Standard disclaimer applies.
This is the companion to "And the Cat Ate the Rat". I might write another, if the mood hits me.
Shigure tapped his fingers on the table as he held the phone up to his ear, waiting for the person on the other end of the line to pick up. He finally heard the click at the other end.
"Aya?"
"GURE!" The delighted shriek at the other end of the phone nearly deafened the dog, but in view of recent events he restrained himself. He smiled into the phone, aware that it would carry over.
"Aya, come over to my house. I have something I need to talk to you about."
"Gure! What could it be?" Aya bubbled. "Is it a present? A gift for me? Oh, how sweet of you Gure, I can't believe your generosity…"
Shigure chuckled weakly. "Heh. Heh. Heh. Err…just come over, Aya."
"Of course I will! See you in a moment, Gure!" Ayame hung up.
Shigure replaced the phone and sighed. This was going to be interesting.
A few minutes later the door was flung open and Ayame bounded into the room. He immediately tackled Shigure, who returned the embrace with something less of his usual fervor.
"Gure, what's wrong?" Ayame said, holding his cousin at arm's length. Shigure put an arm around Ayame's shoulders.
"Aya, I want you to sit down and take this calmly."
"Calmly? I'm always calm!" Ayame insisted, allowing Shigure to sit him down. "Is it my present?"
"No, it's not a present." Shigure looked away. "There's no easy way to say this, Aya…"
"Yes?" Ayame cocked his head and looked at Shigure.
Shigure licked his lips. "We had something of…an altercation here last night…"
"You know I can't understand when you use such big words, Gure." Aya complained. "Speak normally! My brain can't handle it!"
Shigure swallowed. "An argument—fight, really, between Yuki and Kyo."
Ayame laughed. "Ah, my adorable little brother and his temper! He's so passionate about everything! So concerned! It's so cute! And Kyo! He's so tenacious, with that never-give-up attitude of his! So precious!"
Shigure smiled weakly. "Eh…yes. But…last night was a little different…"
"Oy?"
"Kyo…how can I say this…"
"Just spit it out, Gure." Ayame said, putting on his most serious face. "If my little brother was beaten, that's okay. I shall support him in his time of discouragement, and help him fight better in future!"
Shigure froze. "Well, eh…it isn't quite like that, you see…he…err…was…eh…"
"Yes, Gure?"
Shigure took a deep breath and gathered his nerve. "Kyo ate him."
Dead silence met this revelation. Ayame stared across the table at Shigure, his eyes narrowing and widening and then narrowing and widening again. Shigure felt a bead of sweat form on his brow.
"Aya…please…it's okay…after all…heh…"
"Okay?" Ayame hissed. "OKAY?" He roared, rising to his feet. "THAT BAKA NEKO ATE MY BROTHER! I DO NOT SEE THE "OKAY" IN THIS SITUATION!" He glared at Shigure. "WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP IT?!?! I'M GOING TO KILL THAT NEKO!"
He stormed out of the room. Shigure smiled weakly.
"Eh…"