Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. Arigotou gozaimasu! (Thank you very much!) (Did I spell that right?)
Chapter 8:
He listened to the soft plick-plack sounds of the down pouring drizzle. Each wet droplet fell from the sky and he flinched when he felt a bit hit him on the cheek. But he didn't move from his spot. He didn't move anywhere for a while and wouldn't have to soon… He had been in the same spot for a day or two now… He knew he was filthy…
But the rain was nice to look at.
He sighed and rested his left arm on his forehead. It was warm even though it was raining. Of course, no one would be visiting him; they weren't allowed to. Only Akito was.
He was bored. He'd probably die of boredom before starvation. He had nothing to do… Well… When he first was placed here… He practiced martial arts every morning for about two hours. But then… He was soon told off by Akito…
So now it placed him where he is now. Boredom. Damn, he hated that word. He looked out his barred windows to estimate the time… Since it was summer…there'd be more daylight so… But it was raining…. Hm…
It looked to be around the afternoon. Akito would be here any minute now, he thought to himself. He snorted, what are the chances of depending his entertainment on that monster? Besides, the only things Akito actually did with him when he visited was talking. Sometimes just staring at him in silence… Other times Akito would throw books at him…
Akito was one strange boy.
He couldn't really be called a man. He acted like a spoiled kid… A sudden noise near the locked doors told him that Akito was right on time. He wondered what mood Akito would be in now…
Akito walked in silently, his yukata draped on him messily and his face held no facial expression.
Kyo didn't answer, in fact, he turned his head to look away from the head.
Akito didn't seem to notice or just didn't care. Instead, he plopped himself down on the provided futon.
Kyo guessed Akito was in the silent mood. He kept watching the rain… Then a thought came to him. Did Akito walk all the way here in the rain? Kyo shifted slightly and caught a glance at Akito. He wasn't wet at all.
Kyo turned back and mentally snorted. He thought so. Probably Kureno or that damn dog walked him there. Who cares anymore?
A sudden knock startled Kyo.
"May I come in?" asked an awfully familiar voice. Akito didn't answer and Kyo assumed that it was his choice.
Kyo hadn't used his voice in a while…with no one to talk to… So his answer came out in a hoarse tone, "Sure."
The door opened and the figure walked in. He couldn't see who it was because of the lack of light in his "house"… Yet he knew that figure.
"YOU!" his hoarse voice growled. His eyes became cat-like.
Yuki didn't answer, yet only waited until the head of the family to motion to sit next to him. Akito finally spoke.
"Starting tomorrow, Yuki will be to one giving your meals."
Kyo met yet another surprise. "WHAT! But! But I thought Kureno was supposed to finish it until the wintertime--!" Akito cut him off with a glare.
"Silence monster. I need not your complaints. If you want to complain, complain to the wall."
Kyo didn't reply. He turned back to watching the window.
"I see that you understand," Kyo imagined Akito sneering, "Come on Yuki…" Akito got up and motioned Yuki to follow him. They both exited the small "house" and Kyo heard the lock fasten.
"Jeez…" he muttered to himself, "Wonder what's going on…"
--
Both were quiet as they headed away from the Cat's little hut. Akito didn't say anything, and nor did Yuki. The only difference in the two was that Akito was smirking as if he had just had the most brilliant idea ever. Yuki had no expression.
"So… Yuki?" Akito suddenly spoke, breaking the silence that loomed over their heads as they entered the hallways. Yuki only looked up when he was called. "Did you…" Akito paused, savoring the moment, "…enjoy the look on that monster's face when he saw you?"
There was no way Yuki could answer to that.
"Well… Did you?" Akito pressured on as they continued to walk towards Akito's room through the empty hallways.
Yuki didn't want to answer, but he knew that would be wrong, so he lied. "I did, Akito," he said, licking his dry lips, "The look on the monster was definitely worth seeing."
Akito seemed satisfied for he didn't question Yuki anymore until they entered his room. Akito motioned the younger teen to sit next to him on the bed.
He sighed. "Such…a lovely day, isn't it…Yuki?" Akito turned to stare at Yuki now.
Again, Yuki didn't answer at first. He stared at the wooden flooring as he kneeled. Akito smirked. "Well… It was nice to get rid of that witch. That wicked little bitch… Remember her face, Yuki? When Hatori erased her memories? When I told her that I'd make sure that Hatori would erase every Juunishi's memories!"
Yuki held onto his solemn expression.
"HA! And she believed me too! Of course I'd never make Hatori erase all your memories!" he paused and crawled closer to Yuki, "Of course I'd never make Hatori suffer all alone…" He grinned like a maniac, "You'll all suffer!
"Isn't that right…Yuki?" Akito started to caress Yuki's cheek lovingly. "I'm so thoughtful right, Yuki? I'm such a good person, right Yuki?" He stopped suddenly and stood up.
"No…No…" he saw Yuki's indifferent look, "You… You're…like…"
A sudden knock on the door stopped Akito's path of rage.
Akito walked abruptly over to the door and slid it open. Yuki couldn't see the figure behind the door so he kept quiet. After a few minutes, Akito returned with grin – apparently, he had gotten good news depending on his view of things.
"Ah… Where was I?" Akito asked himself, "Oh well… I'll remember sometime…"
By now, it had stopped raining and the birds had started to come out again. "Akito," Yuki finally said, "You are thoughtful… Just like Honda-san…" He had spoken without thinking, but maybe this would do some good…
Akito went nuts.
"DON'T YOU DARE COMPARE ME TO THAT LOWLY WOMEN! DON'T YOU DARE COMPARE ME TO ANY WOMEN! WHY DO YOU ALWAYS COMPARE ME WITH OTHER WOMEN! WHY ISN'T IT ALWAYS WOMEN? WOMEN THIS, WOMEN THAT! WHY ISN'T IT THE MEN THAT GET COMPARED! THAT'S IT! JUST GET OUT!"
Yuki – surprised at Akito's reaction to a simple phrase – ran out the doors and went off to find Shigure.
He needed to talk after this new revelation.
--
His bottom lip stuck out. "What is it, Yuki-kun?" Shigure asked arms folded across his chest as he stopped walking through the empty hallway that led to Akito's chambers.
At first, Yuki didn't answer. He pondered how he was going to phrase the way Akito acted.
"What's wrong, Yuki-kun?" Shigure asked again. His fingers were now tapping impatiently.
Yuki turned to stare at the older male. "I don't really know if this is unusual for you or not…" he began, "but… Akito just started to freak out 'cause I told him he was a bit like Honda-san…"
Shigure raised an eyebrow. "Really now? What did Akito say?" he asked, curious at what the clan head had to yell about now.
"He said something about 'not comparing him to females' or something… As if Akito even looks…" Yuki started, trailing off. He frowned and after a few moments silence, he said, "Actually… Akito does look a bit like a female… More than me though," he confirmed.
Shigure only chuckled.
"What?" Yuki said, staring at the older male again, "Is something funny?"
He shook his head and replied, "Ah, nothing at all…" he made a motion towards the door, "I'm going to see Akito now…" he explained.
Yuki nodded and walked off just as Shigure opened the door. Hm… I'm guessing he's catching on, Akito… Shigure thought as he entered the room with a smirk.
Akito sat just under the open window, arms flailing out the window itself. "What do you want now you insolent puppy!" he demanded without even a glance at the new person.
"Ah?" Shigure asked, pretending to be surprised, "You knew it was me?"
"No one else in this house would have such a stinky odor," was Akito's explanation.
"Aw…" Shigure pouted, "That's so mean Akito!" he walked over to where Akito sat and bent down to her eye level. "Just…like you…" he murmured as his hand went on Akito's cheek.
Akito immediately slapped the hand off his face. "Don't touch me you stinky dog!" he commanded as he sat up straight and stormed to where his bed was. Shigure followed anyways. Akito turned around and glared at him, "Don't follow me either!"
"Aw… Akito-chan is being a meanie!" Shigure whined, biting on his bottom lip.
"Don't you have any respect for your clan head?" Akito suddenly asked, devoid of any other emotion except anger at that point.
"Don't you have any respect for your people?" Shigure countered back. This time, a smirk flowed to his lips. He plopped himself onto the bed next to Akito.
"Right…Akito?"
--
Yuki frowned. He didn't dare eavesdrop on Shigure and Akito. Who knows what they'd do to him if they found out? That sent shivers down his spine… Jeez… But… He really wanted to know what Shigure was up to…
His frown on increased. He kept walking. A sudden image of Tohru popped into his mind. Long chocolate brown hair let loose, a huge happy smile on plastered on her face, warm words… He missed those… No doubt Kyo missed them much more than he did.
"Eh? Yuki?"
Feeling a bit dazed, he swiveled around to find a spaced-out lost Haru staring back at him with a confused look. "What are you doing here?" both asked at the same time.
"Heh. Guess we really were twins, huh Yuki?" Haru replied blandly as Yuki felt beads of sweat coming down his forehead. "So what are you doing here?" he continued.
Yuki only shrugged. "You know… Akito called," he simply explained.
"Ah…" Haru confirmed. There was an awkward silence between them before Yuki broke it.
"How's Momiji?" he asked, curious about the blonde-headed younger Sohma.
Haru thought back to their last meeting… When Tohru's memories were… He mentally shook his head and replied, "He's doing fine I think… Been seeing Tohru at her work… I think he told her that they were friends in junior or something…but she seemed convinced."
Yuki smiled. "That's good…" he nodded to himself. It was good that at least one of the Sohma's were keeping in contact with her… At least… "It's only been a week huh?"
Haru nodded solemnly. "Yeah… Only a week… And so much has happened…"
Yuki nodded in agreement.
Author's Note: Sorry for the short chapter… Anyways, sorry for the late update. I'll try and update Discovered Talent next. So all of you who really liked that ficcie, you'll finally get to read the second and final part of it! I may include an epilogue if I get enough reviews asking for one. : )
Oh yes, thank you to all the reviewers:
Imi-chan
CorruptionGlare (Oooh! I like your pen name!)
Shel Luvah Of Pepsi
Mad4Anime
Jinxed4ever
Orangesodap0p
Year of da cat fanclub
Cocoke5
StarFire and Sakura
So please review if you want an update. Thank you!