Chapter 19:
Akito was upset. Pacing the large room did little to dispel that anger.
New years was approaching. Shigure had been contacted and told to make sure that Yuki attended. He had informed Akito that the teen had declined.
Akito didn't take rejection well, and something would have to be done.
Akito was angry. The rat, Akito's rat, had move out of the cottage, and was now living somewhere out of the families hold. The cat had been released from the hospital and no one would give the family head any information on his condition. Ayame had origional brought that foolish message about hospital expenses and the creature fading quickly due to his own personal visit. Stupid hebi would fall for anything. But Akito would not.
And too many of Akito's Juunishi had been scurrying around doing jobs that showed little or no financial gain for the ones working.
Akito was not stupid. Turning to face the man in the doorway, Akito scowled.
"What?"
"Hatori is here for your checkup. And he wants to talk to you about 'Him', should I let him in?"
Akito dropped onto the small table at the far end of the room. A very wicked smile played over the thin lips, as the Sohma family head had an idea. An awful idea.
(I was very tempted to say 'a wonderful, awful idea' but that would be far too Grinch like.)
Kyo sat on the mat, staring at the canvas. He tipped his head in contemplation, as he gazed at the plain white field. A thin paintbrush tapped against his chin, as he took in the perfection of the empty space before him and determined how he would transform it. This would have to be perfect, it was a new years present for Nijan, and the man had been so kind to him and his cousin.
Kyo reached for the tube of paint and squeezed a small amount onto the piece of wood he was using for a pallette. The ooze of pale white already there tried to hold it's own against the onslaught of Pine green, and then as the brush joined the battle, it acceded to form a sort of alliance with it's counterpart. The shade they became was near to perfect and Kyo half smiled at the outcome. The brush moved to the canvas and began to trail the liquid across the white surface as a picture was disclosed before him.
Yuki stood in the doorway a moment before heading out to school. He would be late if he didn't hurry but the sight before him had him mesmerized. His eyes followed the strokes of the brush and the magic of the painting unfurled in his sight. He had never watched his cousin draw or paint in the past, and only recently realized the talent the boy possessed. Suddenly he realized what the developing picture was, and he shook himself out of his stupor to see the clock on the wall in front of Kyo. "Oh, gods.
I'm late." and he rushed out of the door. Kyo was oblivious to his cousin, as he continued to press the paint onto the field before him. He had now added the Sienna to the mix, and Charcoal. His fingers slid up and down the brushes handle as he adjusted the strokes to work their magic and cause the textures that brought the simple joining of canvas and paint into something that could be called 'Art'.
Of course, Kyo didn't think along these lines. To him, it was just another of his little pictures, and he liked them just fine. He would never have thought of giving one as a present, had not Nijan praised them so completely. But this one was rapidly becoming one of his favorites.
It depicted the day at the lake. They had just transformed back from the earlier mistaken hug, as they tumbled down the embankment. Only to fight at the bottom as Tohru gathered their clothes. He had been angry, not so much at the rat even.(no, he was angry because he had once again failed to express his feelings on the day of the visit to the graveyard). Then, they had turned and looked at the lake. A more beautiful sight he had not remembered. All his anger had dissipated, and he had been able to enjoy the day, and the sight before them.
The addition of Cerulean and soon the painting would be complete. Kyo sat back and looked at it. He tipped his head to the left, and then to the right. It was good, and he only needed one more thing to finish it. A small dab of the Raven and he was finished. Cleaning up his mess, he put away his tools and stood. Crossing into the kitchen he looked at the plate that Yuki had insisted he finish before he could go and work on his art. It was a testament to his awakening will power that he resisted the urge that came over him to rush into the bathroom and expell the hated food.
He still had trouble finishing his servings, but was doing better. And though the compulsion to purge was strong, he knew he needed to fight it. He had gained back 32 of the 40 lbs that he was told to gain, and this was keeping him out of the hospital. Akito had not found him and this was helping him to recover some of the lost control he had suffered from, but he still had week moments. He had been caught recently giving his food to Hopeful and once, running it down the garbage disposal. He felt shame at these times, but the remorse was short lived and a new scheme was always around the corner. Neko scolded him, and told him that he was letting his friends and family down again.
He hated Neko some times.