Happy Holidays my friends!
But sadly, the New Year brings more school…gag…poke my eye out…blech…I've gotta go back on Thursday…blech.
People COME ON!!! I understand if u don't have time, or ur computer's being gay…or something like that, but PLEASE, I NEED YOU GUYS TO READ AND REVIEW!!!
I WANT FIVE REVIEWS, OR THERE AINT GONNA BE A NEXT CHAPTER! SO GET YOUR HEADS OUTTA UR BUTTS AND REVIEW, DAMMIT!!!
Hm, urg…for those of you who DO review, THANK YOU!! (Anime tears) Your ever-supportive comments (and sometimes flames :D) keep me goin through the rough times – again, THANK YOU!!!
I'm gonna do another poll, but I want a review with the poll answer, OKAY!?
Anyway, here's the next installment of my story 'Take Two'
Results of last polls:
Kyo won by a landslide
Most people know Skillet
Judaii should rescue Tohru
CHAPTER 13: One Week Later: KazeDisclaimer: I own nothing. Natsuki Takaya, you are truly a visionary.
"Brother, look! Sparrows!" his little sister giggled, pointing avidly at the small brown birds as they settled upon the littered concrete walkway.
Her brother only rolled his dark jade eyes and frowned, shoving his hands deeper into the pockets of his dark gray overcoat. He turned his head to the park, where a mother and young child were seated on a bench having lunch. Fall was fast approaching, and the once green trees were now speckled with vivacious oranges and reds. His sister giggled again, short silky brown hair bouncing. She looked back at her brother, rosy smile flashing.
With a flash of feathers the birds took flight as she jumped after them, laughing piercingly. Spinning around, she watched as they climbed higher and higher into the sky, finally disappearing into the sunlight.
"Brother, do you think it'd be fun to fly?" Tohru asked, bright green eyes blinking innocently.
Kaze frowned, and
glared at his cheerful sister, his dark mood bringing a frown to her
face. "What the hell would it matter? If we were born to fly, we
would've been born with wings! Don't ask such stupid questions!"
Kaze yelled, anger flashing in his eyes. Tohru froze, her smile
vanishing. "Now come on, I don't wanna be here all damn day!"
Kaze hollered, starting off. Tohru trotted after him, her optimism
returning briefly. Giggling again, she grasped her brother's
rough, fisted hand in her mitten ones.
Kaze ripped his hands
from hers.
Tohru fell in silence behind him as they walked along the sidewalk of stores, tucking her hands in her pink parka like Kaze. It was closing time, and the sun cast its last brilliant rays across the city. Tohru grinned in awe. People hustled by, arms full of the day's shopping, talking loudly.
"Hey Kaze!" Tohru and Kaze stopped, turning and looking behind them. Through the bustling crowd the siblings spied a tall male stepping out the door of a glossy red and white-stripped Lamborghini. A backwards ball cap adorned his crown of strawberry blonde hair, and his black hoodie and baggie red jeans hung off his thin frame. Reaching up with a gloved hand, he removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of steely blue eyes, and nodded at Kaze.
"Hey Izawa." Kaze returned, walking toward the man. Tohru sighed and turned, grinning as she looked in a shop window at expensive, frilly clothing. Rubbing her finger against the glimmering glass, she became absorbed in the intricate lace patterns and cuts and the look of satin ribbons…
An engine roared behind her, and Tohru spun around, startled. Looking around instinctively for Kaze, she found him absent.
She froze…
…And watched as her brother drove off in a red Lamborghini.
Slowly Kaze unclenched his weary eyes, rolling over on his sleeping bag, covers twisting. Reaching up, he rested a callused hand on his warm forehead, fingers snaking through his brown bangs.
Tohru'd been kidnapped almost a week ago, and dreams of her riddled his sleep. He'd often wake up with tear-stained face, bed drenched in sweat.
Kaze removed his shirt, sweaty skin breathing again finally. Sitting up, he looked around Kyo's room, searching for a source of lower temperature. Spying the dirty, smeared window he stood, covers falling back. Staggering to the window, he dropped his shirt and reached up, rubbing his dreary green eyes.
Wrenching open the window loudly, he collapsed against its wooden base, head resting limply on his arms. Breathing deeply, he nearly grinned as the cool breeze spilled through the window, cooling his overheated body. And he sat there, eyes closed, blissfully aware of his surroundings…the sound of the birds…the feel of the warm sun on his skin…
…And he hovered there in the empty doorframe, eyes closed as birds' cheery melodies reached his ears. The sun danced upon Kaze's thin teenage frame, and the chilly breeze cooled his heated mind.
"Brother?" Kaze turned. There, at the end of the hall stood his sister. She was nearly ten now, and starting to fill out. Her silky hair framed her pale face; rosy cheeks brimmed with a smile. Suddenly, anger rose again within him. How could she be so happy when he was in so much pain?
It wasn't fair.
"Leave me alone," Kaze retorted coldly, looking outside absently. Just now, a tiny baby rabbit was hopping along the apartment garden. Its ears twitched with curiosity as it smelled the Morning Glories and Starlight. He felt a presence beside him, and realized it to be Tohru, arms folded across her small body. Kaze could feel her sadness as they stood together, watching the outside world, relishing their little slice of bliss.
If only he could enjoy it.
"Brother…what's wrong?" he turned, steely eyes briefly meeting those of his concerned sister. Kaze leaned against the doorframe in ignorance, black jacket wrinkling against the wood. The cool breeze flushed into the apartment entrance again, and Kaze breathed, sucking the cool air deep into his lungs. "Kaze?" his sister called weekly, her smile absent. "Please, tell me! Tell me why you don't ever look at me any more…why are you so angry when you see me? Why won't you play with me anymore? Did I do something wrong?" Tohru asked, tears brimming in her emerald orbs. Still, he did not look at his sister, kept his eyes on the inquisitive rabbit outside. It hopped about, probably looking for its mother amidst the weeds.
Suddenly he stumbled, and glanced down. Clutching his jacket, face buried in his shirt, was Tohru. Soft sobs escaped her lips as she hung onto her brother.
To anybody else, this would be touching, maybe even heartbreaking.
But ever since Dad had died, he was just so angry. It's like he was metaphorically drowning under an ocean of despair. Everyone else had gotten over it…even mom… But his heart still ached with the pain of losing his father, Katsuya. The pain burned within him like a fire, filling him with irrevocable rage. His only ventilation in this world of livid insanity was Genma and the gang…it was like Kaze felt better when he robbed somebody, beat a guy to a pulp… as if he was gaining some control, some of his happiness back.
But Tohru's smile, her ever-optimistic attitude just pissed him off. Why should she be happy when he wasn't? She'd been just a kid…she didn't even remember Katsuya. It wasn't fair! Why did no one else understand this pain?!
Tossing his hair rebelliously, he shoved his weeping sibling from him, marching off outside. He heard her crying, but ignored her. Striding loudly, he made for the gate. The baby rabbit bolted, seeking refuge in a Peony bush as Kaze hustled through. With an annoying screech, Kaze wrenched open the gate and ran out.
"God, I'm such an ass." Kaze said to himself, surfacing from his memories. He opened his eyes again, and blinked back, nearly blinded by the bright sunlight. Kaze finally stood, rubbing his eyes again. It was still so damn stuffy in this room, though the window remained pried open. Kyo sure kept this room nice and toasty…as if he craved warmth like a cat (A.N: Hahahhaha, do ya get it?)
Bending over, Kaze folded his blanket and shoved it hastily under Kyo's unmade bed. Not like Kyo slept in here anyway. Standing up, he made his way to the door, where his black suitcase was propped open. Fishing about inside it, he yanked out a black tee, plaid boxers, and a pair of dirty, unwashed jeans. Throwing his drenched shirt aside in a pile of other dirty clothes, he jerked the door open, heading for the bathroom.
The house was abnormally silent. And untidy, for that matter. As Kaze walked, he swerved to carefully avoid bags of trash, books, and other such items. A thick layer of dust had already formed over the side table; the window at the end of the hall covered in a film of grime. Passing Yuki's room, Kaze paused. No sounds emanated from the teen's room so, with a heavy sigh, Kaze continued onto the bathroom.
Closing the door behind him, Kaze sucked in his breath. The unsightly mess was not what made him gasp, nor the broken mirror - smashed by an angry Kyo Sohma just yesterday…it was the strawberry towel hanging, untouched, on the towel rack. Kaze heart ached again, and he dropped his clothes, making his way to the towel rack. Gingerly, he ran his fingers through the fraying edges of his sister's washcloth…Tohru always had loved strawberries.
His eyes pricked with tears and Kaze turned from the object, quickly switching on the shower.
Swiftly throwing his sweaty clothing aside, Kaze stepped into the chilly shower, sighing with content as the icy water ran over his overheated body.
It was raining again…
Kaze stood, eyes closed as the rain washed over him. He was 16 now…and more desperate than ever to escape Genma's gang.
"Yeah, you won't be messin with us ever again, will you?" Wrenching his eyes open again, he turned. Down the darkened alley stood Ashitori and Izawa, two other dedicated members of Genma's gang. They hovered above yet another innocent victim. Soft moans escaped his badly beaten body as the trodden man squirmed upon the bloody concrete walkway. Ashitori smirked, his blue eyes sparkling with untamed rage. Not unlike a lion in ferocity, Ashitori was Genma's right hand man. He'd joined willingly after murdering his own wife.
Izawa snickered and lunged out, kicking the man again. He was far below Kaze and Ashitori in Genma's society rankings, but he tagged along gleefully on missions. His innocent looks and two-faced personality suited him well for robbery. Most people would think him an ordinary, sweet guy… He'd joined up with Genma after running away from his family estate in Tokyo.
Finally, their victim collapsed and Ashitori frowned with disappointment.
"Awe…looks like our fun's over guys," he said, flipping through the man's stolen leather wallet, sticking all items of importance in the front chest pocket of his trench coat.
"Damn, what a drag." Izawa agreed. Then he turned, raising an eyebrow at Kaze, who still stood alone in the rain, gazing at them abstractly. "Yo, Kaze. What's up with you? Didn't you want in on this?" he asked, folding his arms.
"Hey yeah, now that I think of it, you aint been doin nothing lately man. What the hell's goin on with you?" Kaze shook his head, hair soaked with nature's tears (A.N: isn't that a beautiful simile?)
"I'm fine," Kaze said softly, walking to his comrades.
"Yo man, you can totally tell us. What's the matter, you got a girl or something?" Izawa asked, not sounding brilliant.
The corners of Kaze's mouth tightened, but he shook his head. "No, not really…" he said, his mind turning to Tohru…he looked up again, blinking, as the rain poured down.
He wished it would rain forever.
And wash away all his sins…his regrets, his actions…
Tohru cried so much these days…Kaze completely ignoring her, not wishing her involvement. She was so lonely, and wanted nothing to do but help Kaze…
The image of Tohru, shaking as tears poured from her bloodshot eyes, came to mind yet again.
"HEY!" Izawa yelled. Kaze jumped and looked again at his 'friends.' They were looking oddly at him, Ashitori very perturbed as he thumped his foot impatiently.
"Sorry…it's just…" Kaze began, finding the words hard to come. "Don't you guys ever wish…you could go back?" (A.N: this next part might totally SUCK)
"Go back? What the hell do you mean?" Izawa asked, not understanding.
Kaze blinked sadly, looking at the poor man on the ground, his body rocking with labored breathing.
"I mean, look at him…what kind of people have we become?" his companions stood, stunned as Kaze continued. "We were once normal people, you and I…where did we go wrong? Where did we turn off the right path and head down the wrong, huh? Sometimes, I just wanna go back…turn back time so that I'd never do any of this in the future…I've ruined the lives of people I love, of people who used to care about me…" he looked back up at the cloudy sky, closing his eyes as rain drops hit his face. "I wish I'd never joined this gang…I wish I was still normal, talking with my friends, playing with my sister…but I've ruined everything. I jus-"
Suddenly, he was shoved up against the brick wall, Ashitori's thick, muscular hand around his neck.
"What is this bullshit that's spillin out your mouth, huh? You bastard, you're in this…you got yourself in this. You should be grateful to Genma!" he hollered, tightening his hold.
"Hey, Ashitori, put him down! He's choking!" Izawa cried concernedly from the sidelines.
"Shut up worm! Kaze, Genma saved you from your wretched life. He took you in, let you vent, and treated you like a frickin father for god's sake! And this is how you repay him? Genma is a great man, a much better man than you!" Ashitori screamed, his loyalty shining brilliantly. Kaze could feel his world going dark, air ceased to escape his lips…
Ashitori released him and he collapsed, gasping violently for air on the ground. Ashitori hovered angrily above him, wrath emanating from every pore in his body. His brilliant red hair hung loosely over his eyes and he turned from the injured Kaze, marching over to the shocked Izawa. "You ever say any of that again, you ever think about leavin, I'll KILL YOU," Ashitori threatened, looking back and keeping Kaze's gaze.
Marching off, Ashitori left him, Izawa following obediently like a dog.
Recovering finally, Kaze rolled on his back, his own tears and those of the earth's melding together.
He wished it would rain forever…
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Kaze startled, nearly slipping in the shower.
"Yo! Hurry up asshole!" Kyo yelled from outside the door. He marched off loudly as Kaze hastily turned off the water. He watched it sink down the drain with a slurp.
Stepping out of the shower, he wrapped a blue towel around himself and walked to the broken mirror. Quickly brushing his teeth, Kaze kept his eyes glued to his shattered reflection in the mirror.
He looked like hadn't slept in a month…there were deep bags under his slightly bloodshot eyes, and his skin was quite insipid.
And what the hell was with these damn memories buggin him today? It was like he was losing sanity over insomnia! (A.N: I made that up! Ha! ME!)
Spitting into the sink and rinsing, Kaze tore his eyes from his weary face. He threw his clothes on quickly, flung his sopping towel to the ground and headed out the bathroom. The household was clearly awake now. Kaze could hear the T.V. downstairs and the smell of food arromating from the kitchen.
Hurrying loudly down the stairs he took a seat across from Yuki and adjacent to Shigure. Yuki glared at Kaze through his mop-like locks, but Kaze ignored it.
"Morning." Shigure added, not looking up from the day's paper. Kaze nodded and sat quietly in the tense room.
When Kaze had first arrived, the Sohma household was quite immaculate. But since Tohru's disappearance, the house had fallen back into shambles.
Kyo was head chef now, as he apparently was the only male with culinary knowledge in the facility. Surprisingly, he possessed an enormous amount of talent in this field. Kyo's anger had become more uncontrollable, and conflicts with his cousins were quite frequent, and he directed irrevocable rage towards Kaze with each passing glance.
Kyo's room was probably the cleanest in the whole house. It was as if he kept the filth away in remembrance of Tohru. Kyo now slept on the couch downstairs, often lying awake for hours just staring at the cracked ceiling.
Yuki had become a very quiet teenager. Except when spoken to, or called out by his cousin, he conversed little. He too directed a binding rage towards Kaze.
Shigure? Well…the drunkard fool hadn't changed too much. He was taking this all in stride, complaining daily about the absence of his little 'flower.' He'd been working overtime for the master plan, trying to raise enough money to get Tohru back.
Oh, the plan?
The plan, which had been so hastily thrown together? Get some money…and fast. Kyo, Yuki, and Kaze were forced to get their own jobs, and use what little money they had left to pay for Tohru's return.
In the middle of the grainy table sat a small red rusty bucket. In it, their savings so far…only about 500 dollars…way short. Genma had sent message to the Sohma household that the amount due was 5,000. Already one week had passed…obtaining that kind of money in one more week…the pressure was enormous.
As impossible as it appeared, none had stopped to decipher the possibilities, the scenario that might possibly play out if the money did not come fast enough.
He could see it already in his mind, the horrible panorama…Genma would shoot Tohru, murder her right in front of their very eyes…Kaze knew he would.
Genma had already executed so many people in that fashion for the same reason …and Kaze had watched numbly as their blood soiled the ground, as dead bodies were held in the arms of their friends or family members…he'd watched as Genma laughed evilly at the pain of his victims…
Besides the amount due, Genma had also written to the Sohma's that they would be watched…to make sure Kaze didn't try to run again.
Kyo finally kicked back the sliding door angrily, chucking breakfast on the table rudely. Taking his seat, he glowered at Kaze, who hid his eyes in his long locks of chocolate brown hair and reached for a steaming rice ball.
He felt no pain as the still searing rice touched his fingertips, felt nothing as his tongue was scorched with each bite.
"So, what's the plan for today?" Shigure asked, breaking the tense silence.
It was the start of winter break today, so the household members would be able to work harder for the money they so desperately sought.
"I'll be working all day…probably till eleven tonight." Yuki spoke softly, also taking a riceball, hair hiding his face.
"Me too." Kyo said, in between stuffing his face with his own cooking.
"I've got to finish my manuscript today…so I'll be getting a paycheck pretty soon, myself." Shigure said, smiling in his usual wayward fashion. "Kaze? What about you?"
"Oh…um…" Kaze started, voice cracking with guilt. "I'll be working late too…"
"Hell, I don't see why we have to make up for your shit." Kyo interrupted rudely, chucking aside his filthy chopsticks. They joined the many other piles of trash littering the room. "I mean, this is your fault."
"Yes. It is."
"Sure as hell I don't wanna be working on my break…and you damn well better not let anything bad happen to Tohru." Kyo argued, voice rising.
The room was silence again.
"ARGH! Dammit, I'm goin to work." Kyo yelled, running from the room, grabbing his coat and leaving abruptly.
Yuki left his plate, cleanliness not first on his list of priorities. He too, grabbed his coat and left. The two eldest were left. One sulked and the other quickly devoured the remaining food prepared by chef Kyo.
"I'm so sorry…" Kaze began yet again. Shigure held up a hand, silencing him.
"You know Kaze, fate is what fate is…what will happen will. There's nothing we can do but deal with it." Shigure said, blinking philosophically as he read the news.
Hm…where had he heard that line before?
"Kaze, hush now," the woman cooed softly, caressing Kaze's messy hair with her prim fingers. Tears streamed from his face, soaking her red cocktail dress. The woman's blonde hair fell limply around her smiling face, and her blue eyes sparkled with tears.
Kaze sobbed, not unlike a little child, in her lap.
"Kaze, fate is what fate is…what will happen will." Alicia said philosophically, looking out the window at the full moon. It cast its light upon the two in the middle of the floor. Kaze looked up, blinking his bloodshot eyes…he'd just confessed everything to his girlfriend, Alyssa.
And she'd understood...here she was, comforting him as he cried like a little baby.
"…And there's nothing we can do but deal with it." Alyssa continued, holding Kaze's gaze. She was so wise, even though she was younger than him…
He pulled his head from her soaked lap, running a hand through her soft golden locks.
"Thank you. Thank you…you've said the words I needed to hear…those words I wanted to believe…I-" Kaze started apologetically. But Alicia's plump, rosy lips cut off his words.
He grasped her hand, another tear slipping from his face.
And so they kissed, bathed in moonlight, in Kaze's new apartment.
Damn flashbacks just wouldn't leave his mind alone today, would they? Kaze thought absently, running a hand through his bangs.
KnockKnockKnock
Shigure's head and his own jerked up at the sound. Apparently, someone had arrived, knocking softly at the front door.
"Were you expecting someone?" Shigure asked, curiously folding back his newspaper on the smeared table. Kaze shook his head, perplexed. "Me neither."
Kaze stood, straightening his wrinkled shirt. He slowly made his way to the door, and opened it with a loud squeak.
He gasped.
Standing on the Sohma front step was a gorgeous woman with wavy blonde locks. She shivered upon the hearth; navy winter jacket zipped tight against her small frame, blue eyes sparkling.
"A-Alicia?"
O-O
SORRY I HAD TO END IT SO EARLY!!! Totally, if you hate this chapter, go ahead and flame it. I'm leavin in like, ten minutes, so I gotta get this chapter up, yo.
Didja hate it, didja like it?
PLEASE REVIEW!!
Polls
#1: Do you think I posses any talent for writing?
No, you definitely suck
Yes, but you must keep trying
#2: Why do you guys keep reading my story?
Because I laugh at your mockery of writing talent
Because I like your stuff
Because you do funny polls and crap like that
#3: Which zodiac (Chinese) animal are you?
Cat (jkjkjkjk)
Rat - 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996
Dog - 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Monkey – that's me!! – 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Boar – 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
Cow – 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997
Horse – 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Snake – 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
Rabbit – 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
Dragon/seahorse – 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
Rooster – 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Tiger – 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998
Sheep – 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
Kay yall, I'll try to have the next chapter up real soon. I've already started on it so don't you worry!
Inulover411