Author's Note: Second paragraph… Haru has a motorcycle! (No more bicycle for him! LOL. Now he's badass, hahaha!) What happens when you put Shigure, Ayame, Ritsu and Akiten in the same car for a two-hour drive? Muahahaha! For simplicity's sake, I made Shigure get his driver's licence (we'll say he got it a year ago when Akito's health really tanked, leaving Hatori no time to drive Shigure anywhere anymore, hahaha!)

Chapter 8

Destruction Chamber

Akiten was exhausted by the time they got into the car to drive to this mysterious place called "Fuji-san". She wasn't used to so much activity for one day, but Shigure and Ayame kept urging her on enthusiastically. If anything, their enthusiasm only wore her out more.

They were car-pooling to the Juunishi gravesite at Fuji-san. Shigure drove Akiten, Ayame and Ritsu; Hatori drove Kyo, Kazuma and Yuki; Hiro drove Kisa, Kagura and Momiji; and Haru and Rin rode their shiny black motorcycles. Ren insisted on being escorted in a limo with Kureno and some servants. Ayame had begged Yuki to come with them, but Yuki looked grave when he bluntly declined. Akiten wished she could have done the same…

As much as Akiten didn't like the arrangement (she was sure Ayame would drive her crazy all the way to Fuji-san), she knew it was better than being in the limo with Ren. Anything was better than that.

"Let's play a game!" Ayame declared as they pulled out of the crematorium's parking lot.

"That sounds like a great idea Aaya-sama!" Ritsu replied eagerly.

"Oh oh, can we play the guessing one?" Shigure exclaimed animatedly. "You know—I think of something and you guys ask a bunch of 'yes' or 'no' questions to try and figure it out—that one!"

"Yes, I like that one!"

"Classic idea, Guri-san," Ayame agreed twirling his hand in front of him. "And I vote that I start this round with the idea that you all have to figure out."

Akiten sweat-dropped. Oh second thought… maybe the limo with Ren might have been a better choice… Better yet, the trunk.

She sat behind Shigure with Ritsu next to her and Ayame in the front passenger seat. The two older men in the front seats bantered playfully to each other, while Ritsu tried to interject every now and then. She watched how her father interacted differently with Ayame and Ritsu compared to with her, Hatori and Kureno. Even her brief encounter with Shigure and Akito together had been different.

She didn't understand the dynamic relationships played in the way people interacted with each other. Shigure was always his loudest when he was in the presence of Ayame, and Ayame was further encouraged by Shigure's attention to be all the more extravagant. She had yet to gaze into Ayame's eyes since becoming God, and in her exhausted state of mind, she now knew better than to even attempt it. Shigure was right—she just needed to relax for now.

"Is it an inanimate object?" Ritsu asked eagerly, leaning forward in his seat to try and be closer to Ayame.

"Not at all," Ayame replied.

"An animal?" Shigure inquired.

"On occasion," he laughed gently.

"It's your brother," Akiten said bluntly with a sigh before turning her gaze back to the window.

Ayame gasped. "How did you know so soon?"

She shrugged, but didn't tear her eyes from the passing trees.

"Can you read minds?" Ritsu asked suddenly, his eyes growing wide with alarm.

"Yes and no," she replied, inwardly grinning to herself. Honestly though, she could see right through Ayame and the way he behaved around Yuki that she knew he had a brother-complex. But it was fun to keep them guessing too.

"That's it, Aki-chan's not allowed to play," Shigure announced, good-humouredly. He could see it in her eyes when he glanced at her in the rear-view mirror that she looked ready to fall asleep if they would just leave her alone.

"But Gure-san," Ayame interjected with a slight pout, "it's more fun with more players."

Ritsu agreed. Shigure cocked his head towards Akiten behind him and whispered softly to the other two adults. "Look at her. She looks like she'd rather pass out than play a game anyway."

They turned their attention to the girl staring out the window with her chin in her hand and her eyes drooping heavily. It looked like she would nod off any moment now if they left her alone.

"She needs to rest anyway, so let's let her," Shigure told them as he returned his attention to the road before them.

They nodded, but requested that they at least turn the radio on and listen to some music. They fell silent, their minds drifting back to the memories at the crematorium as music filled the car.

Shigure had noticed how uncomfortable Akiten looked at the crematorium. The younger Juunishi members looked as though they wanted to approach Shigure about their new God that clutched to the back of his jacket, but he made sure to look preoccupied with Hatori. Eventually, he had Akiten sit down on a bench with Hatori guarding her and he decided he had better explain some things to the others while they waited for Akito's remains.

Yuki didn't look impressed. He may have met Akiten briefly already, but there was no explanation about how Akiten came into existence. He put two-and-two together when it was announced at the funeral.

"That's just vile," Hiro declared when Shigure approached their group. "To think that you ever had relations with…"

"I can't believe Akito-san was a woman," Kisa murmured softly.

"Did you know all along that Akito was a woman, Sensei?" Haru asked.

Shigure nodded. "Hatori, Ayame, Kureno and I all knew. When she was conceived, we knew, just like when Akiten accepted the role as God, you all shared the same dream and knew."

"I still can't imagine you and Akito…" Hiro shivered. "I don't want to even think about it!"

"I agree, it's disgusting," Rin spat, leaning against the wall with her arms folded across her chest.

Momiji looked deep in thought, Kisa was looking down and biting her bottom lip, and Kyo looked as though he was silently fuming and about to blow a gasket. Kazuma put a hand on Kyo's shoulder, but he brushed him off and stomped away with his hands, in fists, shoved in his pockets. Kazuma gave Shigure an apologetic look before he nodded his head and followed Kyo.

Shigure could only guess, having heard the rumours about Kyo and Tohru's sudden disappearance before he was locked up in the Cat's Cage, as to why he would be pissed. He brushed the sudden thought off.

"So she's our new God, huh?" Haru mumbled, nodding his head in the direction of Akiten and Hatori sitting together on the other side of the waiting room.

Shigure nodded, noting that she was sitting on her hands again. "She accepted the role without understanding, I think. She's very sensitive and over-whelmed at the moment, so I'd appreciate it if all of you would leave her alone for now. We will introduce her to each of you in due time. For now…" he sighed, exhaustion beginning to catch up to him, "For now, she just needs to relax."

"How come we are only finding out about her now, Shigure?" Yuki asked, somewhat darkly. He was still scrutinizing Shigure, seemingly unsure of how to take this news.

Shigure wasn't sure how to respond. He still didn't know what Akito's reasons had been for keeping her hidden for thirteen years. Could the fact that she had been a woman disguised as a man be one of the reasons? Could it have been because of Akiten's gifts (whatever they were)? But why keep her hidden from Shigure for all these years? Was it some form of punishment for him?

Or was it because, as Akiten had cried earlier that day, that she was never supposed to exist?

His stomach twisted in a knot and he swallowed the lump in his throat. He lowered his gaze as his heart clenched. "I asked myself that question the moment Akito died. For it was in that moment that she informed me of Akiten's existence. Just days ago, even I didn't know she existed, or that I even had a child for that matter."

They were silent as this confession sunk in.

"So she's the new God figure, huh?"

Shigure turned around to see Ren enter their waiting room. He instantly checked on Akiten to see if she was okay. Her face was blank, and turned downward, devoid of any emotion whatsoever. Hatori had his arm wrapped around her shoulders in a protective stance. The other Juunishi members (that Shigure had just been talking to) fell silent with Ren's unexpected appearance.

"Well, that ought to make things interesting, don't you agree Shigure-san?" Ren asked as she brushed her long grey-streaked black hair over her shoulder. She turned her attention to her nails on her right hand. "I'm not surprised. It's like they say, like mother, like daughter."

"You would know," Shigure replied darkly.

She lowered her eyes at him, but turned and left. She wouldn't even dignify that with a response.

Shigure exhaled in relief. He noticed a few of his cousins do the same. He glanced at Akiten. She looked pale and was clenching the seat underneath her legs.

"Can I go outside and get some fresh air?" she asked Hatori in a soft voice that Shigure could barely grasp. Hatori nodded and exchanged looks with Shigure, who conceded. The pair got up and stepped out.

The young Juunishi stared down at their feet now as an uncomfortable and awkward silence filled the air around them.

"Don't tell me… that that woman had anything to do with… whatever her name is…" Rin muttered.

Shigure nodded, but his throat closed up, preventing him from speaking further.

"That would explain a lot," Yuki murmured, a hint of remorse tinted the tone of his voice.

Shigure sighed and excused himself. He went down the sterile white hallways to the entrance, where he found Akiten sitting on a bench next to the door, wringing her hands together in her lap. Hatori was standing next to the bench and taking a drag on a newly lit cigarette.

"Can you spare one for an old dog?" he asked as he joined them.

"Only if you can teach him new tricks," Hatori replied as he handed a cigarette and his lighter to Shigure.

Shigure lit the cigarette between his lips and inhaled deeply. "Well, that was pleasant," he said as he exhaled. "You okay, Aki-chan?"

She was leaning forward as if trying to curl up. "It smells like death in there. Didn't you feel it?" She didn't look up, only kept her eyes fixated on the ground before her.

Now that she mentioned it, he did have a sort of eerie feeling about the place. He just assumed it was from all the glances his younger cousins were shooting him.

"Someone was burned alive in there."

"Wha—" Shigure sputtered. He was stunned and just stared at her as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"I suppose it could happen," Hatori mumbled. "In those rare cases when a person's vital signs are obsolete, but they are actually alive."

"D-Does that even happen?" Shigure asked, his eyes wide in horror.

Hatori nodded, looking grave. "It does, but like I said… it's very rare."

"I feel sick," Akiten mumbled, bending forward and putting her head between her knees.

Hatori flicked his cigarette and quickly moved to Akiten's side on the bench and began to rub her back. "Take a deep breath. What's wrong? Do you feel like throwing up?"

Shigure stared at the pair, his cigarette dangling from his partially opened lips. A sense of helplessness and uncertainty fell over him as to how to react as his usually stoic best friend trying to comfort his mysterious daughter. He looked away before his eyes began to prickle.

Akiten nodded, taking deep breaths, in and out. "I feel like I can't breathe, and my stomach is trying to jump out of my mouth. It's the smell… It's a smell and a feeling of death. It's suffocating. It's draining my energy. I," she stammered, clamping her eyes tightly shut, "I don't like it."

Hatori just nodded as he rubbed her back.

Shigure felt like a useless fool observing the scene unfold, reminding him of how pathetic he was as a father.

"You don't have to go back in, Aki-chan," Shigure said, finally finding his voice after a minute of hesitation. "We can wait out here until it's time to collect Akito's bones."

"Bones?" Akiten asked, her eyes looking up into his in bewilderment. A hint of green flushed her cheeks.

Ah crap… wrong thing to say, Shigure thought to himself.

"You don't have to partake, Akiten," Hatori added calmly. "If it's too much, then just excuse yourself. We'll understand."

Shigure nodded in agreement when he spotted Yuki stepping out of the building.

Yuki beckoned them over and told them that it was time. Good old Yuki—he always was the considerate and responsible one.

They followed him inside to the designated area for the Sohma family.

Shigure kept a close eye on Akiten over his shoulder. She followed closely behind him, always keeping a firm hold on the back of his jacket and never letting him get more than two paces ahead of her. He'd be lying if he didn't think it was absolutely adorable, but now was not the time to make a perverted comment about her adorableness.

He noted the fear on her face, the way she wrinkled her nose when they entered the room before holding her breath with a look of disgust.

But he understood her reaction, because he could smell it too. It was an acidic, burnt stench that made his eyes water a little.

She kept her face lowered, and barely participated in the collecting of bones and transferring them to the urns. He could tell she was really struggling to be there, so after a few minutes he told her that she could wait outside. She nodded, and Ritsu volunteered to keep her company.

Curiosity tugged on the dog's mind at how quickly the monkey had taken an interest in Akiten. He supposed that whatever secrets were exchanged in their first meeting, were secrets that should be kept between them and them alone.

The bone collecting ceremony carried on for about an hour until all the pieces were gathered and the ashes carefully stored as well. Then they all dispersed into their vehicles to go to the gravesite for members of the zodiac.

The memories kept Shigure's mind preoccupied all the way to Fuji-san.

When mount Fuji was about ten kilometres away, Shigure raised his voice to get Akiten's attention in the backseat. "Aki-chan. We're almost here. Look, Fuji-san."

Akiten's eyelids fluttered as a small groan escaped her lips. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and, after blinking repeatedly from the bright sunlight that flashed in her face between the trees that lined the road, peered out the window. All she could see were trees, lots and lots of trees. While she enjoyed watching the trees zoom by, she couldn't see any house or person named Fuji.

Seeing her confusion, Ritsu leaned closer to her and pointed up out her window. "Above the tree tops," he said, "Do you see it?"

She raised her gaze and gasped when her eyes beheld the snow-capped mountain. The sun was just a few minutes away from touching it and then disappearing from view behind it.

"Got it. Look Gure-san."

Akiten looked to Ayame ahead of her and saw him showing Shigure an image on a small little box. It was a digital picture of her staring in awe at the mountain. "Ehh?" she cried out in embarrassment.

"Ohh, good one Aaya!"

"Ah, let me see Ayame-niisan," Ritsu asked, leaning forward in his seat to get a better look at the picture. "Ohh, what a great photo! Akiten-chan looks so cute!"

She squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment and held her hands tightly together in her lap.

Ayame snapped another photo. "Even when she looks so serious, Aki-chuu is absolutely adorable! We must put together a photo album of her blossoming into a beautiful princess."

"That's a great idea Aaya," Shigure replied, silently recalling how he'd missed her entire childhood.

"How much longer?" she asked in a soft voice.

"Just a few more minutes," Shigure answered, pulling himself out of his little guilt-trip and flashing her a big smile in the rear-view mirror.

She gave a little nod before turning her gaze back to the forest that surrounded them. Soon, she saw the temple in the distance at the foot of the mountain that must have been their destination. It appeared to be small and quaint.

Hatori's car was already there, its occupants pulling luggage out of the trunk and carrying it inside. Hatori was the only one not helping, as he was waiting for Shigure to arrive.

Shigure pulled the car up next to his and they all climbed out.

"Tori-san! How kind of you to wait for me!" Ayame exclaimed boisterously. "I most assuredly will give you all of my love tonight!"

"Aww, what about me, Aaya?" Shigure pouted.

"Join us Gure-san! We are long overdue for a threesome!"

Akiten shuddered while Hatori just sighed.

"Before everyone arrives, I think we should get Akiten inside," Hatori said sternly. "She must be tired. It's been a long day, hasn't it?"

Shigure nodded. He placed a hand on her back, the gesture gently encouraging her to follow Hatori inside. The three entered through the front gates and Akiten was again awestruck by how much larger and grander the compound was on the inside. The entire front courtyard was an ancient looking rock garden with carefully manicured shrubs and small trees. She followed behind Hatori along the main path, where various other small stone pathways branched off into the garden. She saw a small pond with little streams running out through bamboo shoots. The faint tinkle of the running water filled her senses with calm and tranquil thoughts.

"Do you like it here Aki-chan?" Shigure asked, observing her closely.

Her eyes swept over the rock formations, their smooth and glossy surfaces twisting into intricate and elegant shapes. "Un."

"How about we come back later after everyone gets settled then, ne?"

They went into the main house, where a maid greeted them on her knees prior to leading them to their rooms.

Akiten looked around her in curiosity as they walked down the long hallway, passing my numerous rooms, all identical in their traditional simplicity. She noticed that the first room that she had passed, the paper screen sliding door was closed and a dark, angry, morose energy was within. It sent shivers up her spine as the emotion wafted over her. It dissipated as she got further away from it, but she still felt the bitter taste of resentment filling her mouth. At the end of the hallway, the maid showed her to God's room—the largest of all and at the head of the main house.

Yuki stepped out of his room, which was one of the eight that lined the hallway, and the closest to Akiten's room. "Oh, you guys are here already?"

"Yup, I followed Ha-san all the way up," Shigure replied.

"I'm sorry, I'm all out of treats for your good behaviour," Hatori said darkly.

Shigure pouted. "Aw, really? What about a smoke, eh? I could sure use a smoke!"

Hatori ignored him and turned to Akiten. "Why don't you go ahead inside and make yourself comfortable. Would you like some tea? I'll call for a maid."

She shook her head. "No, that's okay. Actually, I'd like to be alone right now. I'm tired."

He nodded and stepped aside so she could pass into her room. "I'll let the others know not to disturb you until dinner time then."

She thanked him as he slid the door shut behind her.

"Is everything okay?" Yuki asked, keeping his voice low.

Shigure nodded. "She just… needs some time to herself, right Ha-san?"

Hatori tilted his head slightly in agreement. "Yuki, since your room is right next to hers, could you make sure no one disturbs her?"

Yuki was silent as Hatori's words settled, but agreed. He watched as the two men stepped out. Their instructions were clear and not to be broken. Still… Yuki found the temptation to see Akiten again overwhelming. As soon as they were out of sight, he slipped into her room and closed the door behind him.

She looked surprised to see him because she heard their conversation out in the hallway. Yuki didn't look like the type to disobey requests from others. Before their eyes could meet, however, she lowered her gaze to her hands in her lap.

Yuki watched her sitting alone in front of a small kotatsu (low table). She looked so small and out-of-place in such a vast formal space. Next to him stood a tall, elegantly carved end table. On top was a pitcher of water and half a dozen glasses.

"You must be thirsty," he said to her, "Would you like me to pour you a glass of water?"

Without shifting her gaze, she nodded in silence.

As he filled two glasses with water, Yuki could hear his cousins outside as they carried pieces of luggage into their rooms, chatting loudly and getting in each other's way in the narrow hallway. He hoped that he wouldn't be caught with Akiten and that they wouldn't be disturbed.

He set the glasses down at opposite ends of the table and sat himself across from her.

She could feel his apprehension and it made her more nervous as she turned her eyes to the water before her.

"Did you have a good trip up?" he asked her after a moment of silence. He watched her as he took a sip of his water.

She wished he would stop staring at her with his nervous vibes. "It was fine," she murmured. "They decided not to play their stupid guessing game when they accused me of reading minds."

Yuki nearly choked on the water he had been drinking. He coughed and lowered the glass to the table.

She sighed, "They're so… so strange." Her thoughts trailed off as she mentally compared the three adults' behaviours to that of Ren, Akito, Hatori, and Kureno. The latter two were very composed with a quiet nature. The first two…

Involuntary shudders rippled through her as Yuki's anxiety heightened.

"You… You can read minds?" he asked in hesitation.

For some reason, she found this question funny. Why did they think she could read minds? The corner of her mouth pulled up and she shook her head. "No… not quite, anyway. But… But your eyes are the windows…" Windows to your soul. All I have to do is look, and I can see right through you and know everything… Her half-grin turned to a frown as the pain and sadness she had witnessed earlier that day came flooding over her.

She clamped her hands tightly in her lap and clenched her eyes. She inhaled deeply and exhaled, trying to push all the negative emotions out.

"I'm sorry about my brother's behaviour," Yuki said suddenly as she calmed herself. "Ayame can be rather flamboyant and brash, but I know he has a good heart."

"Yes," she agreed, "I know that too."

"Why don't you have some water?" he suggested. He noticed that she hadn't touched the glass at all.

She submitted to his request obediently with a slight bow of her head and helped herself to the water. The coolness of the liquid shocked her system at first and filled her arms with goose bumps, but it was exactly what she needed to refresh and recharge herself. She pushed his anxiety away and looked back at him then.

Catching his eye, she noted his curiousness, but also his concern about her past. She looked away, feeling her heart constrict when memories of that dark room and her mother appeared in her mind. She knew that whip and was all too familiar with its bite…

"Please, leave me alone," she requested softly. "I'm tired."

She didn't see him nod, but felt his startlement. She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to shut him out.

She heard him softly walk to the sliding door and carefully leave with barely a sound.

She couldn't go back to that room. Not now. Not ever.

A sharp sound smacked her awake.

She got to her feet and stepped back, trembling.

Her glass had a single crack that ran from the rim to the base.

Author's Note: Sorry for not updating in so long! I had worked on this chapter, then lost it when my computer crashed at some point and that was discouraging. I have two original works on the go right now too, plus WAWO and I finished the prequel for this story called "Child of God". Kind of how Akiten came into the world. It's more background story, and not necessary to read, but all the same, if you're looking for more, there's that.

Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing!