Author's Notes: So sorry for the uber long wait! This has lots of conversation bits… Hopefully the next chapter will have more details… Ohhhh a fight is coming up! If you want to know when I update my stuff and what I'm working on, go to my blog page. The link is on my author's page thingy… This story has only another 2 chapters to go before it ends… =) I feel proud yet sad!
Also… Thank you to kireina, Friend of Shippou, Ame and ginny (Hey girl, where have you been? How's Toxic Angel coming along???)
Finally… I bring you

*

Chapter 4: Fights, Make Ups and More Fights

A year had passed since the incident with Akito. And Uotani Arisa was feeling awful.

*

"Kyo! There you are. Guess what? Akito said that…"

"Cut the crap Yankee." He snarled at her. Uo absently noticed that he was very good with the snarling and growling thing.

"What?" she was rather confused. He was fine hours before, well not really fine. But better.

"I heard everything."

"And?" she still didn't get it.

"I heard what you said." A light clicked on her head, and laughter bubbled up to her mouth.

"Stupid cat! She laughed. "You really think I'd let Akito split us up? Hell no! I just spun a little lie to get him off our backs." She reached forward to clip his ears playfully.

"Oh really? You must've been convincing. If Akito were to let you go just like that." Kyo dodged her hands and continued to frown.

"I don't know. You were the one who listened in. Why don't you tell me." His attitude was starting to anger her. They were both short tempered by nature, and things didn't look like it was getting better.

"I only heard the first bit." He admitted rather uncomfortably. This only served to anger his girlfriend more.

"Then you shouldn't have jumped to conclusions!"

"How am I supposed to think!? There you are, in the lion's den, waiting to be devoured. But oh, wait! It turns out the little sheep was another lion!"

"Fuck you! Don't you even trust me?"

"I don't know!"

"So is this how it's gonna end?"

"I don't know. Maybe we should cool off first."

"Fine."

"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes. Tomorrow."

*

But tomorrow had turned into a week, then a month. And before they knew it, a year. Somehow, somewhere along the way they had both silently agreed to let things pass. Somewhere, somehow they came to the conclusion ending it was better.

But right Uo wasn't so convinced. Their 'separation' didn't feel right. Being alone again didn't feel right. The curious glances from Tohru and probing signals from Hana didn't feel right. It didn't feel right that they had fallen apart while Akito was laughing.

Graduating without him didn't feel right.

Nothing felt right anymore.

She remembered feeling so proud today as she saw him shake a teacher's hand. She remembered a happy kind of regret as she thought that today was the last day she will ever wear a high school uniform. She remembered every emotion she felt. But she just noticed now the strong undercurrent of longing which coursed through her.

She sighed, she didn't know whether she loved him… Loved him like… well, loved him. She felt herself too young to really know the difference. Maybe she was in love with the idea of love. The idea of there being an 'us' between them. Maybe she loved the memory. Maybe she really did truly love him.

The day was a fine and cloudless day. Much like the day she had fallen asleep in her couch, waking up to his face.

Something clicked.

It felt right.

Waking up to see him. His hands seeking hers. His soft lips on hers. They felt right. They felt so right. Does that mean she loved him? Kicking herself she knew what to do. She did a quick calculation in her head.

Today was Friday. Tohru did the shopping yesterday… That must mean he has nothing better to do. Well, he might be looking for a university but she seriously doubted that. He might have already left with his Shisou but it was a chance she willingly took.

She walked hurriedly, past the melancholic move of the trees, swaying in the slight wind. Past the black car she should have recognized as Hatori's. Past Tohru who tried to greet her. She might have looked rude but time was slipping out of her hands. He might be getting ready to leave. He might have already left.

Nimbly she climbed up, ignoring Shigure's happy cry as he saw under her school uniform. But apparently noticing enough so that she kicked his forehead as tried to peek more. Her breath caught once more as she saw him, diploma in his hands. He twirled it between his fingers, absently humming a tune softly.

"Why are you here?" he asked her quietly. He seemed to have notice her presence.

"What happened to us Kyo?" she replied, she sat down next to him. He shrugged.

"We just… drifted apart."

"Why? Why did we let Akito win?"

"Because I wanted to keep you from hurt? Because I thought I hated you? Because I felt stupid, knowing I should have trusted you but I didn't? Because I doubted my own feelings?" The last statement stung her more than she would have admitted but she decided to show him.

"You doubted that you cared?"

"No. I doubted that I loved you enough"

"Well then that's okay."

"It is?"

"We've just graduated. We have years to figure it out."

"We graduated…"

"So what do you say? We felt right… Wanna try it all over again?"

"I never told you…"

"You never told m a lot of things."

"No, Yankee… Uo… Listen. Akito and I… We have a … deal."

"You made a deal with the devil?"

"It's a… tradition… It's part of my curse."

"What is it?"

"Haven't you ever wondered why I try to beat Yuki so much?"

"I just thought it was a guy thing."

"Well… it is… partly. And then there's the other thing."

"What other thing?"

"If I don't beat Yuki… I get to be… locked up."

"Like jail?"

"Like jail."

"How long?"

"Till I die."

"We could run."

"We could. But I…"

"I know Kyo."

Kyo pulled her close and kissed her, putting in it every feeling he felt. Want, anger, hurt, regret… Love. Uo felt overwhelmed by the tide of feelings.

They stayed in tension filled silence before a laughter was heard. They turned quickly to find Akito smiling menacingly at them from the ladder.

"Did you just tell her?"

"Akito."

"The little kitty has claws…" He purred.

"What are you doing here?" she growled at him. Now that they were together again she felt as if she could conquer the world.

"You wound me… Here I thought you played the same game I did." He tsked at her and gave a disturbing smile.

"I would never…" A hand stopped her anger. Kyo stood up and brushed his thighs with his hands. A defiant light took over his eyes.

Her breath caught.

He looked like the prince she would have loved were she a princess. A background of green contrasted his shocking orange hair, filtered light shinning on his body like a spotlight. He looked every bit the warrior prince Uo wanted.

"Shall we?"

*

The fight was to happen in the Sohma estate, so they walked there. Hatori had offered to take them in his car along with Yuki and Shigure and Tohru, but Kyo had refused.

Akito had sneered at him, asking if the little kitty was scared of the little mouse. Or was he scared of the Akito himself? Kyo had been tempted to accept the ride then and there but Uo had intervened and told them that she wants… needs to speak with him.

And so it came to be.

For the second time in a little over a year they walked with tension hanging in the air between them.

"This might be the last time I see you." Kyo started. There was no sadness in his voice, but it wasn't cold either. He was just stating a fact.

"Baka! Don't say that! You know you might be able to beat Yuki. What happened to the stubborn cat I knew?"

"He died."

"Kyo…"

"I know. I know. I'm sorry It's just that… I can't."

"You can't what?"

"He's gonna make her watch, you know. He's going to make Tohru watch her best friend beat up her boyfriend. And I can't. She's been confused and hurt enough these past few years."

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you wonder why Akito suddenly, generously asked Tohru if she'd like to come along? He's going to make her watch us beat each other senseless!" his voice rose as he felt the familiar anger bubble up. "And this time there wont be a glare match over dinner. There wont be anymore chances! If he wins then I'll simply be locked up. But if I win… Yuki's going to suffer the consequences."

"Akito wont…"

"Akito will hurt him. He'll make Yuki stay at the Estate for a few days. And by the time he comes back… I don't even want to think about that" Kyo spat.

"Is that why the fight is held at the Sohma House?"

"What do you think!?" he growled at her. She clenched her hands even more. She could feel the nail marks digging deeper. Deep breaths, deep, slow, even breaths. She tried to remind herself. Oh fuck this.

"Fuck you Kyo!" she pushed past him and walked ahead quickly. Kyo realised his mistake a little too late.

He wondered if this was the last time he'd see her. And if her back was the only thing he'll see.

TBC…

Evil cliffy… Not to worry, fifth chappie coming up in a few days! ;)
Was the conversation on the roof hard to follow? Can you figure out who's who? Feedback pls!