Death

Chapter 3: Love and Protection

Tw: Yelling, Child abuse, Illness 

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Enjoy -Ghost

It wouldn't be the last time I had these thoughts of the past, no matter how hard I tried to rid my mind of them. However, it would be years later when they would resurface again.

"The birth of a child possessed by the spirit of the Rat is a true blessing for the Sohma family." Hitomi had told Akito that morning, "I'm sure he is a fine choice for a playmate, Akito-san."

"When will he arrive?" Akito asked Hitomi.

"I'm leaving now and he will arrive just before lunch." Hitomi replied.

Akito nodded, dismissing Hitomi.

I was glad Akito decided to make a friend. I felt it would not only benefit Akito but also the Rat as I heard his home life wasn't the best. While we waited, I sipped some tea as Akito read one of the new books Shigure had given her. Akito and Shigure have grown close to one another more so than other Zodiacs. It made me happy seeing Akito making bonds beyond that of the Zodiac.

"Akito-san... I've brought him." Hitomi announced opening the door to the room.

She leads a woman with long brown hair accompanied by a young boy with beautiful grey eyes and hair, the Rat.

Akito half looks up from her book at the boy and as their eyes meet, the boy's eyes well up.

"Wha..? What are you crying for, Yuki? Where are your manners?" The woman, assumingly the boy's mother, scolded.

Akito rose from her position and walked over to the boy, I saw the boy's eyes widen with mixed emotions.

"Don't worry, the other members of the Zodiac cried as well when they met him for the first time." Hitomi explained to the mother, "What else could you call that if not a 'bond'? Their destinies are set in stone."

Akito embraced the small boy and whispered, "We finally meet, Yuki. My monster."

As they embraced, I stood and walked over to Hitomi and Yuki's mother. "As our God, Akito brings forth emotions in us that we ourselves can not describe." I express to the mother who continues to watch the ordeal. "It's as though we reunite with a friend as well as an enemy after years of never seeing each other all at the same time. For someone outside of the bond it may be hard to understand. But this feeling is so overwhelming for the human mind all we can do is simply weep."

Eventually, Hitomi and Yuki's mother left as I watched Yuki and Akito as they played. "You know the Rat? It's the first member in the Zodiac. That means the Rat is the closest to God!" Akito cheered at Yuki, "In other words, you're the closest to me, so you're 'special' too, like me!"

Akito was so bright and happy to be with Yuki, however as time passed something began to change in Akito. Yuki, like Akito, was often sickly and had bronchial issues causing the boy to cough. This however, started to get on Akito's nerves. "Shut up already! I'm sick of your coughing! It's so annoying!!" Akito yelled, knocking over a bowl of rice as she put her hand up to her ear.

"Aki, calm down, please, you know Yuki can't help it." I softly scolded her.

This seemed to help Akito come to her senses and she calmed down. I pushed my own untouched bowl of rice towards the pair, replacing the one that spilled.

However, this wouldn't be the last time Akito's emotions got the better of her.

Ren's torment was still ongoing and was clearly affecting Akito. It wasn't uncommon for her to ask Shigure to come around so she could cling to one of us and just cry. It broke my heart that she was in so much pain, pain that I could do nothing to help heal.