03x07 - That's Right, It's Empty

[bunniefuu]

Even if the world
doesn't need me,

I decided to keep living
for someone who does.

It's enough.

Even so, I coulda lost
custody. It was dicey!

"Custody"?

And, ya know, things
were still kind of crazy,

with the move and everything,

but I kept busy and
bounced back pretty well.

How could I not? I've got
Tohru on my side, after all.

What? It's true.

She is so darn cute! Cutest in
the world. No, the universe!

But Katsuya Honda.

Hm?

You don't wanna go
see him anymore?

Still so young.

I wonder how much time
and effort it'll take

for you kids to
find your answers.

Your reasons for living.

When she said that,
it sounded ridiculous.

I'd always felt I was born
to be an object of contempt.

That I continued living
only to hurt other people.

And wasn't I right?

That's why it
happened, isn't it?

That's why my mom d*ed.

Didn't she wanna
tell me it was my fault?

And you, too.

Even your fond smile
became hate in the end.

Now, now,
it's not your fault. Really.

I promise you didn't
do anything wrong.

But, Kyo, you can't go
outside, all right?

It's better this way.
There are bad things outside.

You understand?
Come on inside with Mom.

We'll stay there forever,
safely inside the house.

You wouldn't disobey your
dear mother, would you?

I won't forgive you.

Really, Kyo. Don't you
realize Mom knows best?

I'll be inside, waiting for you.

But come soon,

or something even more
terrifying will happen.

And... done. This one's Tohru!

Ha! I love it, thank you!

But are we sure the different
shapes will grill okay?

Not to worry!
You can leave it to me!

Kyo! The food's almost ready!

Kyo? Coming?

Do you think he fell
asleep or something?

Eh. He'll wander
down eventually.

Both of them
in the same dream.

Did they know
what I was thinking?

Is that why they came?

To remind me that I
need to know my place.

Because I thought,
maybe... just maybe...

...Tohru loved me back.

Please. Who was I kidding?

What are you doing
in this part of the estate?

Did you slip away from
your servant again?

Sometimes I need to venture out,

find somebody
interesting to talk to.

Well, you understand.

Speaking of which.

I hear you pressed Isuzu
into your service

and asked her to fetch
a certain box for you.

My, my. Word travels fast.

If you know, I suppose the girl
went and blabbed about our deal.

A worthless child, indeed.

A bit hypocritical,
don't you think?

I did tell you, Ren, that
it was our little secret.

Is that
what you said?

Because to me, it sounded
like you were suggesting

that I go and get it from her.

Me? I would never.

In any case, the
operation failed miserably.

This would be much easier

if you'd simply get
it for me yourself.

No. That's out of the
question, I'm afraid.

It would just feel
blasphemous, somehow.

Yes, it would be.

Because no one other than me
has the right to touch Akira.

His flesh, his blood, his soul,

anything that is connected
to him in any way...

...would be sullied by
someone else's hand.

I hear another
marriage talk fell apart.

The doctor says he's
not long for this world.

I don't see why they
can't compromise.

That's exactly why!
There has to be a successor.

True, no one wants "outsiders"

to fall heir to
the Soma fortune.

Akira and I met not by chance,

but because we were fated to.

It was destiny.

You must be lonely. And afraid.

Nobody wants to
face death alone.

All these people, and none
of them have noticed.

But I see what they don't.
Because I'm different.

So let me carry it all
for you instead.

Your sorrow, your fear,
and your pain--every last bit.

I'll take it all.

I love you.

No. This cannot be allowed!

You're just a lowly servant!

But the two of us are in love.

Silence!
Get out of here this instant.

Never set foot on
this estate again!

Ren saw me.

She saw my loneliness
when no one else did.

She saw it,
and she cried for me.

It was bliss.

We had each other, and we
didn't need anybody else.

I was the center of his world,
and he was the center of mine.

We were happy.
That was enough for me.

Though... it didn't last.

Hey, did you hear?

They said Akito's going
to be raised as a boy.

I don't understand why, though.

Apparently, Ren decided
it a while ago.

Said a female heir
could cause issues.

I heard she threw a fit
and refused to have the baby

if she couldn't
raise it as a boy.

She's not Akira's
"number one" anymore,

and she can't stand it.

Jealousy. That's what it is.

I don't understand why you
won't ever hold Akito.

Why should I bother with
shows of affection?

The brat already gets plenty
from everyone else.

Akito's a special child
who was born for them to love.

It's only natural.

Think about it.

Remember the day we
realized Akito was coming

and ran up to Ren?

The look on her face...

You could just tell she
was thinking, "Oh, crap."

Gure. I don't get it.

You know Gure. Always
complicating things.

Are you saying
Ren's a bad person?

Heh.

What I mean is,
she should be pitied.

Really all of us
should. We Somas.

You poor, unfortunate thing.

What about you?

Don't you deserve pity?

You're at Akito's mercy,

shackled by the curse
and its so-called "bonds."

Face it.

Whatever you think you
might feel for her,

it isn't actually love.

You're just caught up
in a child's fantasy.

Really, haven't you noticed?

That look you have in your eyes.
I've seen it before.

You want me now just
as you did back then.

Yes, I've noticed.

Looking at you, I feel
a rush of affection.

I find myself wondering if
she would have resembled you

had she only been allowed
to live her life as a girl.

That's my fantasy.

You're quite right.

I did indeed want you
to take that box.

I can't think of anyone
who would be more deserving.

If someone's going to be
haunted by Akira's ghost,

let it be you, and you alone.

Shigure--

Akito doesn't need that thing.

Come back!

There's something wrong
with you--all of you!

You should be thanking me!

I'm the only reason that child
was born in the first place!

I'm the one who saved Akira

when he was on
the brink of death!

Don't you see? It's all
because I was with him!

Akira.

No.

Why didn't anybody
call for me? Why?

He's gone. My Akira.

At least tell me that
he didn't die alone!

Calm yourself.

It happened suddenly. There was
no time to call for you.

And he wasn't alone at the
end--Akito was with him.

As the new family head,

Akito will carry out
Akira's final wishes.

The new head?

You're nothing!

That's right!

You were never more than a toy
for Akira to pass the time with!

Silence! How dare you!

But now that he's gone,
you're useless.

No one wants or
needs you anymore!

You're wrong.

You're wrong.

I'm the chosen one,
and I was promised eternity.

Everyone was waiting for me...
because they all need me.

It's true. Father
told me so himself.

If you mock Father's words, then
the one nobody needs... is you.

Go ahead,
cling to your delusions.

Your pathetic fantasy of undying
love and eternal bonds...

Something that unnatural
will never last.

You'll see, eventually
it will fall apart...

...and you'll learn the hard way
that no one really wanted you!

Akira! My Akira!

You're up. I didn't realize.

Mh-hm.

I need to talk to you. Akito--

When I first met
Yuki, I was so happy.

The God and the Rat,

who stands first among
the zodiac animals,

were reunited at last.

Two roles that hadn't
been reborn in so long.

It was different back then.

I could show off in front
of her. Prove I was special.

Even though the cruel things she
said still cut me to the bone,

I could fight back
in my own way.

When did my world
start to fall apart?

I heard the news.

Yuki left the main estate to go
live in that house with Shigure.

So, apparently, the Rat was
the next one to desert you.

Such a shame.

Don't let your
one-night stand with Shigure

go to your head.

I haven't been deserted,
and I won't be. Ever.

All of them will come
back to me in the end.

We can't be separated.
Not for good.

The bond between us is eternal--

I am so sick of that line.

You think the ones
who get a taste

of the outside world
will return?

If you truly believe
they'll willingly come back

to be bound by some gloomy
"God," well then...

...prove that nobody
can break these bonds

you always talk about.

Succeed and I'll admit defeat.

But if you do lose,
grovel before me.

And then get out--
leave the family for good.

I believed.

Akito, I'd like to let
Kyo come live at my house.

Well, him and one
other person actually,

if I have your permission.

What do you think?

I believed that I could win.

That no one could
sever our bonds.

I believed.

No. I wished.

Almost prayed.

Like a curse. Like I'd die
if I didn't say it.

I repeated the same words...
over, and over, and over.

But it's no use anymore.

They're leaving.

They're leaving me behind.

Stop at once! Someone stop her!

It's funny--
I woke up this morning

and it was like my head
was suddenly clear.

So simple. I should've just
done this to begin with.

Give Akira back to me!

I don't know what of his you've
had hidden away in here,

but it's mine!

Give it back now!

Everything of Akira's
belongs to me!

I didn't wanna
lose to this woman.

I wanted to prove it
however I could

and force her to admit defeat.

Because... I knew.

You want it that badly,
you can have the stupid thing!

Deep down, I always knew.

Don't worry, Akito.
It'll be all right.

I know that you
must be frightened,

but I promise I'm not
leaving you behind.

Even if you can't see me...
I'll be there, by your side.

Our special child.

I hoped your birth would
comfort Ren and make her happy.

We all knew the truth.

That I would die when I
was still a young man.

At least I can leave
a child with her, though.

And not just any child,

but a special being
with a divine purpose.

That proves it, right?

That Ren and I were
special, too.

I only wish that we could've
made our peace... Ren.

You were magnificent.

The way you held your ground
against that woman.

But the person Father
loved most in the world...

...wasn't me.

No.

Akira loved you best,

and don't ever let anyone
convince you otherwise.

You mustn't let
yourself be fooled.

He himself said he
would be by your side.

Now, this is for you.

Always remember
Akira belongs to you.

No one else can claim him.

Is there something inside?

It's a great treasure...
Akira's soul.

But it's empty.

That's right. It's empty.

Always has been.

From the beginning,
I was the "other."

This has been broken...
all along.

Hiro! Hinata!

Lunch is all ready to go.

--It's--
--Sorry.

I don't really know
how I'm feeling.

I should just be happy,

but there are all these
other emotions mixed in.

Anger, resentment, regret.

Remorse. A lingering
sense of connection.

Of course. It makes sense.

You've lived your whole life
with those bonds, after all.

It's hard... and lonely...
saying goodbye.

It's no use.

One after another,
they're breaking apart.

How much longer till
the final "farewell"?

What's the matter?
Weren't you going to k*ll me?

It certainly looked like it.

Be quiet!

How dare you allow a w*apon
to be brought in here!

Like you can talk!

Your charge just tried
to m*rder his own mother!

And you gave him that silly box!

The poor family head
is so innocent

he believed in it,
and now look what--

Of course
he didn't believe in it!

You're a fool!

I gave it to Akito
for comfort and solace

in the wake of his
dear father's death.

It's merely a charm
or a talisman.

Anyone would know it was empty!
That's just common sense.

I told you, Akito shouldn't
be given such things!

Akito.

I was torn. About the box.

I believed in it,
but I also didn't.

It was empty,
but I thought, maybe...

...there was an
invisible power inside.

Maybe... just maybe...

I couldn't get rid of it,

but I didn't wanna look
into it again, so I hid it.

I clung to it, that
feeble hope... all these years.

Can you blame me?

That was my version
of common sense!

Don't you see?
Nobody taught me otherwise.

This was the life they gave me.

Nobody ever offered
me another one!

So how do I ask when I
don't know what to ask?

Can you tell me that? Can you?

You can start now.

Begin learning.
Begin understanding.

Let's do it.
Let's change, Akito.

If you stay in this
place much longer,

the Soma family and
the bonds will crush you.

You'll remain empty.

- -So, please--
- -Too late.

It's far too late
for you to say that.

"Change"? No.
We're past that point.

Why didn't you say it
in the beginning?

Why didn't you push me away
the second you had a chance to?

Why didn't you abandon me?

I know.

Now you change your mind?

I know.

It's too late.
Save your lecture.

You didn't help me by staying.

That "kindness" of yours,

leaving me half-saved
and half-rejected...

Did you realize that it
was k*lling me? Did you?

We're done.

You screwed up. Now pay for it!

With your life!

Kureno!

What happened? You're bleeding!

Never mind me.

Find Akito. Go now. Hurry!

Someone help!

Pretty words.

But it's too late.
For both of us.

Yeah, looks dead, all right.

Ugh.
I wonder if a cat got to it.

Maybe flew into
a window or something.

What's going on?
You two finish cleaning yet?

We're working on it.

But there's a dead
bird out here!

Were you just tired?

Thank you.

Oh, sure!

I'll be back. I'm goin' out.

Kyo!

Um...

Please just wait for a minute?

I have something to tell you.

"I'm disappointed in you."