-1Hi guys. I'm sorry, it has been way too long. But there is only one chapter left after this! Thank you so much to those of you who have followed this story to the end. I am so very fortunate to have so many readers! I really hope you like the ending I have chosen for this story. It was really hard to decide how to end it. In the original story by Takaya-sensei, I felt that the ending was rather abrupt. I tried to write one that was more fitting. Please enjoy and please give me some feedback.
Chapter 23- Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
Arisa Uotani stood ill at ease outside the wide doors of room belonging to the head of the Sohmas. Inside she could hear a laugh. At first it had been soft and innocent sounding and Uo felt comforted that Tohru was safe. However, the laugh had quickly become one full of menace, a laugh that freezes the blood and raises the hairs on the back of one's neck. Uo's first reaction was to protect, but she knew what her orders were. Do not interfere unless absolutely necessary. She knew this, but she inched closer to the doors anyway, her fingers itching to yank the doors open.
Inside, Tohru was wide-eyed as Akito had subsided into a fit of hysterics. The god's shallow breathing unnerved the girl as she watched Akito struggle with this fit of laughter. She raised a hand uselessly in Akito's direction, trying to find the source of this amusement.
"You… you really think that you are worthy of me Honda?" Akito managed to wheeze at last. "You think that I would give up my entire family, everything I've known my whole life, just for you? And here you made me think that you were a humble little creature. You are really nothing more than a self-absorbed little shrew. You conned my family into believing you were so innocent and kind, such a perfect little angel of salvation, but no. I see through your clever little ruse. You cannot persuade me of your charity and your love. You want something out of this bargain. You want power which is why you will trade yourself for them. You think that once you have me in your tangled web of deceit that you can take the power I have and make it your own. Ha!"
Tohru was dumbfounded at Akito's accusations. She would never… she couldn't possibly consider such a dreadful thing. It was terrible. "A-Akito-sama, I would never dream of taking anything of yours…" she tried to protest but the god cut her off.
"Oh, but you would take my family from me? My life, my dignity, my power, my influence, I know your type Honda. You claim to know nothing and pretend to be innocent and sweet. Yet I've caught you. You are attempting to steal away the only happiness I will ever have in my short lifetime. You want to take away my family!"
Tohru could think of nothing to say to this. Akito was right. She was going to take away the Sohmas. Even though she would replace them with herself, she was nothing, she was simple, slow, unattractive. What did she have to offer Akito? She shuddered uncontrollably before saying, "Akito, for your family I will be your constant companion, I will never leave. I will cook for you, play games with you, read to you… sleep with you… I will do anything you ask."
Akito smirked as the hesitation caught in Tohru's voice and the god laughed again. "Oh you poor pathetic fool. You think you can tempt me with your body? I don't want your body when I can have Shigure's or Kureno's." Tohru's eyebrows shot up. She would have never guessed that Akito was into that sort of thing. Of course she wouldn't judge, and that would explain why Akito was not married…
"Oh… I, ah, I didn't mean to offend you Akito-sama, I didn't realize…" as Tohru struggled for words, Akito made a disgusted noise.
"I tire of you Honda-san. I will make this as simple as possible. I am a woman and do not need nor desire a female companion. I will not accept your offer. You cannot interest me, your very presence irks me. I will give you one minute to get out of my chambers or I will change my mind and kill you where you sit."
Tohru went pale. Her plan had failed. If she didn't come up with another plan quick, the Juunishi were doomed.
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The Juunishi were intent on the three silent figures in the center of the room. Shigure was worried. This was taking too long. Hana looked scared, Hatori was shaking with exertion, and Kyo… looked peaceful. Strange in comparison.
Hana looked with her inner eye at the beast rattling the bars of the cage. Release me, witch. It told her in a voice only she could hear. Hatori stood in front of the bars and shook his head. He then called out: "You are the Cat, the true form of the zodiac being. Too long have you been contained by God in a human body. Cat, we have a proposition for you."
Dragon, you were once a wise and powerful creature. See what your loving God has diminished you to. Unless you plan to free me, I will make no deals with you or your deceiving brethren.
"I understand your pain," Hatori said lightly. Suddenly, Hana watched as a transparent serpentine dragon wound around the doctor's body. "We were terribly mistaken to cast you out, Cat. We wish to correct the mistakes of the past. We wish to set you free. However, we cannot ignite the wrath of God. God is too powerful and will find a way to send us through oblivion for eons to come. We must act now. Let us separate you from your body. That will stop the transformation process and trick God into believing us free. When God sends us away, our souls can return to peace in heaven. Do you accept this fate or do you choose to remain bound to a human forever?"
If this is a trick, cunning Dragon, I will ensure you never see another sunrise. There was a long pause and Hana hesitantly stepped forward. Very well, witch. Release me from my bonds. Hatori came forward with Hana and together they placed their hands on the cage of glass beads. Hana took a deep breath and shoved the energy of her dempa waves into the cage. Glass sprayed everywhere and there was a howl of triumph. Hatori then suddenly grabbed Hana's hand, Pulling her to the surface before she could see what she had released.
Hana opened her eyes and then swayed slightly. The room came back into view with all the Juunishi staring wide eyed at her. Kyo was on the ground tears pooling in his eyes and breathing hard. There was utter silence before Yuki breathed, "Did it work?"
Hana pulled Kyo to his feet and then embraced the still weeping boy. When nothing happened, the Juunishi all began to chatter excitedly. "It works! We're saved!" "Did it hurt, Kyo?" "Hurry, me next!"
Kyo pulled back from Hana, wiping his eyes furiously. "I feel… strange. Empty? I dunno. Thanks though." He stepped back, looking slightly disoriented and the rest of the Juunishi eagerly pushed in on Hatori and Hana. "One down, twelve to go," Hatori said. "Rin, you next." As the girl knelt in the center, her hands knotted tensely in her lap, Hana and Hatori began the process again.
As the other Juunishi looked on, Shigure snuck over to Yuki and Kyo. "I have a bad feeling about this boys. We are taking too long. Tohru is with Akito and after that outburst earlier I believe Akito intends to kill her. Kyo, go and check on them please. Hold Akito off and we'll follow as quick as we can." Kyo didn't ask how Shigure knew so much, but seemed more shaken by the idea of Akito being alone with Tohru. He hadn't forgotten of course, but the mind trip Hatori and Hana had just played on him left the boy a little addled. He nodded and swiftly left the room.
Yuki however turned to his elder cousin with an inquisitive look. "Do you really think Akito would do such a thing?"
Shigure shrugged. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Akito is a peculiar being. Tohru is too pure and innocent to understand what our dear god is capable of. You were foolish to leave her alone in that chamber."
Yuki frowned. "Uotani-san is with them. If anything happens, she can correct the situation. I would never be so brash as to leave Honda-san with Akito."
As Rin stood and Hatsuharu took her place, Shigure muttered something that sounded like, "And so it begins."
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Tohru stood at her obvious dismissal, but she was not ready to leave. She would save the Sohmas. She would get Akito to agree to her terms.
"Akito-sama, please, look in your heart. You know that your family is suffering. You know that they are sad and they are scared. You took them out of school, away from friends. You made them fear the same things you fear. You made them believe that they must be afraid of the world outside, that this estate is the only place that's safe anymore."
"This is the only safe place. I am the only one that can protect them!" Akito snarled back as she turned again toward Tohru, malice in her eyes. How dare this girl deny her. Over and over she had tried to destroy this family. She had no right to criticize.
"Akito-sama, would you have your family live in fear for the rest of their lives? Would you have them never feel joy or peace for the rest of their lives?" Tohru's voice was soft but tender and pleading.
That was it. Akito could not take the girl anymore. Out of nowhere, she lunged, knocking the girl to the floor and slapping her. "How dare you! You are a thief and a liar! You would tear apart my family, my life, and then turn me into a monster. You little viper! You have poisoned this family for too long with your false love and humbleness! You are a demon!!! As I seem to have the only sense here anymore, I will end you and rid the Sohmas of your meddlesome existence FOREVER!"
The doors burst open as Akito pummeled the girl, who was now curled up beneath Akito her hands held in a weak barrier over her head to stop the beating. A tall woman shouting ran into the room. She tried to grab at the stark figure of the raving goddess, but Akito was beyond her senses. She continued to rip and tear at every inch of the girl that had driven her family apart even as strong arms pulled her away.
Kyo held the goddess by her arms and dragged her far enough away that she could no longer cause Tohru harm. He wanted nothing more than to drop the destructive creature in his arms and see to Tohru, but he held firm. "Let me go this instant! That bitch isn't fit to live! I will kill her!"
"You will do no such thing Akito," said another voice in the doorway. Hatsuharu stood there with Rin and Kagura.
"How dare you tell me what I can and can't do, you stupid cow! This is my family and I will destroy anyone that gets in my path."
"No, you won't. Your reign of terror ends here Akito," Hiro walked in behind his elder cousins, holding Kisa's hand, an act that enraged the goddess further. "You can't control us anymore. So stop thinking you're all high and mighty."
"Such insolence!" Akito yanked against Kyo's strength trying to get free. "I am your God, you cannot defy me!"
"You know, I never really believed in God anyway," Shigure said as he paced in nonchalantly with Ayame at his side. "I think God was just a fairytale. Now in real life, things are much more interesting."
"But 'Gure, you're a Fiction writer, ne?" Ayame told him.
Akito was boiling with fury now. How could they think this a joke? She was in charge here and her Juunishi should be cowering in fear, obeying her every whim.
"Why? Why do you all take her side? Why don't you listen to me?" Hatori didn't even flinch when Akito yelled as he walked into the room followed by Momiji, Ritsu, Yuki, and Hana. "Because you no longer have power over us Akito-sama."
Kureno was the last to enter the room and his eyes lit up in a playful smile. "We are free."
Free at last! And yes, I finally decided on a gender for Akito. If you couldn't tell, I hadn't decided on one yet :P. So one more chapter left. What will Akito do? What happened to Tohru? Are the zodiac truly free? Or is the author just toying with you? :D Review and you will find out in the final chapter! Thanks for reading!