I know some people might thinking 'where the hell is the shounen-ai? I came here for some Ha-sanxAki-san action!' Well, all good things to those who wait. I am drawing this out, to prolong that sweetness when it comes (and it will come!). I'm starting university as of right now and probably won't be able to update as much as I want. But I'm having so much fun writing this…it gives me a nice tingly feeling…that I'll most likely update frequently!
"What the hell is Hatori doing here?"
Shigure shoved his friend inside, who had been standing rigid in the doorway. "Inside, Ha-san! Oh, and don't be so rude, Kyo-kun. Shall I make us tea?"
Hatori let himself be pushed to the table. "Yes. Please." He pinched the bridge of his nose: he wasn't feeling very well.
"Dammit, Shigure! Why won't you answer my question?" Kyo glanced at Hatori, saw his pale, tired expression. "And what the hell's wrong with you?"
"All good things to those who wait, Kyon-Kyon." Shigure swanned back into the room. "Water's boiling!"
"Whatever. And don't call me Kyon-Kyon." The Cat stomped out of the room.
Both adults relaxed. Or at least Shigure did.
"Come now, Ha-san. I don't like to see my little seahorse so upset!" He giggled for a minute at the mental image. "I mean…cheer up. Akito's not here, you know."
"When he finds out I've left," Hatori muttered, running agitated fingers over the table's shiny surface, "I…I don't want to think…I don't know what to do…" He slid his hands over his face.
"Something like this needs to be handled with tact and care," Shigure declared. "You're in a very delicate situation. Akito probably hates you now, he's hurt that you hurt him and he feels betrayed. Not that I know what he thinks," he added delicately, over Hatori's small moan. "But…based on what you told me, Ha-san…Akito's more likely afraid of you."
"What?" Hatori peeked at the Dog. Shigure leant back.
"Well, the adults of the Juunishi….and even healthy young 'uns like Kyo and Yuki…we're all stronger then Akito, you know. Physically. He's sick, weak. If we wanted too, we could hurt him pretty badly and he wouldn't be able to stop us."
Hatori stared.
"I'm just saying. But we daren't. We couldn't…that's the curse. Akito is our God. We can't touch him…until you did, Ha-san. In a way, you defied the curse. You went against him, you hurt him."
"I didn't mean to -"
"I know." Shigure raised a hand. "You're his doctor. You would never intentionally hurt him. It's probably against your Hippocratic Oath." He giggled until Hatori glared at him. "I mean, the balance of power has been shifted. He's afraid now: that you might do it again, that the other Juunishi might rise against him. He's hurt and confused, and panicked. See?"
The Dragon gazed at the smiling face opposite, and wondered what kind of submerged mind could so easily imagine the feelings and wants of crazed boy-god. He wondered where the lolloping dog part of Shigure ended and the grinning hyena began.
"If you're so certain, Shigure, why don't you write a book on the psychology of a bitter, twisted adolescent with a God-complex instead of trashy romance novels?"
"Obviously I wouldn't make as much money, Hari!" Shigure beamed. "Anyway, no one can know what Akito's really thinking."
Hatori didn't say anything. Shigure watched his face carefully, then played with the sleeve of his yukata.
"Why don't you tell me what's really wrong, Ha-san?"
"What?" The doctor looked up suspiciously. "I have!"
"Oh hurting Akito was a large part of it, I'm sure. But are you going to tell me he didn't deserve it?" Hatori inhaled sharply. "Well, didn't he?"
"He suffers enough. I should know. I've witnessed it first-hand for a long time."
"No doubt, Ha-san. But back to my point: I can tell something else is wrong. Something that may or may not have to do with our young God. Something – oh, the tea!" Shigure leapt up and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Hatori to sweat and wonder.
I keep forgetting. I have to be careful around Shigure. He's my friend, but he's also Akito's watchdog. He's closer to Akito then any of the other Juunishi.
The subject of his thoughts came back in and set two steaming cups down. "What was I saying? Oh yes! Hari, something's eating away at you. You're normally so stoic but I can see it now: a tightness around your mouth. Oho, now you look guil-ty!"
"Stop it," Hatori managed. "Stop it, Shigure."
"I'm only trying to help. I thought you wanted me to help."
Hatori took the sweltering china cup, letting the heat burn his palms, felt his own burning face. If he told Shigure his feelings about Akito, the Dog would have a field day. His palms stung.
"Are you going to drink that, Ha-san, or just stare at it?"
He took a sip: camomile.
Shigure opted for another tactic. "So, is Akito really sick? You know I worry about him too, Hari. How has he been since…the incident?"
"He…" the Dragon exhaled, "Today he spent too long outside in the sun. He has heat-sickness…"
"Oh dear. Tell me what happened." Shigure's brown eyes never left Hatori's face.
"Well, you know he likes to be in the garden. He was by the pond for a while. Lying down on the grass. I'll be surprised if he won't get sunburn, he was pretty exposed, he had his yukata off because of the heat. He lay there for twenty minutes." Hatori blew on his tea. "Then he woke and I recognised the first signs: disorientation, limited mobility, dizziness. I had to call for Kiro: my friend who's also a doctor, he's taking care of Akito now…and…" He stared at Shigure, who wore an odd smile, one hand under his chin.
"So you saw all of this, Hari. Yes?"
"Yes…"
"In other words," Shigure licked his lips, "you were watching Akito."
Too late. Hatori reeled. "I…I was just worried…"
"Yes, I know." Shigure stirred his tea with obnoxious glee. "I could tell. You gave me specific details: how long he was out there, his symptoms, how exposed he was…very medical. Very methodical. I praise your skills of observation. All that remains is why."
"I told you I was worried." The doctor felt a hot lump where the tea sat in his stomach.
"Of course. Very concerned: you're a doctor. But I could think of many reasons why you would be watching him, Ha-san."
Yes, the Dragon thought, I bet you could.
"Guilt, obviously, would be number one. Now that you're no longer at his side, you still feel the need to carry out the roleplay of doctor and patient, ne? Maybe? And you were worried, as you said. Maybe – what's the replacement doctor's name? Kiro? – you were jealous you were supplanted. And so you watched Akito-san, still protective of what you thought was yours. And speaking of jealousy…"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Thankfully, I do. Jealousy is linked to a common emotion we all experience at some time, Hari. I know you have."
Hatori looked away. He wanted Shigure to shut up shut up shut up and not say what he dared not think of.
"The answer is…love, Ha-san!" Shigure put both hands under his chin, batting his lashes and making kissy sounds. "Looove, makes the world go 'roooound….looove…"
"It's not like that!"
He slammed a fist down on the tabletop. The teacups shuddered. Shigure looked at Hatori's clenched fist.
"Oh careful, Hari, I don't want you to start breaking my house too."
And to the Dog's utter surprise, the doctor broke down.
Hatori tried to stop the haemorrhage of tears choking his eyes, but couldn't. All the week's stresses and mistakes that he had tried to bottle inside him spilled out. He put his sobbing head on the table.
"I don't…I can't…be without him...I don't know w-why I'm like this…he hates me…I don't…"
Gentle hands held his shoulders. "I'm not blaming you, Hari."
"But it's m-my FAULT…"
"It isn't."
Shigure gave him a gentle hug. "Sorry if I seemed like an SS interrogator, Ha-san. You know me: I like to get at the truth. I'm not judging you."
Hatori shook his head. It doesn't matter because it's over. It's all over. For me.
"I'm so tired…" he whispered.
"Shhhh." Shigure gently coaxed him upright. "Tell you what: you can sleep in my room with me tonight, and I promise I won't make any moves. Not when you're like this, anyway." He giggled, and saw a wan smile tug at the Dragon's mouth.
"That's it, Hari, smile! It's never as bad as you think. You should have a nap. I'll wake you for dinner if you want, you must never miss a chance to sample Tohru-kun's delicious cooking! Besides me, it's the most delectable thing in this house…"
Hatori let the Dog's idle chatter and firm touch guide him past blurry rooms and shifting stairs. He didn't even object as Shigure removed his shirt and wrapped him in blankets, and lay there in a cosy cocoon of warmth. At last, his mind was Akito-less.
He stared at a crack in the ceiling until its edges became uncertain, and he let its rift yawn and swallow him utterly.
---
Alone.
This time, I'm really alone. Hatori isn't here.
Normally I can feel his presence somewhere in the House, even faintly. I can sense all of my Zodiac. When I try and concentrate on Hatori: nothing. No bluegreen eyes watching me, concealed. No small invisible indications he has been here: no clean, clinical smell that his coats smell of, no lingering trace of cigarette smoke. No clacking footsteps in the corridors.
My Dragon has gone.
But I know he feels me. At all times, he and the other Juunishi feel that faint tug, that miniscule longing to be with their God. To be with the center of their universe. That is the Zodiac bond, when the cursed come together. Together, we're not afraid.
I am afraid.
Our bond holds us. Just as they secretly, horribly desire to be with me, I want to be with them. I hate them, but I need them. I want all the Juunishi to be gathered around me. I give them the life they feed off of.
I am afraid…because the bond I had with my Dragon is damaged.
Still I have some comfort: the more he tries to pull away, the tighter our connection stretches. But I fear now it is so taut it's beginning to fray.
I am waiting for the day it will snap.
In short, I am afraid.
Akito growled and bit at his pillowcase. He was still lying in bed. He felt smothered. Heat-sickness was still with him, even after Kiro had put him into bed and opened the windows to send cool air over his feverish body. He couldn't get up without falling over and his head exploding in little white dots.
Nausea and dizziness were his bedmates. The god had trouble keeping liquids down so Kiro had quietly suggested he set up an IV to regulate his fluids. Akito had responded 'No, not unless you want to be blind in both eyes.' 'Then,' the unruffled doctor had replied, 'I won't be able to care for you and you'll die of dehydration.' Akito had given in.
Just keep me alive so I can live another hellish day.
He pummelled his pillow. He was bored and bedridden.
And when he was bored, he schemed.
There's no reason I can't have Hatori running back to me. He has to obey me, after all. Akito smiled humourlessly. He sat up slowly.
"Minekura!" he yelled, "Bring me the telephone. I want to make a call. Then stay in the room: I'll need you." This speech left him breathless and the god remained silent. He waited and watched while Kiro set up the telephone. My trusty Ox. Heh.
"Stay here a minute. I'm going to call Shigure and see what exactly is going on." Akito eyed Kiro's face callously. "I like what you've done with that bandage, it suits you." He punched out the numbers.
After 4 rings, Tohru picked up. Akito let his face fall forward. Of course, I had to get HER.
"Shigure," he growled, interrupting Tohru's bright hello. "I need to talk to him. Now."
"O-Oh, Akito-sama!" the girl stuttered. "I think Shigure-san is working on his manuscript –"
Akito clawed at his mattress in rage. "I don't care what he's doing, you idiot girl! Bring him here!"
"Y-yes!" Tohru went in quest of the Dog.
"Stupid little bitch," the boy muttered, breathing heavily. He started coughing. Shigure came on the line.
"Akito?"
"Yes…Shigure." He struggled to regain control of his breathing and injected as much malice as he could into his voice. "Shigure…it's become known to me that yesterday you took my Dragon from the Main House. You didn't see me, Shigure. Nor did Hatori. You both just left, without wondering about the consequences."
"I heard you were far too ill to receive visitors –"
"Don't you lie to me, Shigure." Akito let the words come in one poisonous breath. "I have a feeling. I have a feeling that everyone in your house, including Yuki, is in perfect health and there's no reason for Hatori to be there."
"He wanted to visit me."
"I thought I told you not to lie."
The Dog paused. He could not disobey the words of his Master.
"He wasn't feeling very well, Akito-san. Rather then be a burden to your replacement doctor who is taking care of you full-time, he thought he'd sweat it out here instead."
Akito paused. That did not sound impossible.
But.
"Let me speak to him, Shigure."
"Eh?" The Dog sounded a little panicked. "He's sleeping right now, Akito-san…"
"Then wake him up."
"I…yes, Akito-san!" Shigure practically wailed. He went off, and Akito was left listening to a hissing line. He raised black eyes to Kiro. "When I'm done, I'm going to let him talk to you. Just for a couple of minutes. You assure him that everything here is fine. You don't want him to worry, do you?"
Ignoring the look on the doctor's face, Akito drew the receiver back as a very pale, very fragile voice whispered, "Akito?"
The god closed his eyes. "Hai, Hatori. I haven't heard your voice for a while."
"What…is it?"
He sounds ill. Perhaps…I shouldn't...
"I…" Akito found himself momentarily speechless. Then he cleared this throat. "Hatori…you can't run from me forever."
There was a gasp from the line.
"I was very disappointed when I found out you left without consulting me." Akito felt his malice creep back. "I heard you're not feeling well. Stay at Shigure's house for as long as you need to recuperate. But, Hatori, I'm warning you: every day you're gone, the more someone else will suffer because of it," he hissed. "Be aware of that, Hatori. And now…I will let you speak to your friend. I'm sure you two have a lot to say."
He handed the receiver to Kiro, giving him a look as he did so. It said, Little by little. Remember that.
Hatori felt a small comfort hearing his friend's familiar, lowing voice. "Hari?"
"Hai." Hatori blinked. Kiro sounded odd.
"Are you all right, Hari?"
"Yes. Yes. It's just a cold, I think. I'm sorry for doing this, Ki-san."
"I told you I'd take care of it. Are you having fun at Shigure's house?"
The Dragon frowned. Kiro was sounding more and more strained.
"Yes. It's so loud it's impossible to be bored. How…" he paused, "is Akito doing?"
"Still heat-sickness, I'm afraid. And possible bronchitis. I've ordered some new medication."
There was a silence. It screamed of things forbidden to speak of.
"How…" Hatori said slowly, "are you, Kiro?"
"Me?" There was a slightly panicked pause. "Fine. Fine, Hari."
"Good."
"Hatori –" Kiro said suddenly, and the Dragon heard Akito say something in the background. Kiro started again. He sounded defeated. "Ha-san. Listen to me, ok?"
"Sure, Ki-san."
"I want…I want you to get better. Don't come back because you think you have to – or because others try and make you. Your health is more important, Hatori. I've known you for a long time, and you're too selfless for your own good. So…come back only when you want to, all right?"
The Dragon gripped the receiver. "I don't understand. Why are you saying this? What's going on there, Kiro? Is it Akito? Is he - "
"Please," Kiro said desperately, "just do it, ok? And don't return because you think you have to…whatever you may hear…"
"What…?"
Muffled sounds. Then Hatori heard Akito's hoarse voice. "Time's up, Hatori. I may call you again later, then again I may not. I'm very ill, you know, and I can't waste my breath on people who've deserted me. Goodbye." Click.
Hatori realised he was shaking.
Every day you're gone, the more someone else will suffer because of it.
He knew what Akito meant. But it seemed too monstrous, and he didn't want to think about it.
---
Akito lay back on the bed, angry with himself. I let him slip away. Why? What's he worth to me?
But then Hatori had sounded ill. Or incredibly exhausted, or both. Even if the god had summoned his Dragon back, it wouldn't have been much fun with him moping and being miserable. Stoic Hatori was what Akito was used to.
Anyway, I can't forgive him for what he's done. He cradled his wrist.
Unless…you beg me, Hatori. Get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness, for repentance from your God.
And I will make you feel sorry, Hatori. I'm sure you're eaten up with guilt for hurting me but that's not enough. I want you to cry tears of blood, bile, sweat. Enough to pay for the sacrilege thou hast committed.
Akito slid his lightless gaze over to Kiro, who was a motionless silhouette by the window. Awaiting orders.
I'm doing some pretty terrible things to innocent people, Hatori. But their fierce loyalty to you is such that I might think you're worth it. Unlike Kana, this one is strong. Like a bull. He doesn't crack under pain. I'm eager to experiment some more.
I want to see your expression when you see his face again. I want to eat it up.
Akito was pleased with his thoughts. There was so much work to be done.
---
It was 5:00.
This meant 'dinnertime' at Shi-chan's house, because dinner was served on the basis of Kyo, Yuki, or Shigure opening the fridge and saying 'Man, I'm hungry. Do we have any noodles?' and this was Tohru's cue to jump up and start bustling around making meals for everyone.
This is what Hatori observed. Apparently the Sohma men here never made anything for themselves. Hatori also observed that none of them were capable of eating without arguing. It was some sort of psychological reflex.
"Oh Tohru-kun, this meal is delicious as always," Shigure sang. "You're going to make someone a very proud husband…I wish it was me!"
"Haah!" Kyo shouted, as Tohru started thank-you-ing, "You pervert Dog, she's too young to be your wife! And she's not a wife anyway!"
"I was merely praising Tohru-kun's domestic skills. Don't be so jealous, Kyo-kun, just because you can never think of any compliments to say to her…"
"Shut up!" The Cat crammed his mouth full of noodles to avoid answering any more questions. He glowered at the Dog. Stupid Shigure.
"Honestly, do you always have to set that Cat off?" Yuki genteely popped some rice into his mouth.
"Hey, I didn't see you coming to her defence, you damn Rat –"
Tohru scooched closer to the quiet doctor. "I never got a chance to ask how you like your food, Hatori-san! Or what your favourite meal is! And if you're going to be staying here for a while, I'd like to know what I can make you…" She blushed.
Hatori smiled. "You really don't need to worry about that, Honda-san. Everything you make is delicious."
"You're too kind, Hatori-san!" Tohru glowed with pleasure. Yuki and Kyo scowled into their bowls.
Shigure elbowed them. "Jealous, are we, because Tohru-kun's all over Hatori-san, or is it because Hatori-san's all over Tohru-kun…heh heh heh…"
Three pairs of chopsticks flung egg at him. "Shut up, Shigure."
Kyo bent over his bowl, picking out leeks. "And what makes anyone think Hatori's staying here? Why the hell is he here anyway, no one's ill…except for Shigure, he's just ill in the head…"
"Tori-san isn't feeling very well," the Dog said delicately, ignoring Kyo's jibe, "and it was thought he should get over it here instead of the Main House, where Akito might catch it…"
"Wait. Akito sent Hatori away?" Yuki blinked.
Shigure coughed. "In a way."
"So who's taking care of Akito?"
"There's another doctor working there now."
"But this all doesn't make sense," Yuki continued. "Hatori never gets sick. He's the Dragon. Something must have happened for him to become that weak. And even if he was ill, why would Akito send him away? I don't think he would. What's going on, Shigure?"
Hatori was suddenly no longer hungry. Akito was right about Yuki. The Rat is sharp, he has good instincts…
"Yuki-kun, don't be so mistrustful. Anyway, Tori-san's going to be staying here while he recovers…do you want to continue staying in my room, Ha-san?" Shigure asked, all innocence. Hatori leaned back.
"Like anyone would willingly stay in your room, Shigure," Yuki muttered.
"Oh I don't know, mousie, I've had a lot of willing people in my bed…"
"Don't call me mousie."
Kyo sniggered. "It's too dangerous for Hatori to be in Shigure's room…"
"Oh, that reminds me…it was what I was planning to do all along…Kyo-kun, thank you for volunteering for you to give up your room for Hatori!"
Silence.
"What?"
"Yes, it is a good plan, isn't it?"
"I never volunteered to give up my room! Shigure!"
"Just until he's better, Kyo-kun. Don't make your sad little kitty face."
"Why, you son of a –" Kyo glanced at Hatori. The doctor was looking away. "Uh…"
"It's all right, Kyo," Hatori replied, deadpan. "I don't mind sleeping in a room with…Shigure."
Dammit! Why does he have to put it that way? "Well…uh…" Kyo was red. "I mean…where the hell am I going to sleep?"
"You can bunk with Yuki. Or me, Kyo-kun! Or even Tohru-kun…" Shigure drawled. "You'd like that wouldn't you?"
"Like hell I would!" The Cat racked his brains, trying to think which was worse, Shigure or Yuki. Of course he didn't want to sleep in a room with Tohru! That was something Shigure would do. "I-I'm going to camp out here, on the floor! Yeah!"
Tohru put both hands to her heart. "That's so touching, Kyo-kun! You're giving your room to a sick person and giving up your comfort as well…it's so, well, nice!"
"Yeah. Well. You don't have to get all mushy about it. Geez." Kyo picked at his sleeve. "It's only temporary." He shot her a little glance.
"Ah, young love." Shigure sighed.
Hatori rose and took his dishes into the kitchen as the argument struck up again. He paused in the doorway. "Thank you for the meal, Tohru."
"Oh, it was nothing!" Tohru glowed again, looking after the doctor's receding back.
Hatori washed his own dishes – he knew it would mean less work for Tohru – and put them away. He then washed down some aspirin, and slowly, heavily made his way upstairs to Kyo's room. In the doorway, he hesitated. Then the doctor went in, removed some clothes lying on the bed and lay down. There were old cracks in the ceiling.
The Cat's room was not as messy as he expected. Compared to Yuki or Shigure's room, it was pretty sparse. It's the way of the martial artist, to not have too many distractions, Hatori reflected. There was a pile of dirty clothes, a few books on the shelf, some kung-fu movies, and the sloppily-made bed. On one wall was a small martial arts poster. That was all.
There was a dull pounding in his temples. He closed his eyes and it lessened. In the darkness behind his eyelids a pale face emerged.
What are you up to, Akito?
I don't understand…why you let me stay. There's probably a lot of reasons. And a lot of answers. Maybe I'm asking the wrong questions.
Akito…
Hatori felt wetness on his cheek. He couldn't forget. He couldn't forget the gloss of Akito's hair, the cold precision of his movements, those heartless, lightless eyes.
Footsteps pounded and Kyo burst into the room, looking wild-eyed, panting. He jerked as he saw Hatori on the bed.
"Wha…! Oh. Sorry." The Cat slid his eyes from side to side. "I forgot you were staying…" He scuffed one dirty sneaker on the floor, then saw the tears. Kyo felt his jaw drop. Hatori…crying?
"Uh, what, I mean, what's wrong?"
Hatori put a hand over his face. "Nothing. What did you want? I can leave for a while…" He sat up on the bed.
"No. Um. That's ok. I was just so freakin' annoyed with that damn Dog and Rat that I decided to come in here and just cool off. But I'll go somewhere else…" He glanced at the Dragon again. Geez, he looks awful.
"I just came to get this." Kyo lugged a sleeping bag from his closet. Hatori watched the Cat hesitate, rubbing his bracelet against his wrist.
"Whatever it is…I'm sure it's not as bad as you think." Kyo looked away. "I mean…it's not like the end of everything, right?"
Hatori smiled at the man trying to speak through the boy. I'm being selfish. He bears the curse of the Cat. His life is a dozen times worse then mine is…I'm almost the lucky one. And he's standing there, fidgeting, trying to comfort me…in his own gruff way.
Thank you.
Thank you, Kyo-kun.
"Maybe you're right, Kyo. Things have just been so hopeless lately."
"You wanna hear hopeless? Listen to Shigure." Kyo blew some orange bangs away. "I swear, I'm gonna take him to the pound one day. Yeah. Well, whatever. See you, Hatori." He nodded, then left, closing the door behind him.
Hatori let himself fall back on the bed.
But I still can't forget about you…Akito.
---
9:00
The grounds of the Sohma estate were silent. Akito stood at one his windows, looking out onto the black nightscape.
"He can't forget me, you know. Even before all of this happened…he can't forget me. I marked him. He fell in love with a girl – a Sohma. It didn't work. I made sure of that. It was her fault that he got hurt."
He turned and looked back into the room. "Just like it's his fault that the same injury happened to you."
Kiro didn't respond.
"Heh." Akito curled his lip. He turned back to night sky, wild with stars. His voice was soft.
"He feels me, all the time. My presence. So do all of the Zodiac. They long to be with me. Secretly, in their deepest hearts. Oh, they hate me, and they whine and snivel, but they wouldn't be here if it weren't for me. There is life…it streams from me to them, like an invisible umbilical cord. They just can't say it. They can't say to my face, You're the reason I'm alive.
"It is my curse."
Akito coughed heavily. His yukata felt unbearably itchy and hot.
"I can't stand it…I can't stand how they live, how they run, play, and breathe around me…leeching my life from me…I can't stand it!" He snarled.
And sagged. Kiro stepped forward, looking anxious, but Akito shook his head.
"They're all…so beautiful," he whispered, all venom gone. "All of them. That is one of the gifts of the Zodiac. Because they're not genetically normal, they're graced with beauty. No human can compare. Yuki…my Yuki…glows like a prince. All my Juunishi…are so beautiful and precious…like jewels…I love them and I hate them.
"They are beautiful so as to hide the beasts that lurk inside. But my Dragon…you know my Dragon…know his fine ivory skin and eyes like glacial lakes…so green and chilled. He's the most beautiful of them all. Like an Arctic snowscape, remote and frozen. I love him.
"Oh Kami, I love him."
He crumpled into Kiro's arms. The doctor felt his forehead: hot and damp. He carried the trembling god back to the bed, removed the hot yukata and slipped the slight body under the sheets. Kiro turned to go when a hand grabbed him.
"No…you can't leave me…"
"I'm just going to get you some medicine, Akito-sama."
"Make a servant get it. Don't you leave me…not…now…" Akito bent the trembling, dark blossom of his head. "D-don't…stay…"
The doctor was not unkind. He let the warm, drowsy boy snuggle up to him. Akito placed his head on Kiro's shoulder and looked into the tawny eyes. His own glittered fever-bright.
"I could tell…straight away…that you were an Ox. Your presence…so solid and warm. Even now," Akito murmured, struggling to keep his head upright, "even now…I can see horns coming from your head."
The god was delirious, Kiro thought. He summoned a servant, and had Akito swallow two little blue pills. He wondered of the bi-polar nature of this boy who trembled and muttered in his arms. It's not me that you need.
Akito fell into a doze. When he awoke in the dark someone was holding him.
"Hatori?" he breathed.
"No," lowed a voice. "Kiro."
"Oh." Akito let his eyes drift shut again, surrendered his body to that comforting warmth.
My Dragon…is the most beautiful of them all.
So kawaii! I love Aki-san…and Hatori… I even love Kiro. Obviously, because he's mine. I've done a little drawing of him and Ha-san together…it's so cute. Well I think so anyway. If only you guys could see! Oh well. Review…or no updates, grrr.