Chapter Two
The Tides That Bind
Once they arrived at the Sohma house, Kyo helped Yuki inside. They both took off their shoes and slipped into their slippers. Yuki sat in the floor waiting as Kyo puttered about in the kitchen, fixing some tea and soup. He peered around the corner of the door, and checked on Yuki.
"I not a pro at this so bare with me. Tohru is better at these kind of things, but I think she went out with some friends after school." Kyo came fully in view, a tray of tea and soup balanced on one hand. Yuki smiled tiredly and nodded before drinking his tea. Yuki sat quietly as Kyo watched him eat. He was calm for once and not in a hurry to get away from Yuki. "Yuki." Kyo lifted his eyes to him, " I think you will feel better once you relax, ok." Yuki nodded once more. "Good. You should take a bath after you eat, a nice hot bath always calms the body." Once Yuki agreed, Kyo rushed to the bathroom and started the water.
Yuki wobbled slightly to the bathroom once he was done eating. Kyo walked past him and cleaned off the table. He then passed a white robe and a towel to Yuki before leaving. "Thank you Kyo." Yuki said quickly before getting in. He smiled at the fact Kyo was going through all this trouble for him even after their past fights.
Kyo leaned back onto the door sighing softly as he rubbed the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb. If only Tohru or Shigure were home, they could care for Yuki and not him. He was still shaky, he was worried about Yuki, especially after the sight he saw today. Kyo could barely believe it himself, finding a pleasing sensation to the expression on Yuki's face before he collapsed. It frightened him immensely, Yuki had never before had such an affect on him. After awhile Kyo went to go check on Yuki, since he had heard no sound from him since he got in. He knocked gently on the bathroom door. "Yuki!" He paused, waiting for a response. "Yuki!" he said more loudly this time. Kyo waited two more minutes and opened the door brutally. At first he saw Yuki's clothes folded up neatly in a basket, but then the tub. Kyo could see Yuki beneath the water in no response or moment. "Yuki!" Kyo yelled viciously grabbing Yuki's shoulders and pulled him up and out of the tub. Yuki gave no breath after being pulled out and even after the repeated times Kyo slapped the side of his face. Kyo went into a panic and started to yelled and slap Yuki more violently. As a last resort Kyo tilted Yuki's head up with his hand and grabbed his face with the other. Leaning down he gave air to Yuki's lungs. His lips pressed hard against Yuki's until he went out of breath himself and started to push down Yuki's stomach repeatedly.
Suddenly with a sputtering shock, Yuki took a deep breath and spat out the water. "Kyo?" Yuki coughed as Kyo rubbed his back. Not able to contain himself or his feelings Kyo wrapped his arms around the trembling, naked Yuki.
Kyo grabbed the towel and wrapped it around Yuki. Yuki stared up confused and trembling, even though the towel was placed around him. Wordlessly he wrapped his arms around Kyo, who was still in shock and near tears. "You damn rat! You almost killed me with that scare. Wouldn't common sense tell you not to sleep in the goddamned bath tub!" Yuki shook his head and buried it into Kyo's neck.
"Thanks Kyo." Though Yuki could not see it, Kyo smiled and held Yuki's head to his chest a bit tighter, as it was his only chance to be string enough to protect Yuki.
Kyo gathered Yuki in his arms and took him back to his bedroom, laying him down upon the mat and covering him with the blankets. Yuki's soft blue-gray eyes watched Kyo silently, knowing how scared he must have been. He reached for Kyo's hand, whispering words Kyo couldn't here. "What did you say Yuki?" Yuki shook his head quietly.
"Truth is Kyo..." he paused, letting the words go through his head first before saying them. "I have always respected you Kyo. Actually many times before, I have fought you because I was jealous of you. Sometimes I want to be you, and just can't stand it when you can do things I can't. Like how you're friends with everyone and not afraid to be yourself. That's what I like most about you. Saying it now seems so natural, and if it weren't for the present circumstance..." Yuki let the thought trail off and squeezed Kyo's hand tightly.
Kyo squeezed his hand in return. He wanted to say the things that were on his mind as well, but it wasn't the right time and Yuki need his rest. He would tell Yuki when the time was right, but for now he watched Yuki drift off, his hand still holding Kyo's. A soft sigh escaped his lips. "I love you Yuki..." Kyo finished before Yuki's grip lifted and he was surely asleep for the night.
