𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄 | FRUITS BASKET

18 | The Moon

"Thank you for the meal!"

After the celebratory dinner, Shigure Sohma separated himself from the group and headed back to the one place he couldn't seem to stay away from.

Ayame graciously accompanied him until they reached the inner section of the Estate, where the head of the family resided.

It was almost eerie how the streets were completely deserted, not a single soul in sight except for the two of them.

"So this is it," The flamboyant man announced, cutting through the silence. He turned, facing the narrow street that led to his parents' home. "See you, Gure-san!"

"Aha yes," Shigure replied quickly, subdued playfulness coloring his tone.

"See you, Aya-chan!"

Ayame waved and marched away, leaving him in the middle of the street. Once the Snake was out of sight, Shigure let his cheerful grin fade.

He stared up at the crescent moon shining above his head, exhaled slowly, then started walking towards Akito's room. Back to God's side, where the Dog was supposed to be.

When he was supposed to be.

On the way there, he met a tired maid who told him that the young master had been ill for days. Shigure already knew that, but thanked her nevertheless.

"Ah, thank you. Is Akito-san awake?"

"Yes, sir." The maid replied, stifling a yawn. "We're supposed to administer the young master's medicine in a few minutes."

As she spoke, they arrived at Akito's chambers. Shigure placed a hand on the door to open it, then said, "Alright, bring them here."

The woman bowed and left.

With that, Shigure pulled the door open and entered the room, looking around curiously before addressing the ill woman resting on the floor.

"Sick again?" He asked, a cheerful expression on his features as he assumed a light, joking tone. "I've heard you've been quite unwell recently, Akito."

The head of the Sohma clan was lying near the window, her pale and weak pallor enhanced by the moonlight illuminating her frail form.

"Don't talk to me like that," the woman snarled, though the coldness of her message was weakened by her thick, raspy voice. "I don't want to see you."

Shigure hummed, acknowledging her words, but choosing not to heed them. He sat beside the ill woman and continued, "Have you eaten? I myself just had the most wonderful dinner with Aya, (Y/N), Yuki, Tohru, and Kyo."

Akito turned to face him, pulling a blanket up to cover her body. Before she could speak, a knock at the door interrupted her.

"Come in!" Shigure called, raising his head.

A short-middle aged woman entered, holding a wooden tray. She bowed lightly, giving Shigure an opportunity to review the tray's contents. A small towel, a bowl of water, a few bottles of medicine.

"You may leave. I'll do it," Shigure said, more of a command than a request. The woman obeyed, setting the tray down beside Akito's pillow before exiting the room silently.

They were quiet as Shigure soaked hand towels and prepared the medicine. Though they were in a sealed room, the song of chirping crickets from outside the house was still clearly audible, providing background noise as Shigure worked.

"I heard you're meeting (Y/N) today?" He asked as he placed a warm towel over Akito's forehead. "What for?"

"I just want to see her..." She mumbled, coughing lightly. "We haven't spent much time together recently. It seems like she forgot all about me in the short time I let her enjoy with her other friends."

Shigure smiled. Akito really was less tight-lipped when she was sick. His eyes gleamed as he thought of a way to use this opportunity.

"Is that it? Maybe you're doing this so you could get her under your control again. So you could bring things back to how they were before." He paused, then pushed further.

"Just you, and the other Zodiacs. Together, with nothing, or no one else in the way. I mean, you really are incapable of liking, of loving anything selflessly. You always have those barely hidden, twisted motives of yours."

For a second there, Akito revealed her truest self. Hurt flashed across her face, and with despair rooted in her voice, she asked. "Do you really think I'm incapable of loving selflessly?"

"Your actions speak for themselves," Shigure replied easily, removing the cloth from Akito's forehead. "Of course you are. How could you not be? Think about it."

Hearing that, Akito closed her eyes and turned away to hide her face.

"Leave." She hissed, feeling her chest seize up with deep sadness. Shigure's words must have broken something in her. "Don't even bother with that medicine. You were probably forcing yourself to treat me, weren't you? Or like me, as you say, you also have some twisted motive. Because deep down, you want me to die. You all want me gone. I'm the villain, the monster. Isn't that right?"

Shigure did not reply.

Akito sighed, "Leave me alone, Shigure. I don't need you."

Shigure rose, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Alright, alright. If that's what you want. Goodbye then."

He exited the room, closing the door behind him. It seemed so sure, so final that Akito couldn't help but shiver.

She drew in a shaky breath. Shigure was wrong. She was more than capable of loving someone selflessly. (Y/N) was a true friend, she was sure of that.

Even if Akito had no one else by her side, even if she didn't have Shigure, she would still have (Y/N). The Fox.

Because that is how it was supposed to be.

Thanks for the 20k! ♡