WARNING-Contains Chapter 97 spoilers.
ITSUMO
"It was coming. She could feel it, that unstoppable force that was going to claim her years before her time. What was it? Her death of course. What else would it be for the God of the Juunishi and head of the Sohma family. After all death had always been one step behind her, chasing her but, until now she had been able to stay one step ahead of death. Slowly though it was catching up. Now it was only a half step behind and getting closer faster.
And that was why she had called him. That was why he was sitting here before her a look of worry on his face. Yes, she had called her rooster who was really not her rooster anymore. She had called on Kureno, the one who always was and always would be close to her no matter what came death or otherwise.
"Itsumo." Akito whispered almost voicelessly though Kureno, astute as he was when it came to Akito, heard and looked up but said nothing on what she said. "Is there something you wanted Akito?" he asked calmly instead knowing that her time had come. He could see it in her pale and clammy complexion. Her sick eyes and grim pained mouth. Everyone else, Hatori especially, could see her death approaching but she had forbid everyone but him to be allowed in the area.
"Yes," Akito said softly. "Come here Kureno. I want to see you better. To see you before I leave forever. For always."
Complying as he always would Kureno stood up and walked to Akito who was laying on her divan black kimono like attire framed around her thin, weak body making the still young woman look so close to death it was scary, even for Kureno who knew the end was near for her.
"Yes?" he asked kneeling down beside he and lifting his hand so he could put it on her sweating forehead. "Is there something else you want? I am here for you."
"I know." Akito said simply. "You will always be here for me and no one else. You will always be mine even after my death." Kureno nodded accepting her words. It was the only thing he could really do when Akito still needed him so badly.
"All right, I'll be with you always then." He said moving his hand down to her own and grasping it softly to show he would never leave her. He'd always be with her. Always. Itsumo.
"Thank you Kureno." Akito said her voice growing softer, more faded, less alive. "You don't know how much that means to me." She said pulling her hand free without any explanation which confused Kureno. She always preferred that they touch in someway, so why move out of his grasp? Kureno didn't ask tough. What Akito wanted she would get. After all he had promised to always be with her until she no longer needed him. And now was when she needed him most. So, he wasn't going to leave or ask questions.
Akito smiled slightly as she was able to pull her hand free. She was weak, and getting weaker but she knew she had to manage this next task. She had to so Kureno wouldn't be a a liar. She had to so Kureno would always be by her side. Always. Itsumo.
And of course doing what she needed to do wouldn't be hard. Kureno could be, and was being, very compliant doing exactly as he should. It was almost annoying at times because it felt the love he was supposed to have for her was forced. Now though forced or not it was this compliance, this love, that made things all the more easier.
Knowing she had to keep Kureno occupied lest he get suspicious she slowly took the one hand that was under Kureno's and turned it over so she could grasp it tightly, though her grip was weak, showing signs of how close her death was.
Feeling the light grip on his hand Kureno gripped her hand just slightly tighter in reply a small smile coming to his face. The end was coming but she didn't seem to be afraid, which was odd but perhaps she wasn't afraid because she was too far gone to feel much of any emotion. Whatever the reason Kureno still made no comment. It was still not his place to.
"Always Kureno. Itsumo." Akito said in an even softer tone now. "That's how long you'll be with me and that's how long I love you. Remember that." She said before falling quiet for a long moment barely moving or breathing.
Kureno thought that the end had come for her and was about to get up when he saw Akito move slowly to a sitting position. "Don't stop me." She said slowly though it was obvious she was almost to weak to hold herself up. "I need to see your face straight up one more time."
Kureno nodded complying once again as he still held onto Akito's hand as she sat up and looked him straight in the eye a small smile on her face.
"Are you afraid to die?" she asked almost suddenly surprising Kureno slightly. However he recovered quickly and shook his head. "No." he said simply before continuing on. "The end will come for me like it does everyone eventually. It always does."
"Good." Akito said. "I'm not afraid either because you'll be with me forever. For always. Itsumo."
Kureno barely had time to take in what that meant for next moment there was a small, but most likely deadly, pistol aimed at Kureno.
Surprise registered on his face but not fear, no like he said he wasn't afraid to die though he did loose his grip on Akito's hand. "Akito..." he started before his words were broken off by the sound of the gun shot hitting him in the stomach because of Akito's shaking hand a point blank range.
Loosing the last of her strength Akito fell on top of the dying Kureno breaths coming slower and almost non existent though they matched with Kureno's dying breaths.
"W...hy?" Kureno said trying his best to speak despite his condition.
"Because." Akito said blackness coming over her eyes. "You'll be at my side, even at my death and after it. You'll always be with me. Forever. Always. Itsumo."
"Itsumo." Kureno repeated a black and redness coming over his vision as he closed his eyes the pain and blood loss too much to stand.
Hearing the gunshot Hatori had had to run and get a pair of keys for the locked door. By the time he had got to both Akito and Kureno though it was too late. Both his God and Kureno were dead, in each others arms almost like a modern day version of Romeo and Juliet minus the family struggles and plus the Sohma's own problems.
Written in blood on the floor was the only explanation Hatori needed. Walking over to the two bodies he read the one word that explained it all. "Itsumo." He said reading it. "Always. Of course." He mumbled before going back to the door and locking it. No one needed to know of this yet. He'd clean up the best he could though he knew the bloody word would stay there forever. For always. Itsumo. As a sign that Akito got what she wanted and it could be explained with just that one word. Itsumo.
THE END...
Skiergirl-Wow, that was dark. But I knew it was going to be since I first thought of it. Of course I couldn't warn anyone without ruining the entire story so Gomen for all those who didn't expect something like this. Still though I hope you thought it was good and enjoyed it...somehow someway. And hopefully Itsumo CAN really mean always, ;