Kage: PLEASE NOTE!! I made a minor mistake in the last chapter! I wrote "It turned out that nobody had school, since the roads that didn't have gutters were all too muddy or wet to safely drive on." But its still summer, so they don't have school anyways!! . Sorry, that was my bad.... Also.. -bangs head repeatedly against the desk- Kurai had a broken arm in the beginning, then it magically healed, . ;; That was my bad too... I'm just an idiot, -exasperated sigh-
From here on, the story will actually progress!! -jaw drops- Seriously though, n.n From here on out the PLOT ((yes, there actually is a plot 0.0)) will arise! Be proud of me... -sniffs-
But, I start drivers school next week, xX And I'll be trapped in school until 5:30, which will leave me even less time to update. But! I have been writing a bit down in my notebook on my off-times, which is actually the only reason I'm getting this up to you so quick, lol.
I'd like to thank all my reviewers, even if the reviews themselves are rather.... lacking... at least I know someone is reading this, heh. Without further ado, here's the next chapter!!
Disclaimers: Nothing is mine other than the lacking plot and Kurai, n.n;;
CHAPTER 11- Upon the Roof
3rd Person POV
"Hello?" Shigure called out from his office, "I could've sworn I heard somebody come in...." he muttered to himself, before turning back to his computer. He rubbed his forehead, frustrated with his writers block and his, ultimately, lack of muse.
He prided himself on meeting deadlines, always finishing his manuscripts on time. He just liked to pretend he didn't have them done to tease his editor, Mii-san. It was just so fun to tease her! Shigure sighed and leaned back in his leather chair, searching for something that might end his writers block, but nothing was coming.
Everyone with the exception of Kyo and Hatori had disappeared into the woods, undoubtedly going to Yuki's not-so-seceret-base. Haru was practically attached at the hip to Yuki, as Momiji was to Tohru. In the end, if somebody went somewhere, everyone would have to go. Everyone except the loner, Kyo....
Shigure was sure Kyo was up on the roof, as always, keeping to himself. While Hatori was reading in the other rom, after pointedly telling Shigure to 'leave him alone.'
"....Hi..."
Shigure squeaked in surprise at the sudden, though small, voice, accidentaly throwing himself backwards and landing on his back ontop of his desk chair.
"Are you alright?!" Kurai asked, dashing around the desk, only to fall to the ground in laughter.
Shigure blinked a moment before rollingo ff the back of the chair to kneel on the floor beside it.
Kurai took several deep breaths of air, "I'm sorry! It's rude of me to laugh but..." her quite snickers rolled into laughter again, "You! You looked-! S-so funny!!" she managed to get out.
Shigure couldn't help but grin sheepishly, then chuckle along with her. The way she was laughing was funny enough in itself.
Once they had finally calmed down, and regained their lacking breath, Kurai helped Shigure pick up his chair.
"You're really alright, though?" she asked seriously.
"But of course!" he replied dramatically, making her grin again, "How went your job hunt, Kurai-san?"
Her face faulted and she looked at the floor bitterly, "Bad. They thought I was an overly depressed and suicidal teenager, which I'm not!"
"Hm, maybe not," Shigure said thoughtfully, "But how many people are mistaken for a teenager at 27?"
She smiled and closed her eyes a moment before shaking her head, "It doesn't matter. Ok, that's a lie, it does matter, but since I can't do anything about it now, there's no point in griping about it, right?" he stared at her, "Yeah... welll..... So what are you working on Shigure-san?"
"I was trying to work out my writers block for my new novel, but," he sighed deeply, dramatically, "To on avail!!"
Kurai giggled, "What type of novels do you write?"
He winked at her, "Naughty ones."
She gave him a blank look, "Huh?"
Shigure did a double-take. Was it possible she didn't.....? But then again, who would've taught it to her?
They looked at each other for a moment, before Kurai shrugged, "So... are you at the beginning or end?"
He sighed again, "The beginning, sadly. My deadline is in 3 weeks and I haven't even gotten a decent chapter written!"
She nodded sympathetically, then stood with Shigure in a comfortable silence for a few moments.
"I guess I'll go see if I can help with anything around the house," she chirped, before grinning and bounding off.
Shigure smiled after her before sitting back down at his computer and furrowing his brow once again at his blank computer screen.
Kurai sighed, leaning against the cool wood of one of the outside walls in the shade, a little ways away from the trash, which she had just taken out. The day was warm, with a slightly cool breeze moving through the sighing tree's every so often. Light green hair that had come free of their bun waved in front of her face, tickling her cheeks lightly.
She looked up and saw the pale blue sky, streaked with puffy white clouds here and there. She stared at it, feeling like she could drown in its infinity forever. Actually, that wasn't such a bad idea....
Kurai walked back over to the plastic green trashcans, but reached behind them for a wooden ladder she had come across. She didn't think Shigure would mind if she climbed atop the roof, since he seemed very laid-back.
She gripped the cool, slightly damp, wood as she set it against the house so it led up to the roof. Feet clad in new black shoes stepped on the first step, then the second, third, fourth, and so on. A bubbling sensation whelmed up inside of her at the prospect of laying on the roof without a care in the world, just enjoying the beautiful day.
But when she looked up, she saw someone else!
"Sorry!" she squeaked, and turned to go, but noticed that the person didn't respond. Having a strong curiousity was part of her nature, and tempted her to see who it was. She blinked a moment before climbing up on the roof, recognizing the orange hair instantly.
"Kyo-kun?" she asked, stepping forward tentatively, but upon closer inspection, realized he was asleep. She stared at him for a moment, surprised. Usually his face was angry or uncaring, but now it was completely relaxed in his slumber. She blinked and sat cross-legged beside him, noticing how his orange hair flowed in short locks with the breeze, moving across his tanned face slowly, caressing it.
A voice suddenly broke her thoughts, "It's orange! Orange! Let's eat it!!" A thin hand flew to her forehead as she rubbed it, gritting her teeth and concentrating on blocking the rest of the memory out, but flashes of it came anyways.
Two other girls, both with long hair, though one was blond while the other had black hair tied back in a braid. They were walking, joking with Tohru in what looked like a school. Tohru's... mother? The blonde girl thought that if Tohru's mother was still alive, that would be her reaction to Kyo's hair...
Kurai let out a frustrated yell and clenched her eyes shut, grasping her head in both of her hands.
I don't want to see anymore!! she yelled inside her mind, These are HER memories, not mine!
Slowly, the memories faded, going back to rest in the dark corners of her mind. She exhaled loudly, not aware she had been holding her breath. She sat there panting a moment before opening golden eyes again...
Only to find Kyo awake and staring at her!
"Hey, you ok?" he asked, looking a bit freaked out.
Kurai blinked and nodded a little shakily, "Just... a memory flash... It happens sometimes..."
"That's gotta suck," he scowled, and she nodded. "What're you doin' up here?" was his next question.
"Oh, um... I don't really know... I saw the ladder and thought this would be a nice place to relax, but I didn't know you were up here." she suddenly realized something, "Hey, how did you get up here if the ladder was on the ground?"
He ignored the question, "I come up all the time. Mainly to get away from that kuso nezumi," he spat venemously.
"Oh... You really hate him, huh?" an afirmitive grunt was all she got, "Can I ask why?"
He thought a moment before answering, "Do you know that old Zodiac story, where the Rat tricked the Cat?" he sat up, cross-legged, as she shook her head, "Stories say that God was holding a grand banquet, and invited all of the Zodiac animals to come and feast with him. The Rat thought he be a smart-ass and lie to the Cat, telling him that the banquet was the day after tomorrow so he'd miss it. Then he rode his proud ass all the way up to heaven, while the Cat slept and dreamed about a feast that would never come."
"All the animals called the Cat a fool... and he was banned from the Zodiac.." Kurai finished for him, causing him to blink in confusion.
"I thought you didn't know the story," he scowled.
She shook her head, looking bemused, "I didn't... I just... I guess I got it from someone else's memories. When you started to tell it, it just came to me..."
He shrugged and rested his head on his fist while she frowned at the roof, deep in thought.
"But..." Kyo looked over at her, "It's unfair..."
Orange eyes widened as the words that he had felt all his life left her mouth. She kept going too, "Why should you be outcasted it... the Rat was the one that betrayed you? The trick he played on the Cat was underhanded and sneaky, but he got to stay in the Zodiac?"
Kyo sighed and cast his eyes downward, "I.... I know, right? The Cat didn't do anything, but was excluded anyway... excluded because he trusted someone enough to listen to them."
Kurai smiled sympathetically, Kyo acts tough to hide the pain he feels. He's really... very strong...
Kage: Sorry for all the mistakes I made ((see first part of chapter)) -sighs- I also lied... there is no plot so far... Well, there IS, its just not apparent right now, heh... I thank all of you for being patient!! Please review!! ((Its the only reason I keep this story going.....))