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Indecent Innocence -Stripping My Petals- by Felidae H
The morning air is cold and sharp. The wind darts by and leaves
an icy sensation on my skin. I've encountered this atmosphere before,
the time Hatori-san invited me over to the Main House. But this
time, I'm ordered to come over by Akito-san. I'm so nervous.
Earlier this morning, after breakfast, Shigure-san asked me to step out with him for a moment, leaving Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun at home alone. I followed Shigure-san until the house wasn't visible anymore and that was when Shigure-san told me we would be going to see Akito-san. I'm worried that Akito-san is possibly displeased with me for something I might've done, though I don't know what. My footsteps trail behind Shigure-san's as we tread towards the Main House of the Soumas. I've been here a few times, and I've even spoken to Akito-san a couple of times, though.. The first time I spoke to him was when he arrived at our high school for Hatsuharu- san and Momiji-kun's welcoming ceremony. That time, Akito-san and I only said our greetings before Yuki-kun showed up. I remember Yuki-kun's face as he looked at Akito-san. Yuki-kun's eyes were filled with fear, something I never thought I'd see from him. The other time I met Akito-san was a bit more frightening. I can still feel his hand pulling my hair, the burning feeling of the roots trying to hold on to my scalp. He'd slammed my face pretty hard on the ground, but it was all right in the end. I don't really want to relive those moments, and I'm frightened as to what might happen today.
Shigure-san and I arrive at the main house where we are greeted by Hatori-san. My coming here today is a secret amongst the adults so Momiji- kun isn't here to greet me like he normally does. I feel kind of lonely even though I have Hatori-san and Shigure-san with me. We walk to Akito- san's private house and I'm asked to enter alone. Alone with Akito-san. My heart skips a beat and I take a deep breath to calm myself. I look to Shigure-san and Hatori-san who have such worried expressions on their faces. As I'm about to say goodbye and enter Akito-san's room, Shigure-san whispers into my ear.
"Just scream or yell and we'll be in to get you in a second."
I feel relieved hearing what Shigure-san had said. I'm grateful that he cares about me so much. I look at Hatori-san and his eyes give me the same comfort. I find my strength and open the door. I walk inside and close the door behind me. I can see Akito-san's figure spread across the floor on his porch through the doorway. He's in one of his kimonos, a purple one with creamy-white patterns across the fabric. He notices me and turns his head around. He stands up and walks inside the room, closing the door to the porch.
"Welcome, Honda Tohru-san."
His voice is eerie like it always is, but his expression seems kinder today. I don't know if it's just my imagination or if those lips of his are offering me a smile. I bow my head and politely greet him.
"You don't need to be so formal, Tohru-san," he says back at me, a hint of ice in the tone of his voice.
I'm afraid.
"Umm, Akito-san, may I ask why you have called me here today?" I ask. I think my voice gave away my fear with it's slight trembling.
I hear him laugh with pleasure as if this is just a game to see if he can intimidate me.
"Would you believe me if I said I just wanted to see you again?" he playfully jokes, but is it really a joke when it's coming from Akito-san?
I giggle nervously along with his chuckle. It's a very strange atmosphere to be like this with Akito-san. I can never really feel relaxed enough to trust him, not after all that's happened, not after all he's done. Hatori-san, Yuki-kun, myself, and even Kyo-kun have been assaulted by him either physically or emotionally, directly or indirectly. There are probably many others that have been hurt by him before. No, I definitely can't relax around Akito-san. All I can do is show respect and act polite until he decides to tell me the true reason why I'm here.
"Would you like something to eat or drink, Tohru-san?" he asks me.
"I'm fine, thank you."
"I see. Perhaps I should stop acting and tell you what I know," his tone changes from friendly to unfamiliar.
I blink and stare at him with a confused look because I really am confused. He catches me off guard with his personality change.
"Tohru-san, do you enjoy living Yuki and the others?" his question seems odd to me since I thought we'd made this clear already.
I weakly nod my head and wait for him to continue.
"It appears to me that you've grown to care for the members of my family very much."
"Of course, I do. They're some of the most important people to me," I can't control the passion in my voice and may have said that with too much conviction.
I see his eyes widen with amusement, like he has a plan inside his mind and everything is going his way. I really can't read much more from his expression other than amused.
"Do you care enough about them to help break the curse?" his voice teases me.
I'm shocked. The curse can be broken?
"Of course! I'd do anything to help Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun, and everyone else. They've done so much for me. Akito-san, please tell me how."
"Would breaking the curse be worth doing anything?" his teasing questions continue.
"Yes!" I'm so excited. I hope this is real. To be able to do something for the Soumas after all they've done for me has been my greatest wish. This would be the best way to repay the debt I owe to each and everyone of them for taking care of me and being my friend.
"Would it be worth your greatest sacrifice?" another question from Akito-san.
"Greatest sacrifice?" I ask him. I don't understand what he means at all.
"Yes, Tohru-san. The only way to break the curse is if a person outside of the Souma family makes one true great sacrifice for a Juunishi member."
Silence. I don't know what to say. His eyes are delving deeper into my soul, making me feel exposed like I'm losing control of myself. I realize, once again, why Akito-san is the head of the Souma family. He has a dark, mysterious power, even though he is still very young. He turns his back to me and takes a deep breath.
"I've been waiting, Tohru-san, for someone like you. I've been waiting for someone who will love my cousins enough that I can ask them to break the curse."
He goes over to the orchid growing in a pot in a corner of his room. He picks up the pot and turns around to look at me.
"The great sacrifice for a male would be to die for one of the Juunishi. Obviously, that hasn't happened yet; no man outside the family has ever even known the secret for more than a few hours." He pauses and looks at me again with that soul-piercing stare.
"How can I break the curse?" I ask him, eager to know the answer he's been tiptoeing around for the past several minutes.
"In your case, a young girl, your greatest sacrifice would be.." he stops talking again and takes the orchid into his hand, breaking the stem that held the orchid to its life. He beings to rip the petals off one by one. "Stripping away your innocence, your purity. That is the greatest sacrifice a girl like you can make."
I don't fully understand what he means and I gaze at him with my eyes wide with confusion. He seems annoyed by my inability to grasp what he's saying. He throws the pot on the floor, dirt scattering everywhere. He walks over to me with a quick pace and has a part of my dress in his hands in less than a second.
"Don't you understand, Tohru-san?" his voice is so menacing that I close my eyes in fear.
I feel him tossing me to the floor as if I were a rag doll. I let out an "mmph" as I hit the wooden surface beneath me. I see him kneeling above me when I open my eyes. The look on his face isn't the beautiful image I'd first encountered, nor is it the mean look he had when he was pulling my hair. This look was completely different, it wasn't uncontrollable rage or anger, but more like a calculated evil. His eyes flame at me and then his hands grasp my dress at the collar. Within a moment, he has the top of my dress ripped open and I let out a scream as I realize my bra and skin are exposed.
"Your sacrifice is to let one of them soil you, just like this," he says as he tears the bottom of my dress open, revealing my underwear.
I can sense that he is going to strip me naked, like he had the orchid, but Shigure-san and Hatori-san barge through the door and grab hold of him. Shigure-san and Hatori-san each hold one of Akito-san's arms, pushing him back, away from me. I try to cover myself with my arms, but I know I can't cover it all.
"Akito-san, what are you doing?" Shigure-san asks, his voice is full of anger and fear.
"Honda-kun, are you all right?" Hatori-san looks at me with worry in his eyes.
I feel so embarrassed to have been seen like this.
"Let me go! I promise I won't do anything else if Tohru-san tells me she understands what I told her," Akito-san says to Shigure-san and Hatori- san.
The three of them look at me and I start to cry. I can't help it.
"I understand," I say while I wipe my tears away with one of my hands.
Shigure-san and Hatori-san let Akito-san go and run over to help me up. Hatori-san offers me his suit jacket to wear to cover up my torn dress. I put on his jacket and hide inside its walls, thankful that I'm decent again.