Kyo sat anxiously outside the main house wall. His eyes trained perceptively on the window that Akito normally leans out of, waiting for the flash of blonde hair. Seeing the clan head not leaning out the window, he leapt down from the wall. Dashing across Hatori's Buddhist or Dao Jin rock garden, he sprung atop that building. Then bounding across the roofs of the buildings, he landed on top of the one that Akito lived in.
Voices inside had him fearing that he may have arrived far to late to find out what the clan head wanted with Usagi. However, his fears where laid to rest as it wasn't Usagi that the clan head threw out to his garden. Kyo observed as the monkey youth, Ritsu skid on his side, and bash his elbow on a rock. As much as he hated seeing weaker opponents get beat on by stronger one, he could not do much for his fellow cousin.
Ritsu shakily got back to his knees, kneeling subserviently toward Akito. A pale hand then shut the double doors that guarded Akito's room. However, they where not shut all the way as a small sliver was still revealed. Ritsu glanced toward it as he heard Akito's hissing voice. "Next time, my dear monkey, do not take so long to visit." Akito ordered. Ritsu bowed at his waist before letting out a sore breath, the skid had rubbed his side raw. "Now, dismissed." Akito's voice leaked out, before their was a snap of the double doors closing.
Ritsu stood up, holding a gentle hand to his right side. His once pristine white button up shirt was dyed with dirt and blood. The dusty tan orange stain on his shirt highlighted his pale face. A trail of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. Bruises on either side of his face were darkening with each moment. Yellow tinged the edge of the twin bruises on each of his cheeks. One of his eyes had puffing around the lower edge. Within the hour, it would most likely be a black eye. On his left arm was a long gash, like from a gouging cut from a piece of glass. Ritsu smiled in a ironic gesture, lifting his right hand to gently touch his bleeding lips. "Hmm, I got off lightly this time." He murmured, before limping slightly out of Akito's garden. When he got far enough Kyo leapt down from his perch to land before Ritsu.
"Come on, I'll help you to Hatori's office." Kyo offered. Ritsu gave the cat youth an apologetic smile before leaning slightly on him. Their trek was a slow and hard one, for several times they had to stop for Ritsu to catch a more painful breath. Kyo had his features tinted with frustration, as he was worried for the blond he had yet to see. Finally, they reached Hatori's office, and Ritsu turned to him.
"Go on, I can make it from here." Ritsu stated, while using his uninjured arm to push Kyo on. Kyo needed no more urging and scamped off. Though not before giving one more concerned gaze to his stumbling cousin. He noticed that he would have to slip back out, because he knew that Akito's main zodiac guardian would be at the door. Kyo did not hate Kureno, not at all, it's just the Rooster was always forced to Akito's side. In this insistence, Kureno would report Kyo's presence with a tired subserving agitation.
Seeing a way out, he slipped back into the sunshine. Letting the sun warm the back of his neck, he jumped back up to the rooftops. However, he was greeted by four eyes, sighing he shook his head. "Hello Artemis, and Luna." Kyo greeted before sinking beside them. Seeing their gazes, he tilted his head with an agitated jerk. "Yeah, I'm worried about her too." Kyo stated, before a crash was heard below them.
Kyo wanted to jump down and rush to Akito's room. However, he stilled his instinct and tightened his perch. Suddenly the double doors flung open, and the familiar image of Akito basking in the sun was presented before the tense watchers. The three watched as he called for Usagi who sat beside him with a bit of an easy gait. Kyo hastily looked her over, but didn't see any bruises or blood. Then the cat was allowed to see the clan head laugh, though as amazed as he was, Kyo did not remove himself from his perch.
Then the two changed, and Kyo almost leapt off, hands arched as he saw Akito try to strangle the girl. Though Usagi calmly removed the clan head's hand only for it to entangle in her hair. Kyo couldn't move, because the anger in his senses were flooding his eyes, and filling his muscles with adrenaline. It was all for naught, because Akito finally released Usagi without any permanent damage. Then they heard the command of Usagi to tell Kureno to bring Hatori. Kyo narrowed his eyes before leaping off the rooftop from the other side.
Hurriedly he ran toward Hatori's office, and slid behind the double doors that opened up to the Dao Jin garden. Waiting a few minutes, he saw two silhouettes appeared, one the tall Hatori, the other was the doubled bun Usagi. He dropped his head as he saw the stance that Hatori took to remove people's memories. However, the bright light that reacted was not one accompanied to the Sohma doctor. It flashed a prism color before a hard gasp was heard from Hatori. Kyo growled in irritation, as he couldn't see exactly what was going on. Although, a breath of relief escaped him as he heard Usagi's question. Only to tense up again as Kureno arrived and made his announcement. He hopped back onto the roof, and back to the two waiting felines.
"Heh, Hatori was unable to erase Usagi's memories." He muttered as he sat back down by the two felines. While Kyo was thinking over this prospect, he did not see both Luna and Artemis tense at his statement. Trusting the cat human to watch over Usagi, they walked a bit off.
"One of them has the power to erase memories?" Artemis asked while glancing worriedly at the building Usagi was in.
"Obviously." Luna remarked, staring at her white partner with a bored look.
"This is dangerous, Usagi fended him off." Artemis repeated what was just said.
"As stated before." Luna commented.
"Aren't you a bit worried?" An irritated Artemis asked.
"Of course I am, but freaking out isn't going to help Usagi." Luna scolded him, and Artemis blushed guiltily.
"Sorry." Artemis chocked out through his embarrassment. Luna merely waved him off, this is what the guardian excelled at, maintaining a cool while under pressure.
"Now, it is obvious that there is more to this family then what we know." Luna remarked. "However, right now, Usagi is in the best position to gather more information then us." She added with a sigh. "So, we leave it to our princess for right now." Luna concluded.
"Then what?" Artemis asked.
"We will answer that when the time comes." Luna answered. Artemis nodded, and both strolled back to Kyo who turned to them.
"Yo, cats, Usagi was dismissed." Kyo stated. He blatantly ignored the simmering glare that Luna sent him for the addressing. "Let's go." Kyo told them, and easily leapt from roof to roof, only to stop at the last minute. As a he watched a gleaming silver head entered the main house, Kyo could easily hear the boasting voice a couple of roofs over. A groan escaped his lips as he held his head down. Luna and Artemis was graced with his kind mumbles. 'Arg,..stupid snake...bloody rat.' They heard, and the tirade when on for a little longer as the silver haired one came back out with a blond in tow. Sighing Kyo leapt down, and landed in front of Ayame and Usagi.
Usagi squealed happily to see Kyo and leapt forward to hug him. Kyo braced himself for the change while watching a creepy smile spread across Ayame's face. There was no puff of smoke nor was there a shifting of bones. Kyo blinked in shock, as he felt his jaw unhinged from the expected shift. For once he was able to fully hug a female back without her being one of the juunishi. His shocked red eyes worked their way to Ayame's asking the silent question of how. Yet, Ayame merely shrugged before laughing, and wrenching Usagi out of Kyo's hold.
"Usagi is due in my shop now." Ayame exclaimed before whirling down the sidewalk.
"What?" Kyo exclaimed loudly. Ayame laughed back in response. "No, she isn't going into your shop!" Kyo yelled. He had heard Tohru and Yuki talking about his brother shop.
"Tsk, silly kitty, Usagi works for me." Ayame told him with a proud smile.
"Wha?" Kyo got out before stumbling lightly. Laughter met his shock, before Ayame tugged more insistently on Usagi's hand.
"Now come along, we have a show Saturday." Ayame reminded and the two silver and blond haired vanished up the street. Kyo hurried after them to keep an eye on Ayame.
Some asked about Kyo, and I didn't forget about him, I just want him to be on the outside, silently protecting. 'Laughs,' next chapter, I'll give a little hint as to why the juunishi isn't changing. Until then. Later and Please review,
WCB.