Addiction: Chapter 9
By: Catrina
A/N: This chapter was kind of hard to write. Since I don't know about the actual way Japanese celebrate Christmas, I tried not to focus of the day much, but did work in the actual gift giving.
Thanks for those people who reviewed for chapter 8. I appreciate the time that you guys really take to tell me what you think about my story. This chapter didn't quite turn out the way I wanted, but you know… the stories write themselves, so on with the chapter then…
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Yuki really wasn't the jealous type, but things; they had gotten out of hand to say the least. The Sunday that Kyo had meet with Akito, Kyo had told him about the girl that helped him out, and that she looked familiar. Well as their luck would have it she did, she was in the B class and they were in A class. Well within a week of her bandaging up Kyo, it was now to a point where the rumors were flying high. It had started with how Kyo had been such a great guy, how he had let his ex girlfriend let out her emotions and had been a real man and let her vent, even though it had been over. The next week it had turned in how every man should be like Kyo, listening and attentive, and that that stupid chit that he had been with should be mourning her loss, because now Kyo was open to everyone else in the school. And the third week just before Christmas his desk started receiving mysterious gifts. The first one had surprised him and he was really unsure of what to do with it. It had just been left there, no name, no note, and Kyo had dropped it in his bag to check later. The gift happened to be chocolate, so he gave it to Tohru. She was pleasantly surprised. But after that more and more gifts seemed to be piling in, and needless to say Yuki was sick of it.
And Yuki was sick of Kyo being sick of it.
To Yuki it was obvious that the cat just wanted things to go back to normal, he just wanted to forget about the incident and move on. But now he was worshipped by many of the women population. The guys really weren't to mad about it, because they had caught him ranting and raving in the guys locker-room when a gift had found a way into his bag…
Something about 'mob mentality' and 'stupid little girls.'
It seemed statements like that caused most of the PE class to bond with Kyo. Yuki was beginning to think that soon Kyo would be more popular then he was, which didn't actually bother him, but it was starting to take away from their time together. Girls turned up to watch him run at the indoor track and then they wanted to talk. They held him after his practice and soon Yuki found that his time with Kyo was getting shorter and Kyo was getting more and more short-tempered.
Yuki stood in the empty shower room and waited and when Kyo walked in the door he slammed it behind him. He turned a glowering face toward his locker and where Yuki was standing. Kyo's skin was glowing with sweat and his hair was slightly damp.
"Keep them away from me." He growled looking to Yuki with an almost panicked look on his face. Yuki smiled softly and walked to where Kyo stood in front of the door.
"That's what locks are for." He said slamming the lock shut, "Now only the janitor can get in."
"Please tell me there is a back door, they are starting to wait for me." Yuki would have laughed, but the fact of the matter was they were both getting sick of having to dodge admirers on both sides.
"There is…" for a minute he actually debated about telling Kyo what he just found out, "Do you want the bad news or the good news first?" Kyo pulled his shirt of over his head and looked at Yuki his hair sticking out in all directions as he threw his shirt into the gym bag he pulled out from the locker.
"Whatever." He grabbed a towel and headed for the showers, Yuki followed at a safe distance.
"Good news."
"We don't have to go to the New Year's celebration, something about a big party for our graduation."
"Yay." Yuki stood propped outside the shower hearing the water run, knowing that Kyo was quickly and efficiently cleaning off the sweat and grime of his 4 mile run.
"The bad new, Haru's coming to stay with us, starting tonight."
"What!" Kyo's wet upper half came out from behind the shower curtain, and he glared at Yuki. "No."
"For a week."
"Why?"
"Something about not wanting to be at the main house, and his family is gone, or something."
"Damn, life just got back to normal." Kyo growled before ducking back in the shower, rinsing, and then turning the water off. He wrapped the towel around his waist and came back out. Yuki stared at him and then watched as he used another towel to dry off slightly before rubbing it almost violently on his hair.
"Be gentle," Yuki said coming up behind him to take control of the towel, "I like your hair; you'll lose it that way."
"This is crazy; can't we just kick him out?" Kyo asked shoulders slumped slightly.
"It gets worse, he's sharing my room." Yuki whispered knowing that it would indeed get worse. He wrapped his arms around Kyo from behind, loving the smell of his soft skin and kissed each shoulder blade
"Hell no! He stalks you the way it is. He'll freakin' try to climb in bed with you. Not gonna happen." He yelled turning around and facing Yuki as he still held him. Kyo draped his naked arms over Yuki's shoulders as the other boy settled against his chest, ignoring the wet towel wrapped around Kyo's waist.
"He can't sneak in the bed when I'm not asleep."
"Huh?"
"I told you this when I got back, I can't sleep with out you in bed with me, I won't even be able to wear your clothes to bed, he'll recognize them." Kyo's heart stuttered for a little bit at the romantic thought, and he kissed the top of Yuki's head.
"You can have my pillows, how's that?"
"Nothing compared to the real thing."
"Are you pouting?" Kyo asked wanting to laugh.
"No." Kyo pulled back and tipped Yuki's chin to look at him. Whether he was doing it on purpose or not, his lower lip was extended slightly and his eyes looked sad. Kyo tipped his head down and nibbled on his lower lip.
"You're pouting." That's sweet… he almost said it but kissed him instead. "I'm as pissed as you, but what are we going to do? Its only a week…Don't worry."
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"It's only a week he said. Don't worry he said. I haven't slept for five days and he's stalking me." He looked over his shoulder seeing the ox following slightly behind him, and he glared at Kyo walking in front of him. But he couldn't be mad, not really…not with seeing the circles under Kyo's eyes and the stiff set to the shoulder. Both of them had been more temperamental, that it was almost like before the got together. They were yelling at each other over everything, and it was simply the stranger that was throwing them off balance. Kyo had been right though, Haru had tried to climb in bed with him. But he kicked him out, and Yuki didn't sleep at all that night. The pillows were of little comfort, but they gave him something to hold at night. But it really was nothing compared to the real thing. It also didn't help that Yuki was horny…really horny. Kyo was walking in front of him, and instead of trying not to think about it…all he could think about was how lean he was, even under the somewhat bulky winter coat, and his hair was being ruffled by the slight wind, how his long legs covered the ground quickly producing a slight sway of his hips. Their group passed an alley and for just a moment Yuki thought about pulling Kyo into but that would be to obvious.
Right now, and all he had wanted really wanted was to kiss Kyo, to pull that body tight to his and feel it respond to his, to feel the kiss turn hot, passionate and then maybe let himself be slammed against a wall, a door. When his body started to respond to his thoughts he tried thinking cold thoughts. Looking over to Haru it was easy to see why he was upset. The ox was leering at him silently watching him. Sometimes it really did bother him that his cousin lusted after him so much, but he realized he wasn't much better when he first went after Kyo.
Maybe he could catch him in a bathroom, he had pleasant memories of a certain school bathroom…maybe they could relive that experience. He sighed softly as they entered the school grounds already running slightly behind. The classes seemed to run as slow as possible as always for a Friday, and then they just needed to get through this weekend then Christmas was Sunday, Haru would leave on Sunday. There was nothing better then that.
Waiting until the bell rang Yuki walked out of the classroom quickly finding the bathroom, peeking in he found it empty and when Kyo walked by he grabbed the other boy and pulled him discreetly in the bathroom. But he noticed that Kyo already had a smile on his face. Yuki locked the door the second he had his lover in the bathroom, but he didn't even have time to breathe before Kyo was kissing him and pulling his body close. One hand dug into Yuki's hair as the other trailed down his back to rest on the top of his ass and pressed their hips together, they both let out a moan at the contact.
"God, I wondered when you were going to do something." Kyo muttered, pulling off Yuki's tie and throwing it over his shoulder, then went to unbuttoning his shirt quickly and dragging it of his shoulders leaving it around his wrist leaving him bound by his clothing while Kyo started touching his skin, kissing and biting down his neck.
"Me…why didn't you?" For some reason Yuki's hands wouldn't cooperate getting them from their fabric prison was difficult but then it got worse, cause Kyo was still wearing his clothes. When he finally got loose he buttons on Kyo's shirt seemed to be fighting him at every step when all he wanted to do was feel skin on skin.
"You drag me off to yell at me all the time," Kyo spoke into his neck as he bit down on his collarbone, "I never come after you in public." Kyo had a point…
"But still, you could have done something." He said as he pulled on Kyo's hair and brought his lips against his own, stopping Kyo's fighting words back. Yuki didn't even process Kyo's hands undoing his belt until his fly was undone and Kyo's warm palm pressed against his hardness. Yuki pulled away as he shivered at the contact. "God, I've missed this."
"I kept hoping that you would join me in the shower, but I knew it would look suspicious for you to be up that early." Kyo's shirt finally floated away and landed on the floor
"Stop talking and kiss me now…" Yuki muttered, hips pressing against the moving hand below his waist. Kyo smirked but that was quickly wiped off his face as Yuki took control of the kiss, and Kyo soon found himself quickly divested of his clothing.
"Yuki?" It was a question and a plea, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Yuki on his knees in front of him. "Oh god…" and then black and white spots started to fill his vision and he didn't say anything at all.
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"It was just strange; we couldn't find either of you." Haru commented as they all walked home together. But even he noticed that the two seemed more relaxed then they had on the way to school, more relaxed then they had been all week. There was another snow storm in the forecast for tonight and the wind was bitterly cold. Yuki found that his breath was getting shorter and shorter. Haru had thought that it would be a good idea to catch the bus, but with the two boys delayed in the bathroom, they had tried to run to catch it, and now, Yuki couldn't seem to catch his breath. Haru and Tohru seemed blissfully ignorant, but Kyo kept looking at him with concern and he really wasn't sure how to go about explain that he was about to have an attack. Kyo slowed but he was always cautious about looking to friendly around the others, so he hung back a little and watched the other two continue walking gaining ground.
"Are you okay?" Kyo whispered, trying not to look concerned when he looked over.
"Yeah, I think so, but last time I had an attack I changed."
"Did you over-exert yourself?" Kyo asked with an expression that could almost be a leer.
"Not with you, running for the bus that we then missed." He grumbled.
"Well would you rather have not been preoccupied in the bathroom? If it wasn't good for you we may have some problems." Kyo noted, showing his rare sense of humor.
"No it was worth it." Yuki sneezed and Kyo debated giving him his coat. He then decided against it when he saw the others look back. Kyo watched as Yuki came to a full stop and looked as though he was concentrating on his breathing, trying to get under control, but for some reason all he could see was that Yuki seemed to be breathing faster. Kyo had seen this before and knew what was coming. Looking around quickly he pulled the rat into an alcove between two buildings and came back out holding a bundle of clothes and a rat on his shoulder.
"Oh, oh can I carry him?" Haru asked, but then looked at the little mouse as it waved its small paws.
"I'm okay here…besides you said that you would help Miss Honda."
"But will you be okay… do you want to come with us? No…no I think that you should come with us."
"A rat in a grocery store that might cause a scene." Haru glared long and hard at Kyo.
"If he is not in perfectly good condition when I get back to the house, you and me are having a fight. You understand me."
"Stupid cow…get going."
"UNDERSTAND ME!"
"Yes, I understand, now get out of my way." He pushed the cow out of his way and dropped Yuki, into an inner pocket, juggling their items and his book bags; he started on a slow jog back to the house.
"Stop running..." Yuki said in a whine from his pocket.
"I will when we get closer to home."
"But I'm bouncing…" Yuki yelled from his pocket. He growled, as well as a rat could, when he heard Kyo laugh. Kyo did slow to a walk when the reached the woods that signaled that they were close to home. Kyo pulled Yuki out of his pocket and placed the rat back on his shoulder, where he sat using the Kyo's scarf as a blanket.
"Still cold?" Kyo asked it was hard to tell if Yuki was feverish or sick when he was in zodiac form.
"No, you throw off a lot of body heat."
"Then why haven't you changed back yet?" He felt a cold nose nuzzle his neck. "Hey! Stop that, it tickles…" Yuki then of course did it again.
"Christmas is coming soon, and then we get to skip New Years, we can watch the sun rise with Miss Tohru."
"Just like a couple years ago, it will be nice. Do you think that any of them know about us?" Kyo asked then looked over almost surprised to see a rat instead of Yuki, his voice sounded the same just more tired, and the weight of him as a mouse was so very slight.
"No, I think that for once in his idiotic existence, Ayame understands they heaviness of the situation. He always wants to talk to me about it though. Yesterday he called me and in that hyper laughing voice of his asked me how my sex life was."
"Is that what prompted the visit to the bathroom today?" Kyo asked with a laugh and when he looked over he thought he knew what a blushing rat looked like. He walked through the door slipping off his shoes then up to Yuki's room, laying the rat on the bed. They spoke softly for a couple minutes before Kyo mentioned food and went down to grab some light food for Yuki to eat. When he came up he found the naked boy laying under the covers, shivering slightly. He touched a hand to his forehead noting the Yuki had fallen asleep. He made the decision and when to call Hatori.
The doctor came in the door as Haru and Tohru came home with the groceries. After checking Yuki over, he prescribed the boy with rest over the weekend, and told him to take it easy. Haru and Tohru went to speak with him and take him leek soup, and Kyo stood in the doorway watching Hatori and Shigure speak. They seemed to be in deep conversation, and Hatori looked over to Kyo once and he had a very dark expression on his face, which was abnormal for the normally cold and distant doctor. He wondered if maybe Hatori knew about him and Yuki. Hatori left soon after telling, Haru that he was expected back at the main house before noon on Sunday.
"What's going on?" Kyo asked Shigure, who looked deep in thought, something that Kyo was starting to see more and more of lately.
"Akito seems to be getting worse and worse. Hatori thinks that it is in direct relation with the curse, but he isn't sure what has changed over the last few months. Nothing has changed, no new people know about the curse, none of us cursed ones are really happy, so he doesn't know exactly why Akito's getting worse."
"Why does anyone care? The man makes all our lives living hell." Shigure looked at him sharply eyes angry.
"Akito is still a person."
"Akito takes every pleasure in calling me a monster and reminding me that I belong to him. And we aren't talking about me serving him tea everyday, and bowing down to him. That person's goal is to lock me in a cage and strip away every ounce of my life, everything that makes me human. He wants me at my worst, begging and pleading. In less then six months that man will lock me in cold, dark cage and either torture me or forget about me. Tell me how that makes him human. Tell me why I should care if the man dies or not."
"Kyo…"
"That person is cold, hateful, and resentful. He feels better only when the people around him feel terrible, once he has me, he'll be on cloud nine and then he'll be all better and no one will have to worry about poor little Akito, because he'll finally have his cat…his monster in a cage."
"That's not…"
"Don't you dare say it isn't true!" Kyo yelled at Shigure, Kyo's eyes seemed to hold a fury that Shigure had never actually seen before, such resentment along with such despair. Yes, the dog had noticed that over the past couple years, Kyo had grown more and more quiet, silently resigning to his fate, but still, there was something else that sigure couldn't put his finger on. "In less then six months you will never be allowed to see me again and that, that will make Akito the happiest person in the world."
"What are you talking about?" The both turned to the doorway to see Haru standing there startled and a little confused. He had heard the yelling up in Yuki's room and decided it was best to look into it, or at least tell them to keep it quiet. But there was something wrong with Kyo, the anger and the despair he heard in his voice even though he wasn't understanding the words.
"Nothing, stupid ox! Get outta my way." Kyo pushed the ox aside and rushed to his room.
Shigure looked at the retreating back as Kyo's words really started to sink in. So much of what the teenager said was true. That Akito's nature was twisted, but Shigure hoped that there was a person under Akito, a real person that would learn to embrace life and stop feeling such pity for himself, but as Kyo's words echoed in his head he knew that he was most likely wrong.
Akito was going to lock Kyo in a cage.
In just a few months time, he really would never see the fiery cat again, unless it was at his funeral, if Akito allowed the cat to have one.
Kyo would never experience so many things: college, dating, dances, parties, love, happiness, and children. But he would loose so much: hope, faith, himself, and eventually his life, because a person couldn't go on without that.
Haru looked on at the dog in confusion; the man seemed to have tears forming in his eyes.
"Shigure, are you okay?" Haru asked walking a little closer. The man tipped his head in Haru's direction and the ox barely got a glimpse of saddened eyes.
"We truly are cursed."
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Yuki woke twisted and turned, and woke when the sheets around his body restricted his movements. His body felt hot, but he really didn't feel sick anymore. Visions of dreams that he couldn't remember flashed through his head and his chest ached with a tightness that he didn't really understand. Looking around he realized that he was in his bed alone but Haru slept close by on the floor. Yuki pulled the sheets away from his pale clammy skin and rose from the bed. He was slightly shaking and the random thought of food made his stomach rumble. He softly stepped around the sleeping ox and opened the door with a soft creek. Padding on bare feet, he made his way down the hall and into the kitchen. It was the soft flickering lights in the other room that made him realize that he wasn't alone. He looking in the fridge and found some cold rice and vegetables to eat and took the food to follow the light. He wasn't surprised when he found Kyo in the other room watching the TV. The cat looked up as he entered the room and gave the cat a soft smile.
"Hey."
"Hey, yourself." Yuki walked over, his bare feet almost making no sound. He sat down by Kyo and the cat wrapped and arm around his shoulder pulling him close. He leaned his head on Kyo's shoulder and sighed slightly, balancing his food in his lap as he relaxed.
"How are you feeling?" Kyo's voice was soft and soothing and Yuki found himself wanting to fall back to sleep right where he was.
"I miss you." The words were out before Yuki even knew that he was saying. This was nothing like the act of lust earlier on the day. He missed this, being with Kyo, smelling his scent, wrapping himself around the other boy while they slept, sapping the other boys warmth. He missed calming his temper and missed the other boy's while irritating, but soothing presence.
Kyo looked at him and didn't even think of laughing. He knew exactly what the other boy was talking about. There was no way that he could lie and laugh it off as a joke. So he simply stayed silent and pulled Yuki closer, feeling his cheeks warm with a blush at the somewhat romantic words that Yuki had spoke. He simply hoped that the other boy would not notice, that he wouldn't understand but that wasn't even close.
"Are you blushing?" Yuki asked and raised a hand to touch his cheek. Kyo shivered at that.
"Brrr, your hands are cold as ice." He took the now mostly empty plate from Yuki's lap and set it on the coffee table. He pulled the blanket off of the back of the couch and placed it over Yuki as he settled laying on the couch with his head in Kyo's lap. They shifted becoming more comfortable before either spoke again.
"I heard you yelling. What were you mad about?" Yuki's voice was soft.
"Akito, what else." Kyo grumbled grabbing the remote and turning the volume down slightly. It was obvious something that he did because he was uncomfortable.
"What this time?" Yuki asked softly, this was really a conversation that he wasn't sure they were ready for yet.
"I don't understand how the rest of the family cares for him, about him, why they worry because he isn't getting better this time. Akito calls me a monster, but the real monster is him." Yuki was glad that he wasn't looking at Kyo when his next words came out.
"They don't know him like we do. We have seen the evil twisted side of him that he hides so well from others. I hope he dies." Yuki's words were harsh but Kyo didn't fight the fact that he felt the same way.
"It more like he is the curse, I could deal with the fact I turn into a cat, but dealing with him is the real curse."
"It will be Christmas soon." Yuki stated, obviously changing the subject.
"Yeah." Kyo agreed staring listlessly at the television.
"After Haru leaves, I have a gift for you." Since Yuki was laying in his lap he could feel, Kyo's whole body tense at his words.
"You do?"
"But I did it because I wanted to." He sat up quickly almost hitting Kyo's head as he looked down in shock at Yuki. "But that doesn't mean that you have to get me anything. I just did it because I wanted to and well I noticed that…" He stopped when he noticed that he was about to give away the gift and that he was rambling.
Kyo looked at him blinking somewhat in awe of seeing Yuki ruffled and nervous over something so small.
"I already got you something."
"Huh?"
"Never-mind we'll just see about it in a couple days." Kyo muttered before staring at a speck on the wall. An uncomfortable silence filled the area around them, neither of them really comfortable with the fact that when you bought gifts for each other it meant that you cared.
"We should go back to bed." Yuki whispered, wanting to fill the void around them with some sort of sound.
"Yeah," Kyo agreed before clicking off the TV, standing, and then giving Yuki a helping hand up. "Hey, why don't you just stay in bed tomorrow? Tohru wanted to make some Christmas candies and stuff… we'll bring you a tray. Then the next day Haru is gone."
"And I can finally get some real sleep." Yuki muttered.
"I thought you said he's been good." Kyo looked anger flaring to life in his crimson eyes.
"Yeah, he has been, compared to other times. He only tried to climb in once."
"ONCE!" Yuki placed a hand over Kyo's mouth, speaking softly, since they were indeed outside his door.
"I kicked him out, and haven't really slept since. Don't worry; he isn't nearly as comfortable as you are."
Kyo's mouth actually opened and closed a number of times before he realized that Yuki had a soft smirk on his face, and was indeed making fun of him.
"Jerk, get to sleep." He said with a smile and a soft spank to Yuki's ass to get him moving.
"Goodnight."
"Yeah, Goodnight."
00-00-00-00
Yuki actually spent the next day in the kitchen watching the other's as they cooked, decorated, and cleaned, and spent the evening eating their snacks, The next day, the all woke, exchanged gifts, then Shigure headed for the main house, and Tohru went to see her friends for Christmas dinner and to exchange gifts. She left only after making sure that Kyo and Yuki would have something to eat. In their own way they each assured her that it was fine and when she left, the air was once again filled with a quiet uncomfortable air much like the evening that Yuki had snuck down and watched TV with him. They both knew that they had gifts for each other but they weren't quiet sure what to do with them.
"My room?" Kyo asked and Yuki nodded, following his lead. He snuck to his room grabbing his gift and then walked into Kyo's room, he couldn't escape the nervousness that he felt. But when he looked at Kyo he noticed that the other boy looked just as nervous as he did.
"Why did you buy me a gift?" Yuki asked sitting down on the floor. "I was surprised when you said that you had gotten one for me." He looked up to Kyo, eyes wide in question.
"Because I saw it and I thought of you…of us." A box was shoved into Yuki's slender hands and he held the box looking at it. It was wrapped in cheerful green paper and a red bow was on top, with a small card that had his name sprawled across it written in Kyo's somewhat messy manuscript. He opened the box slowly and gently, not wanting to ruin the obvious effort that Kyo had put into it. When the paper was pulled off he looking inside to see what was there.
"I'm cold." Yuki whispered looking ahead to see if Torhu was watching as he walked closer and closer to Kyo trying to steal his body heat.
"You say that every morning." Kyo also seemed as unsympathetic as he did every day. But there was still something there. He could see just a flicker of concern, a flicker of worry. They both knew what Yuki was like when he was sick, and how serious that it could get.
"But…"
"You just need to break down and buy them you know." Kyo grunted before looking away but walking a little closer to Yuki in hopes to give him a little more of his warmth. Yuki was so strong, but still seemed to fragile.
A scarf, gloves, hat, and heavy winter coat, lay in the box, they were all the perfect shade of grayish-lavender and when he touched them they were soft to the touch…no itchy wool or scratchy yarn. No…this was most likely the most expensive thing that Yuki owned… of that he had no doubt.
"I worry…"
"Huh?" Yuki looked up shocked.
"About you."
"Me."
"You get sick to easy." Kyo was looking down, but Yuki could see that his face was as red as his hair. There was no doubt that he was embarrassed. Yet Yuki was so touched, by the gift, but more so by the words. Kyo never said anything that bluntly. Instead of embarrassing him more he pulled them out to see them better, and touch them, and slip them on. It was when he was lifting the jacket out the small notebook caught his eye. Reaching in the box he realized it wasn't a notebook, but a journal. Turning it over it was the cover that got his attention. It was a book that was obviously meant for a girl, but Kyo had bought it anyway. On the cover there was a picture of a cat, sleeping curled into a ball, but lying protectively in its paws was a small mouse. Both in the picture looked happy and peaceful.
"Because I saw it and I thought of you…of us" Kyo had seen this and thought of them, granted he worried about Yuki, but this gift showed Yuki one thing. Kyo would have been embarrassed to buy this, he would have been stuttering, yelling, and or blushing, but he went through with it anyway…because he knew that Yuki would like it.
And he did.
"Kyo." Yuki waited and when Kyo wouldn't look up he said his name again. "Its all perfect." It was then that Yuki saw something that he couldn't remember seeing before. Kyo smiled a small little smile, tilted his head to the side, and a bashful blush brushed across his cheeks before he once again lowered his head in embarrassment. "Your turn." He handed over the box.
Kyo was so pleased with Yuki's reaction; he forgot all about the gift that he knew would be coming his way. He looked at the medium sized box nad tried not to give into the urge to shake it. Just like Yuki he took care and unwrapped the box inside were three smaller boxes. With a questioning glance he opened the first box it was brass picture frame, but it was empty. He raised a brow at Yuki in question but Yuki just motioned him to continue. He opened the next box and found a large photo album with the word 'Memories' embossed on the front. Shaking his head he opened the third and final box, opening it to find a small but sturdy camera with a small printing dock.
"You don't have any pictures… why not?" Yuki asked for once taking the time to look around the room instead of just at his lover.
"No one took pictures of me really. My mom never took any and then Master Kazuma didn't really either."
"But how do you remember you good times, the fun times with friends?" Yuki realized at that moment that he sounded very naïve. But he knew the truth, Kyo was the cat, most people feared and rejected him. There was no way that before now he had really had friends. Yuki knew that as well as everyone else.
"What good times? My life isn't horrible, but it really isn't that great."
"But don't you want to remember the past, ten years from now?" Yuki gazed at Kyo and realized that at that moment when he looked out the window that he looked sad and he wondered again if there was something that was on his lover's mind.
"I don't worry about the future." His smile was so sad.
"I think that this is a good time to start your photo album. You'll have memories of all of us."
"You…I just want to remember you." Kyo said softly as he dropped his gifts and held Yuki tight against him. Shocked for a moment Yuki simply sat motionless.
"Not a problem, I'll always be here." Yuki said softly, for once letting real sentimental words flow out of his heart, not making his brain stop them.
Kyo clutched him tighter… he didn't let go for the rest of the night
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