The air in the Main House was suffocating, colder than usual, as Kuri knelt before Akito. Her heart pounded in her chest as the head of the Sohma family circled her like a predator, their piercing gaze never leaving her.
"You're trembling," Akito said, their voice low and venomous. "What are you afraid of, Kuri-chan? Are you finally realizing how useless you are?"
Kuri clenched her hands in her lap, her nails digging into her palms. "I'm not useless," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I serve the Sohma family. I've always done my duty."
"Duty?" Akito sneered, leaning down until their face was inches from hers. "You call this pathetic performance duty? Do you even understand what your purpose is? Without me, you're nothing. Without the curse, you're nothing."
Kuri's breath hitched, but she kept her gaze lowered, refusing to meet Akito's eyes. "That's not true," she said, though the words felt hollow even to her.
"Oh, but it is." Akito's voice was sharp, cutting through her like a blade. "You're just a chain, Kuri-chan. A weak, rusted chain holding us all together. And when you break, we'll all fall apart."
Before she could react, Akito struck her, the sharp crack of the slap echoing through the room. Kuri fell backward, her cheek stinging, but she didn't cry out. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
"Get out of my sight," Akito hissed. "You disgust me."
Kuri stumbled to her feet, her vision blurry with unshed tears. Without a word, she turned and fled the room, her footsteps echoing in the silent halls.
XXX
Haru felt the change the moment he stepped into the cottage. The air was heavy, charged with a sense of dread that made his chest tighten. Kuri's shoes were gone, her belongings scattered as if she had left in a hurry.
"Kuri?" he called, his voice laced with worry. When there was no response, panic began to claw at his chest. He checked every room, every corner, but she was nowhere to be found.
Grabbing his coat, he bolted out the door, his heart pounding. He headed straight for the Main House, his instincts screaming that something was wrong.
XXX
Haru burst into the Main House courtyard, where Yuki and Kyo were in the middle of a tense conversation. Both turned toward him, startled by his disheveled appearance.
"Haru?" Yuki said, stepping forward. "What's going on?"
"Kuri's gone," Haru said, his voice strained. "I think… I think Akito did something to her."
Kyo's expression darkened. "What did that bastard do?"
"I don't know," Haru admitted, running a hand through his hair. "But she's upset. I have to find her."
Yuki's face remained calm, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of concern. He knew what Kuri's role truly entailed—that she was the one who recast the curse every year. Whatever Akito had said to her, it had likely struck at the heart of her insecurities.
"She's in trouble," Yuki said quietly, meeting Haru's eyes. "And you're the only one she'll let in. If you don't find her, she might—" He stopped, unwilling to finish the thought.
Haru's fists clenched. "Where would she go?"
Yuki hesitated, then spoke softly. "Somewhere she feels safe. Somewhere meaningful to her."
Kyo crossed his arms, his expression grim. "We don't have time to stand around guessing. Let's go."
XXX
They searched for hours, splitting up to cover more ground. Haru's desperation grew with each passing moment, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Finally, as the moon rose high in the sky, he spotted a faint glow in the woods.
"Kuri," he breathed, sprinting toward the light.
The old, crumbling shrine came into view, and there she was—kneeling before it, her hands clasped in prayer. Her voice was soft and trembling, her words a whispered plea.
"Grams… I don't know if I can do this anymore. I'm so tired. I want to help them, but I'm so scared. What if I fail?"
Haru's heart ached at the sight of her. Slowly, he approached, his footsteps soft on the forest floor. "Kuri…"
She flinched, spinning around to face him. Her tear-streaked face and the red mark on her cheek made his blood boil. "Haru… what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you," he said, kneeling beside her. "You scared me."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, looking away. "I just… I couldn't stay there."
"What happened?" he asked gently, reaching out to touch her cheek. She flinched at first but didn't pull away.
"Akito," she said, her voice trembling. "They said I'm just a chain. That I'm nothing without the curse."
"That's not true," Haru said firmly, cupping her face in his hands. "You're not a chain, Kuri. You're brave, and kind, and everything they'll never be. Don't let them take that away from you."
Kuri's tears fell freely now, her walls crumbling under his gentle words. "But it's true. I'm the one who keeps the curse alive. Every year, I… I—"
Haru silenced her with a kiss, his lips soft against hers. She froze, her breath catching, but then she melted into him, her hands clutching his shirt as if he were the only thing keeping her grounded.
When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, his voice low and steady. "I don't care about the curse, Kuri. I care about you. Whatever you're carrying, you don't have to do it alone."
Kuri sobbed against his chest, her fingers gripping his shirt tightly. "Haru… I'm so scared."
"I know," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. "But you're not alone anymore. I'm here. Always."
XXX
As Haru held her, Kyo and Yuki arrived, stopping a few feet away to give them space. Kyo's gaze softened at the sight of Kuri's vulnerability, while Yuki's expression was unreadable.
When Kuri finally pulled away, her eyes were red but determined. She glanced at Yuki, her gaze lingering as if she knew he understood. "I'm not going to be the chains that hold you back anymore," she said softly.
Haru frowned, confused. "What does that mean?"
Kuri shook her head, a faint, bittersweet smile on her lips. "You'll see."
Yuki's eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing, his thoughts carefully guarded. Kyo's hand drifted to his bracelet, his expression contemplative.
XXX
The group returned to the cottage in silence, the weight of Kuri's words lingering between them. Haru stayed close to her side, his protective presence a comfort.
When they reached the door, Haru stopped her, his gray eyes full of tenderness. "Kuri… whatever happens, I'll be with you."
She managed a small smile, her heart aching with both love and fear. "Thank you, Haru. That means everything to me."
As they stepped inside, Yuki lingered for a moment, his gaze thoughtful as he watched Kuri. He understood her burden, but for now, he would keep her secret. She needed time to make her choice, and he wouldn't take that from her..
XXX
The cottage was quiet when they arrived, the soft hum of the nighttime forest surrounding it like a protective cocoon. Haru opened the door for Kuri, his hand resting gently on the small of her back as he guided her inside. She moved slowly, her exhaustion evident in the way her shoulders slumped and her steps faltered.
"Sit down," Haru said softly, nodding toward the couch. "You've been through enough tonight."
Kuri hesitated, her eyes scanning the familiar space. It felt different now—smaller, quieter, as though the shadows of her fear still clung to her. She sat down, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her gold pentacle necklace glinting faintly in the dim light.
Haru crouched in front of her, his gray eyes steady and warm. "Let me take care of you."
"You don't have to," Kuri murmured, her voice barely audible. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not," Haru said gently, taking her hands in his. "And that's okay. You don't have to be fine right now."
Her lips trembled, but she didn't pull away. For the first time that day, she allowed herself to relax, even if only a little. Haru's presence was grounding, his hands firm and reassuring around hers.
"I'll make tea," he said after a moment, standing. "You stay here."
XXX
Kuri watched as Haru moved around the kitchen, his movements slow and deliberate. He wasn't in a hurry—he was making sure she saw every step, every small act of care. He returned a few minutes later with two cups of tea, setting one in front of her before sitting down beside her on the couch.
"Drink," he said softly. "It'll help."
She took the cup, the warmth of it seeping into her hands. For a while, neither of them spoke, the quiet between them comfortable and full of unspoken understanding.
"You don't have to tell me what happened," Haru said eventually, his voice low. "Not if you don't want to. But I need you to know something."
Kuri looked up at him, her blue eyes searching his face. "What is it?"
Haru shifted closer, his hand coming to rest lightly on her knee. "You're safe here. No matter what Akito said, no matter what they did—you're safe. They don't control you. Not here, not with me."
Her breath hitched, and she looked away, tears brimming in her eyes. "I want to believe that," she whispered. "But it's hard. Akito… they're everywhere. Even when they're not."
Haru's hand slid from her knee to her hand, his fingers threading through hers. "They're not here. And they'll never get to you as long as I'm around."
Kuri closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "You can't protect me from them, Haru. No one can."
"Maybe not," he admitted, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. "But I can love you. I can be here for you when you're scared, when you're angry, when you don't know what to do. You don't have to face this alone, Kuri."
Her tears came faster now, her body trembling as she fought to keep herself together. But Haru didn't let go. He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her as she finally broke down.
XXX
Kuri sobbed into Haru's chest, her hands clutching at his shirt as though he were the only thing anchoring her to the world. He held her tightly, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head, his calm presence soothing her frayed nerves.
"I'm here," he whispered, his voice steady and sure. "I've got you."
It felt like hours before her sobs began to subside, her breathing evening out as the storm within her calmed. Haru didn't move, didn't loosen his hold, until she finally leaned back, her tear-streaked face tilted up to look at him.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice hoarse. "I didn't mean to fall apart like that."
"Don't apologize," Haru said firmly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "You don't have to be strong all the time."
Kuri blinked up at him, her heart aching at the tenderness in his eyes. "Why are you like this?" she asked softly. "Why do you care so much?"
Haru smiled faintly, his hand cupping her cheek. "Because I love you."
Her breath caught, and for a moment, all she could do was stare at him. The sincerity in his voice, the way his thumb brushed against her cheek, the warmth in his eyes—it was overwhelming. But instead of running from it, she let herself lean into it.
"I love you too," she whispered.
Haru's smile widened, and he leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. "You don't have to go through this alone anymore, Kuri. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
She closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her like a balm. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt safe.
XXX
Later, after Haru had helped her change into something comfortable and tucked a blanket around her on the couch, he sat beside her, his arm draped protectively around her shoulders. The tea had gone cold, but neither of them cared.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Haru asked gently.
Kuri shook her head, resting her head against his chest. "Not tonight."
"Okay," he said simply, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Whenever you're ready."
As the night stretched on, Kuri found herself drifting off, lulled by the steady rhythm of Haru's heartbeat. His arms around her, his quiet breaths against her hair—it was enough to make her believe, just for a moment, that everything might be okay.
And as she finally fell asleep, Haru tightened his hold on her, silently vowing to keep her safe for as long as he could.