Shindemo Ii

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and its characters do not belong to me, they are the property of Natsuki Takaya. I'm just borrowing them for a while...

Pairings: none, though feel free to read it however you like ^^

Warnings: angst, mild swearing, and (eventual) character death

Spoilers: will have spoilers for episode 26 (takes place a short while after)

A/N: Any similarities with R Junkie's a warm place are purely coincidental (and actually downright freaked me out at first!), but with her help, I'm hoping to have got them to a minimum. The stories are actually quite different, if you stick around and find out! ^^ Thanks for your help, R J! ^_^

Comments and (constructive) criticism are welcome. Flames will be used to burn my IA class notes (yippee! It's over!!!).

***

Ch.1

Eh? Hatori, what are you doing here? Yuki blinked in surprise at the man standing in the doorway. He'd been down to get a glass of water and had been on his way back to his room when the doctor had suddenly let himself in.

Ah, Ha-san was kind enough to offer me a lift to my publisher's office, so I can hand in my latest masterpiece! Shigure announced, proudly presenting a large manuscript.

Hatori raised an eyebrow. Offered? I believe you begged me for about a half an hour...

Eh heh...

What happened to your editor, that nervous lady? Yuki asked.

Ah, Mit-chan came down with a cold, the poor thing. Shigure replied dramatically.

No surprise, what with all you put her through. It's a wonder she hasn't died from the stress of dealing with you yet. Hatori stated.

Ha-san, you're so cruel! the other man whined.

Yuki rolled his eyes. Weren't you leaving?

Ah yes. We should be back before Tohru-kun gets home from work. Try not to destroy the house in the meantime, ne? Shigure paused, blinking. Speaking of Kyo, where is he anyway?

Moping in his room, I guess. Yuki shrugged.

Ha, too wet for the roof tonight. Shigure chuckled, referring to the rain outside. Turning to go, he stopped and added Oh yes, before I forget, make sure you eat something. Tohru-kun was worried when you didn't come down for breakfast this morning. he scolded him.

You haven't been eating? Hatori asked, his gaze fixed upon the boy.

Yuki shrugged. I wasn't hungry, that's all. Hatori continued to regard him in concern. I'm fine. Yuki insisted. I'll eat something later, okay? Truth be told, he hadn't been all that hungry lately, he'd been more tired than anything else.

Satisfied, Hatori gave a slight nod, and the two older men departed. Yuki turned and made his way back upstairs, a few small coughs escaping his lips. Pausing for a moment, he frowned at the slight discomfort in his chest, and shrugged them off. Must be the weather...

***

Outside, the rain continued to pour down incessantly. Yuki stared out the window and sighed--the weather had been like this for the past few days and, quite frankly, he was sick of it. The only good thing he could think of that had come from it was that, at least the baka neko had been quieter lately, due to his cat form's reaction to rainy weather. The only problem now was that he was stuck alone in the house with his grumpier than usual cousin...

Finally turning away from the window, Yuki winced as he felt another headache coming on; he'd been having them for the past few days and had shrugged them off as nothing. However, while he didn't really believe in taking medication unless one was actually sick, the violent pounding in his head quickly convinced him that he was in need of an aspirin, or whatever pain relievers they had in the house.

Plodding down the stairs, he practically collided with Kyo, who had been storming upstairs, grumbling something about having run out of milk again.

Oi! Watch where you're going, k'so nezumi!

Yuki sighed. His cousin may not have been too energetic lately, but his mouth seemed to be working just fine.

Why don't you watch out, baka neko, you're the one who ran into me.

Kyo bristled, Why you...

Yuki pressed a hand against his temple as the other boy launched into another of his long, rather loud rants. He really wasn't in the mood for this right now. Normally he would have shut him up with blow to the head or something equally satisfying, but right now, the pain in his head was throbbing considerably, and the noise provided from his cousin wasn't helping any. Ignoring him, he continued to make his way down the stairs--he really needed that aspirin...

Hey, don't walk away when I'm talking to you, nezumi!

Exasperated, from both the pounding in his head and the annoying feline's behavior, he whirled to face him, but stopped short as he felt his head swim. What the?

C'mon, rat, bring it on! Kyo shouted, raising a fist in challenge.

Eyes widening, Yuki recognized the sudden shortness of breath he was experiencing, and began to gasp for breath, as air struggled to reach his lungs. he whispered, barely audible.

What's wrong, eh? You afraid? Kyo taunted.

Yuki managed, a little louder this time, one hand going to his chest, the other reaching out to grab hold of the wall in an attempt to keep from collapsing.

Kyo blinked, finally noticing the other boy's pain. Yuki? What-- he paused, apprehension painting his features. Oh God. He was having an attack.

Feeling his chest constrict, and unable to keep his hold on the wall, Yuki felt himself begin to slide down.

Kyo swore, lunging forward in time to keep him from tumbling down the stairs. Looking down at his cousin, who continued to to wheeze in pain, Kyo felt a sense of panic rising from within him, as it dawned on him that they were alone in the house. At least last time, Haru had been there, so he'd been able to stay calm--or at least appear to be so. Now however, Tohru was at work, and he had heard all the commotion about Shigure being forced to take his manuscript to his publisher himself, on account of his editor getting sick. He couldn't even call Hatori at the Main House since Shigure had convince the other man to drive him, and Kyo didn't have his cell number.

Easing the other boy into a sitting position on one of the stairs, Kyo's mind raced. He needed an inhaler... did Yuki even have an inhaler? Kyo couldn't remember ever having seen one, and he definitely didn't have one the last time. Maybe in his room? Glancing at his cousin, he could tell that the other boy was in no position to be able to tell him.

he repeated, charging up the stairs to the mouse's room. Now where would he...? Nothing on the shelves, or on the desk. Roughly pulling open the desk drawers, he began rummaging through them frantically. Junk. Pencils. Papers. More junk. A photograph--

Kyo paused, blinking as he took a closer look at the photo. Dumbfounded, he recognized an image of himself, at about 4 or 5 years old... along with Yuki. When had that been taken? Moreover, what was Yuki doing with it?

Shaking his head and remembering what he was supposed to be searching for, he shoved the photo in his pocket, deciding to ask about it later, if he got the chance. Pulling open the next drawer, he finally found what he was looking for, buried under a bunch of loose sheets and folders. Grabbing it, he ran back down the stairs, just in time to hear the phone ringing. Startled by the high-pitched sound, he almost lost his balance, and swore. Was it possible that all this chaos had to be happening at the same time?!

Ignoring the damn phone for now, he crouched by Yuki, who was leaning heavily against the wall, gasping for breath and just barely holding on to consciousness.

Oh no you don't! Kyo shouted, bringing the inhaler to the other boy's pale lips. Don't you dare! Forcing the inhaler through Yuki's lips, he squeezed the pump, spraying the medication into Yuki's mouth, and watched anxiously, hoping that the other boy had inhaled it.

Slowly, the silver-haired boy's gasping subsided, and his breathing became more regular. Kyo was about to let out a sigh of relief, but noticed that his cousin still seemed to be having some difficulty breathing, as he could still hear him wheezing faintly.

his eyes widened as Yuki slumped against the wall, unconscious. Seeing the other boy's face begin to flush, he frowned, placing a tentative hand upon his forehead, but withdrew it immediately in alarm. He was burning up!

Once more, feeling fear gripping him, Kyo jumped as he once again heard the phone ringing--he hadn't even realized that it had stopped in the first place.

Panicked, frustrated, and just plain pissed off, he rushed to grab it. he practically yelled into the receiver.

Eh?... Kyo-kun? Shigure's startled voice came from the other end of the line. What's wrong? I tried calling, but--

Kyo interrupted him, explaining what had happened--what was still happening, in a rushed tone. I don't know what to do! he finally choked out.

Hatori's voice came on the line. Just stay calm, and call an ambulance.

What? Why?

Kyo, we're on our way back, but we won't be there fast enough, and Yuki needs medical attention now.

Okay, okay, but what if he transforms or something?

Don't worry. I'll take care of it, though since you gave him the inhaler, he should be okay for now. Just stay calm, we'll be there as soon as we can.

After hanging up, Kyo proceeded to call for an ambulance, practically shouting the situation, address and directions to the technician, who, quite calmly, insisted that he remain calm, that the ambulance was on its way, etc. Kyo didn't really hear the rest, just quickly hung up the phone, and rushed back to sit with his cousin. Noticing Yuki begin to shiver slightly, he frowned, unsure of what to do. As the nezumi's chills increased, he scooted closer and leaned the other boy against him for warmth, feeling a little more than slightly awkward at the sudden and unusual close contact.

***

Time after that seemed a blur. The ambulance arrived, the paramedics gently taking Yuki from him and applying an oxygen mask to the boy, while asking Kyo questions about Yuki's health.

Has he been sick lately?

Uh, he has asthma... Kyo responded lamely.

Has he recently been exposed to any condition which might have triggered an attack?

Kyo blinked. I don't know...

Dry or cold air, for example?

I don't know... Kyo replied, his voice taking on a tone of helplessness as he tried to think. How would he know why Yuki'd had the attack?

I'll take care of things from here. I'm the boy's doctor.

Kyo looked up with great relief to see Hatori and Shigure enter. Finally, Kyo felt he could relax a little, knowing someone else who knew what to do was here. He listened for a moment as they discussed Yuki's condition, but the medical terms confused him, so he tuned out instead.



Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Kyo looked up to see Shigure peering down at him worriedly. Are you okay? Kyo managed a small nod in reply, though quite honestly, he wasn't really sure.

Kyo, Shigure, They both turned at the sound of Hatori's voice. We're taking him to the hospital.

What for? Kyo exclaimed. I thought you were taking care of it!

Hatori frowned. There's only so much I can do, and the medical equipment there is much more sophisticated there than anything at my clinic.

Is it that bad? Shigure asked.

Kyo, you'll ride with me in the ambulance, he stated, ignoring the question. Shigure, take my car and go pick Honda-kun up from work. She should know what's happening.

Uh, I can go pick her up, Kyo offered, as he found the thought of riding in the ambulance discomforting. I know a shortcut and--

Kyo, don't argue, it's faster this way.

--I don't know if you should trust that guy with the car. I mean, it's not like we need anyone else to land in the hospital-- he rambled.

Hatori snapped.

The cat's eyes widened, taken aback by the tone in the doctor's voice. Hatori never lost his temper... this was serious. Kyo gulped and nodded, silently following them outside, as Hatori passed his car keys to Shigure...

Sitting in the back of the ambulance, Kyo listened once again as Hatori and the paramedic riding with them started speaking in technical terms that he didn't understand, then glanced down at his cousin. Once again, he felt helpless, watching as Yuki occasionally moaned in discomfort or writhed in pain, drifting in and out of consciousness now.

Suddenly, his arm shot out and grabbed a hold of one of Kyo's hands, which had been resting on the edge of the stretcher, and squeezed it, as he let out a small whimper of pain.
Kyo looked up at Hatori, alarmed and trying to pry his hand free from the mouse's grip.

It's alright, Kyo.

Kyo looked back down at his rival, uncertain, and squeezed the other boy's hand back, in an attempt to offer some comfort or reassurance, though he wasn't sure if Yuki could even feel it. Trembling slightly, some part of his brain told him that he must've been in some kind of shock, but Kyo ignored it, staring intently at his cousin and letting the sound of the sirens fill his ears.

By the time they reached the hospital, Kyo's hand was still gripping Yuki's, without realizing that the other's hand had gone limp again long ago...

TBC...