Chapter four: Week three, Kyo's past

Yuki

"You're going down today!" Kyo promised as he came up behind me. "Eat my dust, rat boy!"

I shook my head, finding him ridiculous. "You never learn." I said as we raced along the course.

Ayame had come over three days ago bearing gifts, most of which went right into the trash. He was thrilled I had taken his advice, but wisely kept his distance from a hissing Kyo. Kyo had stayed in his cat form of course and laughed his ass off at my expense. Cats might not be able to laugh, but he was, I could see it in his big orange eyes. One of the few acceptable gifts my older brother gave me was the Mario kart game we were currently playing. I hated to admit it, but Kyo was getting really good at this game. I struggled to keep the lead on the final lap, Kyo right behind me.

"First place is mine!" He yelled as Mario got the second place dash, passing me.

"It's not over yet." I insisted and urged Luigi to catch up.

We were coming to the last turn of Koopa Cape when a blue shell hovered above us.

"Shit!" We both cursed.

I tried to stop, but I was already too close and got caught up in the explosion. Yoshi was in third, passing us to steal first place. Fourth through sixth passed us as well before we were able to continue across the finish line.

"That bastard!" Kyo yelled in outrage. "How does throwing a blue shell from forth place help him get into first?! It doesn't! He's a cheater and this is bullshit! Screw you, Toad!"

I was nowhere near as upset as Kyo and chuckled at his display. "He probably wanted second place, which can help in the long run." I reasoned, watching the screen as the next race track came into view.

"Screw the long run, it's playing dirty!" He hissed as our players showed up on the starting line. "Damn coward, just wait til I get a blue shell."

Kyo never got the blue shell, but he did win the race by length of his whiskers. Of course he had to rub it in my face and I really couldn't be mad at him for it.

"Who's the king of Mario kart now?" He asked, smiling cheekily at me. "Time to pay the piper rat boy, I'm here to collect."

I tiled my head and smiled back. "You've won once while I've won seven times. I think that title is mine, stupid cat."

"Once is all it takes! I've beaten you and taken your crown, you're nothing but old news." He told me. "But if you wanna whine about it, I don't mind kicking your ass again."

Someone's cocky. "The power seems to have one to your head." I mused. "You're on."

His grin turned feral and he cracked his neck. "Bring it."

Kyo

I hated to admit it, but living with Purple eyes wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was learning a lot about reading, writing and other human stuff from him. We still had our awkward moments and that couldn't be helped. My mind was confused about him and I preferred to just not think about it, pushing all questionable thoughts away. It was fine the way it was . . . . with the near comfortable feeling. It was enough and frankly, I didn't want to get any closer than that. He had said he didn't think I was a freak, but that wasn't something I could believe. I wasn't naive, I knew humans lied to get what they wanted. Yet I couldn't figure out what Purple eyes wanted, did he want me? What for? What would he possibly get out of it? Those thoughts made me uneasy and I found myself in my cat form when they nagged at me.

Today had been one of those days as I laid on top of my cat tree, watching him cook in the kitchen. He said he was making some kind of stew and I was fine with that as long as he didn't sneak any leaks in there. His dark grey hair was pushed up by a headband, something he rarely wore. The sleeves of his white button down shirt were rolled up to his elbows and his purple eyes narrowed when he sampled his work, adding more brown powder. I ignored the way my eyes lingered on his lips as he was tasting. What goes through that tiny rat brain of his? What made his chose me at the shelter? I was never anyone's first pick.

Warehouse cats couldn't turn into their human form when they were kittens, they weren't strong . My mother hadn't even given me a chance as the pathetic runt of the litter, seeing me as too weak to ever transform. I was abandoned and left all alone. I liked to think it was out of pure will that I survived, but I knew it was luck. Things were different for a while after I met Kazuma. He taught me how to truly be an ally cat, taking me under his wing. He was the closest thing I had to family, to love, but that ended all too soon when he was run over by a drunk driver. I tried not to think about him if I could help it, it was just too painful. I had been left alone again . . . and it stayed that way.

"Kyo, dinner is ready." Purple eyes called, drawing me out of my thoughts.

I stretched and then climbed down the cat tree. I joined him at the table in my human form and wasted no time digging in. Whatever kind of stew it was, if had meat in it I was more than happy with that.

"Hmmm, I added too much pepper." Purple eyes stated, frowning.

I glanced in his direction and waved my hand. "It tastes fine to me." I told him.

He raised an eyebrow at me, smiling. "Are you even tasting it?"

He had told me many times that I rushed when I ate, as if it would run away at any moment. I was never able to eat without looking over my shoulder, so it may have been true.

"Yeah, it's going in my mouth isn't it?" I huffed. "Don't be such a perfectionist, I like it the way it is."

"Noted." He said, still smiling.

The rest of the meal was fairly quite and after we finished, Purple eyes suggested we watch a movie. I was all for it if the movie was anything like 'X-men'. I may not get humans, but they could make some pretty cool stuff. He put in 'Sherlock Holmes', saying it was one of his favorites. I wasn't a fan of complicated things, but the movie wasn't that bad. The way the Holmes guy had fought was insane, I had never seen anything like it. If I could learn to fight like that, Purple eyes wouldn't have a chance.

We both awkwardly headed to the bedroom once the movie was over and I transformed back into a cat for both our sakes. He changed in the bathroom while I got comfy on the end of the bed. For some reason my heart was pounding, flipping out as he came back and got under the covers. He whispered goodnight and turned off the lamp. My heartbeat was still drumming in my ears and a wild urge came over me. Before I could think about what I was doing, I moved further up and snuggled into his side where it was warm. Purple eyes almost immediately started gently petting my head as my heart began to calm.

I want to be closer . . . . . and that's what really scares me.

Yuki

I went to the store to get some more milk, having run out yet again. Kyo seemed to drink milk as much as I drank water and I have to get more at least twice a week. This week wasn't the exception however, and the cashier at the store smiled when she saw me come up.

"More milk, Mr. Sohma?" The brown haired girl, Tohru, commented.

"Yes, my cat is obsessed." I admitted and she laughed.

"Kyo was his name, right? Next time you come, please show me a picture." She asked as she scanned the carton.

I didn't know if Kyo would cooperate with me for that, but I would certainly try. Tohru was sweet and I honestly wanted some pictures for myself. "I'll see what I can do." I said and she nodded happily.

"I look forward to it!"

I stopped to get a camera on my way home and contemplated how I would go about it. I can always take it when he's asleep. The thought reminded me of last night, how Kyo had nestled up against my side. I still couldn't believe it. While he didn't protest when I held him that much anymore, I was always the one to initiate any physical contact. That was the first time he had come to me on his own accord. I felt like I was finally getting somewhere with him, that he was trusting me. The month was a little more than half way over, I needed to step up my game to persuade him to stay.

Despite the air between us feeling calmer, there was an underlying tension I wasn't sure what to do with. My lips still remembered that kiss and refused to forget it. There was something there, but I didn't think I should explore it, at least not yet. It seemed like too much to take on and I hadn't taken the time to sort out how I feel. When I got home, I put the camera on my bookshelf and the milk in the fridge.

"Meow"

My body had frozen up at the sound, aware that it wasn't unusual since I had a cat, but very unusual if said cat never meowed.

"Kyo?" I called and got another meow in return.

I followed the sound to my room and opened the slightly ajar door. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped, I couldn't believe it. Kyo was laying on the floor with a grocery bag stuck around his neck. I started laughing once the shock wore off, not paying attention to the kitty death glare.

"H-how did you, where did you even find that bag?" I asked between fits of laughter. This is the funniest thing I've ever seen.

Kyo didn't think so and began hissing. I kneeled down and waved him over so I could remove the bag, still chuckling. His orange tail whipped back and forth in annoyance and he swiped at me for good measure.

"Don't get mad at me, you got yourself into this." I reminded. "Honestly, why would you stick your head in the handle? Stupid cat."

He transformed the moment I got the bag off and growled, face painted in a furious blush. "Shut up, Damn rat! Just pretend this never happened, got it?!"

I smirked and stood up. "Not a chance." I should've gotten a picture.

"Just forget it!" He yelled and grabbed my collar. "You didn't see anything!"

It was impossible for him to be intimidating when his face was so red.

"No." I said and pinched his nose, making him let go.

"I can't stand you." He groaned, covering his shame with his hands.

I smiled fondly at his angry face. "Whatever you say, Kyo."

Kyo

Sometimes words hurt more than fists. I was abused a lot on the streets by more people than I care to remember, but what cut me the most was what that man had said. I had been called things like strange and weird before, but he was the first one to ever call me a freak. It was shortly after I lost Kazuma and I was being reckless. I had gone down a back road and into a dead end. I just wanted to be away from everything and transformed into a human so no other strays would come my way. I didn't realize I had been followed by a man with black hair and eyes, his ora cold dark.

"What do we have here?" He had asked, his voice making my skin crawl.

I weakly glared at him and kept my back to the concrete wall. I knew it was bad that he saw me, that he mow knew my secret, but I wasn't in a state of mind to care back then.

"Interesting . . ." The man mused. "You must be a rare thing indeed, why don't you come with me?"

"Get the hell away from me." I had spat, my instincts telling me he was dangerous, I didn't like the way he looked at me.

The man frowned. "Watch your mouth, you freak of nature. I'm offering you something you come across again. No one else will ever want a freak like you."

I wasn't sure why it had hurt so much to hear that word, why it made me flinch. I knew that I shouldn't let something like that get to me, but I burned all the same. I wasn't a human. I wasn't a cat. I was a warehouse cat, but . . . . what did that mean? Did it mean . . . that I was a freak?

"Come along quietly now, wouldn't want you to get injured." The man said as he inched closer. "I have many plans for you."

Suddenly the man lunged for me, tightly grabbing onto my arm. I had quickly bit him before his other hand reached me, transforming back into a cat and barley slipped through his fingers. I could hear his voice yelling after me and his feet on the pavement. I had managed to get away that day, but I found the memory changing. Confusingly, I was back against the end of the road, the man catching me after I transformed. No matter how much I bit and scratched, I couldn't get away. The man carried me to his car, throwing me into a cat carrier.

No, No! It didn't happen like this! Someone help! Let me out of here! I don't want to go! Someone, anyone! Please stop, stop the car! No, no, no, no, no, n-

"NO!" I yelled and sat up, my body covered in sweat.

Purple eyes was immediately at my side, coming out of nowhere. "Kyo! What's wrong?"

I frantically looked at his face as I registered where I was. I was on the couch in the living room, having taken a nap while he was reading his book. I'm not in the carrier.

"Are you alright?" He asked, brow furrowed at my no doubt panicked face.

I put my hand over my mouth and tired to regulate my breaths that came out in pants. It was only a dream, a nightmare of a memory. Thank god.

"Kyo?" He reached for my shoulder and I smacked his hand away, both our eyes widening in shock at what I had done.

"I-I didn't mean that . . . I just . . . I just . . ."

"I would never hurt you." He whispered. "Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid!" I hissed despite how my body was shaking.

Purple eyes reached for me again slowly and pulled me to his chest, one hand rubbing my back while the other cradled my head. "Nightmares are the worst. They take your biggest fears and weakness only to throw them back in your face." He said. "I dream that I'm alone in a dark room, calling out for someone to take me away. I scream and scream until my voice gives out and the room gets smaller and smaller. Then I would wake up and realize that it wasn't a dream . . . it felt like I would never get out of that room."

My breathing calmed as I listened to his vice, remembering what he had told me before about his childhood. It was odd to think of Purple eyes being scared of something and I wondered just what had he gone through.

"Do you still dream about that?" I asked quietly, leaning into his touch.

"Sometimes." He admitted. "Some might find my fears ridiculous but, for me, it's truly terrifying."

It was unfair of him to tell me all of that, a bit too personal. I felt as if I had to offer something just as personal in return even if I knew that I didn't actually have to. The Damn rat was as clever as always.

"I was the runt that no one wanted." I told him bitterly. "I couldn't fit in with other cats and I sure as hell couldn't fit in with humans. I was dreaming about one of the lowest points in my life, when a man had tried to make me go with him after he found out what I was. But in the dream I-I didn't get away."

Saying it out loud had made me feel worse. It was one thing to know it and a completely different thing to admit it to someone else. But it was probably the same for Purple eyes too.

"I don't think you're ridiculous." I added after a moment. " . . . . . I'm the ridiculous one."

Purple eyes leaned back and met my gaze. "Why is that? Because you're afraid of being called a freak?" He asked and my body tensed. "You are not a freak."

"So you've said before." I sighed. "You know you're the only one that thinks that, right?"

I really don't understand him at all.

Yuki

My attempt at comforting had evolved into an argument. Kyo refused to realize he wasn't a freak and insisted I was playing him for a fool, baiting him for some ulterior motive. He pulled away and the trust that we had built seemed to vanish before my eyes. He explained how he was rejected by humans and cats alike because they thought he was strange, that he wasn't normal. It made me wonder how many warehouse cats were really out there if other cats had shunned him, ignorant of his kind. Whatever the case was, I had lost my patience.

"Is this really what you think of me? That I'm a liar?" I asked. "I'm doing this because I want to, get that through your head you stupid cat!"

"No one would want to do this you Damn rat!" He yelled. "I don't get you at all! You are by far the stubbornest and strangest human I have ever met!"

Something in my brain clicked at his words and my temper mellowed. "So that's it then? You're rejecting me because you think I'm strange, the same exact thing that others have done to you."

"What? No, I . . . . no, it's different." He stated weakly.

"How is it different?" I demanded, crossing my arms.

Silence followed my question and he ran a hand through his orange hair in frustration. The minutes ticked by, but he couldn't answer. "You piss me off." He said finally. "Always got something to say . . . . . . . . . . Why? Why did you choose me?"

Because you're just like me. He was alone like I was, like I had been before my brother saved me from that horrible house. I wanted to save him but, that wasn't all. I needed him even if some might find that selfish.

"I don't want to be alone anymore."I told him. "When I looked into your eyes, I thought you wanted that too."

Kyo's eyes widened. He clenched his jaw and turned his back to me, wrapping his arms around himself. ". . . I don't . . . I don't know what I want."

"You still have time to figure that out." I reminded. "There's one week left."

And I can only hope you'll choose to stay.

A/N: Okay, so no smooches . . . but there will be more romance and smooches to come! Two chapters left and then this story is done, phew. I know it's short but this story was meant to be from the beginning. Don't worry though, this pairing will get a long story of their own someday. I just have to figure out what the heck I want to write.