Genres: Drama/Romance/Depression
Warning: contains shonen/seinen-ai. If you find this offensive, then don't read this (yes, it's as simple as that)! Plus the story contains elements concerning prostitution. Also I don't recommend reading this if you don't like depressing stories (although, if you've read this far, I'm guessing you do.)
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket is copyrighted to Takaya Natsuki.
Rating: PG 13, might go up to R (but I doubt it, well, who knows)
A/N: Hey! I don't have much to say, really, except maybe thanks to Kativa- chan for her usual support as my beta-reader and to everyone who's been waiting for doing so. Don't give up on this fic, it's gonna get a little more positive from here.
Black Boudoir Chapter Fourteen
Kyo got up and headed to Shigure's room. He didn't really feel like talking, but he also thought that he might feel better if Shigure gave him some advice.
During his stay at the Lily, he had so far only really talked to Kagura and Tohru apart from Shigure. If Shigure could give no advice, he would try asking Tohru, but he still felt more comfortable with the idea of only telling Shigure about tonight.
He came to the door and knocked. The usual 'Come in' followed and he slid the door open, went in and slid it closed after him. Shigure was in bed, a tray of dirty dishes lay to his right and the room smelled of stuffy air and Tohru's cooking.
"Ah, Kyo! Are you done with work?" Shigure asked with a cheery smile.
"Yes." Kyo answered dryly.
Shigure could tell from his cousin's facial expression that something was eating away at him.
"What's wrong? Did you get a violent client?"
"No. I didn't have to do anything." Kyo hesitated.
"Uo came to see me. You know, my roommate."
"She's a woman. Did she come in dressed like a man?" Shigure said with a smirk.
He had seen pictures of Uo and on almost all of them she was either wearing borrowed clothes of Kyo's or her gang member's coat.
"Yes. She asked me to sleep with her." He paused.
"I told her that my feelings for her were clear and then she said that she was willing to pay. I refused and then she said that I couldn't say no. So I . . ." Kyo continued explaining and Shigure listenend. He wore a compassionate expression tainted with bitterness. After a while he said:
"You said that you don't show love physically. It means nothing to you?"
"Yes."
"So, it would be no different kissing me, for example, than kissing a client?" Shigure asked with a sly grin.
"Yes, but that's beside the point." Kyo said angrily. "Why did Uo do this to me?"
"I guess she just feels betrayed. She loves you and she can't stand the idea that you sleep with a different man every night and that it doesn't mean anything to you."
"But it's none of her business!" Kyo yelled.
"That may be true, but she doesn't seem to think so. She thinks that she can change you because she cares for you."
There was something nagging at the back of Kyo's brain. He had said that kissing Shigure wouldn't mean anything to him, but he was starting to regret that. He couldn't kiss Uotani, because it would be insulting and he was afraid of sullying her, Shigure was different, he was already damaged, so it would have a different meaning. He wondered what it would be like if he did try. He blinked. There was the knot in his stomach again.
"Uh, thanks Shigure, I just felt like talking. I'm going to bed now. Make sure you get enough sleep."
"No problem. See you tomorrow."
"Mmmh." Kyo grunted his acknowledgment.
* * *
It was late, or early, depending on which you chose to see it as. Shigure had not slept. He was still awake and had been staring at the dull bluish grey patch of light on the ceiling that came from somewhere behind the curtains.
'I had to ask him that question, didn't I?' he thought.
"So, it would be no different kissing me, for example, than kissing a client?"
He had felt the same way as Kyo for a while now, but it had taken a much longer time for him to become this numb. He could remember when the act of love had still been something "sacred" for him. He had hoped that it would feel different with someone, whom he really did love, but gradually his hope had faded and he hadn't met any such person. 'I haven't' he thought, as if to enforce this idea. Deep down, he knew about the nature of his feelings for Kyo.
Kyo's answer had erased his hope of these feelings being reciprocated.
Shigure lay in his bed, tossing and turning, not wanting to sleep as some kind of self-punishment. 'I should've known better.'
* * *
Kyo woke up and put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. These past few days, he hadn't bothered with western clothes and had just worn his white kimono everywhere, but this morning, it didn't seem appropriate. He picked up Uo's note, slid it back into the envelope and put it in a drawer. He then made his way to the dining room for breakfast.
When he got to it, he found Yuki sitting at a table alone. He hadn't spoken to him since the initiation, and had done everything to get out of his way during the time that had followed it, but now, seeing the young man sitting alone at the table, his head bowed as usual, his eyes fixed on his untouched food, he found the courage to approach him.
"Morning!" he said gruffly.
Yuki looked up at him and flinched when he saw to whom the voice that had greeted him belonged.
"I'm sorry." Yuki said softly.
Kyo blinked. He hadn't expected that.
"Thank you." Was all he managed to think of, but it was enough. "Aren't you going to eat?" he asked.
"I guess." Yuki said and picked up the chopsticks. Kyo watched him put some fish in his mouth, chew it and swallow. Then some rice. More fish.
"Isn't it cold?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Why are you eating it then?"
"Because you asked me to."
"I didn't."
"You implied that I should eat, so I'm eating."
"You don't have to do what I say."
"I know, but I'm so used to doing what other people tell me to that I just did it out of habit." Kyo couldn't think of anything else to say, so he just got up and went to the kitchen where he found Tohru.
"Ah, good morning Kyo!" she said cheerily.
"'Morning." He answered.
* * *
It was twelve o'clock and Akito had just finished the food that Yuki had brought him. He had eaten in lying down, in roman fashion, and now he stood up. He went to a wall and pushed the wooden panel. It slid noiselessly and revealed the window that it had concealed until then. He opened it and felt the spring air rush in to meet him.
He inhaled the pollen-laden breeze and coughed.
"Damn flowers".
He turned to Yuki who had stayed in the room after bringing the food.
"Do you enjoy spring?" he asked.
"I don't know." He answered. "I did, once . . ."
"Would you enjoy it if I did?" Akito asked.
"I suppose."
Akito bit his lip. Yuki was getting weaker and weaker every day. He needed to go out more and Akito knew that he was the only person who would convince him to do so.
"We'll go for a daytrip to the countryside tomorrow." Akito said.
Yuki looked at him. Akito had his back to him.
"Alright."
"Such good obedience deserves repayment." He said and Yuki could tell from the sound of his words that he was smiling.
Yuki had seen Akito smile many times before. Evil smiles, bitter smiles, angry smiles. This, he thought must be and honest smile. He pictured it. The mouth curving upwards, lips parting just enough to reveal white teeth, lines around the mouth making themselves more visible, but no matter how much he tried to change them in his mind, Akito's eyes remained bitter and slightly malicious.
"Thank you."
Akito, his face now vacant of the smile that must have graced his features moments ago turned towards Yuki and pulled him into his arms. Yuki, knowing what this meant by the feel of the embrace, placed a kiss on the clan- head's mouth and helped him out of his robe.
* * *
Uo hadn't come to see Kyo, but she had phoned to apologize and offered that they meet for lunch sometime. Kyo had agreed, but he knew that that was the killing blow to their friendship, as they knew it.
Shigure had woken up with a fever that morning and Kyo sat at his bedside, reading the paper while watching the dog sleep and occasionally changing the cold cloth on his forehead.
The strange thing was that, where most people talk in their sleep, Shigure was deathly quiet, he wore a grim expression, so very unlike the one he wore when he was awake. Kyo felt sorry for the man, it pained him to see him in this state, especially since he was originally to blame for the ulcer.
He looked up from his paper and studied the dog's face again. He could see where age was barely starting to etch crow's feet at the corner of Shigure's eyes. 'He keeps smiling, makes sense' Kyo thought. He studied the delicate, straight features. They still had a slightly boyish look to them.
His stomach jolted. He felt warm, uncomfortably so, and suddenly he knew. He pulled himself away from the bedside and went out of the door in a hurry.
End of chapter fourteen.
I told you it would be more positive! What do you think? Please R&R. Love - Isa
Warning: contains shonen/seinen-ai. If you find this offensive, then don't read this (yes, it's as simple as that)! Plus the story contains elements concerning prostitution. Also I don't recommend reading this if you don't like depressing stories (although, if you've read this far, I'm guessing you do.)
Disclaimer: Fruits Basket is copyrighted to Takaya Natsuki.
Rating: PG 13, might go up to R (but I doubt it, well, who knows)
A/N: Hey! I don't have much to say, really, except maybe thanks to Kativa- chan for her usual support as my beta-reader and to everyone who's been waiting for doing so. Don't give up on this fic, it's gonna get a little more positive from here.
Black Boudoir Chapter Fourteen
Kyo got up and headed to Shigure's room. He didn't really feel like talking, but he also thought that he might feel better if Shigure gave him some advice.
During his stay at the Lily, he had so far only really talked to Kagura and Tohru apart from Shigure. If Shigure could give no advice, he would try asking Tohru, but he still felt more comfortable with the idea of only telling Shigure about tonight.
He came to the door and knocked. The usual 'Come in' followed and he slid the door open, went in and slid it closed after him. Shigure was in bed, a tray of dirty dishes lay to his right and the room smelled of stuffy air and Tohru's cooking.
"Ah, Kyo! Are you done with work?" Shigure asked with a cheery smile.
"Yes." Kyo answered dryly.
Shigure could tell from his cousin's facial expression that something was eating away at him.
"What's wrong? Did you get a violent client?"
"No. I didn't have to do anything." Kyo hesitated.
"Uo came to see me. You know, my roommate."
"She's a woman. Did she come in dressed like a man?" Shigure said with a smirk.
He had seen pictures of Uo and on almost all of them she was either wearing borrowed clothes of Kyo's or her gang member's coat.
"Yes. She asked me to sleep with her." He paused.
"I told her that my feelings for her were clear and then she said that she was willing to pay. I refused and then she said that I couldn't say no. So I . . ." Kyo continued explaining and Shigure listenend. He wore a compassionate expression tainted with bitterness. After a while he said:
"You said that you don't show love physically. It means nothing to you?"
"Yes."
"So, it would be no different kissing me, for example, than kissing a client?" Shigure asked with a sly grin.
"Yes, but that's beside the point." Kyo said angrily. "Why did Uo do this to me?"
"I guess she just feels betrayed. She loves you and she can't stand the idea that you sleep with a different man every night and that it doesn't mean anything to you."
"But it's none of her business!" Kyo yelled.
"That may be true, but she doesn't seem to think so. She thinks that she can change you because she cares for you."
There was something nagging at the back of Kyo's brain. He had said that kissing Shigure wouldn't mean anything to him, but he was starting to regret that. He couldn't kiss Uotani, because it would be insulting and he was afraid of sullying her, Shigure was different, he was already damaged, so it would have a different meaning. He wondered what it would be like if he did try. He blinked. There was the knot in his stomach again.
"Uh, thanks Shigure, I just felt like talking. I'm going to bed now. Make sure you get enough sleep."
"No problem. See you tomorrow."
"Mmmh." Kyo grunted his acknowledgment.
* * *
It was late, or early, depending on which you chose to see it as. Shigure had not slept. He was still awake and had been staring at the dull bluish grey patch of light on the ceiling that came from somewhere behind the curtains.
'I had to ask him that question, didn't I?' he thought.
"So, it would be no different kissing me, for example, than kissing a client?"
He had felt the same way as Kyo for a while now, but it had taken a much longer time for him to become this numb. He could remember when the act of love had still been something "sacred" for him. He had hoped that it would feel different with someone, whom he really did love, but gradually his hope had faded and he hadn't met any such person. 'I haven't' he thought, as if to enforce this idea. Deep down, he knew about the nature of his feelings for Kyo.
Kyo's answer had erased his hope of these feelings being reciprocated.
Shigure lay in his bed, tossing and turning, not wanting to sleep as some kind of self-punishment. 'I should've known better.'
* * *
Kyo woke up and put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. These past few days, he hadn't bothered with western clothes and had just worn his white kimono everywhere, but this morning, it didn't seem appropriate. He picked up Uo's note, slid it back into the envelope and put it in a drawer. He then made his way to the dining room for breakfast.
When he got to it, he found Yuki sitting at a table alone. He hadn't spoken to him since the initiation, and had done everything to get out of his way during the time that had followed it, but now, seeing the young man sitting alone at the table, his head bowed as usual, his eyes fixed on his untouched food, he found the courage to approach him.
"Morning!" he said gruffly.
Yuki looked up at him and flinched when he saw to whom the voice that had greeted him belonged.
"I'm sorry." Yuki said softly.
Kyo blinked. He hadn't expected that.
"Thank you." Was all he managed to think of, but it was enough. "Aren't you going to eat?" he asked.
"I guess." Yuki said and picked up the chopsticks. Kyo watched him put some fish in his mouth, chew it and swallow. Then some rice. More fish.
"Isn't it cold?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Why are you eating it then?"
"Because you asked me to."
"I didn't."
"You implied that I should eat, so I'm eating."
"You don't have to do what I say."
"I know, but I'm so used to doing what other people tell me to that I just did it out of habit." Kyo couldn't think of anything else to say, so he just got up and went to the kitchen where he found Tohru.
"Ah, good morning Kyo!" she said cheerily.
"'Morning." He answered.
* * *
It was twelve o'clock and Akito had just finished the food that Yuki had brought him. He had eaten in lying down, in roman fashion, and now he stood up. He went to a wall and pushed the wooden panel. It slid noiselessly and revealed the window that it had concealed until then. He opened it and felt the spring air rush in to meet him.
He inhaled the pollen-laden breeze and coughed.
"Damn flowers".
He turned to Yuki who had stayed in the room after bringing the food.
"Do you enjoy spring?" he asked.
"I don't know." He answered. "I did, once . . ."
"Would you enjoy it if I did?" Akito asked.
"I suppose."
Akito bit his lip. Yuki was getting weaker and weaker every day. He needed to go out more and Akito knew that he was the only person who would convince him to do so.
"We'll go for a daytrip to the countryside tomorrow." Akito said.
Yuki looked at him. Akito had his back to him.
"Alright."
"Such good obedience deserves repayment." He said and Yuki could tell from the sound of his words that he was smiling.
Yuki had seen Akito smile many times before. Evil smiles, bitter smiles, angry smiles. This, he thought must be and honest smile. He pictured it. The mouth curving upwards, lips parting just enough to reveal white teeth, lines around the mouth making themselves more visible, but no matter how much he tried to change them in his mind, Akito's eyes remained bitter and slightly malicious.
"Thank you."
Akito, his face now vacant of the smile that must have graced his features moments ago turned towards Yuki and pulled him into his arms. Yuki, knowing what this meant by the feel of the embrace, placed a kiss on the clan- head's mouth and helped him out of his robe.
* * *
Uo hadn't come to see Kyo, but she had phoned to apologize and offered that they meet for lunch sometime. Kyo had agreed, but he knew that that was the killing blow to their friendship, as they knew it.
Shigure had woken up with a fever that morning and Kyo sat at his bedside, reading the paper while watching the dog sleep and occasionally changing the cold cloth on his forehead.
The strange thing was that, where most people talk in their sleep, Shigure was deathly quiet, he wore a grim expression, so very unlike the one he wore when he was awake. Kyo felt sorry for the man, it pained him to see him in this state, especially since he was originally to blame for the ulcer.
He looked up from his paper and studied the dog's face again. He could see where age was barely starting to etch crow's feet at the corner of Shigure's eyes. 'He keeps smiling, makes sense' Kyo thought. He studied the delicate, straight features. They still had a slightly boyish look to them.
His stomach jolted. He felt warm, uncomfortably so, and suddenly he knew. He pulled himself away from the bedside and went out of the door in a hurry.
End of chapter fourteen.
I told you it would be more positive! What do you think? Please R&R. Love - Isa