Chapter 10
"Kyo-kun! We'll be late!" Tohru sang at the cat who was barely upright, let alone awake.
"Coming," he said gruffly, trying to keep his grumpiness from affecting the cheerful girl.
He was exhausted. Sleep seemed to be a thing of the past, last night had been a repeat of the previous two. He had woken to the screams of nightmares, he had held him, and rocked him back to sleep. Only then to be kept awake by his own thoughts and confused emotions.
There were no questions last night. No scrutinising eyes. It was like an unspoken agreement, Kyo would help Yuki, and Yuki would let him.
They were about to leave when the prince appeared beside them, dressed in his school uniform with a grey turtleneck underneath to hide his bruised neck. He looked alert, despite the early hour, this wasn't right. This wasn't like him.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?!" The cat shouted at him, rage vibrating in every nerve of his body.
"School. I thought that would be obvious, stupid cat." Yuki drawled casually, as if he hadn't been a silent recluse yesterday.
"Oh Yuki-kun, you should stay home and rest!" Tohru started flapping around him.
"Yeah, she's right! The hell are you thinking damn rat?!"
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Honda, but I have student council duties, and I do not wish to get behind on schoolwork." He smiled softly at her, trying to ease her worries.
"B-but Yuki-kun…" She stammered but was quickly hushed by a pale hand on her shoulder, urging her to continue through the door.
"Shall we get going Miss Honda? We're going to be late?" He interrupted whatever she was going to say.
"DON'T IGNORE ME YOU FUCKING RODENT!" The cat grabbed the boy by the collar and slammed him against the house. "You are not going to school. You are staying here." His intense gaze faltering as he noticed the boy wince. Damn, I didn't mean to lose control. I don't want to hurt you.
A swift kick knocked Kyo off his feet, he grimaced as he landed on his backside. He looked up at the boy who held the same anger in his gaze. "Don't act like you can tell me what to do." The rat composed himself before looking back at the girl with a fake smile, "Shall we, Miss Honda?"
The cat stared after them stewing in his rage. He was masking his limp quite well; he had a smile on his face while Tohru chatted at him. His voice had sounded almost normal, a little gruff, as if he had a sore throat. Kyo quickly got to his feet and stalked after them. The rat was right, he couldn't stop him. He would just have to watch out for him. Make sure nothing happened.
His blood boiled again at the irrational protectiveness he felt. He had only felt this way towards Tohru. The girl was always a trip away from falling, she was clumsy and ditsy. She needed looking out for. But Yuki? He had never questioned it. Now that he knew more: knew the demons that plagued the boys mind, and his physical injuries weren't to be ignored. He was being foolish.
Stupid rat. Why are you being a martyr?!
They got to school and headed to homeroom for registration. Prince Yuki's fanclub swarmed as soon as they had reached the school gates, with a flurry of questions:
"Where were you on Friday? We missed you!"
"What's wrong with the Prince's voice? Are you ill? We'll nurse you to health!"
"Why are you wearing a turtleneck? It's so flattering, we should all get turtlenecks!"
Kyo glared at the scene, his anger had not dwindled on their commute to school. He overhead the rats carefully crafted lies, that he had a bought of bronchitis, his voice would return to normal if he kept the cold at bay. The cat rolled his eyes and stomped away from his ridiculousness.
As he reached homeroom he was hurled backwards by a strong grip on the collar of his uniform. He was flung against the lockers in the hall, the wind knocked from him. The cat braced himself, planting his feet in a fighting stance. He looked around wildly for his attacker. He was already riled; this would be a great way to vent his frustrations.
A jewelled fist collided with his awaiting palm, blocking the advance from the black and white-haired youth.
"The fuck Haru?! You want a fight? FINE. I am so not in the mood for this crap!"
He thrust his palm forward, catching the boy off-guard and off balance. The orange-haired boy struck out with his foot, planting it firmly against his stomach and sending him flying against the lockers on the opposing wall. The metal dented under the impact, and left the boy panting, his gaze was dark, he rushed forward-
Suddenly the two boys were pushed into a neighbouring empty classroom. Yuki pushed the door shut behind them.
"Could you not show me up in public please?" His tone was tired, exasperated by the situation.
"HOW COULD YOU LET HIM COME TO SCHOOL?!" Haru directed the booming question at the cat.
"WHA-," The fight resumed, Haru using the element of surprise to punch Kyo in the face. Kyo stumbled but did not fall. He saw red and pounced, arms flying, occasionally colliding with lean muscle.
"YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT! YOU JUST HAD TO KEEP HIM HOME!" The ox continued his verbal barrage. This comment prompted a response from the cat, but didn't stop the onslaught of limbs, kicking, punching, shoving.
"YOU THINK I JUST LET HIM? I TRIED TO STOP THE DAMNED RODENT!" Fury was dripping with every syllable. That's what this is about?! Who does he think he is? Does he know what I've dealt with so far?!
"Haru-," A calm voice wasn't heard.
"I SPOKE TO HATORI, HE SAID HE NEEDED TO STAY HOME!"
"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" The cat pinned the boy to the floor, catching his fists with his hands, he continued, "What did you do? I went to the main house! I took him home. I saved him!"
"Because I told you to!"
"Why didn't you do it!"
"Where do you think Akito was when you got there?! Who do you think was distracting him?!" The words sounded in the still classroom. The red fog dissipated. Reality crashed down upon the two boys. Haru's gaze softened, the darkness receding.
Kyo looked at the boy incredulously. The two boys on the floor were panting. Kyo still straddling the younger boy, leaning over him with his arms pinned. Kyo took in his features now that the fight had passed. The boy had a split lip and a bruised cheekbone.
The boys voice was back to his neutral, bored tone. "I was punished for getting the word out. But I couldn't go myself. So, thank you for that."
The cat didn't know how to react. He shoved the boy's arms away and fled the room. Thanks? I don't need your thanks. Kyo barged passed at bewildered Yuki and slammed the door behind him. Finally reaching homeroom seconds before the bell sounded.
Yuki looked at the black and white-haired boy on the floor, he was slowly getting to his feet, stretching out his long limbs. The rat struggled to comprehend what he had just heard. He reached out and touched the younger boys face, he felt so guilty.
"Don't." The boy looked away from the mournful violet eyes, "Don't beat yourself up about this. I did what I had to."
"But-," He was silenced by a pair of steely eyes, his gaze was intense, filled with frustration.
"We both risked a lot to get you out of there. Don't let it be for nothing. Why are you here? You are in no fit state to be in school."
Yuki could only gape in response as the boy pushed passed him.
Alone in an empty classroom Yuki tried to compose himself. He had classes to get to. There would be students waiting to use this room. He struggled to find reason in the actions he had just witnessed. We both risked a lot to get you out of there. The words echoed in his mind. BUT WHY?! What was the point? Why for me?
He shook his head and headed to class. He had English first, and he tried flutily to pay attention. They were given a task and the class shuffled to begin, pulling out their binders and starting to write. He felt eyes on him, and he turned to meet angry red irises from the corner of the room. Yuki felt stung. He turned his attention back to the blank paper on the desk.
The rat had a student council meeting at lunch, so he was absent at their usual table. Kyo didn't feel like being around people but thought it would be a good distraction from the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him. He listened to the mindless chatter between his cousins and Tohru's friends.
He hadn't noticed the worried glances that Tohru had been sending all morning, and therefore ignored her gaze. He remained silent despite Uotani's usual teasing. She seemed taken aback and seemed to pity him, ceasing their usual banter.
The bell rang causing them to go in different directions, Kyo gathered his bag and set off towards his next class.
"Oi, Kyo." The gruff voice belonging to the ox.
The cat stopped and turned.
"How is he?" His voice neutral but his eyes filled with concern.
Anger rose in the cat, "Ask him yourself! I'm not his babysitter!"
"I see," the younger boy nodded, he wasn't stupid, despite the preconceived notions based on his zodiac spirit. He knew that this reaction meant that something had happened between them. He wasn't met with laughter, or a smart retort of 'Who cares?'. Anger meant there was feeling there. Anger meant that he would look out for Yuki. And that was all he needed to know. The ox walked on to his next lesson without another word.
This frustrated Kyo further. What was that knowing look? Like he's figured something out? He doesn't know me. The cat kicked the trashcan, spilling its contents, and once again started on his way to his next lesson.