Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of it's characters.
Warnings: Shounen-ai/Yaoi implications (or perhaps blatant), dark/angst, language, and possible gore.
Pairings: Read and find out
Summary: He's their best friend and, yet, he's their worst enemy. He hides behind his joker's mask and pretends he cares, but he doesn't. What does he want and can they stop him before he destroys them all?
Harakiri: So, what do you guys think about the history lesson? Sound like the story's gonna be good? I hope so!
R.E.C.: Of course it's going to be good! It's got vampires, dammit!
Harakiri: -ego inflates by one point- Well, I'm going to really try. By the way, I can't keep calling you R.E.C. so I'm going to give you a name.
R.E.C.: Oh, cool! Give me something evil like…
Harakiri: Skye.
Skye: -face faults- What?! No!!!
Harakiri: Now that that's out of the way…here's chapter one. Enjoy, minna-san!
Skye: Gah, where's a lawyer?! I wanna sue!!!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eternity is Forever Chapter 1-The Actors and Their Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most people did not like the rain, he had noticed. Indeed he knew of one who despised it. To him, tho, the rain was, not necessarily refreshing, but just relaxing. It soothed him like a lullaby would a squalling child and, somehow, it made him feel whole. He sat quietly on the engawa his dark eyes watching the rain and his sensitive ears tuned in to the soft pattering of the rain hitting the roof. He enjoyed days like these, when the sky was cloudy and dull. They were the only days he could be out at this time.
He chuckled a bit. He found it amusing how he happened to be staying up unusually late while almost everyone else in the city was up and going about with their lives, short as they were. A smirk formed on his lips as he thought of them, the people, scurrying about trying to stay dry. It was silly, he thought. They should take the time to walk through the rain. Splash through puddles, do a dance, anything, for their lives were so short. Yes, so very short, compared to what he had.
That lead to darker thoughts and his usually smiling face became marred with a frown. Yes, what he had. Eternity. It was not as if he was unhappy with what he was, no. Long ago he had felt bitter and resented himself for what he was; a killer. But he had long since accepted it and now those feelings troubled him no more. No, it wasn't the fact that he was, in their terms, a murderer, but what he was missing. His thoughts were interrupted, however, by the dull thudding of someone's footsteps.
"You're up early…or should I say late?" He smiled and ran a hand through his hair.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Ha-san." He chuckled. "Not often I can say that, is it?" He looked up, onyx eyes meeting gold, and gave another smile. Hatori said nothing; it wouldn't have helped. He merely watched at those dark eyes searched his, almost as if they were seeking his soul, then resumed watching the rain.
"Why have you not gone to bed?" He watched as the corner of the other's mouth twitched.
"Really, Ha-san, is that the only reason you came to see me?" He put a hand on his chest and closed his eyes, an expression of pain on his face. "You wound me." Hatori sighed and shook his head.
"Quit with the dramatics, Shigure." One black eye cracked open.
"Really, Ha-san, you're no fun at all," Shigure pouted.
"So, I'm told," the other commented dryly. Silence stretched before the two and it began to unnerve Hatori. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Tapping it in one hand he pulled out the stick that had come loose and put the pack away. Again he reached into his coat, but when his hand came out there was nothing. His eyes narrowed. "Do you have a light?"
"Those things are bad for you, you know," came the reply.
Hatori narrowed his eyes. "I think I'll live," he said, somewhat sarcastically. His ears were greeted with a soft chuckle.
"I suppose you will…" Suddenly a splashing sound reached Shigure's ears. He turned his head and gazed out into the garden. There, standing in the middle of the greenery, face up-turned, was a young man. His hair was short and comprised of two colors; black and white. "Ah, it seems we are not the only ones awake."
Gold eyes turned to gaze upon the young man standing in the garden. He watched as the raindrops fell on the boy's face like tiny kisses sent from the heavens. It seemed as if the boy was his normal self. He doubted the "other half" would bother with such a meaningless thing like standing in the rain.
"…You know, I would say he shouldn't be out there…"
A smirk. "But he's not like your…other patients." Hatori's eyes narrowed once more, but he didn't say anything. "Am I bothering you?"
"No more than usual."
"I see." Suddenly Shigure stood and turned to his friend, a smile on his face. "Well, I think I'll be going to bed now. We may have all the time in the world, but we still need our beauty sleep, ne?" With a small wave he turned and entered his room, sliding the shoji closed behind him, leaving Hatori alone on the engawa to watch the rain.
------------------------------
"Kuso nezumi! Stay and fight me like a man!"
"Baka neko. It's too early to deal with you…"
Black eyes opened slowly. 'It seems it has stopped raining…unless there is a Kyou running around that is immune to the effects of rain.' Shigure sat up and yawned loudly, not caring if anyone heard him. It was night now, judging by all the noise, and it was most certainly past time for him to get up. 'Not that it matters. I'm not really needed.' Indeed, the most anyone ever thought of Shigure was that he was nuisance that was only there to take up space. Well, most people did.
He stood , stretching his arms above his head, then looked around. Finally his eyes settled on his closet and he made his way over to it. Slowly he slid open the fusuma then reached in and grabbed a folded gray cloth and a black sash. After closing the door he stripped out of his old yukata and began dressing in the one he has just pulled out of the closet. 'Better.'
After a cursory inspection of his clothing-smoothing out any wrinkles and brushing off imaginary dust-he found himself fitting enough for a night on the town. He slid open the door to his room and entered the hallways, quietly sliding the door shut once more, then proceeded towards the entrance of the house. He had almost made it to the door, but was stopped by a rather loud voice.
"Leaving already? But you just woke up!"
Shigure turned and was met with the sight of a man, tall and slender, with long silver hair and bright gold eyes. "Ah, Aya, you know I must leave."
Gold eyes turned sorrowful. "But, why? Do I mean nothing to you?" Suddenly, a wicked gleam came into Shigure's eyes and he stepped forward.
"Oh, Aya, of course you mean something to me." He reached out to grab the other, but Ayame danced away.
"Just something?" he pouted. He gasped as, suddenly, Shigure's arms were around his waist and he was bent back. He looked up and was greeted by the other's mischievous fanged smile.
"Isn't that enough?" Shigure asked as he kissed the side of Ayame's neck.
"I suppose," was the reply.
"ACK! Both of you, stop it!" The two friends looked up and were greeted by a highly disturbed, neko-eared Kyou.
"Konbanwa, Kyoukichi!" Ayame called in his loud voice.
"Konbanwa, Kyou-kun. Are we disturbing you?" Shigure grinned as Kyou just growled and stomped away.
"Well, maybe he'll leave me alone now. And, if you're going to act like fools, go do it somewhere else." Suddenly, Ayame's eyes lit up like a child on Christmas morning.
"Yuki!" Instantly Shigure let go of the outgoing hebi and turned back towards the front door. Though playing with Aya was fun, he was more in the mood for a good meal.
Once he entered the genkan he slipped on his geta, exited the building, and headed down the path. It had been over two days since he'd had a decent meal and his body was complaining. After he had exited the inner complex he made his way down the path through the outer part of the complex. 'It's rather quiet here. I guess everyone must be out…' It made no difference to him, tho. It wasn't like he associated much with those outside of the Inner Circle, as they were called.
Finally he had made his way into the city. 'Ah, now it is time to find my meal…' Slowly he walked down the sidewalk observing the people in what seemed to be a casual manner, but was actually a scrutinizing stare. 'Too old…too young…too whorish…' He was about to give up on finding a decent meal and just settle for anything when someone caught his eye. 'Perfect.'
Coming towards him was a young woman, barely out of her teens, with long blond hair-dyed of course-dark brown eyes, and such a perfect figure. Long legs, perfect curves, and a wonderfully slender neck. Yes, he was intrigued. 'Come to me, pretty one…' He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and waited for her to come closer and, when she was finally close enough, he reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Hey!"
"Excuse me, miss, but may I ask you something?" The girl turned to glare at him, but as soon as she looked into his eyes she was gone, lost in the fathomless depths.
"Sure…" she said dreamily.
"Would you allow me the pleasure of escorting you home?" The girl nodded dumbly and began to move with Shigure still attached to her arm. He grinned wickedly and followed closely behind. Little did the poor girl know that she would never make it home that night. Her only consolation was that she lived in a dream for her last moments of life and never saw the blue eyed demon that drained her of her life…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I noticed something as I neared the end of this chapter. I've made Shigure a lot darker than he is in the series (heck, even more than the manga), but it suits my purpose. As for those of you who might have gotten disturbed over his and Ayame's little "encounter", get over it. It is my interpretation of how they would carry on in their little acts as vampires. Sorry it ended kind of crappy, but it's late and my mind is starting to shut down. XP So, was it good, bad, decent? Leave me a review and let me know!!