The Dragons Darkness

Chapter 2 : Things In Motion

Hatori left Shigure's home, upon travelling back to the Sohma estate, he thought about Tohru, how sad it was that she was forced to make a decision like that... She didn't even tell the others about the consequence that she would face if she rejected Akito's offer... That's how much everyone meant to her, Akito... the most feared and loathed member of the zodiac family... And Tohru, the beloved light that stormed into everyone's lives so unexpectedly but only for the better.

Finally, Hatori arrived at the Sohma estate.

He parked the car and began to make his way to Akito's room, his walk became more of a meandering stagger as he dragged his feet, feeling heavier with each and every step.

He knelt by the door...

"Akito."

"Hm? Enter" Akito replied

Hatori, as if out of habit, entered quietly and with great caution... Speaking with Akito always felt like walking through a field of landmines, the slightest touch would set off a violent and devastating chain reaction.

"And? Did you give her the letter?" Akito asked

"Yes... and I've come with her reply" Hatori said, hands on his knees and his face cast down towards the floor

"What did she choose?"

"She agrees to marrying you..." Hatori said, his voice straining ever so slightly...

"... Oh?" Akito replied with an arrogant smirk

"Hatori, I'll leave the preparations to you..."

"Very well" Hatori replied and with that he left.

Two weeks had quickly passed with almost the entire zodiac family helping with wedding preparations, everyone seemed to regard the matter with sadness... Sadness for Tohru. No one could feel happy, they all were afraid of Akito, they've experienced years of his abuse and mental torture, somehow they felt as if they had made Tohru suffer the same...

Kagura had been overseeing the arrangements regarding Tohru... Her wedding outfit, flowers, moving arrangements and room preparations, as Tohru would have to live within the confines of the zodiac estate.

At the same time, Tohru was preparing to move out, she had written simple recipes for Shigure, Kyo and Yuki to make, as well as packing up the few possessions she had. She did everything with a smile, between the gloom and guilt and Tohru's smile... everyone was in emotional turmoil.

Everyone started to share a common thought "Maybe Tohru would be happier if she forgot about me, about us, about everything" This was the way they were programmed to think, it was the case that happened so many times before... Their misery would inflict even greater misery on another. So they chose to live in their own solitude to prevent the suffering of others.

Even so, Tohru never once considered saying goodbye to them. She never once cursed her fate, her decisions...She chose to keep her memories and the people who had become precious to her.

Finally the day, the dreaded day had arrived... It was time for the wedding ceremony.

The members of the zodiac walked in, some carrying

expressionless faces, others grimacing, no one truly knew how to deal with this. Or what would become of this?

Throughout the entire ceremony, Akito never looked at Tohru once, nor uttered a word to her, he seemed to simply enjoy the expressions on everyone's faces.

Although everyone expressed their solemn congratulations, along with conveying their compliments on how beautiful Tohru looked in her wedding kimono. Ayame was the first so come in and inspect her, after all, he was the one that designed it and made it... It was beautiful, scarlet red and embroidered with a golden dragon and some decorative flowers.

Yuki arrived and joined the conversation, carrying a weary smile he expressed his compliments on how she looked.

From the corner of her eye, Tohru saw Kyo approaching whilst Kagura hung on his arm, smiling. Tohru absolutely insisted on having Kyo join them, knowing that he was always excluded from any and all zodiac related events. For the first time Kyo had joined the banquet... In his own way he was both happy and heartbroken.

Celebrations did not last long, the ceremony took place, some conversation, a small banquet and that was the end, everyone had left and Tohru was escorted to her new room... Akito's room.

Akito still dismissed Tohru's existence... She was not sure of what to say or what to do, she simply followed him quietly.

They finally arrived at the room and entered... It looked pretty much the same as before. There was just a small box in the corner which contained Tohru's possessions. Akito, took off most of his wedding garments, leaving him in an almost bare kimono loosely tied, the sleeves hung off of his shoulders and he just laid down, propped up on his side and eyes closed.

Tohru was not sure if he was sleeping and she did not want to disturb him... She still carried some fear of his violent nature.

Tohru sat quietly and she noticed in the corner of her eye a small serving table that held water, tea and something else.

Tohru approached the table and saw that the 'something else' was medication, she knew that the head of the family carried the heaviest burden of the curse, as such they died young and were always sickly and frail. Concerned, Tohru had taken the serving table to the side of the futon where Akito was laying.

"A-Akito, there's some medication here" Tohru spoke as her voice softly faltered

Akito said nothing, his eyes opened lazily and he silently glared at Tohru, his eyes filled with disdain and equal amounts of arrogance... but she noticed, the slight but evident sliver of fear that remained in his eyes.

"Tohru do you know why I sent you such an offer?" Akito spoke coldly

"No, uh..."

"Because, I assumed you would refuse, I thought you would abandon everyone for the preservation of your own happiness..."

"But... I am happy" Tohru spoke with a slight smile

At the sight, Akito ground his teeth and grabbed Tohru by her hair roughly "You're a stupid girl! Your conceited attitude and assumptions are overwhelmingly irritating, you're nothing, do you understand!?" Akito shouted mercilessly at Tohru.

Akito's grip quickly loosened as he fell to the floor.

"Akito? Akito!" Tohru exclaimed, she quickly went over to the serving table, she had mixed the medication into a small cup of tea, she went over and despite all of Akito's protesting he was too weak to fight.

Tohru held his head gently as she forced him to drink the medication, after the cup was empty, Tohru placed Akito's head gently on her lap