Astria: Well, don't let the storie's and reviewing interfere with your school work, that wouldn't be a good thing. I figured some fluffy-ness was needed, but not enough to make you gag, ya know? I didn't really notice a difference between this chapter and the others though, but that's probably because I wrote it, eh? I hope I'm getting better, that way people will enjoy reading the stories more. I was trying to decide what to do with the funeral, but I don't really wanna do anything as drastic as Akito coming back to life in the middle of it. That would completely freak me out! lol. I'm really glad you're enjoying the pairing though, I'm trying to come up with new ideas for a new story.
Lola: That would be lovely, wouldn't it? A few nice stomps here, a kick there! Hehehe.
M.T Dog: Yo. you liked then ending then? Yay! I always try to stop the chapter at a good spot. There are some stories I've read, that just randomly end out of no where! Not a cliffy. It would be just a normal unsuspensful conversation and then it's like "Poof! To be continued!" lol. About the rumor. I suppose you're right, but I never said I was gonna stop, I was just implying that I had planned on writing a naruto fic with my favorite pairings from that particular cartoon, which I have! Chapter 1 was put up last night. It's gonna suck! -does a jig- Thank you for the love! I love you! And about the dream. I sat in first periods all the way through 3rd period trying to come up with the perfect scary dream, and I had soo many different thoughts and I couldn't figure out what to do, so I just started it from when he woke up so people could just think whatever they wanted. Eheh..
01-FAD3D: Not dead indeed. Uh. Thanks for the compliment! -akward silence- Probably not many more chapters. I was thinkin about doin' a sequel to this story, but I gotta come up with some angsty and attention grasping plot first!
Nikkler: Ah. You make me feel so much better. Glad I could put a smile on your face! -starts to sing: You are my sunshinnne, my only sunshinnnne when you're not happpyyy my skies are grey..' -cough cough- ehehe thankies! -takes a bow-
Kaeleer: OMG POWER! (Acts excited even though I talked to you like 15 minutes after you reviewed chapter 20 and that was like a week ago. Ahah?) Dancing on Akito's grave is very very tempting, but alas, I have morals. No dancing on dead people for Kuu! -sighs- Aw. You're too nice to me! We are definately equals! -puts on Naruto forehead protector- We shall fight as equals as well! -lightning strikes and a wave crashes in the background-!
Sam I Am: You and Kaeleer both lost power. You poor guys! If it happens again, feel free to come to my place and borrow my computer! Lol .Trilogyyy! I would really like too, if only I coudl come up with a good storyline for it. Rofl. There are probably only one or two real chapters left, and there will probably be a fluffy happy chapter afterwords so no one kills me for my depressing stories. lol.
Moonlit Sonata: Well, Hello Jessi-chan. Fancy meeting you here! -cough cough- Uh. Sorry, you don't have to thank me fore answering your reviews, I enjoy it very much! Glad ya like it, sayonara Koushi-chan!
And I'm hella tired, so this chapter will probably be pretty short. (Sew me, most of the chapters have been long enough up til now!) Besides, this is the second chapter I've written and updated today. That's like a record for me. xD
...Chapter 20...
Kyo finished buttoning up his shirt. He sure as hell wasn't going to go as far as to wear a suit to Akito's funeral, even if he owned one. So, instead he was wearing his usual khaki pants and a nice button up black shirt. That was 'dressy' in his book.
He may not have looked it on the outside, but Kyo was going crazy. He was so nervous about this occasion he thought his chest was going to explode due to his rapid heartbeat. Haru had told him there's nothing to be worried about a countless amount of times. If that was the case, then he shouldn't be worried, right?
Of course, the ox would be going with him. That thought alone was enough to make him feel better, but he still couldn't get the restless feeling out of his body. He'd been dreading the funeral since he learned about it from the dog. Yeah, he could choose to just skip out on it, even though he was expected to be there along with the other 12 members of the zodiac, but he was the cat.. Half of the probably didn't want him there in the first place.
And that was why Haru had been so dead set on not going. Not just because he didn't want to be there because of Akito, but also because he didn't want anything to happen to Kyo either. He was sure that many of the family members who know what actually happened would blame the cat, just because they could. He didn't want to put Kyo through anymore torment.
But Kyo wanted to go. After all Akito had put them through, he'd be damned if he missed the guys funeral! After going through this, it would finally be over. Akito would be gone and they would finally get to relax. They wouldn't have to be paranoid and constantly be suspicious. They would be able to live like normal again.
That was why he was going.
Haru however, was being very overprotective of the neko. He apparently thought that since Kyo had been so out of it when he'd been somewhat incompacitated, that now he couldn't stand-up for himself and needed a bodyguard. Kyo couldn't even walk into the kitchen without Haru being two steps behind him!
Or maybe Haru just loved Kyo that much? So much he couldn't bare to be over a foot away from him at a time?
Yeah right!
It had been kind of cute at first.. Innocent Haru constantly following him wherever he went. Kyo had even jokingly paused while he was walking a couple of times, just so Haru would bump into his back, since he never payed attention while he was walking. But when it got to where Kyo walked out of the bathroom and Haru was leaning against the wall waiting for him to get done, that's going a bit over the line..
Wouldn't you think so?
Kyo couldn't help but smirk at the ox's actions the day before. Sure. The white haired teen was a tad bit possessive of him after all that had happened..But He didn't have to go as far as threaten Shigure's life for no reason.. Okay..It wasn't for no reason, but still..
Kyo had been getting some milk in the kitchen, and naturally, Haru was right there.
And in came Shigure with his cheeky little smile and his loose robes practically hanging off of his body. (The perv.) His attention snapped to Kyo, who had just gotten done drinking his milk.
"Oh, Kyo.. You have a milk mustache, would you like me to get that for you?" Shigure had asked with a playful grin. He hadn't even gotten to move two steps before Haru had jumped at him and scooped him up by his robes with a hard glare.
"If you even touch him I'll chop you into little pieces starting with your toes." He threatened in a malicious voice. Shigure paled at the statement and had completely avoided them for the rest of the day..
"What are you smirking at?" Haru asked as he entered the room. Kyo started, his jumpyness returning.
"Uh. Nothin'. I was just thinking." Kyo answered with a frown as he looked over the white haired teen. "Aren't you supposed to be getting ready? We're leaving in.." Kyo glanced at the clock. "about 15 minutes."
"I'm ready. This is what I'm wearing." Haru replied with a blank expression, indicating that he was serious. He was wearing a pair of black pants and a regular black t-shirt, along with his usual necklaces and a couple of bracelets around his wrist. Definately not something an ordinary person would wear to a funeral.
"You're going to wear that." Kyo stated more then asked, with an amused look.
"Yup." Haru answered with a small and devious grin. "I told you I wasn't dressing up, no matter how much you'de like it."
"Yeah?" Kyo said, running his index finger along the collar of the shirt. "Well, I like this too, but.." He drawled, bringing his mouth closer to Haru's ear, his hand now tugging playfully at the hem of his shirt. "I like it even better on the floor."
"Well, that can be arranged, if you play your cards right.." The ox replied, lifting a hand to rest on the nape of the redheads neck. He leaned in, their mouths only millimeters a part..Just as their lips barely touched, the door to their room opened, effectively ruining the moment. Haru sighed dejectedly and dropped his arms to his side, glancing expectedly over his shoulder with a look that said 'someone better be hurt, or dying..'
"Ano, we're ready to g- Errr. Did I interrupt something?" Tohru said, embarrassed. She couldn't tell if she had or not since Haru had his back toward the door, blocking her view. Kyo leaned to the side a bit so glance over his shoulder, since Haru had decided not to move from where he was standing.
"Nah. Are we leavin'?" He asked wearily. Tohru nodded.
"Okay. We'll be right there." Haru told her. Tohru nodded once again and turned, shutting the door behind her.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Haru asked in a quiet voice, once they were alone again.
Kyo stared at him for a moment, as if contemplating backing out, but nodded. "Yeah, let's just get this over with."
Haru smiled reassuringly and gestured for him to lead the way, which the neko did, then followed him out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
The ceremony itself wasn't too bad. It was outside, so it was a good thing the weather was nice. Yeah it was pretty damn boring though, and Haru yawned a couple of times, earning him a stern look from Hatori, to which he just shrugged. It wasn't his fault he was about to fall asleep, was it?
Everyone was wearing black suits and dresses. (Except for Haru and Kyo, pretty much, and of course there were a couple of people who wore dark robes instead. (Kazume and Shigure, they're just lazy and didn't want to go out and buy or rent an expensive suit! Poor Shigure probably wouldn't want to wear a suit ever again, after being told he looked like a 'talk show host' with one on..)
The whole time they sat there, listening to the priest speak, Kyo could feel people looking and glaring at him. Silently accusing him. He did his best to ignore it, but just the feeling and knowledge of it gave him goosebumps and made him feel even more uneasy then he already did. It took all he had to keep himself from turning around and getting out of there as fast as possible.
Haru noticed the older teens unease and absently reached down and grabbed the neko's hand in his own, giving it a light squeeze to let the cat know he was still there for him. Kyo relaxed a bit at this gave the ox a weak smile.
Once everything was over, they all remained outside, some members of the family silently conversing with one another while others remained silent. Kyo crossed his arms over his chest impatiently, ready to leave. He'd come and now he just wanted to go before anything troublesome happened.
Of course, he spoke to soon, a few minutes later Kureno stalked up to the redhead with a deep scowl on his face.
"This is your fault you know.." He accused. Kyo uncrossed his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. He wasn't very intimidated by the rooster, so he could say whatever he wanted about him.
Haru, who'de been away talking to Momiji and Kisa, saw the confrontation and hurriedly made his way back to his kitten. He knew Kyo could probably handle whatever the Akito's little lapdog could say, so he just stood protectively behind the neko, ready to move at any moment.
"If only filth like you hadn't been born into this family, this wouldn't have happened.." He spat. Kyo inwardly flinched at the words, but that was it. He didn't say anything, or even move. Most of the people outside had directed their attention to the cat and the rooster by now. Haru was glaring death at the older man by now, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. It was taking him everything to keep himself from punching the guys face in for talking to Kyo like that! Akito's minion or not, he didn't give a flying fuck!
"We should've taken care of you when we had the chance. Instead of giving you the pleasure of living in that room." He continued. "No one would have even cared..Except for that stupid ox, but it's okay, we could have taken good care of him too."
Haru stepped forward, intent on knocking the guys lights out, but before he knew it, Kureno was stumbling back and falling on his ass, his face swollen from where Kyo's fist had hit. There was a few gasps from the small crowd that had formed. Kureno stared up at the redhead in shock.
"If you go as far as to even think about coming near me or Haru again, the last concious thing you'll see is my fist." Kyo stated maliciously, glaring at the man. Kureno stood up and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself and growled in frustration before turning and stalking off in the direction of the main house.
"Are you okay?" Yuki asked as he approached.
"Fine." Kyo answered, rubbing his sore fist.
"Come on, we're leaving." Hatori stated, walking past them toward the main gates with Shigure in toe. Tohru gave Kyo a smile before following them with Yuki right behind her.
"Hey..Wait!" Haru called. "Don't I at least get to kick his grave a couple of times..?" Hatori paused in his walking for a moment, but then continued, completely ignoring the ox.
"Damn. Then I came for nothing after all..Kyo gets to punch Akito's manslave and I don't even get to stomp on his headstone.." Haru pouted to himself for a moment then turned back to Kyo, who was looking off into space, and extended his hand with a grin.
"Well? You comin'?" He asked in a soft and sincere voice.
Kyo smiled and took the ox's hand.
"Yeah. Let's go home.."
.The End.
Yaay. Sappy ending, gotta love it! Hmmm. Now, I was thinkin' about a sequelto this story..But I don't know what to do. Should it be a happy fic, or should I go for more angst? Up to you guys, take a vote! HAPPY- ANGSTY Go now! FLY FLY!