I created an account specifically to review this story. And, hell, when I returned to this story to find that it only had one review, it was something that I felt I needed to rectify. And I must say, the number of reviews that a story gets does not always reflect the quality of the story itself. This work was truly haunting to me, the sort of story that stuck with me throughout the week. I thought about it often, and I returned to read it again several times.

First off, for your choice to write of Akito, I must commend you. A more difficult subject would be hard to find, and yet I felt you captured that elusive and mysterious character perfectly. And much like Akito, I found the text to be equally elusive. Like chasing a thought through a dream, I would grasp it at times, only to lose it and have to chase once more. But I enjoyed that chase more than the spoon-fed plain text that riddles many fan fictions.

The inner workings of Akito were not thoroughly covered in the original manga, and yet everything here was so in character that I could imagine all of these events as nothing less than canon. Akito's actions explained in real time, doing what was felt as befitting; "but you don't apologize, that's not something you do." And it's so very true.

In particular, the line "Or do you think he still hears the sound of breaking porcelain?" is one that I read with an ache. The constant reminder haunting your steps, a scaring act that I imagine Akito felt as deeply as Hatori spelled out in cryptic yet jarringly plain words.

The word "molasses," sticky, sickeningly sweet that clings to your lips and leaves its flavor to linger. That, I feel, in one perfect word describes Akito.

To feel the very life being sucked out of you, and the well deserved bitterness. To know you will die young and cling to the curse and the forced 'love' from the Juunishi, a pox blanket to wrap yourself up in.

"Does it matter? You feel every bone in your body. It won't be long." Like a bell tolling a constant peal in more than one sense that line followed me, and I walked away from this story with a new found respect for the writers of fan fiction. You can trust that I'll pass this story along to my friends and hope that it gets the respect that it deserves from all of them.

Bravo, and kudos to you. Here's to hoping you'll continue to write amazing things, be they fan works or entirely original.

-White Crow & Coyote

I usually don't like you fics or stream of consciousness, but you did a good job.