AN: This is just a quick little thing I was toying with as I take a
breather from my other fics. I wonder how many people will guess correctly
about who the guy is? Anyway, I'll either leave it as it is or add one
more follow up chapter, but that's it. Got other things that need to be
done, you know?
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
His lean figure moved purposely through his wooded surroundings as he trod upon familiar ground. He moved steadily, picking his way carefully over the beaten earth on a worn path that he had traversed many times before leading to a destination that was not new to him.
Not new and yet, at the same time, very new to his nearly wondering eyes.
After all, this was the first time he'd come here on his own.
But it was bittersweet knowledge that tainted this experience of his for he knew full well the price of it, gotten through the sacrifice of someone else. Great rewards, after all, seldom came without a price. And the price paid was one that the rest of the Jyunnishi were faced with as well so he knew that he wasn't alone in feeling the weight of the sacrifice that had been made. It was one that perhaps they all felt some degree of regret and guilt for, but he doubted any of them would wish the results to be reversed, not after what they had gained from it, whether they deserved it or not.
Freedom.
It was something, he was sure, which was aspired to by all the Jyunnishi that he bore relation to. Even though they may not have had enough awareness of the aspiration to put a name to the idea.
Why think about it, after all, when it was something not likely to ever be obtained?
Certainly, even he had thought of it wistfully, like a dream that would always be there but never achieved. They were all the same, never thinking it would ever be granted, resigning himself and all of his tomorrows to the dark prison his life had seemed as he lived while waiting on the whim of the one who wielded his control over the Jyunnishi with a malevolent and unpredictable fist.
Nevertheless, they had received the gift of it, finally. Against all hope, the Jyunnishi that were forever cursed were released from the yoke of the one who lorded over them – especially him whom had been regarded with by a particular dark obsession. Though they were still cursed, that concession made it all so much easier to bear without the fear and uncertainty that loomed over their heads, ready to strike at any odd moment depending on the whim of the head of the family from which they all lived in fear.
Akito.
Even now, he still couldn't believe it.
Many times he felt the urge to look over his shoulder, expecting at any moment for the dark lord to arise out of nowhere, intent on breaking his promise and reeling the Jyunnishi back into his clutches. He realized it was a bit silly since Akito, if he kept to his word, had sworn to leave the Jyunnishi alone as long as his one wish was granted. Bound by his promise, the Jyunnishi were free to go about their lives as they wanted without fear of Akito's interference.
Of course, with what he was planning to do, that might change everything.
He hadn't told anyone he was coming. He had a feeling someone would try to stop him if there was any hint of doubt that his actions might have a possibility of reversing the change their lives had undergone. And he didn't want anyone dictating to him about what to do.
After all, he'd already been freed of one yoke. And he had no desire to be placed under another.
And also, he didn't think it right the way everyone else had stood back and allowed what had happened to occur. They had protested, yes, but not enough, not nearly enough. The sacrifice had still been made and they had let it, their desire for more apparently stronger than any other sort of affection it was that they had for her.
Tohru.
Though perhaps he wasn't all that different from the rest of them. After all, he had done nothing to stop it, either, when Akito's pronouncement had been made and the trade contracted.
Her for them.
In the end, he had stood by as well when, despite the pleadings and protestations from everyone, she had still been sacrificed. Even now, recalling that moment, he felt an ache in his chest when he remembered how she had resigned herself to Akito's ultimatum with a smile meant to comfort them, to show them she was willing and had no qualms about her choice.
But it wasn't just her choice.
She shouldn't have been the one to have the brunt of sacrifice placed upon her.
He wished he'd thought more of that sooner. However, it was an idea that had crystallized within him only after it had been too late and she had been taken away by Akito's demand. It had never left him alone since, giving him many regrets as his mind was often plagued with remorseful feelings that were new to him.
Now, perhaps he had been given a chance to change things – at least a little.
As trees faded away and the site of his destination came into view, fear, excitement, and hope as well as a fresh wave of resolve surged through him, causing him to quicken his pace.
Soon. It would be soon.
He wasn't foolish enough to think that there would be no repercussions. However, it seemed he'd lived most of his life with some sort of fear or darkness hanging over him as his life had appeared to be already predetermined by Akito's whim. At least this way, it would be because of the results of his own choosing and not due to the whim of someone else.
Only a few steps more and he would be there.
He was set on this path he had chosen – a path he'd selected for himself with no one else's guidance. For better or worse, he would stick to his decision for he had not journeyed this far only to turn back now. No matter how the others might castigate him for it when they discovered what he'd done or even if it revoked what had been gained with the sacrifice, he would not regret it. He told himself this firmly and believed it.
This was it.
He was here.
Standing at the destination his journey had brought him to, he drew in deep breath, unaccountably nervous as he prepared to face the one he and the other Jyunnishi owed so much to, the one who had sacrificed herself to win their freedom which now allowed them to choose how they would live tomorrow and the tomorrows after that, the one he'd come here to express his gratitude to because she was owed at least that. Though he wasn't exactly sure of how he would say it, he wished to lay his appreciation before her because he didn't think she had any idea the extent of what it was that she had done for them, for him, and he wanted her to know, despite whatever may come from it afterwards.
Steeling himself, he rung the doorbell and waited, listening intently as footsteps sounded, closer and closer until they stopped and the door swung open to reveal a surprised figure whose feminine features stared back in shock.
"Hello, Honda-san." He smiled faintly despite his nervousness. "I came for a visit."
Tohru just gasped. "Kureno-san?"
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
His lean figure moved purposely through his wooded surroundings as he trod upon familiar ground. He moved steadily, picking his way carefully over the beaten earth on a worn path that he had traversed many times before leading to a destination that was not new to him.
Not new and yet, at the same time, very new to his nearly wondering eyes.
After all, this was the first time he'd come here on his own.
But it was bittersweet knowledge that tainted this experience of his for he knew full well the price of it, gotten through the sacrifice of someone else. Great rewards, after all, seldom came without a price. And the price paid was one that the rest of the Jyunnishi were faced with as well so he knew that he wasn't alone in feeling the weight of the sacrifice that had been made. It was one that perhaps they all felt some degree of regret and guilt for, but he doubted any of them would wish the results to be reversed, not after what they had gained from it, whether they deserved it or not.
Freedom.
It was something, he was sure, which was aspired to by all the Jyunnishi that he bore relation to. Even though they may not have had enough awareness of the aspiration to put a name to the idea.
Why think about it, after all, when it was something not likely to ever be obtained?
Certainly, even he had thought of it wistfully, like a dream that would always be there but never achieved. They were all the same, never thinking it would ever be granted, resigning himself and all of his tomorrows to the dark prison his life had seemed as he lived while waiting on the whim of the one who wielded his control over the Jyunnishi with a malevolent and unpredictable fist.
Nevertheless, they had received the gift of it, finally. Against all hope, the Jyunnishi that were forever cursed were released from the yoke of the one who lorded over them – especially him whom had been regarded with by a particular dark obsession. Though they were still cursed, that concession made it all so much easier to bear without the fear and uncertainty that loomed over their heads, ready to strike at any odd moment depending on the whim of the head of the family from which they all lived in fear.
Akito.
Even now, he still couldn't believe it.
Many times he felt the urge to look over his shoulder, expecting at any moment for the dark lord to arise out of nowhere, intent on breaking his promise and reeling the Jyunnishi back into his clutches. He realized it was a bit silly since Akito, if he kept to his word, had sworn to leave the Jyunnishi alone as long as his one wish was granted. Bound by his promise, the Jyunnishi were free to go about their lives as they wanted without fear of Akito's interference.
Of course, with what he was planning to do, that might change everything.
He hadn't told anyone he was coming. He had a feeling someone would try to stop him if there was any hint of doubt that his actions might have a possibility of reversing the change their lives had undergone. And he didn't want anyone dictating to him about what to do.
After all, he'd already been freed of one yoke. And he had no desire to be placed under another.
And also, he didn't think it right the way everyone else had stood back and allowed what had happened to occur. They had protested, yes, but not enough, not nearly enough. The sacrifice had still been made and they had let it, their desire for more apparently stronger than any other sort of affection it was that they had for her.
Tohru.
Though perhaps he wasn't all that different from the rest of them. After all, he had done nothing to stop it, either, when Akito's pronouncement had been made and the trade contracted.
Her for them.
In the end, he had stood by as well when, despite the pleadings and protestations from everyone, she had still been sacrificed. Even now, recalling that moment, he felt an ache in his chest when he remembered how she had resigned herself to Akito's ultimatum with a smile meant to comfort them, to show them she was willing and had no qualms about her choice.
But it wasn't just her choice.
She shouldn't have been the one to have the brunt of sacrifice placed upon her.
He wished he'd thought more of that sooner. However, it was an idea that had crystallized within him only after it had been too late and she had been taken away by Akito's demand. It had never left him alone since, giving him many regrets as his mind was often plagued with remorseful feelings that were new to him.
Now, perhaps he had been given a chance to change things – at least a little.
As trees faded away and the site of his destination came into view, fear, excitement, and hope as well as a fresh wave of resolve surged through him, causing him to quicken his pace.
Soon. It would be soon.
He wasn't foolish enough to think that there would be no repercussions. However, it seemed he'd lived most of his life with some sort of fear or darkness hanging over him as his life had appeared to be already predetermined by Akito's whim. At least this way, it would be because of the results of his own choosing and not due to the whim of someone else.
Only a few steps more and he would be there.
He was set on this path he had chosen – a path he'd selected for himself with no one else's guidance. For better or worse, he would stick to his decision for he had not journeyed this far only to turn back now. No matter how the others might castigate him for it when they discovered what he'd done or even if it revoked what had been gained with the sacrifice, he would not regret it. He told himself this firmly and believed it.
This was it.
He was here.
Standing at the destination his journey had brought him to, he drew in deep breath, unaccountably nervous as he prepared to face the one he and the other Jyunnishi owed so much to, the one who had sacrificed herself to win their freedom which now allowed them to choose how they would live tomorrow and the tomorrows after that, the one he'd come here to express his gratitude to because she was owed at least that. Though he wasn't exactly sure of how he would say it, he wished to lay his appreciation before her because he didn't think she had any idea the extent of what it was that she had done for them, for him, and he wanted her to know, despite whatever may come from it afterwards.
Steeling himself, he rung the doorbell and waited, listening intently as footsteps sounded, closer and closer until they stopped and the door swung open to reveal a surprised figure whose feminine features stared back in shock.
"Hello, Honda-san." He smiled faintly despite his nervousness. "I came for a visit."
Tohru just gasped. "Kureno-san?"