Chapter Sixteen: Talking and Formation of Plans

Yuki went to the couch and grabbed the remote, flipping on the TV. Ayame followed him, brining his work with to, sort site beside his brother. Yuki was grinning to himself. He hadn't ever thought that Ayame would like his picture enough to pare it to the wall, or think that it was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. Nii-san had seen many beautiful things and had made some. Yuki looked over at what he was working on when the commercial break come on. He could tell that it was difficulty because Nii-san was concentrating only on it and nothing else. He was bent closer than he normally was when doing an order from the shop. He had been having Mine bring over the orders and Ayame would sew them at home. Yuki was usually content simply sit with him while playing with some block or coloring. Tohru would play with the boys if she had time, and usually made time if Yuki would want to do something and Ayame was extremely busy.

He had been very busy the past few days with almost ten new orders coming in everyday. Yuki knew that Nii-san had to work and if Tohru wasn't here, Kazuma would usually play with him or teach him some taw kwon doe. He didn't know that Haru had planned to come over earlier; he assumed the teen was at school. Haru had obviously skipped school, or had faked sick.

Yuki scooted closer to Nii-san to examine the intricate designs on the kimono. It was a rich red color with black stitching. Ayame was currently stitching what looked like a boar. As Ayame moved his hand, he could see the other designs on the kimono. It was going to be a zodiac design. The child could now see that Nii-san was only using the black thread for the outlines of the animals. The dog was the only one that was fully done and filled in. The snake, the rooster, and the ram were the only ones that were fully outlines. The board was about half way outline along with the rat. Ayame looked up from his work ashe noticed Yuki looking at the kimono.

"Do you like it?" Ayame chuckled as Yuki jumped, startled at the sound of the man's voice. Yuki nodded his head all the same, awe in his eyes. "You can touch it if you want to. It feels very soft and smooth." Yuki looked at the exquisite fabric, amazed that he would actually be allowed to touch it. He was afraid that simply touching it might cause something bad to happen.

Ayame could see the fear and apprehension on the gray-haired child's face. "It's okay; the cloth is meant to be touched." Yuki was still nervous about touching it, but if Nii-san said it was okay…

He hesitantly reached his hand forward and touched the deep, rich read fabric. Nii-san had been right about the fabric being soft. It was amazingly soft, beyond words for this six-year-old mind. "This is the finest silk in the world. I had to buy special thread to stitch on it and it still may mess up. This is the hardest thing I've ever sewn on."

Yuki lightly ran his fingers over the fine stitching, stopping on his won. He hadn't even known that Nii-san could make something so beautiful. It looked as if the few animals were actually moving, dancing across the kimono.

The child removed his hand in order for his brother to get back to work. Yuki went back to watching the TV while sitting at the table. After about five minutes, he decided he wanted to be closer to the TV. He could see it fine from the table, but he knew that if he moved closer he could see it even better. He moved from his spot on the floor to sit about six inches away from the television. This was much better. It hurt his eyes a little, but the slight pain was gone in a few seconds. He was there for fifteen minutes before Ayame noticed that the child had left his side. He scowled lightly at how close the child was to the TV; Yuki had always gotten headaches if he sat to close to the television set.

"Yuki, please scoot back from the TV." The man went back to his work, thinking that he problem was solved.

Yuki was scowling at the TV. He didn't want to move back; he was happy where he was. Why did he have to do what Nii-san said anyway? He was Nii-san, not his parents. He didn't have to do what Nii-san said.

Ayame guessed the rebellious thoughts his charge was having. "Yuki, did you hear me?" He heard the child huff and saw him nod defiantly. Ayame sighed inwardly, not wanting to discipline the child in any way or form. He carefully removed the delicate kimono from his lap and stood up.

Yuki was scared now. He could hear Nii-san moving his things and standing. Now he was in trouble; Nii-san was made at him. Yuki was about to scoot back, but Ayame's hands were under his arms, lifting him off the ground, and gently lowering him back to the ground about two feet away from the TV. Yuki was still scared that Ayame was going to hurt him, tears shining in his eyes. He deserved to be hit, didn't he? He had been bad and even though Nii-san wasn't his parents he was the one taking care of him.

"It's okay, Yuki. I'm not mad at you, and you're not I trouble, but you need to talk, okay?" Yuki blinked, nodding, as a tear rolled down his cheek. He wasn't in trouble? Nii-san wasn't made at him? That was good, and nothing to bad had ever come out of talking with him.

Ayame gently wiped away the tear, calming the child. "If you sit that close to the TV, you're going to get a headache. You always do, even when you're a teenager. I know you don't want to listen to me, and I feel kind of odd telling you what to do, and even though I'm your older brother, I need you to listen to me. If it were any other situation you wouldn't have to listen to me, but since I am taking care of you now like a parent would, I need you to listen to me. I'm only going to tell you to do something and expect obedience, if doing that something will hurt you. Sitting that close to the TV gives you a really bad headache. Your head a little right when you moved closer, didn't it?"

Yuki nodded guilty, feeling horrible. He had gotten a headache when he sat down, and he had one now. Ayame was using the gentlest voice he could and petting the child's hair. "I don't really like telling you what to do, but I will, and scold you, if it keeps you from getting hurt, okay?" Yuki nodded, tears welling in his eyes again. He was so horrible. He should've just listened to Ayame. Why was he so stupid and useless? All he ever did was cause trouble for those around him. The child knuckles his eyes, trying not to cry as he reminded himself that Nii-san wasn't mad at him. He leaned against the man, still rubbing his eyes.

Ayame gathered his younger brother in his arms, now realizing why he had been so weepy. He had thought the child would be angry about being told what to do. He had expected scowls and angry pouts, not tears. There were probably some insecurities coming to the surface, but he suspected that the cause for tears was more from being sleepy than anything else.

Yuki's small arms wound around the man's neck, resting his head on Nii-san's shoulder. That felt nice, resting here in his arms. Nii-san wasn't mad at him and loved him.

"Are you sleepy?" Ayame felt a very small nod against his shoulder, smiling. He stood up without another and headed to the child's room. Yuki was content to lay against him at first. It was when they got to his room and Ayame put him on the bed that it clicked. He was being put down for a nap. He didn't need a nap; he wasn't a baby. Six-year-olds didn't need naps. He sat up in bed, a very determined scowl on his face and a slight pout.

Ayame stopped and looked at him, a light smiled on his face. "I though you were sleepy." Yuki shook his head but made no move to get up from the bed. "I'm not putting you down for a nap, if that's what you're thinking. I just thought you might want to lay down and rest if you were sleepy. You don't have to sleep if you don't want to."

The child considered this. He didn't have to sleep if he didn't want to? He was very tired, and what Nii-san said made sense. It probably would be good to lie down. Actually, lying down sounded like a very good idea. It was only a few seconds before the child was asleep.

Ayame laid a light blanket over him, tucked him on, and kissed his forehead before leaving the sleeping child.

"Rin, what are we doing? Why are we at Shigure's?" The black-haired teen didn't answer the rooster. She walked up to the house and knocked, knowing that soon she would have the answers she had search for so long.

Author's Note: This has been finished for a little over a week now, but I didn't have time to type it up. I have about half of the next chapter finished so it hopefully won't be to long before the next update. THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS! REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

NEXT CHAPTER: Rin's plan is revealed, Yuki and Kyo bond, and Yuki comes to a turning point.