The Taming of Gods
An Akito X OC fanfiction story. Please leave a review.
Musical inspiration: "Little bird" by Ed Sheeran
Chapter 8
After school on Monday, Meda made her way as usual to the Sohma Honke. She paused as she entered the main house, wondering if her decision to return had been the right one. She was still furious at Akito for his irrational actions the last time she had seen him. Hurting her was something she could never excuse. But, a calmer, more generous part of her mind urged her to give him a second chance. After all, it had been an accident and the expression of pained remorse she'd caught flashing briefly across his face kept replaying in her mind.
'Hello there, Meda. What's the matter?' A voice came from behind her, causing to jump in surprise.
'Afternoon, Hatori! Nothing's the matter. Whatever made you think that?' She said with mock cheeriness, forcing herself to put on a smiling face.
'Well, the heavy sighing kind of gave it away. That and the fact that you haven't bounced immediately over to Akito's room as soon as you got here. He's been holed up in there all weekend: won't let anyone in, barely touched his food and he seemed surprisingly more morose than angry. Did something happen between the two of you?' Hatori asked with a raised eyebrow. Meda felt inexplicably guilty, though she still hadn't figured out what she had done to set Akito off like that.
'I honestly have no idea, Hatori. We were literally just talking about school and I started telling him about this new guy I'd met, when his temper began to rise. Then, I suppose as he was already angry, when I turned down his invitation to join him this weekend, he just lit up and threw a clay pot at me. It missed but one of the shards still cut me. I really didn't mean to hurt him, Hatori- he just took it the wrong way when I said I was going to the fair with my other friends.' She said sadly, looking down at the ground. Hatori placed a hand gently on her shoulder in an attempt of comforting her, before replying with a thoughtful expression.
'I know you didn't mean to hurt him, Meda. After all you've done for us, especially him, it would be absurd to even consider the notion. That explains the crash we all heard on Friday evening. I think, that Akito was just feeling a little possessive, that's all. He gets like that quite often, when he feels that other people are a threat to things that are his. The idea of you wanting to spend time with your other friends scared him because he's afraid you will leave him. I think the only thing you can do is to assure him that that's not the case.'
'But I don't understand. Why would my presence or lack thereof, have such an effect on Akito? I don't mean anything to him…' She asked, looking completely bewildered. Hatori hid a smile: this poor little thing was so oblivious to Akito's affections for her, though Akito himself didn't understand what it was he felt for the prophetess. It would be quite a job getting it through their thick skulls that this was more than an ordinary friendship, Hatori thought with exasperation.
'Why don't you go talk to him?' He suggested, pushing her towards Akito's bedroom door.
'Thanks for the advice, Tori.' She gave him a small smile as he disappeared into his office, before nervously knocking on Akito's door.
Akito sat shrouded by darkness, staring intensely at the blank wall in front of him, completely lost in thought. In his mind, memories of his last encounter with Meda kept replaying themselves over and over again, causing his anger at himself to intensify each time he remembered her bleeding arm; the look of hurt, of fear etched on her face. He'd hurt her- something he would never forgive himself for, though anger still bubbled through him when he thought back to how she'd said that she preferred to spend time with her stupid friends than with him. After all, this was just a job for her. What was he thinking, trying to pretend that she might feel anything else for him? After all he was a monster, one that everyone hated, everyone left. Ren's voice snaked its way into his head, as he remembered her harsh words- ones he'd been hearing ever since he was a child.
'You're nothing. A monster- a mistake. They all hate you, you know. After what you did to them. Yuki, Kyo, Kureno, Hatori: all your precious Jyuunishi. One day, they will all leave you and you will be completely alone.' Her hissing voice in the memory still caused chills to run up Akito's skin. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning a bloodless white. His mother was right, they all hated him and now Meda does too. There was no way she'd ever come back, not after the way he had treated her. Before he could convince himself that he didn't need her, he didn't need anyone of them, a knock on his door brought him out of his self-loathing reverie.
'GO AWAY!' He screamed at the door, wanting to wring the neck of whichever sorry maid it was that tried to disturb him. To his surprise, instead of hearing the sound of timid footsteps rapidly retreating, the door slid open and a small figure stepped in. He rose, towering with rage, about to strangle the maid, when he stopped short at the dark auburn hair and familiar piercing green eyes that confronted him.
'Is this a bad time?' Meda asked, with a ghost of a smile on her lips. Akito stood shell shocked before her, left speechless by her sudden appearance: she didn't seem afraid of him at all!
The room she had just entered was completely dishevelled, with the bed unmade and sheets strewn everywhere, and pieces of broken crockery and various items lying around as if someone had flung them in a fit of rage. The curtains were drawn and the entire room was in darkness. Akito himself looked pale and ill, the healthy improvements that had come about in the last month begin to fade. His shining onyx hair hung limply around his face and he looked nothing like the powerful, dignified, intimidating God she had come to know. Pity and some other feeling she could not put a name to welled up in her heart. Akito opened his mouth to speak but before he could get a word out she flung herself at him, enveloping him in her warm arms. He froze in shock and feeling him go rigid Meda made to move away, but before she knew it, a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her. Akito pulled her close and buried his face in her dark hair, enjoying the feel of her close to him. He felt suddenly more at ease than he had the ever before; her mere presence was a comforting blanket, taking away the hurt, the loneliness and the fear he'd been feeling.
'I hate it when we fight.' Meda said quietly, wrapping her arms back around his thin frame.
'It's your fault, stupid little witch.' He retorted, though he still refused to let go of her.
'Somehow it always is.' She sighed, before letting go of him. She moved over to the huge window over looking the stunning Japanese garden and threw open the curtains. 'Jesus Christ, it's like a mausoleum in here.'
Akito flinched away from the sudden brightness, his lanky frame seeming even paler and weaker in the sunlight. Meda frowned at the state of the place before determinedly rolling up her sleeves.
'Right, we're going to fix this place. Starting with you. Go jump in the shower Akito, you look like you've crawled out from underneath a rock.'
'How dare you talk to me like that, you-' He began, his usual grumpy tone beginning to take over, but Meda was having none of it.
'Akito all the progress we've made with your health this last month will all go to waste if you let yourself go like this. I can't see you like this, I can't stand to watch you fall back into the husk of a man you were when I first met you. Now, if that's what you want to do then tell me right now because I will get out of your way and not bother you again. What's it going to be Akito? Are you going to toughen up or keep acting like a spoilt brat?' Akito stared at her in shock after her passionate little speech. With the exception of Ren, no one had ever spoken to him so boldly in his entire life. This little firework was really something else, and he knew she had a valid point. Wordlessly, he moved towards the bathroom, pausing for a moment in the doorway to look back at her as she straightened up his room.
'Why did you come back?'
She stiffened, standing straighter but not looking at him. After a long pause, she replied:
'I don't really know, to be honest. I suppose I still think there's hope for you somewhere. I really hope I'm not wrong.' She turned her piercing emerald gaze on him as she said that last part, searching his soul for a moment before returning silently to her task. He watched her pensively for a moment more, before leaving.
The pair soon slipped back into their normal routine, pretending, for the most part as if the incident with the clay pot had never occurred. However, there was a new tension present. Meda could feel that her relationship with Akito had changed. Though he maintained his brusque façade and regularly got on her nerves, he was more careful with her than before. If she didn't know him any better she might even say that he was tender towards her. She found herself becoming drawn closer and closer to the God, a fundamental part of his life and he of hers. Few words were needed between them; Meda could sense Akito's thoughts, feelings and emotions the minute they crossed their mind, though her supernatural intuition had very little to do with it. With every passing day in her company, Hatori noted, Akito was getting stronger, healthier, even less temperamental- though he retributed twice as violently when she was away from his company for longer than he cared.
The Japanese garden that he maintained was one of Akito's few pleasures in life. The beautiful garden was filled with neatly pruned flowers and plants of all sorts, creating a halcyon little place of peace and tranquillity. Meda sat by the little pond, adjacent to Akito's room, watching the shimmering flash of the Koi fish as they swam through the clear water. Metallic dragonflies danced across the lily pads, darting amongst the rushes, gleaming navy, fuchsia and bottle green.
'Beautiful aren't they?' She asked the figure watching her from the veranda of his bedroom. Akito was cloaked in a beautiful black silk Kimono, adorned with stunning green and red thread work along its borders.
'I never really noticed.' He called from across the pond, before making his way down the steps to join her in the garden.
'How typical of you. So much light and beauty, right outside your doorstep and yet you still choose to shroud yourself in darkness and black.' She snorted, raking him up and down with her gaze. He frowned at her for a moment, watching as the stunning fish took her entire attention, before gathering a handful of dirt and pebbles and flinging it into the pond. The fish and other pond life scattered, darting to the bottom of the deep pond, hiding where they knew it was safe. Meda started at his sudden violent action, before turning to face him in astonishment and slight anger.
'Why did you do that?' She asked, looking out sadly at the now empty pond. Even the ducks and little birds flitting around had flown up in a startled flurry.
'They were taking too much of your attention. That belongs only to me.' He smirked at her, pulling her up from her perch by the pond. 'Come take a walk with me.'
She sighed resignedly, before dusting herself off and taking the arm he had proffered her. The flowers were in full bloom, at this time of summer, and sweet smells wafted through the air. Meda watched with a small smile as the plants perked up around her as she strolled through the beautiful garden. Hummingbirds flitted between the foxgloves, seeking out sweet nectar. The boughs of the trees drooped heavy with fragrant clusters of cherry blossoms and wisteria. Meda laughed gently as a small white bird flitted around near her head. Akito held up a slender hand the bird gently landed on it, much to her surprise. She gasped, eyes widening as more began to surround the God, completely at ease in his presence.
'They're so adorable!' She cooed, gently reaching out to stroke the one perched on his hand.
'I suppose you might say that.' While she watched the birds, Akito watched her. He felt his heart beat a little faster as he took in her smiling face, her beautiful long hair shining in the sunlight and her startlingly bright eyes, sparkling with happiness. She was so innocent and bewitching; the way she was so easily pleased by the simplest things, like a flower or a bird, was intensely refreshing in his eyes. Soon, their little stroll across the estate brought them to a beautiful white gazebo in the midst of a huge pond. The late afternoon sun reflected off the shimmering water, onto the wooden slats in the pathway that led up to the quaint little gazebo. Meda smiled as she leaned across the railing in the gazebo, thirstily drinking in the mesmerizing view. Akito felt a smile tugging on his face as well as he watched her get so ridiculously happy over something he considered not worth a second glance. The only truly mesmerizing thing in the entire place was Meda herself. He came to stand behind her, pulling her closer to him. To his surprise, instead of shoving him away like she usually did when he began to touch her and tease her, she relaxed into his chest, leaning gently against him. For once, Akito refrained from making any inappropriate comments or running his hands down her body: he decided that this was definitely much better than the fun he had from annoying her.
'Thank you for showing me this.' Meda breathed, still watching the purple waters becoming stained with orange as the sun began to sink sleepily into the horizon.
'Mm.' Was his only response as he buried his face in her exotic fruit scented hair, playing with the long strands. As he stood there, Meda firmly clasped in his arms, Akito felt a familiar struggle begin within himself. What were his feelings for this girl? He liked playing with all his toys- first Kyo, then Yuki and later Kureno and Hatori. Tormenting them was one of his few, sick pleasures in life, his noted with disgust. He'd started out the same with Meda- constantly trying her, being difficult, trying to frighten her. However, as time wore on, he found himself tormenting her less and less. Although he still enjoyed teasing her (she got the cutest expression on her face when she was annoyed) he found that he felt new twinges of guilt every time he saddened her. He no longer enjoyed the sight of tears pricking at her eyes and, absurd as it may seem, he actually liked hearing her laugh.
Sensing him watching her, Meda half turned to look at the tall figure that had his arms wrapped around her. In the last couple of months, Akito had really toughened up. He had lost his deathly, ill pallor and she could even detect a blush on his cheeks now! His thin, skinny frame had more meat on it and Meda could see hints of muscle definition beginning to show on his arms and chest. His onyx eyes no longer looked as dead as they had when she'd first met him. Instead, they now seemed to sparkle, hints of life beginning to revive the broken God. He was so close… Meda felt her heart begin to beat faster as his face came closer and closer. She slowly reached up on tiptoes; almost nose to nose with him; their lips millimetres apart. For a moment, she thought he would kiss her, but all of a sudden he pulled back.
'Get a grip of yourself!' He thought angrily, releasing his grip on Meda and stepping to the other side of the gazebo to put as much space between them as possible. 'You're a God and she's nothing. You can't let a girl, of all things, weaken you. A weakness, that's all love is. Just a harder way to hurt, when she leaves you too. Alone, all alone, that's all you'll ever be.' Ren's voice began to mix with his own inner voice, re-evoking all the self-doubts, worries and hate that infested his troubled mind.
A look of intense pain flashed across Meda at his sudden, abrupt actions. What had she done wrong? Suddenly, she winced as her intuitive 6th sense kicked in and all the doubts and self-loathing roiling in Akito's mind and the fear that she would abandon him hit her.
'Is that why he acts like that? With me, with the other Jyuunishi? He's insecure… He's too worried that if he relaxes his hold on the Zodiac members they will leave, to realise that he's choking them.' Meda thought, pity and love surging through her heart. Without thinking, she flew into his arms, crashing her lips against his in a breathless kiss.
'I'm not going to leave you Akito. Not now, not when the curse breaks, not as long as you want me around.' She vowed as they broke apart for a breath. Akito, who had been to stunned to move, suddenly grabbed her tightly and kissed her back passionately. He tangled his hands in her hair, pulling her head even closer, if possible, as she melted into his hungry kiss. When they finally broke apart, both their cheeks had flushed bright and red and they were panting for breath after the intense kiss. Meda blushed furiously again when she realised how uncharacteristically bold her actions had been.
'Why are you blushing now, my little witch? You've already played the part of a naughty little minx.' He smirked as he ran his thumb over her kiss-bruised lips.
'I'm sorry!' She squeaked, hiding her beet red face behind her hands. Before she could turn to leave, Akito laughed and threw an arm around her waist, escorting her back to the Honke. Now that he had finally gotten his hands on her, he wasn't letting go any time soon. She was his and his only, he thought protectively, though his usual cold smirk had softened as since she had made her way into his heart.