Disclaimer: You think I own any of this? (dies laughing)
Note, 1: This is one of my first attempts at writing the Fruits Basket characters. Please forgive me if anyone seems too out of character. Advice is always appreciated; just don't be mean or uppity about it.
Note, 2: I don't like curse words. Nor am I certain that my parents would allow me to type them. Therefore, all swearwords will be written as follows: -CENSORED-. The strongest words I'll ever type out in this fic are: dang, shoot, and crud.
Verisimilitude
Sixteen: The Lost are Found
Three days later, Shigure had long since gotten over Hatori's insulting thoughts and was now starting to worry about the dragon. As if it wasn't bad enough having Kyo and Yuki go missing, now Hatori had suddenly disappeared as well.
Speaking of Hatori, let's join him now.
Hatori wandered around warily—Kyo was somewhere around here. He just knew it. The schoolbag and jacket he'd found on the ground a few moments ago was proof of that. Poor kid; Kyo was probably off freezing to death someplace.
"Kyo," Hatori called quietly. "Are you there, Kyo?"
An orange head popped up from behind a trash can.
"Well, it's about time!" Kyo yelled hoarsely, throat dry. "I've been here for three days! Believe me, I've counted 'em and—hey, what you doin'?"
Hatori, who'd been hugging the cat, quickly released the orange-top.
"Can we just go home already?" grumped Kyo. "I'm hungry and thirsty and—hey, how's Honda-san?"
"I'm afraid she didn't make it, Kyo," Hatori murmured, pushing Kyo's messy hair out of his eyes.
Kyo looked about to bolt off again, so Hatori grabbed his arm.
"Running isn't going to help. Here." Hatori gave Kyo back his jacket.
"I'm not cold," Kyo denied, while putting on the light coat.
"You're shivering. You're hungry, right?" continued Hatori, reaching into his bag for a box of crackers.
"Not anymore," Kyo muttered, staring at the ground. He'd just found out that Honda-san was dead—how could he be hungry?
"Well, you're still thirsty."
Kyo shrugged carelessly.
"Drink." Hatori handed him a small bottle. "It's a little warm, but it's still water."
Apathetically, Kyo accepted the life-giving liquid and took a few gulps. Even if he was miserable, at least his throat felt nice and wet.
"Is Yuki near?" Hatori asked.
"No, 'course not… he's not at home, is he?" Kyo returned, already knowing the answer.
Sure enough, Hatori shook his head. "Where did you last see him?"
"In front of the school building."
"Come on, then. We'll check in front of the school on our way back to the apartment."
"And then I suppose you'll dump me at home and keep lookin' for Yuki?"
"That's the plan," Hatori confirmed, still keeping a light but cautious hold on Kyo's arm.
"That's your plan. My plan is that I look with you."
"No, you—"
"Either I search with you or I search on my own!" Kyo shouted with a threatening glare, before swallowing another mouthful of water.
"Kyo, you—"
"Fine, then!" Kyo broke loose of Hatori's grasp and started to run away.
"Kyo!"
Kyo hesitated, hoping that Hatori had changed his mind, and looked over his shoulder.
"You take one more step and you will be in bigger trouble than you ever thought possible."
Kyo's determined face fell into an expression of slack-jawed disappointment.
"If we don't find Yuki at the school and if you behave yourself, though, I'll let you help me make a list of places where he might be. Okay?"
Realizing that he truly didn't feel up to running away again so soon, Kyo decided that he didn't have a lot of options in this matter, so he nodded reluctantly and trudged back to Hatori.
As planned, they walked over to Hatori's car and drove back to the school to check if Yuki was somewhere around there. Naturally, however, all they found was his backpack.
Hatori picked up the bag gravely and said, "Kyo, we're just going to make one more quick stop. I don't want to take any chances."
"Huh?" Kyo grunted. "What're you talking about? Where are we going?"
"The Main House."
-
"Stay in the car," Hatori ordered. "I'll be back in a minute. Stay right here and don't move until I return."
"Fine," Kyo grumbled, slouching down, planning something…
Hatori shut the car door and stealthily made his way through the property, heading for Yuki's "room". Not having been there for a while, it took him a few moments to remember the way.
He did find the room, however, and slipped into the dark chamber without a sound. Hatori crept up to Yuki, who was lying on the floor, curled up into a little ball.
"Yuki," Hatori whispered.
The boy gave a start, head shooting up.
"It's okay; I came to take you home."
Yuki shook his head slowly.
"You know me, remember? It's Hatori."
Yuki carefully nodded.
"Let's go."
Another shake of the head.
"Why not? You trust me, right?"
Yuki stared rigidly at the floor, murmuring, "No."
"Yuki…?"
"I don't trust you."