Part 4: Knife
"Kyou-kun, Yuki-kun, is dinner ready yet?" Shigure sang from his study as the two boys worked in the kitchen.
"Shut up Shigure! Don't talk to us in that disgusting voice! If you want dinner fast, you should be in here helping me too!" Kyou spat out, putting more force into chopping the vegetables as Yuki watched him, silently standing next to him.
It was decided early on that Yuki would not participate in cooking, since Kyou knew the kitchen would be burned down if Yuki tried. He did however have no choice but to let Yuki stand next to him and follow him around the kitchen, as he wasn't able to reach the counter if Yuki sat at the kitchen table.
"Are you sure there's nothing I can help you do?" Yuki's voice suddenly cut through Kyou's thoughts. Kyou looked up to see a concerned Yuki standing very close to him. His face burned again, and he chopped the vegetables with increased vigor.
"I'm fine, you idiot. You know how bad you are in the kitchen. Anything that you touch in the kitchen ends up as charcoal." Kyou muttered, but there was no malice in his words.
Yuki laughed unexpectedly, startling Kyou. He couldn't help it, because he knew how true it was. Everything he touched DID turn to charcoal… nothing was spared when he was in the kitchen.
Kyou studied Yuki's laughing face with interest. Never had Yuki even smiled in front of Kyou, let alone laughed. It was a light, pleasant sound, and Kyou found himself smiling as he turned back to the vegetables.
Realizing that he was actually laughing in front of Kyou, Yuki stopped suddenly, embarrassed. Twice in one day he had let Kyou see a vulnerable side of him…what was happening? He ran his hand through his long hair, sighing.
Expecting Kyou to be disgusted with his girly laughter, he sneaked a glance over at Kyou. But to his surprise, he saw him smiling softly as he chopped the vegetables. It was such a gentle expression, one that Yuki had never once seen on Kyou's face unless Tohru had been around to bring it out. To know that he had caused such an expression brought a blush to Yuki's face and a warm feeling spread through him.
'Damn it, he's embarrassed now that I saw him laughing. I shouldn't have smiled; he probably thought I was laughing at him.' Kyou thought to himself, misinterpreting Yuki's blushing face. He retracted his smile and resumed his cranky expression.
'Oh crap, he's mad now, he probably saw me looking at him…AGAIN.' Yuki thought to himself sadly. 'Who am I kidding anyway; he'll never want to be friends with me. It's just too far beyond my reach.' At that thought, Yuki turned away to set the table, not wanting to be near Kyou anymore. Forgetting that he was still tied to Kyou, the rope grew taut, and jerked Kyou's hand, causing him to drop the cutting knife onto the floor.
"What the hell are you doing you idiot?" Kyou burst out angrily. The knife had almost stabbed right through Yuki's foot, and he felt guilty about letting go of the knife so easily.
"What? I didn't do anything you stupid cat. Jeez, sorry if the knife almost hit you, but you're so thick-skinned it wouldn't hurt you anyway!" Yuki retorted, angry at himself for being so careless but directing his frustration instead to Kyou.
"I wasn't worried about me, I was worried about YOUR foot, you damn rat, the knife almost went right through it!" Kyou spat back without thinking. Yuki's eyes widened at Kyou's confession, and Kyou grew embarrassed, looking away as he realized what he had revealed.
"I'm…sorry. I wasn't thinking." Yuki whispered softly, looking guiltily at the floor where the knife lay. Kyou's head jerked upward, never in his life had he heard Yuki apologize to him. Ever. He knew he should feel proud that the rat was apologizing, should rub it in his face. And yet he felt no such need…in fact, all he felt was a yearning to take away the guilty look in Yuki's eyes.
"Never mind…it doesn't matter Yuki." Kyou replied quietly, accidentally letting slip the name 'Yuki' for the first time. He was afraid to see Yuki's response, and at the same time, he was hoping to see a look of acceptance. Or maybe Yuki wouldn't even notice, or wouldn't even care.
Yuki's face grew burning hot as he heard Kyou gently call his name. It wasn't just the fact that he had called him by his name, but the way he said it made Yuki feel like someone had called him for the first time. He realized he wanted so badly to hear it again, wanted Kyou to call him by his name all the time.
"BOYS! What are you guys doing in there! I WANT MY DINNERRRRR!" Shigure's loud voice startled the two of them, and as quickly as their eyes met, they darted away.
"Come on, let's hurry up and get this food cooked before Shigure has a fit," Kyou said, leaning down to pick up the knife and hide his burning face. Yuki nodded, and the two continued to work in companionable silence the rest of the time, each privately reveling in confused thoughts of the other.
Review time! hehe. What do you guys think will happen next? Gimme some predictions hehe. I know everyone eagerly anticipates the sleeping arrangements chapter! muhaha.
