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

[bunniefuu]

[KYOKO] 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!

[KYO]

"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.

[KYO grunts]

What? It's true.

She is so darn cute! Cutest in

the world. No, the universe!

[KYO]

But Katsuya Honda.

[KYOKO]

Hm?

You don't wanna go

see him anymore?

[KYOKO]

Still so young.

I wonder how much time

and effort it'll take

for you kids to

find your answers.

Your reasons for living.

[KYO] 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?

[KYO] That's why it

happened, isn't it?

That's why my mom d*ed.

[KYO] Didn't she wanna

tell me it was my fault?

[KYO]

And you, too.

Even your fond smile

became hate in the end.

[KYO'S MOTHER] 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.

[gasps]

[TOHRU, MOMIJI laughing]

[MOMIJI]

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?

[YUKI] Eh. He'll wander

down eventually.

[KYO] 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?

[SHIGURE] 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.

[SHIGURE] A bit hypocritical,

don't you think?

I did tell you, Ren, that

it was our little secret.

[chuckles] 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.

[REN] 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.

[REN]

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.

[WOMAN A] I hear another

marriage talk fell apart.

[MAN A] The doctor says he's

not long for this world.

I don't see why they

can't compromise.

[WOMAN A] That's exactly why!

There has to be a successor.

[MAN A]

True, no one wants "outsiders"

to fall heir to

the Soma fortune.

[REN]

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.

[HEAD SERVANT A]

No. This cannot be allowed!

You're just a lowly servant!

But the two of us are in love.

[HEAD SERVANT A] Silence!

Get out of here this instant.

Never set foot on

this estate again!

[AKIRA]

Ren saw me.

She saw my loneliness

when no one else did.

She saw it,

and she cried for me.

[REN]

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.

[KURENO]

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.

[SHIGURE] 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.

[SHIGURE]

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."

[KURENO]

Gure. I don't get it.

You know Gure. Always

complicating things.

Are you saying

Ren's a bad person?

[SHIGURE]

Heh.

What I mean is,

she should be pitied.

Really all of us

should. We Somas.

[SHIGURE]

You poor, unfortunate thing.

[REN]

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.

[SHIGURE]

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.

[gasps]

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--

[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.

[REN]

No.

Why didn't anybody

call for me? Why?

He's gone. My Akira.

At least tell me that

he didn't die alone!

[HEAD SERVANT A]

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!

[REN] But now that he's gone,

you're useless.

No one wants or

needs you anymore!

[AKITO]

You're wrong.

[gasps]

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.

[REN] 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!

[REN cries]

[REN]

Akira! My Akira!

[door opens]

[KURENO]

You're up. I didn't realize.

[AKITO]

Mh-hm.

I need to talk to you. Akito--

[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?

[REN]

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.

[AKITO] 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--

[REN]

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.

[AKITO]

I believed.

[SHIGURE] 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?

[AKITO]

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.

[HEAD SERVANT A]

Stop at once! Someone stop her!

[gasps]

[REN] 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!

[chuckles]

[AKITO] 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!

[AKITO]

Deep down, I always knew.

[AKIRA] 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.

[SERVANT B]

You were magnificent.

The way you held your ground

against that woman.

[AKITO] But the person Father

loved most in the world...

...wasn't me.

[HEAD SERVANT A]

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.

[gasps]

But it's empty.

[AKITO]

That's right. It's empty.

Always has been.

[AKITO] From the beginning,

I was the "other."

This has been broken...

all along.

[ALL gasp]

[gasps]

[gasps]

[SATSUKI]

Hiro! Hinata!

Lunch is all ready to go.

[gasps]

--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.

[AKITO]

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--

[HEAD SERVANT A] 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!

[KURENO]

Akito.

[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.

[AKITO] 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--

--[AKITO] Too late.

[AKITO] 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?

[KURENO]

I know.

[AKITO]

Now you change your mind?

[KURENO]

I know.

[AKITO] It's too late.

Save your lecture.

[AKITO]

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!

[gasps, groans]

[SERVANT C]

Kureno!

What happened? You're bleeding!

Never mind me.

Find Akito. Go now. Hurry!

Someone help!

[AKITO]

Pretty words.

But it's too late.

For both of us.

Yeah, looks dead, all right.

[COWORKER A] Ugh.

I wonder if a cat got to it.

[UOTANI] Maybe flew into

a window or something.

[MANAGER A] What's going on?

You two finish cleaning yet?

[COWORKER A]

We're working on it.

But there's a dead

bird out here!

[UOTANI]

Were you just tired?

[KYO]

Thank you.

Oh, sure!

[KYO]

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

[TOHRU]

Kyo!

Um...

Please just wait for a minute?

I have something to tell you.

[KYO]

"I'm disappointed in you."