A cool breeze swept by, relief from the hot, moist summer air. It tousled the orange locks of the cat-boy, who was sitting upon a rooftop, gazing at the moon. Large bright and full, it gleamed off scarlet eyes, giving them a translucent quality, like that of glistening rubies. To the boy the moon seemed to fill the sky. Gazing steadily, Kyou was reminded of a fairy-tale his mother had once told him.

"You can see a rabbit in the moon," his mother had whispered to Kyou, at end of the story. He was very young, but he still remembered hearing the tremor in her voice, and the discomfort in her gaze. He wanted to curl up in his mother's arms and feel safe, to make her feel safe. But he couldn't, because that was bad. He couldn't get close to her because that was bad... Now gazing at the moon again he tried to see the rabbit, "humph," he mumbled, making a noise helped him set asside the unsettling thoughts of his mother, "doesn't look like a rabbit," he squinted his eyes, "looks more like...a mouse," he saw Yuki in his mind's eye. Kyou's crimson eyes widened. He spat. "Damn rat," he muttered something incoherent as he descended down the ladder to go to bed.

Kyou tossed and turned in his sleep. He was dreaming. In his dream he had finally beat Yuki; he had avenged the name of the Cat. He stood over Yuki's battered body. This was what he always wanted. Right? But if this is what he always sought, then why wasn't he happy?

A bright ray of sunlight peeked through the window and danced upon Kyou's sleeping figure, causing him to crack open an eye. He groaned and begrudgingly crawled of bed. As he made his way to the shower, he caught the tail end of the dream. He considered it for a moment, and then dismissed the thought. It's not important, he thought to himself as cool water ran down his body, abolishing the stickiness, a dream's a dream, can't live life if you keep dwelling on dreams. He sighed and opened his mouth to let droplets of the cool sweet liquid clean his mouth.

Yuki was up early helping Tohru set the table. She was looking pretty in a peach colored summer dress, as she bustled around the kitchen. Yuki turned to see Kyou descending down the staircase. The energetic boy jumped to the floor from the fourth stair up in a swift catlike motion. Yuki took in a sharp breath upon seeing Kyou shirtless on the hot summer day. He stared at his lean toned body. Kyou's wet orange hair was in a disarray around his head, achieving a sexy tousled look—
"What's your problem?" Kyou tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, snapping Yuki from his train of thought. He turned away and tried to shake the thoughts from his head, What's wrong with me? Why am I looking at Kyou like that? I hate him...don't I?
Breakfast consisted of rice porridge with pickled vegetables and salted fish. "This is delicious Honda-san," Yuki spoke in a soft sweet voice and smiled in the same manner.
"It is nothing," Tohru loved making the Soumas happy. She knew that almost every girl in their school would give anything to be in her place right now—living with Prince Yuki and his adorable "cousin". This moment was interrupted by Kyou bringing his bowl to his mouth and slurping noisily.
"Kyou!" Yuki scolded the other boy while Shiguire hummed and watched. "That is so rude! Eat like a normal person!"
"Don't tell me what and what not to do!" Kyou replied defiantly.
"Have some respect!"
"Why should I?"
"Your such a stupid cat!"
"Wanna fight?" Their shouting match had grown louder and louder, till Shiguire and Touru flinched.
"After breakfast," Yuki said these words softly, but his tone indicated that this conversation was over. Kyou mumbled something again. Only the words "Kuso nezumi" were coherent.

After the dishes were washed Yuki walked outside to find that Kyou was waiting for him. Yuki immediately got into his fighting stance as Kyou lunged for him. Yuki sidestepped him easily. "You'll have to be quicker than that," Kyou stumbled a bit to change directions and launched a punch at Yuki's face, which he dodged. He quickly used his other arm to punch Yuki again, but once more the silver-haired boy was too swift. "K'so nezumi".
Yuki had to admit, he admired the cat-boy's determination. He gave it all he had even when the odds were stacked against him. Yuki made a fist and punched Kyou from below his chin, sending him flying in an arch onto the ground. For a moment he felt a pang of guilt, but shook his head again and dismissed it, What's wrong with me lately?
Kyou was flung onto the dry earth, he felt the small stones scrape his bare back. He cursed himself for not putting on a t-shirt before coming out. He sprang up from the ground, ready for more. He swung at Yuki again, but the mouse caught his wrist, he struggled, but Yuki's grip was firm. He swung using his other hand, but it was caught as well. Yuki walked forward, forcing Kyou back in a bizarre sort of tango. He was pushed up against the tree, his wrists pined high above his head. Kyou felt the rough bark scrape against his back and he felt his knuckles cut where Yuki pressed them the hardest against the bark. He struggled and tried to kick Yuki, but they were too close together. Yuki's slender but almost impossibly strong hands tightened on Kyou's wrists.
"You know you'll never win, so why do you keep trying so damn hard," Yuki's face was up against Kyou's but he moved even closer, sliding the other boy's wrists up against the bark, scraping them even more. Kyou gritted his teeth, keen on not letting the other boy see him wince. Yuki had never tormented him like this before. It was usually just a few punches or kicks, and he would leave Kyou lying on the ground.
"I will win, I don't care how long it takes but I will!" Kyou thrust his shoulders back and forth in an attempt to free himself. When Yuki didn't budge he raised his gaze to meet the mouse-boy's amethyst eyes.
Yuki's composure faltered and he was lost in Kyou's scarlet eyes, mere inches from his own. His breathing sped up as he tilted his head the slightest bit and inched even closer. Three centimeters before his face would touch Kyou's, he paused for half a second, was he really going to do this? But desire took over and he swept forward covering Kyou's lips with his own. He closed his mouth a bit, and opened again, trying to get the other boy to part his lips. Kyou's mouth did open—in surprise. Yuki took this chance to slide his tongue into his mouth.
What was happening? They were fighting, and all of a sudden, Yuki was kissing him. He couldn't turn his head since his arms were still pined to either side it. He felt Yuki's tongue enter his mouth. He tried to fight it; he tried to use his own tongue to push Yuki's out of his mouth. It was too slippery. Kyou moaned and gave in to the kiss. He let Yuki search his mouth with his tongue and in turn, tentatively darted his own into Yuki's mouth.
Yuki felt Kyou kiss back and a burning sense of joy rose in his chest. He let go of his rival's arms and was delighted to feel them snake up his back and behind his neck, untucking his shirt and pulling him closer. His own arms wrapped around Kyou's bare back and felt the cuts and scrapes there. Those are my fault. He paused. Kyou took this opportunity to bite down on Yuki's lower lip—hard, drawing blood where his sharp canines punctured. Yuki gasped in pain and pleasure, and kissed more fiercely, pushing Kyou's head against the tree as he felt a trickle of warmth flow down to his chin and on to his neck. It was lapped up by a soft pink tongue and Yuki shivered, despite the heat.