Disclaimer: You know the drill...

Japanese to Know:

Naze - Why
Itadakimasu - Said before eating
Ittekimasu - I'm off
Itterashai - See you later/when you get home
Ne, Tohru-kun wa - Hey, where's Tohru-kun (in this case, anyway.)
Yoroshiku - Regard me (kindly) (males typically use this 'cause it's not very polite)

Chapter 5

Rivalry

Hokage stood and pulled Shigure roughly into the room, forcing the door shut. "Don't you dare call me that here!" he snarled, bristling.

The Dog was appalled. "How much of yourself do you want to keep hidden, Kage-kun?"

"All of it!"

"Naze? There's nothing wrong with you!"

"Everything's wrong with me! I don't belong here, you know that!"

Shigure shook the boy. "So you belong in the cold rain to die? You belong in the dark where no one knows you exist? In your unforgiving mind?"

"The less people know about me, the better!" He pushed Shigure away and glared at him. "And, yes, I belong in the cold rain!"

"No, you don't! You belong here, with me!" He pulled Hokage to him and held tightly. "I'm your brother. I'll protect you."

"Yea, you do such a great job of that," Hokage snapped, eyes beginning to water.

Shigure gripped the boy tighter. "I tried, Hokage, I really did. We all tried. But in the end—"

"In the end you failed to protect me! You let him put me in a cage! You left me! You stopped fighting! You stopped caring!" He bit his lip to keep from crying. "You gave up."

"I never stopped caring. Everyday I tried to rescue you. We all tried. But Akito was angry and irritable because you didn't love him back. We did all we could."

"Liar! You could've broken in! You could've done so much! But you gave up!" Tears fell freely now; he no longer cared. "You let him mark my life with death. How can you say that you did all you could?"

Shigure sighed and released the boy. "I can't win, can I? You'll never trust me like you once did, will you?"

Hokage wiped away his tears and went to the door.

"Where're you going?"

"You're hungry, aren't you?" With that, he left.

"Breakfast's ready!" Hokage called, bringing out steaming bowls and plates. He placed them on the table and went back in for more.

Kyo and Yuki came in cautiously, used to hearing Tohru's voice announcing food. When Hokage came out of the kitchen once more with food in his arms, they stared at him curiously. But the new classmate paid them no mind.

"Well, don't just stand in the door, eat before it gets cold," Shigure said, ushering the two in.

"It's been a while since I've had some of Hokage's meals," Hatori murmured, coming in with Haru and Ayame.

"What was that, Haa-san?" Ayame cooed, sitting.

"Hm? Oh, nothing," Hatori said, seating himself.

"Itadakimasu!" they all said before beginning to eat.

While the group was busy, Hokage slipped away with a bowl of soup. He went upstairs and found Tohru's room, entering silently. He gazed at her bandaged face and arm, wondering if it hurt. That was stupid, he decided, because he knew it did. It had only been a few years, after all, since he had been that banged up.

"I wonder what happened," he murmured, setting the bowl on her nightstand.

"He didn't mean to," Tohru whispered.

He stared into her blue eyes.

"It was my fault. I got in the way. I tried to stop them from fighting."

"Who?"

"Hatsuharu-san and Kyo-kun."

"Kyo-kun was there? Hm, I didn't see him."

"He felt bad." She winced. "And I think he blames himself for not protecting me."

Hokage thought for a moment. "Which Animal is he?"

"Kyo-kun? He's the Cat."

The boy chuckled. "No wonder he couldn't protect you."

"Do you not like the Cat either?"

He shook his head. "It's not that I don't like him. The Cat just has fate stacked against him. And let me tell you, it's a really high wall."

"Still, you doubt his abilities," Tohru continued, trying to sit.

Hokage pushed the girl back down. "Look, you," he huffed, growing angry, "I only doubt him because I've seen the wall. I've tried to climb it. And it's impossible. If that damn Cat does make it over, I'll congratulate him myself. But as long as he's at odds with that damn Rat, he'll never make it." He sat on the bed beside her and took up the bowl. Dipping out a spoonful, he held it to her lips. "Now, shut up and eat."

"Ittekimasu!" Yuki and Hokage called from the door. Kyo had already started off.

"Itterashai!" Shigure returned, poking his head out.

Catching up to the Cat, the three hurried to school. When they got there, Hana and Uo stopped them.

"Ne, Tohru-kun wa?" Hana asked.

"She's sick," Kyo lied, trying to go around.

Uo grabbed him. "I don't believe you."

"Not my problem!" the Cat hissed, pulling away.

"Ah, let's ask Haru-kun and Momiji-chan what happened to Tohru-kun," Hana suggested, noticing the two boys running up.

Uo looked up. "Oi, Momiji-chan!" she called, waving him over.

"Hai!" the boy piped, coming to a stop.

"Tohru-kun wa?"

"She's sick!" he answered without skipping a beat.

"Haru-kun?"

Haru looked at Momiji. "She's sick."

"Yuki-kun?"

"Sick."

"Kage-kun?"

Hokage locked eyes with Uo. "Don't worry about her so much. She's in good hands. She'll be back to school in no time."

The Yankee looked at Hana. "What do you think?"

"I believe Hokage-kun," she said, closing her eyes. "He sends good waves."

Uo shrugged. "All right, whatever." She looked towards the school. "School's gunna start soon."

"Uo-san," Hokage started, "what's your name?"

"Uotani Arisa."

"Hana-san?"

"Hanajima Saki."

The boy nodded. "Yoroshiku." He brushed by the group and went inside.

"Such a strange boy," Hana mused, staring after him. "We don't even know his name."

Yuki nodded. "That's right. Perhaps I'll ask him later." They all entered the school in time for the first bell to ring.