Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fruits Basket or anything pertaining to the manga or anime. The characters, places, etc... are not mine, nor do I lay any claim on them. This is not an attempt to infringe on any rights or copyrights, as this is purely for entertainment.
Authors Note: This is the third chapter. I'm not sure how much farther this story is going to go. I imagine it will extend to at least five chapters. Possibly beyond. I pray I do not lose inspiration. I'm planning for the story to span the season of autumn. At the story's start, autumn had just begun, the leaves just starting to fall heavily. I'm not sure about everywhere, but where I am from, since the summer is so hot and dry, the leaves begin to fall at the end of summer, and usually the trees aren't bare until mid-to-late winter. Since winter is so mild in South Carolina. Summer and fall are the longest seasons here. I'm speaking of climatic seasons, not the seasons based on the calendar.
Title: 'Autumn'
Author: Evie Gunn
Rating: R rated for language and adult/sexual situations
Series: Fruits Basket
Pairings: Haru x Kyou
Genre: ?
Archive: If you like... just tell me where. I'm inclined to be a pessimist, so I doubt anyone would want to, but hey...
...
Autumn
Chapter 3: Polishing The Stone
Haunted. It is the only word that I could find that sufficed to describe him. My heart ached every time I looked at Kyou. His eyes were dark, and despite the fact that his fiery spirit seemed undiminished, I could tell there was something missing. Or perhaps there was something else there, taking up residence. Too much weight, too much of something, crowding in and pressing itself to the walls of his soul, spreading inside him like a storm cloud, sapping the heart out of his life. I knew exactly what it was.
Yuki had so kindly reminded us all. Kyou was still thought to be a monster. A thing that, no matter how much rain came down, could never be washed clean. It seemed unavoidable. Kyou would try each day to surmount his obstacle, and again, each day, right when he neared the top, he would be swept back down to the bottom. Back down to where it was inevitable. It was a hopeless battle. We all knew it. We all knew. One day, Kyou would be taken away, dragged kicking and screaming to that cage. He would be locked away and the family would happily toss away the key and try to forget he ever existed. Unless, of course, they felt the curse bearing down on them. Then they would visit Kyou, they would torment him, laying all the blame, the weight, of the curse at his feet. They would tell him how it was all his fault, the cat's fault.
I despise the thought of it. I think, maybe, I fight just as hard to disbelieve. To ignore it, to wish it away, to forget what could happen, what would happen in so short a time. I almost wish I could trade places with him, switch bodies, curses, anything to relieve the pain he is in. But I can't do that. I mused on the unfairness of the situation. It isn't Kyou's fault he was born into being the cat. It isn't his fault that any number of horrible things happen in his life, even the ones he is directly responsible for. The demon in him drives him mad, forces him into actions I know he would back away from if he could. It's the same for me. My demon breaks free and rampages the world, angry and vicious and full of hate. All caged animals are that way. And that is what our demons are. Tortured and trapped within us. So, when they have the chance to break free, they charge headlong into the outside world. Running, swinging, roaring, teeth bared and lashing out at anything in their reach. They don't care who they catch in their crossfire. Just like the Sohma family blames our demons, our demons, in turn, blame the world.
My eyes followed Kyou as he walked ahead of me, his arms folded at his chest. He was walking alone, watching the ground. Ahead of him, Yuki and Tohru walked at a more brisk pace, unburdened by the extra weight that slowed Kyou's steps. I sighed and slowed my own pace, as I seemed to be closing in on my ruby-eyed cousin. I wondered if it was I who'd sped up, or he who'd slowed down.
I had apologized to Yuki in school, the very next day after the incident. The violet-eyed boy had simply waved it off. His eyes had searched the floor as he admitted that it was he that should apologize, to both Kyou and me. I told Yuki that I remembered what had sparked me into 'Black' Haru, and that regardless of my brutality in that state, I felt the same, though I regretted anything overly cruel I had said or done myself. I didn't want to be like Yuki had been that night, didn't want to be anything like the pitiless Sohma clan that flung hurtful things at a person because of a mistake. He'd thanked me, and told me that he envied my 'good heart', that he understood I'd done what I had because I cared so deeply for another. I was baffled by his words, his explanation for my misstep into that darkness. But we had mended the rift, moved back into easy company and some semblance of normalcy.
Kyou stopped walking ahead of me and I had to step to the side to avoid walking into him. He glanced at me angrily before turning away and crossing the street. I watched as he slipped into the wooded area that lined the road, disappearing into the trees. I wondered where he was going. I glanced back toward Yuki and Tohru and noticed that they too had stopped to watch Kyou slip into the woods. My violet-eyed cousin shot me a questioning glance and I shrugged at him. I heard Tohru ask him about Kyou. His mumbled reply about Kyou being strange and needing time to himself seemed to quell her curiosity, though slight concern still rested softly on her face. The two turned and continued their walk and I was left alone to stare at the tree line.
I had meant to follow them to Shigure's to spend the evening, but Kyou's side quest had distracted me, and instead I found myself following him. In moments, I was lost. I cursed my lacking sense of direction and continued to wind my way through the sparse forest, hoping I would work my way back out or run into Kyou. I wandered aimlessly; following what I prayed was the trail Kyou had followed. There was an almost unnoticeable path along the forest floor, a sort of foot track where the leaves were less of a carpet and dark earth showed through. The branches and brush were not quite so clogged and unyielding. I wondered if Kyou had made the path, if he slipped into the woods so often on his way home that he'd worn the trail himself, with his own hurried steps in an attempt to escape the world and it's cruel clawed fingers.
I was sure no one had yet noticed my absence. I'd had no idea how long I'd been following the path, no idea how far my slow pace had carried me into the woods. The path had not yielded, had not ended nor opened into any clearing. I guessed at minutes, but as my mind wandered, I had no concept of time. I shrugged, accepting my fate and decided to enjoy my stroll. I tucked my hands into my pockets and continued on, uncaring of where I was led, whether I reached any particular destination. In my pocket, I found the rock Momiji had given me that day in the gardens a week before. I tumbled it in my pocket, rolling it around with my fingers. I'd carried the stone with me ever since.
It was a small stone, and my constant handling of it was wearing it smoother, but most of the surface was still rough and raw. I knew if I could peel off, rub off, the outside layer, it would be shiny and soft, a smooth glossy finish. I mused on how Kyou was more similar to the stone than anyone knew, more similar than even I had realized. It wasn't just the color, but the entire thing. Kyo was rough and raw, abrasive personality worn on the outside to protect him. His outside was chipped too, all the stones flung at him, the knives jabbed into his sides, the blows he took from the world had created dents in that surface. Yet it held. It had protected him in a way that everyone else had failed to do. I wondered how smooth and shiny he could be if I worked at him, wondered if I could rub away that roughness and make him smoother to the touch. I wondered if I could be the one to reach him. Tohru had done a bit when it came to that, she'd soften some of the edges. If one person's kindness, care, could do that...
I was startled back to reality and the forest by a curse. I looked around; trying to find the direction the voice had come from. I saw no one about me on the ground, so I began to scan the trees. I looked up, slowly turning until I caught sight of red-gold hair. My eyes focused on Kyou and I smiled at his angry look. I had invaded his privacy, I knew, but I did not regret it.
"Hello, Kyou." I barely raised my voice to call to him.
"What are you doing out here?" His voice was annoyed. I shrugged.
"I followed you." I opted for honesty.
"It figures." He sighed. "What do you want?" He began to climb down from the tree, abandoning his perch.
"Nothing." It wasn't exactly the truth. I shrugged to myself. I just wanted to be near him, but I knew if I told him that, he would be even more angry.
"I'll never get away, will I?" He asked the question as he dropped to the ground. I barely heard him; his voice had been so low. When I didn't answer, he asked again. "I'll never get away from you people, never get away from any of it, will I?" He sounded angry, but looked defeated.
"I'm sorry, Kyou." I sighed and looked away, guilt washed over me. He needed his peace, the chance to fantasize that he wasn't part of the curse, the Sohma's. That he wasn't the cat at all. That way, for a little while, he could imagine what life would be like if he were normal. He could pretend that he'd never be locked away, that there was no threat of losing his freedom because of the monster that lived in him.
"I hate it. Hate it!" I turned to look at him again. His ruby-eyes were locked to mine. "I hate all of you, sometimes!" I knew exactly what he meant. I had that same hate in me. "Even if the rest of you are cursed, even if you can't get away from it, at least you aren't monsters!" I wanted to tell him I was a monster too, that I had similar nightmares. I was afraid they'd lock me away too, one day. If they can't cure my temper, can't kill the darkness in me, one day, they might lock me away too. I might share that cage with Kyou.
"Kyou..." I knew he wasn't going to let me finish, somehow.
"No!" He was shouting. "Don't tell me something stupid like 'I understand how you feel'', because you don't. No one does. I'm the cat. The cat. Do you know what it's like to have everyone hate you? Do you know what it's like to have some third half? Some fucking monster living inside you, just waiting to break free and destroy your life... everyone's life?" He shouted it at me. I could only stare at him and wait. He needed to get it out, to talk; and I was going to listen.
His eyes never left mine as he animatedly explain his hell. His fists clenched at his sides, fingers twisted into his pants, gripping the material so tight his knuckles were going white. I smiled at him softly, hurting for him, with him. I felt no pity, only shared in his frustration. It was mine too. Suddenly, the anger slipped from his face and his eyes widened slightly. He saw it, I think, right then. The similarity. His shoulders slumped and his fists loosened, letting go of the fabric of his pants. His eyes, however, were confused. I closed my eyes and turned my face to the heavens. I looked up at what sky could be seen beyond the braided branches of the trees. Pale clouds drifted slowly across the whitewashed canvas, almost matching the graying backdrop that was the sky. I smiled. It was a beautiful day, despite it all.
"How do you live with it, Haru?" I tore myself away from the heavens to answer Kyou. He sank to the ground, sprawling in the dirt and leaves. Even so, his body language was closed off, he was withdrawn and holding his whole world tightly within himself.
"Live with what?" I deliberately played the fool.
"You know exactly what I mean." He growled at me, his voice loud as he shot his eyes up to connect with mine.
"Ah, that." I chuckled and took a seat next to him on the ground. "Well..." I smiled crookedly and began rolling the small red stone in my hand with my thumb. He watched my hand as I spoke. "I suppose, the same as you. I just go on each day, trying not to think about it. Hoping it doesn't burst out of me or rip me in half. Hoping I don't become 'it'." I frowned. I'd always feared that one day, that darkness would take over and I'd be lost. That I would become 'Black" Haru forever.
"It's not so easy for me to just ignore it. People are always reminding me." He spat the words like an angry cat.
"Yes." I agreed. "I'm reminded myself, all too often..." If others didn't bring out my 'Black' side, somehow, I managed to bring it out all on my own, my thoughts brushing too close and awakening that anger.
"What the hell is that thing anyway?" Kyo demanded suddenly, pointing at my hand as if it were offending him. I laughed at his sudden outburst. He glared at me, eyes demanding I answer him.
"Momiji gave it to me." I opened my hand, showing him the rock. He stared at it for a moment then rolled his eyes at me. "He thought it was pretty. I do too."
"Stupid cow." He scoffed. "It's just a fucking rock."
"So it is." I smirked.
"Then what's so goddamn special about it?" His voice was demanding. He was annoyed with my sarcasm.
"I like the color." I refrained from telling him exactly what it was about the color of the stone I liked.
"You make me tired." He commented dryly. I chuckled at him and closed my hand around the rock, continuing to roll it with my fingers. He was still watching my hands.
"It reminds me of you, you know." My offhanded remark caused him to bristle.
"What the fuck are you talking about, you stupid cow?" I'd expected him to be more offended than he was. Kyou snatched the rock from my hand and inspected it in disgust.
"It's red, Kyou." He looked up at me as I spoke and I raised an eyebrow at him. I was teasing him.
"I can see that, you idiot!" Kyou handed the rock back to me and wiped his hand on his pants as if to get rid of the feel of it.
"Ah, but do you realize it's the same color red as your eyes?" I asked, holding the rock aloft before his face in comparison.
"What?" He stared at me for a moment before angrily batting my hand away. The stone flung from my grasp and landed in the brush. I didn't see where it went. "Stupid fucking rock. I hope it's lost." I frowned at Kyou.
"That was childish, Kyou. And cruel." I stood and dusted myself off. "Which way to Shigure's?" I asked, looking down the trail. I glanced in both directions, unsure of the way out of the forest.
"You're leaving?" For a moment, he sounded disappointed.
"Why would I stay with someone who obviously doesn't like my company?" I asked lightly.
"We... Well good riddance! I never wanted your company in the first place! Who'd want to hang around with some brat anyway?" Kyou shouted at me, jumping to his feet. He was angry. I wondered if he was angry with me, or himself.
"My, aren't we mature." I laughed at him. Oddly, he failed to respond. I'd hoped to bait him into a fight.
In the past week, Kyou had brushed off every attempt I'd made to spark a battle, flinging his customary insults and then storming off instead. His relationship with Yuki had not changed overly much. They still argued as they always had, though Yuki refrained from insulting Kyou as harshly as he had in the past. It was a sign of the violet-eyed boys remorse for his previous actions. Kyou failed to realize this, however, and pretended that night had never happened. I wasn't sure if it was maturity that led him to dismiss it, or if he was attempting to block the memory. However, even with Yuki, Kyou had not come to blows. I worried over the situation, waiting for a fight to erupt. It would show that things were returning to normal.
"Just follow the path that way." The words were ground out from between clenched teeth. He lifted his arm, pointing me in the direction of Shigure's. "It goes straight to the house." He turned his back to me.
"Goodbye, Kyou." I turned away from him and left.
Shigure was sitting on the porch giggling when I arrived. As I stepped out of the woods, he jumped in surprise before rising to his feet and greeting me with a typical Shigure grin. I smiled back at him, returning the hello. He shuffled me into the house and into his study and urged me to sit. I folded my legs beneath me and took a seat on the floor beside his desk as he rummaged through a drawer. A moment later, Shigure was proffering a thin book in my direction. The cover was brightly decorated; a scantily clad girl, smiling seductively, stared out at me. I smiled and shook my head.
"My latest and greatest, my dear Haru!" Shigure grinned brightly at me. "And you get the first copy!" He was shining with pride. "I even signed the inside, see?" He forced the cover back as it rested in my hands. I read what it said and could barely hold back my laughter. 'My dearest fan! I hope you happily receive this book. Notice that I have autographed the wonderful book so that it may be that much more precious! As it is now your most valuable and priceless possession, I do hope you will take good care of it! With much love, Sohma Shigure; the worlds greatest 'Warrior of Love!' I looked up to Shigure's grinning face; his eyes squinted in pleasure, and bowed to him in thanks.
"Thank you, Shigure. I am honored." I coughed to hide my small laugh.
"Yes, yes, well, flattery will get you everywhere!" He announced, blushing in delight. I nearly scoffed in amusement at his dramatic self-appreciation. "You must read it soon and tell me how much you love it, Ha-ru!" His voice took on that singsong quality that he used to express his excitement. "And here! Give this one to Ha-ri when you see him! I know he is just dying to read my newest story. I can never write fast enough to keep him happy. He's so voracious in appetite for my lovely romances!" Shigure winked at me conspiratorially as he handed me another copy of the novel. I wondered if he'd signed the second book as well.
"I will give it to him the moment I see him." I agreed. Hatori, truly, never much cared for the type of books Shigure wrote, but he couldn't deny Shigure's plea to read his work. The dragon would patiently read the dog's stories through, with the same tolerance he exuded while listening to Shigure ramble on about anything the friendly man happened to find reason to chat about.
"Oh, wonderful!" Shigure responded, clapping his hands in amusement. "I'll have to discuss the more intimate details of the book with him the very next time I see him. I know how he does so love my fascinating conversation." I shook my head. Sometimes, Shigure rivaled Ayame for his over-the-top antics.
As Shigure and I exited the study, Tohru announced that dinner was ready. We entered the living room and took seats at the table. I endured the sweet girls greeting as she fawned over me and apologized for not making something more 'worthy of a dinner guest'. I could only smile at her and thank her, assuring her that what she had made was more than suitable. Shigure helpfully informed her that I was glad to be the guest of such a wonderful dinner, and that quite inevitably, after tasting her wonderful foods and confections, I would surely attempt to whisk her away to be my bride, so impressed was I with her culinary skills. His flattery left Tohru with a deep blush and nervous giggle, and earned the dog a smack to the back of the head. Yuki had heard the older man prattling on as he entered the room and delt a light blow to the back of Shigure's head. Shigure whined about how mean Yuki was and the unfairness of being hit for complimenting such a sweet girl as Tohru. He was answered with the customary 'stupid dog', before we all, minus Kyou, began eating the food Tohru had prepared.
When dinner was over, I helped Tohru clear the table. She insisted that I should leave it to her, that I was the guest for the evening, so I should not feel obligated to help and then she forced me out of the kitchen while she continued with her work. I sighed, but allowed her to complete the task on her own. I had been trying to distract myself from the thought of Kyou. There was little in the way of distraction, and I was not one inclined to idle conversation. Shigure chatted away happily at both Yuki and I. The violet-eyed boy involved himself mildly in the conversation, but I was unsure what they were discussing. I stared down at the book that lay on the floor beside me and shrugged. I picked it up and began to read. I looked up after a moment and noticed that both Yuki and Shigure had fallen silent. A bright grin had split the dog's face, while Yuki was smiling at me in silent amusement.
"Ha-ru!" Shigure's happy lilt was slightly dramatic, as expected. "You're reading it already! I'm so excited!" Shigure folded his hands beneath his chin. "But," One hand moved to scratch thoughtfully at his jaw. "You'll need privacy to enjoy it fully!" His shout was laced with devious amusement.
"Pervert." Yuki accused Shigure quietly. Shigure ignored him.
"Would you like to read it in my room?" Shigure's voice was low. He winked at me and I stared at him blankly. I found myself agreeing with Yuki.
"No." I shook my head and glanced down at the book. I decided perhaps I was a bit curious, and I was far from a prude, but the prospect of Shigure hovering over me while I read was not very a very pleasant idea. I could only take so much of the excitable man before I had to relieve myself from his presence. I opted to sit on the porch and read in peace. I was also hoping to waste time until Kyou returned.
I stood to leave the room, excusing myself to the porch. Shigure chided me for being a pervert, winking at me as he happily announced that 'Haru is an exhibitionist!'. As I left the room, I could hear him mumbling to himself how that would make wonderful material and that his next book would be a work of genius, a 'literary masterpiece'. I shook my head and moved away from the sliding door, taking a seat on the porch out of the line of sight of my cousins. I leaned my back against the wall and scanned the back yard. I was hoping to see Kyou slip out of the trees, but I was disappointed with an empty yard. I worried that I had done the wrong thing, leaving him alone I the woods. He was in a mood for talk, company. I sighed. It was not often that Kyou shared anything so private with anyone, and even rarer that he shared it with me. I felt a weight settle down on my heart and glanced again at the tree line.
I couldn't seem to concentrate on the book in my hands long enough to even grasp the nearly plot-less story. I stared at the words, willing myself to concentrate on something other than Kyou, but could not tear my mind from my crimson-eyed cousin. My eyes lingered on the pages, staring blindly at them, my vision turned inward. He'd opened up; I'd rubbed a spot smooth on his rough surface, even if only for a moment. Perhaps the scarred surface had simply stretched and re-grown over that spot, but it had happened nonetheless. I leaned my head back against the wall, the back of my skill thumping onto the wood, and closed my eyes. In my head, I could see him staring at me, his eyes locked with mine as he begged for an answer to his trouble. I could not show him the way out of hell, I was trapped there myself. I had to admit, that despite our similar situation, he had it much worse. People more easily accepted my 'Black' personality. They did not place the full weight of the curse on me for my demon; they didn't blame me for the monsters that we all were. No, they already had someone to blame for that.
It was odd to think about it. Kyo and I. Both monsters of the same breed, and yet, a different one at the same time. When it came to blame, I am never directly noted as the cause. They separate 'Black' Haru and I. We are two different people in their eyes. And they are right. We could be no more different than if we truly were two separate people, but the fact remains that we are one and the same. He is someone that shares my every thought, my every action, despite that he is a different personality. We are both one-half of a whole. Still, they accept me, in their own way. Of course, all we cursed Sohma are outcasts, but none so much as Kyou. It's unfair, and the understanding of that aspect angered me. While my monster was created, and there is blame to be laid on me, as well as others, Kyou's monster was not something that could have been avoided. He was born with it, born into it. Like myself, Kyou and his monster are both completely him, and yet, somehow, it still remains apart from him. Unaccepted, unloved, and because of this, he suffered the same fate... and there seemed to be nothing that could change that.
I turned back to the book, hoping to lose myself in Shigure's nonsense. I focused my eyes in the dimming light and forced myself to comprehend the words on the paper. I turned page after page, unable to process what I read. My eyes scanned past each word and forgot it as soon as it was recognized. I sighed to myself and willed my mind into the present. There was no use lamenting one's lot in life, no use wasting time pondering over it and dragging one's self down into such pain.
"Here." I was startled by Kyou's voice. I looked up from Shigure's book to see Kyou standing at the edge of the porch. His face was eyelevel. "Take it." He demanded, reaching out his hand to me. I held out my palm and he dropped my stone into it. I stared at it a moment before looking up at him in confusion.
"You found it for me." I stated the obvious. Kyou snorted.
"No, I pulled an identical one out of my ass!" He shouted at me, sarcastic. "I thought you liked it." He mocked me. "If you don't want it I'll be happy to throw the damn thing back into the woods!" He offered angrily.
"No. I'm glad you found it. Thank you, Kyou." I closed my fist around the stone. It was warm to the touch. I wondered how long ago he had found it, how long he'd held it. I smiled as I imagined Kyou sitting along the side of the trail, staring at the rock, cursing at it as if it were to blame for whatever anger had taken hold of him.
"What are you smiling about, you stupid cow?" He was embarrassed. Returning the rock had been a form of apology.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." I inclined my head to Kyou and then returned to my book. I pretended to read as I watched Kyou in my peripheral vision. He stood at the edge of the porch, angrily shifting from one foot to the other. He still wanted company. I tried not to smile.
"What the hell are you reading, anyway?" He tried to sound uninterested, but his insecurity bled into his voice and it came off rude.
"It's called 'Lily of the Water'." The title had nothing to do with the story, I realized. I shrugged at Kyou and handed him the book as I looked up at him. He took the book from my hand, and flipped over to the cover.
"Shigure." His voice was unamused. "How'd that pervert con you into reading his filth?" He tossed the book to the porch and climbed up to take a seat. I shrugged.
"I didn't have anything else to do." I paused, thinking. "I kind of like it." Kyou looked at me in shocked disgust, but said nothing. "Besides, you weren't here." Kyou snorted.
"What does that have to do with anything?" He was almost grumbling.
"Well, Yuki isn't exactly the most animated conversationalist. I don't really know Tohru well enough to have much to talk to her about." I ticked off the reasons. "And Shigure..." I left off, knowing he would understand what I meant.
"So, I'm all that's left." His voice was flat.
"Ah, that's true, but it's not the reason." I smiled at him.
"Whatever." Kyou leaned back against the wood post that held the porch's overhanging roof aloft and sighed, turning his face away from me.
"I enjoy your company, Kyou." I nodded at him, but he didn't see the action. "Don't you enjoy mine?" I raised an eyebrow and smiled crookedly at him. He turned to face me.
"No, you stupid cow!" I'd embarrassed him and he reacted in the only way he knew how. Insults.
"I see." I frowned at him, lifted the book from the porch and moved to stand, to leave him again.
"Damnit all!" Kyou rose with me to stand on the porch. His frustration was akin to panic. I turned away from him. "Wait a minute!" He demanded.
"Why? You don't enjoy my company. I won't force you to suffer it any longer." I smiled at him and bowed my head.
"I... I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it, okay?" He stammered his apology, blushing, angry. I turned back toward him and took my seat on the porch again, crossing my legs before me.
"You shouldn't say things you don't mean, you know." I smirked at him. I was amused.
"Stupid cow." He mumbled it under his breath. I smiled brighter.
I watched as the blush faded from Kyou's face and he returned to his seat at the edge of the porch. I was surprised Kyou was fighting so hard to swallow his anger and embarrassment. I found myself proud of him, of his progress. Kyou scratched at the wood of the porch with his fingernail and I watched his slim fingers retrace the mark, scoring it deeper with each pass. His countenance had relaxed, the angry mask having slipped away, and to me, he seemed almost peaceful. A bolt of lightning cracked through the sky suddenly, and both Kyou and I jumped at the boom of thunder that followed. Kyou immediately attempted to cover his surprise by climbing up on the porch to stand with his back against the wall. I smiled at him and leaned to look up at the sky. There were no obvious clouds, and I doubted it would rain anytime soon.
The sun sank further below the horizon and the sky took on a reddish hue. I smiled to myself, and turned to look over at Kyou. He was still leaning against the wall, glaring out at nature threateningly. It was as if he were daring the weather to turn foul, as if it would heed his mood and decide against it. The red-orange blaze of early evening lit his skin and hair, and I imagined he was made of fire. It suited him beautifully. I laughed to myself and he threw his glaring gaze toward me. I expected him to ask me what I was smiling at but he only glowered at me. He looked down at his hand, held it out in the light and inspected the glow critically, before staring out at the sunset. He turned back to me and mockingly returned my small smile.
"I suppose the fucking sunset reminds you of me too. It's 'all my colors' right?" His words were as mocking as his previous smile. I cocked my head at him.
"Yes. It does." My smile slipped away. I worried that I had done something wrong in agreeing.
"Stupid cow." He rolled his eyes. "I'm going inside." Kyou pushed himself away from the wall, turned on his heel and walked into the house. I stood there a moment, contemplating whether I should remain outside, or go back into the house. I wasn't sure if the fiery cat would let me join him, and I was uninterested in settling in with Shigure, Yuki, and Tohru.
"Are you coming or not?" I turned my head to see Kyou leaning back out the door of the house, his face impatient. I scrunched my brows in confusion before nodding to him and following him into the house.
Kyou led me upstairs to his room and flopped down on his futon. Obviously he hadn't bothered to put it away that morning. I didn't blame him, I never bothered to put my own away. I stared at him from his doorway as he lounged on his bed, arm flung over his eyes. I was unsure what exactly to do, unsure why exactly Kyou had invited me to his room in the first place. Kyou rolled his head in my direction, moving his arm away from his face.
"What are you just standing there for, idiot?" Kyou asked. I shrugged at him. I realized that that had become a habit of sorts; quite often I'd found myself shrugging at Kyou's ridiculous questions. I walked further into the room, closing the door behind me before returning my gaze to the cat sprawled on the futon. "I figured if you were going to read something, you might as well read something decent." He nodded to himself, his reasoning clarifying our trip to his room. He waved his hand toward his bookshelf. "Pick something out. You're not reading that filth in here." I followed Kyou's line of sight to the book clutched in my right hand.
"Thank you." I set Shigure's book on the floor and pulled the first interesting title I found from the shelf.
I slid to the floor, leaning against the bookshelf and opened the book. Kyou snatched something from beneath his pillow and I looked up, curious. He'd pulled a book from his bedding and had leaned back against the wall to read. He glanced up at me with a glare and I quickly looked away, turning my eyes to my book. When, from the corner of my eye, I saw him look away, I lifted my gaze to watch him once more. He opened the book almost gently and took out his place marker. He set the bookmark to the side carefully and locked his eyes to the pages of his novel. I strained to see what his bookmark was; it had seemed familiar somehow. I shifted as nonchalantly as possible, leaning to get a better look. My eyes picked it out clearly. It's reddish color spread unevenly across the surface, veins of greenish brown threading up from the bottom faintly, to blend and fade smoothly into the dominant color of autumn. It was the leaf I had left Kyou on the table so many nights ago.
...
A/N: I'm reaching the point of writers block. I know the ending was pretty damn predictable, but it can't be helped. Again, I'm not particularly happy with this chapter, but hopefully it's better than the last. Like I've said... pov is hard to write. Especially Haru. To me, his character has so much going on in his head. And I lose track so easily. There is no comparison to the difficulties of writing 'Black' Haru. At least, for me that is. Either way, I suppose this is a learning experience for me. Maybe one day, I'll be a great writer. Heh. I pray! Practice, practice, practice, no?
2: Again, thanks to all who read and commented! I guess I got this chapter out pretty fast. Headaches and a vehement hate of sleep works wonders, I suppose.
