Yuki sat on his bed, staring out the window at the rain, his CD-player on low volume. He had bought the soundtrack from 'Amelie' in an attempt to cheer himself up.
No such luck.
He had been listening to the CD for half an hour, completely tuned out. He didn't notice Kyo walking up the stairs and coming into his room, and not because the music was loud.
"Yo, rat."
Yuki didn't respond. Kyo sighed. Since the previous day, the day of Tohru's funeral, Yuki hadn't acknowledged anyone else's existence apart from the occasional nod or headshake. Kyo tilted his head and looked closer at Yuki. He had been getting gradually paler since Tohru's death, and Kyo hadn't seen him eat anything but a rice-ball. He was also weaker, and Kyo had been consoled by his outburst yesterday, but since then, nothing. He hardly moved, never mind fought with Kyo. Kyo had been getting weaker too, but being in denial to some extent, he chalked it up to not practising enough.
"Come on rat, don't tell me you're pulling a Kisa!"
Yuki was angry, he couldn't deny that, but he just didn't have the strength to do anything.
"Don't… don't talk to me…" he mumbled feebly.
"Oh come on, was that a threat?" Kyo teased. He was genuinely worried now. He had thought that the Kisa remark would've touched a sore spot. If this was his retaliation… Maybe it'd be a good idea to call Hatori...?
"I said don't talk to me, cat! You have no idea how this feels!" Yuki swung around to face Kyo, his face twisted into a look more of desperate sadness than anger. Now that Kyo had a full view of him, he was extremely concerned.
He was stark white, with dark rings under his eyes. His legs were shaking from supporting the weight of his body. His hands were curled into loose fists, which seemed about all he could manage. His breathing was laboured. His face was tear-stained, and it looked as though it was taking everything he had to stay standing and hold back the tears.
The CD finished and there was silence, broken only by the breathing of the two boys.
Kyo took a step forward, reaching out a hand to steady Yuki.
"Yuki, I…" he said quietly, concern plastered all over his face.
"Stop! Don't look at me…" Yuki shouted as he pushed past Kyo and out the door.
Kyo followed him down the stairs and hesitated for only a few seconds before running out into the rain after him.
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Shigure looked out the window after his cousins.
"Looks like I'm on my own tonight." he announced to no one in particular.
He paused. Then his eyes lit up.
"I know, I'll call Aaya!" he cried happily. Kyo was far too pre-occupied and Yuki was too weak to do anything.
Shigure frowned.
Yuki was getting seriously ill. He needed medical attention.
"I guess Ha'ri can come too!" he decided, and began to dial the number for the main house.
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"Dammit!" yelled Kyo. He had lost sight of Yuki, partly because of the thickening forest, partly because of the heavy rain.
"Yuki! Yuki, for god's sake would you talk!"
His last word echoed around the forest. There was no sound but that of the downpour. Then he heard sobbing. He ran in the direction of the faint noise and found Yuki on his knees, his face in his hands, completely soaked.
"It's my fault… it's all my fault… it's because of me that she's... that she's gone." Yuki whispered. It made him feel marginally better to get it off his chest.
Kyo crouched down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's not." he said softly, his voice more full of empathy than Yuki had ever heard it. "It's no more your fault than it is mine." He stood up. "We've been blaming ourselves for something that's not our fault. If we had gone with her, one of us might have gotten killed, and I think Tohru would have hated that more than anything." He turned to face Yuki. "But I think that she'd have hated to see you like this almost as much, Yuki."
Yuki tried not to look surprised that Kyo used his name rather than 'damn rat'. Looking back on the past few days, Yuki realised that Kyo had dropped the 'damn' part. Maybe to try to fulfil Tohru's wish that they become friends…? That would explain it. That must be why he subconsciously didn't want to fight Kyo, either.
That had to be it. It couldn't be anything else, could it?
Kyo held out his hand. Yuki took it and Kyo helped him stand up. Kyo smiled at him. Yuki looked away. It made him uncomfortable to talk to Kyo, but not the same way as before. Then, it was 'my god I want to kill this guy' uncomfortable. Now it was… it was kind of like 'don't talk or you'll ruin everything' uncomfortable.
They started walking towards Shigure's house. Kyo went completely silent. Why had he gone after Yuki in the first place? He hated him! It didn't make any sense…
While Kyo was trying to find a reason for his overwhelming concern for his enemy's well being, Yuki lost his footing and slipped sideways, knocking down Kyo and landing on top of him.
Even though it was dark, and raining heavily, they could see each other clearly. Kyo looked worried, and shocked. Yuki looked… Before Kyo could decide what his expression meant, Yuki slipped down until he was lying on top of Kyo's chest.
"Uhh… Yuki?"
Yuki disappeared in a puff of smoke, and in his place was a little, shivering, light grey rat.
Kyo scooped him up and ran back to Shigure's house as fast as he possibly could.
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Dear Readers,
Hey! Sorry for the delay! I lost my inspiration. But then I found it, and I'm fine now. I should be done with chapter 5 soon. I know what's gonna happen, you see.
Anywho, I'll update as soon as I can!
Thanks for caring!
Thinking of you,
Sammy