Kiss Kiss
By Lady of the Ink
Pairing: Kyou and Kagura Sohma
Fandom: Fruits Basket
Theme: #19 – Red
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, but you knew that ...I hope. But I do own this story and all the twists that it takes.
I Just Like The Color
x
Kyou hadn't meant to eavesdrop on Kagura's conversation with Yuki. He hadn't even known she was in the house, to be honest. After spending the afternoon studying, not that he would admit to it if questioned, he'd headed to the kitchen for a snack. It was as he was walking down the hall that a familiar voice caught his attention.
His body's reaction was instantaneous; his muscles tensed and his eyes started looking for the nearest exit before his brain even processed what was going on. There were too many years of having to run for his life for him to recondition himself in the few months of peace he'd known since his talk with Kagura in the park. She hadn't been coming around much and so he still wasn't used to their new non-violent, if slightly stilted relationship.
He was just about to continue on his journey when her voice became loud enough for him to catch a couple of words. Kyou stopped mid-step, his brow furrowed as an odd feeling came over him.
During their years of knowing one another, he had heard a lot of tones from Kagura. There was the little girl sweetness that had changed only slightly as she got older and the demonic shouts that he still heard in his nightmares. When she was talking to Shigure, there was the cheerful, giggly one and the almost shy one when she spoke with someone she didn't know well. That wasn't counting the commanding tone, the apologetic tone, the pleading tone, and the gentle tone that was directed at people she was trying to make feel comfortable.
None of those were in evidence as she spoke with Yuki. There was another quality to her voice, one that Kyou found himself unfamiliar with. Her words were rushed, almost breathless as she hurried to get them out, as though saying them made her uncomfortable.
What could she be asking the damn rat to do that embarrassed her? Did he even want to know?
"I'm so sorry to ask you to do this when even I know it's stupid. It's just …" she paused and Kyou heard her sigh loudly. "It would be so embarrassing if no one came. Everyone else in the class is talking about how their boyfriend is willing to spend this much or that much. I don't care that I don't have anyone but I just know they'll make a big deal out of it."
"Don't worry about it, Kagura. I'd be happy to help."
"Thank you!" There was the sound of footsteps and rustling fabric and Kyou knew Yuki had been caught in one of Kagura's bear hugs. "I'll pay back anything you spend, I promise. We can go to lunch afterwards, my treat."
"That sounds nice. So, where and when is the auction?"
'Auction?' Kyou thought, frowning slightly. He unconsciously leaned closer to wall, straining to hear her reply.
"It's at my school this Sunday, right outside in the courtyard. It's a silent auction, so you won't even have to talk to anyone. Just find the table with my name on it, write a bid, and that's it. It shouldn't be too crowded; the class is small which is most of the reason why we needed to hold a fundraiser in the first place."
"All right. Just in case I can't find a name card, what did you make, so I can find it?"
"Oh, it's just a silly quilt. The theme the teacher gave us was 'red' and I couldn't think of anything else. I asked Ayame for some of his scrap fabric and pieced something together. Since I like to sew, it seemed like a good idea."
Kyou didn't stick around to hear any more, knowing that the conversation was ending and he might be caught listening. The last thing he wanted to do was give anyone the impression that he cared about what Yuki and Kagura had been discussing. It was none of his business and he liked it that way. It's not like he would have wanted her to come to him for help or anything.
He was still in the kitchen when they came in a few minutes later. Kagura offered him a shy nod before turning back to Yuki. Kissing him on the cheek, she thanked him again and then left.
As soon as she was out of sight, Yuki turned to Kyou with a slightly curious look on his face. Kyou glared at him, confused when the action just seemed to amuse the other boy. "What do you want?" he demanded, feeling his frustration grow with each moment that passed. "Do you have something to say?"
"No. Not a thing," Yuki said, heading out of the kitchen, leaving a very confused Kyou standing by the sink.
x
Kagura was grinning from ear to ear as she made her way to the small café where she was meeting Yuki. He was already there, seated in a corner away from the heaviest foot traffic. He stood as she approached, smiling when she started talking before even sitting down.
"It was so fantastic! I couldn't believe it when the teacher said my quilt went for the highest price of anything in the class. You didn't have to bid that high but I have to say, I'm kind of glad that you did."
"I'm glad you're so happy, but to be honest, I didn't."
Kagura looked at him blankly, trying to make sense of what he'd said. "What do you mean, you didn't? Did they mess up the amount or something?"
Yuki shook his head. "I don't think so. I wrote down a price as soon as I got there and then I walked around, looking at the other items. I came back just as they were collecting the cards and someone had crossed out my bid and put their own. I didn't see anyone standing around so I couldn't say who did it."
For several long moments, there was silence between them. Then Kagura straightened, drumming her fingers against the tabletop. "I can't think of who else might have done it. You're the only family member I told and I didn't see anyone besides other students and their family and friends there."
"Maybe you have a secret admirer?" Yuki suggested. "Someone too shy to talk to you who thought this would a good way to make a move? You'll go back to school and one day he'll appear, holding the blanket and declaring his love …"
"Yuki!" Kagura exclaimed, laughing as she tossed a napkin at him. "I think you've been spending too much time with Shigure; his perverted-ness is starting to rub off on you. But still, you kept up your part of the bargain, so lunch is on me."
It was just under an hour later when Yuki made his way into Shigure's house. Pausing briefly to respond to Tohru's greeting, he headed to his room to change. At the top of the stairs he stopped, a suspicion that had been growing in the back his mind demanding to be investigated. Walking on silent feet, he moved towards Kyou's door. It was open a small crack and he could clearly hear the sound of someone moving things around inside.
Moving quickly to avoid giving warning, he pulled the door open to reveal a startling scene. Kyou was leaning over a trunk that he had clearly just finished emptying; its contents were piled on the floor by his feet. He'd apparently been making room for the red and white quilt that was dangling from his hand.
Seeing Yuki in the doorway, Kyou flushed and dropped the blanket into the trunk as though it were on fire. Scooping up a handful of clothes from the floor, he threw them on top, as though if he moved fast enough, the quilt's presence might be forgotten. Yuki just watched the cat's irrational actions with a raised eyebrow and a curve to his lips.
Practically hissing with rage, Kyou stomped across the room and pulled the door shut, but not before shouting out a final excuse.
"Stop smiling, you damn rat! It's not what you think. I just like the color, that's all."
