Chapter 3 – The Thickening
Kakeru walked around the house, making his way to the kitchen to raid the fridge. Machi's mother looked around from where she was sitting and shook her head disapprovingly. She then turned back around to what she was doing.
While grabbing a small snack, Kakeru snuck a look. Machi's mother had finished feeding her son and was now wiping his mouth. For a two year old, he was rather spoiled. He was obviously lavished on entirely and Machi never said a word about it.
The toddler cooed and laughed as his mother tickled him on the stomach. Kakeru chuckled softly and took his snack upstairs. While passing Machi's door, he stopped suddenly. He would knock on her door and talk to her, but it was about nine thirty at night. It was necessarily late, but knowing Machi, she wouldn't have much else to do except sleep after a whole day of living up to her parents' impossible expectations. Kakeru figured that he could bother her tomorrow morning.
Once the house was completely quiet, Machi rose from her bed and slowly opened her door, trying to keep its creaking to a minimum. Her mother and father were known to be light sleepers, so she'd have to be extra careful about where she stepped.
Going past her parents' room was the hard part, but she had done it so many times before that it was mostly a second nature talent for her. She knew exactly where that familiar loose floorboard was by now, so she just tip-toed around it.
Once she was past that, the guest room was next. Usually it was empty, but since Kakeru was here, she'd have to tread lightly. Much to Machi's luck, the floor here wasn't nearly as squeaky, so going by was a cinch. Unfortunately, she didn't know how deeply he slept. He slept at the student council meetings, but it was merely napping.
Eventually, Machi reached her destination. She opened the door, finding her brother sleeping on a small futon. He was finally getting used to using a regular bed instead of a crib, so he was sleeping better than usual.
Machi went to her knees and sat near him. She'd have to be careful and look at the door every now and then to check if and shadows stirred underneath. Getting caught again was the last thing she wanted. Machi took a stray blanket off the carpet and gently covered her brother up to his shoulders, in which her parents often forgot to do on cold nights. She tucked him in and watched him stir slightly in his slumber.
What was so special about him? Why did her parents love him so much more? Why did they not desire to hide this fact from her? Despite the questions, she couldn't bring herself to envy her younger sibling. He was much too young and innocent to truly understand her dilemma. Machi loved him dearly for this. Regardless of what their parents did or said, he always had time for her. He wanted to play, he wanted to see her; he often even tried talking to her in his toddler babbles. But alas, their differences got in the way.
In her parents' eyes, he was the prince and she was the peddler who burdened their "happy" home. Their ways continued to tear Machi and her brother apart. And all she wanted was to bond with the only family member on her mother's side that was interested in her. Maybe they were jealous, upset, or angry. Maybe they thought it was her fault . . . But how could it be her fault if her brother chose to say her name as his first word?
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"What do I say?" thought Yuki, sitting silently on the outside porch steps. Kyou sat beside him, but was still a good distance apart from him. He didn't look angry; he looked confused actually, more or less. It was the first time Yuki had seen him in deep thought. It was unsettling, but . . . calm, in a way. But this calmness was monotonous.
"I figure that we should talk now," said Yuki, in a soft, but firm voice, trying his best not to sound haughty. " . . . Kyou?"
Kyou looked over at Yuki and slightly nodded, lowering his gaze quickly. Yuki continued.
" . . . I know that you pretty much hate me, but I think . . . M-Ms. Honda thinks that we should put that behind us, now that the curse is broken. No offense but . . . I-I think that you could start by stopping with the scowls you give me every so often."
"Hmph," said Kyou, trying to keep his voice calm as well, "don't act like you don't have anything to change either."
Yuki smiled sadly and sighed.
"You know, Kyou, you're right . . . What should I change?"
Kyou thought seriously for a moment or two.
" . . . You . . . you could try to be a little nicer. At least a little . . ."
Yuki looked over at Kyou in surprise, noting how awkward he sounded when he requested his wish. He looked over at Kyou and then looked away in the opposite direction.
Not to be cocky about it, but Yuki didn't usually regard himself as mean. Everyone at school, Tohru mostly, always told him that he was very kind. He just figured that if he was told that so much, it was probably true. In Kyou's eyes, it was obviously different. Maybe it was time for Yuki to open his own eyes and listen to the truth.
"Gosh," sighed Yuki, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. " . . . Well . . . I'll be nicer to you. But that still doesn't make me forget how you've treated me in the past. I'm not going to blame you, because it isn't your fault, but I just want you to know that the memory still burns."
Kyou didn't have to ask. That memory; that blind hatred . . . it was there in the far corners of his mind, and it was only going farther now. Kyou's heart ached surprisingly hard when he looked back at the boy he emotionally tore apart, that small, meek boy that approached him with an honest and shy smile. Kyou should have taken his hat back; he should have smiled back. But then again, what would have happened if he did? What would change . . .?
Still, he could remember the silence that came around when he looked at Yuki in hatred that day. He could have sworn he heard him crying when he turned around.
"I . . ." started Kyou, quietly, "I . . . I don't hate you. I used to but . . . I didn't realize how stupid this all was, I guess. I . . . I just . . ."
"Don't apologize," Yuki interrupted.
"I wasn't. I just wanted to make a point."
"No, it's just that there's nothing to apologize for. Actually, I want to thank you."
" . . . Why?"
"If you hadn't taken your hat back, I wouldn't have been so eager to run away. If I didn't run away, the best thing that's ever happened to me wouldn't have become a reality. Because of you, I felt needed for once, and, for the first time, I had bonded with the opposite gender without her having to forget that memory."
Kyou pursed his lips in defeat. It was one painful memory after another. Still, he felt guilty and he even wanted to speak about it. The cat that lived in him no longer prevented him from doing so.
"I . . . I was jealous."
"Hmm?" asked Yuki.
" . . . I was jealous."
" . . . Wha-"
"I'm hoooooooommmmmmeeee!!" interrupted a voice.
Shigure came around the corner in his suit with a small briefcase at his side. By the looks of it, he had just come back from a meeting with his editor.
"What's up, you two?" he asked, curiously.
"We're waiting for Ms. Honda," sighed Yuki.
"Uh . . . yeah," agreed Kyou. "I-I was just resting here a bit. I was gonna go out with Tohru when she got back."
Shigure smiled smugly and playfully elbowed Kyou's side. Kyou blushed, protested, and pushed him off. Yuki chuckled lightly and got up to go to the bathroom. While using the toilet, his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. At first he ignored it and continued to relieve himself. Then it rang a second and third time. Whoever was calling was persistent. After zipping up his pants and washing his hands, Yuki checked the number.
"Kakeru," Yuki said to himself. "Of course."
Yuki did a countdown from three to one. At one, the phone rang again. Yuki answered.
"Yes?"
"Yun-Yun!" whined Kakeru. "Why didn't you pick up the phone? You always pick up!"
"I was in the restroom."
"Doing what?"
" . . . What do you think I was doing?"
"Oh YUN-YUN! How dirty! Erotic even!"
"So urinating is officially erotic now?"
"Oh . . . I thought you were . . . never mind. So why didn't you pick up anyway?"
"Now why would I talk on the phone while I'm in the restroom?"
"What? I do it all the time."
" . . . . . . I REALLY wish you didn't tell me that."
"It's not a big deal, y'know."
"I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy listening to people pee on the other end of the line."
"But you see, Yun-Yun, I get away with it."
"Really . . ."
"I just tell 'em that I have the sink on and that it's filling up with water."
"What about when you flush?"
"Ermm . . . haven't worked that out yet."
"Ha, is that right?"
"Yeaaahhh . . ."
" . . . . . So . . . Do you have a reason for calling?"
"Nah. I'm just bored."
Yuki scowled and hung up on Kakeru. He shoved the phone into his pocket and ignored the oncoming vibrating rings. He figured that eventually, Kakeru would give up. But of course, that persistent bastard didn't know when to quit. Yuki answered again.
"What now?"
"I wanted to ask ya something, Yuki," Kakeru said smugly.
"Yes?"
"Do you prefer panties or swimwear bikinis?"
" . . . I'm not even going to ask."
"Aw, come on Yuki. You know, stuff for HER. For your girlfriend, Mach-"
Yuki hung up again and turned off his phone, blushing furiously. How could Kakeru stand to be so dirty? Yuki immediately pitied Machi. Kakeru WAS her brother. Then again, a steady dose of Kakeru's character might be what she needs to loosen up a bit . . .
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A/N: Sorry, it's not one of my longer chapters, but they will get longer soon! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please review. I love hearing from you guys. ^^
And keep looking at my notice board on my profile. I do update it every so often with news of my stories and such. Thanks for reading, and have a good day! - Dragondustbubblez
