Her name is Akari

Time Ticking

I sat at the edge of what I assumed was my bed. 'Don't get too comfortable, they'll leave you in the end ' said the voice inside my head. I sighed deeply as I flicked my fingers through the bags. I started looking through them, finding things like notebooks and pens for school even with a new school bag. The other bags containing clothes and new shoes.

I didnt understand why they were being so nice to me. 'They're just using you ' The voice spoke again. I tried to shake away all the negative feelings away, but they were stuck to me, apart of me now. I began changing into a pair of black tight pants and a tight white shirt with a vibrant red fox on the front. I smiled down at my clothes as they seemed to fit perfectly.

An hour or two ticked away as I began organizing my things, putting away all the clothes and notebooks where they belong. Finally starting to feel hungry and ready for lunch I made my way out of the bedroom and down the hall to walk down stairs. As I stepped quickly down the stairs and into the kitchen Shigure was heating up some food.

"I knew you'd be hungry, so here's lunch" Shigure said as he fixed up two bowls and handed me one. It was a nice steaming bowl of udon noodles in a hot seafood broth with some tempura and chives.

"It looks really good" I stated as I took the bowl from his hand and went and sat down, joined by Shigure just a few minutes later. We sat in silence as we ate our lunch, I was busy enjoying all the flavors i've missed so much from being abandoned on the mountain. "That was delicious" I stated as I slurped the last of the broth from the bowl.

Shigure smiled at me warmly. "Tohru made it for us last night to eat for lunch today" he added after he finished his own bowl.

I thought curiously for a moment "So Akito has allowed an outsider to know the Sohma secret, how surprising" I said slyly, gazing down at the floor, growing more curious about Tohru Honda. Then i felt a gently touch on my wrist, and looked up to see Shigure's face filled with concerned, as if I was going to vanish into thin air.

"Don't try to worry too much about all that, just focus on regaining your strength" he instructed me, sounding like a worried father.

Something didn't sit well with me when Shigure warned me about not to poke around at the reason why an outsider has been allowed, and I knew he was hiding something. I sighed deeply, my gut telling me that I should just listen and do as Shigure says, my health is important right now and being stressed about something that would more than likely break me is too much to worry about right now until i become stronger. "Okay then" I stated solemnly.

For the rest of the day I helped Shigure around with the household chores, cleaning the floors and doing the dishes. Without Tohru here for the weekend Shigure didn't want the house falling back to it's previous state before she moved in, which I could understand. Shigure was extremely patient with me as I learned again how to work a hand towel and day to day chores. Finally after all the chores were done we opened the doors from the living room that walked out onto the deck; the sun starting to descend in the afternoon sky.

"When does summer vacation start?" I questioned as I sat at the edge of the deck, my feet hanging off the side as I leaned against the wooden post next to me.

"In about a month or so, you'll be taking the transfer exams at the very end of the week right before to see what great they'll put you in" Shigure stated as he walked to sit by the table, his cheek resting on his hand. "Yuki has even asked if you wanted some help studying, even thought you actually wont start classes until after the summer break." He stated shortly after as he grabbed the newspaper.

I turned my head to smile, showing that i am appreciative of what they've done for me. Im very grateful, but all the negative feelings are piling on and on, its overpowering most often.

A figure soon came into sight walking towards the house, and the closer it got it was easier to tell that it was Yuki, coming back home from classes. "I'm glad you're back Akari" He said as he approached me, smiling kindly.

I smiled back "I can't say the same thing, but i am glad to see you again" I said as I watched him take a seat next to me. I could feel the warmth radiate off of him in waves, which felt like he was melting my armor made of ice just little by little with each smile he gave me.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, turning his head to look at me. "We heard that it wasn't anything too serious" he mentioned, his eyes flickered with slight worry.

"Apparently i'm just very thirsty and hungry" I said with a chuckle, trying to shed a light on this dark situation but adding a little humor to it.

Yuki then let out a quiet chuckle as well as Shigure. Yuki then turned his head to the road, as if he was expecting someone.

I turned my head in the same direction, my heart lurching into my throat and a feeling of fear growing as I tried to see what Yuki saw. My heart palpitated hard against my chest as I saw the familiar carrot-top hair. It felt as if time was moving in slow motion as I watched Kyo from where I was sitting, studying his face and seeing a white bandage on his cheek from where i struck.

He finally looked up and our eyes met. He looked pissed off, but there was something guilty look in his eyes. "Hey" he said as he stopped in front of me, stretching one of his arms behind his head to rub the back of his hair. "Look, if I offended you in any type of way, I'm sorry"

I stood up to my feet and looked him in the eyes, before I could stop myself I gently touched the bandage covering his cheek "I'm really sorry" I said in a small voice, looking up at him sadly.

A blushed creeped in his cheeks "Its okay. you can hit me when I offend you or make you mad, I tend to rub people the wrong way" He turned his head away from me, looking down to the ground.

I stepped away slightly, turning my face back to the pond. "My name is Akari by the way" I said only my first name, not wanting to trigger any memories right now that I didn't want to remember, and I didnt want Kyo to connect those dots either.

"Akari mh? It sounds familiar but i can't say why" Kyo muttered, turning away and walked to the door to go inside. Leaving all of us staring at each other.

"I'm sorry Akari" Yuki said as he looked up at me.

I sat back down beside Yuki and shrugged my shoulders. "I really shouldn't let it bother me too much" I replied, looking over to the pond in the yard. I tried not letting Kyo's forgetfulness upset me, but it was hard. I sighed very deeply as I leaned back against the wooden post. Feeling Yuki skooched closer to me as we looked up at the sky together.