Chapter One of Flowers in Snow

[LovelyHue]

Authoresses' Note: Short chappy. On fanfiction.net, I'm Desert Bloom, and so used to be here, but unfortunately lost my password due to sheer forgetfulness (and long stints of absence). Please enjoy.
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Chapter One of Flowers in Snow: Even God Sneezes

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There was something foul in the air. Akito sniffed, a faintly familiar scent disturbing her senses.

And suddenly, the thunderous sneeze was upon her. Kureno dropped the book he was holding immediately, turning to her, his eyes narrowed with concern. He stepped forward to gently caress her cheek, the movement so suspiciously soft that Akito fought the urge to slap his hand away.

?Are you developing a cold?? Kureno asked, withdrawing and allowing some space between them. Other than Shigure, Kureno was best at reading Akito?s subtle signals ? he?d doubtlessly noticed her momentarily recoil. ?I can arrange for Hatori if you ??

But Akito was fresh on the trail of this scent, and the last thing she needed was an intruding visit from the doctor. Besides, Hatori had that eye, which Akito hated to look at it, especially because it constantly reminded her of Hatori?s previous rebelliousness and the unseemly consequences that had reaped. ?It?s not that?it?s?the perfume of that?that woman.?

?Akito??

Why a questioning tone, when it was all so obvious?

?She?s been in this room. That woman ? that enemy of my own flesh and blood ? she?s been here. And I made it clear that this was one of my rooms. Besides which, I?m allergic to this infernal perfume. It reeks of shit.? Again, she sneezed.

Her hands flew to the nearby window, and she jerked it open so that the cold winter flooded the room. She scowled, since now she would have to find a way to cleanse this tainted place.

The wind seized the opportunity to rush into the room, blowing back her dark hair, and almost throwing off her loosely clipped ceremonial robes. Akito had to be quick, rushing to pull the cloth over her nearly bare chest so that the secret of her sex remained safe.

As it rushed forward, something stirred on the nearby desk ? a book, its pages in clamoring madly to be released from their binds. Upon sighting it, a heartbeat missed a couple skips.

Shigure was reading that the last time I saw him.

Looking at Kureno, she could see that he too was thinking the same thing; more annoyingly, he knew that she was piecing together the same picture, but as usual, pretended to notice nothing. Ignorant of ignorance.

Some snow blew into her face, melting rivers on her cheek.

She slammed the heels of her hands in the windowsill.

Someone was destroying her, and she just had to find out who it was.

In the garden, a few pink buds dared to poke out of the snow.

Tohru Honda.

What?s the point? They?ll surely die tomorrow.

?Kureno, I?m going to take action.?

Kureno said nothing. Surprisingly, the inevitable objection did not instantly surface. Kureno, being the only Juunishi that could, very often made use of his ability to object, though he always made sure to soften the blow with some additional groveling.

?Tohru Honda and I haven?t had the ability to converse at length. And I?ve abandoned those at Shigure?s house, forcing them to come here to visit me. You must admit that it?s all been selfish of me. Maybe a long vacation, to see how they really live, is in order.?

?If you?re sick, Akito, then it isn?t advisable to travel.?

Finally ? there it was. But was a medical excuse really the best thing he could come up with? How pathetic; it was so easily dealt with.

?I don?t care what?s advisable,? said Akito, her hands balling into her fists. ?With you, there will always be something anyway. A cough, an invisible rash ? I?m going, regardless if I?m on my death bed.

?But don?t worry. I know why you?re concerned.?

Akito smiled to herself, closing the window. ?I would never abandon you, Kureno. Without fail, I will come back to the Main House, to visit you, every day.?

Soon she was wrapping her arms around him, planting kisses along the soft expanse of his neck. She could now be touched, the presence of her mother?s perfume and Shigure?s book duly revenged.

?How long?? asked Kureno, lowering Akito to the floor.

?One month,? said Akito.

The urge to sneeze tickled at the back of her throat, but she silenced it with a well-timed kiss.

[LittleRooster]

Nice babe, you should read my work on AkitoxKureno.

[*~Illusions Kiss~*]

cool. i likes it!