Saving Akira (Complete)

Chapter 16

   Present day she was still in pain and not quite awake either. Her body was covered in a sheen of sweat but yet she shivered violently as the fever continued to r****h her in her weakened state. Muttering softly she caught John’s attention. “I love you Mama and Papa. Come back to me I need you.” Gently John wiped her forehead with a cool clothe and moved to gently lay another cool clothe against her neck. It broke John’s heart to see the tear that fell down her cheek. “Shhh cara everything is going to be alright. I am here for you always.” That little comment followed Akira back into the Land of Dreams. 

    The next few months in her memories moved forward showing happiness and lots of love from her parents. Oh how she missed her parents but she knew even now that they were always with her. Finally the day of her birthday came and what was supposed to be a happy day turned into the worst nightmare. Akira had been outside playing in the snow when her Mama ran out the door into the back yard yelling for Akira. “Akira come inside now. The bad man is near and he knows where we are. Hurry sweet Angel!” Marie held open her arms as Akira ran into them quickly scooping her up and running inside. 

    Her Papa kissed her cheek and her Mama kissed her forehead. “Our sweet little Angel you remember what to do right? If the bad man comes I want you to hide no matter what. Remember one of us will come for you. And always remember we love you sweet little Angel.” The words of her Papa touched her heart even from the past. All the little Akira could do was nod as she ran out of her parent’s loving embrace into her room where she grabbed her kitten and waited. 

     After what seemed like forever, though only a few moments had passed, there was noise coming from the living room. Akira heard her Mama begging for her life and her Papa’s life. When she heard a loud hiss followed by what sounded like an angry purr Akira snuck out of her room and peeked into the living room just in time to see the Hunter shoot her Papa between the eyes. “w***e where is your child she dies too. Whether it is now or later she will die by my hands.” Marie shook her head as she cried looking at Todd. “She is not here we sent her away.” With a single drawn in breath that Marie held awaiting her fate she did her best to block what she was feeling so that her daughter did not feel more than she needed to. But it was too late Akira was feeling all the pain and the fear that her parents felt. A heartbeat later another shot rang through the air and Marie slumped to the floor in a pool of blood. 

     Quickly Akira ran back to her room and did as she should have done to begin with. Once inside and the door sealed shut behind her Akira dropped to the floor holding her kitten crying for her Mama and Papa to come back to her. As she cried she felt something brush against her as she opened her eyes she saw her parents’ spirits before her. “Remember Angel we love you always and will always be with you. Be brave little Angel.” Then they seemed to just move off into a bright light. 

     As the scene played out in her mind she sat straight up in the bed not seeing anything since she was still asleep and a loud scream tore through the air. “NOOOOO!!! MAMA!!! PAPA!!! COME BACK!!” The screaming brought everyone in the medical facility running. John gently held her as she fought to get to whatever demons she was dealing with. “Shhh cara everything is alright. Please calm down.”  

     John looked at the others with horror filling his eyes. “She’s been dreaming she must be reliving the night her parents died.” Akira finally calmed and went limp in his arms as she sobbed in her sleep. The others left the room leaving John to cuddle Akira so he could sooth her while she slept once again. 

    Hours passed by as little Akira huddled in the small room not moving until the door opened and Prima Strauss stood outside only to drop to her knees. “Akira come little one it is okay to come out now.” Karen held open her arms and waited for Akira to respond. The only thing Akira did was sit there and rock her kitten shaking her head. “No. No. Mama and Papa went away. I saw them. He hurt them!” Finally she turned her gaze to Karen and sobbed. Finally Karen stepped into the little room and picked Akira up. “Everything will be okay little one I promise.” With Akira safely wrapped in her arms Karen walked out of the little room into the closet and out into Akira’s room. 

        Karen used her mating link to her husband to explain everything she had learned from Akira. “My sweet she witnessed what was done to her parents. She is shaking and in shock I think. You need to use your Alpha powers on her to help calm her. Mine is not enough to help her. We may want to look into having these memories locked away for a while.” Seeing as to how this was the Land of the Dreams the powers that be felt it important that Akira in the present day was able to hear what was said. It was time for Akira to stop running and face everything that has happened to her. Even now Akira could feel her former Prima infusing calmness into Akira’s tiny form.  

     “Akira look at me.” The little bundle wrapped up in Karen’s arms shook her head no and continued to sob. Darren looked at her and placed his hand on her back and spoke once more, “Akira. Look. At. Me.” The power of the Alpha coursed through the room with wave after wave of power. Finally Akira looked at him and frowned. “You let the Hunter hurt my Mama and Papa! You were supposed to protect your people but you let them die!” Over the prior months her Mama and Papa had explained to her that she was going to be a strong Alpha female one day just like Prima Strauss. But there was more to Akira than that ability she had the ability to feel what her pack felt as well just like an Omega could do.  

     She could feel the sadness that Alpha Strauss felt and the grief of knowing that he did not make it in time to save her parents. But unfortunately at her age she did not understand all of what she felt coming from her Alpha. Though through the eyes of her younger self Akira finally knew that Alpha Strauss tried to help her parents. Softly Darren rubbed his hand up and down her back. “Everything will be alright Akira. Would it be alright if Karen and I took you to live with us for a while?” 

    Confusion, sadness, and anger ran rampant through Akira causing her to shake even more. “Mama and Papa said I had to do what you tell me to do even if I do not want to. So I guess I have to go with you even if I do not want to go with you.” Her poor little kitten was on the floor next to Karen meowing pitifully until the moment the little kitten felt Akira’s anger run through her. As soon as her kitten felt that anger the little kitten reached out and clawed the living hell out of the Alpha. Akira gasped afraid he was going to kill the kitten. “You hurt my kitten and I will hurt you!” Then she wiggled out of the Prima’s arms and picked up her kitten protecting her with all of her might. 

    “I will not hurt your kitten she was only trying to protect you.” Darren knelt down in front of her and placed his hand on her head in an attempt to sooth her. But when Akira stepped back from him he knew then that it was going to be a very long road for Akira. Through his mating link with Karen he spoke to her. “We need to get her to the medical facility and probably get her sedated so we can get her to calm down. So many emotions are warring with each other inside our precious little Akira. I am worried that if we do not get her calmed down her spirit may fracture beyond repair.”  

    Karen nodded in agreement with her Mate as she bent down and picked up Akira who clung to her kitten. “Come little one you and your kitten need to be checked out just to make sure neither of you were hurt too.” Gently she put Akira’s head on her shoulder making sure she faced her neck so that Akira did not see her parents’ bodies as they left. When they entered the living room the scent of copper filled Akira’s senses and once again she screamed out. “NOOOO! MAMA!!! PAPA!!!” Not only did she scream in her dream but the same sounds filled the room in the medical facility where her adult form laid in John’s arms. She tried to get down out of Karen’s arms screaming the whole time. “Put me down! Mama and Papa need me! Put me down!” 

    Karen rushed out the door to try and spare Akira anymore pain though the damage was already done. A car was waiting for Karen when she emerged from the house that quickly whisked the two of them off to the medical facility that was ran by one of the other Pride members. The whole way to the medical facility Akira screamed trying to get free from Karen’s hold on her. Even though she had her kitten in her arms Akira still struggled to get free. When they arrived at the medical facility the Doctor met them at the door. “Akira honey, please stop screaming I know you are upset but please sweetheart stop screaming.” But all Akira did was scream about helping her parents. “Sue she has been screaming nonstop since we left the house. And for such a small child she has a lot of strength to her.” 

     Just then one of the nurses joined the doctor and tried to remove the kitten from Akira’s hold. At that moment something strange happened and Akira’s incisors lengthened to the length of a cat’s and were just as sharp. The poor nurse met with those fangs as Akira bit down on the woman’s hand drawing blood with a furious hissing growl. Blood gushed from the wound as she pulled her hand back quickly causing Akira’s rather sharp teeth to tear the woman’s skin even more. “Why you little brat!” The nurse raised her hand to slap Akira but much to Karen’s delight one of her bodyguard stepped into site and caught the nurse’s hand. “Touch that child and you will not live to see another day. You are relieved of your duties to this child’s care and as her officially appointed bodyguard I will be requesting that you be removed from this facility little human.”  

    Then Mike turned to Karen and Akira only to smile at the little girl. “Hello Akira I am Mike and it is my job to protect you and Prima Strauss. I hope we can be friends and maybe I can call you my little sister?” Akira sobbed and nodded her head as she answered him. “Will you protect my kitty too? They tried to take her from me. She is all I have left. A bad man hurt my Mama and Papa but Prima Strauss would not let me help me them.” Gently he took her from Karen giving his Prima a small break. “Come il mio piccola tesoro. I will take you to see the doctor. Both you and your kitten are safe with me.” 

     “Mike I want my Mama and Papa.” Once more she began to shake as she sobbed putting her cheek against the kitten’s head. The sadness that radiated off of Akira broke Mike’s heart. “I know il mio piccolo Tesoro. And I know they miss you very much. But remember this if you remember nothing else they will always be with you in your heart.” Gently he touched a finger to her chest where her heart was. “Now let’s get the doctor to look you over and give you something to make you feel better ok?” 

     Akira did not respond to him but let him take her into a room where a bed for little girls was. He gently sat her and the kitten on the bed and then pulled up a chair to sit in as he held her little hand. Mike nodded to the doctor that it was alright to come into the room. “Hi Akira I am Doctor Susan but you can call me Sue ok?” Still crying she looked to Mike as if to make sure it was okay to talk to the doctor so he nodded his head and gave his little treasure a nod.  

    “Hello. Do not touch my kitty though she is scared too.” She watched the doctor quietly just waiting to see what she was going to do. “I promise not to take her away from you or hurt her okay?” A sad smile played on the doctor’s lips as she watched Akira sit there quietly and only nod in response. “Are you hurt anywhere Akira?” A shake of her head was given in response. “Well you look like you are alright to me. But I know you are very sad right now and scared. Is it alright if I give you a shot to help you feel better?” 

     Like hell was Akira letting anyone near her with a needle. Not only did she know those needles hurt but she knew that it would make her sleep. How she knew this Akira had no clue but she was afraid that if she went to sleep she would never wake up again like her Mama and Papa. “No! No! No! You just want to make me go away like the Hunter made my Mama and Papa go away!” Yet again her tiny kitten fangs came into sight as she scrambled off of the bed trying to find a way to get out of the room. Mike stood up moving to get Akira but he was greeted with hissing that sounded almost like a feral cat. 

     “Il mio piccolo Tesoro. Everything will be alright I promise. Come here I will hold you and keep your safe alright?” He knelt down and opened his arms to her in hopes she would trust him enough. “You promise she will not make me go away like my Mama and Papa?” Poor thing was so scared that she did not know who to trust. “I promise.” He smiled at her and waited patiently. After a few minutes Akira stepped into his arms letting him hold her. “Akira would it be alright if I hold you while you sleep for a while? Once you wake up I will take you to my house where you can hide for a while okay? Then we can make cookies or something together.” 

     “I want to do that. My Mama and I use to make cookies together when I was sad. It always made me happy again. But I do not think I will ever be happy again Mike.” She had stopped sobbing but her tiny little fangs were still there. It was unheard of for this to happen to a little girl like this. Normally it took a Mate to bring out a woman’s inner cat. “Do I have to have a needle if I promise to go to sleep?” She bared her fangs at the doctor who stepped closer to her. “I will bite you too!” 

     “Akira you need to let the doctor give you something to help you sleep. I promise you will wake up in a few hours and I will still be right here holding you. Would you trust me enough to give you the shot?” Worry was etched in his eyes as he looked to his little treasure. Mike had kept an eye on Akira for a while now even though she had no clue of it.  

    “No needles! No! No! No!” Okay way to go upset the little girl even more than she already was. Akira pushed with one hand against Mike’s chest and tried to get away as she held her kitten with the other hand. “I will go to sleep I promise! Please no needles!” Mike knew he was going to have to help her work through her fear of needles but now was not the time. He also knew that if he forced the issue he would hurt the trust that was building between them. 

    “Sue I am sorry but I cannot let you give her that shot. She is upset enough right now. I will hold her and let her rest in my arms for the next couple of hours until she calms down and then I will take her home with me. If any of those medicines come in a liquid form that would probably be the best way to get her to take them.” Then he turned his attention back to Akira who was fighting him tooth and nail. “Shhh il mio piccolo Tesoro. You do not have to have the shot but you must rest in my arms while I hold you. We can rock in the rocking chair while you sleep. Okay?” Immediately his little treasure stopped fighting him and nodded her head with a sniffle. 

    Sue nodded her head and gave a small sad smile as she watched Akira curl up into Mike’s arms. Without a word Sue left the room and closed the door behind her to give Akira some quiet time in hopes the little girl would calm down. She knew that Akira was going to have a long road ahead of her to get over what happened to her parents if she ever got over it at all. 

   Back in the real world she was being cuddled by Jon who crooned softly trying to keep her calm as she cried out in her fitful sleep. It broke his heart to hear her screaming and in such pain and not just physical pain. His panther rubbed against his flesh pushing to come out to comfort his Mate but Jon kept a tight reign over his inner beast. Daelin poked his head in to check on them. “How is she doing my friend?” Jon shook his head as Akira screamed out about not liking needles. 

    “She is still stuck in the Land of Dreams. I believe she is dreaming about when she was a child. She has screamed for her parents and about needles. Christina has said that she wants to keep her drugged up for a little while longer since she has been feverish.  She says the rest will help her. But she has not been very restful to be honest. And no matter how much calming I send her as an Alpha it has not done any good. My guess is the locks that Alpha Strauss has placed on her memory are finally fully falling. When she wakes it may take both of us Daelin to calm her down. Whatever she is remembering is pretty heavy stuff.” Gently Jon ran his knuckles over her cheek in a soothing loving fashion. 

     “Stay strong Jon I will be back later to check in. I will talk to Christina and see if we can start bringing Akira out of this before more damage is done. Though I cannot order her to do it but you already know that. Talk to you soon my friend.” Daelin left the room and headed off to find Christina. He was concerned about Akira and Jon for that matter because this may force Jon to let her be and heal on her own. The thought of that terrified him and he would do anything to help his friend and his Mate. 

    Time flew by and Akira began to grow into a beautiful young lady. Mike had kept her safe and made sure she was taken care of after her parents passed away. Akira watched herself become attached to Mike and it made her smile to remember him. She had been his whole focus until another fate filled day took him away from her. 

    For years Mike had tracked the Hunter who had killed Akira’s parents though the young Akira had no idea what was taking place she just knew it was his job to hunt down Hunters. At this point in her life all Akira knew was that her parents were dead and she had found their bodies as a little girl. That was the only memory her Alpha had allowed to her keep. In a lot of ways it was for the best because it allowed Akira to grow up knowing safety and love with Mike. 

    It was a beautiful fall day when she came bouncing into the house with what she thought was wonderful news. “Mike! I got invited to the Homecoming Dance!” As she rounded the corner into his study she saw the Alpha and Prima sitting there worry took over her features as she looked around. “Where is Mike, Alpha and Prima Strauss?” Tears started to fall down her cheeks as she took off through the house screaming for him. When she returned to the study she was shaking. “Where is he? What have you done with him?” 

    “Akira honey come sit down we need to talk to you.” The Prima stood up and held out her hand to her pushing as much calming energy through the room as she could that was followed by the Alpha energy that joined hers. In that moment Akira knew she just knew that he was gone. She had felt emptiness all day but there were days she felt that so she had not put much stock in the feeling. 

  “No, no, no, no. Tell me he is alright or he is going to be alright. Do not take him from me too Goddess above please do not take him too.” The tears just flooded her cheeks as the Prima knelt down beside of her and wrapped her in her arms. “I am sorry Akira a Hunter shot him with a silver bullet in the heart. There was nothing that we could do.” Akira pushed at the Prima trying to push her away as she sobbed. It was like reliving the loss of her parents all over again. “You can come and stay with us until we figure out what to do.” 

    “No.” She whispered through the pain filled sobs. “I will stay here it is where I belong and where Mike would want me to be. Prima Strauss, would you please relay my regrets to Timmy that I will not be able to go to the dance with him after all? I need to arrange for Mike’s funeral. I know it will be a traditional one here within the pride just like Mama and Papa’s was. But Mike I can do something more for him since I am old enough to do so.” Her delicate form was shaking with the sobs that came from her. Then she angrily swiped the tears from her cheeks. 

     “Sweetheart you do not have to be alone. At least come to the main house for a day or two so that we can be there for you. We already called Sue she is on her way to the main house with a sedative for you. You need to rest and I know you will not do that here. Mike would want you to take care of yourself. So please come to the main house.” At this point it was not a command but a request. Alpha Strauss knelt down next to his wife and placed his hand on Akira’s shoulder to let her know he was there for her too. 

    “No thank you Prima I want to stay here and I do not need anything to help me rest. I need to get busy with the preparations for Mike’s memorial and his funeral.” Akira finally stood up and held her head high. “Thank you Alpha and Prima Strauss for coming to tell me about Mike. I know he would have wanted to go in the line of duty protecting his pride and I am glad that is how he got to go.”  

    Karen looked up at Darren with tears in her eyes. They were losing her to her grief again and this time Karen knew there was no one to pull her back from self-destruction. As Darren saw the look in Karen’s eyes he looked to Akira and finally spoke throwing his full weight as her Alpha behind his words. “Akira you will be returning to the main house for the next three days. You will take the sedatives that Sue brings you and furthermore you will let us help you.” Magic whipped around the room pushing Akira to her knees. 

     With her head lowered she whispered softly, “I hate you both and one day I will walk away from here. I have lost too much because if this places.” Tears of sadness and anger ran down her cheeks once again. “But for now I know I have to do what you say because you are my Alpha and Prima. But at the end of those three days I will return here and live here.” At the tender age of fifteen Akira had lost her whole world yet again. 

    “We will not force you to stay longer than that Akira. And you will be permitted to return here but know this we will check in on you daily and make sure you are alright and doing your school work.” His tone was still filled with that same Alpha strength and magic needed to bring her to heel so to speak. “Now go pack your bags and we will head to the main house.”  

     As soon as his magic subsided Akira got up and ran for her room. She wanted to sneak out of the house and runaway but she knew Mike would not be happy with her if she ran. But one day she would have nothing to do with this pride and she would be alone for the rest of her life. Akira knew in that moment she would never take a Mate because she did not want to lose everything all over again. Twice was enough. 

    “No, no, no, no. Please come back Mike do not leave me!” She cried out in her sleep with tears running down her cheeks. Jon had no clue who Mike was but he was sure it was someone who meant a lot to her when she was growing up. Such sadness whipped through the room bringing tears to Jon’s own eyes. Gently he ran his hand through her hair trying to sooth her. The fever had been gone now for a few hours but still she showed no signs of waking up. “Akira, cara, please come back to me. We can fix everything just come back to me.” He whispered softly as he held her praying that her time in the Land of dreams would soon be over. 

     Time flew once again showing how distant she had become with the pride and by the time she turned eighteen she had little to nothing to do with the pride. She blamed the Strauss’ for her parents and Mike dying. Her hatred and anger ate at her causing her to distance herself from everyone. Finally she had locked up the house that was Mike’s and was now her’s and moved off to an apartment off of pride lands. 

    As the scenes faded before Akira stood the Goddess Selene who had brought all of the cat shifters into existence. “My sweet little child come here and let me hold you while you grieve.” The Goddess held open her arms and Akira walked right into them. “I know you hurt my sweet child but remember things happen for a reason and even I cannot change the course of one of my children’s life. I wish I could take all of your pain away but sweet child you must learn to move on and let go. You have a Mate who is waiting for you so he can love you with all of his being. I know it is scary but you can do this. You are after all my child.” 

    Sobbing Akira looked up to the Goddess and shook her head. “I cannot have a Mate everyone I love goes away. I cannot do it again I must protect him. Surely you understand that. I did not protect my Mama, Papa, and Mike. They are gone now.” Tears spilled down her cheeks both in the Land of Dreams and in reality. 

    “Then it is good I brought a few people to see you one last time so you can say good bye to them.” The Goddess Selene floated away from Akira to reveal her Mama, Papa, and Mike all standing together. “Go to them my child it is time to let them go and say good bye.” Before the words had finished coming for the Goddess’ mouth Akira had took off running for them. 

    The first person she ran to was her Mama who wrapped her up in a tight hug that her Papa and Mike soon joined. One huge massive group hug and Akira’s heart began to lighten. “I love you all. I have missed you all so much.” Gently the three of them held their precious little girl and let her cry for just a little while. 

    When their time came close to coming to an end her Mama spoke softly. “My sweet little Angel you have grown into a beautiful young woman and it is time for you to stop grieving our loss and take your place at your Mate’s side. No matter what we will always be with you. I love you my little Angel.” 

     Then it was her Papa’s turn to say his goodbyes. “My precious little Angel your Mama is right you have turned into a beautiful young lady and you look so much like your Mama. I am so proud of you for trying to be so strong and protect others. But it is time to let your Mate protect you. I love you my precious Angel.” 

   And last but not least was Mike who pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “Il mio piccolo Tesoro your Mama and Papa are right about how beautiful you have become. But you have only lived a half life since my death. It was not your fault that we had to leave you. And it was not the Alpha and Prima’s fault either so you need to forgive yourself and them too. You will always be my little treasure. I love you il mio piccolo Tesoro. Now dry your tears and it is time to say your goodbyes too.” 

     Akira held onto Mike and shook her head no as she spoke. “I do not want to say good bye. I love you all.” She moved from Mike to hug her Papa and then her Mama. “Can we just say until we meet again? That way it does not seem so permanent. I promise that once I deal with the Hunter I will return to my Mate.” That was if she survived going after the Hunter. But she had to do this she had to protect those around her that she had failed or at least she felt she had failed anyway.  

   All three nodded and smiled at her as they faded away from her. “Until we meet again Mama, Papa, and Mike remember I love you all.” Then she turned to the Goddess Selene and gave her a watery smile. “Thank you so much for letting me say good bye. It has done my heart good. I promise to do right by my Mate and keep him safe.” 

    “Precious child you need not protect him let him protect you it is why I have given him to you. So he can love you and protect you. Remember if you are ever at a loss all you need to do is call for me and I will come. You may not see me but I will be there. Farewell my child.” The Goddess faded away into the light of a single moonbeam leaving Akira to find her way back to the real world when the time was right.  

    Softly she whispered in her sleep, “Until we meet again Mama, Papa, and Mike. I love you all and promise to do your proud.” The soft whisper brought Jon out of his light sleep. Gently he kissed away the tears that streamed down her cheeks as her pretty mismatched eyes fluttered open to look at him. 

     “Hi.” Was all she could manage at that point. Her lips were dried and cracked, her mouth felt like the Sahara Desert, her throat was sore, and her tongue was swollen slightly causing it to be hard to say much more. Jon lifted his head and smiled down at her. “Welcome back cara. I was so worried about you. Let me get Christina so she can check you over and I will get you a glass of ice water too.” Softly he brushed his lips to hers then he quickly ran off to find Christina.