Hellooooo everybody! Finally, I finished chapter 13! So excited about this one, it's sooo close to the OMG HOLY CRAP HOW SHOCKING climax, heehee. Thanks sooo much for the reviews, Lordy Lordy does that keep me goin'. Sorry to keep you guys waiting! So here we go!
Hiro: You stupid author. Why is that stupid woman Tohru in this story?
Kyo: I swear you damn kid...you call her stupid one more time...I'll kick your ass to kingdom come.
Hiro: And kingdom come is...? You really are thick-headed. Can't you come up with another come back? And need I remind you that if you lay a hand on me, I will immediately report child abuse? PLUS, you are positively obsessed with that ditzy pathetic girl, it makes me sick.
Kyo: YOU STUPID PUNK ASS KID! I'M TIRED OF YOU OPENIN' YOUR DAMN MOUTH, YOU FRIGGIN' SPOILED BRAT!
Me: You know, Kyo does have a point Hiro. You gotta learn when to shut your mouth. If you got nothin' nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Hiro: I pity you, you simple-minded author. This story of yours isn't just mediocre...well...to put it plainly for you...since your slow head cannot possibly comprehend just about anything...your story just downright sucks.
Kyo&Me: THAT'S IT, YOU LITTLE SON OF A BITCH! YOU'RE GOIN' DOWN!
-Hiro jumps out of the conversation before we tackle him.-
Me: Damnit.
Kyo: I hear ya.
Me: Hey Kyo, do you mind if you tell the readers somethin'?
Kyo: I don't have a choice, so what the hell. People, there's a freakin' spoiler in this one...so either deal with it, or go read somethin' else.
Me: Er...that's...not a nice way to put it...but yeah guys, there's a spoiler...so beware. (it's about a very mean, mean person.) Well, enjoy!
After finishing his lunch, Shigure sat for a moment, making sure everyone was upstairs. Quietly, he got up, put on his shoes and left without a sound.
"Skito, Shigure has come to see you," Kureno bowed waiting for Akito to reply. "Yes let him in…" Kureno let Shigure in and left without another word. "Shigure, something tells me you've come to tell some…recent developments…" Shigure nodded and moved forward as Akito beckoned him with his hand, and sat beside the pale figure of power. "Akito…I believe something might be happening with Kyo…he's different somehow…but no worries, my dearest Akito,he isstill hot headed and miserable as ever." "Hmmm…interesting. Keep your eyes open, and tell me everything that you see going on in that house of yours…do you remember our plan?" "Of course, my dearest Akito-san…I would do anything for you…surely you know that by now?" Akito looked at Shigure square in the eyes, searching for even the littlest hint of a lie. She squinted, and then relaxed a little. She saw nothing pointing towards betrayal. "Yes, Shigure, I know. Don't worry…suspicion has never occurred to me…when it comes to my precious Shigure…" "Besides…I feel something horrible…and exciting…is approaching…I cannot wait…" Shigure gave a little smile, and looked up out the window. Akito followed her lover's gaze and gave a small smile as she got up and walked towards the wide window, and lifted her hand and stretched her arm out of the window, to let a bird perch on the pale skin of her fingers. She stroked the soft, brown feathers of the chirping animal before lifting her hand to let the bird take flight, off into the trees.
"As soon as Yuki is well…bring him to me. I want to…speak with him." "Leave now Shigure, I must sleep for my body is begging for rest." Shigure nodded sadly, but inside his mind was reeling with ideas, multiplying by the second as he walked out of Akito's room. Suddenly Hatori appeared, and stopped Shigure with a hand on his shoulder. "You're up to something…and it's not Akito's doing…You're scheming…" "Be careful…you may just receive the pain you once said to me before, the pain you hate but will accept… Tread lightly, Shigure, or you surely will die a fool's death." Shigure's eyes averted from Hatori's, and lifted Hatori's hand from his shoulder. "Don't fret, dear Tori-san! You will not be kept in the dark about this!" "Bye Tori-san! See you tomorrow!" Shigure cheerily walked out of the office, grinning as he left. Hatori shook his head. "I'd rather be kept in the dark…but I'll be prepared either way…this agony needs to end…for good." He stopped his muttering, and stepped into his office, walked over to his chair, and sinking in the soft leather of the chair. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh of worry and fatigue. "What's happening…?"
Kyo nodded sadly, and took Tohru's hand in his gently. "Are you…mad at me? It was stupid of me not to tell you in the first place…I was scared you'd get pissed at me…or hell, I don't know why I didn't tell you…I'm sorry Tohru…" His head dropped in shame, closing his eyes with regret and disgust at himself. Tohru was still recovering from her shock, but snapped out of it when she felt Kyo's warm hand on top of hers. She didn't know what to say…her mind flashed back to when Kyo and Yuki came with her and Hana-san and Uo-santo visit her mom's grave. 'No wonder he was edgy…Oh Mom, he cares about you too! I never knew…why didn't you tell me? I'm sure you have your reasons, Mom, I trust you with all my heart…' Tohru slipped her hand out from underneath Kyo's and got up. Kyo looked up, worry piercing his heart, and he prepared for the worst. If she slapped him, he knew she had every right to. Tohru knelt next to him, facing his side, with a look of trust and concern. He turned and looked at her with questioning and sad eyes. Tohru gave a little smile and caressed his cheek with her small, ivory hand. Kyo closed his eyes once more, unconscious of his face leaning into her hand.
"Kyo, I trust you. I'm so happy that you got the chance to meet my Mom. It just shocked me because I had no idea. You don't have to tell me how you met her, or what she said. Whenever you are ready, Kyo-kun, I will always be by your side, ready to listen. I could never hate you, Kyo, no matter what you'd say. Kyo opened his eyes and gave a small smile, and nodded, while inside he was fighting the urge to run.
Shigure stepped into his office and quietly shut the door, deep in thought, his brows furrowed in concentration, fighting inside his mind, struggling to make a decision... The phone rang, and Shigure jolted upright in his chair and toppled onto the floor, taking the chair with him. He giggled and got up,running ran into the kitchen to pick up the phone.
"Shigure speaking, how may I help you?"
"Must you carry on with that unsettling tone...?" "Yeah, it's startin' to annoy me, oh holy novelist."
Shigure smiled meekly, a little creeped out at the first comment.
"Why, hello Uotani-chan and Hanajima-chan, what can I do for you beautiful ladies?"
"We're comin' over in, oh about 10 minutes, and please, do us a favor. Don't freakin' call us ladies." "Yes...it is rather disgusting...when you say it..."
Shigure sighed. "Yes, yes, see you in 20 minutes girls!" Shigure hung up quickly, just in case Hana-chan decided to make him crazy or something along those lines. He shook his head cheerily, and went back into his office to try and at least write a sentence for his suicidal editor.
"I met your mom...about a week before the...uh...thing. Shishou had taken me into town ot work on my -people skills-" Tohru fought back a giggle at Kyo's eyeroll. "We sat on a bench across the grocery story, and Shishou pointed to something. I followed his finger and saw a woman with short hair...like yours...trying to pick up all of her groceries that fell out when her bags broke. Shishou told me to go over and help her, and I was gonna yell no way in hell would I go over there, but Shishou gave me that serious look of his so I shuffled across the street, in front of your mom and I heard her mumbling about damn bags...and she noticed my feet so she looked up and said hey. I was annoyed, but I asked if she needed help and she said that'd be great right about now. So I helped her put the stuff in the car, and she asked if it was ok to come with her so she could get the stuff out of the car."
"I knew Shishou wouldn't mind soI got in, and we got to your house, and when we were done, she walked up to me and said that it was ok to be pissed, and it was ok to think life wasn't fair, but if I hated the world, then I hated myself. I was really surprised, and from then on the next few days we'd meet at the bench, and she'd tell all kinds of advice, and she always talked about you, how wonderful you were, and beautiful and kind and self-less and all that, and I didn't really care, because I thought that if you met me, you'd definitely hate me like everyone else, so it didn't matter to me. Sometimes I'd say some stuff, about how much I hated my life...and how alone I was...and I just wanted to curl up and...just not exist. She asked me about girls once and that really pissed me off because girls were the last thing on my mind, since I couldn't get attached and noone could know about the curse, and that's what i told her. Besides the curse, I just said I felt cursed. She told me that I shouldn't worry because I'd meet someone that'd make me feel like I wasn't worthless, that would ease my heart and teach me to love. But I just scoffed at her, and ignored her talking about a young man's promise or something like that, about protection and trust and loyalty...I didn't believe it one bit, so I didn't listen. That...was...the last time I'd talk to her at the bench..."
Kyo put down his head, trying to ignore the need to cry and trying to keep his voice steady. Tohru felt something in the pit of her stomach, as she realized that he was going to talk about her mother's death. "Go on, Kyo, it's ok...trust me..." She took his hands in hers, reassuring him with her touch that everything would be ok. Kyo nodded his head but still kept it down, his crimson eyes glazed, staring at his lap.
"I was at the bench, waiting for your mom, whenI heard brakes squeal and glass shatter and I looked up to see two cars smashed into each other. I was freaked out because it was scary just to see a car crash period, but...then, I recognized your mom's car...I took off and ran as fast as I could to her car. She was...she was..." Kyo broke off as he let a few tears drop, and as soon as he found his voice again, he started again, his voice shaking slightly. "I...I pulled her out of the car...and took off my jacket...and laid her down...I was so scared--I kept saying that it was gonna be ok.She shook her at me a little...and she smiled...and said 'Kyo...promises mean a lot to me...especially when they're for my daughter...Kyo...if you ever meet my daughter...please take care of her...Promise me you'll look out for her...please? She'll like you...I promise you that...' She laughed and looked away, and...I promised that I'd take care of you, if we ever met...I heard the cops coming, and the ambulance...and your Mom told me to go...and I ran...I ran so fast...and...that's why I was away for four months...Oh Tohru...I'm sorry..."
Kyo broke down, crying silently, but so hard his shoulders shook. Tohru had started to cry also, and she inched closer and they wept together, Tohru burying her head in his neck, and he in hers, but only their hands were interlocked.
He'd give anything to hold her right now.
Anything...