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.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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Students started filing into the class, catching up over the weekend before the final bell rang. The morning light was pouring through the large windows. Kyo was leaning back in his desk by the window reading a comic book while his school friends talked about some movie they caught on the weekend.
Tohru was sitting at her desk, surrounded by her friends who were eager to know how she felt after the make-up exam, knowing how much she had stressed over it.
" Marley-Chan! Thank you again for helping me study!" Tohru thanked Marley, and the tall girl just laughed and insisted that it was no trouble for the 5th time.
"How did it go?" Marley asked as she put her hands on Tohru's desk and slightly leaned forward, eager to hear the news.
"I felt really good about it, and it felt a lot easier!" The brunette had felt really good about her English exam and was already looking for ways to pay back Marley. Maybe dinner or some baked goods.
"That's good." The girl smiled, relieved to see that Tohru was over her fever and had most likely done well on the exam she had been stressing out about.
"Yes... just as I expected." Hana softly mused as she put a few curls in Tohru's hair. Marley wasn't sure where the curling iron had come from, but she hoped Hana had enough time to do both sides of the brunette's hair.
"Hana... did you... fail on purpose just so you could check out the makeup exams?" Marley asked although she felt like she already knew the answer.
Maybe Hana was onto something, and Marley wouldn't mind taking an easier math exam. Uo looked over at Marley and noticed something odd.
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"Whoa Marley, what the hell happened to you? Trying to hide a hickey, perhaps?" Uo teased as she pointed to the bandage on Marley's neck. Marley's brown face blew up red at the blonde's accusation.
"What?! Um no, just.. um, I-.." Marley looked to Tohru for help, who looked as lost as she did. It's not like they could tell the truth.
" I don't think she wishes to tell us, Arisa." Hana was quick to pick up how uncomfortable both Marley and Tohru were.
" See, that just makes me wanna know more. Spill." Uo pushed, wanting to hear the details and Marley tried to repeat it was a just a small cut as Uo continued to ask, using her elbow to jokingly jab her in the ribs.
"Can someone please bring these papers to the teacher's lounge for Mayu-Sensei?" The class vice-president asked as she held a large stack paper.
"I'll do it!" Tohru immediately volunteered and was out the door, leaving Marley to try and explain her scratches to the two girls.
"So... is it a hickey?" Uo started wiggling her eyebrows and Marley couldn't help but laugh and shake her head. "No, just a few light scratches. Scouts honour." Marley vowed, successfully letting Uo down.
"Booo! That's no fun." Uo whined as she crossed her arms, the ex-gangster was hoping for some juicy gossip.
"Who would I be getting hickey's from anyway?" Marley giggled, finding herself enjoying the light-hearted conversation, even if it meant the two girls were teasing her.
" All those love confessions and you're not out on dates every weekend? Girl, at least take advantage and get some free food out of a few suckers." Uo said, shaking Marley side to side as she just laughed.
"Honestly, I don't really think I'm all that interested in dating right now..." Marley told them truthfully. With all the changes in her life, she didn't feel the need to go out into the dating world just yet.
"Ah, but that's when it happens..." Hana warned, her voice going a little ominous.
"Huh?" Both Uo and Marley looked at Hana, waiting to hear what else she had to say.
"When you're not looking for love, that's when someone snatches your heart without you realizing what's happening... and by then... it's too late." Hana stated as she put away the curling iron in her desk.
"... yeah no dating for me, never mind getting hickeys, they're such a pain to get rid of..." Marley whined, and this caused Uo to wiggle her thin eyebrows at her.
"Ah, so you have had hickey's before." Uo teased, and Marley regretted saying anything at all, reminding herself to maybe think a little harder before she spoke.
" Yes, but it doesn't really matter, he was caught up in the moment I guess." Marley simply put, trying to play it off as not a big deal, and both Hana and Uo were waiting to hear more. The bell went off before they could ask more questions, but Marley felt this conversation was far from over.
Uo and Marley took their seats and waited for everyone else to settle down.
"Hey, we're not done talking.." Uo protested as she sat down at her desk but turned her head and pointed at Marley.
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"Well... it's really not...it's complicated." Marley didn't want to get into it at the moment. Not that it was a bad memory or anything, but it wasn't a good one either.
"What are ya two talking about?" Kyo asked from his desk that was behind Marley's, slightly pulling on a white-blonde curl to get her attention. Marley was about to say it was nothing as Uo interrupted her.
"About who's been giving Marley hickey's." Uo teased as she again wiggled her eyebrows.
"HAh!" Kyo yelled while jumping to his feet, causing everyone in the class to look at his outburst. Before he could continue yelling, the teacher entered the room and threw a whiteboard eraser at Kyo's face, ordering him to quiet down. Uo laughed, and Marley sent him an apologetic look. Kyo glared and sat himself down, crossing his arms and continued glaring out the window.
"It's... it's not important... really it was once a long time ago..." Marley whispered behind her shoulder, catching Kyo's eyes in hers. She didn't know why but she didn't want Kyo thinking that she was going around kissing boys and letting them mark her up. Marley cared about what Kyo thought of her.
The boy's face went a little red, embarrassed he had gotten upset for something that wasn't any of his business and returned to just glaring at the table, muttering that it didn't matter.
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.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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Tohru walked through the halls, a lot on her mind. She felt like so much had changed in just a short amount of time. The air felt different at home...
She had so many questions but had no idea how to bring it up. The girl didn't want to bring up anything to uncomfortable. Tohru couldn't help but wonder if Marley was in the dark as much as she was. While Marley was a Sohma, that didn't mean she knew more than anyone else.
Tohru wondered about that night. At least of what she could remember of it. She was sure that Kagura had stayed the night, but she was gone in the morning without even saying goodbye. And Yuki seemed a little sad.
"Honda-San..." Tohru heard her name being called and turned around to see Hatsuharu walking down the hall towards her. Other students stared at the dual-haired boy as he passed them by. She swore she could see little hearts almost floating around as girls gawked at him.
"Hi, Hatsuharu-San. Momiji-Kun isn't with you today?" She looked around for the cute blond boy, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"He's loud, so I left him in class." Hatsuharu simply shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Oh..." Tohru awkwardly smiled, she could understand how Momiji could be a little... much sometimes.
" Is Yuki... around?" Haru asked.
"Ah... no. I think he had a student council meeting. I could give him a message if you like." Tohru offered, the last she saw of Yuki was this morning when they parted ways. She imagined she would see him in class after he was done.
"A message... the thing is.. the last time I spotted him, he seemed..." Haru didn't have to finish the sentence, Tohru knew what he was thinking. So she wasn't the only one who had noticed, which meant it wasn't just in her head. Yuki seemed depressed.
"Ah..." she wanted to say something, there were so many questions she wanted to ask but couldn't even begin to think about the best way to ask.
"Ah... it's nothing.." Tohru tried to lie. It wasn't nothing, something had happened. But she didn't feel like it was her place to tell Hatsuharu about what had transpired over the weekend at Shigure's home.
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Could... Could it be that Yuki-Kun also saw Kyo-Kun's true form that night?
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The brunette remembered how when the smoke had cleared after Kazuma had taken away Kyo's bead. A form she had never seen before, crouching on the ground, bright animalistic eyes staring at her, sharp teeth lining its jaw. It would be an image she wouldn't soon forget.
Tohru had remembered when Kagura had mentioned loving Kyo, even loving 'his true form,' which had caused Kyo to quickly cover the girl's mouth before she said anymore.
It seemed like Kagura-San already knew about his true form.
Tohru felt a soft pat on her head and looked up to meet Haru's eyes.
"...Yeah... see ya." Haru swiftly turned around and started walking away.
"huh?" Tohru felt more confused as she blankly stared at Haru's back as he walked away. But she hoped that Haru would find Yuki and maybe be able to lend a shoulder to lean on.
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.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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Yuki leaned on the balcony outside, overlooking the school grounds, it was a beautiful day out, but he couldn't enjoy it. He felt a tight pain in his chest and his mind felt like... it was in chaos.
"Hey... Did somethin' happen? You look kind of down.." Haru pointed out as he stood next to Yuki, leaning his foot against the fence and stuffing his hands in his pockets.
" I'm struggling at the moment.. so don't make it worse with talk like that.." Yuki didn't even raise his head to look at his fellow Zodiac member, too exhausted.
"You're struggling, huh?" Haru sighed.
"Does it have anything to do with why you guys didn't show up to Marley's show on Friday?" Haru asked as he looked up at a few passing white clouds. They had all been wondering the same thing, and when Marley had left in a rush it had only left the other Zodiacs in more confusion. Isuzu had mentioned more than a few times that would kick Kyo when she saw him.
"Haru... How's Kagura doing?" Yuki asked, changing the subject but also finding himself wondering how the Boar was doing with recent events. Was she hurting too?
"You're asking me? I don't see her much, but I guess she's fine... something happen with Kagura-Nee ?" Haru asked as he turned and leaned back against the fence, keeping his attention solely on Yuki.
Yuki thought back to the morning after that night. He had been up earlier than normal, he had barely gotten any sleep in the first place. Too much on his mind.
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The pretty brunette was slipping on her shoes by the door, getting ready to head out.
"Kagura, you're going home? Everybody else is still sleeping." Yuki asked as he stepped off the stairs and into the hallway.
" I know, but I've got something today. Tell Kyo-Kun I'll see him soon... although I doubt you'll pass that on Yun-Chan." Kagura smiled at Yuki, but there was something else behind her eyes.
"Kagura..." He called out, he wanted to ask her if she was okay. Had Kagura been okay with seeing Kyo's true form? Was she okay that Marley had been able to bring him back?
"Mmm?" Kagura waited for Yuki to say something. An ugly feeling built in his chest as he thought of that ugly form. An even uglier feeling broke out when he watched Marley run into the woods looking for the Cat, her long white-blonde hair flying behind and the soft jingle of her bracelets disappearing into the night.
"... Never mind..." Yuki backed down, looking at the ground and fiddling with his hands.
"Huh? What is it? You're acting weird Yun-Chan." Kagura giggled and bid him goodbye, quietly closing the door behind her as she left.
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" Something did happen.. but I'm not telling you what it was," Yuki told him. No. He was going to hold it in.
Keep the lid on tight... about that 'form' and everything else..otherwise.. all those ugly feelings with spill out...
Yuki still sometimes felt like he was in the darkroom without any light, huddled in the corner, wrapping his arms around him as a way to be protected.
... I'll be overcome by filthy feelings like hatred and revulsion again...I don't want that to happen
"Honda-San was worried about you," Haru revealed, and Yuki's eyes widened as he took in Haru's words.
" You didn't notice?" Haru asked even though he figured that Yuki hadn't noticed. The boy tended to get caught up in his own world.
"No..." Yuki admitted, feeling guilty that he hadn't even noticed. The last thing he wanted to cause Tohru any kind of inconvenience.
"Well, whether you express your feelings or not.. is up to you, Yuki. But it would be decent of you to put her mind at ease." The dual haired boy advised, fixing one of his sleeves that had rolled down.
"At least.. for Honda-San .. and Marley as well," Haru mentioned and the grey-haired boy was surprised to hear her name being brought up.
"Marley-San?" Yuki asked as he didn't imagine Marley thought of him or would worry about him at all. The girl was so close to everyone else, and Yuki found himself being on the outside. The bronze beauty was always kind and friendly to him, but Yuki felt like there was some barrier between the two. A barrier that maybe he had put there. To keep him safe.
It was well known among the Sohma's that Marley was close with Akito, and he wanted to distance himself as much as he could from the head of the Sohma family.
He still wasn't sure how to approach Marley. She ended up being different from what he imagined.
" We were at her place for lunch and... well. She seemed to have a lot on her mind, and she actually asked me about you." Haru thought back to just the day before, where he and Isuzu had invited themselves over, and Marley simply made them some mac n cheese and cut up some fruit for dessert.
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" I feel like I can't tell you because I don't think it's mine to tell... but you're close with Yuki, right?" Marley asked as she placed some chopped up apples with a small bowl of caramel for dipping on the living room table.
"He was my first love," Haru mentioned as he grabbed an apple and coated it in caramel, shoving it in his mouth before the caramel dribbled onto the table.
Marley looked over at Isuzu, who almost looked like she was pouting over Haru's statement.
"Don't worry, you are number one in my heart." Haru comforted her as he leaned over placed a soft kiss on her lips. They were the only three in the house, so it was safe for Haru and Isuzu to let their guard down and just be together.
"... I wasn't worried..." She lied, turning around to face the T.V, not wanting the two to tease her for her red face. Marley only smiled at the two, cooing at how cute they were. Only causing the still blushing black-haired beauty to throw an apple slice at her.
"But, you were asking about Yuki?" Haru asked as Marley picked up the apple and threw it back at Isuzu, who caught it in her mouth.
" Ah yes. I just.. I know Yuki and Kyo fight.. but yesterday, he said something that was just... it seemed to be seated in something dark...I can't help worry - " Marley tried to put together the words as she fidgets with her hands.
"It feels like... he's holding something very... I don't know how to describe it but.. I just wish I could help somehow, but I don't even know what.. to do." Marley let out a giant sigh, she hated feeling like this. Feeling useless.
Marley continued to look down at her hands, Isuzu and Haru both noticed the troubled look in her eyes and then looked to each other. They knew Marley wasn't wrong in her feelings, but what could they really say to comfort her.
"Also, he's about as pale as a sheet of paper, he needs a good trip to the beach," Marley mentioned as this caused Haru to laugh while Isuzu shook her head, not believing that she loved these two idiots.
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" I know you and Marley haven't really hung out much... but I think she also has a lot of stuff that she's keeping inside. So I think she can tell when someone else is doing the same. And she is good at keeping secrets if you have anything you want to talk to her about. " Haru explained, smiling a bit at the end.
" You were over at her house?" Yuki asked as he raised an eyebrow, deciding to gloss over Haru, offering up Marley as someone to open up to.
"We hang out there a lot. It's kind of become of a bit of... a safe house, I guess for us." It was true, being a Zodiac member made it hard to just.. Feel like a regular person, but Haru found that Marley treated them like they were... so unconditionally loved and welcomed, that's all the members of the Zodiac's ever wanted. That what anyone ever wanted.
" 'We'? 'Us?' " Yuki repeated, wondering who that entailed.
" A bunch of us Zodiac members." Haru shrugged as he looked over at his friend.
"Tetsuo-Sama is okay with that." Yuki somehow doubted that any place in the Sohma Estate could be a 'safe house.' And Tetsuo Sohma seemed like the last man on the planet who would be happy with a bunch of kids hanging out at his house.
"Yeah, for the most part. He's away right now, but he's actually pretty chill once you get over that ice-cold glare that lives on his face. You should come over one day when you decide to step foot back into the Estate." Haru offered, even though it wasn't his house, he still felt it was okay to invite Yuki over. And it's not like Marley would say 'No.'
"I doubt I'll be making any friendly visits to the Estate.." Yuki scoffed at the idea. He was staying far away from the Sohma Estate as long as possible.
"Marley's home... it isn't like the rest of the Estate. You can breathe there and... it's nice.. and a lot of fun." Haru smiled at the sky as he tried to explain the home that Marley had created for herself in the Sohma Estate. A home she had built for everyone who entered. Going to her house always felt like one was coming home after a long journey.
"..." Yuki stayed silent, and Haru thought of something that might entice the boy to come over.
"Sometimes Marley doesn't wear a bra, and it might get a little chilly, and you can see her ni-"
Haru was immediately swatted down by Yuki, whose face was raging pink.
" How can you say something like that so casually?" Yuki scolded, trying to figure out how he and this pervert were friends.
"I'm a growing boy with hormones..." Haru defended himself without feeling any shame what so ever about what he just said as he got up and dusted himself off.
Yuki let out a loud groan and rested his head on his arms as he leaned on the fence. A small breeze blew through as the two just sat in silence.
"I'm worried about you too." Haru finally broke the silence and Yuki couldn't help but smile as he shook his head. Despite some of the insane things that left the Cow's mouth, he was still one of the kindest people he had ever known.
"Oh come on, you worry too much about other people." Yuki pointed out.
"What can I say? Maybe it's my nature. But I'd rather see you.. havin' fun than sufferin'." Haru shrugged his shoulders and smiled at Yuki.
"You and me both..." And the two stood together looking over the school campus as they enjoyed the sun's soft rays, both hoping for happier times.
Yuki told himself to seek out Tohru and apologize for worrying her... and maybe if he was feeling strong enough, if he gained the courage, he would one day open up to Marley.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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The afternoon sun was beating down on the teens as they walked along the road. The chirping of the cicadas had started, and summer was certainly on its way. Marley was already planning all the activities she wanted to do and hoping that the dance studio had decent air conditioning this year.
"Ah, Marley, you have a stowaway." Haru gestured to the girl's skirt, and she looked down to see blue and black, almost camouflaging into her skirt, but the movement of wings gave the small creature away.
"Hello, what are you doing there?" Marley asked as she brought a hand down to her skirt and let the small butterfly climb on her finger.
"Ah, so pretty! Hello, Butterfly-San." Tohru gushed as Marley held up her finger that the butterfly rested on, gently flapping its wings now and then. Even to a small bug, Tohru was so polite.
"Do you want to try holding him Tohru?" Marley as she brought her finger over to Tohru, who nodded with awe in her face as she brought her hand and Marley carefully maneuvered the cobalt blue butterfly onto the brunette's hand. Tohru acted as if she had just been gifted a diamond ring.
"Why do you think it's a he?" Kyo asked as Tohru stared in absolute awe over the butterfly resting on the top of her hand.
" ... because he's so handsome."
"Pfft." Kyo snickered, unable not to hold back a smirk over the look of certainty on Marley's face.
"Do you want to hold him, Kyo-Kun?" Tohru offered, looking like a child with a bright shiny toy.
"I don't want to touch a bug.." The orange-haired boy kind of scoffed and the butterfly decided then to fly up into Kyo's face, causing him to try and swat the bug away before it flew off.
"Aww, I think you might have hurt his feelings." Marley pouted as they watched the butterfly fly up into the sky and far away from them.
" I think he'll be just fine," Kyo said with thick sarcasm, but Marley noticed something.
"Ah, so you think it was a boy as well?!" Marley pointed out a slightly cheeky smile on her face, and Kyo's hand went for a loose curl in her hair and gently tugged on it as if it were the rope to a bell, causing her to laugh.
Haru looked over at Yuki, who was glaring at the two who just goofing off in the middle of the sidewalk.
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"You're blocking the path, Stupid Cat." Yuki spat, and Kyo immediately removed his hand from Marley and clenched his fist, trying to keep himself from blowing up.
"Now, now, let's just keep walking. It's a beautiful afternoon.." Marley tried to step in before a fight could start, wrapping one hand around Kyo's elbow and the other Yuki's. Walking along as if it was nothing. Haru raised a brow at the action as it seemed to work, and everyone had calmed down. Well, it was more like the two boys were just speechless.
Marley was thinking of maybe grabbing herself a popsicle from the corner store after dance, craving something citrusy. Or perhaps just a simple vanilla ice cream. Or both.
Speaking of vanilla ice cream
Marley looked over down to the hand that was holding Yuki's arm and couldn't believe over the difference between his milk-white skin and her own caramel brown skin.
She gripped his arm a little to grab his attention.
"Haru and I were saying that you need to get out more," Marley mentioned as she smiled over at the Prince.
"Oh?" Yuki raised his brow at the strange action and the determined look in her purple eyes, a small blush covering his cheeks.
" Cause I think you need sunshine, maybe get some tan lines, get your skin some pigment. Not that you don't have beautiful skin as white as snow, but I would love to see at least a small farmers tan." Marley laughed, and Yuki wasn't sure what she was talking about but smiled anyway.
A little sunshine couldn't hurt.
"Sounds like fun. I'm planning on going outside this summer." Yuki played along, and Marley just smiled wider. He had already told Tohru that he would give summer a try, now he also had Marley wanting him to have an enjoyable summer. If the two optimistic girls wanted him to have a good summer than a good summer, he would strive to have.
Festival, fireworks, beaches, and whatever else Summer had to offer. He would enjoy them all with friends. With the warm people who made the world a good place.
"Maybe a trip to the beach during summer vacation." Marley gushed, getting excited for laying on the sand and swimming in the ocean. Sipping ice-cold fruity drinks and maybe starting a water balloon fight. The possibilities were endless, and Marley could barely wait.
"Momiji and I were thinking about maybe renting out a vacation home for a bit. I'm just waiting back to hear which ones are available." Marley mentioned, hoping that she could find one with enough room for everyone Momiji and her planned on inviting.
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"Ah Summer...so Marley, what kind of swimsuit do you wear? Bikini or one-piece?" Haru asked with a straight face, and the girl in question released her hold on Yuki and Kyo and instead placed her hands on Haru's face, squishing his cheeks playfully. Marley was used to his slightly cheeky ways.
"You are such a flirt! You are lucky that you're so cute." Marley teased as she squished his cheeks, and he just stood there and took it until Kyo had enough and pulled Marley away from the flirty Cow. Haru looked like he was enjoying himself too much, and it just... bothered Kyo for whatever reason.
" Why's Haru walkin' home with us anyway?" Kyo groaned in annoyance, already exhausted by his presence as the group continued walking along the sidewalk.
"Honda-San invited me to dinner." Haru revealed as he slung his bag over his shoulder.
"I'll make whatever you like, Hatsuharu-San." Tohru piped up, excited that they had a guest for dinner.
"And what brought this on?" Kyo asked, confused about how this situation came about. He was just happy that he wouldn't be around for the house visit.
"It's a secret... between us.." Haru said as he put his arm around Yuki, who rolled his eyes.
" Please don't touch me," Yuki muttered, and Marley only smiled at the scene. Marley noticed that the grey-haired boy seemed to be... a little more at ease with Haru. It was nice to see this side of him, though she was sure the Prince Yuki fan club would be a little surprised by the annoyed look on his face.
"... I was an idiot to expect a decent answer." Kyo muttered under his breath, and Marley only giggled over his exasperated look on the boy's face.
"Don't be jealous Marley, I promise it's only for one night." Haru teased in the way only Haru could. Marley just shook her head and played along.
"I'll try to pull myself together." She joked, unable to hold a straight face as she giggled behind her hand, Kyo just groaned, begging the boy to shut up.
"Would you like to come over for dinner, Marley-Chan." Tohru offered with a broad smile on her face and Marley wish she could join them for dinner, but she had plans.
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" Thank you for the invite, but I'm heading to a ballet clinic, and then I'm checking in on a friend. Plus, I've got some chores to do around the house. Dadaji's coming home this week, and I want the house to look spotless. " Marley explained, unable to stop the gentle smile on her face at the idea of her Grandfather finally coming home after weeks away on business. The last time they had talked on the phone, he was complaining about finding a decent cup of coffee.
" I'm heading to Shishou's. I'll walk ya partway." Kyo offered as they came to the crossroads.
" Thank-" Marley was cut off by a loud rumble in the ground, and it was as if a stampede was coming.
"An earthquake?" Marley asked as she looked around with concern in her eyes, her hand subconsciously latching onto Kyo's elbow.
"Kyooooooooooo-" A loud feminine yell sounded out and Marley was sure that she could recognize it.
"Worse," Yuki muttered as he brought his hand up to the bridge of his nose.
"-KUN!" A blur came out of nowhere, and before Marley could blink, Kyo was ripped from her small grip and was on the ground ten feet away. Kagura was cradling Kyo's leg to her chest as she cooed at him, Marley swore she saw Kyo's soul leave his body from the tackle while Kagura had little cartoon hearts pop up around her.
"I'm so happy...You're not running away from me today, huh?" Kagura gushed as she hugged Kyo's leg, cuddling and squealing. Marley heard a collective sigh coming from behind me and put together that this must happen a lot.
"K- K-Kagura-san?" Tohru called out while Marley was still in shock over the tackle that Kagura had performed.
" Is Kyo okay?" Marley asked as she anxiously watched the scene. Kyo looked like he was in a daze from the hit, a shoe print on the side of his face from Kagura's surprise attack.
"Don't worry, he's used to this." Haru comforted, but it didn't make Marley feel any better. She had been told that Kagura had a strange way of showing affection, but surely this was... a bit much.
"Still.." Marley couldn't help but worry, it didn't look like Kyo was enjoying... whatever this was.
"Let's go, Kyo-Kun!" Kagura cheered as she lifted up the boy and started dragging him away.
"Where are you taking him?" Yuki asked.
"Hmm? Shihan's dojo! I'm going back to training there too!" Kagura explained as she hugged Kyo around his neck. Tightly.
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I think I can hear his bones cracking...
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"Why the hell would you-" Kyo yelled but was quickly shut down by the over-excited Kagura.
"Now we'll get to see each other so often! Hee-hee!" She giggled as she just started to hug him tighter.
"... She seems fine to me." Haru observed, and Yuki smiled sadly at the ground. Marley looked back at the two, wondering what they were referring to.
"Kagura's struggling too... in her own way," Yuki said, and this just left Marley more confused than before.
" Quit grumbling and let's just go-" Kagura's voice darkened as she wrapped her hands around the orange-haired boy's neck and started thrashing him around and something in Marley just...snapped.
" Kagura, stop! You're hurting him!" Marley finally moved in and pried Kagura's hands away from Kyo's neck and standing between them. Kyo fell to the ground as he gasped for breath, and Kagura's eyes were wide with shock.
The crowd seemed to hush as they waited.
"..I just..don't think Kyo could breathe..." Marley mumbled as she let go of Kagura's hands and stepped away. Something felt wrong, and she didn't like the way Kagura was looking at her, as if she was about to be the Boar's next victim. Kagura simply put on a smile and instead stepped around Marley and grabbed Kyo by the back of his shirt collar.
"Well, see you later... Yun-Chan, Haru-Chan.. and Tohru-Kun." As she waved and dragged Kyo away. The group couldn't help but notice how Kagura completely ignored Marley in her goodbyes. Marley just stood there as she watched Kagura drag Kyo off, a tight feeling in her chest and her usually straight posture sagged a bit.
"Gone with the wind.." Haru pointed out.
" Good, we should be able to have a quiet dinner." Yuki sighed, looking forward to just getting home and maybe relaxing.
"Marley-Chan?" Tohru called out her name, but the girl in question kept her eyes on where Kagura and Kyo had gone. She thought of how Kagura had spoken of Kyo while they had been shopping last week,
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"Yep, love of my life, Kyo-Kun!" Kagura sang as she skipped around the store, looking through racks.
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Marley felt a squeeze on her shoulder, and it brought her out of her trance.
"Hey, you've got nothing to worry about." Haru told her with a small smile and Marley only tilted her head at the boy.
" Huh?" She blinked at him, and he ruffled her hair and walked off.
"We can walk you to your dance class, Marley-San." Yuki offered, his princely side showing itself.
"No, that's okay. You guys have a good night. I'll see you tomorrow." Marley turned down the offer and waved as she started walking away from them. She still felt a little... unsettled, but she figured it was because she had a meeting with Akito later... and Marley hoped that Akito was in the mood to hear her out.
Maybe Akito will want an ice cream from the corner store
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.-.-.-.-.-.-
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The young head of the Sohma family was sitting on the porch, overlooking the rock garden. Akito had been stewing on a lot. She felt a coil was tightening more and more inside her. Marley had ran out that Friday without even a goodbye, only a text apologizing that she had to leave.
If that blatant move of disrespect wasn't enough. One of the most useless and unneeded Zodiac member had laid her claws on what was hers. Akito began clenching her fist, her knuckles turning white as she continued to replay the image of Hatsuharu and Isuzu kissing at the party. It had been quick, but she had seen it. Isuzu was lucky that Akito hadn't dragged her by black hair out of that party then and there.
"Akito-Sama, Marley-San is here." The maid opened the door for, and Akito could hear Marley's soft voice thanking the maid, and then the sound of the door being closed again.
"Hey! I brought some vanilla ice cream, I got it for you, but I must admit that I took a small bite." Marley laughed as she placed down the small cup of vanilla ice cream down on the table.
.
Marley stepped across the tatami mats to the porch and laid a hand on her friend's shoulder.
Akito was quick to slap it away, causing Marley to let out a small gasp. Marley wasn't sure what hurt more, the sting itself or the action of being shunned by her.
"Hey! What was that for?" Marley asked as she rubbed her hand and stepped around, so she was facing Akito rather than behind her. The pale-skinned woman just huffed and turned around, her long bangs hiding her eyes as she refused to look Marley in the eye.
The white-blonde had felt terrible about leaving the party, but in her heart, it was the right thing to do and would have done the same thing if given another chance. But in hindsight she probably should have gone to Akito first before leaving, Marley just hoped that her friend would hear her out.
" I'm sorry that I left the party without saying goodbye." Marley tried to apologize, but Akito only scoffed and finally met her eyes, her cold, dark glare looking into Marley's warm, kind eyes.
" You made a fool of me. I only went because of you and left me there with... " Akito spat coming to a standing position, her dark magenta kimono sliding off her shoulder as she stood toe to toe with Marley.
"You left me like I was nothing!" At Akito's statement, Marley felt her heart drop into her stomach. She had thought the drama of the past weekend was behind her, but it looked like there were still things that needed to be sorted out. Marley wished she had come sooner as she never meant to let Akito feel that way.
" I didn't mean it that way... I panicked and-" Marley tried to explain, but Akito only cut her off, stomping away as if she couldn't stand to be in Marley's presence.
"You left me... to go to Shigure's!" The infuriated Akito screamed at her as she pointed a finger into Marley's chest.
" They didn't show up, and they weren't answering the phone-" Marley defended her choice, the memory of Friday night still fresh in her mind. The list of terrible situations that had entered her imagination every time she called, and no one answered. Marley would never be able to live with herself if she hadn't gone and checked on them.
" I specifically told Hatori and Shigure that didn't want you anywhere near that place. Especially on that night!" She screamed again. This information surprised her, Hatori had fought her on going to Shigure's, but she didn't know it was because of Akito.
.
" Why.. didn't you want me going to Shigure's on that night..." Marley asked, confused at Akito's statement. Was Akito... Did Akito know what was going on that night? Had she known what Kazuma was going to do?
" I... told you that I invited them to my showcase... I told you that I was looking forward to having everyone together for the party..." Marley stared down at the tatami mats, going over in her head all the events. Why would Akito choose that night for...
" It had to be done... it was part of a test. It's what was best for the Cat. You're not a Zodiac member, you wouldn't understand. You had no business going over there." Akito spat as if it was the logical choice, but Marley wasn't taking it.
"Why? Why keep this from me?!" Marley asked, her large eyes searching Akito's dark ones for answers. Anything to try and make sense of it all. Did Akito not trust her, was Marley just fooling herself when she considered herself a part of this family.
"I wanted to spare you." Akito was partly telling the truth.
"Spare me?! Spare me from what?" Marley couldn't understand Akito's decision.
"You saw it? Didn't you?! That ugly, monstrous form. That.. awful smell... like something rotting." Akito described as her own face grimaced as if the Cat's true form was standing before her.
"I did see it..." Marley admitted. Akito wasn't wrong, Kyo's form had been terrifying. It was probably never going to leave her mind. But Marley knew of scarier things in this world.
" All I wanted to do was protect you." Akito defended her decision, the glare on her face was gone, and she looked at Marley with pity in her eyes. She honestly didn't think that Marley needed to be burdened with the Cat's true form. Akito felt the need to protect her dear friend from the ugliness of the Zodiacs.
" But... that wasn't the worst part of my night Akito," Marley uttered, shaking her head slowly as she clenched her fists.
"WHAT? What could have possibly been worse than seeing that ugly-" Akito spat, but all the frustration that was building in Marley broke past the dam she had kept up
"I THOUGHT THEY DIED!" Marley screamed, interrupting Akito, who looked baffled at her statement. All the ugly images that entered Marley's mind. The cursed Cat's form was far from her worse nightmares.
"What?" Akito squinted her eyes, wondering how she would ever come to that conclusion.
"When I heard that they hadn't shown up and no one could reach them...oh god... all I was thinking off- was that something terrible had happened..." Marley confessed through clenched teeth, her eyes burning. Imaginations of all the terrible possibilities. The thought of a loved one body lying in the street as blood flowed, staining the ground... awhile Marley had been safe and sound.
"Why would you think something like that?" Akito scoffed, thinking that Marley was just being emotional and too sensitive.
"Because... the day my pare- parents died... I spent the day calling them... and they didn't answer." Marley started to tell Akito, and Akito's dark eyes looked right into Marley's amethyst eyes that were glassy with tears that had yet to fall. While the white-blonde had brought up her late-parents now and then, she had never spoken about how they died other than 'they were in an accident.'
" I just thought... maybe they were busy or sleeping.. but-" Marley continued on, Akito watched as her lips quivered and eyed how Marley's hand clenched onto the pendant she wore around her neck.
"But while I had been watching T.V from my bed- complaining about boredom... my par-... Mama and Bapu, they...There was a train derailment... they didn't even make it past Seattle when- -. some idiot tried to beat the train and... there had been only a few survivors... Mama .. Bapu... the car- the car they were in had been completely crushed ...and... I had been calling their cell phones all day... and they didn't answer..." Marley had crumpled to the floor, her hands over her face as she cried.
Akito watched, her own heart cracking as she watched one of the people she held dear break down. This wasn't what Akito wanted. She hadn't meant for Marley to go through any sort of trauma, she just wanted to keep her far away from the Cat and break their friendship. For Marley's sake, of course.
" ... when Kyo didn't pick up the phone... I thought... I thought... I can't do it anymore. I can-can't lose anymore. " She barely choked out and then arms wrapped around Marley, holding her tight as she continued to cry, tears staining Akito's kimono. Marley's trembling form was a shock to Akito, she always seemed so strong and carefree, a smile almost always present on her face. Seeing her like this... She didn't want this for Marley. Akito's hand tentatively came up and patted Marley's head, trying to comfort the girl, and Marley held on tighter to Akito.
The God of the Zodiac felt like she was at a loss. It was usually other's holding her, making her feel better. The bond made it so that they loved and protected her. But.. she wasn't sure how to protect someone else, to comfort someone else was strange to her. It had always been the other way around.
Akito stayed there and let the adopted Sohma cry, and her cries turned to sniffles, and soon her sniffles became small hiccups. She used the sleeve of her kimono to wipe away the tears and snot on Marley's face causing her to apologize for ruining the kimono while Akito told her not to worry about it.
Marley hiccupped as she pointed to the ice cream on the table.
" Ar- are you going to eat that?"
Akito let out a light laugh, calling Marley an idiot in probably the most loving way she could as she reached for the ice cream, and the two shared it in silence. There was nothing left to be said today.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.
.
The sun was starting to set as I walked on the cobblestone path to my house. I was feeling slightly drained after the long day, especially after crying like a baby at Akito's. I stepped into my home and slipped off my black school flats. I hadn't realized how much I was still fighting with my grief. My heart was still in pain over what had been lost and the unfairness of it all.
"Mama... Bapu. I'm home." I greeted the photo of the two, lightly touching the petals of the flowers I had been given at the showcase, mixing the Akito's bouquet of red camellias with Dadaji's white dahlias. It made for a beautiful shrine offering for my parents.
.
I miss you
.
Letting out a large sigh, I continued walking into the house.
"Welcome home." A chorus of voices called out as I entered my living room.
"Oh.. hello?" I told them as I placed my bag on the floor and walked over to my friends who had seemed to make themselves at home.
Isuzu, Hiro and Momiji were all sitting around her living room table snacking on a bowl of chips. Momiji and Zuzu were still in their school uniforms, so they must have come straight here rather than go home and change. Momiji jumped up and grabbed my hand, his sunshine yellow hair bouncing with him while Hiro and Isuzu just nodded in my direction, and I smiled back at them.
"Yo." A voice called from outside, and I looked over to see Kyo standing out on the porch, removing his shoes before coming in.
"Kyo?! How was training?" I asked as I noticed he seemed to be moving a little on the slow side. The boy groaned as he stretched.
.
Kazuma must be a very intense teacher
.
" Got my ass handed me... looks like I still need a lot of work, so I'll be at the Dojo a lot." He explained as he dropped his bag and rotated his shoulder a bit, stretching out a sore muscle.
"Kyooo! Your hairs all wet!" Momiji pointed at he pulled on Kyo's shirt, causing the orange-haired boy to shove him.
"Leave me alone ya damn Rabbit, I just grabbed a quick shower at the dojo." Kyo explained as he ran a hand through his slightly damp hair. Kyo then turned to me and stared, I thought maybe he was going to say something, but he closed his mouth and rubbed the back of his neck.
.
"Kyo.. I've been meaning to give you something..." Isuzu got up from the table, a threatening air surrounding her.
"Ya?" Kyo raised his eyebrow at the Horse of the Zodiac as she walked over to him, staring straight into his eyes.
"Well? What is it?" Kyo asked, getting impatient as he crossed his arms at her. A small smirk crossed the girl's face, and the orange-haired boy knew that he was in trouble.
In one swift movement, Marley watched as Isuzu lifted her leg and swung it at Kyo, making him fly outside and land in the garden.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Kyo yelled at her as he held the side she had kicked.
"Zuzu?! What was that for?" I asked as I rushed past her and hopped off the porch into the garden to check on Kyo.
"That's for not showing up Friday night and making Marley worry about you." She said as she stood on the porch glaring at Kyo with her hands on her hips. I was shocked because I never imagined her to get so protective. A part of me was touched... while the other part just felt bad for Kyo.
.
It really wasn't his fault... I'll have to ask him if it's okay to tell Zuzu what happened that night because I don't want her to be mad at him...
.
"Dammit... she doesn't even take martial arts, yet her kicks hurt like a bitch." Kyo groaned as he got up and I tried to help him back inside, he looked over at me, but his eyes widened and was about to say something before he was interrupted.
"Don't do it again." Isuzu warned Kyo as she glared, but he didn't seem to have anything to say back and just moved past her into the living room.
"I'll make some chai." I offered, hoping the violence for the day was done as I stepped into the kitchen, grabbing the pot and running the tap.
I heard footsteps pad into the tile kitchen and looked over to see Kyo leaning against the kitchen counter, crossing his arms as he looked down. I just continued filling the pot till I felt a tug on my hair and looked over at Kyo, who was now staring at me with a piercing gaze.
" Yes?" I asked, wondering what was on his mind.
.
Is he mad about Zuzu? I guess I can't really blame hi-
.
"Your eyes are all red." He said as he pointed at my face, his eyes searching mine. I let out a sigh, feeling bad that he had noticed but flattered he was checking in on me.
"Oh, um. Yeah... I just.. Came from a small meeting with Akito and-" I tried to explain, but Kyo interrupted.
"What did that bastard do?!" Rage was in his saffron eyes as he asked me, and I waved my hands.
"No! No, Akito didn't make me cry... we were...just talking and Akito was upset that I left Friday night and ... something came up, and I guess I kind of broke down... I kind of feel bad because Akito probably has to send the kimono I cried all over to the dry cleaners." I tried to laugh it off, but Kyo still looked pissed off.
"Why did ya break down?" He asked, seeming not to buy my laugh, and I took a moment before answering.
" I... talked about my parents and the day they died.. but it's fine now. It was... It was a good cry." I promised him, but he didn't look all that convinced but didn't push any further.
"As long as he didn't touch you.." Kyo muttered as he glared at the tile floor.
"Huh?" I placed the pot on the stove and switched on the heat. Perhaps Kyo wasn't close with Akito, due to him being the Cat of the Zodiac and she was God.
.
I also need to be careful when talking about Akito with others, I don't want to be the to slip that Akito's a woman.
"Just.. watch yourself around him." Kyo looked at me, and he had nothing but concern in his eyes. I felt my face flush and distracted myself by playing with a loose thread on the bottom of my school shirt, thinking to myself that I should cut it before I pull on it too much.
I had gone with the intention of asking if Akito would let Kyo become part of 'inside' but... well maybe next time. And I'll try buttering her up with some sweets.
.
"Oh! I have something for you! I'll be right back, I'm just going to go change." I explained as I gave Kyo's arm a squeeze and rushed past him to go upstairs. I quickly slipped off my uniform and rested it on the bed.
Before I slipped on an oversized mauve hoodie, I caught myself in the mirror. I traced my hand down my neck to the scar in the middle of my chest. While it had healed well, leaving very little texture, it had healed a bright white colour which contrasted with my brown skin.
I shook my head out of the trance and slipped on the hoodie along with some light grey bicycle shorts, stuffing a worn Smartphone into the hoodie pocket. Grabbing a bag from beside my desk, I headed back downstairs to catch Kyo in the kitchen, drinking straight from the milk carton.
" Please, tell me you didn't just do that..." Hiro judged from the living room.
" What are you gonna do about it?" Kyo snapped at him, and I only rolled my eyes at the boys.
"I guess we'll just have to label it." I teased as I approached Kyo and offered him the bag. He raised an eyebrow at the bag.
"Here, trade." I requested as I held out the bag to him, and he handed me the milk. I rustled through the drawer and brought out a pen, printing out Kyo's name on the carton, adding a little cartoon cat for fun.
"Well, look in the bag." I gestured as Kyo just stood there, holding the bag as if it contained a bomb or something.
Kyo reached into the bag and was surprised by its contents as he pulled it to inspect.
"My pants?" He asked as he looked at his dark green cargo pants, the ones he had been wearing that night.
"Yeah, the pocket was ripped open, so I sewed it up," I explained. It might not have been a great patch job, but I had tried my best.
"But ... you hate these pants.." Kyo reminded me, looking completely astonished as he felt over the stitching with his fingers.
" But you like them, and that's what matters." I shrugged and gave him a smile, hoping he was happy to have his pants back.
"Plus... maybe I'm hoping that you'll get too tall for them at least by the end of high school." I couldn't help but poke fun, but he just shook his head, a small smile on his own face.
"You really didn't have to do this." He put the pants back in the bag and rubbed the back of his neck.
" I know. I did it because I wanted to." I insisted.
"...Thanks..." He muttered, and the small blush that was on his cheeks only seemed to glow more.
"Oh, I almost forgot. I put your sim card in a new phone. Well, it's not a new phone... it's a few years old, but it still works great! I thought that it would work until you were able to replace yours." I brought out a black Smartphone from my hoodie pocket and handed it to him.
Kyo was about to give it back, telling me it was too much, but I just made him hold onto the phone.
" Just.. promise me something," I asked as I held onto his hand that was holding the slightly worn cell phone. Kyo waited for me to continue as he tilted his head, and I took a breath.
" If I call... please pick up," I asked as looked into his saffron eyes, and he looked right back into mine. Kyo nodded and pulled my hand away, feeling a heart thumping in my chest through my ears.
The whistle from the kettle interrupted my thoughts, and I removed the kettle from the heat and poured the hot water in a large pot, adding tea leaves and spices for chai.
"Now... any ideas for dinner?" I asked everyone in the household as I opened up the fridge, figuring out what I could put together. As I rummaged through the refrigerator, I missed the sound of the front door opening and footsteps.
.
" Some decent sushi would really hit the spot." A deep gruff voice called out, and I let out a gasp as I quickly turned away from the fridge and to where the voice had come from.
"Dadaji!" I leapt at his tall form and wrapped my arms around his waist, digging my face into his shoulder.
"I found him wandering the airport." Hatori interjected, and Dadaji simply told him to 'Shut up.'
"Your home early! I'm so happy your back!" I cried happy tears as I cuddled into his warmth, he smelled like tobacco and old spice. I usually hated the smell of cigarettes, but now, at this moment, it was a comfort. Dadaji just awkwardly patted my back and the top of my head. He was not an affectionate man, so I knew he was trying his best.
" I'm sorry I had to leave for so long." He said gruffly.
"No, don't be. I'm just happy your back." I mumbled into his shoulder.
"There, there. " Was all Dadaji muttered, doing his best to comfort me. I held on tighter, not wanting to let go.
"Ya! welcome home, Tetsuo-Ojichan!" Momiji jumped up and joined in, hugging the Sohma elder around the waist.
"Welcome back, Tetsuo-San." Hiro and Zuzu greeted the man, both giving him small smiles. I backed off, letting him breathe.
"Sir." Kyo nodded his head in his direction.
"I'll pick up a large party boat from that sushi place you like!" I cheered, overjoyed that Dadaji was finally home.
" I'll drive you over." Hatori offered, and Momiji quickly volunteered to come along.
" me if you need us to grab anything else." I offered to the people left in the living room.
"Just make sure to grab me some inari nigiri." Zuzu requested, and I gave her a thumbs up.
"No problem. Be back soon!" I called as Momiji dragged me out the door, barely leaving me time to close it behind me.
"Hopefully, the house is one piece when we get back." Hatori teased as he started the car.
"I'm sure Tetsuo-Ojichan will keep everyone in line." Momiji laughed, and I couldn't help but giggle, highly agreeing.
I'm just relieved that he's home
"Oh, we also need to grab some milk."
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
.
Dinner had come and gone, and Kyo thought it was probably the best sushi he had ever had. He imagined that Tetsuo Sohma only ordered sushi from the finest of places. Kyo had kept checking in on Marley throughout the dinner to make sure she really was okay. The white-blonde happily conversed with everyone as she munched on the vegetarian choices the sushi restaurant had provided, her hair up in a messy bun. She seemed to be having a good time, and that's all that mattered.
Soft guitar music played over the living room as everyone relaxed after having a full meal, Hatori was plucking the strings of a guitar while Marley sat on the ground next to him, singing along and patting her hands on the table to the beat. Piles of sheet music laid around them as Hiro and Isuzu browsed through them.
No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.
A little darlin', don't shed no tears.
No, woman, no cry.
"Why does this song sound familiar..." Kyo mused as he laid down out on the porch, just enjoying the night breeze. Even Momiji was calm as he and Tetsuo were playing some sort of card game that Kyo didn't recognize.
"Marley? Where have I heard this before?" Kyo asked as he leaned up to look over at the girl.
"Oh! Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry?' Well... This was playing at the hot springs when I first met you, Yuki and Tohru." Marley explained, and Kyo wanted to sink through the floor. Marley hadn't noticed Kyo's distressed look as she turned the page of the sheet music for Hatori and continued singing along.
"Why does the Cat look like he just got neutered?" Asked Hiro smirked as picked out a few papers of sheet music, looking back and forth between two choices.
" Oh, you guys don't know! Kyo was a giant meanie to Marley when they first met!" Momiji laughed, slightly enjoying Kyo's humiliation. Just a little bit.
" WHAT?!" Both Isuzu and Hiro were now glaring at Kyo, and he didn't have a comeback. He wasn't proud of how he had acted back then. If he could go back and redo it, he would, but he couldn't.
"It really was just a little misunderstanding..." Marley stopped her singing to try and defend Kyo from her friends, she didn't want the orange-haired boy to worry about it. It was in the past, and Marley believed that Kyo and her were now in a good place. He had even started saying her name and Marley couldn't help get a little flustered each time he said it.
" Tetsuo-Sama set him straight right away! Threw him up against the wall like Kyo weighed nothing." Momiji laughed, and Tetsuo couldn't help but smirk, he might be old, but he knew he still had it him to kick ass if he needed to.
"What exactly did Kyo do?" Hiro asked as he crossed his arms and stared at the teenage boy in question.
"Blow up on her, made an ass of himself." Tetsuo simply said, causing Isuzu to look at Marley, and she just tried to avoid her hard gaze by looking up at the ceiling. Marley had a feeling that her black haired friend would be demanding the full story from her soon.
" It might not have been a great first meeting... But I do know that I'm still grateful for the memory none the less. Because at least we got to meet." Marley stated as she smiled at the group, hoping they would understand that felt she no ill over the incident. Kyo felt a sort of electric current run through him, and he turned away to hide his red face.
Hatori continued playing, and Marley sang right along.
And so I've got to push on through.
Oh, while I'm gone,
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right!
.
"What does the song mean anyway?" Kyo asked, hoping to divert the conversation, this again made Marley stop singing along as she thought best how to explain Bob Marley's music.
" Umm, well, there is a few interpretations, but there is one I like more than others," Marley said as she browsed through more piles of sheet music.
" Which one do you like, Marley-Chan?" The Rabbit of the Zodiac asked as Tetsuo counted up their points.
"Some believe that he was speaking to the woman he loved, singing about the good and bad times they had and that not to cry for him when he had to leave. Asking her to be strong, to keep her head up. Because everything's going to be alright." Marley explained the best way she could, still nodding her head with the song.
"But like I said, there are a few different ways the song could be interpreted." She shrugged.
"So he's leaving the woman he loved behind all the while telling her not to cry for him?" Kyo asks, as he sat up slightly, resting on his elbows.
Marley shrugs and Hiro just commented on the selfishness of it all.
"Then maybe he shouldn't be leaving if it's going to make her cry. He obviously doesn't care if he knows that leaving is going to hurt her." Hiro scoffed, not buying it.
"Love is a complicated thing, young man, things are hardly ever that easy." Tetsuo explained as he threw down some cards and Momiji whined that the old man was beating him.
.
Kyo stared out at the night sky, would Marley cry tears for him if he had to leave?
If Kyo could just keep training, working harder than maybe. It's possible that he would get what he wanted. Kyo could beat the Rat, and he wouldn't have to say goodbye. He would become and real part of this family, and perhaps.. just maybe.
"Do you wanna pick a song Kyo?" Marley asked, and Kyo made a big deal of getting up and walking next to her as if it was causing him a lot of trouble and Marley just giggled, showing him all the different songs he could pick from.
They were mostly English songs and were from Yuuto Sohma's collection of music. Kyo flipped through a few pages, trying to read the song titles before finally picking one out.
"How's this?" Kyo asked with a small blush on his face, hoping he had picked a good song.
"I love this one, Hatori do you know this song?" Marley asked as she grabbed the paper from Kyo and showed it to Hatori, who nodded as he looked over the song.
The orange-haired boy leaned back and sat up against shelves that were behind Marley, stretching out one of his legs that almost brushed up against Marley's.
Hatori plucked a few strings, and Marley hummed a bit snapping her fingers to the beat. Kyo had to admit that Hatori looked pretty cool with a guitar. Not that he would have ever say that out loud. Marley began singing, and Kyo began lightly bopping his head to the music.
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
Kyo had a feeling, he didn't know what it was, but he felt it in his chest, like something that expands all the way up to his throat. He could feel something coming. Something unknown, but it left him speechless. He just continued to watch Marley, whose singing voice was soft and comforting. Kyo's English skills weren't perfect, yet he could understand these lyrics
So darling, darling
Stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand, stand by me
Stand by me
Marley must have felt Kyo's eyes on her because she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him as a small blush graced her cheeks. Her beauty never failed to make his heart race just a little faster. Kyo couldn't stop himself from smiling back. This what was Kyo wanted, to be part of a family and relax and just enjoy the time they spent together.
"Let's walk through life together."
I'll fight. With everything I've got. I'll fight to stay by your side.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
.
Akito sat in her room, sipping gingerly at a cup of hot tea, Kureno had turned in for the evening. Leaving the lonely God was left to her thoughts.
She heard the door slide open, and the voice that called out to her reminded her of sharp nails on a chalkboard, setting her skin on fire.
" I couldn't help but notice how cute your new pet was." The voice mocked her, Akito could see her long black hair out the corner of her eye. She gripped the cup between her hands, it slightly started to crack under the pressure.
"She's surprisingly pretty... for a foreigner..." The woman continued to talk, running a hand through her long straight black locks. It fell around her like a waterfall of hair.
"Her hair... almost reminds me of-"
" Don't talk about her... don't say another word." Akito snarled, turning to face her head, and the glare Akito gave would send anyone else to an early grave, but the woman standing in the doorway was no ordinary person.
.
"You think that she's your friend, don't you? You pathetic, little, delusional creature. She's not one of your... cursed freaks... she'll leave and find better company the moment she realizes that you're worth nothing in this world." The woman mocked, almost cackling as threw back her head, her dark red shawl falling off her shoulders.
"GET OUT!" Akito screamed as she threw the cup in the women's direction. It missed the woman's head by a foot or so and woman couldn't help but laugh even more, enjoying the reaction she was getting from the so-called 'God.'
"Or maybe... the members of the Zodiac will leave you all alone... and go to her?" The woman proposed as if it was all a big joke and Akito felt a cracking sensation vibrate through her body.
" WE HAVE A BOND! ONE THAT CONNECTS US! THEY WON'T LEAVE ME FOR ANYBODY!" Akito screamed, the woman had told her time and time again that the Zodiac would leave, but that was because she didn't understand. She wouldn't be able to because she was just an outsider.
The beautiful woman smirked at Akito. Enjoying how she was falling apart just with a few small words.
"You stupid child." She scoffed.
"Mistress Ren! You shouldn't be here!" Some attendants rushed in and tried to lead her out of the room. It was well known across the Estate that the two did not get along. And that was putting it lightly.
"GET OUT!" Akito screamed this time, throwing the teapot across the room. The woman starting cackling behind her hand as she was led out of the room. Akito glared at the slithering black hair that swished behind her.
The coil in her heart was tightened, she clenched her teeth as she continued to trash the room around her. Only thinking about the cruel words that woman had spat at her while telling herself that her mother was wrong.
... They would never leave her. They had no choice but to love her.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
.
"I can barely wait for summer to get here. We should go cherry picking again!" Momiji cheered as he looked over to Marley to gauge her reaction, but she was resting her head on her arms on the table, soft breaths leaving her lips as her eyes stayed shut.
"She fell asleep?" Hiro asked as he slightly poked Marley in the cheek. The girl groaned and clenched her eyes.
"Hmm, nnoo... I'm up, I'm up. Cherry-picking, let's go." She insisted as she rubbed her eyes and sat up straight, causing Hiro to laugh at her.
"And once summer vacation starts, let's have lots of sleepovers," Momiji suggested as he seemed to bounce up and down, unable to contain his excitement.
"Of course," Marley said as she yawned, covering her mouth as she did so.
"And let's sleep in the same bed!" Momiji suggested, no shame in his suggestion.
"Sure." She agreed, sleep still clearly in her eyes as she slightly swayed from side to side.
"YOU DAMN RABBIT!" Both Hiro and Kyo yelled, and Kyo brought Momiji into a headlock. Tetsuo actually chucked over the sight, giving an approving nod to Kyo, who didn't even notice.
"Come along, Momiji. I still need to pick up Kisa, Haru and Ayame from Shigure's house." Hatori stood there, starting to get impatient as it was getting late.
"Kyo, do you want a ride?" Hatori asked, and the orange-haired boy scoffed and shook his head, not wanting to be stuck in the car with both the Rabbit and Hatori.
"Get home safely..." Marley sleepily said to Momiji, who had quickly escaped Kyo's headlock, giving Marley a kiss on the cheek before running off.
.
"Hey Rin, I heard the main kitchen was making apple Danishes earlier. Want to go by and see if we can grab some." The Ram of the Zodiac mentioned, and the girl in question nodded, now trying to usher Hiro out the door quickly.
"Oh, you like apple Danishes Zuzu?" Marley asked, and the ordinarily stoic girl blushed before whispering into Marley's ear that Haru actually really liked them. Marley only smiled at the sweet gesture. The White-blonde wished her two friends a good night and told them to make it home safely.
Tetsuo patted the table, grabbing Kyo and Marley's attention as he shuffled the deck of cards.
" 1 game of rummy?" Tetsuo asked the two, doing a few fancy shuffling tricks, Marley's eyes lit up over the card tricks, impressed as always.
" I'd love to. If I can stay awake for it." The teenager was longing for bed, but she didn't want to miss out on spending time with her grandfather and Kyo.
"I assume you know how to play, it's simple enough for someone like you to pick it up." Tetsuo mocked as he smirked at Kyo.
"..Old man is really trying to push me today..." Kyo scoffed as he glared at the man who only glared right back.
"Now, now. It's just a game." Marley insisted as she got out a pen and paper to keep track of scores.
"A game that I'll win." Tetsuo confidently said as he rolled his shoulders back and dealt out the cards before placing the remaining cards in the middle.
"Fat chance." Kyo challenged, and Marley couldn't help but smile as the two actually seemed to be getting along.
.
They played for a few rounds, but the wise grey-haired man could see that something was plaguing his granddaughter as she had been a little on the quiet side.
"You look like you've got something on your mind." He pointed out as he organized the cards in his hand, looking back and forth between his cards and his granddaughter.
"I don't know... I just... I've got this feeling in my chest." Marley told him as she laid a hand on her heart. Kyo looked over and wondered what she was talking about.
"Should I call Hatori?" Tetsuo asked, ready to send her to the doctor at the drop of a hat.
"No, no, nothing like that. It's more like... I feel like something's about to begin." She tried to put her feelings into words. Kyo watched her as well, curious about what she was feeling.
" Like what?" Kyo asked as he placed down his cards, confident in his hand.
" ... I don't know.. but I can't help but think it's a good thing. " Marley said softly as she smiled at the two who subconsciously smiled in return, placing down her cards and counting up the points.
I feel like something... big is about to happen and whatever is... I hope I'm ready for it
Marley thought of her friends, her family. Family and friends who loved her and made her smile. People who caused her heart overflow with the love she felt for them.
It was only a few hours ago that Marley was crying her eyes out over the pains of the past and all she had lost. But as she spent the evening with her loved ones, she was reminded of all she had gained and couldn't wait for all the memories they would create together. The future seemed bright.
"I win." Marley simply stated, and the other two dropped their jaws; they had been too caught up in trying to beat the other that they had forgotten they had another opponent. Marley could only gently laugh at their expressions.
I can hardly wait for summer
.
.-.-.-.-.-.
.
Isuzu was waiting in the hallway down from the kitchen. Hiro was grabbing some treats, and she figured it would be easier without her hovering over him. He had promised to grab a few pastries for her. The long black-haired beauty leaned against the side of the open window, enjoying the evening breeze in her hair.
Her wandering thoughts brought her to her dear friend Marley and her friendship with the Cat of the Zodiac. She had been watching intently while the two had been speaking in the kitchen. Isuzu was used to see the orange-haired boy yelling and causing a ruckus. It was odd to see him being... soft, and the small blush on Marley's face as they were talking was also hard to miss. Isuzu thought that maybe she should talk to Marley about it. She had been there for Isuzu when she had stuff to work out in her heart over Hatsuharu. Was it now time to return the favour for Marley, who might have feelings for the Cat of the Zodiac?
The girl was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice another figure enter the hallway where she was loitering.
.
"Is it true... that your dating Hatsuharu?" A familiar voice called out to her.
The Horse of the Zodiac felt her blood turn cold.
"Look at you... keeping a straight face...scary.." Akito teased, approaching Isuzu by the window.
How..? How did he find out? Did he see something? Or did someone tell him?
" I saw you... at the party... brazenly touching what's mine.." Isuzu thought back to the party and cursed herself for getting to comfortable out in the open. She and Haru should have been more careful, it was a foolish mistake, and now she would pay for it.
" This is why I hate women... you're all so devious.." Akito spat, still riled up from the confrontation earlier.
"You... and that slithering black hair... makes me sick." Isuzu felt like some sort of tether wrapping around her, tightening around her body. Suffocating her. She was afraid of Akito. There was nothing she felt she could do or say to defy God. She couldn't help but cower. Her voice was stuck in her throat.
"So..? Whose idea was it? Hatsuharu's or yours?" Akito asked, there was a taunting look in Akito's dark eyes.
Isuzu tried to will herself to talk, but she felt frozen.
" Or maybe... I should ask Marley... she seems to be... a friend of yours. I'm sure I could get her to tell me. Which one of you is going to incur my displeasure?" Akito asked, but it was more of a threat, Isuzu could tell that much.
Isuzu wanted to scream at Akito. Not to touch Hatsuharu and not to lay a hand on Marley. Her precious family. The people she held dear to her heart.
"You know... when I get angry, I lose control of myself. Like Hatori's left eye. That was unfortunate." Akito warned Isuzu as the God pointed to her own eye. Isuzu's eyes widened, and her voice finally jumped out.
"ME! It was me! It was my idea. I seduced him!" Isuzu yelled, determined to protect them. She would take the fall. Isuzu would shoulder all the pain to protect her loved ones.
Isuzu felt a swift whack to her cheek, and all she was reminded of was her mother. She could have sworn she saw her... just for a moment. The stinging in her cheek was a feeling she had gotten used to in her childhood. But it still hurt all the same.
".. you're shameless. Why did you put your hands on what is mine? Were you trying to beat me?" Akito spat her words with venom that could poison a cobra.
"You really are pathetic..." Isuzu's God snarled, and she felt like her soul was being ripped.
.
Akito spat cruel words at her, words that she was, unfortunately, more than familiar with. Each time she heard them, it felt like a new lash, fresh cuts bringing up old wounds.
"You're worthless" "Your shameless." "You're rotten to the core" " You're pathetic"
She was pushed against the ledge of the large open window, Akito's cold hands pushing her back.
"I.. don't.. need you." God said with such certainty, and Isuzu felt a hard push to her shoulder.
" We don't need you!" Her father yelled at her, breaking her heart. Her spirit.
Isuzu felt her body fall through the air and even after all the cruel words she had been told... It wasn't was coming to mind as tears fell down her face and her hair whipped past her as she fell back towards the ground. She knew Akito was wrong...
Haru.. he had wanted her. And that had made her happy. Reason didn't apply. Isuzu loved Haru, and he returned those feelings.
"I love you." Haru cradled her face in his gentle hands, his eyes gazing into hers, she found no lies in kind brown eyes. " And I.. want you."
And he wasn't the only one. There were other people who had wanted her. Others who had loved her for her.
" Would you like to live with us, Rin? We would love to have you." A light, musical voice comforted the young Isuzu as the woman tucked a piece of hair behind the teenager's ear, giving the Horse of the Zodiac a large smile.
"We love you."
Life was so unfair... it did cruel things to the kindest of people... they were gone, and she was still here...but so was...
" I love you, Zuzu...thank you... for staying by my side." Marley's cold hand held Isuzu's as she laid in her hospital bed, Marley smiled at her, and all Isuzu felt was the warmth of Marley's soul, cancelling out the girl's cold touch.
Isuzu silently cried as she stared up at the sky, blood soaking her school uniform. She could barely make out Hiro calling out to her. He sounded so far away. The light of the moon shining down on her. It's beauty almost mocking the ugliness she felt. But the stars were still pretty and her eye's caught the sight of a shooting star far in the distance.
I'll protect you... with everything that I have. I want to set you free...I'll search for it.. with everything that I have... even if it ends... with nothing in my hands. I want you to be happy.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
.
Sun shined down on a lonely house that rested at the top of a large hill. Where a certain person remained.
The certain person remained in their house, away from everyone else. Alone.
But one day, a stray came to visit. The person was puzzled by the sudden visitor as no one had ever come to see them before.
The stray animal bowed it's head respectfully and said: " I have been watching you for quite some time."
The animal ventured closer to the person. " You are a strange and mysterious being I cannot help but be drawn to you. Though I am but a stray animal... please let me stay by your side."
"Please, 'God'" The animal asked the person and as they laid their little paws on the God's lap, offering the comfort of touch and so ... God met their first friend.
The stray had been good to their word as it never left God's side. Not even for a moment. Filling the God's once lonely days with companionship.
This made God very, very happy, and it sparked an idea.
"Perhaps... I can become friends with those who are not human." They thought, their mind buzzing with excitement at the new bonds they could make.
God got out some paper and began writing.
"If they feel the same way I do...perhaps we could enjoy a banquet together." The stray watched as their God wrote letter after letter.
.
Soft morning light streamed through the window and Marley groggily tried to get up, but a heavy weight on her chest kept her in place. She tried to get up again but heard a meow of protest as she lifted her head up.
"Sorry, Gimli... what a strange dream..." Marley yawned as she gave the large, fluffy feline a few scratches under his chin. Even after just waking up, she could feel the strange dream leaving her, no recollection of what the dream was, but it left a strange feeling in her chest. Her head felt like it was pounding. These peculiar dreams had been happening a lot lately, but she always felt the images of the dream leaving her like water slipping through her fingers. Something she couldn't hold in place.
A knock on her door surprised her, and she told them to enter as she stretched and got out of bed. Her Dadaji opened the door, and the look on his face didn't spell good news.
"Get dressed." He ordered as he switched on her bedroom lights.
"Why? Is something wrong?" She asked, all drowsiness leaving as she heard the urgency in her Dadaji's voice.
" It's Isuzu."
.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- End Of No Woman No Cry .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Notes:
Songs:
No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Hello! Peachie here :D
Hmmm... just a small cliffhanger.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
While I do have a slight plan to continue I really want to hear from readers. What did you enjoy, what maybe came off as confusing? What would you like to see more or less of?
This story is over 200,000 words so I know if you've read this far there must be a reason :P
There should be a notice up in the next day or so as I figure out some stuff so stay tuned.
I truly appreciate those of you who have taken the time to leave reviews on this story. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
To Littlecosma001: Akito showed up but Marley didn't get a chance to ask about Kyo as other stuff came up, I'm sure she'll be bringing it up in the future. Gimli the kitty will always be around but he does tend to wander off now and then lol Thank you for the review :)
To Demona Evernight: I'm so excited to write more fluff between Kyo and Marley :) I just want them to be together already lol
To RubyGemGreen: Her meeting with Akito went a little differently than people expected but there's still lot's of things for Akito and Marley to discuss, the beach house arc is just around the corner :p hope you enjoyed this final chapter of No Woman No Cry
To VampireSiren: Welcome back XD I'm sure Kazuma will bring up his meeting with Marley's mother, he just needs the right time and they have something to talk about. And yes, Gimli is SUPER particular about who he's nice to, cats are so funny lol Omg writing the laundry scene was so fun, poor Kyo lol