Thursday, December 14, 2000

Warm. It was warm and dry and sandy. Rocks crumbled as he slid his hand over them. Crumbled into piles of sediment and dirt. Few plants grew, only hardy little shrubs and a few thin, pathetic looking trees. It was a narrow passageway, the ground, baked by years and years of sun, had the grooves from many wheels engraved into it.

The sun was at its zenith, but the heat was unremarkable. An arid breeze blew past, sending strange chills down his spine. He walked along the path, his hand trailing beside him along the wall, dust following the brush of his fingertips. Overhead the sky was blue but out on the horizon dark clouds gathered.

He moved toward them, drawn and fascinated by them. If he continued toward them he would eventually leave this steep tapered valley and he would immerge in the woods…He wanted to run. His skin itched to run! But he continued to walk, one foot in front of the other over the uneven terrain.

More grass began to appear and his blood resonated loudly. The song almost drowning out the sudden thunder that surround him. He looked and there was a screaming horde of nightmares descending down the slopes. They were clawed, with vicious teeth and their glinting eyes left no question as to their intent.

He stiffened, frozen for a moment but the pumping of his blood rose and he felt the madness sweep over him, a white-hot joy at the chance to kill them. Demon to demon, his claws raked through shadowy sinew, and his fangs bit into the flesh that tasted like Hellfire.

The dark blood of the enemy splattered the dry walls of the canyon. He feels the sting in his flanks where one of them had injured him…He kicked out, knocking them back, breaking whatever resided in the cavity of their chest.

The battle was sweet and he sang as he slaughtered them…

xxxxx

Kyo awoke to a delicious ache throughout his entire body. He wriggled in his bedroll, listening for the satisfying pop of his back before getting up. He was sore, but it felt wonderful, like he'd just been working out. He smiled a little bit to himself, a dark feral smile. He supposed what he'd actually done could be compared to a workout.

He was about to make his way downstairs for his usual glass of milk when he noticed how quiet it was in the house. He didn't hear Tohru moving about which struck him as odd. He searched for his clock. 3:00 in the morning? He blinked his eyes quickly; to make sure he was seeing it right.

With a resigned sigh, he looked around his darkened room. He wanted to do something…he wanted to go outside, into the dark and the cold…Kyo went quietly downstairs for his shoes. He slipped into them without socks and then headed out the door. His legs were cold in his shorts, his skin bristled but it felt good. He took a deep breath, letting the crisp air fill his lungs and sear his throat.

It had stopped snowing since the night before, there were perhaps four inches of powdery frost that he sunk into. Snow seeped into his sneakers as he began to run. Just to move, just to be active to make the sore muscles of his legs work. To appease the fiery agitation that was making his whole body tingle. To run blind through the forest that he knew like the back of his hand after living here all these years!

Just to run in the dark hours of the morning.

He came back to the house when the sun was just beginning to peak over the indefinable line of the horizon. As his legs had warmed and loosened, he'd run faster and faster until he was completely winded and his cheeks were flushed. When his body burned for lack of oxygen he snowballed to a walk.

When he returned to his home…he felt the urge to take off and do it all over again, but he resisted firmly. He kicked the excess snow off his shoes at the porch and went back inside. The warmth of indoors assaulted him like a battering ram.

Tohru peaked her head out of the kitchen when she heard the front door open and close again. A look of interest and confusion passed over her face.

"Good morning, Kyo," she called as she ducked back behind the wall to continue making everyone's lunch.

"Hey," he replied flatly, taking his shoes off and ambling towards her, still in his pajamas, sweaty things now after his run.

"What were you doing this morning? Training?" the girl wondered as she scooped several handfuls of rice from the cooker.

"Running," the Cat replied diffidently. The rich smell of the rice made him think of food, but he found himself neither hungry nor thirsty. "How is your old man?" he remembered belatedly.

"He'll be stuck in bed for a while yet," she confessed in a whisper. Kyo looked at her, the beginnings of empathy stirring within him. He had watched his own mother fade away, crazy with grief and fear. He couldn't bring himself to comfort her though. Something seized frantically at his heart and he just kept his mouth shut.

"I'm going to change," he announced, turning on heel to march up the stairs.

"Uhm, Kyo? Would you knock on Yuki's door to see if he's up yet?" Tohru requested timidly. Yuki and Kyo didn't get along well, it might turn out badly if they had to deal with each other this early.

"Sure," the redhead shrugged. He passed the Rat's door on his way to his own and rapped his knuckles on the wooden surface. There was a sleepy groan and some shuffling, so Kyo took that as a sign that the other boy was awake. He wasn't putting any more effort into it than that. He went to his own room, kicking the door shut behind him. He pulled off his clothes, one by one, peeling the cold, damp, things from his body.

He was standing in front of his closet, looking at his school uniform moodily when he decided…he had no desire to go to school.

He wanted to stay home today. Not just because school was boring, not just because the idiots in his class irritated him by being so kind and likable. Simply because he felt anxious he wanted to exercise, tire himself out and fall into blissful sleep.

He reached for his street clothes instead.

xxxxx

Akito rose from sleep to the smell of ozone in the air. Heavy and bursting with energy, her skin stung from the charge in the atmosphere. Her body thrummed as she got to her feet, her robe disheveled and sagging from one shoulder. She padded barefoot across the hardwood floors and flung open the screen doors with a great crash.

There was snow in the garden. Little birds hopped miserably over the top, trying not to sink into the icy dust.

She shivered, pulling her robe tighter around her. The air was fresh and clean, pure, like the white snow.

The fragile Head of the Sohma clan stepped off the porch and into the chill of her garden. She left tiny, light, footprints in her wake.

She stopped before the pond and looked up to the sky. It was early yet so it was still a dark navy color.

She licked her lips. The air tasted like lightening.

xxxxx

Yuki was awake. Opposed as he was to admitting it, he was, indeed, conscious. Cold as well. He burrowed down into his little Rat's nest and tried to go back to sleep.

He failed miserably of course, and shortly thereafter Tohru was knocking gently on the door.

The Rodent groaned and a muffled curse escaped his lips before she opened the door slowly.

"Yuki?" she called. "Yuki, its time to get up."

She was too sweet for him to throw something at her and snarl at her to get out, but he really wanted to. Some people just aren't wired for the morning.

"Yes, Miss Honda," he replied around a yawn, squirming about some more before actually making himself sit up. His head felt heavy and his eyes drooped and he almost fell back into bed.

He got to his feet and shambled slowly towards the bathroom. He was pleased that Kyo wasn't already in there. He probably would have had to kill the Cat. He got through the tiresome ordeal of washing teeth, hair, and face with only dozing off once or twice. Then it was lumbering back to his room to get into his uniform. His fingers were clumsy on the buttons and his legs stiff in the pants, but in the end, he managed.

He still wasn't entirely awake when he came down the stairs and entered the kitchen in search of foodstuffs.

Tohru was finishing up the lunchboxes and Kyo was nowhere in sight. Well, today seemed to be shaping up well!

Yuki got his juice, reaching blindly for the cup and the carton. He drank it without even opening his eyes, then sat down heavily at the table to wait.

Around 7:00 Tohru woke him up again and they went to put their shoes and coats on. Kyo was still nowhere in sight. It irritated Yuki now. They weren't going to wait for the stupid Cat!

"Kyo?" Tohru called up the stairs, and got no answer.

"Cat!" Yuki echoed, and still got no answer. "We are not going to wait for you!"

"Kyo?" the girl tried once more, going quickly up the stairs. The redhead wasn't in his room.

"Miss Honda we should not let him make us late," the Rodent muttered. "If he wants to skip today, let him."

"But he'll get in trouble," Tohru began to protest, as he pulled her out the front door. They backed up to the far side of the clearing the house stood in to see if Kyo was on the roof. It was a favorite perch of his…but he wasn't there.

"We are leaving now, Kyo!" Yuki repeated, and then gently dragged his friend along to school.

She fretted about the Cat as they crunched their way through the snow. Yuki only half listened from where he'd withdrawn into his coat beside her.

They arrived at the High School and headed inside right away. There weren't many who stayed outside. The snow ruled out the option of kickball games.

In the front locker room Yuki and Tohru met up with the other two Sohma children.

Haru looked at him and smiled, coming forward to hug Yuki.

"Where's Kyo?" the Ox asked mildly.

"I have no idea," the Prince sniffed.

Haru's smile widened. He reckoned Kyo was just too sore from the night before to walk. Hell, Haru had been pretty sore himself! That Cat was tight. And warm and his whole body was sensitive. No matter where he'd touched the redhead had made some kind of noise and squirmed. The way he writhed with pleasure was powerfully arousing.

Hatsuharu licked his lips remembering first in the bath…then again in Kyo's room. He wondered if Shigure had heard anything. He probably had, but he didn't think the Dog would say anything about it. As close as the man was to Akito, he would never snitch on them and ruin their fun. Especially not if he could watch. Haru considered bringing that up with Kyo. Maybe the Cat was a secret exhibitionist.

The thought was pleasant and he was sure he would get uncomfortably hard in a second if he didn't stop thinking about it. He looked at Tohru and pretended as if he'd been listening the entire time.

Thankfully, Tohru went with Yuki to talk to their homeroom teacher about one of the girl's assignments.

Finding Ms. Shiraki was quite a task. She was a strange woman that her students didn't honestly know much about. Yuki was aware that she had been in a short-lived romantic tangle with Shigure at one point…but that was about it.

When she wasn't in the classroom, they made their way to the teacher's lounge. She was there, sitting in a chair looking over papers. She seemed surprised and slightly irritated to see them. Then again, she always seemed irritated.

"What do you two need?" the woman asked brusquely.

"Well, ma'am," Tohru floundered, and Yuki picked up her slack.

"Miss Honda's grandfather is very ill. She has been tending to him recently and has found herself unable to complete her English report. If you would give her a few extra days I would volunteer myself to help her and make she sure gets it done," his tone was polite and measured, but Mayuko Shiraki still managed to find something to frown about.

"Do you need some extra time, Honda?" she asked.

"Y-yes, ma'am," the girl nodded sullenly.

"Okay," Mayuko smiled softly. "I'm sure Mr. Sohma will be plenty help for you, but if you need my help don't be afraid to ask."

"Oh! Thank you, Ms. Shiraki!" Tohru said, flushing, and bowing thankfully.

Yuki had to smile at how easily she was excited.

xxxxx

She laid her gentle hands on her kinsman's shoulders. She massaged and soothed the tension and knots from his muscles. Warm energy flowed from her fingertips and the man let out a deep sigh, his stress leaving him. After a moment more, she pulled her hands away and stood. He followed suit.

"Thank you, Kin," he said reverently, inclining his head to her.

"Think before you try to lift two pots full of clay next time." She beamed and he swooned as if he were a schoolboy; only her younger sister, Shinju, rivaled the lady Kin's beauty. Both were splendid women, kind, helpful, and their eyes, like warmed honey, always carried the hint of a smile. They were the jewels of the Tooi village.

Gold and Pearl.

xxxxx

Hatori paced his study like a great caged beast. After seeing to Akito in the morning he had tried to do some paperwork, to read, anything! But he found his mind wrenched from every task. He eventually accepted that he would get nothing done, but that did not mean he liked it.

So, he was, pacing back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. His mind was a jumbled mass of nothing, nothing, nothing.

Sleep had come with amazing ease the night before; a deep sleep, as if he'd been dropped into a lake weighted with a rock.

Considering just how damn restless he was, it was quite an accomplishment to just fall asleep like that!

He moved towards a different room, he was tired of watching his bookcases go past.

In his march he passed his foyer several times before stopping there. He stood, tapping his food, drumming his fingers soundlessly on his arms as they were crossed over his chest. Then he walked away, searching for the telephone.

He was in no mood for Ayame, but Shigure…the phone rang and rang. Hatori rubbed at his forehead impatiently. He let out a low curse when no one answered.

Well, perhaps Shigure had gone out for a little while. Maybe he was still asleep? Maybe he was in his study and hadn't heard the ringing of the phone?

Hatori decided to find out. He went hurriedly back to the foyer, pulling on his shoes, crushing the backs with his heels and not caring in the slightest. He headed out the door, but turned around to get his coat. Then he was ready…but for the keys to his car.

He felt in a kind of frenzy by the time he was on the road. By then he was wondering if he should be driving at all.

Unlike last night, there were people out on the streets today. Shoveling walkways, navigating their way through the snow. It was slowly leaving snow state and becoming more slush under the onslaught of the sun, but if he squinted off to the North you could see more fluffy clouds being blown. More snow would take its place; the temperature would drop when the sun went to bed in the night.

Hatori slammed on his brakes at a stop sign and sighed. He hadn't been paying attention. He waited for the other cars to go and continued on the familiar path to his cousin's home.

The heater in his car was far too hot; he reached to turn it off just to find it wasn't on at all. He rolled down the window and received some strange looks from the pedestrians, their breath streaming out in front of them in the cold.

The drive to Shigure's was sort of like Hell. Hatori nearly forgot how to get there in his haste. His autopilot confused and bewildered along with the rest of him. The heat was searing in him. The small lane to the private clearing where Shigure's house stood seemed to stretch on forever and ever. The same trees passing by his windows every time.

He finally saw it though, the steam from a vent on the roof, the wooden panels of the walls, the shutters on the windows. Despite his rush to get here, when the car stops before the house, he just sits in the car staring at it. As if its something magnificent…wonderful, amazing! At last his anxiety stirs and he gets out of his car quickly.

As he moved to the porch, his eyes caught a movement…Kyo tumbled into the clearing, leaping over a stump and rolling forward. He was back to his feet in seconds, jumping, twirling, spinning out a complex assortment of kicks and punches, blocks and checks with imaginary foes that he seemed quite intent on killing.

His bare feet slid through the snow, but he didn't slip. He was almost floating above the freezing dust. Flowing, strong, wild. His kata ended and he stood panting wildly in the center of the clearing, heady, dense, puffs escaping past his lips. His face flushed with exertion, his eyes shining brightly, and his clothing plastered to him with sweat.

The redhead turned his head, looking at Hatori out of the corner of his eye. The world spun and Kyo swayed…the doctor almost rushed to him to catch him…almost. Then the world righted itself, the sky seemed darker, but at least it was once more above their heads. The Feline said nothing, turned his back, tearing away his red demon eyes and headed back into the forest.

Hatori stood staring after him for a moment. Shouldn't Kyo be at school? Was he all right?

Wasn't he here to see Shigure?

He turned to knock on the door. Shigure answered it, but looked a bit cross. The look faded immediately as he recognized Hatori.

"My dear friend!" he crooned in that obnoxious way of his. Tori found it oddly soothing. "Come in! Come on," the Dog pulled his friend in. "Why the unannounced visit?"

Hatori hadn't been listening, at all. His eyes snapped back to focus at the question. "Because I could."

"Oh? Hatori doing something impulsive?" Shigure teased. The dragon shrugged. "Well, I am definitely pleased to see you," the other man added. "I don't have to do any writing if I have company!"

Shigure Sohma, the laziest Writer in history.

The two friends headed towards the kitchen, but Hatori didn't want to sit down and drink tea. Shigure looked up at him, sensing the strange tension rolling off him.

"Why are you here?" he repeated.

"I felt stifled at home."

"Is it better here?"

"A little."

Shigure made a noise like he understood but how could he?

"I'll make tea," the Dog said, frowning.

"Hmm, I am going to the restroom," Hatori decided with a shrug, turning on heel and leaving the other man alone in the kitchen and mightily confused.

Tori wasn't sure what the point was. He didn't need to use the restroom; he was just going up there so he wouldn't just be standing around in the kitchen watching Shigure make tea.

His feet took him up the stairs and down the hall as his mind wandered elsewhere. He shut the door behind him and just stood before the porcelain sink, staring at his reflection.

There was nothing different about him. It was the same reflection from yesterday, and the day before, and the day before.

He brushed his bangs from his eyes and looked harder, as if that would reveal something he'd missed. Something important. But he came up with absolutely nothing. He turned on the tap, and splashed some water on his face before exiting the bathroom.

He didn't know if Kyo had been waiting or if it was coincidence…but the Cat stepped out of his darkened doorway. Hatori hadn't heard the boy come in the front door but he supposed the redhead could have climbed back in the window of his room.

It didn't matter. He looked at the Feline. Just looked and there he was. He was shimmering. Hatori blinked his eyes and the strange trick of the light stopped; he assumed that's what it had been, at least.

The hallway closed in on them both, shadows lengthening. The air crackled and his blood roared. The world spun once more, but this time, Kyo's eyes kept him anchored to the floor. He felt upside down, but this time, he wasn't freefalling. This time, Kyo wasn't swaying with the disorientation.

The teenager held out one bronzed hand. Hatori took it, and it felt damp with sweat and he didn't care.

He followed the boy's lead. Followed into the Cat's den.

They shut the door noiselessly behind them and before there could be any thought as to what had lured them into this they were at each other.

Kyo tasted the way a wild orchid smelled…Hatori wanted more, he pushed deeper into his younger cousin's mouth with his tongue.

Hatori was vaguely aware of the other's hands on the back of his neck and barely aware of his own hands on the small of Kyo's back.

The kid was cold and wet against him, still sweaty, with coolness clinging to him from the outdoors. Hatori was almost surprised that steam wasn't still coming from the young man's mouth.

It felt fantastic and Tori crushed them together desperately. Whatever frenzy had been winding itself around their hearts had them now. Their restlessness was ready to take wing and spend itself.

His skin sparked and Kyo made an odd sound. It was somewhere between a sob, a whimper, a growl…or maybe the boy was singing?

Kyo reached past him to lock the door and then the last of the walls were battered down and they tore at clothing…The lights were off and the shades were drawn; the garments were lost somewhere in the dark of the room.

They were oblivious to whatever attractiveness they might have found in each other's bodies…a blind consuming lust took over. It was a need to use the built up energy, to distract themselves from the overwhelming rush of power.

Kyo hissed in pain as Hatori prodded his opening with the head of his cock. He was still sore from his excursions with Hatsuharu the night before; the sound gave the Doctor pause. He almost drew away, but then the Cat snarled and dragged him closer, thrusting back to meet him.

The flame that spread through his body was extraordinary and he made a choked off noise, rocking back against the man.

The way his muscles clutched at Hatori was too much. The way the boy rocked his hips, circled, and flexed. Too much.

The whole situation was too much for comprehension.

They watched each other as they moved: raw, dark, wild, feral, smoldering, flaming.

Red demon eyes to green dragon eyes. Lost in murky depths of desire. Taken with each other, with barely even a look…a sinister convoluted seduction that neither had been aware of. What happened? Why had this built until they'd fairly attacked each other with need? Where did Kyo's reservations go? Hatori's legendary stoicism? Flushed away with a gloomy tide of tension.

They orgasmed together: a core shaking and intense flood.

They lost themselves. They flickered in their existence and fought. Dragon to Demon: their magic at odds in a bright flash around them. Draconic claws on Demonic flanks, caressing a wound from a dream…Flickering…

"Aah!" Kyo gasped, throwing his head back, arching his back, thrusting down on Hatori, his thighs shaking as they tensed.

Too much…too much…too much…

Hatori collapsed over the boy sweaty, sticky, content. The redhead was gulping for breath, his jeweled eyes lidded tiredly. The Doctor held his younger cousin tight to him as his own heart rate slowed…His eyes drooping…he fell asleep, the little Demon child crushed to him.

xxxxx

Shigure stirred his tea with a jerky motion of his wrist.

Stifled at home…

That's what Hatori had said.

The Dog could relate. He scratched idly at his head before getting up, in need of movement. He headed up the stairs to make sure his friend hadn't fallen into the toilet.

When he came to the second story landing, he saw the door to the restroom open and the room itself empty.

Well then, Shigure sighed. He wasn't surprised. He imagined the Dragon had gone out for a walk to try and ease the restlessness that seemed the have settled on them all.

He shivered as a strong odor went past his nose.

Sand and orchids and shadows, so strong that he couldn't even begin to contemplate what the other scents were.

The Writer shook his head and went downstairs. Hatori would be back because his car was still out-front.

In the meantime, Shigure headed into his study, intent on beating down his basest animal urge: to run.

xxxxx

Kyo woke up in a different position from the one he fell asleep in. As his eyelids rose lazily, he realized he was lying on top of Hatori, his cheek resting on the Dragon's shoulder. He didn't care how he'd gotten like that, and let his eyes close again. He shifted a little, grimacing at the pain in his legs and the way he was sort of…stuck to Hatori from all the sweat. His skin felt stiff, on top of it all.

He still…didn't care. His tongue darted out to taste the enticing flesh of the Doctor's neck. Salty and tangy and wonderful, it sent a jolt of heat through his languid body.

Hatori is so warm, Kyo thought, listening intently to the man's steady pulse beneath him.

It seemed so right to be like this. Their ages didn't factor in. Their different standings in the Family didn't cross his mind. Gender wasn't an issue. Tohru wasn't a thought and Haru barely a notion. For now, at least.

For now, Hatori was stirring and his large, thin fingers delving into the fine hair at the nape of his companion's neck. Kyo opened his eyes and a dark look passed between them.

"Will you need me to take a look at you?" Tori asked.

"Maybe," the redhead shrugged as much as he could in this position.

Hatori averted his eyes uncomfortably. "I am sorry if I hurt you."

"Shh," the Cat hissed.

"Kyo," the man protested. The boy cut him off with a rough kiss. Hatori fell silent, though he knew eventually they would have to talk. The issue could be delayed for a little while yet…he hoped. They lay in heavy silence, before Kyo lifted his head once more.

"Shower?" he suggested around a yawn. Hatori suppressed a smile and sat up, wincing at the stiffness in his body. Well, he supposed he deserved that. He scooped up the teenager, despite protest, and they snuck into the bathroom quickly.

Neither was very fond of the idea of Shigure catching them like this, this being naked, together, and smelling most definitely of sex.

Hatori set Kyo down on the floor beneath the showerhead and hurried back to lock the door, only then did he feel safe enough to come back and turn on the water.

He had no illusions that Shigure wouldn't hear the pipes, but at least the Dog wouldn't know Kyo was in here with him.

The redhead was grimacing on the tiles and shifting on his sore backside, so the Dragon helped him back to his feet. The boy wobbled and his older cousin caught him, holding him to broad chest.

A warm puff of air ghosted across his collarbone. He shivered…maybe he'd turn the hot water on? He usually didn't bother, as showers were quick, baths were the long endeavors. But this was not the usual.

"We should talk," Hatori found himself mumbling.

"Let's not," the Feline nixed.

"Kyo," the Dragon tried again but this time, his breath caught in his throat. The young man was just looking at him. It was an innocent look, without guile or hidden meaning, just like the look he'd had in the hall, when things had first begun to spiral out of their control. Eyes that burned into the forest green of his own…smoldering embers that were making Hatori sweat profusely. Or perhaps that was the steam of the water. "Oh, Kyo…"

They clung to each other under the water, because that was all they could do.

After what felt like an eternity, Hatori groped blindly for a cloth and carefully scrubbed the dried sweat off their bodies. As inexplicably attractive as he suddenly now found Kyo was, he just wanted to clean them up and return to the safe haven of the boy's room.

He still didn't feel as if he could separate himself from the Cat. He rather envied the washcloth that he ran over the boy's skin. That was just one more point of contact that he felt he would die without…He hurried to finish wiping them down and then turned the water off. He helped the sore teenager to sit down while he found warm fluffy towels to wrap them both in. His heart clenched to see all that tan skin hidden beneath one of the green towels.

The Dragon would have continued to stare if Kyo hadn't urged him back to the bedroom.

"We can talk now," the redhead announced as he flopped onto his bedroll, curling up, to conserve warmth, within the blankets. "Does Shigure think you're still here?"

"My car is out front," the man admitted.

"What are you going to tell him?"

"I am not sure yet," Hatori shrugged, "but that is not what I want to talk about, Kyo."

The kid frowned at him he didn't want to talk about the absolutely mind-blowing sex they had just partaken in. He understood it though. The feelings of pent up energy welling up inside him were nothing new. They had just never come to a head before. He was a demon, the magic that lay latent in him was stirred up and it desperately wished to build, multiply, to find strength in numbers. He understood, but it was on such a base, primal, level that he would never be able to explain to Hatori in words. This thing had happened for no better reason than they were Demon and Dragon, magical creatures with sleeping energy.

"Don't worry about it. It won't happen again," the Feline assured him.

"How can you be so sure?" Hatori wondered, he sounded troubled and afraid.

"Trust me," his young cousin shrugged. "You should leave now, before anyone sees you."

The older man was thrown off to be so casually dismissed. "Kyo, I truly am sorry…"

"Don't be, just get out," Kyo finally snapped.

Apparently, that, as they say, was that.

xxxxx

Hatori had been gone for barely half an hour when the other residents of the household returned from school. It was only then that Shigure noticed that Kyo had not gone with them.

He wondered if the Dragon and Cat had disappeared together…though he couldn't imagine what they would have been doing.

At the top of the stairs, Yuki paused outside of his rival's room. After a moments consideration he knocked.

"What?" Kyo called in a hoarse voice.

A strange smell assaulted the rat and his thoughts fled his mind. He was silent, trying to catch them again.

"What?" Kyo repeated irritably.

"Haru was worried that you were not at school today," his cousin decided before fleeing into Tohru's room to help her with her project.

xxxxx

He'd been here once before. Disguised: Frankish and fair.

The men of Tooi called him Aoi, it meant pale, and they meant it to be as derogatory as possible. The women called him Awai, to mean light. They all thought the foreigner was very attractive, all the women except for the young sisters who ruled the village. Since the death of their father Kin and Shinju had taken care of the village most judiciously. They were pleasant to their guest, but they were far too busy to moon over him like the other girls. To them he was a simply a Gaijin, foreigner.

He was set to fix that though.

"Hello, Madame Kin," he greeted in sloppy Japanese.

"Hello, Gaijin," the woman replied from her desk, a thin finger following the lines of accounts in her ledger.

"The name given to me in Francia was Basil, ma'am," he said, his eyes crinkling in delight.

"I see," Kin acknowledged and then looked up, blinking in owlishly the gloom of the room. "Are you in need of something then, Basil?" She frowned at how clumsily her tongue rolled over that name.

"I have come to ask her wonderful, beautiful, lady Kin to join me for the afternoon meal," Basil informed her, grinning and revealing white, pointed canine teeth.

The lady looked down at her ledger ruefully. "I would be…honored, sir."

The outsider ran a hand over his plait of blonde hair then held out a polite hand to Kin. She stared at the hand oddly for a moment, but never took it.

They strolled together through the village to the small inn. Traders passed through now and again, but today, it would serve for the locals.

Kin was greeted brightly and the serving maid lowered her eyes from Basil, blushing fiercely. They were seated, Kin forced to kneel in the restriction of her kimono. She poured Basil a cup of tea courteously and they waited in a somewhat companionable silence for their food to be served.

When the bowls of rice and the thin slivers of fish arrived, Basil made a bit of a face.

"I am not sure if I will ever be accustomed to this Japanese food…I miss the large steaming hunks of meat back in Francia."

Kin smiled radiantly and laughed.


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