Me: Phew! It's getting hard juggeling 'Mini-Me', 'Shattered Inside', and 'Pokemon, Pokemon, Pokemon'! XD
Kyoya: A little overworked, are we? *smirks*
Me: HA! Fat chance! I just gotta relax and take each chapter one step at a time. Also, I can't overwork myself cuz I still need to get ready for my STAR testing, for this monday cuz it's video game day in Anime Club, and also writing down an explaination of this bingo type game for Anime Club. Being Vice President is kinda fun, tho. XD
Kyoya: IT IS! :D
Me: Well, this fic is gonna get done! This and every other fic I have! *evil grin* SO ENJOY IT!
DISCLAIMER: I OWN THE PLOT, KIYOSHI, HIS ADOPTIVE FAMILY AND AN INTENSE NEED TO READ BLACK BUTLER SMUT... 0_0'
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Chapter 9: Farewell Kiyoshi (Me: WHAT? D8 )
Watching the little boy in front of him skip ahead was amusing. Kiyoshi was leaping over the cracks of the sidewalk, ensuring that he never touched a single crack. For a small boy he was very agile. 'Almost cat-like.' Kyoya added as an after-thought. Kiyoshi made up for his size with speed and balance. "Where did you learn to be so agile, Kiyoshi?" He asked.
"Kiyoshi had to learn to move quickly and gracefully as he traveled to find Big Brother Kyoya." the boy answered, walking a careful straight line on the edge of the sidwalk, "He's had to dodge people and cars and anything else that got in Kiyoshi's way."
"You went to all that trouble just to find us?"
The straight line ended at the gate of the mansion. Kiyoshi turned toward his brother with a smile, "Yep! Kiyoshi made a promise to himself that he would find his real family no matter what it took. And he promised himself that he's make sure to keep his real family safe from whatever tried to hurt them." In those dark eyes, Kyoya saw the seriousness that Kiyoshi rarely showed.
"You really plan to hold up to that promise, Kiyoshi?"
"Of course! Kiyoshi never breaks his promises!"
Smiling, Kyoya walked up to Kiyoshi, gently running his fingers through the boy's soft raven hair, making the child giggle. "Come on. Everyone must be wondering where we are." he said.
Slowly they opened the door. Kyoya looked inside cautiously. Gently he pushed Kiyoshi in ahead of him, "Be very quiet. Go upstairs before our father hears us." Kiyoshi quickly did as he was told, his feet making no sound as he lightly sprinted to the stairs, going up each step with great ease and stealth.
Shutting the door, Kyoya headed after Kiyoshi. He started going up the stairs as quietly as possible. 'Just up these stairs and I'll be safe in my room.'
"Kyoya, you missed the appointment."
Freezing, Kyoya turned slowly, "I'm sorry father. Kiyoshi and I just lost track of time. I apologize for missing our appointment." he said calmly.
Yoshio stared at his son, "It doesn't matter. I have some news to tell you." he beckoned his son into the next room. Kyoya followed, uncertain of what his dad was going to show him. "Kyoya, this is Ian Hitori. He's Kiyoshi's father, his biological father." His father put emphasive on the word "biological."
Ian looked at Kyoya from his place at the couch. Icey green eyes met with onyx ones as Kyoya started trying to read this man. There was a thought that something was wrong with this man. Ian seemed to have a secret...
"Hello. You must be Yoshio's youngest son, Kyoya." Ian stood up and held out his hand to the boy. They shook hands, yet Kyoya stayed silently.
"Ian has come to take Kiyoshi home."
Ian sighed softly and gave them an apologetic smile, "Please, I hope Kiyoshi hasn't been a burden. The poor boy has been so confused since his mother passed away. Living as a lower class family, Kiyoshi has been dreaming of so much more. He's managed to convince himself he's an Ootori."
Yoshio nodded, "It's quite alright. Atleast you managed to find him." he got the attention of a maid, "Go fetch Kiyoshi and bring him down here. It's about time he went home." The maid nodded and hurried away to get the child.
Kyoya saw Kiyoshi slowly come down the stairs. The moment Kiyoshi saw Ian, though, the boy became stiff and his eyes windened in fear. Ian smiled, holding out his hand to the boy, "Kiyoshi, it's time you got out of Mr. Ootori's hair and came home. Now come with me." It was strange how Kiyoshi stared at Ian, a look in his eyes that said he wanted to run... But he slowly reached out, taking the man's hand.
"Yes sir..."
As the two passed by Kyoya and his father it was noted that Kiyoshi averted eyes with his older doppleganger. The aversion(sp?) was somewhat hurtful. As they stood by the door, Ian looked down at Kiyoshi, "Kiyoshi, tell Yoshio and Kyoya that you're sorry for being such a burden."
Still avoiding eye contact, Kiyoshi softly mumbled, "I'm sorry Mr. Ootori for bothering you and your family... Please forgive me for my foolishness... It will never happen again." The tone in the boy's voice... The way he said "never."
Watching them leave was hard. Seeing the retreating figure of Kiyoshi... Kyoya watched from the door. He expected the child to look back. He expected him to turn around, force himself free and run toward him, hugging his waist in the usual manner... But it never happened. Kiyoshi never looked back, he never turned around... He didn't even give that same smile or a wave good-bye.
'Farewell, Kiyoshi...'
It wasn't a willing thought. It was an unconcious thought. Kyoya didn't want it to end... There was something that wasn't supposed to be... That something... It hit him...
'Those bruises. The bandages. Everything...' he remembered seeing the injuries all over the boy's back... 'What did I just do!' Kyoya screamed in his head. He realized that he might have just signed away Kiyoshi's life...
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Fuyumi's bedroom door swung open with a great force, the sound of the door slamming against the wall made her jump a few inches, "Oh... Kyoya. What's wrong?"
"Fuyumi! When you were giving Kiyoshi a bath, did he have injuries or anything?" Kyoya's frantic sounding voice put Fuyumi on edge. It was a rare sight to see the usually calm Ootori so wired up.
"Yes... I did. He told me they were from little accidents he got into. Kyoya what's going-"
"I think I just gave Kiyoshi into the hands of an abuser!" The state was so... Absurd? Fuyumi couldn't think of the word for the statement... Kyoya continued, a hand tangeled in his hair, "Why didn't I realize it...? The way he looked at his father when he first saw him... The look he had when he was being taken away. He didn't even look me in the eye as they left, Fuyumi! What kind of big brother gives his own baby brother to a monster like that!" It was clear how Kyoya felt... The guilt in him was evident in his voice.
"Kyoya, you didn't know." there was no chance that words could console the guilt stricken teenager, "Look, we can call the police and-"
"And what, Fuyumi?" Kyoya cut off his sister, "If you haven't already noticed, dad isn't Kiyoshi's biggest fan. He can call off the idea of getting Kiyoshi back..." He trailed off his ranting, reverting to just staying silent...
Fuyumi watched as he brother sat down in the loveseat. He dropped his head into his hands. Faintly she could hear him muttering hurtful words to himself. "Kyoya, don't beat yourself up about this. We'll... We'll think of something." she tried to reassure him. Though no words could calm him down.
They sat together, Kyoya insulting himself in every way and form with words and Fuyumi watched hopelessly as her brother punished himself verbally. An idea struck her...
"Kiyoshi lives in Tokyo, right?" she asked suddenly. Kyoys lifted his head in confusion toward her.
"Yeah... Why?"
Slowly, an Ootori-style smile came to Fuyumi's lips, "I have an idea. But we're going to need some help." she looked away slightly, her smiling growing just a bit before she looked back to Kyoya, "Do you think that sweet little blonde friend of yours can lend us a hand?"
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Me: I swear to God, the Ootori-smile is hereditary! XDD What does Fuyumi plan on doing now! :O
Kyoya: Knowing her, it's something weird. :|
Me: You're sister rules, dude! XDD Reviews? :D Next chapter will be up... IMMEDIATLY! 8D