A Fruits Basket Fanfic

Written by: Miyu, Vampire Princess

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thanks to Mona-chan's suggestions, I have actually come up with an Akito X Hana fanfic. *glomps Mona-chan* I hope that you will enjoy it. The point of view shifts so please pay attention to the name in brackets [...].

Part Three - The Hand of Fate

[AKITO]

I'm not sure what time it was when I woke again. It was dark, or was that simply the inside of my eyelids? No, it was still dark. Morning had not yet come.

Why was this night dragging?

//Hanajima-san, gomen, but I must ask you to leave him be.//

And where was the witch?!

//She is not to leave my side. Do you understand?//

//I will stay.//

Where was Hanajima?

//I want to.//

Turning my head, every muscle in my neck aching as I do so, I see that another candle has been extinguished. There are only three left, and another may very well disappear shortly, its flame only a speck in the distance.

Movement out of the corner of my eyes turns my attention to the window. Sitting on her knees, staring out into the darkness of night is the object of my eternal fascination. The movement of her shoulders as she sighs is my only indication that she is not a statue. She seems very deep in thought. Or perhaps she is devoid of thought. In either case, I'm annoyed I can't see her face, but I can hear a small twitter as a light colored bird flitters about outside.

Is that what I look like sitting by that window? Do I look that sad and pathetic? That lonely?

Has she come to realize her fate?

She knows enough about my curse it seems. She knows of my foul moods and innate strength. She has seen me in my power as well as my weakness. I'm not very happy with the latter, but it couldn't be helped. Perhaps I should've sent her away sooner....

"You're awake."

Her voice somehow soothes me as she finally turns away from the window to look at me. The familiar warmth of her touch flows through me again, my body feeling tired, yet rested. What has she done to me?

Hanajima, what have you done?!

Shit, I can't even bring myself to call her a witch! I must be sick.

Heart sick, my head implies.

Love sick, my heart replies.

Neither one seems very appealing. I'm in enough pain as it is. Why would I want to add more?

Why am I even considering?! GAH! I just want to scream!

"Are you hungry?" Her voice breaks the silence once more and she stands by the window. "Hatori delivered another tray of food, since we made a mess with the last one."

"No!" My voice is considerably louder than it needs to be and less annoyed than I had hoped. "No. I'm not hungry." That statement is false. I'm very hungry, but only partially for food. My anger helps to cover up the other half. "But water...water would be...nice." I spit out the last word as if it takes everything I have to say it.

She moves across the room, my eyes following her every movement. I note that she is still in the same ragged dress. The ties in the front are coming even more undone and one shoulder has decided that it will not stay up, slipping part of the way down her arm in escape. I vaguely recalled Hatori offering a change of clothes. Was he not able to come through? And why did I care?

Quite honestly, I want to see her walking around my quarters naked.

The show I get however, is quite becoming, whether she's trying to put on a show or not. Slowly she walks over to the bed and kneels down beside me, resting one elbow on the bed sheet. She disappears for a moment, leaning over. There's some clambering and clinking before she reappears, her other hand holding a glass of water. She offers it to me without a word.

"Ari-gato," I mutter, managing to roll onto my side and propping myself up on my elbow.

[HANAJIMA]

He takes the water from me with a light scowl on his face. He must be feeling better if he can find it in him to do so. It is somewhat heart warming...well, perhaps that's not exactly correct. More like, slightly uplifting.

Very slightly.

I saw how his eyes caressed my body as I crossed the room. They do it once more before he lowers his eyes to look at the glass I've given him. It was only for a moment, but it sent a small chill down my spine. Not a cold chill...but a strange, warm chill. I suppose I should be flattered. Part of me is blushing, but I'm very good at hiding it.

I'm very tired, my body wanting simply to drop from my mental exhaustion. It's actually very comfortable over by the window. His pillow is in need of repair, but the small breeze is delightful and the song of the birds as they're trying to wake are also quite breathtaking.

It's also given me time to think.

I've guessed at his secret. His curse. His silence is probably testimony to the truth. It is the worst curse of all the Sohma and I can easily see why.

For I too, know loneliness.

We've been on a first name basis for years.

Granted that I have wonderful friends, Arisa and Tohru, my life is still very devoid of people. People I care about. People who care about me. I suppose I can add Yuki and Kyo to the list as well. They did have the compassion to warn me and the sad look in their eyes when I left Shigure's house were somewhat comforting. Someone would miss me when I'm gone.

But who will miss Akito?

He sits up in bed, interrupting my train of thought. I look at his curiously as he downs the glass and hands it back to me without saying a word or looking in my direction. I take the glass from him, refill it from the pitcher on the tray and hand it back to him. He accepts, again without looking at me directly.

"Are you sure you won't eat anything," I ask. The silence is nearly deafening. The birds cannot be heard from the bed and I long to hear another sound. Any sound.

He downs the second glass in record time and hands it back to me in the manner he accepted it. His eyes look at me, and his mouth forms a frown. I say it's a frown because it's only a little different from his scowl. Both sides are pointing downward. Our eyes meet briefly and he looks way suddenly.

"I said I wasn't hungry," he argues. He starts to move to the end of the bed again and I stand. He stops short of sitting on the edge, his glare trained on me in full.

Well, at least he's looking directly at me now.

I climb on the bed, grabbing one of his shoulders. I'm merely hoping to keep him in place, not wanting to use more of my power than necessary. I try to make the shocks soothing but I see him wince and totally shut it off.

"What are you doing?"

"I was told not to let you leave the bed from Hatori himself. I do believe that the doctor knows best."

He shrugs off my hand and stands, glaring at me accusingly. "He knows NOTHING! *YOU* know nothing."

I can feel my own impatience, my own anger start to rise. It's a rarity for me to feel so emotional...so passionate. "I've asked you to explain--"

"And I already HAVE!"

I blink at him questioningly. Has he? Perhaps not verbally, but...yes. I see it now. He has explained. Explained it all.

I think I finally understand why I am there. I understand my fate.

And I'm actually scared.

[AKITO]

She thinks she knows, the stupid witch! She knows nothing about me! Nothing!

Or is it that she knows too much?

I stride over to the window, a strength I had not felt since the day before propelling me. I sit down with an unceremonious grunt. My eyes focus on the darkness outside the window. What was it that she had found so compelling before? There is nothing there. Not even a bird. So what was it she saw?

I want to know!

I'm vaguely aware of a presence behind me and I'm annoyed that she'd come so close to me. For an instant I'm angry, a small fire lighting in the pit of my stomach and trying to reach out. Angry because my plan fell through. Angry because I knew that...no matter how much I wanted to...I would not be able to send her away in the morning. It hit me like a ton of fucking bricks! And I'm pissed!

But I am happy at the same time. How the hell is that possible?!

There's more movement and I feel some sort of cloth being placed on my shoulders. She's careful not to actually touch me, instead allowing the blanket to comfort me. Yes, that's what's around my shoulders. A blanket that I have not used since....

Since I was a child.

Where did she find this? I thought I'd been rid of it ages ago!

"If you insist on sitting, then I suppose I can not complain," she says, sitting beside me so that she may look out the window as well. "At least you are resting."

"Does it matter that much if I rest or not?"

She shrugs. "I suppose. It is for your health after all."

"A dying man has no health," I reply bitterly.

"We're all dying," she replies calmly.

I blink, compelled by her statement. Yes, I suppose we are all dying. But I haven't done all that I want in my life. I haven't been given all that I want.

I want to know more about her.

I want...her. Plain and simple.

"Are you cold?" I had not even noticed that I'd shivered. "Perhaps you should return to the futon."

"It's cold over there, too," I mutter.

"Then we will lie together," she answers, standing carefully. I stand as well, my body arguing every step of the way. But I refuse to flinch as our eyes meet in the darkness of the room. The last candle is very dim now.

I want to feel her pressed against me again.

"You...you will be with me of your own free will?"

"Hai."

I want her to love me!

"Will you have me of your own free will?"

"Hai."

My body reacts to her word, stiffening in response. A simple statement with so much more meaning. And her eyes. Though the darkness I can see something swirling there. Is it--? Could it be?!

//I want to stay.//

Are you so sure, Hanajima? If you do, you may never leave. Never.

[HANAJIMA]

Taking his hand in mine, I lead him back to the futon. I feel as if I have made this journey a hundred times and I know the way by heart. As we stand by the side of the bed, I try to catch a glimpse of emotion in his eyes. It's difficult, the lighting being improper, but I see a million things swirling in their depths.

And his aura echoes them.

Where darkness had been, there is now light. It shines dully, but it is there. Hues of blue and green speckle around him like fireworks and I am not surprised to find that there is still a small speck of darkness hidden within the folds of the light. A leopard cannot change his spots. A zebra his stripes.

But it is comforting to know that this man...whom others believe is a god...is distinctly human.

I sit on the edge of the bed, hoping that he will follow me. He does, albeit a bit hesitantly. I try to coax him into lying down. He is supposed to be resting after all. But instead of him lying down, it is I who is forced to lie back.

I have to admit that I am surprised, but I should not be. He had given me a little control already tonight. He wanted it back and I returned it willingly.

The ties holding the front of my dress together snapped as I laid back. The sound of a whip cracking fills the air and we are both taken by surprise. But surprise is short lived as he descends upon me, his weight covering most of my upper body as his lips begin a sensual dance down my neck towards my now unleashed torso. His yukata ties are also undone, allowing his flesh to touch mine. It sends more delightfully warm shivers down my spine.

His hands feel as if they're made of fire as they cup the weight of my breasts. His first touch is light but quickly become less patient. Kneading my mounds together, he manages to pull both of my nipples into his mouth at once. It is an exquisite feeling, heat rushing through my body and more particularly between my legs. S he suckles and licks them in unison, my hands find purchase in his hair, pulling him ever closer, wanting him to stop this sweet torture yet continue with his loving attention.

He continues moving down my body, his hands stroking their way downward until they come to rest on my knees. As he sits up slightly, I feel the hem of my dress being lifted. He asks me to sit up and I do, allowing him to pull the garment over my head. He tosses it aside, his eyes glaring at me appreciatively. Maybe I'm making too much of it, but there was definitely something...dark...in his eyes when he looked at me. I want to know what it is.

Is it--? Could it be?

My tattered bra is unclasped and pulled away from me without my knowledge. I gasp as cool air wafts through the room. He moans, watching my nipples grow impossibly harder. I lay back on the bed, allowing him a full, uninhibited view.

Now I am indeed naked before him.

I couldn't find the remains of my underwear before.

His hands pull at my hips, his lips placing light kisses along the line of my stomach and lower. He does not stop at my bellybutton, continuing lower still, until his nose is nuzzling the nest of dark curls between my legs. His tongue dives into them, licking and stroking over my clitoris. The shockwaves that wash through my system are nearly electrifying. Is this what MY denpa feels like to others?

My thighs part, allowing his head to slip between them, his mouth closing over the flower of my sex and suckling like a weaning child. One hand strokes over my thigh while another moves closer to my core, fingers parting my lips to explore. His mouth takes the invitation, moving that inch or two lower until I feel his tongue dip inside of me.

"A-akito!"

I come as his tongue pushes inside me again. And again. The torture doesn't stop, even after my second orgasm sends me into a mindless frenzy. My fingers tangle in his hair once again and I want him to both stop and continue. But he stops, untangling my finger from his hair as he looks up at me curiously.

As he crawls up my body, his weight fully on me now, I wrap one arm around his middle. He parts my legs with one of his and I open them wide to embrace him. I feel the evidence of his desire against my thigh and I try to find a way to put that familiar throbbing pressure between my legs.

His breath tickles my ear as he whispers, "I only want you to love me, Hanajima. Just for a moment...." Those same exact words from before, but said with more feeling. An actual emotion. I gasp involuntarily.

I'm filled with an emotion I can't quite explain. It hurts, but not in a painful way. It's warm, but not overheated. It's soothing, but not smooth. As my lips part on a sigh, I cannot stop the words that follow.

"I do love you. Please. Onegai...love me."

[AKITO]

My body tenses as my brain processes her words. They sound like a promise, like water on a hot day, like bubbles in a bath. My eyes widen and I feel something inside of me snap.

//I do love you.//

I take her lips in a fiery kiss. Our tongues duel, entwining and jabbing at each other with ease. My body finally relaxes and I feel another pang somewhere near my heart. Lowering myself to her, I take her in my arms, pressing us together, searing this moment in my memory forever.

Even after several climaxes she'd very responsive to my touch. Her back arches as my lips tease her nipples, my tongue tracing the circle of the tiny nub before stroking its way to the underside. I place a light kiss there before moving to its twin and lavishing it with even more attention than the last one.

Her hips buck upward into mine, but I'm not quite ready yet. Oh, I'm so fucking hard that I feel like a brick. I just want this moment to be...I don't know. Memorable? Perfect?

All of the above?

I grind my hips into hers, my lips quieting any groaning argument she might have. Rolling onto my back, I bring her with me, allowing her to sit on top of me. As the kiss breaks, she sits up and looks at me curiously. The last time she was here, it did not go as she had panned, or so I assume.

She takes my silence for compliance. Scooting down in my lap a little, she takes my rigid cock in her hands. Her touch is like fire. Her fingers are pure magic. And her gentle strokes are quickly making me lose my mind.

My eyes widen when I feel her lips on the tip of my cock. Her tongue follows, licking me like a freakin' ice cream cone. Do I taste good, I wonder. I must for her lips return for another kiss before slowly opening and sliding my throbbing erection into her mouth.

I feel as if I'm being scalded, her lips and tongue working me to a near fever pitch. I could come right now, thrust myself into her sweet mouth and our my essence into her. But again, I'm not ready. This isn't what I want. What I NEED.

Using my hands, I grasp her hair and pull. I'm not sure if I've hurt her, but her moan indicates neither pain nor pleasure. She looks up at me with doe like eyes, their dark depths enticing me to let her continue. But I smile and shake my head, coaxing her to sit over me once again.

"Ride me," I tell her, almost growling.

I push my hips upward to test the motion, bumping against her wet center. She needs no other instruction. This must be what she'd planned before. Grasping me in one hand, she slowly lowers herself upon me, moaning with each inch she takes in.

"That's it...AH!" My moans join hers in the room as she sets a leisurely pace.

I watch her face as she moves over me, on me. Her eyes, heavy and hooded from desire and want, are unfocused, her body trembling above mine. She looks beautiful in her pleasure. Exotic and totally wanton. Her lips part on a sigh, her head rolling backward from the pure ecstasy of our joining.

I feel her muscles clench me tightly, her spasms sending tingles of warmth through my body. Add to that her own unusual ability and I could light up like a fucking Christmas tree. It's warm bliss, white light encompassing everything in sight. I close my eyes to keep the light out, but it invades anyway, carrying me away on a wave of warmth as she calls my name again.

Kami but I love the sound of it.

As the white light recedes, my eyes open. She's teetering above me, her hips wanting to ride me longer, but her strength is now gone. Why? Why would she want to continue riding me?

The warmth slowly disappears with the light and one thing becomes very clear. The answer to my question. While the rest of me is lethargic, there is still one this standing on issue. My mind is in a haze, but other parts of me are elsewhere.

I feel as if my body has let go, but my cock has not.

SHIT!

Rolling us over I start to pound into her as her muscles continue to spasm around me. I can feel the friction burning, feel my own heat rising, but it's just not enough. Even her hands cupping my ass doesn't help me to meet my end. She pulls on my, silently asking me to move faster. I comply with what strength I have left, but it's still not enough.

DAMMIT!

I pull out quickly, forcing her to roll over onto her stomach. It takes little to coax her into the proper position. With a smile I thrust home once more, enjoying her keening cries as our bodies slam together in bliss.

[HANAJIMA]

I can no longer take it when he flips us over, thrusting into my with an almost merciless panic. I am not upset that he did not come. Honestly, I rather enjoyed giving him pleasure without allowing him full release. But my body is taking the brunt of his revenge and I feel another climax coming swiftly.

All feeling dies as he pulls out of me, rolling me onto my back. This is a position new to me, but one that I am familiar enough with to know what happens. I lick my lips, getting onto my hands and knees somewhat shakily. My limbs move on pure adrenaline alone and my body on pure instinct.

He thrusts into me from behind and sets the same unforgiving pace. I'm forced to keep up, another climax slamming against me, causing me to shudder and scream. But this time he body releases as well. I can feel his seed as it pours itself into me with another light thrust.

Without warning I collapse to the bed, Akito on top of me. We do not move, or at least I don't for quite some time. My body definitely aches now, unused to such abuse. But I am not complaining. It was a most exhilarating experience. Even if I do forgot it in the morning.

Will he erase my memories, I wonder.

It had not occurred to me in some time that it was really possible. Perhaps I simply wanted to believe that I could convince him otherwise. Or perhaps I was not bothered with not remembering.

But, realizing now that I could forget all of this, I'm horrified at the prospect of not remembering.

Akito rolls off of me, still panting for air. I turn my head to look at him and I'm surprised to see a small wet sparkle falling down his cheek. Carefully I reach a hand to his cheek to see what it is, but his hand grasps my wrist. I am surprised again as he lays my arm over his midsection, allowing me to move closer.

Are we...cuddling?

Another wet sparkle follows the last and I realize with some wonder and awe that it's a tear. It glistens in the last light of the remaining candle, and then disappears as the light is taken away. I blink, disappointed that I can not watch him cry. I'm not being sadistic by any means. I simply want to watch him express his emotion.

He does it so rarely after all.

And he looks beautiful when he's crying.

"Akito?"

I can not see his face, but I know he is looking at me. "Hmm?"

"Arigato."

There's a pause, probably due to surprise. "For what?"

"For allowing me to learn your secret. To learn about your curse."

I can hear his smile in his voice. "Does this mean you've figure out your fate, Hanajima?"

I feel myself smile in return. "I think so."

"Is it really so bad?"

"Iie."

"Then why do you sound so sad?"

I'm taken aback by his observation. How can he know I'm sad when I don't really feel the emotion itself? Is it because I will remember this night...or because I won't?

"You will remember this night," he tells me, his arm fumbling in the darkness to pull me closer to him. I brace myself for another kiss, but instead my chin grazes the soft flesh of his shoulder. I lay my head there, sighing as his arms wraps around me to keep me there. "I'll make sure of it."

His words are reassuring and I find myself starting to drift to sleep. The steady rise and fall of his chest under my hand soothes me, allowing me to fall into a dreamless sleep. I will remember this night. He has already made sure of it.

And there will be many more.

For he is mine. And I am his.

Forever to be loved.

[AKITO]

Sun covers my eyelids, causing light to filter through the darkness of sleep. I wake with a groan, my body once again aching in places normal people would not have to worry about. Carefully stretching my limbs, I sit up to greet the morning.

The birds are already active outside my window. Their chattering brings a small smile to my face. I never would've smiled before, and although I don't want to now, I can't help it.

And it's all because of her.

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I hear her mutter in her sleep, feel her move behind me. Part of me is tempted to roll over and wake her up. I can just imagine her reaction, hear my name whispered from between her lips.

AH! I shall never be tired of hearing her say my name.

But there are other matters to attend to today. Kami, what time was it? Hatori is supposed to appear just before nine. And where is my breakfast? I'm starved!

A small tray sits by the door, the smell of grilled fish and miso evident from a distance. I note with some hint of amusement that there are two settings. Something for my staff to get used to.

Oh, how surprised everyone will be! I can just picture their reactions.

But I can't wait to SEE them.

I walk over to the tray and pick it up, carrying it over to the bed without making much of a mess. Never, in a million lifetimes, would I have done this. Never, in all my horrifying days, did I imagine that this day would come.

I'm in love.

May the gods tremble in horror!

Hanajima stirs again as I set the tray down. She rolls over, pulling the sheets tighter around her. Pity, I was hoping for a show with my breakfast. Oh well. Perhaps lunch would be better.

A knock sounds at the door and I stand from the bed and make my way over to the window. How will you react, Hatori? How will you, who has suffered the most at my hands, take the news I'm about to give you?

"Enter!"

The door opens and Hatori enters. I try not to smile at the serious look on his face. He's always so serious. Far too serious sometimes. Of course, he never had my sense of humor.

"Akito," he says. I motion for him to sit on one of the abandoned cushions from the night before. He does so without question. "I had thought that you'd be awake sooner. I expected--"

"You seem to expect a lot of me, don't you?" It's not a question I truly wish for him to answer. Kami knows the horrible things he could say to me. "But the plan has changed. Life has changed."

He blinks at me uncertainly. "Then...what will you require of me today?"

"You will need to contact Hanajima's family," I tell him. "She will be staying with us and she will need as many of her things as possible."

"Staying--?"

Ah, there's that incredulous look I was going for. "Yes. She will be staying with us." My eyes narrow as his surprise doesn't seem to let up. As his mouth opens to speak I add, "That's not a problem, is it Hatori?"

"N-no," he stammers, the hint of a smile passing his lips. It fades quickly however. Is that relief? Joy? "That's not a problem, Akito. But--"

"But *WHAT*?" I hate it when people question my decisions.

"She...Hanajima-san should be allowed to go and pack herself." He looks at me with such deep uncertainty that I almost smile. "She should be allowed to tell her family and friends in her own way."

I sigh, turning to look out the window. Another blue and white bird swoops towards the window. I catch it quickly in my hand. The tiny creature chirps, unaware of what may happen to it.

"Akito?"

Without thinking my hand opens, releasing the bird. It hops along the windowsill before flapping its wings and taking off into the garden. It continues to chirp happily as it disappears from my sight.

I'm letting her go. When I would never have done it last night, I'm willing to let her go. But it's only for a short time, I remind myself. And she will come back to me.

"She will be ready in an hour," I assure Hatori with a frown. "I will...send her to you."

I do not need to look at Hatori to know that he is astonished. I chuckle lightly to myself, pleased that I'm able to shock him so. Not all shocks are bad, just most.

"That is all," I tell Hatori. "I will expect her back in time for lunch."

"That may not be--"

"By lunch, Hatori."

"H-hai," he answers, stammering.

I hear him rise to leave, his footsteps echoing in the room followed by the nearly silent snap of the door shutting. Once he's gone I know I should go over to the bed and wake Hanajima, but I stay by the window. Sunlight streams into the room as the sun rises higher in the sky and I bask in its warm glow.

It feels...good...to know that I can be loved.

//I love you.//

And even better to know that I AM loved.

~FIN~