A/N- Thanks for the reviews. Here's another chapter, this one's kinda odd. Odd is good though.
Chapter 9
His eyes sadden as he watches the two teens sleep bathed in the sunlight and he says, "I'll get you, Kyo, even if it means breaking your heart." He plays with his hair and licks his lips before walking away to join the group that had gathered on Hatori's porch. "Is the cat really in there? How dare you allow such filth to contaminate our land," a woman screeches and he shakes his head trying to ignore how pathetic they all sound bicker like children.
Rubbing his temples, Hatori avoids answering their questions and ushers Shigure and Yuki inside as Aya floats through the crowd. The commotion had awoken the neko and now his eyes are level with the red orbs that shout out sadness. The pure look of heartbreak that is unknowingly displayed on the teen's features makes him appear like a young, fragile child. "Are we free to go home, or is part of my punishment being forced to live here," the neko asks quietly and it seems that between the fear Akito had installed in him and the curses the others throw at him have already began to break their neko down. The cat ignores the snake's arms that had wrapped themselves around his body and says, "I'd rather not cause you any trouble, Hatori." It was then that Hatori understood what being the cat truly meant. The neko despite hated, loved and protected those around him. Only the poor cat sentenced to exile felt sorrow for them all in the end. Behind the unruly temper and passionate eyes, resides wisdom.
Quizzically he raises an eyebrow when the doctor envelops Kyo in a hug and he glances at Shigure who's also confused. "I'm sorry," the seahorse whispers, his poised façade breaking giving way to his own sorrow, and reluctantly the neko hugs him back. "What's going on," Haru asks entering the room coming to stand next to Ayame. "I'm not sure," Shigure admits as Kyo gives into the man's gentle petting and begins to purr with delight. "He'll never hurt you again, I'll make sure of that," Hatori promises pulling away to gaze into the neko's sad eyes. Sighing Shigure ushers everyone into the center of the room and motions for them to sit down. He rolls his eyes, but sits down next to the baka neko.
"I know for a fact that our ancestors still roam around here. I've only seen them a few times, but believe me when I say they are not the nicest people," Shigure states and Kyo looks up sharply saying, "Some of them are nice." Nodding the inu pats the neko's head earning him a halfhearted slap and says, "Correct, kitty kat. The cats of our family are unbelievably nice. You see the Head's negative energy disturbs the others. The inu growls at Akito with hatred and disgust that he feared showing while living. The serpent is poised and ready to strike out at him. The dragon stands proudly conveying his distaste while protecting the tiger, the lamb, and the rabbit from the evil that surrounds Akito. The rat has gathered the ox, the monkey, and the horse to his side preparing for battle. Even the rooster reveals his malice towards the Head. However, the neko mourns for us all, for our hating hearts. The cat is the only one that cries for the bitter Head."
Wild eyes glare out the window as he hears the mournful cries of the beast. He had never seen the foul creature yet he knows that it mocks him. He stumbles over to the window and yells, "Stop crying, you pathetic monster!" He feels eyes burning with hatred watching him and he tries to see who's out there. Ever since he had been born, they sat out there watching him. "Akito, what is it that you fear from the sweet neko," a voice whispers caressing his aching body and he says angrily, "Don't mention that vile thing! I don't fear anything or anyone!" His eyes widen as a beautiful figure appears before him. Ruby eyes stares sadly at him and the wind plays with the creature's long, silky, orange hair. The figure before him radiates beauty and sorrow. "I feel sadness for you. You will die before your time, yet there are so many in this world that suffer as you do and they manage to be happy," the man says, his voice a sorrowful melody that pulls at the clamps around his cold heart.
"Go away, please, just go away!" the others burst through the door and stare at Akito as he cowers before the harmless male. "My beautiful Kyo, do you understand why you must forgive them for your curse? They do not know what they do because their fear guides them irrationally. Let your heart swell with love for them," the stranger says and their neko nods approaching the Head calmly. "Akito, I don't hate you," Kyo says sitting down beside the man.
"What is he doing?" Hatori gazes at Shigure and says, "What none of us can do." Sighing Haru scoots closer to Kyo and whispers, "Come on, Kyo, let's go get some food." The neko looks over at him desperately and shakes his head saying, "I have to finish here first." The ox smiles weakly and sits down next to Yuki who mummers, "Baka neko."
Sighing Kyo leans closer to Akito and says, "You may die you, Akito, but you don't have to be stuck in a dark cell for the rest of your life, I do." Tilting his head to the side, the neko smiles sadly and says, "I'm sorry that you suffer, but there are other out there that suffer more than you." He gasps in surprise when Akito hugs him and begs, "Make them go away. I can feel their hatred and he mocks me with his tears." Sighing Kyo smoothes the Head's hair and says, "I can't, they wont listen to me. He doesn't mock you, he's genuinely sad for you."
He holds onto Kyo after the neko had gotten the Head into a peaceful slumber and says, "I love you." The neko nods smiling and tugs him towards Hari's home complaining that he's hungry. "So, do you think he'll change?" The neko looks at him sadly then shakes his head and admits, "One day can't change years of being trained to be a tyrant."