I'm Dead Okay!? (A Yuki Sohma story) Ch. 14

[Sunday morning]
I woke up sitting, my head on my knees, still with that pain. I stretched my back and almost immediately, it left. I guess it was a back cramp. I got a better look around me. The sun was shining though the thin paper door, so it was morning. I sighed and felt a slight pressure on my hands.
Hinote was still asleep. The images of my dreams came back rushing inside my head. The strange dream that made me see Hinote as a young girl. Maybe it was just my past merged with hers? No. She never told me about her past. I replaced her hand back on top of the other while I shifted my sitting position. I slightly rubbed her cheeks, the same still hard cold skin.
I need something, I thought. Something to help get rid of this anxiety. The next thing I knew, Hinote spurted from the bed and her upper body came forward. She stopped when I had her in my arms. Wait, what? I blinked to make sure it was real. She was breathing, panting against my chest. I did not turn into a rat. What is this magic? “Don’t worry,” I heard myself saying. “You were asleep.” I felt a fingertip on my neck, a familiar touch from her.
‘A nightmare was more like it. I relived so many bad memories.’
“Well it’s over now.” I didn’t know if I kept her close to me for too much time, but she didn’t seem to mind.

[Hinote POV]
I am stuck. I should probably let go of him, but I couldn’t. He was so comforting, and so warm against my body. I rested my head against his chest. I then realized what I was doing. ‘Oh, sorry,’ I told him as I reluctantly pulled away. ‘I’m such a bother.’
“No,” he said. I looked up at him. “No, you’re not a bother.” He inched his way closer to me. His eyes became brighter with an unknown flame. His lips just an inch away from mine. “Not at all.”
‘Don’t torment me. It’s not your way.’ That was all I thought before I felt his warm lips upon mine. Unprepared, I stretched my wings from my back. The back of my pajama shirt was partially ripped. I tilted my head and closed my eyes to savor his taste while I struggled to get my wings back inside me. His lips formed perfectly with mine. I held him tightly onto me, but it was he who broke for air. I didn’t need it.
“I don’t want to go too quickly, if you don’t want to. I first wanted to ask you if you would give me the honor of-”
‘Being your girlfriend?’ I finished. He sheepishly nodded, his forehead pressed against mine. I sighed with relief. ‘I would love to.’ Again, his lips crashed to mine. Again, I wish to stay like this for all eternity. However, I knew that he can’t know anything and that I’ll have to leave.
A knock on the door broke us apart. It opened to reveal Tohru’s face that was from worried to happily surprised. “Thank goodness you two are awake. You’ve been asleep for at least 12 hours.”
12 years. That’s right, I didn’t go through Repetition. I stopped right before the- A stomach growled so hungrily loud that it interrupted my thoughts. The source was from the mousy itself.
“Sounds like you two are hungry. I’ll heat up some soup from the fridge.” In addition, with that, she left us alone. That was when I saw how dark this room really was. I needed light, more than that. I needed sunlight. My hand was gently on his.
‘Do you want to go outside to eat?’
The smile on his lips weren’t as big as the smile in his eyes. “I’d love to eat outside with you.” Spontaneously, he scooped me up, blanket and all, from the floor, and held me in his arms.
I threw back my head to laugh. We looked at each other’s eyes before I made myself comfortable in his arms, my head against his chest. With little trouble, he was able to open the door and take us to the outside back porch. He set me right on his lap, his arms around my waist.
We looked out to the peaceful view. The sun was warming enough so that my legs were able to have some feeling back. ‘It’s so weird.’
“What is?”
‘Just yesterday, there was a heavy rainstorm. And now, it’s so peaceful.’
“Everything is peaceful when you’re here.”
“My, my. Isn’t this a sight?” We both turned our heads. There was Shigure. Always, always. There’s always someone who ruins small romantic. “Yuki, you do realize that you are hugging a person of the opposite sex?” He had a tray of two soups and set them down for us.
“I guess it’s a secret of Hinote.” Yuki said as he sipped his soup.
“So it’s true!” We turned our heads to the other side. It was Kyo, with his orange hair standing on end. “That’s not fair! How can you hug a girl when I can’t?”
‘Yeah. You’re just jealous that Yuki can hug his girlfriend and you can’t hug Tohru.’ Good thing no one heard that little thought.
“Be quiet would you? Stupid cat.”
“What was that you damn rat?” I felt the tension that only no one should ever be in the middle of. I was able to finish my soup before there was a rumble of an engine. We all turned for a few seconds before we heard a voice. Hatori… and Tohru isn’t with us!
The three of us scattered to the main room. Sure enough, there was Hatori having a small conversation. With our entrance, they suddenly stopped talking.
“I apologize for the intrusion, but Akito asks for your presence at the Main House, Hinote.”
Yeah. Needless to say, we were all taking this seriously. A trip to the Main House, not a good thing. Seeing Akito, DEFINITELY not a good thing.
“Did he say why?” asked Tohru.
“No. He just says that either he comes here or you go to him. Either way, he wants to see you.”
“No way.” Yuki made his way in front of me. I could feel the stare that was directed to Hatori but was meant for Akito. I lifted my hand to his shoulder. Stupid love. I walked to the stairs, but not before gesturing for five minutes with my hand.
In Tohru’s room, I changed from my thick pajama gown to a black pleated skort with a blood red cotton blouse and black sandals. I just finished brushing my hair when I heard a knock on the bedroom door.
The door opened to reveal a worried family. “You aren’t actually thinking of going there, are you?” asked Yuki.
“Don’t you know what will happen if you go there?” screeched Kyo. Wow, who knew he had a heart for more than just Tohru. Fine. If they were so worried, they will come with me.
I just ignored them and went downstairs. Hatori was still waiting for me. He held his hand as I made myself to the car. ”Wait. May they come with me?” Hatori stopped and turned to look at them.
“Well, come on. She wants you all to come with her.” Two were relieved, one was suspicious and one acted so stupid. You’re choice who’s who. So all six of us cramped into the car. Us four in the back and the adults in the front. As the car traveled to the House, I had Tohru’s hand in one and Yuki’s in the other. When we reached the house, Tohru asked if I was sure. I nodded.
When we got out of the car, the house felt so empty. Hatori and Shigure led the way to the main room. We all took our shoes off and sat on the cushions laid out for us. There was a small white bird just tilting its head side to side. Akito slowly walked inside to the front of the room. My eyes widened at the change.
His skin was no longer a dry, brittle, delicate wrapping on his body. Instead, the skin became visibly moisturized, with a bit of a healthy luster around his being. In the beginning, there were no bags under his eyes, but now, the small glimmer of light in the back of his eyes became stronger.
Unfortunately, as that light searched around the room, there’s no way he took a turn for the better in his behavior. “All three of you, leave.” It was too calm to not scare you. Without protest, that order was obeyed.
When the doors closed, I was alone with him. He walked closer to me. “How did you do it?” I raised my head up to answer, big mistake. That cost me with his hand on my throat, my back against the floor.
“So, it’s working huh? I was wondering how fast it would be.”
“What did you do to me?” His hand squeezed my neck tighter, but I that did little to an undead.
“I simply healed you. With my blood coursing through your body, you’ll be one of the healthiest people alive. Happy?”
“You did this? I woke up from a pitch-dark sleep to feeling different. I don’t want it. You’re the cause of this.”… He doesn’t dream. No wonder. No creativity, no imagination, no visit to my land. That or…
“You have to deal with being healthy.”
This… you call this feeling…health. I don’t want it. Take it back. Now!”
“I can’t. There’s no reversing it. Enjoying it so far?” I smirked. “The health, the strength, the longevity of life. It’s everything anyone would ever want.”
“Why? Why would you do this to me? Why did you give this to me, you insignificant little girl?” He slapped me while keeping a firm grip on my neck.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I really told you why. But there is something I want in return.” By now, his anger has not completely subsided, but I was able to make him let go. We both sat down properly.
“I should’ve known. No one in this world would give away something for free.”
“Yourself included.” I knew that he would be able to hear me. My blood in his is now my communication but its limited by distance. “Your death in exchange for complete and undivided obedience. Though, unlike you, what I ask is something a lot more fair.”
“So you’re calling me selfish now. Is that really how you‘re going to ask me for a favor?”
“What I’m asking is for you to do two things.”
“That hardly seems fair.”
“One is for you to be entirely behaved.” Yeah, needless to say, Akito was shocked. “And the other is for me to keep on living with Yuki, Kyo, Shigure, and Tohru.” There was a long pause before Akito got up and stood in front of me. In one rigid motion, I felt the sting of his hand on my cheek again.
“How dare you! How dare you, an outsider, come and tell me what to do!”
“Honestly, we’re gonna start this again? You know what will happen if we come to blows. You saw it firsthand.”
“Shut up. Just shut up. You have no power anywhere, you monster!”
That was it. I had it. No mortal will EVER tell me that I’m powerless, anywhere. So what did I do? Well, let’s just say that since my blood is mixed with his, I was able to do what I want with him, like, making his blood flow stop, causing him to have a stroke.
“What was that now? About me, having no power? I think the tides have turned.” I let his blood run normally now, his heart pumping again.
“Just like the cat, you’re still a monster-”
“I know that!” I took a breath to calm myself before continuing. “More than most. I know and do you think I care? How can I when I’m sitting in front of the biggest one of them all?” I stood up to meet him at eye level. “Deny it all you want, but you know in your mind body and soul, if you actually have one, that I’m right. It would take a monster to know a monster.”
Yeah. This time, his deathly aura was shaken from the truth. Too bad it was before he punched me in the cheek. With his newfound strength, it doubled the force and made me land on my side. “Hatori!” I heard him call. I barely got up, my head hanging down from the pain. The door was opened and though I had my eyes closed, I sensed his presence. “Take her and erase her memories now!”
“I’ll be back when you finish your temper tantrum and ready to change your truth.” That was all I could give before Hatori basically dragged me to another room. He sat down and pulled me in front of him.
“I’m sorry Hinote.” He gently placed his hand against my eyes.
I smiled. “Don’t be. I should apologize. I don’t know whether giving him health was a mistake or not. Are there any witnesses here?”
“No.”
“I see. Then you’ll be the first.”
[Yuki’s POV]
The three of us were outside, waiting. Tohru and Kyo were sitting in a bench while I was pacing. We were just out of reach when we heard Akito’s screams. I paced up and down the road.
“Stop pacing will ya? She’s a big girl and can handle herself.”
“Stupid cat,” I muttered.
“What was that? You said something you damn rat?”
“We’re back.” All three of us turned to see the result. Hinote was walking towards us between Hatori and Shigure. She had her hands clasped together in front of her with her head bent down.
“Hinote, these four will take you to your new home. I must stay here,” stated Hatori. My eyes grew wide in horror. “It was a pleasure meeting you.” He bowed down as she gave him a small smile and curtseyed. When he turned to leave, I ran to catch up to him.
“What-did-you-do?” I asked in anger. His plain stare was brought back with my spiteful one.
“I did as ordered.” That was all he said before he left, leaving us with a new, memory free Hinote.
“Well, I guess that we overstayed our welcome,” sighed Shigure. “Hinote, this is Kyo, Tohru and that there is Yuki.” An empty smile greeted us with the eyes of uncertainty. “I’m sorry,” he said to the three of us. “There was no other alternative. Let’s go. Another storm is coming and a big one.” The sky was partly cloudy with no wind.

“So what’s your favorite color Hinote?” asked Shigure. He was trying to make small talk with her. Again. It’s no use now. She’s gone. Her memories- vanished. Her head was still hung with her hands making two small fists.
“You’re gonna love it where you’re going to live Hinote. Of course, you’ll have to sleep in my room.” It took all of Ms. Honda’s strength to say that without breaking her voice.
“Actually Tohru, Hinote will have her own room. It the one right across your room Yuki. I want no funny business, you here?” He added with a wink and a smirk
“This is hardly the time to joke, Shigure.” I added with a cold hiss.

We were at home now. Everyone was still silent from the walk home. It was mid afternoon now. “I’ll go make some lunch for us all. How does some vegetable lasagna sound?” It was obvious now that Ms. Honda held back her tears. Her voice was pitched high than usual.
“That sounds fine. I’ll help you out.” For once, Kyo lowered his tone. They went out
“I’ll stay out here.” My voice was hard and my anger still hasn’t subsided.
“That means I can talk to Hinote in my office. “
[Hinote’s POV]
I was in his office, the girl who everyone thought had her memories erased. When he shut the door, I let loose. “My side of the deal is done! And I won’t do it again!”
“Now I know your upset. However, this is not my agreement. This is what happened after Hatori tried to erase your memories. Akito said that if you don’t do what he asks for, then you ‘d have to live with him. And he won’t help you on whatever you asked him to do.”
That’s right. Hatori couldn’t erase my memories, and Akito came and saw that too. Therefore, I only told Akito in private about my entire situation. It took extreme difficulty to believe me but I managed it. Too bad my body was more emotional than my mind. I slammed the table with my fist, but I made sure I didn’t brake it. “That still gave him no right! This is blackmail.”
“So, are you going to tell them? That your memories were never gone?”

Tohru meant for it to be a late lunch, but since Kyo “helped” her, it became an early dinner. We all sat at our places, the girls on one side and the boys on the other with Shigure at the head.
“So how do you like your new room, Hinote?” asked Tohru. I can tell she wanted to make small talk with me, so I just smiled and nodded. It was the mirror image of Tohru’s room, except for that hole in the ceiling she has. I could probably fix that soon.
“And you’ll be starting school tomorrow, okay. I’m sure that Tohru will lend you some of her clothes in the mean time.” said Shigure.
“Of course.”
I can’t stand it! I threw a piece of my lasagna at his mouth before he said anything else before stabbing my food with my chopsticks and leaving to my new room. “That’s it I quit!” I slammed my food down and went out, slamming the door. I collapsed on the porch, my tears threatening to fall out. “I did my end of the deal right? He didn’t say for how long I had to play dumb right?” But Shigure’s question still lingered. I really did want to tell them, but I’m afraid of their response.
“Ms. Honda?” He’s back to the formality. I can’t face him. Why? I felt a hand on my shoulder. I put my hand on his.
“I’m sorry, for running out.”
“It’s alright. Although aside from Shigure choking on the lasagna, it seemed still.”
“I need to apologize for something else, but I need the entire family, minus Shigure.” I walked with a hanging head.

With all three, minus Shigure, in the main room, I took a big sigh, and held Tohru and Yuki’s hand. “One of you please hold Kyo’s hand. I don’t want to repeat myself on this issue.”
Tohru obliged, though with small resistance from the cat.
“I might as well tell you blankly. Akito ordered Hatori to erase my memory. It didn’t work. So he told me that I had to act like I my memories were gone. If not, then I’d be forced to live with him. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m-” I was cut off when I felt a hug.
“Hinote, it’s okay. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you told us. I’m so glad.” I slowly returned the hug. I should have told them as soon as we came home. I’m such an idiot to be so worried.
With a nod, Kyo accepted it. I risked a glance at Yuki. That sad happiness set on his face. I’ve seen it enough times to know if it’s a sad happiness or if it’s a happy sadness.
With dinner finished and the plates cleaned, and everyone ready for bed, I waited a few minutes in my own room. I was already in my nightgown and robe. I wanted to talk to Yuki, but alone. The lights were off everywhere, so I quietly traveled to Yuki’s room. I knocked lightly. Maybe I knocked too soft, but sure, the door opened. He seemed half-awake before he knew who it was.
I couldn’t look him in the eyes, so I looked down. What if he judged me? Was I despicable in his eyes? “Come in,” he said, holding the door open for me. There didn’t seem any judgment in his voice, or maybe it was just my ears making me hear what I want to hear. “What do you need, Hinote?” He sat on the edge his bed. I kneeled, and bowed to the floor.
I’m sorry. I know that you must hate me. You may not forgive me, and I don’t blame you. You probably find me repulsive, so you won’t go near me. That probably means that you won’t want to hear this speech. What I aimed to accomplish by coming I’ll ne-
For the second time, I was hugged.
“Don’t. I don’t want to see you like this. Don’t apologize, because it’s not your fault.”
He already had my cheek pressed against him. “But still, I shouldn’t have deceived you like that. Just promise me one thing.” After a small pause I continued. “Don’t take this out on him.”
“Alright. I won’t. For you.” With a tighter hug, and a small kiss to the cheek, we said goodnight, and I went to my room to sleep. The storm left, causing almost no damage. Just whiplash.