Disclaimer: This is me not owning...sadly...
Chapter Seven: Animal Testing
Shigure was about to make a comment about Yuki being too slow with the tea when he caught the expression on his face.
"Aww, the cat scratch you already? And its not even noon yet." Yuki turned a glare at him before pushing his way through the kitchen door to make the tea. Shigure shrugged and went back to flipping channels. After the second time through Kyo came down the stairs.
"Shouldn't you be working?" Shigure turned his head with a lip poked out.
"But Kyo, you know I work sooo hard as it is, can't I get a break." Kyo hopped off the last step and had to keep from rolling his eyes.
"Your on a constant break. When is the last time you wrote anything?"
"I don't like your tone, no comment." Kyo crossed his arms.
"Uh huh, that's what I thought." Shigure gave a droll stare then smiled.
"Where would our beautiful Tohru be this morning?" Shigure asked changing the subject. Before Kyo could open his mouth to answer Yuki came back through the door carrying three cups of steaming tea.
"Yes cat, where is she?" Kyo and Yuki glared at each other for what seemed like forever when a creek from the stairs pulled them back into reality. Tohru stopped on the staircase when she noticed Yuki watching her and saw that Kyo was trying to no look at her. Shigure sat up straighter and turned off the TV.
"Awkward…" He said in a sing songy voice before sliding out of his seat. "If anyone needs me I'll be writing."
"Oh, now he wants to go write." Yuki glared at Kyo.
"Don't you change the subject, what has been going on here while we were gone?" Yuki set the tray of tea down and moved a good distance away from Kyo. Kyo smiled.
"Growing afraid rat?" When Yuki didn't comment back but just stared at him he sighed.
"Nothing has happened."
"Then please, please tell me how it is you can hold her like that." Kyo finally glanced toward Tohru, who had came off the staircase to stand between them, then back at Yuki.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on Kyo, don't tell me something so huge has escaped your eyes. When's the last time she turned you into a cat?" Kyo was about to answer when he realized the past few days that Shigure and Yuki had been gone she hadn't caused him to turn. Surprise flashed across his features. How could he have let that go unnoticed. She had hugged him, he had hugged her, carried her, and not once had he become the cat. He had been so engrossed in his dreams and in trying to decide what to tell Tohru that he hadn't noticed something that important to them. Something that all the people of the zodiac wanted, wished for. Someone they could hold…someone to hold them. And him, a cursed cat…
"I don't know…" The confusion threw Yuki off, the cat had never looked like that. It was like all the cocky, arrogant behavior had vanished with those words. Tohru looked astonished. She moved to raise a hand to Kyo's cheek but he caught her hand and pulled it to his chest, then pulled her to him as if testing it, even though he had held her more than once over the last few days. He gripped her shoulders and held her at arms length to look her over.
"How?"
Yuki clenched his hands into fists at his side. It just wasn't fair. But seeing how it disturbed Kyo as much as it did himself he took a deep breath and relaxed his body.
"Tohru? Come here please." He held out a hand to her. She reached for his hand but Kyo pulled her back.
"What are you up to rat?"
"We need to see if its just you or if something has changed for us all." Sighing, Kyo backed away as Tohru took his took his hand and let him hug her. There was instantly a huge puff of smoke, and Yuki's clothes fell to the ground. Tohru smiled hesitantly down at the rat that she now held in her arms. She didn't know that a rat could look disappointed but the sadness on Yuki's face melted her heart.
"I'm sorry Yuki…" Kyo looked down at him with shock but wiped it away just as fast.
"If your still go poof and all ratty on us then…why don't I?"
"Why don't you turn into a rat, sorry Kyo, that's strictly Yuki's curse." Shigure said from the doorway of his office. Kyo hissed at him.
"That's now what I meant and you know it!" Shigure smiled.
"Then why not we test it on me, I have been lacking hugs these days." Tohru put Yuki down on the couch arm and walked toward him. Kyo was about to argue but they needed to make sure.
"You know your about to be turned into a dog right?" Kyo said drolly.
"Shush Kyo, You have had your fair share of hugs this week now haven't you?" Kyo sputtered and fisted his right hand at his side.
"Tohru just hug him so he will shut his snout." Tohru hugged Shigure and was instantly surrounded by smoke again. Waving a hand in front of her face to clear the air she looked down at the dog sitting at her feet. He tilted his head to the side. She kneeled down and rubbed his ears before standing to turn to Kyo.
"Didn't last long now did it mutt?"
"Kyo?" Tohru said softly, her voice laced with a little fear. "How are we going to explain this to Akito?"
