Kimyo: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm glad the response to this story was so good!
Calyco, Megumi's an OC named after one of my favorite voice actresses, Megumi Ogata. When I posted ch. 1, it had actually slipped my mind that FB already has a Megumi. I don't think Hanajima's brother will be in this story, but if he appears, I'll call him MeguChan or something.
Thanks for reviewing also go to Thee Bycth, My Bloody Hell, DannyPhantomLover, midnight-shadows-69, Laurena, Shou-Shou, Captain Lidya, Oracle of Elements, and Talk It Out!
Let's get on with it, shall we?
The Worst of Me
that Akito must have dyed his hair.
It was a bright, crisp morning with a perfect blue sky and only a mild chill in the air. Haru had agonized since before dawn about what to wear to Shigure's house. He'd wanted to wear something special, this was an important day, after all.
If only he'd had time to buy something... and it wasn't like he could borrow something. He'd look like a dorky kid playing dress up in one of Hatori's suits, and he doubted Yuki would be happy to see him in one of Ayame or Akito's outfits. He sure as hell wasn't about to borrow one of Ritsu's kimonos. So he'd wound up wearing his usual ensemble, a black shirt and black leather pants, and the same old scuffed black boots.
Setting off, however, he'd not made it past the gates of Sohma House. He'd been stopped in his tracks by the most unusual sight of Yuki striding up the walkway to meet him. That Yuki had returned to Sohma House was not the bizarre part; it was his appearance.
"... Yuki?"
His smile widened. He kept his gaze fixed with Haru's as he continued to close the distance between them. He was wearing a juban, lingerie meant to be worn under the kimono, and it was clearly a woman's juban. It was lavender, with silver flecks and long sleeves. It was undeniably beautiful, but Haru found something about the look in Yuki's eyes frightening.
... So cruel... He looks just like Akito...
Yuki didn't slow down or say a word. As Haru began to recoil, Yuki seized him and pulled him into an embrace.
"Wait!" Haru put both hands up against Yuki's chest to stop him. "What are you doing? Akito--"
Yuki sneered. "He can go to hell."
Moving Haru's arms aside, he closed in. Haru's eyes widened as he felt Yuki's hot, wet tongue licking a trail up the side of his neck, to his earlobe. He blew into Haru's ear-- the sensation sent a euphoric bolt from Haru's earlobe, down his spine, to his--
"... aaahhh..." Haru closed his eyes, his knees weak.
"Haru, you smell good... You taste..." another lick-- "... so good... mmmhh... I want to make love to you..."
"Get the hell away from him, you DAMN RAT!"
They turned and there stood Kyou, who had just entered the gates. Yuki wrapped his arms tighter around Haru's neck and laughed as Kyou charged them, his eyes blazing white with rage, huge veins popping out all over his head. His cat ears and tail were out, and fluffed straight up.
As Kyou got closer, Yuki gently pushed Haru aside and assumed a fighting stance. "Come on, Stupid Cat. Make a fool of yourself yet again."
"HYAAAAHHH!"
Kyou rushed forward fist first-- Yuki deftly stepped aside, then chopped Kyou on the back of his neck. Kyou's eyes widened as he stumbled to an unsteady halt. He kept his face hidden as he steadied his breath.
Yuki narrowed his eyes, which made him look eerily like Akito. "Don't tell me you're already spent." He snorted and loosened his stance. "But then, what else could I expect from such a hot-headed idiot?"
Kyou turned to look at Yuki, and the rage in his eyes made Haru jolt. Goosebumps popped out on his arms-- he felt like he'd just looked into the demonic eyes of Kyou's true form.
"I'll kill you." It wasn't his usual empty threat. Haru could tell that Kyou was simply stating a fact.
Yuki didn't hide his smile. Without even bothering to kick off his geta sandals, he took a stance and beckoned.
Kyou's teeth were bared, and beads of sweat stood out on his face.
He took a moment to look at Haru, who was standing on the grass. Kyou's features softened for a moment as they gazed at each other. Haru blushed. There was affection there.
Kyou...
He thought again of Akito. He looked around and saw no one, but Akito could appear in one of those big picture windows at any moment. "Stop. You have to stop fighting."
They didn't take notice of him.
This fight was different. This wasn't like their usual clash, or even anything like before Tohru had entered their lives, when they'd beaten each other bloody on an almost daily basis.
Shit! They're honestly trying to kill each other! "Stop!"
He ran between them, and they stopped.
Yuki stood tall and proud, scarcely a hair out of place. That sneer did not leave his face. He was looking past Haru, at Kyou.
Kyou was on one knee, dripping sweat. He was panting for breath.
Yuki hooked his arm under Haru's elbow and addressed Kyou. "He belongs to me now, got it? Don't interfere."
Kyou jumped to his feet.
"He's not your property, Kusou Nezumi!" He looked at Haru and his countenance became desperate.
"Don't go with him, Haru! Don't you remember how cold he's been to you all these years? He'll break your heart. Don't let him do it." He paused. "I'm the one who loves you. I just didn't have the guts to say it, or even acknowledge it."
Yuki got in Kyou's face. "Look, the Baka Neko has learned a fifty-cent word." He closed in, forcing Kyou backwards. "Stop embarassing yourself. The cat is nothing. You will always be inferior. Don't waste Haru's time."
Haru couldn't begin to figure out what the fuck was going on. Did I screw up the spell? Even if that accounts for Yuki, why is Kyou-- He gasped. "Akito."
Yuki and Kyou turned to look in the direction Haru was looking in. There was Akito, standing in one of the picture windows, smiling wickedly at Yuki.
Did he see?
Before Haru could react, Yuki was sprinting across the grass, straight to the window. As Haru and Kyou watched, Yuki climbed up the side of the house, jumped into the window, and pounced on Akito. Both vanished from sight.
Haru moved to run into the house, but Kyou pulled him back.
"What are you doing? They're going to kill each other!"
Kyou laughed, "Let'em."
As they crashed to the tatami mat floor, Yuki landed on top. He threw the first strike across Akito's cruel, reptilian face.
Akito raised his arms in defense. Yuki seized his wrists and pinned his arms to the floor. His face was over Akito's now, just short of touching.
Yuki relished the sight of Akito's wide, fearful eyes.
"What's wrong, Akito? Aren't you pleased to see me?"
Akito glowered, a sheen of sweat on his forehead and upper lip, his breath coming fast. "Get off of me."
Yuki tightened his grip on Akito's wrists, making him cry out.
"I just came here to thank you, Akito, for all the lessons you taught me..."
He leaned down and whispered in Akito's ear.
"... in that little... dark... room."
"Let go, goddamnit!"
Kyou had an iron grip on Haru's upper arms. There was rage and hurt written all over his face.
"Why the fuck are you chasing after that damn rat like everyone else? Do I have to look like a fucking GIRL to get you to notice me? Is that it, Haru? It's not enough that I'm the only one that FUCKING LOVES YOU?"
Haru stopped struggling and looked Kyou straight in the eyes.
"Did you eat one of the riceballs I took to Yuki yesterday?"
Kyou's grip and expression both softened and he shot a guilty glance down at the grass. "I was jealous. I want you for myself."
Haru shook his head. "Kyou, this isn't the real you--"
"Yes it is! This is the real me! I love you, Haru!" His grip had tightened painfully as his voice rose.
"No, listen to me! You're under a spell-- mmph!"
Kyou had both arms around Haru's neck, one hand on the back of his head, pulling them together in a deep, hard kiss. Kyou tilted his head and used his tongue to pry Haru's jaw apart, forcing his way in. Haru squeezed his eyes shut, fingers curling around the cloth of Kyou's T-shirt in a white-knuckled death grip.
Haru struggled and broke the kiss, trying to pull away. "We can't. We have to help Yuki."
Kyou screamed. It was a long, guttural cry of rage.
"Yuki! It's always Yuki! He's perfect! He's beautiful! How could you do this to me? Hyaahh!"
He punched Haru hard across the cheekbone. Haru half spun and fell to the grass. He caught himself on his elbows, then turned his head. Kyou stood over him, teeth bared, eyes blank with a bestial rage, a fiery red aura emanating from him.
"I love you so much and YOU DON'T EVEN FUCKING CARE!"
thwak-thud! thwak-thud! thwak-thud!
Yuki first grabbed a handful of Akito's bangs and pulled his head up a few inches from the floor, then punched him in the nose/eye area. As he did this he let go of Akito's bangs, so his head would snap back and smash into the floor. Akito's body had gone slack.
"So..."
thwak-thud!
"This is the almighty head of the Sohma Clan."
thwak-thud!
"I can't believe..."
thwak-thud!
"I wasted all those years..."
thwak-thud!
"Fearing you..."
thwak-thud!
"Looking up to you..."
thwak-thud!
"Hating you..."
thwak-thud!
"Hating you so much..."
He stopped now, short of breath, and looked down upon Akito's bloody, beaten face. Akito wasn't moving, but Yuki could hear his labored breaths.
His slender hands went around Akito's neck. Akito whimpered.
"I hate you..."
The hands tightened.
"-- Nnh!" Akito struggled weakly. His mouth yawed open as he tried to breathe.
"I hate you. I HATE YOU!"
"Stay down, Asshole."
Kyou shoved Haru's face into the grass and straddled the small of his back, pinning him to the ground.
"Kyou, stop! What are you doing?"
"Yuki! Yuki! Everyone loves Yuki! He's so sweet! He's so cute! NNRRRAAUGHH!"
Both of Kyou's fists punched the ground on either side of Haru's head, making him wince. Kyou's body was on him now-- Haru could feel the feverish heat of his cousin's chest pressing down on his back. Kyou's teeth grazed Haru's neck, then closed around the flesh. Haru gasped.
The teeth closed tighter and broke the skin. Haru cried out.
Kyou let go and licked at the blood seeping from the love bite. "Mmmhh... hmmmhh... oishishii da nyaa..."
"Kyou, stop this!" Please, not like this!
Kyou raked his fingers into Haru's hair and yanked, making Haru yelp. He looked helplessly up into red eyes.
"If you don't stop this, I'll go black and things will just get worse. Please..."
Kyou seemed not to hear him. "You'll be mine. I'll make you mine, right here on the grass." He kissed Haru again, harder, then shoved his face down, holding him in place.
He began to move his body against Haru's in a steady sexual rythm. Haru gasped as he felt something hard press against him through their clothes.
"Stop, Kyou!" You don't know what you're doing!
Suddenly, Kyou's body heat was gone. Haru heard him cry out and turned in time to see Kyou hit the grass about fifteen feet away. Then he noticed the new arrivals.
There on the path stood RaChan and Megumi, the bishies from the magick shoppe. Megumi had ditched the kimonos for simple black garb.
RaChan ran and knelt beside Haru. "Oh my gosh, are you alright?"
Before Haru could answer, Kyou had jumped to his feet.
"Who the hell are you?" he screamed at them. "Get the fuck out of here!" He took notice of RaChan.
"Get away from him! He's mine!" He charged.
Megumi waved one of his hands, and an invisible force hurled Kyou backwards and to the ground once again. This time, he was knocked unconscious.
RaChan cringed. "Be more careful! He's a kid, for cryin' out loud!"
Sitting up, Haru became aware of Yuki's voice inside. He grabbed RaChan's arm and pointed at the window. "Inside. He's going to kill him."
"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"
Akito wasn't fighting anymore, but his eyes were open, his brow creased in an utterly hopeless fear, and resignation.
Yuki never took his eyes from Akito's. He wanted to watch as the light in Akito's eyes faded. He wanted to watch Akito die.
So lost was he in this, he didn't notice the sliding doors flying open. RaChan rushed in and pulled Yuki away, prying his fingers from around Akito's neck.
"Let go of me! I have to kill him!"
RaChan held Yuki in a harmless, but inescapable hold. "You need to calm down!"
Akito had slowly backed up on his haunches, coughing and gasping. He rubbed his neck, staring at Yuki with wild, horrified eyes.
Yuki's gaze never wavered-- he bared his teeth in a snarl.
"I'll KILL you! You're DEAD!" he spat at Akito.
RaChan pulled him back and tightened his grip just enough to get his attention. "Listen to me. You're under the influence of a drug. Just calm down. Take a deep breath--"
-- pon!
Lavender clouds filled the room. RaChan waved it all away and blinked down at his feet, where an exhausted gray rat lay amidst the cloth of the juban.
the worst of me
finish