Disclaimer: All of these characters belong to Natsuki Takaya… I'm merely using them to entertain the people inside my head…
Authors Note: I'm typing this at 12 AM… Excuse all the spelling and grammar issues… being that only one eye is awake, this will have to do… Enjoy!
Book of the Cat
Chapter 9
The air around Kyo was cold yet he didn't seem to notice. His main focus was the book; everything else could wait. A flashlight provided the only light source, but it was enough to last Kyo through the night.
The next few pages of the book spoke of the Zodiac story and banquet that took place hundreds of years ago. Although Kyo knew the tale, he still wanted to read if from the book. He wanted to read every page. Maybe a hidden clue could explain what was happening to him.
Hour passed by. Kyo stopped reading when he heard a noise. It sounded like someone was trying to get on the roof. Sure enough, Uo hoisted herself over the edge and pulled herself up next to Kyo.
The long stunning dress and fancy hairstyle were gone, replaced by a nightshirt with pajama bottoms and a ponytail. When she was situated next to Kyo, she turned to him.
"You did a great job with that window…"
Kyo sighed. "Yea, I know." Kyo reached to close the book, but Uo caught his wrist.
"Wow! Carrot-top! You're hand is swollen like a balloon!" Kyo tuned his eyes towards his injury. The bandage was soaked through with blood. Where the bandage did not cover, his skin was pink and irritated. His fingers were stiff and unbendable. "You should have that looked at… or cleaned at the very least."
Kyo shrugged. Uo stared at him and noticed how he tried to push the book behind him. She smirked and grabbed the book quickly. Kyo jumped up.
"Give me that!" He tried to rip it from her hands, but Uo swatted the book at his injury. He immediately pulled back and held his hand to his chest.
"Is this your diary, Kyon-Kyon?" Uo made a face and took up a mocking voice. "Dear Diary… Today, Yuki whooped my butt… again. I sulked all day while Shigure made perverted comments. Tohru had to make me salmon because I flipped out over the super scary leeks. Then I went to school where the Fabulous Uo-chan wiped the floor with my ungrateful butt after she won another game of Dai Hin Min."
Kyo was fuming. "It is NOT my dairy!"
Uo smiled and opened to the first page. She stared at it a minute and then raised her eyebrow at Kyo.
"What the…?"
Kyo looked away. "I don't know what it is…" Kyo felt his brain protest his silence. He needed to tell someone. He needed to share something or he'd explode. But he couldn't tell Uo his secret. He just couldn't.
Kyo turned back to Uo. "There is an… old legend about this family who changes into members of the zodiac…"
Uo had a humorous look on her face. She smiled, "Okay…"
Kyo continued, "Do you know the story of the cat from the zodiac?"
Uo nodded. "Yea, Tohru told Hana and I about a billion times."
Kyo looked at the book. "Well, this… book is the Cat's book."
"So…it's like a point-of-view story?"
"Well… not really, but we'll go with that…"
Uo nodded again, but furrowed her brows a minute later. "Then why is it in this weird language and why do you have it?"
Kyo felt his heart rate speed up. "I don't know…"
"Well, can you read it?"
Kyo was silent. He debated all his decisions. Then softly:
"Yes."
Uo nodded once more. "Okay Kyon-Kyon. You're in luck…I can't sleep so I'll let you teach me to read this." Kyo looked over at her in disbelief as she toyed with the pages of the book. She ran her fingers along its yellowed pages. Did he really want her to read the secrets this book might possess?
"Okay."
When the sun started to rise, Kyo and Uo stopped reading. They had made it about ¼ of the way through the book. It was slow with Uo there, but by the time the sun rose, she could decipher small sentences. As the light appeared over the horizon, Kyo closed the book and lay back on the roof besides Uo. She seemed to be deep in though. When Kyo could not take her silence anymore, he shouted:
"WHAT?"
"I was just thinking about what we read. Do you see how much the Cat hated the Rat? It's unnatural. Over one hundred pages dedicated to that. No one should hate someone that much."
"I hate Yuki that much."
"No, you don't. I know you fight with him and compete with him, but deep down in there, somewhere in that black hole of a heart, you care about him. You wouldn't want him to die or something…not like the feelings the Cat in this book has towards the Rat."
Kyo turned away. "I'd want him to."
Uo smiled. "Whatever you say; lets go back inside." She disappeared over the edge of the roof. Kyo waited a minute. He glanced at the book and then back at the roof were he saw Uo last.
"I don't care." He said softly. He ignored the tingle that swept his spine viciously.
Breakfast was a grand feast. Tohru went all out to please her guests. Kyo and Uo joined Yuki and Hana a few minutes after they sat down. Haru and Momiji also came by for breakfast, although neither of them acknowledged Kyo. Tohru finished laying the meal on the table and they all sat down together. The table was silent until Uo spoke up.
"Hana, did you sleep well?" She smiled at her close friend.
"No."
Kyo reached for another breakfast roll, but Uo nudged him in the ribs. He hissed at her, but followed her gaze towards his injured hand. He withdrew it quickly before anyone else could see, than he stood up.
"I'm going to train." He walked out without a second glance at the table's occupants. Hana looked up when he left.
"His waves are different." Tohru, Yuki, Haru, and Momiji stopped dead in their tracks.
"Different?" Yuki tried to act natural.
"Yes."
Tohru jumped in. "Different good or different bad?"
Hana shrugged as she picked up the last roll. Tohru took this as "different good." She smiled and began to take the empty plates back to the kitchen. Momiji followed to help. Once they were out of the room and out of earshot, Hana dropped her roll and made eye contact with Yuki.
"Different bad. Very bad."
Author Note: Okay, I've put this short chapter out because I liked how it ended right here… I'd add more, but I'm not finished writing the next part, and I want to save it for the next update. Anyway, I'm planning to use Haru a bit more in later chapters, Hatori should come in, and well, any other character I think would move the story along… If you have any requests about a character you'd like to see, just tell me in a review. I've only read up to the 3rd manga (my Mom is giving me the next 8 for Christmas/Hanukah/My Birthday (yes, my B-day is Christmas… go me!)), and I've only seen the anime series, so any characters like Rin and Kureno I'd be unfamiliar with. I'll try to hold off using them till after Hanukah, that way they'd be in character. Anyway, yea… that's my long author's note of doom.
First/Second Time Reviewers (Nice to meet you!):
Fan Girl 1111- Ha ha! Sorry about Yuki and Tohru… I won't really focus on them, if that makes it any better! I'm not a big fan of that pairing, but I wanted that in my story. Ha, I take no offense, it's all good.
Callindead: To keep the cat spirit happy, Kyo must … (ha, in a few chapters you'll know… or maybe next chapter… don't know yet) Thanks for the review!
Imbrium4: I'm glad you like the KyoXUo pairing! Nice to see a new name in the review box, too!
Fulma8712: Yea, Kyo was out of character with his hugs, but I don't think I'll make him go like that again… that was just a little thing I added in there because I wondered how Kyo would act if he wasn't so miserable all the time.
To My Usual Reviewers (I love you all! You guys rock!)
Dark Inu Fan- Yea, poor Kyo…just when he thought he had it all…Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Sorceress Sakura-chan: Ha, yea, I'm evil to Kyo all the time… I love to put him through hell, even though he's my favorite character.
Starship Gazer- Yea, the book seems like an evil poison! And the lack of trick-or-treaters here is weird too… I mean, what's wrong with little kids these days? I used to have like, 3 bags of candy… These kids barely leave their houses!
The Cheshire Katt: Second favorite pairing? Really, awesome. I've never tried Kyo and Hana… maybe I'll do that next time… Yea, I don't love Tohru and Yuki either, I'm not quite sure how that'll end up in this story. Oh, and by the way, how much do you rock for the Harry Potter "Monster Book of Monster" reference?
And of Course:
Narutofreak22: Ha, I'm glad you love my story. I love seeing your name for every chapter!
Let me also thank all those who've added my story and myselfto their favorites and/or alert lists. You guys rock too!
And to all the silent readers: Speak Up! I love to hear what you have to say! I read all of my reviews, respond to them all, and try to add in your requests! Don't be afraid to talk! Even if its only to say that Kyo is hot (which he is).