The Taming of Gods

An Akito X OC fanfiction story. Please leave a review.

Musical inspiration: "Riptide" by Vance Joy and "Secrets" by One Republic

Chapter 13

Something was wrong. Meda could sense it immediately. She was extremely intuitive when it came to Akito's moods and feelings, picking up immediately on all the subtle nuances and changes in his voice, body language and aura. She suspected it had something to do with the bond she could feel beginning to form between their souls, though she knew Akito would scoff and probably insult her if she ever said that aloud.

'Akito?' She sat up, peering concernedly at her pale friend, 'What's the matter, love? You look like you've seen a ghost!'

'Tch, it's nothing.' He shook away her protests dismissively, 'But I have to talk to you.'

What the cruel God had said really bothered Akito. Meda's been keeping secrets? If there was one virtue that the Kami possessed, though it often seemed like a curse to Akito, it was that he always told the truth no matter how painful or unrelenting. If he said that Meda had been keeping secrets then she was, though he wasn't sure if it was an insignificant secret and the Kami was merely trying to poison his mind against her or if it was a real betrayal on her part.

'Is there anything you wish to tell me?' He asked, his voice cold and formal. He watched her reaction keenly and his heart sank as he caught a barely perceptible flash of shock in her eyes. So she was hiding something.

'What do you want me to tell you?' She asked innocently.

'A little bird told me that my pet has been keeping secrets from me.'

'I honestly don't know what you're talking about. What secrets?'

Akito's eyes became hard as flint as she continued to play the innocent. His first instinct was to wrench her hair and force the truth out of her. Her dishonesty hurt, but what hurt more was the idea that his Kami spirit might be right. Carefully controlling his anger, he schooled his features into a believing expression. This would require tact and cunning; she was far too intelligent and stubborn to give in so easily. 'What a brilliant actress my little witch is.' He thought angrily as she continued to pretend as if she were clueless. But she didn't know what she was up against- she was playing a dangerous game against a God, of all people, and she would lose.

Meda wouldn't have survived this long had she not gained the ability to weave a skilful tale. It was easy to fool most people- her soft, charming demeanour and honest eyes made it impossible to even consider the notion that she might be lying- but Akito was not most people. She hated lying to him, her generally honest and forthright nature made it difficult to lie, especially to people she loved, but this was important. For now, at least, he seemed to have let it go, though she couldn't stop thinking how he'd found out. If he'd found out.

'Akito, I'm being serious. All right fine, I did lie. I'm sorry. I just didn't think it was a huge deal. It was me that ate your share of the red bean cakes.' She tried to cover.

Akito's jaw slackened in surprise. 'Was this it? Her big secret? She was afraid that I'd be angry that she ate my cake?' He wondered incredulously, his previous murderous mood melting away at the adorable, guilty look on her face. A relieved smile spread across his face and soon he was laughing out loud.

In the main house, everyone who heard the sound froze and dropped what they were doing. No one had heard the sound of the young master laughing so genuinely in a very, very long time; not since Master Akira's death at least. They smiled to themselves at yet another miracle the young healer had worked- she'd managed to fix his broken heart.

'W-Why are you laughing? Aren't you angry?' Meda asked innocently, though secretly relieved that he'd bought so easily into her lie. It seemed like he was desperate to trust her and that only made lying to him hurt more.

'You are the stupidest and cutest thing I have ever come across.' He guffawed, a healthy colour returning to his pallid cheeks. He'd never felt more relieved. It wasn't a deal breaking secret after all.

'A-akito?' She blushed as he suddenly seized her and pulled her back into his lap to place a deep kiss on her lips. Her heart began to beat faster as she closed her eyes and gave in to his insistent demands and returned the kiss with equal zeal. Her hands snaked into his hair of their own accord as she tugged on the silky black locks, pulling him closer to her. Her eyes flew open in surprise when she felt him bite down hard on her bottom lip, causing electric sensations to spark through her. He deepened the kiss, demanding entry into her mouth as he pushed her back against the grass. She lay pinned under him, helpless as he trailed a line of kisses across her jaw and down to the soft skin of her neck. He began to bite and suck the flesh insistently, only satisfied when a prominent red bruise had formed. Meda gasped, it wasn't unlike Akito to be rough, but he'd never left such a bold mark before.

'What are you doing Akito?' She said flustered, pushing him off her and sitting up, one hand cupping the hickey on her neck.

'Now people will know who you belong to.' He smirked confidently, not looking apologetic in the least.

'That's not alright, Akito. What will people say if they see? How on earth am I going to explain this to Yu-' She caught herself hastily, but Akito's eyes narrowed at her slip. 'Your maids!' She covered up immediately.

'It is none of their business.'

'But school's not over yet. My friends will wonder- people will begin to ask questions. What will I say?' She wondered frantically.

'Tell them the truth.' He shrugged coolly.

'I-I can't do that!'

'Why?' He suddenly looked at her coldly, 'Are you ashamed of me?'

'What!? No! That's not it… It's just embarrassing.' She blushed again. Standing up, she picked up her novel and brushed out her clothes before turning back to Akito. 'I really wish you hadn't done that. I'd better go, before it gets dark and people start worrying.'

'Aww, but you're so cute when you're worked up.' He teased naughtily. 'Besides, who's going to miss you? You never did mention where or who you lived with anyway.' Another brief flash of panic passed her eyes as she began to edge away. His previous suspicions rose again, like a filthy black wave washing over his mind and clouding his judgement. So she has been keeping secrets.

'Where do you live Meda? Where so you go to school? No one knows anything about you.' His voice took on a slightly accusatory tone.

'I-I live with some friends on the outskirts of town and what does it matter which school I go to.' She replied vaguely, though the panic in her eyes hardly soothed the suspicions rising within Akito. ' There's not long till I graduate. I really have to go Akito. I'll see you tomorrow.'

She hastily darted away, eager to get away before he started prying. He watched her go with a mixture of sadness and anger, already busy scheming to find out what she was hiding.

Making his way back to the main house, he summoned Hatori to his room.

'Do you know where Meda goes to school, Hatori?' He questioned.

'Uh, forgive me, I do not. But I presume, taking into consideration the time she takes to get here after school everyday, it's somewhere nearby.' He answered respectfully, careful not to give any details. However, the power of the God was intense and he could already feel his dragon spirit succumbing to its master, the Kami.

'What high schools are nearby?' Akito asked curtly, watching the nervous dragon sharply. After a few moments of struggling with himself, Hatori's spirit finally broke and he answered.

'Kaibara High School.'

Akito's eyes burned with black fire at the name. That was the school Yuki and Kyo went to. Had she met them? What was her relationship with the other Sohmas? Perhaps it was time he paid a visit to her school and finally met these "friends" she was always talking about.

3 months earlier, during Meda's second visit to Akito's house.

'So you are the God of the zodiac then?' She asked, looking up from the Japanese mythology book she had just been reading. If she wanted to heal them it was best to first familiarise herself with everything they had on the curse and it's effects. Akito nodded slightly, watching her like a cat from his position lounging on the bed.

'Wait a minute! It says there are only 12 members of the zodiac: rat, dragon, ox, tiger, monkey, rooster, dog, snake, goat, boar, horse and rabbit. What about the cat?' She asked incredulously, thinking of the unforgettable, foul tempered orange-haired boy she'd been living with.

'The cat is an outcast. Don't you know anything?' He said rudely, sitting up to face her. 'One night, God called the animals to a lavish banquet to name them all members of the zodiac. The Rat, who loved to play tricks on his neighbour, told the cat that the banquet was on the day after tomorrow. The cat believed his neighbour the Rat and slept whilst dreaming sweetly of the banquet. The next day, the Rat arrived first followed by the Ox, the Tiger and the rest of the animals. The order of the animals was decided by the order that they arrived. The stupid cat however, was the only one not there and so was not made a member of the zodiac. The cat was devastated and vowed that he would always hate the Rat.'

'Oh, that's terrible!' She protested sadly, unable to understand how he could be so callous and mocking about it. Poor Kyo! That explained why he and Yuki fought so much; it was in their spirit. 'I'd like to meet them- the rat, cat and all the other zodiac members.'

She knew instantly that she'd said something wrong as Akito rose, like a cobra rearing its head to strike, from his bed and advanced towards her.

'You are not to meet them, to talk to them, ever. They are mine, not yours! I don't need you sowing seeds of distrust between them and their God, you meddling little witch.' He hissed slowly in her ear, caging her within the chair by placing an arm on either side. Meda froze in fear- she was powerful but she could sense a dark spirit far more powerful than her, throbbing within Akito. Mutely, she nodded.

'Say it!'

I-I won't meet them, I won't go looking. I promise.' She said calmly, unwavering in the face of his menace.

Present Day.

It was a rainy, grey Friday afternoon and Kyo had spent the entire day grumpy and sulky. Meda had forgotten all about her troubles with Akito as she spent the day trying to cheer up her glum friend.

'Come on Kyo-Kyo. Chin up, it's only a bit of rain.' She reasoned as they left class together, with Arisa and Saki on either side of the pair.

'Yeah Kyo-Kyo,' Arisa adopted the nickname mockingly, 'What? Afraid of a little storm?'

'What storm? It's barely even raining.' He muttered with a scowl.

'A storm is coming on. I can feel it.' Saki and Meda said in unison, both with the same eerily calm, proleptic tone.

'Ugh, creepy.' Kyo shot them a strange look while Arisa shuddered.

'Is Kyo still being moody?' Yuki asked serenely, joining them suddenly as they walked together out of the school.

'I've tried everything I can to cheer him up.' Meda whined.

'Tch, don't worry yourself about him Meda. He always gets like this when the weather's foul.'

'Shut up! You stupid boy.' Kyo snapped, though it lacked the usual venom. He really seemed weaker. Meda's heart instantly went out to him.

'Cheer up Kyo! I promise I'll make your favourite onigiri the moment we get home and anything else you'd like.' She wrapped an arm around his waist and dropped a casual kiss on head in an effort to cheer him up, while the other hand held Yuki's.

'Ooh look Carrot Top's face is as red as his hair!' Arisa jeered as Kyo blushed brightly, his dismal mood completely forgotten. The rest of them laughed at his shyness but before he could be subjected to their merciless teasing, a familiar dark, suited figure came into his vision.

An expensive black limo was parked by the school gates, drawing a lot of attention from the students and even a few curious teachers who weren't used to seeing such extravagant things.

Yuki, Kyo and Meda all froze in place, colour draining from their faces. Arisa and Saki paused too, though they didn't notice their friends' reaction, instead taking in the handsome stranger that was attracting so much attention.

Akito.

Akito leant against the door of the limousine, dressed in an immaculate black suit. With his health returning, his muscles had began to become more defined and he filled out the suit perfectly, cutting a striking figure. He watched jealously as she laughed and strolled along happily with the other two Sohmas. His hands tightened into shaking fists as he watched her plant a kiss on Kyo's cheek. How dare she? She was his and his alone. No one else had the right to touch her, he thought possessively. Outwardly, however, he maintained his cool façade.

'Hello, it's so nice to finally meet some of the Kaibara High students. Yuki, Kyo, why don't you introduce me to your friends? Such beautiful ladies.' He gave a fake, sickly sweet smile that had most of the girls swooning, though it sent a chill up Meda's spine. He was not pleased.

'Akito, what are you doing here?' Yuki bowed respectfully though he carefully manoeuvred to put himself between Meda and Akito, almost as if he were shielding her.

'I merely came to pick up my beautiful girlfriend.' Immediately cries of consternation rose from all the other high school girls, with the exception of Saki and Arisa. Akito was already beginning to gather a fan base at Kaibara High and he'd been there for ten minutes.

'Girlfriend?'

'Who's his girlfriend?'

'I want him to be mine!'

What girlfriend, Akito?' Kyo said rudely.

'Why Meda, didn't you tell your friends about me?' He pretended to pout, though his eyes remained cold as he regarded the insolent cat. 'This is my girlfriend.'

He pulled an unresponsive Meda close, pressing a hot kiss on her lips, ignoring her struggles to pull away. During the small struggle, Akito had managed to slip off the scarf she'd been wearing, exposing the bruised hickey to the astonished eyes of all her friends.

'A-Akito. What are you doing? You're making scene.' She whispered, pulling away from him and hastily winding the scarf around her neck again.

'It's a bit hot for a scarf don't you think? Or are you embarrassed of the marks of our love?' He taunted cruelly as Meda flushed bright red and tears began to cloud her luminescent green eyes.

'Meda, you know Akito?' Yuki asked incredulously. Kyo was so shell shocked that he merely stared at her and the man he hated even more than the rat, in uncomprehending silence.

'It's a long story, Yuki. I'll explain later.' She said hastily, blinking back her tears.

Although it seemed like a shameless display of public affection to most of the student, Arisa and Hanajima knew their friend well and could tell something was wrong.

'You're upsetting her. Let her go!' Arisa said fiercely, squaring up to the taller man. He merely looked down at her with cold amusement.

'You must have made a mistake, she is after all my girlfriend.' He replied coolly.

'It doesn't mean you're entitled to treat her anyway you want.' She threw back angrily. However, before they could cause a scene, Meda intervened.

'Arisa, Hana, I'm fine. It's fine, honestly.'

'Good. Let's go. Get in' Akito said opening the limo door and looking at her expectantly.

'Meda!' Kyo and Yuki cried out together in alarm.

'Don't worry. I'll explain everything later.' She assured with pleading eyes. They watched helplessly as the limo drove away, praying that Akito wouldn't hurt her.