Chapter 6
Aki: Weakness Discovered
Something wet and burning flowed down my chest. I screamed, my eyes flying open. I panted for breath, my teeth clenching down, “You should have been mine you know but the fates decided that I wasn’t worthy.” More liquid was poured down my chest and I screamed again, “They could have given you to anyone but him.” The man who was hurting me had long hair like Yumi’s except black. His eyes were bright blue and he looked at me angrily. I took in deep breaths, trying to make the pain go away, “I’m happy that he had to go, that he left you in my care. It was the only thing he could do. Especially a request from another powerful demon.” More pain, “Vampires can be so weak.” He sneered, “A little holy water and they scream.”
“How would you like it?” I growled.
“Oh, I wouldn’t like it either but it is a wonderful torture.” He paused, “The only way for a pet like you to change hands is for them to say they desire to. I want you to inform Yumi that you desire to be my pet.” He poured more of the water down my chest.
“I don’t even know who you are and even if I wanted to be your pet I wouldn’t. I feel whole when I’m with Yumi. I’m not going to do anything to hurt him!” I shouted.
He sighed, “I’m sorry to hear that.” He said, pulling a glove on and picking up an ornate cross.
My eyes grew wide, if holy water hurt me then what would a cross do? I shook my head, “You touch me with that and I swear, Yumi won’t be the only one who hurts you.”
“Yumi won’t be harming me because you won’t be telling him anything.” He pressed the cross into the center of my chest.
I screamed loud and long as the smell of burning flesh wafted up to my nose, “YUMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed, “HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The door slammed open and I heard the cross clatter to the ground, “Uyama!” The voice was one I didn’t know, “Get your hands off of him!”
“Tadashi.” He sighed in relief, “Thank god it’s you, I thought it was one of Yumi’s people.” He said, picking up the cross.
The man who spoke, Tadashi, had the same hair color as Yumi but it was shorter. He looked young, very young, “Stop it right now. I’m not just going to stand by and watch as you torture him! He’s not yours, he belongs to Yumi.”
Uyama’s eyes narrowed, “Shut up Tadashi, this has nothing to do with you.” He growled, “He should have been mine! Do you hear me Tadashi! Mine!” He grabbed Tadashi’s arm and slammed him against the table. A low groan escaped his lips as he tried to get to his feet, “You always were an idiot brother.” He laughed; binding Tadashi’s arms behind him and picking up the holy water again, “You need to learn a lesson as well, little brother.”
“HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed again and Tadashi joined me, the water splashed against his chest.
Finally he stopped. I couldn’t scream any longer, my throat was raw, “I’ll leave the two of you to rest.” He said before turning on his heels and walking away.
I took a deep breath, panting softly, “Aki, call for him.”
I scowled, “What?”
“Call for Yumi, call for him with your mind, with your heart.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Close your eyes and think about him. Focus your thoughts on him. Without a word call for help.” Tadashi explained.
I did as he instructed, focusing all my attentions on Yumi. I felt him, heard him in my mind, and then there was nothing. I whimpered softly as the link was broken. Tadashi looked up at me, a questioning look in his eyes.
“I felt him and then there was nothing.” I whispered.
“He should know then and come. I hope he comes quickly.”
It was a few hours before Uyama returned and this time he wanted something from me. Without a word he grabbed the back of my head and forced me to take him down my throat. I choked on his length, having never done this before, but I had a sudden idea. I bit down, hard, and he screamed. Blood filled my mouth as he frantically pulled at my hair, trying to get me to let go. I bit down harder and felt my teeth click together. Tadashi looked up at me in shock as I spit out what I had bitten off. Uyama’s screams filled the room, coupled with my own as he grabbed the vial of holy water and poured it over me, dousing me in the burning liquid. I didn’t hear the door slam open but when the water stopped I opened my eyes to see what had happened. Uyama was lying across the room, holding his crotch, and Yumi was untying Tadashi.
“Healing equipment won’t help.” Tadashi said softly as Yumi began to untie me, “My bastard of a brother used holy water and a cross.” He said, touching his own chest, “But I’m a healer, I’ll see what I can do.”
“We have to get him out of here first, he can hardly breath.” I was taking in labored breaths, my chest felt tight, my body ached, “It’s alright Aki, you did the right thing.” Yumi whispered, taking me in his arms. I closed my eyes, wanted to escape into darkness, “Stay awake Aki, don’t fall asleep on me.” He said, carrying me. Tadashi had to use one of Yumi’s arms for support, “Tadashi, if you save him you can join me.”
“Thank you, I don’t want to be with my brother any more.”
Yumi nodded, “I can understand that. I shall have to speak with the fates. You are too young to be in a situation like that. Also, something will have to be done about Uyama. What he did to Aki and you was uncalled for, he shouldn’t have done anything.”
“He said that Aki should have been his, he was very upset about it.” Tadashi said before grabbing his chest, “I need to stop for a moment, I can look at Aki’s wounds now.”
Yumi gently laid me down on my back, cradling my head in his lap. With gentle hands, Tadashi began to examine the areas I had been doused in holy water. His hands moved gently over them and I felt warmth flow into me. I closed my eyes, this felt nice, comforting. It drove away the pain.
“Open your eyes Aki.” Yumi ordered. Slowly I did so, I didn’t really want to but he was persistent, “That’s a good boy.” He whispered, his fingers running gently through my hair, “It looks good Tadashi, thank you.” He smiled, “I will protect you from your brother, god knows he’ll come after you. Uyama does not know when to stop.”
I looked down at my chest. It was red, as if burned, and in the center was the perfect impression of the ornate cross. I rolled onto my side and curled into a ball. I didn’t want to see that, any of it. Yumi’s fingers trailed gently through my hair, his hands running down my back.
“It will take time but the cross will go away.” Tadashi said softly, “Be patient.”
I felt sick to my stomach, “Let’s keep going.” Yumi said, picking me up gently.
He carried me to our home, Tadashi using his arm for support. We passed no one, and I was sure that even if we had no one would say anything to us. The look on Yumi’s face was not a pleased one. Without a word he carried me to our room and put me in bed, covering me gently with the thick comforter. Tadashi sat in a comfortable chair and closed his eyes.
“Get some sleep sweet Aki. I’m going to speak with the fates. Ran and Soma will watch over you.” He whispered, brushing my hair out of my face, “I do not want you left alone right now.” I nodded and curled up, his hand stroked my cheek for a moment before pulling away, “After I’m done with the fates I’ll come back for you.”
“Alright.” I whispered, I didn’t really want him to leave. I paused, “Please don’t leave me.” I sobbed, breaking out into tears and grabbing his arm.
“Aki,” He sat down beside me and brushed a hand through my hair, “you need to let me go. I need to speak with the fates.”
“Why?” I sobbed, rubbing my cheek against his arm.
He sighed, his fingers dancing through my hair, “Because I need to speak with them about what has happened. Something needs to be done. Knowing Uyama he will not stop. He will continue to attempt to get you. Please let me go Aki.” He said, not pulling away from me, he waited for me to let him go.
Gently I let his arm go, “Yumi, please come back quickly.” I said softly, curling up with the blanket.
He stroked my head once more before getting up and walking away. Not long after he left the door opened, Ran and Soma walked in, “How are you?” Ran asked, lying out on his back beside me.
Soma sat beside Tadashi, “I’ll be alright.” I whispered.
“Didn’t want Yumi to leave?” Soma asked, examining his talons. I shook my head, “You and Shio are a lot alike. He never wants me to leave when I have to. I think it comes with being a pet, with falling in love with your master.” He smiled at me, “I know you love him, I can see it.” He paused, “There are some pets that don’t fall in love with their masters, that just exist to serve them. I see it time and time again. You and Shio are a rare breed. Don’t stop loving him and if you can’t show him yet then don’t. Wait until you’re ready.”
I closed my eyes. His words had a ring of truth to them that I didn’t want to admit. He seemed to understand because he had his own pet, Shio. I wondered how he was. It had been awhile, “Where is Shio?” I asked softly.
“He’s resting. I kind of tired him out, recently returned from a job.” He said with a smile that spoke volumes of what he and Shio had done.
“You did more then just tire him out. He was completely exhausted. Four times! You call that tiring him out?” Ran laughed.
“Yes, I do. He’ll be fine, he just needs some sleep.”
“What did you do to Shio and why were his arms bandaged?” I asked softly, listening in on their conversation.
Ran looked over at me, “Screwed him. His arms though, he did that to himself. You really don’t want to know. It isn’t anything you have to worry about.”
“But he’s my friend, I want to know what happened to him.” I whined.
Soma sighed, “I don’t really want to explain it but he cut himself because he couldn’t get me off his mind. Let’s just leave it at that.” He said, looking over at Tadashi.
Tadashi let out a low groan in his sleep and his face contorted into a grimace of pain, “Tadashi, wake up.” Soma said, shaking him gently. His eyes snapped open and he looked around wildly, “Nightmare?” He nodded, “Why don’t you lay down in bed? It’s more comfortable then the chair and you can keep an eye on your patient.”
He nodded and crawled into bed between Ran and I, “How do you feel Aki?”
“It hurts.” I whispered.
“That’s alright, you’ll be ok.” He said with a smile.