. Wouldn't she have an important role to play in… something? She could feel a weight being placed on her shoulders with the prospect of having a very important responsibly at the temple. But she didn't know what traditions and ceremonies would take place. What if she messed up? What if she looked foolish in front of the Juunishi?

She went from living an isolated and neglected childhood, to suddenly being one of the most important figures in the family in a matter of days. It was over-whelming.

Shigure put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "Whatever you want Aki-chan. You can do whatever you want. You can participate in some of the ceremonies and I will help you. If you don't want to do anything, then that is fine too. We will understand. It's not easy to be in your position. Okay?"

Swallowing, she nodded her head. Why was he being so nice to her? What did he want from her? Surely he wasn't always kind and understanding… She looked into his eyes for her answers. But what she found was exactly what he displayed.

Was this what they called love?

His eyes clouded over with concern as he touched her cheek gently. "Why are you crying? Don't cry. Everything will be okay, I promise," he said soothingly.

Her eyes widened and she quickly lowered her gaze as her teardrops fell onto her lap. Could he read her too? Would he know all of her secrets like she knew his? She couldn't risk it. She didn't want her father to know… Maybe he would change his mind about her? She didn't want to go back… Not now… Not ever.

It was time to get ready.

Akiten didn't know how to put on a kimono. Shigure told her that he would help her as soon as she put the white undergarment on first. He looked a little flustered as even he struggled to figure it out.

"Hmm… Maybe I should consult the Internet on how to tie this thing…" he murmured under his breath.

Akiten sighed in boredom as he tugged away at it. When he seemed satisfied, he asked her to turn around so he could see her better. She struggled to turn, as the kimono was more constricting of her movements than she anticipated. She looked at him in puzzlement and looking for approval. He smiled broadly back at her.

"Well, I'm not sure if I did it right, but you look really cute Aki-chan."

There was sadness behind his eyes and a fleeting image of Akito as a young girl in a kimono appeared in her mind. She felt her face grow hot and she quickly looked at her feet. He missed her, she knew. Did she look that much like Akito?

She didn't have time to think too much because Shigure was getting up and guiding her towards the door of her room. "Well, we better get going. I want to stop somewhere before the funeral starts," he told her.

She followed stiffly behind him. "How do I walk in this thing?" she asked. As much as she loved the kimono, she hated it at the same time. She had never worn clothes that were so restricting. She didn't like it.

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Baby steps," he said. "Follow me." He scooted ahead putting one foot just slightly ahead of the other. "Hands together in front of you. Stand up straight and look forward. Your gaze should be parallel to the ground." He did exactly what he told her to do as an example as they walked down the hallway.

He looked like a fool.

Hopefully she looked better than that.

They shuffled down the hallway and (carefully down the) stairs to the front door. He grabbed his black suit jacket and put the loop of the tie around his neck, but left it hanging loose. He was about to put his shoes on when he noticed the ugly little thonged sandals that Akiten stepped into.

Those had to go. Now.

Shameful, he thought to himself as he put his shoes on. He tried not to let his disgust show through on his face though. "What do you think?" he asked her as he opened the door for her to walk out. "Should we go and buy some traditional shoes to complete your outfit?"

"Shoes?" she replied weakly, glancing at her feet. Upon looking at her shoes, which were too small for her feet now, she thought they didn't look nice with her pretty black kimono.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Shigure said suddenly, "Oh, I almost forgot your sunglasses! I'll go get them." He hurried off.

She looked outside and her mouth fell open.

Not only could she see clearly without the bright sunlight bothering her eyes, but the sky was also a gorgeous blue colour, dotted with a few small puffy white clouds. The grass was lush and green. The leaves on the trees on Shigure's property were a vibrant green against their brownish-grey bark. She looked up at the sun—but Shigure's hand quickly clasped over her eyes.

"Don't look directly at it," he warned. "Don't want to hurt yourself now, do you?" There was a hint of humour in his voice.

"The light doesn't bother me now," she said looking up at him as he slid the sunglasses on her face. "I don't understand."

He scratched the back of his head, but even he didn't know why either. Was it possible that her sensitivity to light was corrected since she became God? It was the only possible explanation.

Akiten read his eyes and his conclusions met with her suspicions. If that was the case, then she was thankful for at least one good change to have occurred.

They got in the car and drove off. The temple wasn't too far, but he wanted to stop at a little shop first. Akiten looked out her window at the houses and shops flying by. She could never bring herself to look outside before, but now that she could, she could see just how big and fascinating the world was.

Shigure parked the car in front of a little shop that had the windows blocked with thick dark curtains. He helped Akiten out of the car and, with her hand in his, guided her into the shop.

"Iresshaimase!"

The voice caught Akiten by surprise and she quickly turned and buried her face in Shigure's stomach, clinging to him. He laughed lightly and greeted the middle-aged shopkeeper (who began gushing over how cute Akiten looked).

"Oh isn't she just precious! Oh how cute! She certainly takes after her father, ne?"

"Maybe a little," Shigure smiled back politely as he tried to coax Akiten to turn around and face the woman. She whimpered slightly in protest, feeling very shy, but she turned and kept her head lowered. "She needs some proper footwear. I was thinking zori, but I would like for her to see geta and okobo too."

"Certainly. Please follow me," she said as she turned and led them to the right corner of the store where all the traditional shoes were displayed.

Akiten's eyes wandered around the store. The curtains blocked out the sunlight (to preserve the beauty and colours of the kimono and other silks inside from fading), but it was still well lit. She stared wide-eyed at the colourful silks at the back of the store that came in all shades of colours with elaborate beautiful designs.

"I would recommend a pair of white tabi—since so much of her outfit is black—with black thongs. What size is she?"

Shigure blinked uncertainly. "I'm not sure…"

"No problem. We'll try on some sizes," she replied as she sifted through the traditional white ankle-high socks.

Shigure motioned for Akiten to sit down on the seat provided. The woman quickly moved in front of Akiten and began putting the strange-looking socks on her feet. The second pair fit better than the first, so she left them on and then, now knowing her size, went to the different kinds of shoes.

"Have you tried on any of the traditional shoes before, dear?" the woman asked Akiten gently.

Akiten shook her head as she looked at all the awkward-looking shoes on the shelves. The woman selected the thick wooden wedge shoe and brought it before Akiten. "This is called an okobo," she said as she gently slipped the shoes onto her feet. "The apprentices of Geishas, called Maiko, wear these. Think you'd like to be a Geisha someday? There, stand up and try walking in them."

Akiten didn't know what a geisha or maiko was, but she gave the woman a look as if to say, 'You're crazy!' when she had the shoes on, but did as she was asked. She got to her feet but was too scared to walk in them. She could feel her face growing hot with embarrassment. She didn't like being stared at. She didn't like the shoes. She didn't want to try walking in them because she was terrified that she would fall and that would be even more embarrassing. She looked to Shigure pitifully, willing him to let her take them off immediately.

Was he… was he laughing at her? Her eyes clouded over as she began to glare at him.

He couldn't help it. She just looked so cute and the pitiful look she gave him was too irresistible. Too adorable. How could he not laugh? Even he agreed that the shoes were ridiculous, but he still wanted to see her in them.

"She… She hates them," he stuttered as he struggled to contain his laughter.

"Oh?" The shopkeeper had the audacity to look surprised. "Do you want me to get the zori now or the geta?"

"The geta… just for curiosity's sake," Shigure grinned.

Akiten had a bad feeling about this.

She sat back down as the woman looked for the next pair of shoes in Akiten's size. When she pulled them out, Akiten thought they still looked weird with their little half-inch tall 'teeth' protruding out from the bottom… but anything would have been better than the first pair. The woman slipped them onto her feet and Akiten got to her feet and managed to walk a few steps… but they still felt heavy and awkward. She prayed that the next pair of shoes, the ones that Shigure seemed most interested in, would be more comfortable.

"Now," the woman said, "we only have a couple of different styles of zori for little girls. Would you be interested in something more traditional, or more modern?"

Although Shigure would have preferred something more traditional… he wanted her to feel comfortable. "Well, she'll be standing for a number of hours, so I want something that she can feel good and comfortable in. Something that she can wear for other special and formal occasions as well would be ideal."

She nodded and went off in search of the shoes.

Akiten gave Shigure a pouty look. She wanted to leave, he knew. "We'll be finished here soon," he told her. "I'm going to need you to be extra patient today, okay?"

Akiten nodded when the woman returned with a pair of white-heeled zori with black thongs. "These zori are a simple, though classic design with the added benefit of support and comfort for our little princesses," she said as she presented them to Shigure and Akiten.

Shigure nodded in approval and she went to put them on Akiten's feet.

Akiten looked at her feet before standing up, thinking how foreign her feet looked to her, but liked these shoes much better than the previous ones for sure. She got to her feet and started to walk around the store. It was so much easier than the previous shoes.

The woman got up quickly and went to fetch a long mirror so Akiten could see how she looked with her new zori.

Akiten could not believe that the girl looking back at her was her own reflection. She had seen her reflection in the bathroom mirrors with her hair in a long tangled mess and cut short and wet in Shigure's. But seeing her now with her short black hair, black kimono and zori shoes, she looked like a princess from a picture book and not the forgotten and ignored child hidden away in a small dark room…

A crack appeared in the mirror and began to grow. Akiten quickly looked away.

The woman untied Akiten's obi ("Who did this? This is incorrect!"), and tied it properly. Shigure apologized for his inability to tie her obi, but the woman understood. He paid for the shoes and they left.

Shigure wanted to make one more stop, but feared that they would no longer have time for it. "Maybe later," he mumbled under his breath.

He turned the car towards the temple. Family members would be arriving soon because they had to be early for preparations. Shigure parked the car and turned back to her. He looked a little nervous, but Akiten could see the lump forming in his throat and the building sadness in his eyes. "Ready?"

Akito flashed in her mind again and she glanced out the window. Ready as I'll ever be, I guess.

It was time for her to present herself to the Juunishi and watch as her mother's body turned to ashes.

Author's Note: All of our favourite Sohma characters will be present in the next chapter. How have their lives changed over the last ten years? How will they respond to their new God? Shigure still has to work on his role as "father" which is sure to bring some laughs as the story progresses (as well as tender moments)

Hope you enjoyed the chapter and the story thus far. Thanks!