"Now you have to stay here. And never leave again."
At first Kano just stared unblinkingly at Shigure. His eyes were closed in serious thought, his hand still holding his chin and his other holding his other elbow. Stood tall in his almost authoritarian grey kimono, looking the most serious he had ever been since they first met. Including the nude incident in the kitchen.
"…excuse me?" was all Kano could say. Shigure finally opened his brown eyes and looked at him with a warm, albeit sorry smile.
"You have to understand, this is the only way. Kyo." He called. "Lock the doors."
"What!" Kano yelled, snapping his head towards the orange headed teen. "Don't you dare!"
"Shigure, you can't be seri-"
"I gave you an order Kyo. You are in my house, and I rarely ever ask you to do anything. Now lock the doors." Kyo gulped, not liking how even Tohru looked to him with worry. Should he do it? "Kyo."
"Right." That was the first time Shigure had growled at him sternly, and the cat obeyed for the first time in his life.
He got as far as the hallway, when Kano stood in his way.
"I am a very calm man Kyo. It takes a lot to upset me."
"Humph." He pretended not to care, and looked to Shigure out of the corner of his eyes. Please don't make me do this. But he kept up his tough guy façade all the while.
"Kyo! If you lock us in here I swear I'll kick your ass!" Yoko screamed at last. "Naked or not!" he blushed slightly at that, but not nearly as much as Yoko did.
"Shigure san, please-"
"I'm sorry Tohru." Shigure sighed, not liking how what was a happy, even hilarious situation had turned so ugly. But he had to protect the Sohma household. If Akito ever found out that even more people have found out about the curse at his house, then who knows what would happen. There was only one thing for it. Lock them in, and call Hatori right away.
He felt horrible for even thinking of wiping any of their memories away. He looked up to Kano, who looked absolutely intimidating stood there, bare-chested still, his muscles tensed and promising pain to anyone who tried to pass him. "But it's the only way."
"No it isn't 'Gure." A sly, elegant voice slithered across the room.
"Not now Aayame." He growled. He already felt like a bastard for doing this. He didn't need his best friend to make him feel even worse.
"You can't do this!" Kyo riled up at last. He didn't feel comfortable being the one asked to lock the doors. "And I sure as hell won't!"
"Fine, I'll do it." Shigure huffed, turning to face Kano.
"Sohma San." Kano said with a stern jaw. His dark magenta eyes seemed to grow even darker, torturous promises dancing in his eyes like flames on this potential explosion. "I won't let you lock us in here." Waves and waves or protective need hit Shigure, coming from the younger man before him. and he recognised the emotion well, as he felt the same.
"No harm will come to any of you, I promise."
"What will come to any of us? I'm not moving until you tell me." To punctuate his point, he placed his hands at both sides of the door frame, blocking any chance of escape.
"Are you really going to wipe their memories?" Yuki, still a little rat, spoke louder than any of them, solemnly.
Shigure's head hung forward.
Kano creased his brow at him, before looking to Shigure for answers.
"You know we have to Yuki." He spoke with his eyes closed, feeling Kano's desperate gaze on him all the time. "They know."
"We wouldn't tell anyone! Not ever!" Yoko pleaded. "We aren't like that!"
"I was just kidding before about the whole sell you to the circus thing you know." Suzu chuckled.
"Why aren't you angry about this Suzu!" Yoko shouted at her, stomping her foot angrily. "Do you want to have you memories wiped?"
"My memories aren't going to be wiped." Suzu lowered onto the couch lazily, Aayame sitting next to her.
"Oh really!" Yoko was more than frantic by this point. Memories in her head? Being messed with? Would the person doing it see other certain memories too? No!
"Yep, really." Suzu was uncharacteristically calm. She leaned her shoulder against Aayame's side, huddling against him like she would her brother. And of course he smiled knowingly and draped an arm across her shoulders. "Because there is another way."
"No there isn't." Shigure pined sadly, feeling the villain. "If there were-"
"Shigure San." Tohru piqued up. This was very odd for Tohru, she never sounded annoyed with anyone. "There is another way." It took a moment for Shigure to come to the same conclusion as Tohru and for some reason Suzu too. How she knew, he could only guess. Aayame.
"Tohru, you know Akito would never allow it."
"Allow what? Akito who? What the hell are you all talking about!" Yoko grit her teeth. She then stopped, realising that for once she was playing Suzu's role. "Who is Akito, please?"
"Yeah, who is Akito?" Suzu asked with interest.
"He is the head of the Sohma household my dear. The one who rules over all of us, and oversees family affairs." Aayame explained.
"And he barely let it go the last time."
"Last time?" Yoko raised a brow.
"I'm not a Sohma." Tohru smiled softly. "Tohru Honda, remember?"
"So you found out about the curse too! And they didn't wipe your memory." Yoko sighed, finally seeing hope on the horizon.
"Tohru had already started living here when she discovered the family secret you see. And after much persuasion from myself, Akito allowed her to stay on the condition she never told anyone about us, and she stayed here where both we, and he, could keep an eye on her."
"I'm all alone now without the Sohmas. My mother and father had both passed away, and I was living on my own in a tent when Yuki found me." She beamed happily, giving Yuki an extra squeeze in her hands. He took comfort from that, and continued.
"But Akito looks for any excuse at every opportunity to have her memory wiped and turned away. We always have to be on our guard, he tries everything and anything to have his way." The undertone of hatred in Yuki's voice piped Suzu's interest.
"So he is a bastard then?"
"Literally and none literally." Yuki looked away. "He is the reason I don't live in the Sohma estate anymore."
"And he banished me." Kyo added, running a hand through his orange hair, but he sounded delighted about that. It made Yoko smile at last.
"And I am only out here after heavy persuasion and for my job. I'm a novelist." Shigure added, trying to smile despite the situation.
"PE Teacher, and sport's studies." Kano nodded to him.
"Student." Suzu added for the hell of it with a grin.
"Fashion designer and owner of my own business." Aayame giggled. "I have many customers you know. But too few models. I keep asking Yuki but-"
"BUT I'm not demented so moving on." Yuki coughed into his hand. This conversation kept swinging from dire to light hearted quicker than he could blink his little rat eyes. "So that's basically the only reason Tohru knows of the curse and hasn't had her memory wiped. But Tohru had to work really hard to stay here, and she is only one person."
"So you see Aayame? There is no other way that-"
"Oh poo, nonsense. How do you know Akito will forbid it? We have always been looking for a way to break the curse, to be accepted. This might just be the way to go about it." He smiled, unusually calm as well, and started to play with a lock of Suzu's midnight hair. "I do love your hair my dear. You must tell me the names of all the hair products you use."
"Well I-"
"And the only way to protect the secret is to wipe your memory. Don't worry, Hatori has had plenty of practice and knows what he is doing. He's the family Doctor too, and has very gentle hands. A few minutes, and you'll not remember anything before you entered the house."
"And then we will be on our way? No brain damage, no other damage or repercussions either?" Kano asked sceptically. He didn't believe in messing with things that weren't supposed to be messed with. Your head being the prime example.
"Exactly."
"Not exactly." Aayame once again spoke up. "Shigure, have you forgotten the minimum time Hatori can wipe is only 2 days? No less?" Shigure brushed it off.
"That doesn't make any difference."
"Oh yes it does!" Suzu jumped to her feet, at last being her good old self. "Kano! Yesterday!" his dark magenta eyes opened to mirror his sister's.
What had happened to the four of them yesterday, that would he disastrous to forget, hmmm?
Yoko grew very quite, and her amber eyes caught glances from the siblings, and Takara.
The brilliant blonde had been taking in all this information, and was starting to think along the same path as Kano.
She walked over to Yoko, and placed a hand on her shoulder. She then looked pleadingly at Kano, who nodded.
"Alright, no after shock or effects, no strings attached?"
"No strings attached." Shigure sighed. He had actually been enjoying Kano's company, and the girls. He would have liked to get their address and phone number and keep in touch. But this way he wouldn't even be able to write to them. Not now. At least he seems to be cooperating now.
"Ok." Yoko stopped breathing. She even lost her balance and had to use Takara to keep standing. "But not today." Kano sent her a reassuring look. "Don't ask me why, I can't tell you. But something happened yesterday that would be dangerous to us to forget so easily. We will let this Hatori person wipe our memories, but only if you wait until tomorrow evening, no sooner. We can forget tomorrow and today, but not yesterday." Shigure raised a brow, curious as to what could have happened yesterday that would be 'dangerous' to forget?
Is it the reason they drove for so long? And got lost in the first place? Are they on the run from something?
After a long silence, he nodded.
"Alright. But you have to stay here for the night."
"No problem." Kano sighed with relief. He hadn't even insisted to know what happened yesterday. "Thank you. And I'm sorry this all happened." He relaxed, letting his hands slip from the door frame.
"No, I'm sorry this all happened. And I'm so sorry that you have to go through this." Shigure gave him a small bow of his head.
"I understand, really." He smiled, but it was a sad smile. It tugged at Shigure's conscience painfully.
For a moment, no one moved, no one spoke.
"SO…where's breakfast?"
"Oh! The waffles!" Tohru pushed Yuki into Shigure's hands, and ran back to the kitchen. A slow chuckle spread across the room, and gradually everyone started laughing cheerfully. "Oh, I've saved them!"
"Good!"
"Suzu!" Yoko laughed, sitting on her other side. Aayame raised a brow, looking over her attire, and then her watery eyes. He assumed she was just one of those people who cried when they laughed, and couldn't control his eyes from travelling over her body. There was something…something more to her than she seemed.
He would have to talk to her later… "You and your damn stomach!"
"What? I was starving this morning. Now I'm wasting away!"
"You look it."
"So I should. My brother should be put away for child neglect."
"He should. And for not teaching you manners and subtlety."
"Yeah he…wait…" she narrowed her pink magenta eyes on her in a furious pout, folding her arms childishly. "Don't you play that game with me Yoko. Because only one word will end it all in my favour. I will win. With one word." Yoko looked away…her hands fisted on her knees and she bit her lips together to stop the words forming. But…
"Cave girl…" Suzu growled at that, rearing round and out of Aayame's arm. He was actually enjoying this, smirking and watching like he would the TV. But this was better.
"Binky!"
"HAY!"
"One word Yoko! Told you!"
"Grrrrr! If you weren't my best friend-"
"You'd what? Come on, you'd what!" Yoko jumped to her feet, and Suzu followed suit. Now Suzu was acting like her usual bad ass self.
"I'd speak your language! Ug, ooo, grr, urgh! Me hungy." She started to pull faces with her mouth open gormlessly, rolling her amber eyes back until you could only see the whites of her eyes.
"OOOOoooo, and I would grab a fistful of your stupid hair and yank you off to the nearest railway line, and leave you there! Tied up! And WATCH as a train comes! HELL, I'll even drive the bastard!"
"Ug ug, oo oo."
"Chooo chooo! Oh look, there are you entrails going up for 5 miles of track! And fucking BIRDS are PICKING at them!"
"Ooo, bug! Me like to keep them in my hair, eat later!"
"I just found your left EYE for a trophy!"
"You haven't washed your hair in two days!" Aayame gasped.
"And I still look hot!"
"…are they always like this?" Kyo asked Takara, who nodded with a giggling smile. After such a close call with her mind being opened up like a bad school project gone awry, she was more than happy to be in the clear and with her two friends bickering together like another average day in paradise. "…right…and this is normal then?" again she nodded happily. "…I take it they're not friends then?"
"They are friends. The best of friends, alone with Takara of course." Kano said with a relieved smile, folding his arms over his buff chest. "They may not look or act like it, but they care and respect each other more than you could ever imagine. They bicker, and scrap too occasionally, but if you ever tried to 'have a go' at one of them, you would have to deal with the other one to.
"That's right! No one takes the piss out of the retarded mare but ME!" Suzu clenched her fist and poked her own chest with her thumb proudly.
"ABSOLUTELY! Because only this skanky assed bitch can get away with it, right?" Yoko spoke as calmly as any normal person.
"Agreed." Kyo fell over comically, leaving Kano to chuckle with Shigure and Yuki to sweat drop.
"…er…guys?" Yuki squeaked. "HELP!"
POOF
Shigure threw Yuki into the nearest place to hide him amongst all the smoke.
Into the kitchen.
But isn't Tohru…
"AAAAAAAASHIGURE!"
"Oops, it seems I threw Yuki into the kitchen whilst Tohru was still sorting out breakfast in there, naked. Oh, how forgetful of me." Shigure tried to protest his innocence, but no body but Tohru bought it. Kano chuckled, keeping his lips pursed to hush his amusement. Shigure saw this, and was mixed about his feelings.
On the one hand, he was reminded how this man uniquely shared his strange and misunderstood sense of humour.
And on the other hand, he thought of how this time tomorrow he would never see this man again, after having his memory wiped…
"SHIGURE!"
"Coming, dear Yuki. Big brother to the rescue!" Aayame jumped up from the couch, picking up Kano's jacket from the side. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all. It's already covered up one naked man today. Why not two? For good measure." He chuckled, not noticing Shigure observing him with a distant sadness. This Dog could smell out good people, and every single one of them were true hearted honest people. Rare to find these days. It would have been nice to broaden the ties of the family beyond the Sohma's with these sorts of people, perhaps dispelling the common belief in the household that all none Sohma's were dangerous and not to be trusted. All of which, was Akito's doing.
"AH! No! I said SHIGURE! Not YOU!" Yuki had landed at the back of the kitchen, holding nothing but a frying pan from the side to cover his shame. Tohru had bristled stiff over the sink, her back thankfully the only thing facing him.
Aayame came bounding up to him, apparently he hadn't heard Yuki's protests, and wrapped the jacket around him, stealing a hug at the same time.
"Ah my dear Yuki! Your beloved big brother has come to your rescue. Aren't you overcome with gratitude?"
"No." Yuki pushed him off, so angry and seething a flaring purple outline flickered around his form. He punched him, sending him swooning backwards and dramatically placing his palm over his forehead, repeating woe is me, and, but I shall never be deterred.
"I know you are just having a hard time accepting your true brotherly feelings and are inexperienced in expressing your appreciation and admiration for me Yuki. But I will keep trying."
"No, you should stop trying. And give up. Right. Now." Yuki grit his teeth, only getting angrier and angrier, tying the jacket around his waist in the same fashion as Shigure had earlier. "Can someone other than that slimy snake pass me my clothes?"
"I'll get them for you!" Tohru used the excuse to run out of the kitchen, not knowing how to act with Yuki stood naked behind her (even if it wasn't the first time), and ran even faster through the living room. She hoped no one would notice the heated pink flush to her cheeks if she ran.
How wrong she was.
All the females in the room noticed, and Suzu even noted it for later use…
By the time Tohru had gotten Yuki a fresh set of clothes (bashfully handing him his underwear and causing a mirrored expression to colour Yuki's face) and returned to the kitchen, not only had the time flown to lunch time, but the waffles and fruit had become burnt, cold, and battered in the commotion. "I'll make lunch. Oh, and here Suzu." Tohru handed her two rice cakes. "I made a batch of these yesterday, but Shigure ad to go to his editor last night at the last moment, so I had some left over. You said you were wasting away, and no one wants that! So you eat them." she beamed, putting the plate on Suzu's lap, and going back to the kitchen. "Is everyone alright with sandwiches? What would you like?" She asked Kano first. It was custom to address the adults first, after all. It was only right. "Ham, cheese, chicken, tuna, salad, salmon, beef, and white or brown bread?" she asked, as obedient as a house slave, with the cheer of an angel. And the smile of one to, Yuki noticed long ago.
"Hmmm, everything you offer is so delicious." Kano smirked slyly, making her blush again. He leaned with his shoulder against the door frame, leaning over her slightly to punctuate his height, and gave her a full view of his upper body to her, by putting his thumbs in his pockets. "What do you want to give me?"
Tohru gulped, her cheeks reddening fiercely, and hung her head forward in submission, the only way to hide her embarrassment. She had never been flirted with before, never mind so boldly.
"I, erm, I h have erm." She gulped again. "I don't know…" she said softly. Kano leaned forward, and whispered into her ear.
"Anything you have, I'll take gladly." He got closer, so each breath brushed over her ear lobe with each whispered word. "I'll saver ever, last, bite." He then grunted as a solid fist connected with his side. he looked up, seeing the pink magenta eyes he knew he would see before even turning from the little flower Tohru.
"A a ah. Bad Kano. Don't make me put my leash on you." She warned with a smirk.
"Awwwww." He pouted, ruffling his sister's hair and letting Tohru pass hurriedly. "Suzu, you ruing all my fun."
"Perverted bastard." Suzu shook her head, rolled her eyes and then looked over her shoulder at Tohru. "I'll have any kind of meat, I like beef, Yoko likes any type of fish-"
"Salmon! Or Tuna please!" Yoko chirped, and then turned to (at) Takara.
"-Takara will be all humble and graciously accept anything you give her." She rolled her eyes again. "Kano just likes a combination of everything, that odd ball, and likes it white. No one else minds the bread colour, we'll eat it. Ok?"
"O ok? Thank you." Tohru made herself busy with Lunch, and Yuki offered to help her. For some reason, he sliced up the meat very viciously, a scowl over his features and kept sending cautious glances at Kano…
"Kyo, would you take everyone to the table and set it for me please?" he didn't give him chance to argue, took Kano's wrist 'innocently', and took him off to his office, again. "Could you bring our sandwiches to the office Tohru? Thank you!" he said quickly, before they had completely vanished.
Kyo muttered curses under his breath, wondering why everyone was telling him what to do recently, and wondering even more why he was actually doing them! He covered the table and knelt down, scowling, eyes closed, looking away from everyone, and seemingly ignoring the existence of anyone other than himself.
"Fucking dog and his fucking orders. Should shove those fucking orders up his fucking ass. But he might like that, that fucking fucktard."
"You forgot an extra fucking. I'd hate for you to think you'd missed something out." Yoko said, smirking with a brow raised as she sat next to him. they were all knelt at the table now, Suzu and Takara opposite to them. Takara sat up straight, her hands on her lap, and Suzu leant on her elbows onto the table.
"You know, you can really be annoying. Can't you tell I'm too pissed off to deal with you right now, ya little runt?"
"I'm as tall as you!"
"Not the fucking point-fuck it." He folded his arms, looking away. Yoko then smirked, and folded her arms too.
"Oh dear, someone hasn't had their cat nip today. Having withdrawal symptoms?"
"Having PMT?"
"If I was having PMT, that comment would have lost you your head."
"And if I was having 'withdrawal symptoms' from fucking cat nip, you'd be dead right now."
"Good, just so we're clear."
"Humph."
Suzu and Takara watched them silently, giving each other amused looks. Takara being more reserved with a slight smile where as Suzu was all out grinning.
"You are really rude you know that? Worse than a girl with period cramps."
"'worse than a girl with period cramps'." He mimicked. "For fuck's sake, do you stop talking? Ever!"
"Does my talking to you annoy you?"
"Yeah."
"…then I'll keep doing it."
"GRRR!" Kyo, now in a foul mood, bit at his fist.
"Wow, you mean it doesn't fit in your mouth? Amazing. Or is there not enough room because of all the bullshit you have in there?"
"I'll give you bullshit!" he reared on her, cat ears on his head and his cat tail bushed out behind him.
"No need, I can smell it from here." Yoko was smiling pleasantly, albeit laughing her ass off at how pissed off he looked right now. And her smiling in his face wasn't helping. "You know, there was this new invention. It's called deodorant. Try it some time. And toothpaste? I highly recommend it."
"I'll recommend something to you in a minute."
"Why in a minute? Doesn't your brain work faster than that? Or is there a delay between my talking, and that tiny little cog in your head turning once and realising I'm insulting you?" All Kyo could do was hiss angrily, his fists on his knees (as he was knelt at the table), and seethed furiously.
"I hate you." He finally managed.
"Oh good, that took all of 50 seconds. You're improving." She gave him a mock applause, infuriating him further. "Now, can you say Preparation H? I hear its success rate of actually treating hemorroids has improved in the last year."
"I DON'T HAVE HEMORROIDS!" Kyo jumped to his feet, nostrils flared and fists by his sides in livid rage. Yoko simply closed her eyes with a confident smile and looked forward.
"Then what excuse do you have for that smell? The cat did it? Forgive me; I just assumed from the constipated look on your face you had piles. It isn't healthy to scrunch your face up until it's blue you know." Her lips quirked into a cheeky smirk, opening her amber eyes and looking slyly out of the corners at the seething Kyo."
"I OTTA KICK YOUR ASS!"
"I would return the favour, but I hardly think your Doctor would approve, now would he?" Kyo panted with fury. "Besides…I would rather not lose my foot, thank you very much."
"FUCK this SHIT!" Kyo stormed off to the kitchen, needing to put a safe distance between himself and that sharp tongued, amber eyed, fast fisted vixen before he either hurt her, or got himself into trouble.
And what scared him the most, is he didn't quite know witch way it would go…
"You do realise that was rather cruel." Suzu chuckled evilly. Yoko smirked, tightening her cinnamon high pigtail and blowing her fringe from her eyes contently.
"Well, what do you expect after hanging around with you for so long?"
"Touché."
"Thank you."
"Praise where it's due."
"You are too kind." They chuckled, and looked to Takara. "You ok?" She nodded, and tucked her long golden hair behind her ears. She then looked to Yoko with her mature emerald eyes, and pointed back at her. "Who me? Nah, I'm fine. As long as I don't have my memory whipped until tomorrow evening, I'll be ok. Of course…what will we do after this?" she leaned onto the table, leaning closer to them and talking a lot quieter. Suzu and Takara leaned forward too. "On the run again? Where would we go? What if we got lost again? What exactly will become of us? I know you really wanted to get an application to university, or an apprenticeship in medicine Takara. And I know you want to make Kano proud and become something by finishing school, Suzu. I want to too, so I never have to return to that flower shop." She sniffled, but held her hands up when Takara made a move to cross the table and comfort her. "No, no I'm fine. Thank you…" she smiled. "At least I have you guys, a true family."
"Yeah, we are family." Suzu nodded with determination. "And no matter what happens to us, as a family, we can tackle it and make everything alright. You'll see. Kano will take good care of us, even if he is a bit of a loop."
"He surprised me you know. I never thought Kano had an aggressive bone in his body. Like a loveable dog."
"Even the most 'cuddly' of dogs will bare its fangs and snarl at you if you threaten its pups." Aayame sashayed into the room, taking the seat Kyo had vacated. "Now, am I to understand that you and the cat have had a bit of a tiff?" Yoko blinked at him.
"Huh?...oh…oh." she then chuckled. "I may have teased Kyo a bit. Why?" Aayame reached out and touched her long ponytail.
"I passed him on the way in here. He seemed slightly miffed." He chuckled with a silky voice, and brought his hand back with a lock of her cinnamon hair. "Very soft. And from the texture, thick enough to style very easily. A shame you tie it back so gruesomely. Do you usually?"
"Yeah, and I like it that way." She pouted, turning to face Suzu. "Can you call your new girlfriend off of my hair? Please?" Aayame let the strand slip through his fingers and chuckled.
"Girlfriend? What are you suggesting Ms…?"
"Nakamura. But call me Yoko."
"Then what are you suggesting, Yoko?" She blushed, and looked for Suzu for help. But she just stuck her tongue out at her with an evil look of amusement in her pink magenta eyes, and turned away, leaving her to fend for herself. Damn you Suzu!
"Suggesting? Me? Nothing."
"I think you are, Ms Nakamura." He whispered slyly. His sensuous silky voice breathed against her ear, exposed because of her damn ponytail, and he seemed to be getting closer to her. Aayame placed his left hand behind her, his thumb brushing up against her bottom (despite her baggy brown combats), his left shoulder curving around hers, and the rest of his upper body arching forward round so that his yellow eyes could catch her amber ones. His silvery white hair made a shocking veil, hiding her face and his from the two girls prone at the other side of the table.
In all of 5 seconds, camp, cuddly Aayame had become a sexual predator of high school girls. "And I would like to know what exactly you were implying, Ms Nakamura." He hissed her name in a seductive whisper, leaning his head to one side, until his nose brushed with hers and his lips would angle up with hers perfectly.
And he was intentionally obvious enough for her to know this.
Yoko squeaked, trying to look through his glossy hair to seek help from Suzu, or even Takara.
But she couldn't see them, and they seemed oblivious themselves of her situation.
How could they! They were only a table apart! Couldn't they see what was going on right in front of them? "Well, Ms Nakamura?" her attention was snapped back to the golden eyes that began to hypnotise her. His lips curved into a lusty smirk, showing some of his perfectly white, straight teeth. "What ever did you mean? That I was a woman? Or that I was otherwise inclined? Either way, I feel I must prove to you other wise." He lifted his right hand up and held her chin, brushing his thumb over her lips in a way that made her eyes open like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
HELP! MAYDAY! HELP! Her mind screamed. Such proximity with a man's body and her own made her hands tremble on her knees and her lips quiver beneath the soothing caresses of his thumb. Her eyes seemed to be in full out panic, watering slightly, and he saw this. "Hush. I would never harm such a pretty little flower. I am a gentleman, after all." He nudged her nose with his playfully, but never back off. "My, what beautiful eyes you have. I can scarcely imagine what attractive people your parents must be to have produced such a stunning specimen as yourself. Brilliant breeding, for a horse."
"A, h horse?" she managed, even with his thumb still lightly tracing her wobbly lips.
"Do you know, some of the Zodiac animals have closer relationships than the others? Like the Dragon oversees, cares, but is never truly comfortable with others for too long, liking solace, peace. The Ox when crossing the river ceremoniously to the banquet, carried the rat all the way to safety. Ever since, either bitter resentment from the Ox, or a bond or mutual respect and caring has been felt by both the Ox and the rat. And it seems this time both." He chuckled. Yoko forced herself to listen, trying not to let the knowledge that his left hand had crept closer and was now holding the small of her back. "Another such example is the Snake and the horse. The river in the old legend has more to it than simple water. It had trials, tests, obstacles. Like demon spirits that tried to trick and dissuade the animals from their path. The horse is a noble, true hearted creature who has brute strength, and elegant beauty." He nuzzled the side of her nose. "And the Snake is cunning, quick, sly, and if provoked very dangerous and vicious." He hissed towards the end. It made Yoko gulp. That sounded like Suzu…and this guy, apparently. "And even though the Horse is strong, they are also timid creatures, who hate to upset anyone, and are both wild, and tame. And unfortunately, sometimes are subdued by the most cruel of means." For a brief moment, Yoko thought Aayame knew about her father. "And so when the horse tried to cross the river, it was one of the first animals. But, with the demonic spirits present, the horse became startled and tried to flee in fear. Only when the Snake looped itself around its neck, and promised to bite anyone who threatened to harm the horse, did it try the river again. With the support of its friend the horse crossed the river, unharmed. As a reward to the snake for its protection and help, the horse lowered its neck and allowed the snake to touch the shore first, letting it come in the Chinese calendar first, before the horse." Aayame placed his thumb on her bottom lip, and gently parted it from the top one. His eyes looking here. "Ever since the Snake and the horse have always been such good friends, they would even die for the other. And incidentally, easily sensed by the other from within the Sohma house hold." He chuckled again. "You are a horse, aren't you? 16 I assume."
"Yeah…" through his story she had begun to relax, as if his words were more soothing than velvet over her face.
"And Suzu is a snake like myself. I am not surprised that even with your amusing bickering you are like sisters. I would like to be close to you too Yoko." With that, her nerves intensified ten fold all over again. "Very close indeed." Yoko squeaked loudly as he started to inch towards her mouth with his own.
"B but our memories-"
"Don't worry your pretty little head about your pretty little head Yoko. I'll hang around your neck and protect you from the wrath of anyone who would ever try to harm you. I give you my word." His herbal tea breath passed through her lips and even whilst frozen stiff, knew his own lips and tongue were about to follow the same route. And he leaned in.
"AAYAME!" Yoko kissed her lucky stars and them alone when Yuki entered the room, carrying a plate of sandwiched and accompanied by Tohru and a very moody Kyo.
Who suddenly became very pissed off again…
"Ah, Yuki boy! My beloved brother has come to join us. How honoured I feel! You will sit next to me, won't you?"
"No I will not." He spat, and turned to Kyo, who was also glaring at the grown Sohma. "And why are you such an idiot!"
"I'm not-"
"You left Aayame, who taught Shigure everything he knows, alone, with three 'high school girls'? that classes as idiotic, don't you think?"
"Hay! It isn't my brother who's perverted, it's yours!"
"He is not my brother!" Yuki stormed into the room, slammed the tray down on the table, and stared big holes into his 'dear brother darling', as Aayame liked to say Yuki called him. "So get out, and don't tell anyone you were here, or what you saw."
"I will do one better than that." Aayame cheered, as if Yuki wasn't furious, and hadn't ordered him to leave, but asked him a favour instead. "I will ensure that Hatori is not informed of the situation until late tomorrow. I want you kids to have as much time together as possible, after all." he pulled Yuki into a hug as soon as he was on his feet, and ignored Yuki's feverish struggling. "Au revoir!" he blew them all a kiss, and seemed to wink lecherously at Yoko for a moment, before skipping off to find Shigure.
Yuki exhaled a deep breath, before turning to the table, and the still very stunned Yoko.
"I apologise for my brother. He is a pervert at best, as is Shigure at times. They went to school together, and well, I think you can guess the rest of the embarrassing story." Yuki ran a hand through his grey stylish hair, and exhausted purple eyes turned to the one thing that always made him smile. "Tohru, why don't you come and sit down?"
"Shigure asked for his and Kano's lunch to be brought down to his office." She beamed. "I'll only be a minute."
"You're not his slave!" Yuki was about to storm over to her, when she put her hands up and smiled so softly, so warmly, it stopped him in his tracks.
"That's ok, I really don't mind." She giggled, and turned with her smaller tray. "I'll be right back." Tohru's short purple skirt swayed by her knees and her yellow shirt reflected the sunflower beam face she always seemed to ware, and she vanished.
Kyo dropped himself where Aayame was sat hurriedly, with a grunt and no other acknowledgement Yoko was there.
The table now went like this.
Kyo and Yoko on one side, Yuki on the next, Suzu and Takara on the other, and no one on the last.
"Tohru told me to give you the beef sandwich." He passed the plate over to Suzu. "You the chicken." Takara nodded with a smile as she took the plate from him. "And you the Salmon. Hmm, same as the stupid cat." He slipped in, sliding their plates over to them. He then took a bite out of his sandwich, and everyone else followed suit.
"What did you get?" Suzu asked, feeling rather awkward with the two boys there, both scowling, both silent.
"Cheese. It' high in protein and very good for his cholesterol." Tohru chirped happily as she took a seat across from Yuki (who instantly looked up) and next to Takara and Kyo. "Not that there is anything wrong with Yuki's cholesterol, of course." She giggled, and picked up her own plate. "Yummy, ham."
"Did Kano get his food alright?" please someone talk! I'm dying here! Suzu pleaded mentally to everyone. But it wasn't like they could hear her.
"Yes. He and Shigure were bent over the table when I left them."
……
………
…………
"WHAT!" Suzu yelled.
Tohru blinked, not realising she had said anything wrong.
"Sorry?"
"They were doing WHAT when you left them!"
"Bent over the table." She nodded. Still unaware of anything being wrong. "The lighting down there is so poor, it's a wonder they can see that map." A communal sigh of relief chorused from around the table, and Suzu then laughed her head off. "…did I say something wrong?"
"No Tohru, you didn't. actually, I think you just broke the ice quite nicely." Yoko chuckled, and bit into her sandwich again. "I mean, Suzu seems to be enjoying herself down there. She was so hungry, but hasn't been able to eat her lunch yet." Suzu was rolling on her back on the floor, laughing so hard tears ran down her cheeks.
"…oh, oh boy. I can't wait to tell him!" she sat up again, whipping the tear from her eye and smiling widely like a fool at Yoko. "And I have had something to eat. Tohru was nice enough to give me those rice balls, remember?"
"I never saw you eat them." Yoko finished her first sandwich.
"Didn't you? I ate them just a few minutes ago. Shared one with Takara too." Her smirk that graced her face then was so evil, it made Yoko shudder. She was not going to like the reason behind that smirk one bit. "Oh, you must have been to distracted with Aayame hitting on you."
"…you knew what he was doing? And you didn't STOP him?"
"Yes, and then no."
"Why the hell not!"
"He seemed to be enjoying himself." She said simply, taking a chomp out of her lunch. "Mmm, beef."
"And what about me!" she screeched. "You are supposed to be my best friend."
"I am. That's why I didn't intervene." Yoko rested her face in both her hands, took a deep breath, and went for it.
"...and why did we decide that it would be a good idea to not get involved?"
"Because you need to learn how to deal with flirting guys some time. I can't protect you from all of mankind forever you know. You might actually like one of them one day. Then what will you do? I can't flirt for you too. I'll just bag him myself that way."
"I don't want-" she stopped, and remembered to breathe through her rage. "Aayame!"
"What about him?"
"What about, what about him!" she whimpered and covered her eyes in distress. "I don't want men flirting with me, now or ever." She stated as if it was Decalogue fact.
"Why?" Kyo found himself asking with a brow raised at her before he could stop himself.
"Because all men are bastards, end of story." She said coldly, but not particularly at Kyo. Just in general.
Everyone was quiet, Suzu frowning, knowing more than everyone else at the table for Yoko's harsh judgement, even more than Takara. "Well, it seems where Tohru lightened the mood, I just strangled it. So…I'm just going to go for a walk." She got up, her fringe overhanging her closed amber eyes and turned toward the patio.
"Yoko wait." Suzu got up.
"I'll be back in a while. Don't worry." She forced a smile and a chuckle, like always. "Like Aayame said, Horses are strong. I'll be back soon. I just need…" she didn't even bother to answer. How could she? When she didn't know what she wanted herself?
"Don't be long. Or I'll come looking for you and kick your ass." Suzu tried to banter with her, but Yoko just smiled and nodded.
"Ok…" she pushed the glass doors open, put her hands in her baggy brown combats, and walked off into the garden and off to the woods.
"…damn…" Suzu sat at the table again slowly, and realised that everyone was looking at her. "She'll be fine. Sometimes Yoko just needs to go off for a while. By herself. To…do stuff. She'll be back soon, she is never long."Takara put her hand on the seemingly confident Suzu's shoulder, knowing that on the inside she was really terrified. She was always shaken up when Yoko took off like this. She would never admit it, but Suzu thought herself as the mother hen, the one to kick ass on behalf of her two friends when they couldn't, or wouldn't. In fact, the only time she hadn't kicked ass was with Yoko's father…
Come back soon Yoko. Don't you dare be long. You know I worry…and I'll kill you if you aren't in one piece when you get back. And I don't just mean physically.