Truth?
by Wildfire

This story isn't a nice fluffy story... it's set when Kyou's a kid and about his family.. not a nice fic.
Kazuma-san for his sensei


Kyou stood still as people bustled around him, yet no one touched him. He looks around looking for anyone familiar. This was the annual New Years party; yet he knew no one, and everyone knew what he was. A hand came to his arm, and Kyou whirled around and stared at a small boy with gray hair. Kyou smiled, "Yuki..."

"Come on Kyou, let's go.." Yuki took the other boy's hand. Yuki was seven; Kyou wouldn't be seven for two more weeks.

Kyou let Yuki lead him, "Yuki? Where are we going?" He asked wondering where his cousin was taking him this time. He wasn't really worried about it, just curious.

"Away from here... Hatori showed me a private place, it's a garden and a really nice one. Best of all no one will come looking for us there." Yuki said, and looked back to smile at Kyou.

"Won't Hatori?" Kyou's eyes look around quickly trying to remember the path. Not so much to get out but so he c an go back if he like it; which he figured he would if Yuki was taking him there.

"Maybe, but doubtful." He got to a gate and opened it leading Kyou in before shutting the gate again, "I hate this party. I'll always hate this. Even when I'm as old as Hatori.. I'll hate it! Even when I'm in high school!" Yuki glared back toward where they had been.

Kyou laughed, "That's because you have to go with Shigure into the special Zodiac party." He wondered what they did in there.

"It's not Shigure that bothers me; it's Akito he's the head of the family now.." Yuki said quietly.

"I'm glad.." Kyou smiled a bit again. "He has to be better than his father..." He didn't even wan to think about the man, he gave a little shudder. It was actually a bit odd for the head of the house to produce an heir, they were usually too sick, however this man somehow had.

"Not much..." Yuki shivered a little, his eyes looked a little haunted by something.

The red headed boy looked up at him, "he hurting you?" He asked carefully, but it wasn't unusual after all being a zodiac meant your life did not belong to you.

Yuki let a soft smile come to his lips, "He's just a pain... want to train?" He didn't much care for sparing himself, but he knew Kyou loved it.

"SURE!" Kyou got into a fighting stance, As did Yuki.

As the two fight Yuki quickly got the upper hand but stayed back letting Kyou keep trying, to a certain degree he sometimes wished he could just loose. It didn't mean as much to him as it did to Kyou.

Kyou on the other hand could tell Yuki was holding back, he let out a tiny growl than completely tackled him. They both end up rolling around on the soft grass.

"Yuki," a commanding voice came from the gate.

Both boys completely froze, and looked up at the teenager.

Hatori looked down at them from the gate. "The banquet is starting.. Let's go." Kyou always thought Hatori was way too serious; Shigure and Ayame weren't that serious, and they were the same age.

Yuki stood up smoothing out his ruffled clothes. "I'll see you tomorrow Kyou." Yuki walked out of the garden looking proud and dignified, even for a child.

Hatori looked sharply at Kyou. "You might want to leave this place.. You're not suppose to be in here." He didn't wait for a reply from Kyou as he turned around and left.

Kyou stood up than quickly left not wanting to get in trouble. He got back to the where everyone else was and looked around wondering what to do now. As he looked around he hoped to find his mother. But he didn't. His eyes land on the wooden gates that led to the banquet. A woman with long blond hair stood back watching a young boy enter the gate-- Momiji. Kyou had heard she was denying Momiji; she was probably scared of him, because he was different. He felt bad for Momiji. The woman was freaky... Yuki had told him this would be the last time she'd really be there her memory was being erased. Good riddance he thought bitterly.

He walked slowly through the crowd, where was his mother? A smile brightened his face when he saw her by the punch bowl. He ran over to her. "Mom!"

She lets out an irritated sigh and looks at the boy, but the only thing she was really looking at was his left wrist where the bracelet sat. "I'm busy Kyou."

Kyou's smile disappeared "I.. I know.. I was just hoping.. we could.."

"Go away Kyou. You mother is busy!" She said quietly in a harsh voice. Kyou bit his bottom lip and nodded.

"O-ok.." He slowly walked away leaving his mother alone at the punch bowl. He headed into the main house and finds a quite corner and cuddled into it. He wouldn't be a baby and cry! He wouldn't. He curled up into a ball, soon he was fast asleep.

He was woken hours later from a tap on his shoulder. Kyou blinked and looks to see who it was. White and black hair came into his vision. "Haru?" he yawned, "what are you doing here, shouldn't you be at the banquet?"

"It's done we're back to the regular party for the next two days.. I was on my way to the bathroom when I found you.." Haru smiled gently at him.

Kyou blinked than groaned, "Haru, the bathrooms in the other direction.." He stood up and took Haru's hand. "Come on I'll take you..."

Haru smiled, "Thanks Kyou..," They walked around the compound in silence for a bit. "Kyou? Why were you all alone in there? Did you get lost?"

Kyou smiled at the six year old, "No, just bored I suppose.."

"So you went to bed? In a corner?!" Haru started to giggle. "That's silly! You should have gone to a chair or something."

Kyou sighed and stopped at the bathroom, "Here ya go.. I'll wait out here to take you back.." He let go of Haru's hand and Haru hurried in.

Kyou flopped his head forward, his orange hair falling into his eyes. He felt bad for making his mother get upset.. He seemed to do that a lot. He guessed he just had a knack for it. He looked up as he heard a toilet flush and Haru came out, "Haru! Wash you hands.. that's disgusting!"

The white haired Ushi smiled and he wiped his hands on his pants. "I can't the sinks too high.."

Kyou sighed and enters the bathroom he turns the water on, "There, now wash em!"

Haru stood on his tip toes to reach the water. The boy was about as tall as Momiji, Shuichi--the family doctor-- said they'd be getting a growth spurt soon just like he and Yuki did.

He turned the water off than grabbed Haru's hand, "Come on than! I don't have all day you know!" He pulled him out leading him to the party.

"Kyou?" Haru's voice was quite and soft.

"What?" Kyou asked, slightly annoyed at the boy's constant talking.

"How come you're the only one that will take me anywhere?" His voice was still soft, Kyou wondered if it hurt his feelings.

He sighed, "Because I'm the cat." The cat had to do everything that no one else wanted to do.

"Oh.. Okay" Haru smiled he didn't understand hut he was sure it must be right, and he didn't want to annoy the older boy. "I'm going to go find Momiji, thanks again Kyou!" He than ran off into the crowed of people.

Kyou watched him go, his tiny hands playing with the hem of his shirt. If the banquet was over than Yuki should be around here-- somewhere. He stood on his tip toes trying to see into the crowed, searching for that gray hair or those violet eyes.

"Kyou-kun!" Came the sound of a cherry dramatic voice.

Ayame, not Yuki, but maybe he knew where he was. "Hey Ayame.. You see-" He was cut off as he was brought into a bone crushing hug.

"Oh our poor kitty standing ALL alone with not a SOUL to comfort you! Well, don't you worry my brave little cat. I will STAND by your side! I will protect you from all the loneliness that has CONSUMED your soul! I remember when I was your age! I was SO confused! I will save you! I will.."

"Ayame?" Yuki stood there staring at his older brother, "What are you talking about?"

"Yuki?! I haven't seen you in SO long I'm so glad I found you!" He let the cat go, "I need your help braiding my hair!"

Yuki sighed at his brother "Ayame I don't know how to braid."

"Oh my poor deprived little brother! Never to learn something as simple as a braid! Well don't you worry my young brother I well NOT let you be in such a state for long! I will generously allow you to learn to braid on MY precious, long, hair!" Ayame flung his hair back in an over dramatic gesture.

"I was looking for Kyou actually," Yuki says slowly and quietly, his eyes down cast.

"Y-you don't want me to help you?" His eyes widened, "OH the shame the way my OWN flesh and blood denies my help as guidance.. the shame the shame! I must go.. the pain is.. too much!" He turned and spotted Shigure. "SHIgure!"

"Ayame!" Shigure looks at his odd friend with a smile. Ayame skipped over to him.

Kyou stayed there silent rubbing his arm a little. Ayame's hold was defiantly not a gentle one.

"I wish he could be serious once in a while.. Mom says it's just him, that I should accept him.." Yuki sighed and looked at Kyou again, "What have you been doing these past six hours?"

"I fell asleep, Haru woke me up when he got lost." Kyou smiled a bit, he was glad to have found the boy.

"Hastuharu? He got lost? Why? Was he hurt or something?" Yuki looked puzzled.

Kyou laughed, "No he didn't get hurt.. Haru always gets lost. I thought everyone knew that!"

Yuki blushed a bit, "He doesn't talk to me.. he only glares at me.. that is if he looks at me at all!" He gave a little shrug.

"Why is that?" Kyou asked him looking thoroughly puzzled. Haru wasn't exactly the glaring kind of guy.

Yuki shrugged again, "I don't know." The boys violet eyes sparkled, but his eye lids were only half open. He yawned, "I wonder what time it is.."

"Are you tied? Wanna go to sleep?" Kyou asked rather quietly. He wasn't really tired as he had been sleeping, but he didn't mind laying down again for a while.

"Where? Akito only has a few beds for only a certain people, he said everyone else can stand." Yuki said slightly bitterly.

"How can you sleep standing up?" Kyou asked him, again puzzled.

Yuki laughed, "You can't! That's the point!" He took Kyou's hand, "Come on we'll find a place to lay down." He started to pull the small kitten along with him.

After about twenty minutes of finding no where to sleep., Kyou spotted Haru and Momiji. They were sleeping cuddled against a tree, Momiji in Haru's lap. "Yuki... look" He gestured to the two.

Yuki smiled and led Kyou over to a tree right next to the one Haru and Momiji were at. He sat down leaning against the tree than pulled Kyou down to him, he wrapped his tiny arms around Kyou. "Night," he whispered into Kyou's ear.

"G'night," Kyou responded back; nuzzling his head into Yuki's chest. It wasn't long before both boys were fast asleep.

Red eyes open hours later hearing a voice. He looks up and sees Momiji's father. He was talking to Momiji. He stayed quite as Momiji slowly got up. He was careful not to wake Haru. His father picked him up and walked off with the small boy. Kyou yawned a bit and looks around wondering what time it was. It was light out now so it had to be past six. He looks back at Yuki, who was still sleeping soundly. He smiled softly. He didn't know what he'd do without the rat, he was his best friend. He than looks over at Haru, he couldn't believe Haru hadn't even woken up! Not even a flutter of an eye lash. He wondered if Haru would always be like that.

Kyou slowly sat up, he supposed he should find one of his parents. He smiled down at Yuki than walked off. He would come back in a few hours by than it was probably safe to wake the rat up.

Kyou came into the open clearing people were starting to wake up. Breakfast was on the table he heads over there, he goes to grab a plate but his wrist was suddenly grabbed.

"CATS eat LAST!" A man stood over him, "Until Everyone has eaten You will not TOUCH this food" His grip tightened on Kyou's wrist, "Understand?"

"B-but not everyone eats breakfast." Kyou stammered, afraid of the violent reaction this man seemed to have for him.

"Than NEITHER do you!" The man spat, his grip tightened a bit more.

Kyou whimpered pulling back. The man let go of him. He grabbed a plate and got food for himself, the boy completely forgotten.

Kyou scampered back and ran off.

Kyou hid back by a tree, his stomach growled a little he hadn't eaten dinner last night it had been so busy. He looks up to see his mom eating and laughing with the man that had told him to get away from the food. He whimpered quietly crouching down by a tree. He fought against the tears that threatened to spill from his now stinging eyes. A bread roll was suddenly in his face he looked up and smiled. "Hi.."

The man smiled as Kyou took the roll, "Having fun?" Kyou recognized the man as Momiji's father.

Kyou shrugged, "I.. I guess." He ate the roll quickly, not wanting to be caught eating it.

The man smiled more the boy was so innocent, he hated the way they treated him.

"I better get going. You be careful Kyou.." He handed him another roll before he walked off. Kyou was slightly jealous of Momiji for having such a nice dad.