Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket.
Authors Note: Ok, sorry this is late. I have midterms and finals this week. I barely have time to type this up! Keep your eyes on the times of these chapters, or you may get confused!
Book of the Cat
Chapter 19
Thursday: 2 a.m., Sohma Estate:
Opening his eyes in its self was an energy-demanding task for Kyo. It took him nearly two minutes. Not only was he drained, but also he felt like crap. His entire body was aching and sore and he was freezing. He was beyond cold. Upon further examination, he discovered that his kimono had been removed and he only had a think blanket to cover himself. He shivered. It also took him a minute to realize he was back in Hatori's office again and he had an IV in his arm. His head was clouded enough; he couldn't remember how he got here.
"Hatori!" He tried to call. His voice was low and raspy, but it was enough to catch the young doctors attention. The door to the room opened and he stepped in. He looked thoroughly exhausted, not that Kyo could blame him. Between Kyo and Akito, Hatori's been up almost every night. Kyo felt really useless thinking about this. 'Since when did I become as weak as Akito? Why can't I take care of myself? I really am pathetic.'
"Kyo, how are you feeling?" Hatori asked, checking the IV.
"I'm freezing. Can I have another blanket?" Kyo asked as his teeth chattered. He was surprised when Hatori's hand touched his forehead.
"No… you're still very warm…I'm trying to break the fever."
Kyo looked puzzled at this. He never used to get sick this easily. "Why is there an IV in my arm?"
"I'm helping you to get some nutrients that your body needs. Between the exhaustion and the malnutrition, you're as sick as a dog." Hatori replied. Kyo didn't have the energy to respond. His head was pounding. Hatori continued to work around Kyo's room. After a few minutes he realized that Kyo had once again fallen asleep. Hatori sighed, relieved. Hopefully now everyone can get some rest, including him.
"No, wait…" Kyo weakly said. Hatori turned to see Kyo in the middle of a dream. "Give me some more time…give me…a few more…weeks…please."
Hatori shook his head. 'Poor kid is hallucinating…' He reached the door and slowly exited the room, getting ready for a sleepless night, while unbeknownst to him, Kyo was battling with much more than Hatori could ever imagine.
Thursday: 12 p.m. School:
Yuki and Tohru sat down together at a picnic table to enjoy lunch. Although it was pretty cold outside, they both wanted to eat out in the open. Few students joined them, as most were too deterred by the bitter cold weather. This provided Yuki and Tohru with enough privacy to discuss Kyo's situation.
"Do…do you…do you still think Kyo's mad at me?" Tohru said quietly.
Yuki looked up. "Why would he be mad at you?"
Tohru's eyes filled with tears. "Because…he asked me for help, and I turned him down. Mom told me to never turn down a friend in need."
Yuki put his hand on hers. "Listen, Tohru. If Akito wanted Kyo to come to the main house with him, there is nothing you, me, Hatori, Shigure, or even Kyo could have done. He had to go. Nothing would have stopped that."
Tohru nodded. "You're right…but…I just can't help but feel like I should have done…something, you know?"
Yuki nodded, about to respond when Haru and Momiji joined them.
"Hi Yuki! Hi Tohru!" Momiji shouted gleefully. Haru nodded in their directions. Momiji noticed Tohru's sad demeanor and instantly understood what the topic of discussion was. "Tohru, are you okay?"
Tohru smiled sadly. "Yea, I'm fine."
Haru cut in. "Thinking about Kyo?"
Tohru stared down. "I wish that I knew how he was doing…"
"Yea, me too," Haru said softly. Yuki silently agreed.
"Oh. He's with Hatori today." Momiji said nonchalantly. Yuki and Haru's heads spun around to meet Momiji's eyes.
"What? How do you know? Why didn't you tell us before?" Haru and Yuki shouted.
Momiji started to pick at his lunch. "Well, I didn't want to bring it up… but, you all seem so concerned… so I did. And I know he's in Hatori's office because… well… I have my sources!" Momiji winked.
Haru shook his head, indicating he had no idea of how to deal with his cousin. He turned to Yuki instead. "Hey…you don't happen to have any reason to see Hatori today, do you?"
Yuki thought for a second. "No…I don't think so…" Suddenly he understood what Haru wanted to do. "Um…well, I guess there is my monthly check-up."
Haru smiled. "Excellent. We'll go…right after school?"
Yuki shrugged. "Yeah."
Tohru looked from teen to teen. "So, are you going to see Kyo?"
From out of nowhere, Uo and Hana sat down at the table. Tohru smiled to see her best friends. "Uo, Hana!"
They smiled at her. "Hey," Uo said. She smiled at the Sohma boys. "Yo." There was an odd twinkle in her eyes. Several minutes of silence passed as the group finished off their lunches. Haru looked up to see Uo staring at him.
"What?" He asked with a mouthful of food. Uo smiled.
"You're hair… it's black and white…Hana, what does that remind you of?"
Before Hana could answer, Tohru jumped in. "A newspaper! Yes, a newspaper! Am I right?"
Momiji shook his head. "No, a cow!"
Everyone stopped. Yuki and Haru both turned and stared at Momiji with anger in their eyes. Uo smiled as she noted the tension. She nodded to Hana and made a mental note. Then, to ease their nerves she said, "Actually, I was thinking a zebra."
Hana interjected. "Yes…zebra. Excellent Uo."
Uo smiled at Hana, who almost grinned back.
The rest of lunch passed way too slowly.
4:00 p.m. Sohma Estate:
"I'm telling you… those girls freak me out!" Haru laughed. "I can't believe they're Tohru's best friends!"
Yuki laughed at Haru and walked along the main grounds quickly. He just wanted to get in and get out. Hopefully he won't meet anyone on the way… like his parents… or Akito.
"Here we go…Hatori's office." Haru said, pushing the door open.
3:54 p.m. Sohma Estate:
Kyo sat up in bed as Hatori checked his temperature. He wasn't feeling much better, to be honest. His head was spinning and he couldn't focus. His body shook every few minutes and he was just too cold.
Hatori shook his head. "You need to get better Kyo, you're wearing me out." He helped Kyo lay back down. Kyo nodded.
"Yea… I'll try… I'm sorry I'm so…pathetic."
Hatori looked back at Kyo, but before he could respond, the door opened. Akito walked into the room, acting like he was king. "You should be sorry for being born." He turned to Hatori. "Aren't I right?"
Hatori shrugged and looked back to his notes.
"I asked you a question." Akito said to Hatori in a warning tone.
Hatori sighed. "Yea."
Kyo tried to ration out what Hatori said, but for some reason, just the fact that everyone thinks he's pathetic was all he noticed.
"Hatori, I want to talk to Kyo. Alone. Go away."
Hatori nodded and walked out, reluctant to leave Kyo in his weakened state. No sooner had Hatori stepped out from the back room, but Yuki and Haru entered the main office. Hatori stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the boys in surprise.
"Haru? Yuki? Why are you here?"
Haru looked around the room, as if searching for something. Yuki answered.
"We… I need to come for my monthly check-up."
Hatori rubbed his forehead. He looked so drained. "Do you need to be checked today?"
Haru stepped in. "Of course he does! Better safe than sorry!"
Hatori sighed. "Okay, take off your shirt, Yuki." Yuki obliged, but kept his eyes on the back door.
"Hey…Hatori? I'm kind of shy. Could we go into the backroom for more privacy?"
Hatori raised an eyebrow. "No." He held up a stethoscope and began to check on Yuki. After Yuki finished deep breathing, Hatori pulled away. "Perfect health. Now go home."
Haru stared at Yuki, then looked back at Hatori. "Um, Hatori…Yuki needs a new inhaler…just in case he has another attack."
Haru stared suspiciously at Yuki. "Do you really need one now?"
Haru put on a shocked face. "Hatori! Better safe than sorry! Now go get one!"
Hatori rolled his eyes. He did not need this today. "Alright, I'll get one. Just stay put."
"Roger that!" Haru yelled to Hatori's retreating back. The second Hatori left the office, Haru turned and walked to the back. Yuki put his shirt back on and followed him.
"Damn, the door is locked!" Haru said, turning the handle slightly. "Yuki, search Hatori's desk for a key." Yuki nodded and began looking for a key among the papers. Haru placed his ear close to the door. "Hey… I think someone is in here with Kyo…"
4:13 p.m.
"You really are disgusting." Akito sneered down at Kyo's weak form.
Kyo blearily watched Akito's form. He had no strength to protest.
"You're a burden to everyone around you. Look what you did to Hatori… He's exhausted… I'm surprised he hasn't committed suicide yet…like your mother…"
Kyo's thoughts spun in his head, making him dizzy. "My mom…it's not my fault." He said quickly.
"Yes! It is your fault. She was so troubled to have the cat as her son that she killed herself."
Kyo felt something in him snap. "It's not my fault!" He couldn't even focus, yet he said those words forcefully, the familiar mantra of his youth.
"It is! You killed your mother like you will kill everyone around you. Hatori, Tohru, Kazuma. Everyone will die because of you. You foul, disgusting--"
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!"
4:08 p.m.
"Haru, I found something." Yuki said quietly, holding up a paper from Hatori's desk..
"What? The key?" Haru asked, still keeping his eye to the door.
"No, it's Hatori's medical report."
Haru kept his hand on the doorknob, but turned to face Yuki. "What does it say?"
Yuki's eyes scanned the paper. "It says that Kyo was here on Sunday… That's when you were here, right?"
Haru nodded. "Yea…what happened?"
"The report says he was treated for lacerations to his back and arms." Yuki froze. The crack of a whip resonated in his memories.
"What else?" Haru asked, oblivious to Yuki's thoughts.
Yuki shook his head and returned to the paper. "Uh…um… He was back here again on Monday night… but Hatori didn't write why. I don't think he left from Sunday… Then on Wednesday he came back for fatigue and a fever. He spent the night."
"So he's still here?"
Yuki looked over the sheet. "Yea, I think so."
Both of their eyes traveled to the locked door. All of a sudden the door to the main office opened. Hatori came in carrying a new inhaler. He looked up to see Haru's hand on the back door and Yuki holding the report from his desk. He stiffened.
"Yuki, I believe this is yours." He held out the inhaler and narrowed his eyes. Yuki sheepishly dropped the paper back on the desk.
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" A scream ripped through the awkward silence. The back door pulled open and Haru stumbled back as Akito emerged. Akito slammed the door behind him. He looked up and noticed the group in the office.
"Yuki… what a surprise. You came to visit." He saw the inhaler in Hatori's hand. "Still having those attacks? I see you're as pathetic as ever."
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" Kyo screamed again.
"Tsk. Tsk. Such a racket." Akito said with a grin as he stared at Haru and Yuki's shocked faces. He walked towards the office door. "Yuki, New Year's is next Friday, right? I look forward to seeing you there. Maybe I'll even let you all see Kyo."
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!"
"But then again… you all can just hear him now… Such an annoying thing." Akito rolled his eyes and exited the room. Hatori stood still for a minute than walked swiftly towards the back door. He pulled the key from his pocket and unlocked it. Yuki and Haru stood behind him. For a brief second they saw red hair, then the door slammed in their face as Hatori closed it behind himself.
Kyo stopped screaming.
Yuki and Haru stood in the office for a while, waiting for Hatori to let them in. The door didn't open. After waiting for a long time, Haru sighed.
"Let's go home Yuki… We'll try again later."
"Yeah." Yuki nodded, throwing one last glance at the back door before they both departed from the room.
Authors Note: I hope that wasn't too confusing! It switches around a lot…
Once again let me thank the fabulous people who review my story and make me feel all warm and tingly inside:
No name: You have the coolest username ever. Update? Your wish is my command.
Lexis: Poor Kyo… evil Akito, and yes, volume 13 is coming out April 11, 2006. I'm preordering my copy soon.
Kaydon: Thanks for the compliments! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far!
Kyo'slittlekittenkisa: Is Kyo going to kiss Uo? Hmm… we'll have to wait and see…
Shadow7272: Are you kidding? Of course beating Kyo up is wonderful! Aikido? That's so cool. Art of the Samurai, that's cool that you take that. As I said, I do Korean martial arts, so I had no idea if the moves I were describing were even similar to anything in Aikido. Swords? Jeez you're lucky. That's awesome. Thanks for sharing that information!
Fullma8712: I know right? Uo and Hana took a long time to figure something out! I'm glad you liked this chapter!
Bouncing Shii-chan: Oh dear, you did say Shigure. I only wrote Hatori cause I'm crazy and my fingers have stopped obeying my brain. Sorry! I meant Shigure too! I'm glad chapter 18 is your favorite; the whole martial arts scene was one of the original scenes I had since I created the idea for this story! I think that's my favorite chapter… or maybe this is… I don't know, it changes every week for me.
Dark Inu Fan: Yea, Akito was very cruel to Kyo… I feel bad for Yuki and wonder what he had to go through with Akito for all of those years. And the girls should confront Yuki and Tohru… but we'll see…
Dark-wolf-soulx: Hey, I missed you! Welcome back! I hope you're feeling much better. As for Kyo riding horseback… I don't think that will happen in this story because I did that once and my rump hurt for a week. Ha. And yes, your review was very funny, as usual!
ShadoWalker: Wouldn't that just make it easier if they all (Yuki, Tohru, Uo, and Hana) worked together to save Kyo? Yes… that would make everything so much less complicated. But… then this story would end, and I'm just having too much fun throwing all my ideas in here at once. And I agree, if all the Sohma's came together, Akito would have to run for the hills… But will they do that in this story? You must wait and see… And I'm very proud of my Uo and Hana scene… that was a last minute scene I just threw in while I was typing up the final draft, but it flowed so nicely I was so proud of it. I'm glad you liked it.
Starship Gazer: I need to know whats happening next to! I guess I should write faster! And yes, poor Kyo is not having a good month. But, I guess it could be worse… He could be…. I don't know… bitten by fire ants…
The Cheshire Katt: Oh, Kyo is cracking all right. Ha, but yes, congratulations to Uo and Hana for finally doing something in my story. Ha, I've got to write them in more… Uo has a kind of big part for this story (I mean, what? No. I didn't say anything.)
Narutofreak22: Hey, what's wrong with having a swelled head? I ask myself that everyday. Don't let your friends deflate yours! You can join me, and we can spill compliments about ourselves all day! As for a Kyo-Yuki-Tohru confrontation: that might not happen for some time. It all depends on how I'm feeling…