A/N: Please review, srry for the long wait.
Chapter 16
He wants to wake up but keeps falling even deeper into the vast darkness. He chokes on the heavy air around him and tries to cling to anything stable. He can smell Shigure near by and prays that he can reach the man before the darkness separates them forever. He hears himself calling for Haru and relaxes when he feels the teen's arms around his form. He scrambles to safety only to feel cold limbs holding him back and black eyes staring down coldly at him. "Why do you forsake me, Kyo? I've always loved you. I only want to protect you form all the evil in the world," Akito says cradling his body in his arms and he stares up fearfully at the Head while his arms wrap around his neck pulling the older man closer. "You do love me, darling. I know you do. You deserve better than a stupid, slow ox and a conniving rat. We deserve each other," Akito says in a tone that could reassure a python and calm it to his side.
Lips curve into a smile when he spots Kyo writhing against the bed in pain and he enters the room casting a sympathetic look at the other two teens. "How did you get out? Who let you out? Why are you here," Hatori demands while glaring icily at the sickly boy and smirking Akito says, "Easily, my darling dragon, Kureno released me so that I can care for my little kitty." He sits down on the bed ignoring the bitter glare from the ox and with a smile he pets Kyo's head saying, "Hello, darling. You know how much I love you. I just couldn't stay away knowing you were in pain. Let me erase your pain." The neko tenses crawling into Haru's lap with a strangled cry, but still he remains asleep.
"Hatori, do something to help him. He's burning up and he's crying form the pain. Kyo doesn't cry for a small reason," Shigure pleads watching the neko rip his shirt off as if it is scalding him and silently Yuki kneels next to the bed. "Kyo, listen to me. He can't hurt you; he has no power over you. Your curse is your blessing. Haru and I love you. You'll never understand how much I need you, how much I've always needed you," Yuki says caressing the kitten's face with his cold fingers and lovingly he smiles down at the sleeping cat. "Keep talking to him, he's calming down. I can't take him to the hospital till he calms down to a safe level," the seahorse says while Ayame smiles then says, "They look so adorable together. They've finally found their true love within each other."
"I'll love you forever, till the day you die," Domenic said and innocently he peered up at the man asking, "Isn't it till the day I day?" Flashing his brilliant smile, Domenic stole his heart and said, "I'll love you even after my death until you die and we can be together again." He smiled and closed his eyes as Domenic played with his hair. "Say it again, please," he begged opening his eyes once again to stare at his new love. "I love you, Kyo," the man whispered and he smiled while wrapping his arms around the man's neck saying, "Thanks."
He loves me, he really does. Maybe I should call him and go back to him. He'll take care of me if I behave and give him what he wants. Haru doesn't want a used item and Yuki doesn't need me to stain his reputation.
"Kyo, I love you. I want to marry you," a small Yuki said clutching his tiny hand and he smiled at his companion. "I love you, too, but I already promised to marry Haru today. I'll marry you, though, tomorrow," he said hugging the crying boy.
Hoarsely Kyo cries out his name and he hugs the teen tightly whispering, "Kyo, honey, I'm here for you, okay?" Gasping for air, Kyo clings to Yuki's cold body while remaining firmly rooted in Haru's lap and shyly he says, "I'll marry you tomorrow, don't cry. Please don't be mad, I do love you." Closing his eyes, he breathes in Kyo's spicy scent and says, "I'm not mad, Kyo. I never meant to hurt you. I'm sorry, honey. I don't hate you." Confusion settles in Haru's grays and he asks, "What are you talking about?" Shaking his head, Yuki smiles weakly as he soothes the neko by rubbing his back and says, "I wanted to marry him, but he thought that I meant in the game. That day when he was dressed as your husband I told him so and he didn't understand. In my childish grief I told him I hated him and he ran away before I could apologize. He didn't treat me the same after that, he told me that I was just the stupid rat and he shouldn't have ever trusted me. Around you he pretended that we were still good friends." Sighing Yuki hugs Kyo closer and kisses the neko's forehead.
Anger floods his body and he grabs silver hair harshly causing a gasp to escape the perfect rat. "You three are forbidden to see each other. I told Kyo that you'll only hurt him, but he didn't listen. You both fill his ears with lies forcing him to betray me," he yells pulling Yuki away form the cat and pushing him onto the ground while Haru holds onto Kyo tighter. "You wont separate us," he says flatly as Yuki stands up to glare at the Head and rubbing his eyes tiredly Kyo snuggles closer to Haru murmuring, "Love you, Haru. Let's go visit Hari tomorrow." Nodding he watches Shigure leading Akito away as the sleeping neko purrs contently.
His eyes darken as they near his chambers and angrily he pulls his arm out of Shigure's hold snarling, "I can walk on my own. Why have you forsaken me? I've given this family everything, yet all you have given me is this illness that will kill me." Through lowered lashes he looks up at the inu and sighs in annoyance when Shigure's gaze only hardens even more. "They wont last and they'll be heartbroken. I'm only trying to protect them. I love all of my family, even the cat." Nodding the man sits down as he lounges out near the doors leading to the porch. "Shigure, you don't hate me, do you? I know Yuki has abandoned me for that filth, and even innocent, stupid Haru has join their side. My poor, disgusting neko hates me with a passion that only he possesses. I do own all of you, I'm owed that much," he says pouting and gently he gazes at the dog while playing with his robe. "I don't hate you, Akito. No one hates you, we all just agree that you should rule differently," the inu states passively, waiting for the rooster to show up. "You can't put me in that cage again, I wont allow it," Akito says, his voice barely residing over a whisper, and he shoos the inu away with a grim smile as he heads towards his bed.
Nursing his cheek, Haru glares at the sleeping neko cuddled up innocently in Yuki's arms. "He hit me, I can't believe he actually hit me," he mummers, irritation dripping off his words, and Yuki plays with the neko's soft hair saying, "He was having a bad dream and didn't realize it was you." Rolling his eyes, he sits back down and stares in awe at the teens.
…Meanwhile…
Humming happily to herself, Tohru skips down the path to her home with her suitcase in one hand and her bags of gifts in the other. "Oh lord, poor Shigure, his house is a complete mess," she says feeling sorry for the writer. She sets her stuff down in a corner neatly, pulls out her picture, and sighs, "Mother, there's just so much work to do. I hope Kyo and Yuki didn't get into a fight while I was gone." She sets about picking up the mess while regaining her singing voice and letting the wind carry her tune away to the bunnies and birds nestled in the forest. "Soon, this place will be nice and clean, mom. They'll be so happy with me."
"Mama, why can't I go outside and play with the other kids," he asked tugging on her skirt with his small hand and she patted his wrist where the beads were hanging before saying, "You're just so special that I want you all to myself." He sadly watched the white haired boy walk away, but smiled at his mother when she said they had to go now. "Tomorrow can I go play with the other boys? They seem special to me, I'd fit right in." Shaking her head, his mother patted his hand and said, "Darling, they're not as special as you. The cat is extra special." He nodded and followed her to Akito's chambers asking, "Mama, do I know that white haired boy?" His mother looked at him sharply then quickly replies, "No, of course not. Why would you know him? Unless you were sneaking out again, were you?" Shaking his head, his scarlet eyes widening, and he responds, "No, mama. When did I sneak out? I don't remember ever leaving without you. Mama, do we have to go see Akito, he scares me?" His mother gazed oddly at him and he smiled up at her saying, "Haru seemed nice." Her eyes sharpened and she inquired harshly, "He told you his name?" He shrugged at her question and entered Akito's room.
"Occasionally Kyo would remember and when he was younger he ran to either me or Kazuma, it depended on if I was there or not. Kazuma asked me what he should do. The possibility that he'll remember everything without it being in a dream is there and I can only pray that he doesn't hate Aya for it," Hatori says with a depressed sigh while Shigure hands him a cigarette and the inu says, "We can't change the fact that Aya saw what happened but didn't do anything about it." Nodding the doctor leans back and glances over at their beautiful friend that's approaching the room with a brilliant smile.