Butterflies and Broken Promises

"Drug thy memories, lest thou learn it." --Tennyson

Kubota leaned against their balcony wall-head tilted back watching the slow moving clouds, the light breeze gently wafting the smoke back into the living room. He was on his third or fourth cigarette, he couldn't remember anymore, but he did know he'd have to run out a get another pack soon, but he wasn't awake yet. So he stayed put, waiting for the inevitable call for breakfast or the cursing as the shower was turned on, it being too hot or too cold, it was always on of them.

He glanced at the neighbors across the street, they had flowers growing on their balcony and while the tulips and daisies didn't impress him much, the bright blue butterflies that came to them did. They were large for their species, maybe three to four inches long with a striking melding of blue and black on their wings. Fragile those, he remembered kids pulling them apart in the past, it always made him just a bit sad, that something so pretty was also so fragile, being able to be destroyed with just a little tug. I'll probably end up like that...no, never mind, it won't be something so calm and quiet, it be like that cat I found, ripped apart inside. He stood there a while watching them, wings fluttering shut, slowly pulling themselves back apart, only to repeat the cycle, over and over until the end.

Tokito stared at the odd scene, who would have thought Kubo-chan liked butterflies? He didn't understand, they were cool, like those monkeys they saw on the TV last night, but he still didn't sit there oblivious to the rest of the world watching them. He was about to walk over and demand breakfast like usual when his cell phone rang. He walked over to where he left it on the TV last night and picked it up, still watching Kubota through the glass doors.

"Yeah, who is it?"

"Minoru...it's been awhile...do you like your new master? It's a pity he won't be around anymore...I thought I told you, you can never..."

Beep...Beep...Beep...

The phone disconnected as it slid from his trembling hand, clattering across the wooden floor. His whole body felt like he'd been doused in ice water and then burnt with white hot brands, everything went dark and there was the cage, the needles, the pain...

"Tokito! Hey, Tokito! What's wrong, what happened?! Hey, speak to me!!"

He could hear it, the laughter, the voice, over and over telling him he'd never leave, that his 'master' had come for him and he'd never see the sky again...he was caught, he had to escape, had to get away, couldn't stay here, not safe, can't stay, gotta run, gotta...gotta...

The smells came first: cigarettes, sweat, soap...then the sound: the gentle voice in his ear, the calming words, over and over, a mantra of peace in his mind, in his heart...and then he could feel again: the strong hands holding him, fingers twined in hair, not twisting or pulling in pain but gently stroking it away from his eyes, wiping the tears away, erasing the fear. As he slowly came out of the nightmare world of his memories he realized he was slumped on the ground, Kubo-chan holding him carefully, like he was that fragile butterfly he saw earlier. He wasn't a freaking cat, much less a butterfly, but right now, this was the only truth, Kubo-chan's arms and the smell of cigarettes, and that was enough.

"Yeah, he got a phone call and then went nuts...no, battery popped out, can't recall the number. Yeah, I got it; I'll call you if anything else happens, thanks."

Kubota hit the end button on his cell and walked back into their bedroom. Tokito had been out cold since that little outburst and he'd gotten worried enough to call Kou. He figured a call was better than having him pay a house call, didn't think his cat would appreciate the company after whatever happened. All he knew was that the past had finally caught up with them. 'Akira,' that had been one of the words Tokito had said that made sense, everything else was just a jumble of incomprehensible emotions masquerading as words. Fear and pain, he got those loud and clear, but oddly, no anger, just the absolute terror. He once again wondered what they had done to him...whoever they were.

"The floor's not hard." It was mumbled, but those words seemed very loud in the quiet apartment.

Kubota looked down at him from the doorway, "Of course not, you're in bed." He smiled and lit another cigarette, number seven (five and six were sharing space in the ashtray by the bed). "How are you feeling?"

"Like a friggin' elephant sat on me. My head hurts." Tokito grumbled as he pulled himself up and dragged the back of his hand across his eyes.

"That good, huh? Well, considering you about destroyed the living room again, I guess that's not bad, so I suppose I don't need to call Kou-san again." He dropped his phone in the waste basket and walked back to the bed, flopping down besides the smaller boy he slung an arm around his waist and lay looking up at the ceiling. He didn't ask what happened, he'd do what he always did...he'd wait.

Tokito glanced at the discarded phone and then down at his partner, he was about to ask what was going on when the pain started. Argh! Damn it! Stop, stop, stop! You fucking piece of shit! He doubled over inpain, clutching his right hand, praying that the furred flesh would stop hurting, stop burning.

Kubota shifted in bed. He slid behind Tokito and pulled him against his chest, holding him close he slowly rocked the boy back and forth, whispering his name and lightly kissing his neck to help sooth him. This time was longer than normal; time seemed to slow to almost miniscule proportions as they sat there, wrapped in each others arms, clinging together for all they were worth.

"Fuck! After that stupid call this happens! I swear someone hates me! And don't you call that quack either! I can handle this; it's nothing, just a friggin' ant bite or something. No worries!" Tokito's boisterous attitude not withstanding, Kubota pulled him closer against his chest. Tokito nuzzled in against the warm flesh, breathing deeply he tried to fill his lungs with the salty cigarette smell that defined Kubo-chan in his mind.

"That damn call, how the hell did they get my number? What did they mean; you wouldn't be around for long? You're right here! I can feel you, you're not a dream and I won't let him take you from me! Not now, not ever, I'd kill him first..." he hissed the thoughts out through gritted teeth. I would, I'd kill Akira and anyone else that looked at Kubo-chan, let alone touched him, I'll swear to it. He was shaking from the anger, he didn't remember freaking out after the call, just everything going dark, he hated the dark, reminded him of nightmares he couldn't escape from. "I don't know where or how, I barely know who, but I swear they won't win. Never!"

"Hai, Hai. No one's going anywhere, I promise." Kubota's glasses lashed as he lowered his head, resting it on top of Tokito's his eyes took on a steely cold fierceness. Oh, so that's it, huh? First they screw with him and now they reach out their dirty hands to touch our world? I don't think so. I'll have to call drop by Kou-san's later and see what he can find out. sigh This is gonna cost a bit though. Shit, better let Kasai know too. Damn this is turning into one crappy weekend.

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