Hey all. I'm back again! This time I've been lazy. I finished my exams around a month ago so I was just laying back and relaxing. Anyways, thanks to the following. I swear I love getting reviews. I love all of you. Here you go:
Xyuffiex
Loritakitochan
Drifting One
Black-Spaz-Lover –I'll think about longer chapters but I don't really know
Siacatmesecat –yup I've read all chapters. I'll warn you if there are any spoilers. And yes I hate you too XP
Lilhazelnutta
SOR4
Shia Otina
Blader-chick13
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Author's NotesThis chapter contains Spoilers from Chapter 96. Those of you who haven't read it up until these chapters can reconsider (or just read on XP)
It's after the New Year. This one does not have a lot of Akito but it still seemed like an important part of Aki's story so I decided to write this chapter about it.
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The Broken Curse
The New Year went passed by uneventfully, except for the little whack on the head of Yuki by Akito. I don't say that it was a good thing that Akito did but I have to admit it smelled like progress. If someone as fragile and weak as Yuki was able to stand up to God then the other Junishi would definitely be able to do it in time. I can already feel the end slowly and painfully drawing closer. I can hear it. The sound of something about to break and I have a feeling so can Ha-san. And if Aya starts paying more attention then maybe he will be able to heart it.
I lay on my side in Ha-san's room. The familiar smell of the smoke of a cigarette filled my olfactory as the smoke slowly turned the tobacco and paper to silent ashes. I turned a page of the book I was reading. (I won't say what it was about)
"You've been in bed ever since New Years." Ha-san pointed out. "You come over because of tradition but this time you have stayed over a bit longer than usual."
"It was a shock to see Yuki-kun rejected, wasn't it?" I said trying to start a different topic. For Ha-san it was like I'm translucent. Just a little bit of effort was all he required in order to understand my true intentions. I'll be honest, sometimes it's annoying but sometimes it is a relief to know that someone has my back although he says he doesn't. I know that if I die trying to fulfill this one wish of mine, just the thought of me would motivate him to follow in my footsteps, which will be a sight worth seeing.
"You're not going to see her?" Stubborn Ha-san continued. "You came this year just to do that, right?"
I turned slightly while the dim light from the lanterns flickered.
"I told you already, Ha-san." I replied. "I went but she got mad at me and I was turned away at the door."
I recalled what Akito had looked like half an hour ago. The way she had looked at me as I entered the room. The way she had so suddenly stood up and started screaming at me. Her deep teal eyes glaring at me with surprisingly a lot of strength while the edges of her Yukata flapped strongly because of the wind caused by her fast movements. And even with all of that anger she was graceful. She took every step in her fast sprint with all the dignity that she possessed. And the air around her was always composed even when she screamed at me.
"I WAS ONLY CALLED CRUEL THINGS BY THAT IDIOT, SO WHY ARE YOU SO LATE!!" she screamed. "WHY ARE YOU LIKE THAT? WHY DON'T YOU CHOOSE ME FIRST?!"
And even though she was fragile her voice didn't sound weak. Not even once. To be very honest, the way she screamed satisfied me. She wanted me by her side. Isn't that what she wanted to say? Of course that's what she wanted to say. Otherwise her voice wouldn't have sounded like music to me.
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A few hours later, I came back home from the main house without another sight of the Goddess. I sighed and thought of writing a few more pages before Mit-chan thinks of committing suicide again. But before I could settle down, I heard the phone ring. I received it. It was Kureno.
I couldn't hide the hatred in my voice inspite of myself when I said 'hi'.
He replied in his usual low and caring voice. Yeah, like he cared. A flash of memory took me to the days when Kureno would always be beside me admiring every word I said like a child listening to a very interesting story, although I was not very much older than him myself. But there was a time when he'd look up at me and say, "You always say interesting things Ni-san!"
Ni-san? My foot.
"Well well, Kureno decided to call?!" I said down the receiver barely hiding myself. "Isn't that amazing?! So what's the occasion, brother?"
"I understand your hatred for me, Ni-san." He replied in an annoyingly calm tone. If he could get anymore annoying, that is.
"Do you?" I said in the most boring voice possible. This was going to be one of those stupid conversations in which one person says to the other how sorry he was that he was hurting the other person by making out with the only girl the other person ever liked. I don't need his pity, I thought. And he better get that message.
"I might have something that I might," He said. "That I might want to talk about, Shigure-nisan."
"Finally." I muttered
"Akito hasn't chosen m over you." He went on. "I know why she chose me."
Suddenly, and I know why, he had my full attention and I stopped fidgeting with my hair. Was he going to answer the only question that I really wanted answered? My thoughts lingered.
"And why is that so?" I asked trying, unsuccessfully, to keep the curiosity out of my voice.
"I thought you would have noticed." He said. "You must have. You must be hiding the fact that you have already suspected the status of my curse."
Was it true what I had been suspecting? Did his curse really….?
"Hey Kureno, is it true what I have been thinking about. Did your curse really…?
After a short silent moment, in which I think he understood he had my attention, he said, "Yes, Ni-san. I am no longer cursed and that's the reason why all of that happened with Akito. She still loves you."
He stopped for a while expecting me to say something. Honestly, I didn't know what to say. I was not exactly shocked since I had expected this, but I was dumbstruck at the last statement, although I shouldn't really be.
"It would be very nice if you start being nicer to her." He continued. "She always wanted you to be nice to her. She loves you more than anything. She just isn't so sure if you still love her back. And to make it worse she's a little confused, if you know what I mean."
I wasn't in the mood to get a lecture from him on how to treat Akito, my true and only love, so I decided it was time to speak up.
"Believe it or not, Kureno, I do love her." I said trying to make my voice sound casual. "I love her more than you or she can imagine. I love her so much that I want to spoil her with my love."
There was another silence that, just like the previous moments of pauses, did not bother me.
"And, yes, I hate you." I said without thinking twice about how much that would hurt him. "I hate you more than I have hated anything. And I know that you know why. And, yes, I had suspected that about your curse. I just think I had to hear it. About how I treat Akito, however, I think you wouldn't understand that just yet and I don't expect you to."
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After the short but worthy conversation my mind kept racing and my book was long forgotten. Sorry Mit-chan but my own life is so interesting that books can rest for a bit.
Now I knew why Akito was so keen to keep Kureno by her side. It was not insecurity nor was it the intention to make me jealous. It was plain paranoia. She was scared she'd be alone. And the fact that I wasn't treating her right was simply contributing to her closeness to Kureno. Well, my behavior will have to wait. In my opinion, my little flower should find out about it. Of course, she should. How else is she going to understand Akito? But how can I spill the beans to her?
I guess I'll leave that to Kureno. After all, he did say he wanted to come see Tohru-kun. He sounded like he wanted to tell her something. But what does Kureno have to say to her? He doesn't know her well enough and he doesn't have lots of secrets except the one about Akito's gender and about his curse.
But I must make sure that Yuki-kun and Kyon-Kyon don't destroy their conversation. Hence, I decided that it'd be best if the conversation is held outside the house where no one can interrupt them.
I looked around hastily. What is it that I need? I thought. I heard the main door click open.
I walked out of my study.
"Welcome back!" I said cheerily. "Why are you alone?"
"Yuki-kun is with the council," replied the flower "And Kyo-kun is at Shishou-san's place."
Perfect, I thought.
"I know it's very bad to ask you to do this since you just got here but could you get me some envelopes?" I asked pulling out my manners. "Two A-4's would be nice."
"Of course I would." She said smiling. "I'll be going then."
"Have a safe trip." I called out as she left.
So, I thought as I turned my thoughts back to Akito, did that look suspicious?
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Author's Note: Well?...what do you think?