In Smaller Proportions
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A big "Thanks" to you people for your endless support (and your 38 reviews!).
Oh, and keosis-chan: don't let ownership of anything bother you. If you really want to do it, then follow your heart's lead. After all, the reason why we're all here today at , to write freely and without a care. (that is, before writer's block sets in)
Well, for most of you, here's a little treat. We all know Yuki has not been very fond of chibi-Kyo these past few chapters, so what happens when they're stuck together alone for half a day? Don't ask me, just read the darn chapter.
PJ
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The week was almost through, and yet chibi-Kyo was still...well...chibi-Kyo. There was no major transmogrifications, no big "poof" followed by "what the...", and certainly no normal Kyo yelling his head off at anyone who cared to listen. By now, Yuki had given up waiting.
In those few days of bathing, feeding and changing (this Yuki recalled with disgust), Shigure was getting more and more attached to the toddler. But he sure wasn't the one who had to take a thorough shower right after each hectic event that involved the cursed diaper. All those baptisms weren't easing the relationship between Yuki and chibi-Kyo any.
Sure, chibi-Kyo was as cute as young children could get, but he was still the miniature Cat, the nemesis of the Rat, and nothing could really change that.
Not even those times when he fell asleep at the kotatsu, only to wake up and find the same orange-haired toddler snuggled against him, sucking his thumb contentedly.
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(Yuki: Alright, where are we heading here?
PJ: Quiet, you. I'm trying to get the gears moving.
Yuki: This does not involve any professions of love between cat and mouse, right?
PJ: Just cute bonding. Not a drop of romance, if that's what got you so peeved.
Yuki: I'm quiet now.)
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"Oh, Yuki-kun!" Shigure called out in a sing-song voice.
Yuki exited the shower room in a set of dry, clean clothing. They had just finished another of those sessions, and he still wasn't too pleased. "What do you want, now?"
Shigure held up the happy chibi-Kyo like a trophy at a prize-giving ceremony. "I need you to watch Kyo-chan here for a while."
"What the heck?"
"My assistant is on a suicidal run again, so I have to rush out and get my book pages to her," Shigure explained, in a somewhat casual (what the?) manner. "And Tohru-chan had to go shopping for our meal later. That just leaves you to take care of him."
"Now, see here-" Yuki started, but interrupted promptly.
"Surely, Yuki-kun! You can't be suggesting poor, defenseless little Kyo-chan be left on his own? You aren't that heartless, are you?"
Yuki was a little taken aback. Sure, he wasn't keen on babysitting, but this was a little harsh. "Well, I-"
"Thank you, Yuki-kun!" Shigure interrupted again, dropping chibi-Kyo into Yuki's arms hastily. "He's just been changed, like you know, he will be fed when Tohru-chan and I get back, and otherwise, all he needs is a short nap! Have fun! Bye!"
"Wait a minute!" Yuki's protest went unheard as Shigure zipped out the door so fast, he left a cloud of dust in his wake.
Yuki looked down at chibi-Kyo, who was looking up at him with puzzlement all too plain on his youthful face. "Why do I have to be stuck with you?"
Suddenly, the door opened again, and Shigure dashed in. "Aha... Forgot my pages. Bye again!"
Then he was out once more.
Chibi-Kyo made an unintelligible sound to himself. Yuki groaned.
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Disgruntled, Yuki strode into his room and dropped his small load onto his bed. Chibi-Kyo bounced once on the mattress, giggling as the momentum caused him to roll over a couple of times.
Hardly impressed by the scene, Yuki picked the child up again, this time setting him firmly on one side of the bed.
Chibi-Kyo's wide eyes watched his "big brother" as Yuki climbed onto the bed as well, and drew a line between them with his index finger.
"Alright. Here's how things are: This is your spot, this is the line, this is my spot," Yuki stated, pointing for emphasis. "You stay on your spot, and I'll stay on my spot. Got it?"
Chibi-Kyo nodded.
"Good." Yuki sat back and picked up the book he had yet to finish (refer to chapter 4), and came to where he had left off with fertilizers.
Right there and then, there was a soft - but distinct - "thup" as chibi-Kyo jumped on him.
With a deep sigh, Yuki plucked the little boy off him and set him back down in his designated spot. "Kyo," he said deliberately, commanding the younger one's attention. "Stay here. Here. Don't move. Don't even think about moving. Can you understand that?"
Chibi-Kyo nodded again.
I'm taking a blind leap of faith and assuming you do. Yuki sat back again and went on about the pros and cons of certain chemical fertilizers versus biological "core dumps". I doubt Haru will be too convinced by salt lick on a stick. (1)
This time, with a loud "thwap", Yuki was knocked over as chibi-Kyo jumped on him again.
For crying out loud... Yuki propped himself up on his elbows and turned to glare at the toddler, who was seated quite comfortably on his lower back. "What, do I look like a carnival pony to you?" (2)
Chibi-Kyo bounced a little as an answer, and when Yuki pushed himself up onto hands and knees, the toddler rolled off and back onto the bed, all the while giggling with innocent delight.
"That does it. You win." Yuki climbed off the bed and sat on the floor as he spoke, the book firmly grasped in one hand. "You get the whole bed now."
There was silence. Not even the rustling on bed sheets could be heard.
Then Yuki felt an insistent tug on his shirt, accompanied by a small whimper.
Oh, for the love of... Yuki cast his eye skyward, seeking heavenly aid in keeping his temper checked, before turning to glare at the smaller character that had just conquered his bed.
Then he noticed the child's eyes.
The two crimson orbs were filled with loneliness and a pleading cry for attention.
He had seen eyes like that before. They had been his own, as a child himself, when he had been isolated from even his family.
Feeling newly-found empathy toward the little boy before him, Yuki softened his stance. Reaching over, he picked up chibi-Kyo and set him on his lap. "Is this what you want?"
Chibi-Kyo promptly smiled again and settled down.
Yuki finally allowed himself a small smile as he petted the orange hair. "I guess it is alright... just this once, anyway."
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After providing his stressed out confident - otherwise known as Mit-chan the assistant - with something to live for in the next month, Shigure was finally able to go home.
Knowing the poor, poor relationship that had always been between this generation of Cat and Rat, he was expecting some chaos.
He was at least expecting one of them to be crying his lungs out.
He wasn't expecting a completely silent house.
Neither was he expecting to find the two sleeping on the floor at the foot of Yuki's bed, looking quite cozy together.
Watching them, Shigure let out an involuntary snort of laughter. As controlled as it was, it was loud enough to earn itself a response.
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Yuki stirred to the sound of stifled laughter, and cracked open an eyelid.
Shigure was standing there before him, a very wide grin on his face. "I say, you two are the cutest things I've seen in my life! What I would give for a camera right now!"
Yuki looked down at the still slumbering chibi-Kyo, then lazily glared at Shigure. "Leave me alone, dumb mutt."
"Fine. Be that way," Shigure replied, looking insulted. Then he was serious, something that wasn't seen often for one such as him. "But you know, Yuki-kun, maybe there is room for reconciliation between you and Kyo."
"Why did you suddenly say that?"
"Spur of the moment," Shigure answered, shrugging. Then he left the room, and them in peace.
With a yawn, chibi-Kyo woke up as well. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he looked up at Yuki and smiled.
"I'll admit that I still don't like you," said Yuki. "But I'll also admit: I wouldn't mind being your big brother for now."
Chibi-Kyo climbed off Yuki's lap, and spotted the forgotten book nearby.
And then he chose that moment to sample its texture.
"NO!!"
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(1) : In order to turn those incessant cow floppies into natural fertilizer, some farmers like to stick salt licks on their fields to make the cows come home (something like that, anyway)
(2) : And YES, GirlWaterShaman! It's been done! The prophecy has been fulfilled! (A carnival pony is still a horse, like it or no! Get with the program!)
ABSTRACT OFF MSN CONVERSATION:
HW: YOU DA MAN, BUB!
PJ: Yeesh, you have no idea about how guilty I feel right now...
HW: Oh? What about?
PJ: The truth and all that.
HW: What truth?
PJ: You know! The truth behind chibi-Kyo!
HW: OH! You mean the fact that chibi-Kyo is -
PJ: QUIET!
HW: WHAT?!
PJ: SPOILER ALERT!!!
HW: Don't tell me: this is going in your footnotes too?!
PJ: Well....yeah.
HW: I give up. Do what you want.
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