Chapter 44

TT: Once again, I'm trying something a little different this chapter, so let me know what you think of it.

Now, I have to go back to studying for that maths exam… and that history exam… and that chemistry one, too… So thanks to everyone who wished me luck – I'm going to need it!

Pouasson – I'm not sure whether Akito's going to live or die yet, so we'll have to wait and see. (Now, why can't I find the word 'gros' in my old French-English dictionary?)

SillyLittleNothing – that's because you ask question I have made up answers too yet. :P

Pagegrrl – all things come to an end; trying to make them hang around beyond their life span is generally just irritating.

Klove – Its always nice to know that Eris is popular – the last thing I want is a pure MarySue running rampant in my story!

PurpleAjah – Maybe I'll see about writing up a fun chapter about the time Kyo went to the school counselor. For now, I'll just agree that just before your exams is not the best time to start a fanfic (I've done it, too!)

Leiko Hiroko – Yep, Momiji is 'Hopper'… and 'Bugs/Bugs Bunny'… and probably a few other nicknames as well.

BlueSiver-soul – The pranks… Often I come up with them on the spot. :Sweatdrop:

Once, Kisa had asked Kyo 'Why Eris?'

Why had Kyo allowed himself to be befriended by her – a ghost, with a mischievous streak that had seemed almost sadistic to Yuki at times – why had Kyo allowed himself to bond with her in a way he hadn't bonded with anyone else, except perhaps Kazumi. Why not, say, Tohru? Why Eris?

Kyo had paused to think about the question for a few moments, pondering his own reasonings, before shrugging. 'Because she's Eris, I suppose.'

Eris, who despite being dead, was one of the liveliest people he knew.

Eris, who was energetic beyond even that of Momiji, who had given him the most humiliating nickname in the history of his family.

Eris, who never shut up and who always had one more tune that would get stuck in your head forever.

Eris, who was capable of being the most annoying being on the planet when the mood took her.

Eris, who always seemed to rig or cheat at whatever game they played, no matter how impossible it seemed to be.

Eris, who, since the moment they met, had followed him everywhere (except the bathroom, after one embarrassing incident), no matter what he did to try and get her to leave him alone. Eris, who stuck to him like glue.

Eris… whose loyalty knew no bounds. Eris, whose capability to understand, to accept, to be indifferent to his greatest shames overwhelmed him every time he thought about it.

Eris, who knew when silence was needed, who knew that at times all Kyo needed was to know she'd be there behind his shoulder, like a strange kind of guardian angel.

Eris, whose pranks to Yuki had made him laugh wholeheartedly for the first time in so many years. Eris, whose smile and sense of humor was contagious.

Eris, who knew no fear - because she'd already gone through death, and there was nothing left the world, could show her that she hadn't seen already – and who wouldn't let you be afraid, either.

Eris, whose rage was the most terrifying thing around, whose protection was the most powerful thing he'd ever seen – greater than even the power Akito held over their lives.

Eris, who well and truly lived up to her name as the goddess of chaos, and yet even that was nothing to how greatly she lived up to her duty as a friend.

The one person – or maybe it was one of two, Kyo realized as he thought of his Shisho – that Kyo desperately wished would never, ever change, even the slightest bit. These were 'Eris things'. The things that made Eris, Eris. And that, Kyo realized, he was extremely grateful.

Once, the first cat – whose name had long been forgotten to even he himself – had asked Eris 'Why Kyo?'

Why did she choose to spend time, to befriend, this human. Who would age; perhaps have a family of his own, who would grow old, who would die. Who one day may be forced to shun her to the side so that he could live his life properly. Why did she choose to befriend the cat, who was loathed and hated? Why choose this boy, who was rude, brash, angry at the world, and who was responsibly for Eris' near destruction.

Eris didn't pause, "Because he's Kyo. And that's that!"

Kyo, whose temper was legendary, and whose tongue often caused grief to all parties involved with his rage.

Kyo, who was the cat, and so was scorned by his entire family.

Kyo, who resorted to violence far too quickly, and far too often was beaten by Yuki for doing so.

Kyo, whose stubbornness knew no bounds.

Kyo, who still had only the flimsiest understanding about how chemistry's stoichiometry worked.

Kyo… who was desperately hurting inside, and wore a mask of confidence and, at times, fury to hide.

Kyo, who often seemed to have one of the lowest self-esteems she'd ever seen. But only when no one else was around to see that mask break.

Kyo, who was shunned for no good reason she could see, and whose own family had no qualms with turning his back on.

Kyo, who accepted her without hesitation, despite the fact she was dead, because he had treated her just like he treated anyone alive.

Kyo, whose smile was enough to make up for any words he said in a fit of anger, and whose laugh often seemed to be one of the most beautiful things she'd ever heard.

Kyo, who had cried in her arms when that mask finally broke. Who had let her see him without his mask.

Kyo, capable of being so unbelievably gentle that Eris wouldn't believe it herself, had she not been there when she watch as the cat carefully took the newborn kittens from their dead mother, and hadn't left them or stopped to rest until he'd found another mother cat to adopt them.

Kyo, who had helped and protected her as much as she had done for him, even if he didn't realize it.

Eris had never needed to wonder why, she'd known from the first moment she'd seen Kyo's eyes sparkled with laughter, and seen his soul bared before her in those eyes, reminding her of a precious ruby. Kyo was Kyo, and that had always been enough.

One day, Kyo thought, he would like to ask Akito 'Why him?' Why did he choose to torment and forsake the redhead as he did? Was being the cat really, truly, as horrible as Akito acted as if it was? Why Kyo?

Had Akito heard the question, he would have thought very hard, for a very long time, before finally answer that he didn't know.

Once, what seemed to be a very long time ago, there had been a reason. It had been there, in his mind, whispering whenever he even glanced at the cat's cage. But now, now he couldn't remember. And so the only answer he could give was 'because'.

And, since Akito was Akito, 'because' would have been the only answer he needed to give.

Once, Eris had asked the spirit of the God, as it hovered near death, in the edge of Akito's mind, where it could exists as a separate identity, 'Why.' Why Kyo? Why the cats?

The God had remained silent for a long time, thinking hard and carefully, before answering.

Because the cats were independent, strong, they didn't need him. They had made him feel powerless, because they looked at him with the gaze of a superior, just as they looked to everyone. And the God had wanted to tear that away, make them fear him, make them bow to him. He had only ever half-succeeded.

Because, he supposed, they were cats.

Eris had remained there, reflecting over this answer for a period, before leaving, returning to the cat's side. Leaving the God alone, as he died.