Disclaimer: FB isn't mine *sad face*
A/N: Oh yeah, I'm on fire today! Another upload, on the same day? You guys can always review and tell me who you'd like to come to Kyo's rescue ;)
-Back at the estate-
Akito had had a terrible week. First, it was the insanely long and tedious funeral of the confounded woman who had given birth to the cat. Then, the recurrence of his pneumonia and Hatori's constant poking and prodding had left him in a very irritable mood. As if that wasn't enough, young Yuki had fallen a bit ill and had to be removed from the premises so the head would not contract anything. This left Akito isolated and in sore need of venting before the rage inside made him senile.
Standing by the balcony door, Akito softly stroked his bird and reflected. He loved Yuki dearly. As the rat, he was the most intelligent of his zodiac animals and the head cherished like company. Every waking moment was spent with Yuki if Akito wished it, as he often did. Besides, Yuki was beautiful to look at: he was soft and feminine looking with mauve eyes and a gentle smile with a delicate frame. Alas, Yuki was not here. Akito growled in frustration; he knew the entire zodiac was at his disposal and he often called upon them for various services but he always tired of them so easily. In the end, Akito decided that since it was the cat that was responsible for his mother's death and Akito's own misery, the man would retaliate by making the stupid boy miserable.
When father and son arrived, Kyo was made to wait outside as his father shared a few words with the head. Katsuhiro was out in moments and walking away without another glance at his son, a smug look on his face.
"Otou-san," Kyo called out in a panic, making to follow after him, "Otou-san, please wait!" Before he got very far, however, Kureno had lifted the screaming boy and brought him inside. Kyo struggled for all he was worth—kicking and screaming and clawing—until the door closed behind them. The feeling of desertion played havoc in his chest making his heart pound horribly. Although Kyo felt like going into hysterics, he gazed quietly at the head's serene form in the light from the translucent shoji doors. This was the man who plagued him late at night and Kyo didn't dare anger him.
Hyperaware of his predicament, Kyo tried to strain against the arms holding him. He was a child, and despite his father's atrocities, Kyo missed him already because he knew he couldn't trust the people in his present company. Kureno glanced down at the boy wriggling against him, and glared hoping the child would cease his efforts. The rustling of clothing from the boy's movement seemed to echo in the room.
"Why, hello, my little monster," Akito said softly, finally turning to face the pair. Kureno set Kyo down as Akito drew nearer and stepped back. Panicked, the young boy tried to back up as well, falling as he tripped over his own feet. "I-I'm not a m-m-monster. I'm Kyo," he said softly avoid the head's piercing gaze. A harsh laugh filled the air. It was immediately followed by a sharp slap. Kyo's left cheek burned as his arms flailed to cushion his collision with the floor. "You're nothing but a troublesome, filthy child! You ungrateful, stupid cat! You can't defy me, I am God." Akito iterated, kneeling to pull Kyo up by his orange locks. Whimpering Kyo brought up his arms to cover his aching face. "You killed your mother you little beast. No one wants the likes of you around. Your own father has left you at my mercy." Kyo tried to hold back the tears that kept coming to his eyes. When they threatened to spill over, he wiped at them furiously. It wasn't his fault! What did he have to do to convince them? "Your poor mother, such a young woman. You drove her mad you little shit. She killed herself because of you! Do you understand? Do you?" Akito roared at him shaking Kyo vigorously in his anger. Kyo shook his head in denial using his hands to pull at Akito's, wanting escape.
"Stop struggling, you repulsive creature!" Akito said yanking Kyo's head back by his hair and slapping him again, angered by the childish attempts. Kyo stopped as the second slap left him dizzy. When his eyes cleared and his head stopped spinning, Kyo brought up his hand to the wetness around his mouth and nose. The blood that covered his fingers shocked Kyo. No one had ever made him bleed before. Somehow, the sight of it took all the fight out of him. What was he supposed to do? The head was older and stronger by far. Usually, young boys his age picked on him, and those he could fight. But this…
"Put him in the rice box. I'm going to dinner. He is not to move while I'm gone," Akito suddenly commanded, roughly throwing Kyo at Kureno. Kyo resisted only feebly as his shoes and socks were removed. Then, in his shorts, he was made to kneel in a plywood square with a few layers of raw rice. At first, Kyo was puzzled by the odd command. Minutes dragged on until an hour had passed. The stoic Kureno only stared at the small child before him. Despite the fear, Kyo couldn't refrain from fidgeting incessantly. The rice was digging into his skin. No position that he could possibly shift into brought any comfort. He wanted nothing more than to stand and rub it all off. Kyo began to panic now that it had begun to feel like tens of thousands of tiny needles were being poked into him. By all rights he should be bleeding, he thought dismally through his torture.
"Is Otou-san really gone, Kureno-san?" Kyo finally asked in desperation, still receiving no response. He didn't think he could take it any longer here. Kureno felt no remorse as Kyo began to sniffle in frustration; all he saw before him, was the image of hateful monster.
Akito returned some two hours later. Kyo was at his wits end by then. Tired from the restless nights, the boy had lowered his head to doze in utter exhaustion, having abandoned any hope for escape. This irked Akito immensely.
Livid, Akito pounced on the drowsy child. Twisting the orange locks, Akito wrenched Kyo's head up.
"Aah! Pl-please…" Kyo moaned, eyes tearing with pain. Akito laughed evilly, "Who gave you permission to sleep? I sure as hell didn't, stupid fucking monster!"
"A-Akito-sama, s-s-sorry…" Kyo mumbled through his tears, alarmed that he didn't know how to placate the head. Chilled with fear, Kyo begged to go home, apologizing for anything and everything.
"You want to go home, do you? You filthy disgrace!" Akito asked in disbelief shaking Kyo to elicit an answer. All the small child could manage was a small nod; half the time he didn't even understand the words the adults would use. Although, he could identify the anger directed at him in every voice.
"Fine!" Akito yelled furiously. He tossed the boy in disgust and retrieved a paddle.
"Kureno, hold the stupid monster," Akito said panting with ire as he grabbed Kyo's tiny feet. Kyo was so shocked when a sharp sting rushed through the soles of his feet he couldn't even cry out. Akito smiled deviously and quickened the pace, hitting harder every time. Soon the stinging sensation had become intense and consistent. Kyo sobbed and sobbed, tearing vainly at the hands that held him. As the beating continued, the soles of his feet turned black and blue and the pain became deeper.
When at long last Kyo lay still with resignation, Akito sat back on his knees and examined his handiwork. Not a single unbruised area remained on the soles of the child's feet and the skin had tightened as the feet swelled to twice their size.
Kyo couldn't breathe from the pain, so he wept silently. His tears fell in rivulets as Kureno continued to press him half into the hardwood and half into the rice.
"Get this hideous thing out of my sight!" Akito commanded distastefully revelling in the look of utter misery in the face of the child he loved to scorn. If one person in this world suffered more than himself, he was fine with it.
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