After a ridiculously (more than year-long) hiatus, RTP is back and (hopefully) better than ever! However, please don't expect consistent updates; I am so horribly busy with RL issues that this fanfic is the absolute least of my priorities. Sorry. D=

Warnings: Woah lemon? (Ish, at the very least.)

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. If they were, Furuba wouldn't have had such an awful ending.

Repeating the Past
Not Just Attraction

So it would seem there was much more to the princely president than any of their schoolmates would ever have imagined. And judging from how worked up Yuki was, whatever had happened was much worse than Manabe had originally expected.

"I…" murmured Yuki. He stopped and closed his eyes, looking for a moment as if he were experiencing a terrible internal conflict, but seconds later he was speaking again. "It's… it's not like I don't want to run away from Akito, but I… I d-don't have a choice…"

Manabe's brows furrowed, and in a light wave of anger his arms tightened around the other boy. How could he not have a choice in being taken advantage of? Nabe opened his mouth to voice his opinion, but said nothing as another thought struck him—had that Akito person brainwashed Yuki into thinking that way? If whatever it was Akito did to Yuki had started at a young age, it would certainly not be impossible for him to convince Yuki that he was not supposed to have a choice and that even if he wanted to tell someone, no one would listen to him.

That thought… that thought infuriated him.

"…B-Because he is my master. He is master to all of us." Manabe, pulled from his train of thought, stared at Yuki, his mouth gaping at the words he was hearing—and at that moment, he was completely incapable of comprehending the depth of Yuki's statement.

"He is the master of the Zodiac."

"Why…?"

The voice was quivering, helpless. Shigure listened with indifference, nevertheless.

"Why does everyone abandon me?" Akito continued, his face hidden deep in shadow. Many moments of silence passed, Shigure meanwhile looking outside the window with a light air of longing. How lovely it would be to live a free life, one not bound to this darkness and woe. The Curse never bothered him so much as it did the other members of the Zodiac, but its Master was another matter entirely.

Shigure turned away from the window to face Akito as the light outside began to fade into early evening. The head of the Sohma family was curled up in a corner, head in his hands, fingers tangled in his hair. He looked so frustrated, so delicate. Shigure turned away.

"You're an idiot for getting so upset."

A falter in his breath showed that Akito had heard, and Shigure turned to watch him nonchalantly. Even in the dark, he could see Akito's glare.

"How dare you—"

"How dare I what?" Shigure countered levelly, his voice never rising. He was annoyed, and as usual felt the urge to worsen his antagonizer's problems. "How dare I speak the truth? Don't you dare think you and your trusted servants are the only ones who know what you did to Yuki all those years ago."

Akito's hateful expression melted into a cold stare. "Did Yuki tell you this?" Shigure stared back, barely surprised that he didn't deny it.

"A very windy day many years ago, Yuki was stumbling away from your room when I came to see you. His hair was tousled and sweaty, he was walking like he'd soiled himself, and there was still a blush on his cheeks that only intimacy can give you. It doesn't take an idiot to figure out what had happened."

A smirk found its way to Akito's face. "Heh. Good for you. And here I thought no one could tell. But what are you going to do about it? You're just the Dog. No one will believe you before me."

Shigure paused, speechless for a few moments before he sighed and again gazed out the window, stars beginning to twinkle in the pale evening light. "Akito-san, I'm not looking to get you in trouble. I just don't find it fair that I go out of my way to see you, and all you do is sulk about Yuki's absence. Besides, to some degree, I quite enjoy your company, where as Yuki is just terrified of you. I don't see the point if Yuki doesn't want—"

"That doesn't matter!"

Shigure turned back to see Akito had stood, his breath heavy and his eyes wide; frightened and insane. "He's mine! It doesn't matter if he really wants it! I'm important, I'm needed! He's supposed to do what I want!"

"What, you think that's justification? It's still not right."

The God stopped, his shoulders braced and his chest heaving. Shigure figured he may finally have said something to at least strike a nerve, but to his true and utter surprise, God began to laugh. A sick, nauseating laugh, his head bent back and his eyes clouded and dark with passionate righteousness.

"Not right? Not right? I am God! I'm always right! You should be happy to know I at least had the decency to drug him so it wouldn't hurt as much!"

Shigure stared, this time truly speechless. Akito's voice was hysterical; his mind was clearly unhinging, and Akito wondered what could've happened to make him snap.

"D…Drugs?" the Dog asked weakly. "Akito… that is…"

"Of course! How else would I have been able to do anything when he was not only not interested, but completely frightened of me? Granted, one time he was so caught up in his own emotions that he came willingly." Akito smirked, and Shigure, stunned into silence, could only imagine how much of a play on words that had been as Akito walked over to him. "The time you saw him leave my room, he came to me of his own volition and asked comfort of me." One of his hands rested on Shigure's shoulder, and the other upon his chest. When he spoke, his whispered breath flitted warmly against the Dog's neck. "That was the very first time I touched him. His cry as he made his very first orgasm was delicious—"

"Stop it!" Shigure pushed Akito away, more than a little disgusted. "Just… what kind of drugs did you use? Tell me now and I won't have to get Haa-san involved."

"Oh, just a mix of a light sedative and an aphrodisiac." Shigure cringed.

"Did… Did he know he as being drugged?"

"No, I always slipped it into his tea."

Shigure stared for a few moments before collapsing onto the window sill and covering his face with one hand. It astounded him that a person could so nonchalantly admit to drugging his own cousin in order to more effectively sexually abuse him without even the faintest hint of regret. What was he going to do? He couldn't let Akito get away with what he'd done, not after he'd confessed. But what could he do? Akito was the head of the prestigious Sohma family; God. Shigure had never even considered mentioning the subject before now, and only because Yuki had never shown any sign that he even remembered that aspect of his past. After seeing him with that Manabe boy, though, something had clearly made him remember…

"Akito had this tea brought for you."

Yuki looked up from the kettle. "Oh? What kind?" Shigure shrugged.

"No clue. All he said was that it's for you and you alone. Guess that means I don't get any."

"What's with that forlorn face?..."

"Yuki…"

"You know," Akito said, interrupting Shigure's revelation, "I'm sorry to have offended you. It's just, there was really a legitimate reason I was so upset that Yuki did not come today. You see…" Shigure took his head from his hand and was surprised to hear Akito's lips very near his ear, "the tea I sent to Yuki this morning was a special new concoction of mine; an aphrodisiac with a memory-triggering substance. All of our sticky situations should have been bubbling in his consciousness throughout the day, and by now, his mind should be pretty lost. It was a heavy aphrodisiac. I believe I'm justified in being angry that it has to be wasted on his little friend."

"Manabe-kun—" Shigure made to stand, but halted, frozen when he felt a needle enter his neck, a numbing liquid flowing quickly into his bloodstream. Within seconds, his eyelids began to feel heavy, the voice right next to him startlingly distant.

"Good night, Shigure."

He wasn't entirely sure when it had happened.

Ever since he'd been accepted as vice president of their school, he'd known who Yuki was. Of course, Yuki had no clue who he was since everyone appointed to a place in office was supposed to keep it a secret. Thus, Manabe could only watch his superior from the shadows, his curiosity at what the president was like piqued only by the fact that he was so damn good-looking—for a guy, at least.

But… before he knew it, Manabe had memorized every fine hair, how dark it was and how it shimmered when the sun shined. The paleness of his skin, and the hardly noticeable pink tinge that sometimes graced his cheeks when he was with Tohru. How lean his body was; the way it looked almost frail. The length of his eyelashes, and how when he was tired, they drew shadows over his deep amethyst eyes in a way that was almost sensual. How pale and full his lips were, and how inviting they seemed as they parted just barely when he felt amusement or shock.

It was then that Manabe realized he did, in fact, have a strange infatuation with the president, which consequently caused a firm voice in his head to constantly repeat the fact that he had a girlfriend with whom he was very much in love. She was just so pretty and sweet and caring; she deserved better than some boy who couldn't control his attractions.

Then… that was it, wasn't it? Kakeru Manabe had a crush on the president; found him appealing on the most basic level. It was something so simple, so trivial, and it bothered him to know he had the capacity in his heart to love anyone besides his girlfriend. Well, not that he loved Yuki. But he certainly liked him, and that was troublesome all the same.

Troublesome or not, though, it was there, and Manabe wasn't one for denial. He therefore decided it was only fair to accept it, because once he managed that, he would be able to justifiably ignore it. Even so, the mere fact that he held even fleeting feelings for Yuki made him experience a far greater guilt than he had originally expected he would.

It took much trial and tribulation to pinpoint what exactly was causing such uneasy feelings. There was only a week before summer vacation when he finally figured it out.

"Komaki," Manabe had said as he walked his girlfriend home. She was prancing a few feet ahead of him, and Manabe couldn't help but smile as she turned toward him, her eyes bright and curious against the setting sun.

"Yeah?"

Nabe halted, wondering how he should start. It was never difficult to be honest with her, but at times finding the right words was an awful challenge.

Upon noticing that Kakeru was no longer following, Komaki stopped and turned to face Manabe completely.

"Kakeru-kun? Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice tentative. Realizing he was worrying her, Nabe gave a slight pout.

"Komaki, you know I love you, right?" The girl tilted her head to the side for a moment before closing the distance between them and putting her arms around him.

"Of course I do," she said. Manabe returned the embrace and held her close for a few seconds before pushing her away gently to keep her at arm's length. Komaki gazed confusedly between his hand and his face. "Why?"

"Well… Please don't think that I love you any less, because you're still my most important person. B-But, I think I have a crush on my ASB president."

There was a long moment of silence during which Manabe truly feared the worst, but finally Komaki's puzzled expression melted into a smile. She giggled lightly.

"You have a crush on someone?" she sniggered. "Kakeru-kun, you had me so worried." She pulled him close and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Things like that don't matter to me, Kakeru-kun." Manabe gave a relieved sigh and held her tightly. "What we have," she whispered, her hand reaching up to his shoulder, "is much too deep to be threatened by something like that." She pulled gently and their lips touched. "Right?"

Manabe smiled. "Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking."

Suddenly, her nails were digging into his shoulder, keeping him still, and she stared at him with an evil glint in her eyes. "Of course, if you act on your little crush, you will die." Manabe whimpered and nodded.

Oh, how confession and repentance could clear the soul! Manabe was so elated in the next few days that he was hardly conscious of the way dark hair and amethyst eyes found their way to his dreams. And when the day came that he laid in the Student Council room, attempting sleep, and Machi said in her dull voice, "I think it's Yuki Sohma," his heart pounded, and his breath hitched.

The moment of truth; his first true meeting of Yuki Sohma. The day when the Prince of Kaibara High School would acknowledge his vice president.

Admitted, Manabe knew his first impression must not have been a very good one. He was smart when people least expected it—otherwise the previous President would not have appointed him—but usually he was unfortunately dumb, and he hated that he could only show Yuki how strange and shallow he could be.

Telling Yuki that he looked like a girl… Definitely wasn't the best idea.

But eventually, mostly through trial and error, Yuki's first impression began to melt away, and Nabe realized that, wow, they were actually becoming friends. And as the year dragged on, it seemed like Yuki was able to smile more, and from the heart. And Manabe was better able to see from other people's perspective.

And maybe—just maybe—it was becoming more than just a crush.

"How long will your meeting with the student council last?" Manabe scratched his hair thoughtfully.

"Dunno, apparently Yun-Yun wanted to go around and do checks with all the clubs today. It's gonna be so boring." Komaki giggled.

"I'm a little jealous of her. This Yuki-san gets to spend so much time with you." Manabe cringed and tried to quiet his faltering breath lest she hear it over the phone.

"Uh, yeah, well, all in the line of duty, you know? I'll call you when I'm done! Bye, Komaki!" He hung up quickly before she could say anything.

Manabe gritted his teeth and shoved his cell phone back into his pocket. Under any other circumstances, it would have been hilarious to have Komaki think Yuki the Prince was actually a Princess. However, things just weren't good and they weren't right and Manabe felt like an absolutely horrible person. Because lately, even if Komaki wanted him to come over more than anything, he still would rather have been with Yuki Sohma. And the longer he spent with Yuki Sohma, the more distant and vague the mantra in his head of "you already have a girlfriend" became. And eventually when touching barriers had been overcome, and there was no awkwardness in putting his arm around Yuki's shoulder, or Yuki touching his arm when trying to get his attention became normal, the touches he received from Komaki seemed less important, less exciting.

And suddenly, it was there. Manabe realized that it wasn't just attraction and it wasn't a crush. He really loved Yuki Sohma.

Goodness, what power such an epiphany had. Everything else in his life felt so dull in comparison, as if an entire world had opened up to him. But he knew that his love for the president was not all good, for Manabe, above everything, was really a good person, and he knew in his heart that he was hurting the girl who felt more strongly for him than anyone. Despite the fact that Manabe no longer loved Komaki the way he used to, he still knew how to be honest with her, and it still hurt him to lie to her. Inevitably, the day came when he had to tell her the truth.

"Kakeru-kun?"

His arms were around her, and god it felt wrong and dirty to hold her like this, like he deserved to be forgiven, but he lingered there in hopes that it provided her comfort.

"I'm so sorry, Komaki," he said, and he buried his face in her hair, thinking maybe things would be easy and his old feelings would rekindle, but there was no luck. He guiltily only wished in the back of his mind that he could be holding Yuki like this. "I'm… s-so sorry…!"

He choked back a sob. There was nothing light in his remorse; no joke to his pain. He really hated having to hurt Komaki. But he knew that continuing to brush her off, continuing to be so dispassionate towards her, would only hurt her more than closure.

"We have… to end this."

From their closeness he felt her jaw drop, and suddenly he was being pushed away. "E-End this?" she repeated. He saw tears prick at her eyes, and knew then that she had foreseen this. Realized that deep in her heart she'd known that she had been losing him for a long time now.

"I'm sorr—"

"Don't… don't, Kakeru-kun," she sobbed. Manabe wanted to hold her again, but figured it would only make it worse. "Please don't apologize. I-I know. It's Yuki-san, isn't it? All along, I should have realized. As soon as you two started working together, I should have known it was too late…"

"K-Komaki…"

She sighed, and the tears never stopped falling but she looked him in the eyes.

"It's okay, Kakeru-kun. I know I can't hold on to someone who doesn't care for me anymore."

She turned around and began walking down the street, and Manabe felt a tug in his chest; something like sorrow mixed with relief. It was over.

"Once I think I like him, it's all over."

"Zodiac…? Do you mean the Chinese Zodiac? … Your – your master? What are you…?" Yuki averted his eyes and released his hold on Manabe, scooting to the floor without receiving much resistance.

"I'm sorry," Yuki whispered. "Maybe… I shouldn't say anything—"

"No!"

Before Yuki could do anything, Manabe was on top of him, pinning him by the shoulders to the side of the bed; not a hurtful notion, but a startling one, if anything. A look of fierce determination crossed his face. "You promised me, Yuki," he said, his voice low and his eyes staring into Yuki's wide and frightened ones. "I will listen to everything you have to say, no matter what."

Both of them froze, Manabe having said everything he needed while Yuki remained speechless, his heart racing, the blood rushing through his veins hot, the feeling washing over him overwhelming. As more seconds passed, his brain began to grow fuzzy, his breathing faint. He could no longer stare into Manabe's challenging eyes; suddenly, it was all he could do to keep his eyes open.

"Ah… Yuki, I'm sorry," Manabe said a bit hurriedly, and though he was no longer pinning him against the mattress, his hands remained on the Rat out of worry, tracing his neck and flushed cheeks. "Are you okay? I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't push so much. I know this is hard on you…"

"I'm fine," Yuki murmured, though he could not deny the haze crowding his mind. Every moment he became less aware of what he was doing and saying, and more aware of the fine sparks shooting through his skin at Manabe's touch; losing his mind under the current of some power unbeknownst to him.

"Y-Yuki? Are you sure you're alright? You're burning up…" But Manabe could do nothing more as Yuki pushed him gently to the ground, climbing onto him and straddling his stomach. Manabe did nothing, surprise stilling his muscles so that he could only look up at Yuki in shock, wondering what had come over him so suddenly. His breathing was heavy, his eyes were clouded, his cheeks burning.

"You want to know, don't you? About the Zodiac." Yuki ran confident fingers over Manabe's lips, enjoying the feel of hot breath over his skin; he didn't realize that Manabe was trembling. "I'm the Rat, you know? And Akito…" he leaned down, his lips stopping centimeters from Manabe's ear, and whispered, "is God."

He sat up and gazed at Manabe's flushed face, registering the confused fear in his eyes and not knowing why he didn't stop. Instead he began undoing the buttons of Manabe's shirt, slowly, his fingers trailing along the flesh revealed. "Hatsuharu Sohma is the Ox, Momiji Sohma is the Rabbit, and Shigure Sohma is the Dog, just to name the few you know."

Manabe stared up at his friend, confounded. "S-So, then… is Kyo…"

Yuki's smile was serene, his eyes blurred, his pupils dilated and unfocused. "That stupid Cat. He was the first member of the Zodiac I ever spoke with." The Rat leaned down and kissed Manabe's throat, whispering lightly against his skin, "I loved him."

He paused before adding softly, "… But he hated me," his nonchalant tone contradicted by the fingernails Manabe suddenly felt digging into his shoulders. Yuki was quiet for several seconds as he against sat up, his palms dragging down to Nabe's chest. "Do you know the tale of the Zodiac?"

Stunned into silence, Manabe was too frightened of Yuki's change in behavior to say anything. As if under a spell, Yuki continued spilling his deepest secrets; the darkest feelings he'd ever experienced.

"Once upon a time, God told all the animals, I'm inviting you all to my banquet tomorrow. Don't be late!" Yuki's eyes became glassy, and Manabe saw his lip quiver. "Hearing that," he continued, softly, his voice steady despite how his hands began shaking, "the mischievous rat lied to his neighbor, the cat, and told him the banquet would be the day after tomorrow. The next day, the rat rode on the back of the Ox and nimbly landed before the banquet hall. After him followed the Ox, the Tiger, and all the rest, and together they feasted until morning." Tears again spilled from Yuki's eyes, and his voice lowered to a whisper as he said, "All except for the cat, who'd been tricked."

"But…!" Manabe cried, his eyebrows creasing, "that couldn't have… That wasn't your fault! Just because that happened a long time ago, doesn't mean you'd ever…" Yuki placed his hand over Manabe's cheek, the thumb tracing his lips silencing him instantly.

"That doesn't make a difference when he only sees "that damn Rat," does it?" His head bent, and Manabe felt tears dripping onto his chest. "Even though I wanted nothing more than to be his friend… I loved him, but he only saw me as the damned Rat who ruined his life…" Light sobs made his chest quiver, and his hand left Manabe's face to curl on the ground. "Akito would kiss me, touch me… I n-never complained, because at least I could pretend it was Kyo who was there with me. B-But, even so… once Akito would have his way and leave me lying on the floor, I'd remember my guilt and my shame, and cry, sometimes for h-hours. I'm s-such a… terrible human b-being…"

"D… Damnit…!" Manabe sat up abruptly, and, surprised, Yuki yelped and fell into Nabe's lap, his eyes wide as he felt Manabe's arms surround him. Manabe, for that matter, ignored the suddenly apparent fact that for some reason, Yuki had an erection; he swallowed and reminded himself that there were more important things to worry about. "You're a good person, Yuki," he said, and at the tremor in his voice, Yuki realized that Manabe was crying, too. "Being forced into a relationship like that… it's terrible, but it's n-not your fault. B-Being in love, though…" Manabe fisted handfuls of Yuki's shirt, and Yuki could feel his chest dampening from his friend's earnest tears. "It's not bad… it can't be bad."

"Kakeru…" Yuki murmured, and he lifted Manabe's face so their gazes met. Nabe's eyes averted in embarrassment at Yuki seeing him cry. "We of the Zodiac are not allowed to be in love."

His eyes shut tightly and his teeth gritted as he muttered, "That can't be true. Even if your abusive so-called God won't allow it, he can't control your feelings." Yuki's blush deepened, and he held Manabe's face in his hands; Nabe still wouldn't look at him.

"Why are you so persistent about me?" he asked in a sad whisper, hating the tears that dripped from his friend's dark eyes.

"Because I'm… I love you." His arms tightened around Yuki, but the Rat was sure that wasn't the reason he suddenly couldn't breathe. Manabe buried his face in Yuki's shoulder so that his voice was muffled as he cried, "I love you so much…!"

Yuki's heart felt full enough to burst. Maybe he shouldn't have; somewhere deep within himself, beneath the haze and clouds and uncertainty, his mind was screaming out that he shouldn't. But to his ears, that cry—that desperate plea—was much too muffled as Yuki again lifted Manabe's gaze to his and leaned in without hesitation. Beneath his kiss, Yuki could feel Manabe's body go weak, could feel him clutch at his shoulders, almost as if to hold himself above ground; to keep himself from completely losing himself in this feeling.

The Rat broke away quickly, already short of breath and lightheaded from his heart pounding so fast that he couldn't count the beats even if he tried. But it wasn't enough—again their lips met, Yuki's tongue exploring Manabe's mouth as he noticed his arousal pulsing between his legs. When had he become hard? Had Manabe noticed?

"Y-Yuki," Manabe moaned. It sounded… sad, almost. But before the thought that he might be forcing himself on Nabe could cross his mind, he grasped the undone sides of Nabe's shirt and pulled himself closer, groaning at how the pressure against Manabe's stomach caused the fabric of his shorts to rub his erection, sending sparks of pleasure up and down his spine. This feeling…

Grounding his feet, he pressed himself against Manabe once more, and his lips parted for labored breaths as Manabe whimpered silently. Maybe this was what he had been missing all along; the driving, unbearable tension, building and building until he was sure to burst under the pressure. He needed a release.

Yuki pressed Manabe back to the ground and thrust against his hips, thinking with satisfaction that Manabe was now also hard. The corners of his mouth rose ever so slightly, and he decisively leant down and took a patch of Manabe's skin in between his lips and teeth, sucking hard as he rocked their thighs together. There it was; the pressure, the heated, urgent strain, and his movements against Manabe became a little rougher, somewhat more violent, until finally he was seeing white lights behind his eyes and his hips were on fire and he was there.

The last thing he felt before dropping into unconsciousness was the shuddering of Manabe's chest beneath him and the wetness absorbing into his clothing.

Our brand new coats, so flushed and pink
And I knew your heart I couldn't win
'Cause the season's change was a conduit
And we'd left our love in our summer skin
Summer Skin, Death Cab for Cutie

What the hell was that, everybody? I mean, I'm sure you saw the (sort of, maybe more limey) lemon coming (I did), but it looked an awful lot like Yuki topped there. It kind of just... happened. xD