For These Scars
~Chapter 24~
Written by: RinoaDestiny
King of Fighters, Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Saisyu Kusanagi, and Benimaru Nikaido belong to SNK
"Kyo – Yuki's here." The expression his mother gave him was one of concern and understanding. "Did you arrange for her to be here?"
"Yes." Rising from his chair, Kyo glanced at his desk – nothing important left behind – and pushed the chair inward with his foot. "I called her. We…there's something I need to tell her."
"Will it upset her?"
"It will."
Shizuka sighed. "Then your father will be upset. Your uncle as well, I think."
"Let them."
"So you've decided, then?"
"Yes."
A hint of compassion entered his mother's gaze. "So you chose him."
"I told him I wouldn't leave him. He's…he's not doing well."
"How so? In what way?"
"He's dying." Saying it in such a blunt manner forced him to face the brutal truth; Kyo couldn't see how to soften the harsh reality. "Dad did something to him. He's ill. Won't make it."
"What did your father do?" Sharpness in his mother's eyes – terrifying in its own right – and an edge in her mild voice. Kyo knew its effect on his father and sometimes on him when he misbehaved in the past. Shizuka Kusanagi was probably going to exchange words with Saisyu later. He had to curb that; otherwise, every gain they've had up to this point was going to be lost. If his father knew he discovered what happened to Iori, the secret was out.
Iori would die, then and in a bad way.
Not that this slow dying was much better, but…
"He's lost too much weight. Constantly burning up. Full sweat."
His mother frowned, a furrow between her brows. "Was he sick before?"
"No."
"Why do you suspect your father?"
"He's the only one who opposed us, once he found out. Can't be anyone else."
The crease between his mother's brows deepened. "Yuki's waiting for you, so we can't talk much longer but how much weight has Yagami lost?"
"Half his usual weight."
"He's sweating? Feverish? Unable to eat?"
"Yeah. Something like that. You know why, Mom?"
"I have my suspicions." The darkness in her expression didn't change. "I'll let Yuki know you'll be arriving soon."
"Mom," he said, reaching out to gently seize her kimono sleeve, "don't tell Dad about this. Yagami will…Dad will kill him if he knows. I'll…there's a better time to confront him."
"Are you…is something the matter, Kyo?"
"I'll let you know later."
His mother continued looking at him, but didn't press any further. "I'll let her know. Don't keep her waiting, Kyo."
"I won't."
When he stepped into their usual meeting spot, Yuki sat waiting for him, legs folded in the formal seiza position. Moving across from her, he did the same, since the situation was serious and he meant to address it as such. Once he was ensconced, Yuki broke the silence. "You said you needed to speak to me, Kyo. Is something wrong?"
What she asked him last time. Kyo took a deep breath. There was no retreat.
"Yuki…I haven't…I haven't been truthful with you."
A frown similar to the one he'd seen on his mother's face crossed Yuki's. "What…what are you talking about, Kyo?"
"I…I know you've been faithful, but I…"
"Kyo?"
Why was it so hard to say despite his commitment to the choice he'd made? "I've been seeing someone else. Behind your back." He bowed from the waist, pressing his palms to the tatami matting and keeping his forehead against the floor. "I'm sorry."
Silence. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.
It was a full minute, perhaps two before Yuki spoke. "Why are you only telling me now, Kyo?"
He'd been afraid of that reaction. Had dreaded it, in fact. He deserved it, though.
"Yuki, I –"
"Who is it, Kyo? Some random girl on the street? One of your fans?"
If only. What he was about to drop on her was considerably worse. "Yuki…"
"Tell me, Kyo. Who is she?"
He swallowed. Found it difficult to speak. Finally did so, forcing the words from his mouth. "You know him."
Another silence. He swore this one ran longer, falling deeper like a well without end. When Yuki next spoke, her tone was glacial. "I know him?"
"You do. You've seen him before. Many times."
He dared to look up afterwards and by doing so, saw the moment it clicked for Yuki; she paled. "No. Kyo, you don't mean…"
He raised himself up, sitting back on his heels so that their gazes met. "Yes. It's Iori Yagami, Yuki."
She opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. "Why?"
"I –"
"Why, Kyo? You hate him. You fight with him all the time."
"I hated him," he said, emphasizing the change in tense like a fired bolt striking its target. Yuki stiffened, small shoulders rigid and if he touched her, Kyo was sure she'd be all ice and no softness. "We don't anymore."
"When did this start, Kyo?"
He couldn't lie to her about this. She didn't deserve it. "Six months ago."
"You never thought to tell me? Were you ever going to tell me?"
"Yuki, I –"
"That day when you got the tickets, did you…" Yuki trailed off, lips thinning. "You weren't, were you? You were thinking about him, right? I asked if something was wrong and…"
"I fully intended on going to that concert with you. I never –"
"You weren't all there that day, Kyo! I asked you twice. So why are you telling me now?"
"Yuki –"
"So you don't hate him anymore. Neither does he. Are you…" Yuki blushed, her livid complexion now scarlet. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"
Said out loud like that, blatant in the open – boldness instead of shrinking, yielding politeness – which would be considered forward and unsuitable in their society. But Yuki reminded him of his mother – of Shizuka Kusanagi – and in this matter, Yuki would not let it rest unspoken.
He didn't say anything. It was an admission of truth in of itself.
"Does he feel the same, Kyo?"
This time, he nodded. Closed his hands around his knees. It reminded him of his father, which was distasteful to even think of at this time.
"Why didn't you tell me? Before you…"
"I…we couldn't."
"I'm not talking about Iori Yagami, Kyo. I'm talking about you. Why didn't you tell me?"
"It…it would've been bad if I –"
"If what?" Sitting across from her, Kyo saw her patience snap. Severity entered her eyes, tensed her clenched hands and changed her tone from ice to stone. "Kyo, you knew! You knew we were together! So why didn't you tell him that?"
"Yuki, it's not that –"
"Simple? Kyo!" Into the hardness of her face, Kyo glimpsed the wet shimmer of tears starting in her eyes. "We were together before you…he…. You knew! If you told him, he would've –"
"I couldn't."
"What do you mean 'You couldn't'?" The waspishness in her voice caught at him, like a hook in his heart. "He knew as well! That you and me were –"
"Yuki, he's never loved before. Not like this. I couldn't just –"
"Tell him you were unavailable? Something both of you knew for years?"
"It'll break his heart."
"So breaking mine would be better? Is that it, Kyo?" Anger lashing out, directed straight at him. "You said you were sorry earlier. Was that sincere? Or are you still lying to me?"
"Yuki –"
"How do I know what to believe anymore, Kyo? Why should I listen to you?"
"Yuki, I…it…I didn't want to…I love you both…I –"
Wetness on her cheeks, which were pale again. "Love us both? Kyo, I was first! Since high school. Back when you both were trying to kill each other. There isn't any…"
"I thought there was. But…"
"I wasn't told until you felt guilty. Is that right, Kyo?"
"No, it's not like that."
"Then what is it like, Kyo?" There was a warning in her tone. Keeping his gaze fixed on her was difficult.
He swallowed for the second time during this argument, throat dry. His fingers dug into the fabric of his pants, the only barrier between leaving nail marks in his skin. Yuki's usual happy countenance was gone, replaced by a glower that seemed alien on her face. Her purse lay on the side, forgotten. She was dressed well, pretty and bright. The air in the room felt stifling. He'd broken her heart. She was angry, which was her right. She wanted to know more.
He'd already broken her heart. He didn't want to break it anymore.
"Kyo, why are you telling me now?"
There was no retreat. There never had been.
"Because…it wasn't fair to you. Or him. Wanting you both."
"It's not fair to me, Kyo."
"I know. I…" He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling. "Yagami's in a bad place, Yuki. I…I can't leave him like that."
"So that's it, then? He's first now?"
"Yuki –"
"Kyo, you've decided. When you didn't tell me or tell him 'no'. It seems you've already decided even before you called me. Am I right?"
"I…. Yes."
"Kyo, I can't remain with you. Like this. You don't love me. Not like before."
"Yuki…"
"I know others would tell me to reconsider. That their boyfriends play around. That it's okay – all guys need to play. But, Kyo…I'm not like those girls. I can't do that."
He bowed his head. "I know."
"I'll let you decide what to do with the tickets."
He was right about that, too, then.
"You can let your mother know. I'm leaving, Kyo."
She would. She wouldn't have a reason to be around him, with him anymore, would she? Not after what he told her – his betrayal of her trust, of her fidelity. Yuki had more respect for herself than other women her age – would not stay in a sham relationship. If his father tried the same, his mother would have words for him, too.
It was part of the reason why he was attracted to her in the first place.
He didn't say goodbye to her. Didn't deserve that right.
Yuki walked out of the room, out of the house, and out of his life.
His mother didn't need to ask to know. It was in his face. He stayed away from his father and Uncle Hajime during the afternoon hours. If they knew, he'd never stop quarreling with them. They could find out in their own time, through their own network of spies. He was fine with that – it'll give him space to reform his thoughts, to reshape his words. During dinner, he remained silent, focusing only on his food and while his father exchanged a glance with his mother, Shizuka never gave him away. When Uncle Hajime questioned him, he parried it aside by saying he was tired.
It wasn't a lie, that one.
He was exhausted. Yuki had broken up with him, which he deserved.
Still, it didn't lessen the concern or love he had for Iori.
He'd made his choice. Had to live with the consequences. He'd been told that – knew that, so it shouldn't hurt this much. After all, he'd hurt Yuki even worse, hadn't he?
But Yuki was right. She was first. He'd known her before he'd known Iori and…
She was gone. By her own choice. Because of him.
Iori was still alive but for how long? A matter of days. They both knew that.
And once Iori was gone…
Kyo retired early that night, falling into a troubled sleep. When his phone buzzed, he picked it up and read Benimaru's relayed message. It only needed a two character response. However, he was unable to go back to sleep afterwards. Remained awake, staring at the ceiling and wondering what else he could've done.
Tell Yuki and throw Iori to the wayside. Remain enemies and rivals with him.
Iori would be okay. Not like this. Not dying a painful wasting death.
Do what he already did.
The outcome would be this – one long-term relationship lost; the other, coming to an end.
There were no options that would let him have both.
Life didn't work that way. His life didn't, at least. If they hadn't been discovered, perhaps but…
He'd still be living a lie regarding Yuki, then, right?
Yagami would still die, but of the blood curse instead.
Kyo groaned and rolled towards the wall, pulling his blanket over his head. Consequences. He needed to own them. They were his. He was committed solely to Yagami now, for the other man was desperate and time was running out. Endless questioning was a luxury he couldn't afford – not at this juncture.
And yet…
Yuki. Sweet, faithful Yuki.
There was a price paid for what he desired. When all this was over, who was actually paying it? To whom was the penalty given?
He didn't want to know. Not right now.
It was too soon. Too soon and time was running out.