Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket "Nothing Else Matters" belongs to Metallica
~~~~~Yuki~~~~~~
A couple of months have passed since I've moved into Shigure's house. It's not too bad; it's actually sort of a pleasant change. I no longer walk around every corner with fear gripping me like a cold hand, fear of running into Akito. The only thing I really miss about the main house is Haru. He comes over to visit as much as he can, and calls almost every night. This was one of those nights, we had been talking on the phone for hours, talking of school and how things were going. I was laying on my bed staring at the ceiling, smiling at the funny things, though a sadness rested in me, wishing I was with him.
"I miss you sooooo much," Haru told me.
I sighed, "I miss you too… when can you come visit again?"
"I'm not sure. I want to come spend the night, I'm sure Shigure would never let you hear the end of that though huh?" He chuckled.
"Ergh… probably not. I could sacrifice that though if you could stay,"
"I'll have to talk to Hatori then, see when he can give me a ride over there, I got lost last time. He had to come find me. I was on the other side of town." Haru's laugh made me smile, I wished he could see it. I was worried he thought me cold over the phone.
"Oooh do you hear that music I have playing in the background Yuki?" Haru asked me.
I strained my ears, but could only hear a background murmur, "no, not really"
"Oh… well let me sing it for you," Haru said. His voice grew softer and melodic. He didn't do it often, but when he wanted to, he could sing like the best artist out there. I told him he should be in a band, and he laughed, saying mooing cows aren't wanted for singing.
"So close no matter how far, couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trust in who we are, and nothing else matters….
Never opened myself this way, life is ours we live it our way
All these words I don't just say, and nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you, everyday for us something new
Open mind for a different view, and nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do, never cared for what they know
But I know
So close no matter how far…."
Haru tenderly sang the whole song to me, and it made me again feel warm inside. The lyrics fit so well, and his engaging voice made it impossible for me not to feel better.
"That was really cute…. I love hearing you sing," I said, and could picture Haru's face growing hot and scarlet.
"Err well... come on it was not adorable."
I laughed slightly, "Yes it was."
"Nu uh"
I smiled and yawned.
"Oooh… Prince Yuki is tired?" Haru asked, switching the embarrassment to me.
I made a face, "don't call me that."
It was Haru's turn to laugh, "alright, but it is ten thirty and we both have school, so Good-night, good-night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good-night till it be morrow."
"Shakespeare? Someone's been reading," I said.
"not really, we had to read it for English. I guess it did come in handy." He joked.
"Appears so.," I replied contentedly, "Goodnight Haru."
"Goodnight."
~~~~Haru, a few days later~~~~~
I stared at the phone, wondering when it was going to ring. Yuki said he was going to call me around six. It was now eight. I had called the house earlier but no one was home. I sighed deeply and doodled on a piece of paper, listening to the music still cranking out of my stereo. The others always thought I was odd that I would rather have a stereo and a desk than a television and VCR. I didn't know why, but I would rather draw and write and listen to music than rot my brain watching mindless TV shows.
I heard footsteps run up the stairs and pitter-patter down the hall. I listened wondering if they were heading to my room.
"Haaaaaaaaruuuuu!" a shrill voice called out. Yup, Momiji was looking for me. My door opened and he stuck his blonde head in the room. "Haru? You never came down for dinner are you alright?"
"I'm fine Momiji, don't worry. I'm just not hungry."
Momiji had a perplexed look on his face, "oh… ok… well anyway, Hari wants to see you. He didn't look very happy though."
"I'll be down there in a moment," I replied with a sigh.
"Ok!" Momiji left the room and pattered down the hall and back down the stairs.
I put the half done drawing of a boy standing alone in a desolate field away and flicked my stereo off. "Great," I thought to myself. Whenever Hatori wanted to talk it seemed to be bad news. He most likely wanted to talk about something concerning Yuki. That or wanted to tell me Akito wanted to talk to me. I walked down the stairs and Hatori met me at the bottom.
"Akito wants to talk to you," he said.
I shook my head and barked out, "oh yay, more cheery news you deliver."
Hatori frowned, "do you think I like having to tell everyone bad news? I don't."
The look on Hatori's face was something I couldn't read, it held anger sadness and… helplessness? I felt slightly sorry I had snapped at him. Of course he didn't like doing this. Being Akito's henchmen of sorts must have been awful. His expression suddenly softened and he put a hand on my shoulder. He looked at me sternly, "Haru… If-," He paused, like he was trying to think of a way to word a difficult sentence. "If Akito tells you something that seems untrue, then don't believe it, no matter what the evidence."
With this he walked away, and I saw his hand go to his face and rub the bridge of his nose. I had never thought Hatori to show he was stressed, but he seemed to be now. With Hatori acting like this, I was nervous. Hatori never was anything more than near emotionless. Him acting like this made butterflies with steel tipped wings fly around in my stomach. I cracked my knuckles and took a deep breath and walked down the cold corridor to Akito's room. I opened the door and walked in. Akito was lounging on the floor, not really doing anything. He looked up when I came in.
"Ah Haru… please come here and sit down." He cooed.
I walked over and sat down cross legged about two feet from him. I refused to show fear by being reluctant. That's what he fed on after all; he played on your fears. It was simple, show no fear and he had no weapon.
Akito sat up and smiled at me, it was not a smile of warmth though, it was frigid, like Akito's soul. I waited for him to speak. Instead he sat there, watching me. I narrowed my eyes, "why did you want to see me?"
Akito's expression hardened slightly. I knew he didn't like the tone I had, because I sounded in control. Akito's expression softened again. He reached his hand out and laid it upon my cheek.
"You know why I want to talk to you. I want to tell you about Yuki…" Akito gently caressed my face, and spoke softly in an almost seductive tone, "Haru…. why are you being so foolish… don't you see that rat is tricking you? He doesn't love you. He's hurting you. He's going to break your heart…"
"You lie Akito" I said, nervous he was going to hurt me like he had done to Yuki, but I couldn't let him think I believed him. He would use it against me.
He sneered, "Really? How do you know? The cow thought the rat was his friend as well. Thought he was getting a good deal. He learned the hard way. I'm just trying to save you that Haru. I don't want to see any of my family hurt."
I stayed silent and glared, knowing full well that what I wanted to say would get me in trouble. Instead I held my temper, and looked defiantly into Akito's eyes. "No, I know because I can feel that it's not true."
"Then," he started slowly, "why hasn't Yuki called you tonight Haru? He must have something better to do huh?"
I glared, "maybe he was just busy, it doesn't mean anything. It's not like he doesn't care."
Akito smiled softly, the fact that it was a genuine smiled worried me. "Actually…. The reason he hasn't called is because there's a girl staying at Shigure's house... I think Yuki is preoccupied…"
"What? That's ridiculous, why would a girl be staying at their house? Besides what if she runs into them or something? She'll know the curse!" I stated haughtily.
Akito smiled again, and my skin crawled. "Haru, she was living in a tent. Yuki and Shigure couldn't let her stay there could they? So they had her move into their house as a maid. I approved, couldn't let that…. dear girl live in a tent. She knows of the curse. She will stay silent. I am confident in that."
I glared at him for a moment then snapped back a little too fast, "So what? So a girl is living with him, its not going to change anything. Yuki isn't going to betray or trick me. That's stupid; I have nothing to worry about."
Akito smirked, "for being so sure you are protesting too much. You're unsure, this girl could take Yuki from you and you know it."
I stood up, "you're wrong Akito, and I'm leaving now."
"Alright Haru, but you shall see." Akito said, standing up. He walked to the porch where a bird landed upon his hand.
I wanted to pummel him, hurt him, tear him apart. Instead I turned and walked out of the room, murdering Akito in my head, over and over again.
~~~~~~Akito~~~~~~
I stood on my porch, the small white finch on my hand. I stood there watching the bird, in awe of its beauty and freedom. I wasn't jealous of the birds like I was of people. The bird lived its life freely, but it appreciated it. Humans lived and spit on their freedom, living and not appreciating it, only looking at the bad. For this they must be punished. To truly appreciate the good, one must be dealt the bad. This is what I did for my family. I wanted them to truly appreciate the good, for them to know how lucky they are. That they are living, not dead. Still… no matter what I do they only focus on the bad, and want me dead. They want their god dead, the god who cares and wants them to live to the fullest. I am spat on.
Haru walked out of the room and I smiled at the little bird on my finger. I never bothered to name it, it seemed wrong to place a name on such a free and graceful creature. Yuki and Haru were about to get a lesson that would teach them to appreciate the good… this lesson would stay with them forever. With a little luck it would be painful enough for them to know how to appreciate their lives, be birds, instead of a rat and lowly cow.
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Akito has something up his sleeve…. But only I know! For now anyway -_o Please r&r! ^_^
