Back To Darkness

Chapter 17: The Dying God and the Empty Boy

Hatori sighed. He shifted slightly. He sighed again.
It seemed all he'd been doing lately was sighing. What else could he do?
He stood outside the main building of the Sohma estate. The sharp winds nipped at his exposed skin, warning of a cold approaching winter. Still, he didn't move. The cold was somehow refreshing, and so much more appealing than what he would find inside.
Inside, in that room, everything was too still, too close. The foul air hung heavy with sickness and sorrow. For Hatori the room was guilt and anger and sadness. It contained his greatest failure, both as a doctor and a human. He gritted his teeth. Regretfully, he turned from the cruel wind, and entered the building.

One week had passed since the fated night of Yuki's birthday. Yuki left behind chaos. Haru had snapped, his mind succumbing to its darkness. He had wanted to chase after them, to attack Akito, to save Yuki. He bellowed many things in his rage, things which could have landed him in serious trouble. It took Hatori, Shigure and Ayame to restrain him, then he sat snarling and glaring at them. When he had calmed down however he said something which brought Hatori up short. With sad, wise eyes, and a measured voice he said to the group at large, "Yuki has gone to Akito to save us all." Tohru nodded tearfully in agreement.
There was silence then. Tohru sobbed quietly and unobtrusively. Ayame seemed to switch between great sorrow and great anger, though neither had a chance to fully bloom before the other took over again. He ran his hands shakily through his hair and Hatori didn't know how to help his friend. He didn't know how to help any of them. He was helpless, useless.

Now, with great trepidation, he entered Akito's bedroom. This was his third visit of the week though he suspected Akito's waning health would soon require more regular attention. He cleared his throat and approached the bed.
"Good morning Akito. How are you feeling today?"
Akito raised his head. "Mmm, Hatori. I feel rather tired today. Quite...listless." He was sitting upright against the headboard of the bed wearing a kimono, his legs concealed under the covers. Hatori nodded and opened his bag. He checked Akito's throat and eyes, his heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. He consulted Akito's notes. He tried to ignore Yuki.
He sighed. He had prescribed gentle physiotherapy for Akito, and every useful medication he could think of, though there didn't seem to be any improvement. The power of the zodiac God was slowly killing him from the inside, in ways Hatoti, and modern medicine, could not explain. He went to collect Akito's breakfast from the staff and carefully handed it to him. He waited while Akito ate, knowing his receding appetite meant he often ignored meals. Hatori felt conflicted; angry at Akito for everything he had done to Yuki, yet duty-bound to care for his patient. They spoke briefly, tersely, of Akito's condition. Akito didn't mention Yuki and with some difficulty and restraint Hatori followed his lead, not wishing to either aggravate Akito's health, or invoke his anger. Still, it was difficult to ignore.

On the first visit, the day after Yuki's birthday, Hatori had visited the main estate on the pretence of checking on Akito when in reality he, and everyone else, was desperate for information on Yuki. He was shocked by what he saw.
The boy he had known and treated, even cared for, for many years, was gone. All that remained of him was a husk. He sat shivering and naked in the armchair, eyes vacant. Though Hatori went to him immediately, talking to him and checking him over, he elicited no response. Yuki was simply gone.
On his second visit, several days later, Hatori noted that Yuki still responded neither to his words nor touches and seemed to be aware of, and to care about, nothing. He didn't seem to notice or care that he was naked, nor was he aware of temperature. When Hatori pinched his skin sharply the boy didn't flinch or gasp. He simply stared. Hatori asked Akito's permission to treat Yuki, or to find him specialist care but Akito had downright refused.

"He's mine. And he's staying with me" he had snarled. As though to prove this to Hatori he strode to the armchair and struck Yuki sharply across the face. Yuki's head snapped to the side. His eyes widened slightly and his cheek reddened but he showed no other reaction to this. "He wouldn't leave me anyway." Akito stated firmly. He caressed the back of Yuki's neck with the hand he had moments before struck him with, and Hatori was surprised and horrified to see Yuki leaning into the touch, his features softening into something akin to contentedness. "Do not ask again." Akito commanded, his skeletal fingers lingering round Yuki's throat, and Hatori nodded.