Chapter 14: Time to tell
Mateo's P.O.V
I felt Rei's form go completely still. I'm not even sure she was breathing. Faint footsteps came until they were very close. The slim figure of Akito was seen through the branches. His black hair danced in the freezing wind, face as pale as snow. Cringing closer to the branch, I held tight. All of a sudden, Akito's head snapped up, staring to seem almost right at me and Rei. I didn't dare to breathe. I didn't need Rei to sign anything. I didn't move a muscle. Akito smirked slightly. As he trotted away back towards the house, I could hear his parting remark.
"You can't hide forever coward." I could see Rei's eyes flash, a dangerous aura surrounding her. As soon as Akito was officially gone, Rei unwound her arms from the branch above her, almost swaying with relief. We could hear Hatori showing Akito the way out. The sound of a car leaving barely reached our ears. There was a moment of complete silence. Then, all hell broke loose.
I could see at least 3 Sohma's racing into the woods, searching around us. Rei nodded to me slightly. I called out.
"We're here." Within seconds I could see Haru, Kagura, and Yuki. Following Haru's step by step instructions, I was soon down from the tree. Rei didn't seem so willing. Peeking out from the end of the branch she had clambered onto, she seemed determined not to move. She was higher that I'd thought. How did she get that high? I must have voiced my thoughts out loud, because Haru looked at me with an odd look on his face. Then, he turned back to the tall pine we'd been situated in.
"Rei, you're safe. No one is going to hurt you. You can come down now." Above us, she shook her head vehemently.
"Rei." Yuki's voice was quiet. His own violet eyes were conflicted, but he was putting up a strong front. "Please come down."
Rei's P.O.V
Everyone was staring up at me. Brushing away a tear, I took a deep breath and jumped. I could hear Mateo's yell of fear.
"Rei!" He needn't have worried. I did 3 somersaults and landed in Yuki's arms lightly. Mateo's eyes were so big I thought they'd pop out of his head. Haru raised an eyebrow at me. Still holding onto to Yuki's shirt as we traveled back to the house, I shot a look of thanks at Haru. He nodded silently.
We finally reached the house. There was a faint odor of smoke, and the sofa was still in the wrong place. But other than that, things seemed normal. Clambering out of Yuki's arms, I didn't hesitate, and raced into the waiting arms of Kyo. He held me tight, whispering words of assurance that I ignored. They weren't true anyway. Mateo was sitting on the floor by the sofa, trying to ask Momiji what was going on. He wasn't getting an answer. I looked up from Kyo's embrace, and saw with some surprise, Hatori. Eyes watering, I walked up to him. After living with him for years, he could practically read my mind.
"Everyone's alright Rei. Akito's gone. He wasn't feeling well."
'He never feels well.' Not that I was complaining. I hugged Hatori, trying to hold back tears. 'We have to tell Mateo now. Are you going to erase his memories?' The Sohma family doctor shook his head.
"I don't know at the moment. It all depends." I nodded silently. 'Start with the basics?'
"I'll tell him if you want." Hiro's voice made us all jump. Kisa's hand was still in his. The fact that Hiro had offered caught us all a bit off-guard. The absence of Shigure seemed to go unnoticed. Most likely, he'd gone back to the Main House with Akito.
"No offense Hiro, but I think we should let someone who has more patience tell."
"So you're going to tell me your big Sohma family secret then?" Mateo didn't look excited like most did. Instead, his slightly tanned face was sober.
"Yes Mateo." Hatori seemed to have taken over Hiro's "narrator" position with no trouble. My schoolmate nodded and sat, ready for our tale.
"First, have you heard of the 12 animals of the zodiac?"