The car ride to Shigure's house was eerily quiet as they turned the corner out of the estate and into the unknown street.
Sitting next to Aria was the god himself, Akito. She had tried to make him stay home but unfortunately that hadn't worked out so well. In fact, he planned to cancel the whole thing if he couldn't join so unfortunately he forced his way in.
There were also a couple maids sitting across from them but no one made any more to speak. They were certainly not that brave.
Akito placed his hand on the thigh of her left leg and spoke. "Do you know why I'm allowing this, my little songbird?"
Songbird was the nickname he had picked up for her over the years and soon enough that was the only way he would address her. He rarely ever called her by name anymore.
Aria lifted her head to face him and didn't make any gesture in response.
He was pleased with her compliance and raised his hand from her tigh, beginning to toying with a few strains of her hair carefully. . "It's because I want you to erase those thoughts in your head, The ones that say you can be like everyone else, living a normal life. Soon, you will find out that there is nothing for you out there. Because you will finally realize what you really are, a monster."
Aria's eyes widened just slightly but quickly lowered them with her head. These were always the norm of conversation for them. He was trying to intimidate her again.
Suddenly, the driver in front of them called out. "We have arrived."
The god grumbled a bit at the news but soon it slowly melted away into a devious look.
He inched himself closer to her under they were only a couple centimeters away from each other and he smiled. It was a empty, joyless smile but still a smile.
Then, he turned his head she could feel the hot breath on her ear. That's when he began to whisper. "Promise me you will be a good little bird while you're away. Let's not have another one of those incidents again, okay?"
Aria's breathing picked up a little bit at his comment but masked it with a slow nod, complying to his words.
Akito smiled again, the same joyless disposition on his face when he moved his head down once more, quickly moving the fabric away from her shoulder.
He pressed his lips into her bare skin which made her gasp at the contact and he kissed her shoulder strongly.
When he pulled away a small pink and purple spot was left in its place, a mark of property.
Akito touched the mark carefully, looking at his work and spoke. "And don't forget my little songbird, you are mine."
That's when the driver opened the passenger side door, a signal for them to get out.
Aria quickly fixed the fabric of her kimono before slowly stepping out the the car, Akito's eyes never far from her vision.
When the door shut, the somehow could still see them behind that thick sheet of glass. He was watching her, she just knew it.
Looking at the house in front of her, she began to take a small breath of courage before moving forward, all while trying to erase the words Akito has just told her.
Shigure called up to Kyo and Yuki who were in their own rooms, telling them to come down quickly. Apparently he had something important to tell them.
The two boys moved down the stairs in annoyance, Kyo especially. "What the hell is so important that you had to tell us to come down here for?"
Tohru hung up her apron and moved to sit by the table with the rest. "Yes Shigure, is everything okay?"
Shigure patted the spot next to him when the boys came into view and sang. "Aww come on you two. Come sit by me. Why can't I ask for quality time with my family?"
Yuki grumbled and answered sarcastically. "Because you are obviously up to something else, now spill."
Smiling widely, Shigure came clean. "Fine fine you got me. I have some exciting news for you all. It seems we will be having another member in this household soon."
At his words, the boys eyes widened. Yuki spoke first. "Who is it? Kisa, Momiji, Haru?"
The dog shook his head to those names and Yuki grew even more confused. Tohru on the other hand was beyond excited. "Oh my! That's so exciting! Another member in this household. Oh, I'm going to have to go shopping again then!"
Kyo shook his head, not happy about the news. "Why the hell do we need another person living here? That damn rat is more than enough."
Yuki nodded his head once and crossed his arms. "I completely agree."
But Shigure just looked at them sadly when the bell rang to the front door. This was going to be interesting.
He began to stand up and move to the door. "Well it looks like she's here."
Kyo's stomach dropped at "her" and shuttered. "She?! Oh please don't tell me Kagura is the one living here."
About ready to run for the hills, he instead stopped when the stranger appeared in the doorway. She certainly wasn't Kagura.
Shigure lifted his hand out and spoke proudly. "Kyo, Tohru, I would like you to meet Aria Sohma. She's the one who will be living here from now on."
Kyo's eyes widened as he took in the strange woman in the doorway. She looked so regal, so placid about this whole situation. Her purple kimono sure stood out in the plain background that was the house. She definitely stood out.
Yuki on the other hand, was frozen at her crimson eyes. Flashbacks of same terrible days as a child rushed back to him and he felt his hands curl into hard fists. There was no way in hell he was going to let this thing live with them, especially with Tohru.
Hissing out in anger, he spoke. "Shigure, this better be a sick joke."
Shigure gave a nervous smile and tried to make Yuki understand. "I know you two are not the friendliest but..."
But Yuki cut him off, not having any of it. "But nothing! I will NOT let her stay here! How could you even agree to something like this? Did Akito force you?"
He just shook his head once. "No, I am the one that suggested she live here. It will only be for a year."
The rat at this point was seething in anger. "A year? I can barely even be around her for a minute. You can't do this Shigure."
Shigure remained silent at this, showing he wasn't backing down and Yuki was done. "Just leave me out of this. You're making a mistake keeping her around."
Turning around, he run back up the stairs before slamming the door to his room, leaving only an awkward silence.
Shigure turned to Aria and tried to make her feel better. "Don't worry. I'm sure he'll come around."
She cast her eyes down and Tohru came forward. "I'm sure Yuki didn't mean it. I know I'm really excited to have you live with us Aria."
Giving her a reassuring smile, Kyo rubbed the back of his head and tried to figure this girl out. "So, are you a Somha or what? I don't think I've ever seen that rat act like that before."
Aria just stared at Kyo until it was a little awkward and Shigure answered for her. "She knows of the secret yes. Now, let's get you settled in, shall we?"
She nodded her head once and took one last look at Kyo before following Shigure upstairs, wondering if all this was really a good idea.
Life continued like normal and Aria joined them when it was time for dinner, except Yuki was nowhere to be seen. Everyone around them knew it was because of her but no one made a move to say it.
Kyo watched the girl who was preoccupied by the sketchbook in her hands and tried to figure out anything about her. Anyone that could make Yuki that angry surely could be an ally.
Her hands held the purple white pen carefully, drawing curves and sometimes looking up to meet Kyo's eyes a couple times. But before he could say anything, she put them back down. Was she watching him?
Not happy with this, he spoke. "Why are you staring at me like that? Are you some kind of stalker?"
The girl just looked blankly at him which made him even more frustrated. "Hey, I'm talking to you. Why do you keep looking at me? Is there something on my face or what?"
Aria didn't make any move of emotion and Kyo had enough. He then reached forward, almost taking the sketchbook out of her hands, wanting to gain her attention. "What could be so important in this book anyways?"
Widening her eyes, Aria raced forward and grabbed part of the book from his hands before he could see what's inside. It was like a sort of tug of war.
Kyo wasn't expecting this and explained. "Hey! What are you doing? Let me see."
Shaking her head once, Aria held her grasp on the book, pulling it towards herself.
Notching how important this was to her, Kyo let go, causing Aria to lose her balance and fall to the floor.
Looking at the sketchbooks cover once, he tossed it to her roughly. "You know what, forget it. I hate people like you the most. You can't ever say how you feel. How annoying."
He watched her hold the notebook close to her and for a moment, debating helping her up. She did look rather pitiful like this.
But instead he let his own pride get the best of him and just left the room.
When he was gone, Aria sat on the floor for a couple moments before sighing. Well, if she had a voice it would be a sigh but to her it was just a little puff of air.
But that puff of air meant so much.
Shigure then walked into the room and looked at the display. His eyes went to ones of pity as he took a step further. "Ari.."
But Aria just picked herself up and put a hand up to him, telling him to stop.
A couple of hours later Aria was in her room, thinking about the events that had just occurred.
Yes, they hated her but it was the same at the main estate. Yuki and Kyo's hatred weren't anything new to her in terms of treatment. It was a miracle she was even here at all.
She wondered why Shigure offered for her to live here when he knew both parties despised her. Maybe it was pity. That's always how it is.
When people find out about her voice and her lifestyle they seem to always give the same eyes regardless. The eyes same exact eyes that Shigure gave her downstairs when she was on the floor. She hated them.
Realizing she needed to clear her head, Aria opened the window beside her and carefully climbed out onto the roof with her sketchbook.
The air was crisp with a slight chill for late winter but Aria didn't mind in the slightest. Anyday she could go outside was seen as a blessing.
Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her. "Hey, this is my spot."
Turning slightly, her stomach dropped when she saw Kyo. He looked less than pleased.
Aria didn't make a motion to move but instead just turned back around towards the view, almost like she was ignoring him.
He tricked his eye in annoyance and shouted. "Hey, did you hear what I said? Why can't you just say something for once instead of outright ignoring me?"
That when Aria did something that Kyo didn't expect. She turned around and smiled.
It was a sad smile, almost like she was on the verge of tears without letting any escape. He was certainly taken back by this.
She took a step closer to him in silence and he stuttered. "What do you think your doing?"
Lifting her hand up, Aria quickly grasped Kyo's hand and moved it up to her throat before letting his fingers touch her neck lightly.
She then shook her head side to side about four times, with that same sad smile still on her face.
Kyo didn't understand for a moment and then, it clicked.
Letting go of his hand, he lowered it and answered in an almost whispered tone. "You can't speak?"
Shaking her head once more he soon realized just how much of a jerk he had been to her. He took her silence as pomish or rude but it really wasn't that at all. She really couldn't answer.
He ran his fingers through his hair in embarrassment and tried to clear up the situation right away. "Ah hell. I didn't know that. How was I supposed to know that? You could've said something earlier. Ah I mean, not said, but you could of somehow told me earlier."
Aria smiled and opened her sketchbook to a blank page before writing something down and turning it to him. You don't have to apologize. I didn't tell you
Kyo looked down at her writings and replied. "Why didn't you?"
She quickly answered back. Cause I didn't want you to make the face you are making right now. You feel sorry for me, don't you?
He tried to fix his face to no avail, not wanting to bring her discomfort. "Ahh yes. I mean no. I mean, I don't know. It's a lot to process"
She nodded her head but didn't write anything more. Kyo noticed this and changed the topic. "Does that rat know about you?"
Aria looked down at this in shame and wrote down. I don't know. We don't talk. As you can see, he hates me.
Kyo understood but didn't press it. Something inside of him told him to leave it be for now.
A small moment of silence occurred until Aria remembered something and flipped through a couple pages in her sketchbook until she found what she was looking for.
Folding the paper over, she handed the book to Kyo who was rather confused. "What is this?"
She tapped the paper a couple times, trying to tell him to take a look.
He complied and when he looked down at the paper, his eyes widened.
Staring back at him was a bunch of sketch drawings, all of him. There were ones from that time at dinner and ones of his cat zodiac form messily on the page.
Looking up, Kyo whispered. "They are me."
She smiled and took the book back before waiting. Sorry but I really wanted to draw you. You are just so fascinating.
Kyo blinked a few times in surprise at this. "Draw me? Why? What is so damn fascinating about me?"
Aria thought for a moment before writing back. This one took a little longer because of how she wanted to word it.
When she was finished, she hesitated for a couple moments before showing him. You are all I wish I could be. Bold, loud and vocal. Even though you are chained down by the main house you live so free. I once longed for that.
Taking in her words, Kyo wondered what her life was like at the main house. Hopefully nothing close to the life he used to live when he was there.
Blinking a few times in shock, the last couple words hung in the air. "What do you mean longed for that? Don't you still want it?"
Aria shook her head and answered. Those were dreams of a child. As amazing as they were, I learned to grow up.
A sunken feeling appeared in his throat at that. He didn't know why, but he didn't like it.
Another silence entered the area when Aria wrote something else. I guess I should turn in for the night. School tomorrow I guess.
He nodded his head in understanding and got slightly anxious when he moved closer to him before handing him a piece of crumpled paper.
Then, before he could open it, she was gone.
Looking at the paper, Kyo opened it slightly to reveal only a couple words, but they were words that made his heart flutter. Thanks
He wondered what that message was for when all he had done was make fun of her and bully her unknowingly. But how was he supposed to know she didn't have a voice?
Thinking about the mere idea Kyo shuttered. He couldn't even imagine a life without speaking his mind. Silently, he wondered what it was like for her. Her eyes did have a hint of sadness in them. Maybe he was just imagining it though.
He soon realized that he was was thinking about this girl far too much. It wasn't any of his business how she lived her life. It didn't involve him
Or so he thought at the time.
We have our meeting huzzah! I know Yuki is kinda a butt right now but he has a reason to be, it just hasn't be fully revealed yet. Also I love writing the Kyo X Aria friendship because they are just so polar opposites. It's just a wholesome friendship I think.
