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blackkyu: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it :)
AN: Well here's the next chapter and it's a long one. Like I said for some reason this story is easier for me to write than the others and it's one of my least popular ones…sigh….oh well I enjoy writing it and there are a few dedicated followers to this story so thank you for that! Question about the next chapter would you like a long one next week or two medium chapters over two weeks? Next chapter will be up next Friday. Please leave a review!
Chapter 37
Yuki looked at the man that sat across from him on the train. Kazuma looked even worse than he did a few days ago. He looked like he hadn't eaten or slept since Yuki had last seen him, even though he had for once made an effort to make himself look presentable. He had at least taken a shower and put on clean clothes. That was a small improvement.
They had been riding the train for over an hour now and the car they were riding in was empty except for them. Yuki figured now would be a goodtime to tell Kazuma the truth. The trouble was that he didn't know how to go about it. He was almost tempted not to tell him and let him just find out like he did, but that didn't go over very well. If he thought that he was having hallucinations then Yuki was sure that Kazuma would think the same. No he would just have to tell the man the truth.
"Is something troubling you Yuki?" the man asked him.
"You could say that," Yuki said as he reached into his bag and pulled out the stack of letters him, Natsume, and Kyo had written to each other in case the man needed more proof. "There's ah…" he licked his suddenly dry lips, "there's something I need to tell you. Something important."
"Go on," Kazuma pressed after Yuki hesitated a moment.
"The thing is…. Kyo's alive!" Yuki blurted out. Kazuma gave him a pitiful look and opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but Yuki shook his head. "No it's true. I ran into him when I came up here to see Natsume that one time. I didn't believe it at first either even though he was right in front of me. But he is alive." Yuki then handed over one of the letters that Kyo had written him. Kazuma gave him a sad skeptical look, but looked at letter. His eyes went wide at what he saw.
"This is…this is his handwriting…but how? It doesn't make any sense. There was a fire. There was nothing left of that room," Kazuma argued but Yuki could hear the hope in his voice.
"That's just it, he escaped before the fire. He didn't even know there was one," Yuki explained further feeling like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. It felt good to talk about it.
"Why didn't he tell us? Why didn't he at least tell me or come to me. I wouldn't have told anyone. I would have gotten him away this time," Kazuma said looking like he was about to cry.
"He didn't know that we thought him dead, not until I bumped into him," Yuki told him. "When he heard that he wanted to let you know, but he was worried that if too many people knew that it would put them in danger. According to Kyo, Akito knows the truth about his escape."
"Why would Akito tell us such a thing," Kazuma said more than asked. Yuki shrugged. He wanted to go over his theory with everyone. Kazuma looked down at the letter and smiled sadly. "So Kyo really is alive?"
"And happy. Him and Natsume have become very…close," Yuki told him not wanting to go into that either as it wasn't his place to tell Kazuma.
"So all of that stuff you told me about Natsume was a ruse to get me to come?" Kazuma asked.
"I wish it were," Yuki said as he leaned back in his seat. "Like I told you, Kyo didn't want anyone else knowing the truth but he was considering telling you at least. When he didn't write back and tell me his decision I called and he told me what happened. More like he broke down. He's having a real hard time with everything that happened to Natsume."
"I suppose and with Natsume having no foster family this time…" Kazuma started to say but Yuki shook his head.
"Natsume and Kyo are living together now," Yuki told him.
"But the curse?" the man asked.
"He knows about the curse," Yuki told him. "In fact Natsume was the one that broke him out. That's another reason Kyo didn't go to you. He didn't want Natsume to get caught. Kyo is very protective of him."
"Another normal person dragged into our mess. I'm just glad that girl got out while she still could. You know for a while I thought that she might be the one to accept Kyo for who he truly was, but I guess that person is still out there," Kazuma said wistfully.
"Ah…" Yuki said wondering what to say to that and in the end decided on noting. Once again it wasn't his place and since part of it dealt with Natsume's secret he thought it best if he said nothing.
"I wish this whole conversation was real and not a dream," Kazuma as he leaned back in his seat.
"It's not a dream Kazuma-san," Yuki told him.
"That's what they always say in my dream," Kazuma said then closed his eyes. Yuki sighed. He guessed the man would just have to see Kyo for himself to believe it.
~XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX~
Natsume watched as Kyo nervously paced the apartment. He had just gotten a phone call from Yuki saying they were on the way from the train station. It was obvious that his boyfriend was nervous and he didn't know how to help him. He knew what it felt like to go to a new family, but he had no idea what it was like to see them again after so long.
"It'll be alright Kyo," Natsume tried to reassure him.
"I hope so," Kyo said as he nervously ran his hands through his already disheveled hair. "But what if he's mad at me for..."
"He'll probably just be happy to see you," Natsume told him.
"I'm sure you're right it's just," Kyo sighed and sat down next to him. "It's a horrible feeling when someone you care about is dead or when you think they might…"
"I'm sorry Kyo," Natsume said as he glanced out the window. He had hoped yesterday would have helped Kyo to be less upset about what happened and it seemed to have worked, but it looked as if it was just a temporary fix.
"It's not your fault," Kyo said as he gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Don't think that."
"I know," Natsume said knowing that if he said anything else that it would just upset Kyo further.
"Natsume?" Kyo asked a slight hesitation in his voice. "Would it be alright if I told Shishou about us?"
"Of course," Natsume told him with a smile. "You know I don't mind who hears about that."
"And what about your powers?" Kyo asked the hesitation still in his voice. "They'll mostly likely come up when I explain things." Natsume nodded trying to keep his smile in place but Kyo must have noticed because he frowned. "He'll believe you."
"I know that Kyo," Natsume said putting his smile back in place. "I really don't mind if he knows. I'm just tired after last night." Kyo chuckled.
"Me too. We were having such a nice quiet evening," Kyo said with a shake of his head.
"They all wanted to see what a human birthday was like," Natsume added. Shortly after they finished their desert Nyanko-sensei showed up with several of the local yokai; they ended up having a birthday party of sorts. Nyanko-sensei left with them early this morning.
"It was interesting to say the least," Kyo said with a genuine smile. It disappeared though when there was a knock at the door.
"Do you want me to get it?" Natsume asked his clearly nervous boyfriend.
"No, I got it," Kyo said as he got up. His boyfriend's hand hovered over the door handle and Natsume could see him shaking from here. After a very long tense moment Kyo finally opened the door.
A tall man walked into the apartment and immediately pulled Kyo into a bone crushing hug which Kyo returned just as fiercely. Natsume knew this man was Kyo's foster father. Natsume was happy for them both, but at the same time he felt a little lonely. He couldn't help but to wonder what it would be like to have someone like that care about him. He knew that Kyo cared, but that was different. He almost had it with the Fujiwaras, but it seemed that their real family came first. And in his experience real families always did.
That was one reason he was slightly hesitant about Kyo telling him about his abilities. He wasn't worried that the man wouldn't believe him, but that he would and see the stress that he was causing Kyo. His boyfriend was so upset and hurt by what happened to him. True this time it was by humans, but he had been hurt many times dealing with yokai. Him getting injured and being in danger wouldn't stop. What would Kyo's foster father think of him after seeing the worry he caused his son?
Natsume watched at the two of the talked quietly. They pulled out of the hug, but the man seemed hesitant to let go of Kyo. Like he was afraid that he would disappear. Natume felt like he was invading on something private that he shouldn't be seeing. This was Kyo's family not his.
"I think I'm going to go for a walk so you two can get reacquainted," Natsume said as he got up and grabbed his satchel.
"Natsume?" Kyo asked as he gave him a curious look.
"Its fine Kyo," Natsume reassured him. "You visit with your family."
"If you're sure," Kyo said looking uncertain.
"I am," Natsume told him. "Besides I need some air anyway."
"Alright then but I want you to call me in one hour," Kyo told him.
"Kyo I'll be…"
"One hour," Kyo pressed.
"One hour," Natsume agreed knowing that the older boy wouldn't let him leave until he agreed.
"I'll see you soon then," Kyo said and gave him a kiss seeming not to care that his foster father and cousin were standing right there. He had to admit though that the kiss did make him feel better.
"See you soon," Natsume replied after the kiss. He slipped his shoes on with his good hand and quietly made his leave.
~XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX~
Yuki watched the upset look on his cousin's face as the younger boy left. Yuki could tell that Kyo really was worried about him, but he could also tell that something was troubling Natsume as well. He almost seemed desperate to leave.
"I'll go with him," Yuki said as he opened the door. "And he's right you two do need some alone time to get reacquainted with each other."
"Thank you," Kyo said seeming relieved. Yuki nodded and made his leave. Natsume had barely made out of the apartment entrance when Yuki caught up with him.
"Would you like some company?" Yuki asked him.
"Alright," Natsume said as he looked at him curiously. Natsume then took off his sling and put it in his satchel.
"Don't you need that?" Yuki asked as he fell in step next to the younger boy slowing his pace as Natsume seemed to be favoring one leg.
"Not really," Natsume said with a shrug. "I use it more for Kyo's benefit."
"He does seem awfully worried," Yuki commented. Natsume flinched and looked down at the ground.
"I don't mean to make him worry like that," the younger boy said quietly. Yuki nervously rubbed the back of his neck. He hadn't meant to upset Natsume. He knew that Kyo was upset by what happened and he figured Natsume was as well. The younger boy, on the other hand, seemed more upset by the worry that he was causing Kyo than what happened to him.
"I'm kind of use to it, being injured I mean," Natsume explained. "Although it isn't usually humans that hurt me."
"So dealing with yokai is tough then," Yuki said deciding not to comment on the usually even though he was curious at what Natsume meant by that.
"Not so bad anymore," Natsume said as he waved at seemingly nothing. Yuki did see a tree branch move though so he figured that something must be there. "Are you sure you would rather walk with me than spend time with…"
"I planned on getting to know you last time I came up," Yuki told him, "but I kind of got distracted what with Kyo still being alive and all."
"You wanted to get to know me? Why?" Natsume asked curiously.
"First it was because you were Kyo's friend and you were kind of a connection to him. Now though. I mean we exchanged a few letters the last couple of months but it's not the same as talking face to face," Yuki told him.
"I guess you're right," Natsume said with a small smile.
They sort of lapsed into a semi-comfortable silence after that. Yuki really wanted to ask Natsume what it was like to see yokai but didn't. He figured that would be like someone asking him what it was like to be cursed and the answer was not pleasant. Still he couldn't help but to be curious especially when it seemed every little ways Natsume would acknowledge something that wasn't there, but in way there were signs. Like a ripple in a puddle, a moving tree branch, or a breeze coming out of nowhere; things like that.
"Are there really that many of them?" Yuki couldn't help but to ask.
"Ah, yeah," Natsume said seeming slightly embarrassed. "Am I creeping you out?"
"No, it's just," Yuki said as he tilted his head to the side and explained to Natsume the things he noticed. "So is that always them?"
"A lot of the time. They like to try and scare humans," Natsume told him. "But most of the ones here shouldn't bother you. And I won't let you get taken this time."
"I'm not worried about that. I mean it sounded like it was my fault anyway for not saying anything. I'll let you know if I think I see anything strange," Yuki told him. Natsume gave him a small smile.
"Can I ask if your family is still upset about…" Natsume said his voice trailing off.
"About Kyo's death?" Yuki asked. Natsume nodded in response. "A lot of them are and with his birthday…it's almost like he died again. Kazuma-san was the worst off. That's why I wanted Kyo to tell him."
"I'm glad that Kyo told him, but he's still worried about the head of your family," Natsume said. "Of what he might be up to."
"I'm worried about that myself," Yuki admitted. He just hoped that they would be able to stop whatever he was planning before it was too late.
~XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX~
"I can't believe you're actually alive," Kazuma said as he pulled Kyo into another hug after Yuki had left. Kyo returned as it felt good to hug the man again. "Yuki told me on the train and I didn't believe him."
"If it helps Yuki didn't believe it a first either. He kept staring at me. It was kind of creepy actually," Kyo said as he once again pulled out of the hug and looked at the man. "You look terrible Shishou."
"I just spent the several months mourning you," the man said quietly.
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. It's just that…" Kyo started to explain but the man held up his hand.
"Yuki explained all that to me too or at least he tried to. There were a few gaps in his story. But I am not upset with you for not contacting me. Under the circumstances I can't blame you," Kazuma said. "He also mentioned that you and Natsume were close and going by how you acted when he left…you're more than close, aren't you?"
"You could say that," Kyo said as he sat down on the couch his foster father following suit. "Would you be alright with me liking…"
"I don't care who you like as long as they love and accept you," Kazuma said. "Does he love and accept you?"
"Yeah," Kyo said with a small smile.
"And what about?" the man asked as he looked down at this bracelet.
"Yes even that," Kyo said with a shake of his head. In truth he hadn't thought about his bracelet for a while now when before it was all he thought about.
"And how did he take it?" Kazuma asked his voice quiet.
"You mean when he saw my other form or when he found out it was me?" Kyo asked with a smile.
"I don't understand," Kazuma said looking confused.
"There's something you have to understand about Natsume," Kyo said as he tried to figure out the best way to explain this without Natsume being here. It almost felt like he was betraying the younger boy. Natsume though gave him permission and he did like telling the story. "He can see yokai."
"Yokai? Seriously?" the man asked his voiced laced with more curiosity than doubt. Still the doubt was there, understandably, but it was there nonetheless. He was almost glad that Natsume went for that walk. Kyo nodded.
"Yeah. You see the night he saw my other form was that night of that storm. My bracelet was…" Kyo paused here figuring that his foster father didn't need to know that it was taken by a yokai as that would most likely upset him, "my bracelet had somehow slipped off. Then this large yokai was going to attack me. Natsume, not even knowing it was me, just saw someone that needed help literally flew in and saved me. It wasn't until after I transformed into a cat then back into myself that he knew that it was me he saved."
"He sounds like a very special young man," Kazuma said looking truly happy.
"He is," Kyo agreed, "but he's also an idiot. He's always putting himself in danger to save others. So far since I've know he's been clawed, which was my fault. I followed him when I shouldn't have and he got hurt protecting me. Then he was basically kidnapped. Then he was cursed and that almost killed him. He nearly drowned. All of that had to deal with yokai so I did the best I could for him. Not to mention that when he…uses his powers too much it exhausts him.
"And then he got attacked by those men. The one thing I can protect him from is humans and I couldn't even do that," Kyo said as he clenched his fists. "Those bastards left him for dead in that alley like he was trash and if I hadn't heard him…when I went to check on the noise I thought he was a pile of dirty clothes."
"Seeing him lying there so hurt. For a while I was worried that…" Kyo said as a sob escaped then a tear slipped down his cheek and suddenly Kyo was spilling all the anger and hurt he had been feeling about the attack that he had kept bottled up. Kazuma listened quietly and calmed him when he needed it. His soothing voice was like a balm on wounds he didn't even know he had.
"Did they ever find the people that attacked him?" Kazuma asked his voice still soothing.
"The police didn't but I did," Kyo told him. "And I made them pay for what they did."
"You didn't…" Kazuma said and his voice trailed off.
"No I didn't kill them," Kyo was quick to reassure the man, "but I almost did." His foster father let out a sigh.
"And how's Natsume dealing with all of this?" Kazuma asked.
"A little too well," Kyo said as he scrubbed at his eyes. "At first he was upset what with the attack and losing the Fujiwaras as foster parents but now…I'm sorry Shishou."
"Sorry? What are you apologize to me for?" Kazuma asked curiously.
"For taking you for granted," Kyo said with a sigh.
"Kyo you were just a child. You don't…" the man started to say but Kyo shook his head. He needed to say this.
"Natsume had just as terrible childhood as any of the Sohmas. He was shuffled from foster home to foster home since his father died. And most of them were terrible…" Kyo said as he scrubbed at his watery eyes. "At least when my mother died you took me in. I had a home, a bed, clothes, and even though you can't cook I never starved. Natsume never complains about his childhood but sometimes he says something. Just some small comment. He was lucky if he had any of those things, but one thing he never did have was someone he could go to."
"That poor boy," Kazuma said looking truly upset. "I should have done more for him."
"What do you mean? There was nothing you could have done for him," Kyo said as he looked at the distraught face of his foster father.
"But there was. That last time you played with him. I walked by that park after dropping you off at school and I found him sleeping under the slide. He had such a high fever that I brought him to the hospital, but that's all I did. I just left him there assuming his foster parents were going to come. When I went back the next day to see how he was doing I found out that he had gotten a new family and was moved. If I had known how rough he had it," here the man shrugged, "I don't know. I might have taken him in as well."
"It was probably better that you didn't. I mean I wish Natsume had some happy memories as a child and had you to raise him, but if Akito ever found out what he could do," Kyo said feeling sick at the idea. Not to mention The Book of Friends. If the evil bastard got his claws into that; Kyo didn't even want to contemplate the idea. "Natsume has a lot of power. Not to mention that after everything he's been through he's still kind. He probably would have lost that if he was raised with us."
"He's really that powerful?" Kazuma asked.
"Yeah. I know that Tohru wanted to break our curse, but wanting to and being able to are two different things. Natsume has said the same, but unlike Tohru I believe he has the power to do it. I've seen him seal yokai more than once. I'm just worried that he's going to do something stupid and reckless," Kyo told him.
"You really care a lot for this boy, don't you?" Kazuma asked with a silly grin.
"A lot," Kyo said as he fiddled with the pendant Natsume had given him last night. "I know that I just turned eighteen but I think that I might be in love with him."
"Well technically you're not eighteen for another," here Kazuma looked at the clock, "three hours." Kyo rolled his eyes. "But they say love is blind. And like I told all I want for you is to be happy and if Natsume makes you happy then that's all that matters."
"He does make me happy," Kyo said as he smiled at the man. "He also worries me to death."
"Another sign that you love him," Kazuma said with a chuckle.
"So the worry never goes away then," Kyo said as he continued to play with his pendant. Kazuma chuckled.
"No. In fact the more you care about someone the more you worry about them," the man told him.
"Hmmm," Kyo hummed as he glanced at the clock and saw that they hadn't been gone an hour quite yet.
"You really are worried about him," Kazuma said.
"A bit," Kyo said as he turned his attention back to the man, "like I said Natsume just seems to find trouble. Then after what happened last time Yuki visited."
"And what happened last time?" Kazuma asked.
"That is a very long story…" Kyo said and then launched into the story.
"Everyone was alright after that?" Kazuma asked surprise clearly in his voice.
"That was one of the calmer incidents. He didn't even collapse," Kyo said with a sigh. Even though it had ended smoothly it could have very easily gone in the other direction. He was taking out of his thoughts by his phone ringing. Kazuma had a knowing smile on his face as Kyo answered his phone.
"Hello," Kyo said.
"Hi Kyo," Natsume said sounding slightly off which made Kyo frown. "Is everything going alright?"
"Everything's going really, really well," Kyo answered. "How are things for you?"
"Fine," Natsume said still sounding odd.
"You sure?" Kyo asked. "You're not too much pain or anything?"
"No. I'm actually feeling pretty good for once. Me and Yuki stopped for ice cream," Natsume told him.
"Well that's nice. Are you two coming back soon?" Kyo asked.
"Are you ready for me to come back?" Natsume asked in return. "Because if you wanted to spend some time with your family I could stay with Tanuma."
"Of course I'm ready for you to come back and you don't need to spend the night with Tanuma," Kyo said his frown deepening.
"I just didn't want to get in the way," Natsume told him.
"Get in the…Natsume this is your home. You won't be in the way. You two just come back, okay," Kyo told him.
"Alright," Natsume agreed. "We'll come back as soon as we are done with our ice cream."
"I'll see you soon then," Kyo said and then ended call.
"Is everything alright?" Kazuma asked him.
"Yeah it's just that Natsume still sounds upset," Kyo told him.
"Well after everything he's been through recently that's understandable," Kazuma told him.
"Guess you're right," Kyo said as he ran his hands through his hair. Something was telling him that there was more to it than that. He just didn't know what it was.
"So besides falling in love what else have you been up to?" the man asked him.
"Well…" Kyo said with a smile.