Fruits Basket
Beginnings and Endings
Chapter 6
Kyo stood at Kazuma's door soaking wet. Tiny raindrops ran down through his orange hair as he paused a moment with his hand outstretched to knock on the door. Something in his gut told him to stop at that moment. As he stared at the wooden door he could hear his master's voice along with one other. He couldn't hear them to well, but Kyo knew that Kazuma left open a window in the back all the time. He quickly ran to the back being careful to not make to much noise and to stay out of sight. Kyo crouched down behind a pile of firewood and he slowly peeked out from his hiding spot to see that the window was still open. With a light grin he sank back behind his hiding spot to listen to their conversation.
"The weather sure has gotten rather rough today. This storm is a long one too, I hope Kyo is getting plenty of rest," Kazuma said. Kyo managed a light smile, he was happy that his master held some concern for him unlike his real father.
"Your head is stuck in the clouds Kazuma. Soon the school year will end and the cat will be locked up. He'll get plenty of rest then."
"I hardly like to think of it like that," Kazuma quickly replied back, "There's still time, Akito."
Kyo's eyes widened to the sound of Akito's name. No one in the zodiac including him could ever go against Akito. Just standing in front of him made Kyo feel sick to his stomach, but there was something about him that made Kyo feel like submitting. Kyo had heard Akito say once or twice that he was god of the zodiac animals just like it said in the old tale. What made Kyo's gut wrench even more is that he may be right and if he was then there was no chance for Kyo or anyone else in the zodiac family to stand up to him. Kyo heard the door open and he looked out from his hiding spot to see Kazuma wishing Akito off. The young man had his unusual smirk on his face as he got inside his car. Kyo wanted to smack that smirk right off his face, but that was hardly realistic. Kazuma just stood there watching the car drive down the road. Kyo saw his chance and he ran out from his hiding spot over to Kazuma.
Kyo drew back his fist and thrusted it forward at Kazuma. Kyo's fist was fast but Kazuma was just as fast if not faster. His own hand shot up and blocked Kyo's attempted punch. He smiled down to Kyo as he gently pushed his hand away, "What a wonderful surprise. I'm amazed you actually walked the entire way here."
"It wasn't easy, master."
"I can see. You are soaked from head to toe, come inside. It looks like rain again."
Kazuma stepped inside while Kyo followed behind. Kyo sat down in the sitting area while Kazuma brought him several towels and blankets to wrap himself in. He took one of the towels and began to slowly dry off his hair. Kazuma sat down on one of the fluffy cushions as he poured some warm tea for Kyo, "You skipped school?"
"I needed to speak to you about something. I didn't want to wait after school, plus if I did everyone would just bother me about it. I didn't want to get anyone involve."
Kazuma nodded with a soft smile as he took a sip of tea. He knew that Kyo was talking about Tohru. The girl cared so much for everyone that she would have probably insisted in going with Kyo. Kazuma was surprised Kyo was being considerate of her feelings, though Kyo did fail to realize that Tohru was probably worrying herself sick over him by now. Kazuma guessed Kyo couldn't be sharp in all areas of life, "You came here to speak about the book and scroll, am I right?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"The original cat spirit is stronger when it rains even though it saps you of your strength. You know why I gave those to you?"
"To learn about the original zodiac members," Kyo said like he was answering a school question.
Kazuma chuckled lightly, "I suppose that would be one reason, but there's something else. The past can teach us a lot. You need to witness what happened so long ago. You'll find the answer to all your problems once you do."
"I don't see how that's possible. Why don't you just look at the scroll and book?"
"It can only be read by you. Have you asked anyone else to look at it?"
"No...I guess I haven't. Sorry master for being so forward, its just I'm a bit overwhelmed is all."
Kazuma patted Kyo's shoulder lightly, "Take your time then. I know time is tight, but if you lose your composure, then you already lost your last chance."
Kyo bowed his head, "Thank you."
Kazuma past Kyo a plate of burn food, "You don't need to be so formal."
Kyo looked at the food with a twisted face, "I can see you still need practicing in your cooking skills."
The two laughed together lightly as the storm outside rumbled with lightning and thunder once again. Kazuma set his bowl door as he glanced towards the door, "I believe we have another visitor. Kyo, please go look outside for me, while I go get some blankets and warm another pot of tea."
Kyo wasn't sure if Kazuma was expecting someone, but he shrugged to himself lightly as he walked over to the door. Kyo was still a big sluggish, but he managed enough to walk around. He pulled open the door and he stepped out into the doorway. As he looked out into the gloomy forest he saw someone he would have never expected to see there. Tohru was wrapped in a heavy jacket gripping her umbrella tightly. She was looking around at first, until she saw Kyo standing in the doorway. Her face was overwhelmed with relief as she ran towards him, "Kyo!"
Kyo still couldn't believe his eyes as she came running towards him. At first he thought she was going to try and embrace him and he was rising his hands up to stop her, but she grabbed one of his arms and held onto it.
"Kyo, I'm so glad you're ok. I was worried you were hurt somewhere or sick in this weather."
Kyo was trying to say something, but he just couldn't make the words come out. He finally stopped trying and patted her head lightly, "I'm...sorry."
Tohru looked up to him as she listened to what he had to say. Kyo was looking away, but he was still speaking to her, "I should have said something I guess. I just wanted to do this on my own. Sorry that I worried you."
Tohru smiled up to him, "I'm sorry I worried so much. Kyo is strong, I should have known you would be ok."
Kyo's eyes widen slightly as he used his free hand to cover his light blush. Kazuma walked over the two with his soft smile spread across his face, "Tohru, what a pleasure for you to be here. Come, lets warm you up. I brought some blankets and tea."
"Oh, thank you very much. It's really raining out there," Tohru said as she let go of Kyo's arm. Kyo took a step back so Tohru could get by without transforming him. He glanced to Kazuma who was saying something to Tohru. Some how Kazuma knew Tohru would come looking for him. Kyo wished he had Kazuma's insights on things. He really did admire his stepfather. Kyo shut the door lightly as he joined the two back at the table.
Kazuma gave everyone their tea cups, "I called Shigure to tell him you'll both be staying over for tonight."
"Oh no we couldn't!" Tohru began to say, but Kazuma shook his head.
"I insist. The storm is quiet bad right now. I wouldn't want any harm to come to you. I have an extra room for you Tohru and Kyo can sleep out here."
"Oh, thanks..." Kyo mumbled as he leaned his head against the table.
"Ok, well then I guess we can just enjoy ourselves for now," Tohru said with a small cheerful smile.
Kazuma nodded, "That's the spirit."
"Kill me," Kyo said as he slowly slid off the table.
Kyo lead Tohru up to the spare room carrying some blankets for her. Of course Tohru was chasing after Kyo, insisting he was doing too much for her.
"Kyo..."
"Stop it already! It's no trouble. I don't want you grabbing the wrong blanket and catching a cold ok?"
"Oh...thank you!" Tohru said with a grin a light blush crept across her face.
Kyo caught her blush from the corner of his eye and he found he found himself flush, he was so flushed though that he suddenly transformed due to the sudden height in emotions. Kyo fell down under the blankets as his orange cat self while Tohru stood there confused on what just happened, "Gah! Kyo, what happened?!"
Tohru dug under the blankets for him while Kazuma walked up, "Oh, what happened here?"
Tohru picked Kyo up under his arms and held him up in front of Kazuma, "He transformed all of a sudden. I didn't touch him, I swear!"
Kazuma smiled lightly and he covered his mouth from laughing. Kyo narrowed his eyes at him, giving him the 'not a word' look.
"Well, I'll carry the blankets for you Tohru and I will also get you settled for the night. Kyo, how about you wait for me in the main room? I'll bring your cloths."
"Fine," Kyo said in an angry tone as Tohru placed him back down on the ground gently. He ran off as fast as he could into the other room.
Kazuma began to pick the blankets up while Tohru helped, "I hope Kyo isn't too angry."
"Oh, don't worry. He's just embarrassed is all. Come let's get you settled."
A few minutes later, Kazuma came walking into the main room looking for Kyo. He didn't see the boy there, "It's just me Kyo. Tohru is asleep."
Kyo peeked out from his hiding spot. He was back to his normal human self and he needed his cloths that Kazuma had. Kazuma threw his clothes over to him and Kyo quickly got dressed.
"Kyo, will you be warm enough out here?"
"Yes, master," the freshly dressed Kyo said as he laid on the ground, "I think I can handle sleeping out here. I did sleep on the roof sometimes at Shigure's house."
"Kyo, once you return to read the book perhaps you should share it with Tohru-"
"No!" Kyo quickly shouted, "I don't want her involved."
Kazuma stared at him with a calm look, "Why?"
"You know why! Akito is why! She is already involved too much with his family...and I don't want her any closer to me," Kyo said as he turned away from Kazuma, "I'm the cat after all. I have the worst luck of all. I don't want to hurt her."
Kazuma got up to go to his room to sleep but he said one last thing to Kyo, "If you truly cared you would risk the chance. Perhaps you are afraid that you are not strong enough to stop what may happen. You view Akito just like the other cursed members...you view him like a god, someone you can't go against. Maybe you should have more confidents in yourself."
Kazuma walked away slowly incase Kyo wanted to comment but he didn't hear a peep out of him. Kyo remained silent because what Kazuma said was true and there was no way in denying it. Kyo shut his eyes as he thought to himself as he dozed off, "Maybe I will be the first...this time."
Beginnings and Endings
Chapter 6
Kyo stood at Kazuma's door soaking wet. Tiny raindrops ran down through his orange hair as he paused a moment with his hand outstretched to knock on the door. Something in his gut told him to stop at that moment. As he stared at the wooden door he could hear his master's voice along with one other. He couldn't hear them to well, but Kyo knew that Kazuma left open a window in the back all the time. He quickly ran to the back being careful to not make to much noise and to stay out of sight. Kyo crouched down behind a pile of firewood and he slowly peeked out from his hiding spot to see that the window was still open. With a light grin he sank back behind his hiding spot to listen to their conversation.
"The weather sure has gotten rather rough today. This storm is a long one too, I hope Kyo is getting plenty of rest," Kazuma said. Kyo managed a light smile, he was happy that his master held some concern for him unlike his real father.
"Your head is stuck in the clouds Kazuma. Soon the school year will end and the cat will be locked up. He'll get plenty of rest then."
"I hardly like to think of it like that," Kazuma quickly replied back, "There's still time, Akito."
Kyo's eyes widened to the sound of Akito's name. No one in the zodiac including him could ever go against Akito. Just standing in front of him made Kyo feel sick to his stomach, but there was something about him that made Kyo feel like submitting. Kyo had heard Akito say once or twice that he was god of the zodiac animals just like it said in the old tale. What made Kyo's gut wrench even more is that he may be right and if he was then there was no chance for Kyo or anyone else in the zodiac family to stand up to him. Kyo heard the door open and he looked out from his hiding spot to see Kazuma wishing Akito off. The young man had his unusual smirk on his face as he got inside his car. Kyo wanted to smack that smirk right off his face, but that was hardly realistic. Kazuma just stood there watching the car drive down the road. Kyo saw his chance and he ran out from his hiding spot over to Kazuma.
Kyo drew back his fist and thrusted it forward at Kazuma. Kyo's fist was fast but Kazuma was just as fast if not faster. His own hand shot up and blocked Kyo's attempted punch. He smiled down to Kyo as he gently pushed his hand away, "What a wonderful surprise. I'm amazed you actually walked the entire way here."
"It wasn't easy, master."
"I can see. You are soaked from head to toe, come inside. It looks like rain again."
Kazuma stepped inside while Kyo followed behind. Kyo sat down in the sitting area while Kazuma brought him several towels and blankets to wrap himself in. He took one of the towels and began to slowly dry off his hair. Kazuma sat down on one of the fluffy cushions as he poured some warm tea for Kyo, "You skipped school?"
"I needed to speak to you about something. I didn't want to wait after school, plus if I did everyone would just bother me about it. I didn't want to get anyone involve."
Kazuma nodded with a soft smile as he took a sip of tea. He knew that Kyo was talking about Tohru. The girl cared so much for everyone that she would have probably insisted in going with Kyo. Kazuma was surprised Kyo was being considerate of her feelings, though Kyo did fail to realize that Tohru was probably worrying herself sick over him by now. Kazuma guessed Kyo couldn't be sharp in all areas of life, "You came here to speak about the book and scroll, am I right?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"The original cat spirit is stronger when it rains even though it saps you of your strength. You know why I gave those to you?"
"To learn about the original zodiac members," Kyo said like he was answering a school question.
Kazuma chuckled lightly, "I suppose that would be one reason, but there's something else. The past can teach us a lot. You need to witness what happened so long ago. You'll find the answer to all your problems once you do."
"I don't see how that's possible. Why don't you just look at the scroll and book?"
"It can only be read by you. Have you asked anyone else to look at it?"
"No...I guess I haven't. Sorry master for being so forward, its just I'm a bit overwhelmed is all."
Kazuma patted Kyo's shoulder lightly, "Take your time then. I know time is tight, but if you lose your composure, then you already lost your last chance."
Kyo bowed his head, "Thank you."
Kazuma past Kyo a plate of burn food, "You don't need to be so formal."
Kyo looked at the food with a twisted face, "I can see you still need practicing in your cooking skills."
The two laughed together lightly as the storm outside rumbled with lightning and thunder once again. Kazuma set his bowl door as he glanced towards the door, "I believe we have another visitor. Kyo, please go look outside for me, while I go get some blankets and warm another pot of tea."
Kyo wasn't sure if Kazuma was expecting someone, but he shrugged to himself lightly as he walked over to the door. Kyo was still a big sluggish, but he managed enough to walk around. He pulled open the door and he stepped out into the doorway. As he looked out into the gloomy forest he saw someone he would have never expected to see there. Tohru was wrapped in a heavy jacket gripping her umbrella tightly. She was looking around at first, until she saw Kyo standing in the doorway. Her face was overwhelmed with relief as she ran towards him, "Kyo!"
Kyo still couldn't believe his eyes as she came running towards him. At first he thought she was going to try and embrace him and he was rising his hands up to stop her, but she grabbed one of his arms and held onto it.
"Kyo, I'm so glad you're ok. I was worried you were hurt somewhere or sick in this weather."
Kyo was trying to say something, but he just couldn't make the words come out. He finally stopped trying and patted her head lightly, "I'm...sorry."
Tohru looked up to him as she listened to what he had to say. Kyo was looking away, but he was still speaking to her, "I should have said something I guess. I just wanted to do this on my own. Sorry that I worried you."
Tohru smiled up to him, "I'm sorry I worried so much. Kyo is strong, I should have known you would be ok."
Kyo's eyes widen slightly as he used his free hand to cover his light blush. Kazuma walked over the two with his soft smile spread across his face, "Tohru, what a pleasure for you to be here. Come, lets warm you up. I brought some blankets and tea."
"Oh, thank you very much. It's really raining out there," Tohru said as she let go of Kyo's arm. Kyo took a step back so Tohru could get by without transforming him. He glanced to Kazuma who was saying something to Tohru. Some how Kazuma knew Tohru would come looking for him. Kyo wished he had Kazuma's insights on things. He really did admire his stepfather. Kyo shut the door lightly as he joined the two back at the table.
Kazuma gave everyone their tea cups, "I called Shigure to tell him you'll both be staying over for tonight."
"Oh no we couldn't!" Tohru began to say, but Kazuma shook his head.
"I insist. The storm is quiet bad right now. I wouldn't want any harm to come to you. I have an extra room for you Tohru and Kyo can sleep out here."
"Oh, thanks..." Kyo mumbled as he leaned his head against the table.
"Ok, well then I guess we can just enjoy ourselves for now," Tohru said with a small cheerful smile.
Kazuma nodded, "That's the spirit."
"Kill me," Kyo said as he slowly slid off the table.
Kyo lead Tohru up to the spare room carrying some blankets for her. Of course Tohru was chasing after Kyo, insisting he was doing too much for her.
"Kyo..."
"Stop it already! It's no trouble. I don't want you grabbing the wrong blanket and catching a cold ok?"
"Oh...thank you!" Tohru said with a grin a light blush crept across her face.
Kyo caught her blush from the corner of his eye and he found he found himself flush, he was so flushed though that he suddenly transformed due to the sudden height in emotions. Kyo fell down under the blankets as his orange cat self while Tohru stood there confused on what just happened, "Gah! Kyo, what happened?!"
Tohru dug under the blankets for him while Kazuma walked up, "Oh, what happened here?"
Tohru picked Kyo up under his arms and held him up in front of Kazuma, "He transformed all of a sudden. I didn't touch him, I swear!"
Kazuma smiled lightly and he covered his mouth from laughing. Kyo narrowed his eyes at him, giving him the 'not a word' look.
"Well, I'll carry the blankets for you Tohru and I will also get you settled for the night. Kyo, how about you wait for me in the main room? I'll bring your cloths."
"Fine," Kyo said in an angry tone as Tohru placed him back down on the ground gently. He ran off as fast as he could into the other room.
Kazuma began to pick the blankets up while Tohru helped, "I hope Kyo isn't too angry."
"Oh, don't worry. He's just embarrassed is all. Come let's get you settled."
A few minutes later, Kazuma came walking into the main room looking for Kyo. He didn't see the boy there, "It's just me Kyo. Tohru is asleep."
Kyo peeked out from his hiding spot. He was back to his normal human self and he needed his cloths that Kazuma had. Kazuma threw his clothes over to him and Kyo quickly got dressed.
"Kyo, will you be warm enough out here?"
"Yes, master," the freshly dressed Kyo said as he laid on the ground, "I think I can handle sleeping out here. I did sleep on the roof sometimes at Shigure's house."
"Kyo, once you return to read the book perhaps you should share it with Tohru-"
"No!" Kyo quickly shouted, "I don't want her involved."
Kazuma stared at him with a calm look, "Why?"
"You know why! Akito is why! She is already involved too much with his family...and I don't want her any closer to me," Kyo said as he turned away from Kazuma, "I'm the cat after all. I have the worst luck of all. I don't want to hurt her."
Kazuma got up to go to his room to sleep but he said one last thing to Kyo, "If you truly cared you would risk the chance. Perhaps you are afraid that you are not strong enough to stop what may happen. You view Akito just like the other cursed members...you view him like a god, someone you can't go against. Maybe you should have more confidents in yourself."
Kazuma walked away slowly incase Kyo wanted to comment but he didn't hear a peep out of him. Kyo remained silent because what Kazuma said was true and there was no way in denying it. Kyo shut his eyes as he thought to himself as he dozed off, "Maybe I will be the first...this time."
