Author's Notes: Thanks to my reviewers;
jill4 (Thank you for reviewing both stories! *hugs*),
kireina (More Akito evilness to come in this chappie!),
"Me" (I have no idea on the -kun thing, but if I wasn't mistaken Kyo calls Tohru 'Tohru-kun'… *goes to check*),
Ginny (Yes, more angst! Maybe not pure but there ya go… And thanks for the input!),
Meethzoonks (You finally got your lazy butt up then? Lol!)
Dark Wings1 (*snicks* He he he, more angst coming! Thanks for reviewing my Saiyuki fic hun! Cant wait to beta more great work from you!)
Oh, and one more thing, 'A Promise Made' will be continued as soon as I finish this fic. I promise it will be soon! Give me two weeks! There's at least another chapter after this, maybe two.
*
Chapter 3: Betrayals
"I'll be fine." Uo scolded Kyo and whacked his hands away as he tried to grab her arms again.
"Listen Yankee. No! Wait! Would you stop walking already!" he finally gave up trying to grab her hands, instead he pulled her hair. Bad move.
"You do realise that you are being very suicidal don't you?" she said in a dangerously low voice, the cat inside Kyo began to bristle.
"Would you listen then!?" When Uo didn't answer he tugged her hair.
"Let go you moron!"
"Will you listen to me?" Uo looked around and was finally aware of the people watching them curiously. One old lady even muttered 'young couples these days. Must they make a scene in public?'. She finally sighed and pinched his arm hard so that he'd let go. And let go he did, but not before tugging the thick hair one last time. It was all payback of course. Uo tended to pinch rather hard.
"Sit." She ordered as she found a near by bench. He readily agreed, before she ran off again. "Good kitty."
"Would you stop already!?!" he glared at her and froze. Her eyes were lit up brightly with suppressed laughter and the wind was blowing her cascading hair gently. She didn't look like a goddess but like a sprite, or nymph. He shook his head inwardly, nymphs didn't seem very strong. No, Uo would be something like a… he didn't know. He was lost for words. Uo was Uo. Nothing in the world could compare to her.
"Oy, cat got your tongue?" she thought about what she had said and laughed. "Cat got your tongue… Get it?" When Kyo failed to frown at her she stopped. She waved a hand over his eyes and called out his name.
"You do realise this might be the last time I'll ever be with you?" he asked solemnly.
Kyo and Uo were in their way to the Sohma house. He admired his girlfriend's bravery when he finally told her about how things in the Sohma house worked. She had pulled him in for a kiss and told him that things will work out. But Kyo knew, he knew that everything was out of his hands. Things wont be fine. Not once Akito had plunged his hands in. He dreaded to see her empty eyes, he dreaded to see her pass him like a stranger.
"I told you everything's going to be okay," Uo took one of his hands, "don't you trust me?"
"I wish I could." was all that he could say. Refusing to look at her eyes, he stood up. "Come on, better not make Akito angrier than he already is."
The walk to the house seemed so long and heavy. It seemed like a death march, and for Kyo it was. He knew he liked Uo, that was the reason why he asked her out in the first place. But somehow, somewhere along the way she had gotten under his layers of walls and managed to get into his heart. Maybe it was the sheer force of her personality, maybe it was because she refused to be kicked out. But one thing was for certain, she was his first love.
The image of Hatori's melancholic face crept into his thoughts. He mentally shuddered. He refused to end up like his elder cousin.
Kyo was so deep in thought that he didn't notice his hands seeking hers. Unaware of his own actions he squeezed her hands gently in support. Uo was also lost in thought and clutched tighter at the silent support from his callused hands. It might be the last time she'll ever feel its warmth.
"This is it." he said as they reached a tall wooden gate. When they entered she felt her breath get sucked away. The house and garden before her was exquisite. It seemed right out of a picture book. Near a wall was a pond, there were flashes of red and gold that grazed the surface of the water. She guessed they were expensive Koi fishes.
Her eyes greedily drank in the beautiful sight before her.
Tall trees gave shadows that just beckoned to her. She could see herself with a book in her hands (not for reading but just for aesthetic purposes), lying peacefully underneath one of the cool shades.
But something about the whole place was… wrong. Slowly she realised what it was. The place seemed too peaceful. It was as if time treaded slowly. Careful not to disturb something. It was as if nature herself feared to bring life into the place. While the wind joyfully played outside, in this garden of dreams it crept slowly. Trying to be careful not to rustle the trees too much, for fear of angering something… or someone.
"Kyo…"
"Yes?"
"Why are you whispering?"
"I… I was just following your example."
"Stupid cat."
They finally reached the main house and Kyo looked back at her. His posture was tense, stiffer than she had ever seen him. She understood in a way, Kyo had told her he never set foot in the house unless it was on New Years day. And even then he always felt somewhat unwelcome.
"Hello Kyo."
"A… Akito. We were just about to go into your room. I hope we didn't keep you waiting." Kyo's voice was full of concealed emotions. Fear, anger and hatred flashed continuously in his expressive eyes. He wished right now that he was like Yuki, able to conceal all he felt at moments like this. He knew Akito was enjoying every moment of his apprehension and he hated it.
"Hello Arisa, I hope you don't mind me calling you Arisa. We tend to be familiar with each other in this family."
"Oh, no I don't mind at all Akito."
"Akito-san." he corrected her with a sneer. She grimaced inwardly, so he wanted to play a game, she forced a neutral expression on her face as she repeated him.
"Akito-san. It is nice to meet you."
"Hmm." Was his non-committal reply. Kyo's body tensed even more. He hated that he couldn't defend her. But he knew she understood, it brought a little comfort in the horrible situation.
"Akito… san," Uo's rebellious nature had once more pushed through as her voice took on a patronising tone. "Was there something that you needed with us?"
Akito was not offended with her brazenness, if anything her seemed amused. Kyo didn't know whether it was a good thing or not.
"Ah, yes there was Arisa." Kyo bristled at his familiar use of her name.
"Then would you hurry up?" Kyo muttered under his breath in one moment of stupidity. Akito turned his cold glare on the orange cat.
"Kyo, I'm afraid I have no need for you. You were merely summoned as her… shall we say, escort." Akito's voice was laced with subtle contempt. Contempt for the unkempt teenage boy and the cat spirit he was cursed with.
Kyo's controlled reply was a curt nod followed by an uncharacteristic show of respect by bowing. In fact it was so out of character it can almost be called mockery. If anyone was to mock the clan head, it would be Kyo. Uo however, was a different story. Slowly, fear changed into fury.
"Akito-san, I don't think…'
"I shall be in Hatori's room when you are finished." He quickly turned away and strode towards door, knocking once before entering.
"Now that the annoying little kitty has been disposed of, we humans will have a descent talk. Please follow me." His sudden change of attitude unnerved her. With a somewhat polite gesture he moved towards one of the many doors in the building. Uo was too startled to miss the small sneer that was slowly forming on his face.
*
Hatori turned his chair around to find his cousin nervously pacing the small room.
"Kyo, I really must insist that you stop pacing or move to a different room."
"Kyo..." Hatori's voice took a deep dive; the bass in it seemed to increase by ten fold. "Yeah. Whatever." Kyo continued to pace.
"Ah, hai. Gomenasai Hatori." Kyo mumbled when he finally remembered who he was in the room with. With a frustrated groan he sank down on the floor. He half ran his hands through his hair before tugging at it.
"If you're really that worried, then why don't you just listen in. Akito's study has flimsy walls so that if anything was to happen to him, we'll hear it." Hatori said nonchalantly, turning back to type on his computer. Kyo looked up at the older jyuniishi gratefully and dashed out. But he didn't forget to throw a quick thanks for the not so subtle hint.
"I'm so sorry Kyo. He made me do it." Came a whisper of regret from Hatori. Slowly he stood up and walked towards the door.
*
"Sit." Akito ordered. His face was a frozen mask of disdain. Uo gladly did as she was told. Akito's sudden changes of moods unnerved her a bit. She wasn't exactly afraid. Just really really weirded out. Maybe it was Akito's intention to make her nervous and she knew it, but she couldn't help the things she felt.
"So… what was it you wanted to talk about?"
"You are a brave little girl aren't you?" he sneered at her. His robes slipped of his shoulders further as he leant forward, resting his chin on bony arms.
"Excuse me?" she wasn't sure that she heard right.
"Brave, or stupid." Uo was about to retort back when he moved his arms in a sign of dismissal. He threw his head back and laughed, a peculiar laugh that came from the back of his throat, he stopped just as suddenly as he began.
"Look, I know you're like a 'god' where the Sohma's are concerned but…"
"Do you that love is the most destructive force of nature ever Arisa?"
"I… what"
"Oh yes. Destructive. Dangerous."
"Dangerous?" she asked carefully, wondering whether the whole thing was a joke or not.
"Very." He seemed very serious. "For some, they are immune to its horrifying nature and they proclaim it's the greatest thing ever. Some deny its evil because they'd rather be disillusioned than hurt with the truth."
Uo sat stiffly. She knew what was coming next and she didn't like it one bit. He knew that before she gets her memory erased he would twist her mind with his weird ideas. Scarring her a bit, before leaving her clueless as to why she felt that way. She desperately searched her mind to come out with an escape plan.
"Destructive? Surely not. It is after all only as strong as the person who wields it." She tried to match his words with her own.
"I like how you think Arisa. Love is rather like a sword is it not? Beautiful, graceful… deadly."
"I… yes, I suppose you can see it that way."
"So you see why I have to protect my family from this ever spreading evil don't you?"
"If by that you mean that I have to have my memory erased then you needn't bother."
"I needn't bother with what Arisa?"
"Wiping my memory clean."
"Oh? Why not? Has this filthy disease infected you yet? Haven't you been trying to pollute Kyo's clean mind with this ridiculous notion yet?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Are you not in love with the feline?"
*
"Are you not in love with the feline?" Kyo waited desperately as seconds went by. He had not yet told her of his true feelings. They had not been going out too long, maybe two or three months… or six. They were both not so expressive with affection.
His heart fell when he heard a laughter that coldly rang around him.
"Are you kidding? Of course not!"
He felt anger, the kind he only felt at his mother's death. Betrayal echoed through him and he felt stupid.
I should have known, he growled at himself as he rushed out, knocking Hatori out of the way. He didn't even see the dragon jyuniishi. So stupid of me. I'm the cat, nobody likes the cat. We were cursed with a monster spirit and bad luck. What made me think I was any different!?
*
Uo forced herself to laugh at Akito's question.
"Are you kidding? Of course not!" Her speaking companion seemed unusually pleased with her answer.
"Oh? Do tell me more."
"We're only in high school, you know. You think I want to spend the rest of my life with a guy that turns into an animal whenever I hold him? Get real!" she found herself on a roll. It was easy to lie, when she was a gang member, lying was an everyday occurrence and she felt her mouth move with practised ease.
"A most interesting turn out."
"OH/ what did you expect? For me to proclaim my undying love for him?"
"Something along the lines of. I like you Arisa. I like the way you think."
"You do, huh?"
"Oh yes, using Kyo as a plaything… Toying with his mind and emotions. Almost worthy of me. Yes, I think I shall let you go." He stood up slowly, the now setting sun silhouetted his cold beauty. A smile grazed his face, for one moment she thought she was seeing Prince Yuki. She stood up to follow him.
"So what now?"
"Hmm. I shall leave Kyo in your school and your memory intact." He gestured for her to leave. Hardly believing her luck, she walked out of the Sohma house in a daze. A smile formed on her face when she saw Kyo wait for her at the gate.
*
Akito knocked on the wall three times and waited for his doctor to come.
"Did you tell Kyo about the wall?"
"Yes Akito."
"Did he hear everything?" Akito's face was lit up amusement.
"He ran out in the middle. But I think he heard enough." Hatori found himself feeling sick as Akito cruelly sneered.
"A most interesting turn of events, isn't it Hatori."
"Yes Akito."
TBC…
O_o Ain't Akito just the evillest thing yous ever saw??? On a rating of one to ten, do you think I kept them all in chara? I continually worry about this, as this is my interpretation of the charas. Please feel free to tell me if I did anything wrong!