Chapter 38

Kyomi woke with Luc snuggled up as the small spoon in her stomach and Shigure against her back as the big spoon. She smiled and snuggled in between her two boys and dozed for a little longer. She listened to Shigure's soft breath against her ear, she felt her son's warm cheek against her arm and her heart was full to nearly bursting. She was pulled from her reveling by the bedroom door inching quietly open and familiar orange eyes and hair peeking in. Her heart that had been on cloud nine only a moment ago plummeted back to earth at the sight of her brother. He was dirty and looked like his heart had been wrenched from his chest. She silently caught his attention which made him jump. She held a finger to her lips and motioned to give her a minute and she would be up. He nodded and shut the door. She grabbed her glasses and saw Shigure's note next to them but decided she would talk to Kyo first. She grabbed her robe and threw it around her as she pulled the door quietly shut behind her. She saw Kyo standing there facing her, eyes flashing.

"Um, what's wrong with you? You weren't that mad just two seconds ago." Kyomi said confused.

Kyo opened his mouth to yell, glanced at the door, and decided to whisper yell instead. "HOW WAS THAT DAMN DOG SO CLOSE TO YOU? YOU WERE BASICALLY SNUGGLING WITH LUC RIGHT THERE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" He said concerned but also still irritated his own sister chose to be with the former dog spirit.

Kyomi's eyes widened and then she had to stifle laughter. "His curse broke last night Kyo. You don't have to worry about that anymore." She said between breaths. She calmed and smiled lovingly at him. "I appreciate your concern though. It's very sweet. Now what had you looking like someone murdered your puppy?" She asked. She saw the tears come to Kyo's eyes and internally panicked. She had never seen him have this reaction to anything, not when discovering that he had her as a sister, not when they talked about their mother, nothing.

"Let's sit down. I'll make us some coffee" She walked to the kitchen mind whirling as to what would cause this reaction in her brother. She filled the coffee pot with water and coffee grounds and grabbed two mugs and took them back to the table to sit and wait for the pot to brew.

"Alright, what happened?" Kyomi said with kindness, but an edge to her voice telling her brother that she will hear all the answers to her questions, but that she would be there for him no matter what he said.

Kyo sighed heavily and laid down next to the table, his head buried in the pillow Kyomi had put in her lap. Kyomi froze knowing something was desperately wrong if he was having this reaction. She just waited for his ragged breathing to even out for him to speak. By the time his breathing evened out, she felt him get heavier and heavier. She ran her fingers through his hair and realized he had fallen asleep on her. She facepalmed her forehead into her palm and rested her elbow on the table next to them. She mourned her hot fresh coffee in the kitchen. She almost fell back asleep on her hands herself when she heard movement from her bedroom. The door slowly slid open and Shigure stepped out and quietly slid it shut. He turned around and jumped a little seeing Kyo asleep in Kyomi's lap. He sat next to her quietly and gently kissed her temple.

"Did you sleep well?" He whispered, running his fingers through her hair.

"I slept alright. Waking up was the best part though." She whispered back with a grin, kissing his fingers as they drew near her cheek. "Now, are you going to tell me what happened to cause this?" She continued their whispered conversation, gesturing to her sleeping brother. "Something is obviously wrong."

Shigure sighed. "Before or after coffee?" He asked. "Before." Kyomi answered quickly. Shigure hesitated wondering the best way to break the news. He took her hand in his.

"Tohru had an accident last night. She fell off a cliff and went to the hospital. Yuki and Hatori are with her." Shigure started. He read Kyomi's emotions plainly on her face. Shock, worry, and sadness primary among them, but he also wondered with as pale as she went at one point if she was having flashbacks to when she had lost her family. "She will be alright." Shigure clarified so there was no doubt. Kyomi cleared her throat, confused.

"How did she fall off a cliff? What would possess her to be out ON A MOUNTAIN at NIGHT of all times?" She said a hint of anger tinting her voice.

"She was chasing Akito." Shigure explained.

"Akito came here?! Why? Did she push Tohru?" Kyomi whisper yelled.

"Apparently she wanted to confront Tohru because Akito thought Tohru was pulling all the Zodiac members away from her. And no, Akito said she didn't push Tohru and I think I believe her. She looked like a different person. Luc had gotten up before I had and was hugging her and comforting her. She truly seems to care about him. She cried as she apologized for everything." A hardness came to his voice. "That by no means is enough to make up for what she has done to us all, but it's a start." He finished.

Kyomi nodded in agreement. "Did she know your curse broke?"

"She said she felt it when it happened." Shigure answered. Kyomi felt Kyo shift, then suddenly he bolted upright, wide eyed and embarrassed. Kyomi just smiled at him.

"Apparently you needed to sleep. Do you feel better?" She asked him. Kyo nodded and then hurried up the stairs, his sister calling after him. Kyomi sighed as she heard his door close.

"Something happened there and I have no idea what. How is Tohru doing?" Kyomi asked scooting closer to Shigure to lay her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his lap to snuggle against his chest.

"Yuki left a message this morning. She was moved into an observation room shortly after being admitted. They are watching her for signs of a concussion which they are sure she has, just not how badly. She was in and out of it all night and apparently woke up this morning and has been doing much better. Although Yuki asked her about Kyo and she wouldn't say anything and started crying." Shigure said a little irritated with the orange haired teen.

"Why isn't he at the hospital too?" Kyomi said angrily.

"You are more likely to know than I am my dear." He said with a kiss to her forehead. They sat like that for some time before Luc opened the door and sleepily crawled into his mother's lap rubbing his eyes.

"Mama, eat breakfast?" He asked. Kyomi smiled at him.

"Are you hungry?" Luc nodded. "Yes, pwease." The adults chuckled at him and got up to do just that. Shigure got their coffee, tea, and milk while Kyomi got their breakfast. Luc just sat playing with one of his cars. It had a wind up where you pulled the car back and the wheels wound up and ran when you let go of the car. He was driving it off the table and giggling at it.

Kyomi looked at Shigure before asking in a quiet whisper, "I think one of them confessed. That's the only thing I can figure." She continued stirring the oatmeal and frying ham. Shigure nodded in agreement.

"And it did not go well for some reason. I guess we will find out eventually." He said and took their drinks to go play with Luc.

Kyomi absentmindedly stirred some raisins into the oatmeal. She knew the feelings the two young teens had for each other, at least she thought she did. What could have happened to cause such reactions from them both? Her brother had NEVER initiated physical contact with her, for the obvious reason of course, but also because she thought he either just wasn't the affectionate type of person or just wasn't comfortable with her enough for that. Neither reason bothered her so she let herself show affection rarely and mostly to tease him to hopefully not bother him too much and to respect his feelings. She had told him early on to please tell her if he had any issues with her teasing, he had just blushed and said its fine so she was still careful to not overdo it, but continued to ruffle his hair and punch his shoulder like she had her adopted brothers years ago before they died. The fact that Kyo had fallen asleep in her lap had shocked her to no end and told her that something was seriously wrong. Tohru was always so open and warm and affectionate that her absolute refusal to talk to Yuki of all people was proof that something was desperately wrong between the two of them.

Kyomi sighed as she turned off the burner and pulled herself out of her thoughts. She brought the bowls and the pot over to the table. She set the pot on the potholder Shigure had placed there and the bowls in front of the boys and herself. Luc put his car on the floor while his mother dished up their bowls.

The rest of their day was rather boring. Kyomi called Hatori after their very late breakfast to hear the whole story of what had happened. Ayame had called and talked to Shigure. The snake possessed man nearly dropped the phone and ran over when he heard about Shigure's curse breaking. He wanted to talk about wedding plans now that it was in the realm of possibility for them, but Shigure staved him off easily saying they wanted to include Tohru in those plans. Ayame agreed quickly and dropped it.

That night, Kyomi and Shigure put Luc to bed together and discussed them getting married and becoming even more of a family. Luc just wanted to know when he could call Shigure 'papa' and that set any worries they had immediately at ease. They shared a group hug and Kyomi sang their nightly lullaby while Shigure rubbed the boy's head. He was all but asleep when Kyomi and Shigure left the room.

Kyomi shut the door quietly behind her and followed Shigure down the stairs. She had a plan in mind and she wasn't letting it go to waste for anything. Shigure was in the kitchen pulling glasses and her favorite wine out of the cabinet. She leaned against the door frame, arms crossed just staring at him. She felt a little like a lioness stalking her prey, but she knew he would probably like that so she just did what she wanted. If the prey had any idea of what the lioness was planning, he didn't give any indication. He just carried the two glasses and the bottle to the bedroom where they usually spent their evenings. Him writing and her lesson planning at his desk, playing piano, reading, or crafting for Ayame's shop. She followed with a slight smirk on her face, shutting the door behind them. She snuck up next to him and waited for him to put the breakable things down before pouncing. As soon as he released the bottle neck, she grabbed his collar and pulled him down into a searing kiss. His arms immediately came around her neck and waist and she just melted into him like she had never been able to do before. Tohru was on the mend, Luc was home safe, it was time for them to have time to themselves. They had held back not only all day, but for months so they could savor this moment. And savor it they did.

After Kyomi's initial attack, she pulled back still firm in his embrace and began softly and with agonizing slowness, kissing him all over his face. She started at his mouth, then trailed her way to his nose, eliciting a grin from him. She gently breathed against his skin as she moved to his cheek, then his jaw. She kissed his chin before returning to his mouth and giving it the slowest yet most deliberate attention. She could feel the tension in his shoulders both increase and melt away at the same time. Without breaking the kiss, Shigure suddenly bent and scooped her up bridal style and laid them both on the bed. He caught her eyes and whispered breathlessly, "You started this, you aren't going to stop it on me are you?" Kyomi just grinned, shook her head no and pulled him in for another more passionate kiss, throwing her leg over his hip to pull him closer to her. He immediately groaned in response and pressed her into the mattress, his hands reaching under her shirt around her back, his fingers leaving hot trails on her skin as they went. Kyomi's skin felt on fire with all her nerve endings picking up and responding to every brush of his clothes and his body against hers. She pulled off his shirt to leave trails of her own against his chest and back, her nails digging into his back as she pulled him even closer.

They spent the rest of the night getting better acquainted than they ever had.

….

Hehehehe:) I told you I don't do those scenes! Fill in the rest with your brain:) This is as much as you will get from me:) I will be following this couple until "spoiler" Kyo and Tohru leave. I'm debating about doing a flashforward at the end like the manga and anime do, but a little more in depth. We will see how it goes:) This has been such a fun story to write that has basically written itself. It's not even over yet and I'm going to miss it!