Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket :(

A/N: Enjoy!

Chapter 6: 5 Year-Olds Aren't Sexy At All

I didn't want to go to school.

Although I would blame it on my usual dislike for school in general and the monotonous manner in which my school life seemed to drag on, the main reason, well the only one, was having to see Kyo.

After our awkward-yet-fucking-exciting-I-almost-came-in-my-p ants-but-obviously-he-doesn't-feel-the-same-way-an d-I-pushed-him-too-far encounter, we hadn't had any contact... well he doesn't have your number so how would he get in contact with you? He knows where you live, I think it would be pretty simple. But he does live in the dormitories, maybe that's stopping him.

"Ahh! Stop dammit!" I screamed to myself just as Mimi decided to enter the dining room precisely at that moment to my utter embarrassment.

"Yuki-nii... are you okay?" She looked at me, her face scrunched up in concern and worry for the disappearance of the last part of my sane mind.

"Ya, I'm fine. You ready? I was thinking we could walk to school. It's not that far."

At my sentiment she gave me another quizzical look before smiling, turning around and sighing dramatically, "Fine. Since you're obviously in need of my spectacular company, I'll walk with you."

I smirked at her, "Don't get ahead of yourself, Mimi."

Looking back over her shoulder she replied, "You know, Yuki-nii, ever since I was 8 years old, you would always ask me to go on walks with you whenever you needed to think through things that were troubling you. We haven't done it in a while so I was starting to think that you didn't need me anymore." She laughed and continued, "You're my big brother, I just want to let you know that I'll always be here whenever you need me, even if it's just for a walk where none of us talk." She sent another smile my way before heading up the stairs to fetch her bag. I started at the spot she was occupying before, speechless, until she returned. "Yuki-nii? Come on, if we want to make it to school at a reasonable time we're going to have to leave now."

I shook my head, regaining my composure. "Ya, I got it." I picked up my bag and made for the front door behind Mimi.

It was now Tuesday, school had just ended and Sou and I made our way to our usual practice room. It was originally a music room but had been forgotten about when one of the new music rooms got built which was bigger and better.

Why the hell wasn't Kyo at school yesterday or today? Is he avoiding me?

I walked into the room with Sou behind me and plopped onto one of the couches.

"What's up with him?" I heard Seiji ask Sou.

"Won't tell me. Keeps brooding but just says nothing's wrong. If you ask me, I think it's denial of some sort."

"Denial? About what?"

"Well that's what I want to find out."

I heard Aki's soft voice join in, "Well, Yuki will tell us when he wants to tell us, don't you think? Maybe he's just going through a rough patch. We should just be here for him."

"Well there's only so much I can take, Aki. He doesn't even pay attention in class anymore! That's supposed to be my job! Maybe someone swapped our Yuki with a different Yuki! That's gotta be it, that Yuki's an alien!"

"I can hear you, Sou and your theory's retarded."

'Well then come on! Pull yourself towards yourself before you lose yourself, dude!"

I stared at him blankly before laughing, "What the fuck was that?"

Sou practically skipped towards me, hugging me. "Yay! Yuki!"

I tried pushing him away but to no avail. "Okay, okay! Chill! Can we just start practising now?"

"That's what I want to hear." I heard Seiji say and we all went to our respective places, everything having been set up already, probably by Seiji this morning.

I took my stand at my mic and breathed in deeply. Music is my only escape.

I walked around the school. Technically I wasn't supposed to be here. I had been 'absent' today so I was supposed to be sick.

Since I had had nothing to do, I figured I'd come and tour the school and since school ended at least one and a half hours I doubted I would get into trouble.

I made my way into the section of the school which seemed practically deserted as if no one had been there in a while.

I made my way to a window, opening it to get some more air flow in the corridor. Talk about creepy. Not like I'm scared the school's haunted or anything, but is this weird part of the school really necessary?

I faint noise made its way to my ears and almost in a trance, I made my way towards it. My feet stopped outside a classroom, the door slightly ajar.

The sound was more prominent now and I could now put a name to the noises I was hearing. Someone's playing the piano. The piano continued and a voice began to sing.

"I wish you bluebirds in the spring
To give your heart a song to sing
And then a kiss, but more than this
I wish you love"

I peeked inside the classroom trying to get a closer look. The song was sad and reminiscent but the voice itself was soft and soothing and I immediately felt drawn to the presence sitting at the piano.

I couldn't see much from my position but I could make out one thing. A boy's uniform and slender fingers running across piano keys.

"And in July a lemonade
To cool you in some leafy glade
I wish you health
And more than wealth
I wish you love"

I slid down the side of the door, sitting down and continued to listen to the voice, making sure I was absolutely silent lest they stop. I felt my body relax and my eyes closed involuntary.

"My breaking heart and I agree
That you and I could never be
So with my best
My very best
I set you free"

There was a familiarity in the voice that enveloped me in warmth.

"I wish you shelter from the storm
A cozy fire to keep you warm
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love

But most of all when snowflakes fall

I wish you love"

The voice stopped while the piano continued and I knew the song was coming to an end but I didn't want it to. The piano came to a stop too and I just sat there for a few minutes bathing in the afterglow of the performance.

"Kyo?"

I looked up into big violet eyes. "Yuki? What the hell are you doing here?"

Yuki looked around curiously before making eye contact with me again, "Well.. actually I think that's my question. This is the old music room... Wait, how did you even get here?"

I stood up from my seat on the ground, dusting myself off. "I was taking a tour of the school."

"At this hour after school after being absent?"

I blushed turning my head to the side, "Well, ya, it was the perfect time since otherwise I would've been caught out."

Yuki laughed and I felt myself staring at him. I should probably apologize for Friday..

"I'm—"

"I'm sorry!"

My gaze snapped up to Yuki's, "Why are you sorry? I'm the one who ran out."

"Well... I shouldn't have done that, I mean, I was just playing... I didn't think you'd actually... li-lick it off." Yuki said and flushed bright red, suddenly finding his shoes very interesting.

Even after having time to think I haven't actually figured out what's going on but the way he is now... isn't it okay just to give caution to the wind and go along with whatever's happening? I think if.. if it's Yuki... it'll be okay.

I smirked, "Well, I'm never one to back down from a dare." Yuki's lavender eyes made contact with mine again and I could see the pure shock in his eyes.

A smile made its way across his face, against his will it looked like because it seemed as if he were fighting it and not doing a good job, Yuki shook his head and gave a short laugh.

"I'll keep that in mind next time." He said almost shyly, although it seemed as if there was another meaning, I never bothered to look deeper into it.

"You're really good."

"Good at what?"

"Singing?" I said unsure, looking in the room to see if anyone else was in it.

He started giggling, "No, no. That was me. Sorry, I just forgot what was going on before I spoke to you. Thanks... by the way."

"No need to thank me, you've got talent. Ever think of starting up a band?"

Yuki laughed out loud that time, and although it sort of annoyed me not knowing the reason he was laughing, I stared down at him in amusement, waiting for him to regain himself.

"Okay, Yuki. Pull yourself towards yourself before you lose yourself."

I looked at him as if he'd just spoken a foreign language, "What the fuck?"

He smiled widely, "Sou said it to me this morning when he thought I was losing my mind."

"Losing your mind?"

His smile faded a bit and he shook his head, "It's nothing, long story."

Yuki invited me into the music room and whilst I was looking around he sat down on one of the couches in the room. I made my way to the couch sitting on the opposite side, moving my body so I was facing him and leaned against the couch.

"Was it part of the reason you were singing that song?" I asked suddenly, and I didn't know if I was crossing a boundary by doing it but honestly I just had a desire to know.

"My mother used to sing that for me, whenever she thought I was having a hard time." He said as if it was enough of a reason but I didn't understand.

"She doesn't sing it for you anymore?"

Yuki's face fell a bit and his smile turned sad, heart-broken almost.

"She... My parents passed away 3 years ago..."

I froze. Shit. Shit. Shit!

"I... um..." I started, unsure of what to say.

Yuki bit his lip, shaking his head more to himself. "It's okay... I'm okay with it now." There was more silence but Yuki continued, wanting to get something off his chest. "I... I had a fight with her, the day before she... you know, passed. Over something as stupid as shoes." He said, snorting almost in disgust. "We were talking over the phone, and she had said she would buy me this pair I had always wanted but supposedly she couldn't find it at the shops and I had the audacity to tell her she hadn't looked hard enough. My father and mother had gone oversees for a business trip which they had extended into a bit of a holiday trip as well. When we found out... that the plane had crashed, I—" Yuki shook his head and his eyes started tearing a bit, he breathed in deeply, willing the tears away before continuing, "Later in the day their luggage arrived, they'd sent it separately to the house. Amongst it were the things they bought for us... In her luggage we found the pair of shoes... It was exactly what I wanted... and I didn't even feel an ounce of want for it after that. I... all I wanted was my parents, you know. I would've gladly given all the gifts, all my possessions if they could just have arrived back home safely. I cried every single night for months. I mean, if I... If I had just been more appreciative towards her then maybe..."

I kept silent. What could I possibly have said to him? He was hurting all this time, carrying everything on his fragile shoulders.

"Look, Yuki, I... I know it must be hard to have lost your parents, but you've got to understand that nothing was your fault. Children have stupid fights with their parents all the time, there's no way you could've known what would happen."

"How would you know anything?"

"I lived alone with my Dad, remember?"

Realisation dawned on Yuki's face, "When did she..."

"When I was born..." I said softly, "There were complications during my birth. She never made it."

Yuki's hand went to his mouth and his eyes released the tears that he had tried to hold at bay. "I'm so sorry." Yuki croaked.

I grabbed Yuki's wrist and pulled his hand away from his mouth. "Don't be."

"But Kyo—"

"Can I tell you something I haven't told anyone before?" Yuki never said anything, he just nodded slightly. "At first when I could actually understand what had happened, I would cry myself to sleep every night thinking I was responsible." I heard Yuki gasp but I carried on, "If my Dad hadn't practically mentally beat the idea out of my head, I would probably have caved... but I learned something important from it all. I have no control and I didn't have it back then either. Just like you, I would've gladly given anything to change what had happened but... life doesn't work that way. My dad told me that my mother had always wanted a child, that if it meant saving my life 'Ayu-chan would've done it all over again.'" I said fondly, "Parents... they have this unconditional love for their children and I swear on my very soul that your mother had it for you."

I couldn't believe my ears. I had been ranting off about my mother when Kyo hadn't even had the chance of meeting his.

"Sorry... that you had to tell me that."

Kyo snorted, "Believe me, if I didn't want to tell you I wouldn't have. That and you're very easy to talk to."

The corners of my mouth lifted slightly, I wiped the tears from my face hastily, suddenly embarrassed that I had let Kyo see me in such a horrid state.

"Wow, this is embarrassing."

"We'll take it as pay-back for Friday."

"How is that even the same thing?"

"Do you know how embarrassed I was after licking your finger?" He said, averting his gaze and I smirked a bit.

"You did look like you enjoyed it."

I was met with Kyo's blazing gaze, "I did not!"

I continued teasing, "I think otherwise."

"Well who was the one who moaned!"

Shit, I hoped he hadn't heard that. "I-i-i... It wasn't my fault! You just did that thing with your tongue and then I..." I said, getting softer and softer as I spoke.

Kyo and I sat in silence, why if this isn't awkward, what could be?

"By the way, about what you said earlier... I'm in a band already."

"Really? Holy shit. With who?"

"Sou, Seiji and Aki actually."

Kyo stared at me, expressionless. "I should have expected that." He said monotonously and I laughed in response. "What are you guys called?"

"Perdi."

"Perdi? Does it have any meaning behind it?"

"It's Latin for 'I have been destroyed/ruined.' The guys kind of forced me into it a few months after my parents died. Supposedly they couldn't handle seeing me 'wallow' anymore."

"Did it help?"

"It does. Even now, whenever I have a problem, it all seems to disappear when I sing."

"Wait... you said the band's name is Perdi?"

"Yes... so?"

"You guys are the ones we're getting for Kazuki's surprise party next month."

"Ya, Shiba Kazuki.. what do you mean 'we'?"

"He's my roommate at the dorm. Shortly after I arrived and got settled, the rest of the guys told me about the surprise party. I mean, I'm his roommate so I'm kind of in charge of distracting him when things get on the verge of leaking out."

"I see... so... you're gonna be there, I guess?"

"Well, obviously."

I nodded and looked at him with a look of indifference plastered on my face, "Right. Stupid question."

"So why are you here all by yourself? Where are the other guys?"

"They've left already, I was just killing some more time. I didn't want to go home yet."

"I see. Oh ya, how did those 'deliciously awesome cappuccino muffins' come out?" Kyo said, and I knew he said the name mockingly.

I glared half-heartedly and then sighed in dismay, "They burnt."

Kyo shook his head, "There's a reason I put the timer on you know."

"I know, but I didn't hear it. After you left... I was listening to music on my iPod and I never heard the buzzer."

Kyo snorted in disbelief, "After all my hard work."

"I helped out too, you know!"

"Fine. After all our hard work." Kyo said smirking at me. "5 year-old," he muttered as he stood up.

"I'm not a 5 year-old!"

"Actions speak louder than words," He taunted, pointing at my stance.

Confused, I looked down to see that my hands had found their way to my hips and I was indeed standing like a 5 year-old who hadn't gotten their way. I abruptly dropped my hands and huffed in annoyance.

5 year-olds aren't sexy at all.

Review please! Virtual glomps to all who do because they make me very happy :)

Thank you for reading!