AN- I wont be here for a while, so here you go.
READ THE LAST CHAPTER
i expanded it! there's more now, I just added on to it, so have a gander if you didn't know.
Chapter Fifty Three
(Yuki's POV)
It was nice, having the house so alive.
Haru and Momiji knew how to make the place seem quite lived in, and Tohru was simply ecstatic to have two of her favourite zodiac members gobbling down her carefully prepared meal. Kyo sat beside me instead of across the way, perhaps as a precaution in case Haru felt like he needed to get even with Kyo for the bruise on his cheek.
Shigure was also just as flamboyant over hosting, chattering pointlessly through mouthfuls of food. I felt Kyo's shoulder twitch with agitation every time Shigure rambled about something ridiculous, or when Haru would robotically comment on anything without obvious reason, or when Momiji would show his usual enthusiasm. I would just grin in amusement.
Kyo's been showing more self-restraint with himself in a lot of different ways, and I wonder if it's just always been there and he just hasn't cared to show it, or if I've helped build his tolerance.
At some points Kyo would curl his hands into fists on his thighs underneath the table, looking like he's just about to explode, so I would brush his fingers with mine in teasing reassurance—and it seemed to work, his agitated eyes would spring up to mine in distraction, and I would give him a smirk and go back to the conversation.
I didn't exactly want to be around when Kyo's pent-up anger exploded.
So when dinner was done, I eagerly stood up and helped Tohru clear the dishes and wash them, Haru faithfully up for the labour, and Momiji conversing pleasantly with Shigure. Haru joined in with the conversation Tohru and I had easily started, and soon we were talking about when the summer would be over. The first month of our vacation was already halfway gone, and even though it wasn't a very long time, it was longer then I had thought. Time really was passing me by.
Tohru handed me another cleaned plate and I ran it under the water thoroughly before handing it to Haru who held the dishtowel. A bright laughter erupted from the dining room, and I wondered if it were possible for Momiji to not show his enthusiasm for life, it was a reassuring.
When we finished the dishes, Tohru escorted Haru and Momiji to the door to say good-bye since the sun was beginning to set, concerned for their trip home despite their relaxed reassurance. I only waved and left the kitchen, heading upstairs. I tapped on Kyo's door, peeking inside to see it's vacated space, and knew where he was. I wondered down the hall and pushed open a door, stepping out onto the platform where Tohru did the laundry. I climbed up the short ladder and pushed my body up onto the roof.
I approached Kyo, who was lying on his back, hands laced behind his head, but not seemingly at ease.
"Can I join you?" I asked unnecessarily, already lacing my legs and sitting beside him. He looked over to me and I kept his eyes for a moment before looking out. The day had passed by easily when Haru and Momiji were visiting, the clocks catching their eccentric behaviour.
"They're gone now, you know." I said casually.
Kyo scoffed, "Yeah, for how long."
"They don't come that often."
"They come often enough."
"You know…" I looked down at him curiously, "You're really anti-social."
"Really?" He asked with mockingly incredulous, "Jut figured that out, did you?"
I frowned at him, "It surprises me."
"Can't all be social butterflies." Kyo muttered.
He didn't really seem to be all that into the conversation, but I was really intrigued by this fact. I scrutinized him, as if the answer would appear on his face if I looked hard enough… but that theory didn't work, "Why not?"
"Why not what?"
"Why don't you like people?" I asked curiously, unsure if that was the right way to word it.
"Why should I?" He said with casual stubbornness, "They don't like me, moot point."
I chuckled at him, "Are you serious? People flock to you."
He looked up at me now, rising and incredulous eyebrow and curling his lip in disgust "Flock?"
"Not literally." I said slowly for him, "I meant they… are drawn to you."
"Teh, yeah right." Kyo scoffed, "Who cares if their acting like a bunch of ducks."
"Stop being stupid," I hit his head, "Do you do that on purpose?"
Kyo scowled at me, wrinkling his nose, but made no other reaction, so I continued, "You attract people, I see it all the time."
He blinked up at me, "No, it just seems like that cuz I'm with you."
It was my turn to scowl at him; "I noticed it before the earth stopped rotating."
He grinned, "Nah, it just went in reverse."
"Alright, whatever the earth's doing, you're like the centre of gravity in a room." I said easily, "People are just compelled to you."
"Centre of gravity?" Kyo snorted, "That's a bit extreme."
I shrugged, "You're extreme."
He looked at me for a moment, scrutinizing my expression… "Am I the centre of you're gravity?"
I looked at him, his curious eyes, intent gaze, and in all honestly I answered with a smile, "Extremely."
I loved it, being able to tell him the truth, but have him think I'm teasing him. Kyo narrowed his eyes at me and looked up at the sky, but he didn't seem irritated.
I wonder where all his anger went.
I looked at him—so what was it exactly? That had people tripping over each other for him? The first reason was obvious—the brilliant colour of his vibrant hair. He stood out in a crowd, the breaking sun through morning clouds. It was impossible not to be drawn to such a vivacious colour. But after a few minutes of being around him, you can't help but be astounded by how he's just as effervescent as his bright hair and powerful eyes.
Maybe it was the casual aura about him, though the hostile air he emitted often obscured it… but that might have just been around me. He was just so obviously laid back, yet his behaviour was so eccentric and exaggerating, his odd character was so forceful. Like so many others, I found amusement in toying with his mind, to try and see what kind of reaction I would get. He was interesting. Captivating, entrancing, compelling, vibrant, lively, he glowed.
There was a blinding light about him, a scorching brightness, a brilliant shine.
Kyo was a reincarnation of the sun.
Furious, bright, fiery, beautiful, radiant and alive.
Even in the darkness of his hate, I was still amazed by him.
"You know… you tilt the world on your own."
I brought myself back to the rooftop and looked down at him again as he gazed at the dimming sky. He continued, "You've got everyone like putty in your hands, and you don't even realise it, do you?"
"You're exaggerating." I said, "I'm the student council president, of course they'll hear me out, but I don't have any more effect then that."
Kyo looked up at me like he didn't believe what I was saying, "Alright, you can't call me stupid anymore if you're gonna be like that."
"Be like what?"
"Um… stupid?"
I sighed, "Kyo… it's not the same, don't compare yourself to me."
"Why not?" Kyo said in quick competition.
I looked over to him, "People are drawn by everything about you."
He raised his eyebrow when I didn't continued, "And…?"
"And it's not like that with me."
"You're such a baby." Kyo said, with no aggravation, "Stop acting like that, it bugs me."
I lay back to join Kyo, gazing up at the darkening sky. I didn't comment, so he continued.
"You know what people like about you?" He started, "There's just sumthin' about you, it's kind of unnatural, you're not like everyone else."
I scoffed, "That's fantastic, thank you." I love hearing about how obviously unnatural I am.
"No, look, it's kinda hard to explain…" I looked over to see Kyo frowning in concentrating before trying again, "You're really… secretive, you got this really… Nnn, mysterious air about you, I dunno." He cringed at the word.
I blinked at him, "Mysterious air?" I rolled my eyes, "Nice one."
"Could you shut up and let me talk?"
I hid a grin.
"Alright, so, like I was saying." Kyo said in disapproval of my interruptions, "You're really majestic in their eyes, just the way you look, the way you hold yourself, you're almost like smoke, or fog, or sumthin'." He sounded contemplative, "You got the looks, but it's how you isolate yourself that has everyone so interested in you. You're this huge big frickn' mystery that no one can figure out."
He glanced at me, "You're always so calm and composed, crap like that… everyone wants a piece of you, they all wanna know more about you, get under your skin, y'know?"
"So that's how it is." I said, trying to hide my mocking tone, and Kyo caught it instantly, already so familiar with me.
He gave me a smirk, "You're a really interesting guy."
"So that's what people like about me?" I said incredulously, not bothering to hide how unconvinced I had been, despite his measurable eyes and the tone of sincerity hidden in his voice.
He shrugged, "That's what I'm guessing."
I sighed. That really sucked, in my perspective. Everyone thought I was interesting because they don't know anything about me—and the reason they don't know anything about me is because I'm completely dull, and I don't want anyone to know it.
"D'you wanna know what I like about you?"
He got my attention and I involuntarily looked at him with earnest eyes, and with a grin he continued, "I like you because… well, because it was the complete opposite for me."
"What was?"
"Well, at first…" His voice slunk into perceptiveness, "At first, I thought I knew everything there was about you. I thought I knew you inside and out." He paused for a moment, contemplating while looking at me, "But… you threw me completely off balance. You totally twisted everything around on me," He frowned, "It really pissed me off, cuz I got so damn confused all the time, and it was all over you. It was so frickn' irritating, you have no idea."
The corners of my lips tugged, "Don't I?"
He snorted and rolled his eyes up to the sky, and he spoke again, "There's more… but the rest is a secret."
"A secret?" I repeated incredulously and he looked over to me and nodded solemnly—I scoffed and shoved his face away, "You're ridiculous."
"You can't say anything," Kyo defended against my denying expression, "Cuz that's how I see it, and I know more then you do."
"Hell would freeze over before you know more then I do."
"Well, the world's already shifting gravity and going backwards, so why not destroy Hell while we're at it?"
I grinned, "Where does that put us?"
He scrunched up his nose, "I dunno… heaven?"
"Heaven…" I murmured.
Who knew if it existed.
"Or you know, we could just be floating particles in an endless abyss."
"Not to be too optimistic or anything."
Kyo grinned at me in response.
We were silent for the next few minutes, giving the slight twilight breeze a chance to converse with the leaves. The sun was now consumed by the greedy horizon, the evading glow dispersing from the lacing clouds, which also began to dissolve as the night took its reign.
I knew why Kyo came up here when he was angry, or irritated. The calming expansion of the endless sky was tranquil in the disconcerting feeling of insignificance it bestowed on us. Our problems, our lives, our existence was so trivial, so human compared to the prevailing immortality of the timeless sky.
"Yuki…"
"Hn?" I said through my serenity.
I felt the tight hesitation emit from Kyo, and after I heard him shift beside me, I glanced over to him, "Yes?"
He furrowed his brow uncertainly, keeping his eyes cast to the sky, and I waited patiently.
"If I…" He started, "…If I ask you to do something for me, will you?"
I was instantly cautious, but dominantly curious, "Like what?"
He shifted, pushing himself into a sitting position, resting his forearms on his bent knees as he glared off into the distance.
I waited.
He ran a hand through his hair slowly, "Don't… go to the Main House without me."
I tilted my head in curiosity… and then I sighed, "Kyo, you don't have to get—"
"I'm not." He said instantly, cutting me off. I bit back my tongue, and he let out a frustrated sigh, his hand resting at the back of his neck, "Look, I just… don't want you going there without telling me, alright?"
I rolled my eyes, "You're not my mother, Kyo."
"I'm not acting like your damn mother!" His voice was instantly irritated and edgy as he shot a glare at me.
"What are you so worried about?" I challenged.
He narrowed his eyes, "Well, obviously, I should be worried if you don't wanna tell me."
"Maybe I don't want to tell you because it doesn't concern you." I said casually.
Kyo's eyes were in slits, and he shifted, turning his body so he could rest a hand beside me, and then another on my other side until he was looming over me.
I had nowhere to look but in his insistent, temperate red eyes, trying to persuade me effectively as he held himself above my body.
"Don't get grouchy." He said, "You don't have to, I was just asking."
He was over-reacting. Nothing would happen at the Main House, if I ever felt the need to go back there it would be a harmless trip. So there was no need in telling him, getting him worked up.
I watched as his calm nature emitted in softening waves from him.
He was just concerned; he didn't want to get blamed for anything. He was blamed for enough; I could understand why he didn't want anything from me put on his shoulders. Besides, it's not like he'd come bursting through the gates with samurai swords strapped on his chest and waist with a medieval helmet… or anything Kyo-like.
"Alright." I agreed with an absent voice, "It wouldn't matter anyway."
"No, it wouldn't." He agreed, but I could see the satisfaction in his warm red eyes as he gazed back at me from above.
The night was cascading over us, calming the roar of Kyo's vibrant hair, and softening my outlook on everything. The air was cooler, not as hot, but still moderately warm. I could easily fall asleep up here, if it weren't for the firm roof underneath my back.
Kyo slowly brought his face down to mine and showed me his appreciation.
(Kyo's POV)
"Yuki?"
"Nnn…"
"Yuki, get up."
Yuki buried his face further into my pillow with a disgruntled noise.
I frowned and nudged his side, "Wake up."
Yuki slid one of his hands out from underneath the pillow to try and get me to quit my insistence. I curled my fingers around his wrist and put my mouth to his ear, "Get up, Yuki."
"Go away." He mumbled, his voice muffled from the pillow and his sleepy state.
I was restless, bored, I was a fuelled sports car, revved and yearning to gas it. I shifted so I was practically on top of Yuki's sleeping back and I tried again, "It's almost noon."
Yuki shifted, his face turning slightly to peek at the clock—and the he groaned and shoved his face back into the pillow, "It's seven thirty."
I grinned, "Close enough."
"Nnn…"
I frowned, "Why the hell are you tired?"
"Cuz you kept me up last night?"
"Like hell I did." I scoffed.
"You were talking in your sleep, Baka." Yuki's voice was disgruntled and slurred with tired haze.
I grimaced, "Was not."
"Was too."
I rolled my eyes, "Who cares."
Yuki grunted, still refusing to humour me. I glared down at him… "Okay, what did I say then?"
He let out a frustrated sigh, "Sumthin' 'bout particles an' th' north… hemisphere…"
I waited for more, but he had no doubt fallen asleep again. I scrunched up my nose, "You're fault! Get up!"
"What do you want?" Yuki growled, "Let me sleep!"
"I wanna do something, lets go somewhere," I ranted, resting my chin on his shoulder and gazing out my window to the sun that welcomed me through stiff, refining glass.
"Do sumthin' then." He slurred.
I wrinkled my nose, "No fun doing it alone."
"I'll go with you later…" his voice was faint, he was drifting away again.
He wasn't going to be any fun if he was fainting everywhere, so I sighed in defeat, "Fine."
Yuki's sigh was in relief.
I glanced at my door… what should I do, then?
"Don't go." I said in his ear, and he shifted, flipping his fist up on the pillow and giving me a thumbs-up.
I laughed shortly at him, amused by his untidy state. I pushed myself off of him, getting on my feet on the floor.
I glanced back at him.
I grinned—'prince', my ass.
(Yuki's POV)
I was hungry.
That's what woke me up.
I groaned before stretching my body, and relaxing with a content sigh. I was glad Kyo found it in his heart to let me sleep in more—of course, if he didn't, I would have knocked his teeth in to shut him up. He was always so energetic, how did he manage it.
I pushed myself over onto my back, and slid my eyes open before shielding them against the blinding sun that was streaming through Kyo's opened window. The warm summer air drifted into his room, waking up my senses with its fresh scent and bright insistence.
I heard the door open—and I looked over and saw Kyo close the door behind him.
"That didn't take long." He said in a sarcastic voice, his hair a darker shade of orange from it's dampened state as Kyo tossed his towel off his shoulder and into the laundry basket against his wall.
"What, do you have hour-long showers?" I replied to his mocking.
His grin was pronounced, "I went for a run, then I had a shower."
"Good, I don't wanna put up with your ridiculous energy." I sat up and rubbed the back of my neck, which was aching slightly from my long sleep.
"Yup. Two hour's worth."
I looked back at him, "You were running for two hours?"
His smile was triumphant, "Hell yeah, it felt so damn good!"
I rolled my eyes—he was probably exaggerating… though, I could believe it, seeing as it was Kyo and his over loading amount of stamina.
"So…"
Kyo was in front of me, a hand casually on his hip as he assessed me. I slid my legs off the bed and tugged at his shirt, keeping him in between my knees as he looked down at me.
"You wanna go out for lunch?" He asked casually.
I looked up at him, remembering my hunger, "Yeah, I'm starving."
"You should be." His hand drifted away and he tapped his alarm clock, "Now it's noon."
I sighed; I had to stop sleeping in so late.
"C'mon," Kyo grabbed my hand and pulled my up from the bed, "Catch up on your sleep this weekend, I'm hungry."
"Alright, give me five minutes." I said before stifling a yawn as I wondered past Kyo.
I had almost forgotten about this weekend from the frantic event of having Haru and Momiji over for dinner.
I exited Kyo's room, walked across the hall and escaped into my room.
I was actually quite relieved that we had an escape for this weekend, sticking around all the other Sohma's was getting a bit bothersome with everyone always looking at us with confused or disapproving glances, like any second Akito would come bursting through the door and create chaos.
I supposed I was getting anxious over it myself, but I was always a little too practiced at repressing unpleasant emotions, bottling them up and ignoring them until they overflowed. But it was so easy to forget all my anxieties and worries when I was with Kyo, rolling my eyes at his immaturity, grinning at his reactions, shooting back at his remarks, and trying to keep my blush down from his radiant gaze.
I was really just looking forward to relaxing, though my body wasn't tired—my mind's been hammering me off the door. My subconscious wasn't going easy on me either; my night's weren't as peaceful as they once were when I started sleeping with Kyo. They were still indisputably much more appreciated then the nights alone in my room, which I have abandoned for well over a month now… so I had nothing to complain about.
I dressed routinely, brushed my teeth of my morning breath, washed my face, and by the time I was done I was fully awake, walking patiently into the kitchen.
"Going somewhere?" Shigure asked as he leaned against the doorframe of the dining room.
"What's it look like?" Kyo said from the entrance hall, shoving on his shoes.
"We're going out for lunch, is Honda-San here?" I asked.
Shigure shook his head sadly, "No, she's still working—hey can I come with you? I'm hungry too!"
Kyo growled disapprovingly and entered the scene; grabbing a hold of my hand, "Make yourself sumthin."
I sighed as Kyo tugged me along with him as we headed for the entrance, "I'll bring back something for you, Shigure." I said absently as Kyo allowed me time to slip into my own shoes.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Adults don't need to eat. You see, children, when you grow up, your body creates food for you, but the only catch is, you need to be in the sun."
I froze half way through slipping on my last shoe to stare incredulously at Shigure who was looking quite proud of himself, until his eyes shifted uncertainly between Kyo and I.
"Oh, is this a date?" Shigure said excitedly, clasping his hands together with excitement dancing in his eyes.
"I'm losing brain cells… let's go." I tugged at Kyo's shirt, opening the door quickly to escape the evident stupidity that was intoxicating the air.
"Fair well, Love Birds! May the sun of Love shine down on your delicately intertwined souls!"
"SHUT UP!"
"And bring me back something tasty and delicious!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
I'd tell him to stop yelling, but that never worked, did it?
-End-
AN- Dammit, more build up... this chapter felt boring to me, I'm sorry if you didn't like it! But it was really just filler. I guess I'm just too excited about writing what's about to come soon-- but you wont know what it is until i post it!!
