Well, first chapter written without Triste. I do miss her. She kept my
motivation up. I do hope you like it though. Like I said it will be
different. One thing I should point out. When we started this fic, at
least I did not know the fate of the cat. Now that I do, I feel it's
important enough to include in this story. So it may seem strange to you
that I didn't mention it before and now I do. Sorry. Sorry. I like to
keep to the manga as much as possible in this fandom. but I had only seen
the anime when this idea was born. I hope it doesn't confuse anyone.
EQAB 8
By Caer
His book was open. His papers were out, glowing dully in the pale yellow light of the desk lamp. A cool breeze blew in through the window, gently lifting one of the more rumpled study sheets up and down. Yuki's soft gray eyes did not register the figures on his paper but stared out into the night, looking for answers, yet only able to focus on the glinting reflection of his own eyes in the window.
'Why am I doing this?' he wondered, dully staring at the black of the window, his head rested lazily on his hand. It had taken every ounce of his strength and will to walk out of that person's room and into Haru's arms without showing that he had suffered. He refused to limp, to let anyone see his fear or proof of his submission, even if it meant that his socks rubbed painfully into his wounds until he arrived home.
From the first lash of the whip and the return of that fear, he had begun to question himself. Why? For that stupid, worthless cat? But it should be obvious, shouldn't it? Why did he do things that weren't necessary? Why did he fight him every time, when he could simply stand there and allow the inevitable to occur? Because Kyou lived on hope, and without it, he had nothing.
Yuki knew that flash of hope in Kyou's eyes more than he knew his own heart. Kyou was life, hope, spirit, rage, passion. Kyou was everything that Yuki was not, and the mouse knew that. He couldn't live without Kyou.
Yuki laughed bitterly.
"I see. So it was selfishness after all."
A knock at the door brought him from his melancholy. He bleated a soft "come in", standing, wondering who would knock at such a time. Tohru wasn't home yet and Kyou was asleep in his room.
It wasn't Shigure who walked in, but Hatori, tall and dark against the light of the hallway.
Yuki snorted. "I should have known."
Hatori tried not to let the coldness of his younger cousin's voice affect him. He understood it well. Yuki had suffered much at the doctor's hand in his young life. The anger was not misdirected, though the doctor wished it was. He walked in and placed his bag on the desk quietly.
"I figured you would need some medical attention."
Yuki sighed, turning back to the window. "I suppose Haru asked you to come, or was it Akito?"
"No," he replied, "I've spoken to neither of them."
"I don't see a reason for you to be here then. I didn't ask for your help."
Hatori's fingers rested on the handle of his bag, still, trying to draw strength from the quiet solid piece of leather as he faced the moody boy.
"Nevertheless, Akito no doubt injured you. I would like to."
"You mean you're supposed to. Akito strikes and you follow obediently to clean up the mess, because that's your purpose."
Those poised fingers settled on the bag. There would be no use for opening it. Yuki was not ready.
"I do what I'm told Yuki, yes. You know we have no choice. It's what we are. It doesn't mean I'm not concerned."
"Doesn't it?" The boy asked quietly. "Akito once told me that you were as cold as ice. no," he faltered, trying to remember, "As snow. As cold as snow. And that's what I am as well isn't it? Snow. This family has made us cold. We've become too cold to care. You don't care. I don't care. I don't need you. Go away."
Hatori couldn't help but close his eyes. He remembered the first time Akito called him that. It was after he had erased Yuki from his friend's memories.. the first of many times.
Yuki was facing him now, waiting for him to take his leave. He spoke quietly.
"I do care, Yuki. I do, and so do you. If you didn't, you would have left Kyou to his fate. If you didn't, you wouldn't bother to keep fighting him. You care about him."
Yuki bristled, biting his lip.
"I thought I told you to leave. did I not make myself clear?"
Hatori picked up his bag. "No. I understand. I realize when the prince has put me in my place."
Yuki blinked. "Ha-"
But the doctor was gone, and nothing but the firm final sound of a closing door was left.
Yuki put his head in his hand. Was it necessary to be so cruel? And yet, as much as Yuki thought about it and tried to put the past behind him, he could never truly forgive Hatori for all he had done. not mad at Akito for making him do it, but mad at Hatori, for following orders. And he was no better. No better. He would do as he was told. Even Kyou wouldn't disobey their god, no matter how much he was degraded and belittled.
And yet Kyou fought it. He was fighting, kicking and screaming til the end, which was far too near. The rest of them could somehow go on with at least slightly normal lives, but he would be locked away. It would be soon. This semester, and then it was over. But Akito had decided to make even that small amount of time a time of pain. He would not have them live normally and forget them. He would hurt them. and they would remember.
Yuki couldn't help but limp a bit as he exited his room and made his way down the hall. Hatori was just coming out of Kyou's room, quietly shutting the door. He didn't even see Yuki in the dark, so Yuki called to him. He turned, looking tired and resigned.
"Hatori," he started softly, "Please drive safely home."
That was all he could give, but Hatori nodded, a flash of hope flaring through his dark eyes before he went back downstairs. Yuki watched him go, then turned to the room that Hatori had just left.
It was dark save for the light through the window. Yuki found the bedside lamp and switched it on, casting a yellow light on the pale form in the bed. Yuki couldn't tell if the lamp made Kyou look better than his usual pallor, or just sickly. His red hair was clean finally. It was no longer greasy, and feathered against his cheek softly. Kazuma must have helped him clean up a little since this morning. His breath was soft and even, puffing out against his hand which rested close to his mouth in a fist, almost as a baby's unconscious desire to suck a thumb. It was his left hand, the wrist devoid of the bracelet. Yuki could see the white spots where the beads had blocked the sun from browning the pale skin.
He reached out tentatively and brushed a finger along that line.
Kyou's brow furrowed suddenly and he pulled his wrist away, whimpering in his sleep. Yuki felt the boy's forehead. He was warm, but not burning up. He smoothed the red hair back, his cool hand warmed by the slightly feverish boy. Kyou settled, relaxing into his pillow again, before his eyes blinked slowly open. Yuki drew his hand away.
"Nezumi," the word was whispered in a tired, faint voice. "What." he trailed off, struggling to wake up.
Yuki reached out again, smoothing back the hair. "I came to see if you needed anything."
Kyou shook his head, sighing against the exhaustion of the drugs.
"To.."
"Tohru's not back yet."
Kyou nodded, something escaping his lips that seemed like "good," but he swallowed painfully and coughed. Yuki grabbed the half full glass of water off the nightstand and held Kyou's head up, helping him to drink. Kyou finished off the glass and took a deep breath.
"What happened?" His voice was clear, if still very weak. He blinked, struggling against sleep.
"What do you mean?"
"I." Kyou tried again, forcing his eyes open. "I smell blood."
Yuki gasped. He had forgotten. forgotten about the cat's powerful sense of smell, and he had neglected to clean his wounds properly.
"It's nothing," he insisted, annoyed at his mistake.
"Don't lie, mouse, you're no good at it." Kyou's red eyes stared up at him. "I know you."
Yuki reached out and stroked the red hair, pleased when Kyou's eyes began to droop shut. "It's none of your business, stupid cat." He whispered. Kyou tried, but he couldn't fight the heavy feeling in his eyelids. He felt himself slipping into a drug induced sleep again, the last thought in his head, a swearing off of any more painkillers.
In the bathroom Yuki sat on the floor and eased off his socks. Though the blood hadn't soaked through, it had stuck and the pain of the cotton tearing at the dried blood was stinging. The wounds were angry and pink, some of them beginning to swell with infection. He gazed at them clinically. Not that bad really. He could deal with a little pain. It was Akito's harsh words and oily voice, and the sheer weight of his presence that terrified the mouse. It was memories of lonely nights and screams, memories of learning things no child should know. memories of being ignored, abandoned.
"Oh, Sohma-kun."
Her sad voice cut through the silence like a gunshot, jerking him from his memories. Yuki looked up, alarmed. Tohru stood in the doorway, still in her scrubs from work, carrying her purse, staring at him with unmasked sadness, her soft brown eyes shimmering with tears.
"Honda-san, I thought you were already in bed."
She shook her head. "I stayed late at work to cover another shift." She said, something unreadable in her eyes. She set her purse on the sink and got alcohol and bandages from the cabinet. Letting the water run hot, she held a rag under the stream, soaking it and wringing it out. She knelt down and ran delicate, thin, cold fingers over the wounds, lightly. Yuki flushed.
"Honda-san, you don't have to."
"Yes, I do," she said gently. "I need to help. Please let me help." A tear escaped her eye as she pressed the warm rag against the harsh wounds. Yuki hissed in pain, although the water was softening the dried blood and skin.
"Did he do this?" She asked and Yuki nodded silently. Her hand shook a little on the cloth.
"I know Akito-sama has a painful life. but why? Why does he need to hurt other people?" Yuki's heart clenched as he looked into her pained eyes. "Why must he inflict so much pain. on such good people?"
Yuki put a hand on her shoulder. "It's the curse." Tohru's eyes opened wide, as she remembered Momiji using those same words. Yuki continued. "It's the way we are. We all have a role to play. So does Akito. He's. not well."
Tohru shook her head sadly, scrubbing gently at the pinked wounds, getting them to open before applying antiseptic. Yuki grit his teeth at the pain of the alcohol doing its work on his infection.
"But it doesn't make sense," she said. "I don't believe that anyone is just evil. no one!" She shook her head desperately. "There must be a reason." She was quiet as she took Yuki's foot and tenderly began to wrap the white bandage around it and the antibacterial cream she had applied to his cuts. "I think. I think he's afraid."
Yuki watched her, taken with the strength she held inside as she tried to understand their god.
"If I had to die, and leave behind such precious people. I would be afraid. And maybe. inside, I would blame them. Maybe I would want to hurt them, to punish them." She looked up, sadly. "Maybe I would hate them, and love them too.. just like you and Kyou-kun."
Yuki stared at her in shock. Did she realize what she was saying? Yuki wanted to protest, to deny with all his heart what she had said. But instead, he stared at the top of her head dumbly. He couldn't say it. He didn't know why, but he couldn't deny that there was some truth to that. Why deny it when they were both staring at its evidence, which raked in jagged red lines along the tops of his feet.
She wrapped his feet tenderly, securing the bandages. "There," she said, eyeing her work critically. "I think I'm getting better. I've been practicing at the hospital."
He blinked out of his reverie, confused. "Hospital? Don't you do janitorial duties there Honda-san?"
She smiled gently. "Until recently. but with Kyou's injuries, I've decided that maybe I can be a nurse. Momiji's father is giving me an opportunity I hardly deserve," she blushed "to work with the nurses in his hospital and learn from them. He says as long as I'm diligent with my studies, I would be welcome." She looked up with that determined look in her eyes and Yuki was lost to her. "So I'm going to work extra hard!"
He laughed softly, a hand brushing her cheek. "That sounds wonderful, Honda-san. you will be perfect at it. Just please don't work yourself sick."
Tohru nodded, entranced by her prince's eyes, and shocked at the soft touch of his hand on her cheek. He leaned forward tentatively and brushed his lips against hers, barely touching and then growing bolder. Melting at his touch, she clutched at his shoulders, needing to hold onto something.
POOF
And ending up with a mouse in her lap. She slammed a palm to her forehead. Stupid stupid stupid.
"I'm so sorry, Sohma-kun. I forgot."
He sighed, resignedly. "It's okay, Honda-san. Um. I'm afraid you'll have to redo these bandages though." He said, holding the folds of white gauze in his small mouse arms.
"I don't know if he'll ever forgive me. or if I even deserve it."
"Nonsense, of course you do." Shigure said lightly, preparing tea for his distressed lover. He pressed the steaming cup into Hatori's hand. Hatori merely stared into the brew forlornly. "He's still so angry."
"And he doesn't know half of it. But he's a teenager, Ha-san, they're always moody. Look at Kyou. He's always pissy. Yuki's always brooding. It's what they do."
Hatori raised an eyebrow. "You and Ayame were never like that."
Shigure looked at him darkly. "You know that's not true. We weren't as quiet as you, but you remember my tantrums?"
Hatori's mind clicked. He had forgotten about that. It seemed so long ago. Though it hadn't happened often, he did remember some of Shigure's more violent outbursts. Usually, it had ended up with broken furniture, and most often a bruise or two. It might have continued, if Shigure hadn't ended up seriously hurting Ayame. After that, he had been told to stay away from sugars and starches. He had also been put on a strong regimen of herbs that he was able to abandon once out of high school. It had worked, fortunately, and more prescriptions weren't needed. Hypoglycemia and hormones didn't make a happy combination.
"Yes, I had forgotten."
Shigure smiled, "You have to admit though, our 'kiss and make up' sessions were worth it don't you think?"
"They were embarrassing." He said sternly, remembering the antics of the other two in school. Lord knows how many times he had to keep them from getting in trouble. Hatori had little doubt that if it hadn't been for his powers, "The Mabudachi Trio" would be a household name. Maybe they would be rich by now.
Shigure saw it, even though it was sternly suppressed. the small twitch of Hatori's mouth as it fought not to smile.
"Don't be shy Ha-san, you know you liked it."
"I didn't. You were both pests. You still are," he said sternly.
"You never said that about the library. Remember the library?"
Hatori frowned. Shigure moved onto his lap, the cloth of his kimono slipping over the slick of the doctor's fine trousers. He groaned and set his tea down. "Shigure, damn it."
"You never said you didn't like the library." Shigure whispered into his ear, making him jerk at the sensation. "Remember, Ha-san? In the study booth?"
How could he forget? He still wondered how Shigure managed to get the security guard to take the night off for that one.
Shigure slipped a hand between his legs and squeezed, making him close his eyes languidly. Lips met his and he gave in, spreading his legs and letting Shigure play. The dog, quietly unzipped the man's pants and slid his hand inside. Hatori slid his own hands up and down the man's hips.
"Stay the night." Shigure commanded, sliding a hot tongue into Hatori's ear.
"Momiji's home alone," he protested, trying to keep the lust out of his voice. Damnit, Shigure knew how sensitive his ears were.
"Momiji's a big boy. and so are you," his lover said, squeezing delightfully. "He won't mind."
Hatori was quickly losing his will to the talented hand between his legs. On squeeze and he grunted his assent.
"Let me call him."
Kyou woke up hot and uncomfortable. It felt like he was sleeping in a damn coffin, and God, his head hurt. He moaned uncomfortably, knowing from the birdsong outside and the light on the back of his eyelids that no one was home to hear. save maybe Shigure. He threw the covers off and sighed, wincing in pain as his wound began to ache. The medication had obviously worn off, at least most of it. He felt so weak, but it was the stuffiness of the room that finally brought him out of his stupor. He eased himself slowly up, even though the movement shot pains through his stomach and sides. Pulling up his shirt, he looked at the wound. There was only a small bandage covering the ugly stitches, but a huge bruise still covered most of his abdomen and side. He could feel his heartbeat throbbing in the wound and he grimaced.
Standing carefully, he hobbled toward the door. He had to get out. and he had to pee.
His head was starting to throb and he felt sick to his stomach, but the bathroom wasn't that far away and he was tired of needing help for everything. It was just a couple of feet for god's sake.
He was distracted by an interesting smell though, coming from the stairs. He thought he could hear muffled voices as well, coming from down there. Shigure's and. Hatori's probably. As he edged closer, trying to hear what they were saying, he could tell they were in the living room. It didn't sound like talking though. It sounded more like.
He took the first couple of stairs carefully, peeking down into the main room.
"Gure-san."
Shigure was mostly hidden by the back of the couch, but Ayame wasn't and even for someone as naïve as Kyou it was pretty obvious what they were doing. The sound of gasps and grunts as Ayame bounced up and down. naked flesh against naked flesh and his hand hidden by the couch, but the action and position obvious. His head was thrown back and Kyou could see the thighs he sat on flexing as the bodies undulated. The cries became louder and Ayame threw his head back, his hair glinting in the light as he clenched, his arm moving faster. His eyes opened in a lust ridden haze and they looked up to meet shocked red ones.
Kyou backed up quickly, catching his foot on the step behind him and he fell hard, his vision going white with pain as he jarred his injury. But those eyes remained, in his vision, in his mind's eye.
The same eyes as Yuki's.
~ ~ ~
Did that weird you guys out? I hope so. Don't worry, all will be explained.
Thanks for hanging with me.
EQAB 8
By Caer
His book was open. His papers were out, glowing dully in the pale yellow light of the desk lamp. A cool breeze blew in through the window, gently lifting one of the more rumpled study sheets up and down. Yuki's soft gray eyes did not register the figures on his paper but stared out into the night, looking for answers, yet only able to focus on the glinting reflection of his own eyes in the window.
'Why am I doing this?' he wondered, dully staring at the black of the window, his head rested lazily on his hand. It had taken every ounce of his strength and will to walk out of that person's room and into Haru's arms without showing that he had suffered. He refused to limp, to let anyone see his fear or proof of his submission, even if it meant that his socks rubbed painfully into his wounds until he arrived home.
From the first lash of the whip and the return of that fear, he had begun to question himself. Why? For that stupid, worthless cat? But it should be obvious, shouldn't it? Why did he do things that weren't necessary? Why did he fight him every time, when he could simply stand there and allow the inevitable to occur? Because Kyou lived on hope, and without it, he had nothing.
Yuki knew that flash of hope in Kyou's eyes more than he knew his own heart. Kyou was life, hope, spirit, rage, passion. Kyou was everything that Yuki was not, and the mouse knew that. He couldn't live without Kyou.
Yuki laughed bitterly.
"I see. So it was selfishness after all."
A knock at the door brought him from his melancholy. He bleated a soft "come in", standing, wondering who would knock at such a time. Tohru wasn't home yet and Kyou was asleep in his room.
It wasn't Shigure who walked in, but Hatori, tall and dark against the light of the hallway.
Yuki snorted. "I should have known."
Hatori tried not to let the coldness of his younger cousin's voice affect him. He understood it well. Yuki had suffered much at the doctor's hand in his young life. The anger was not misdirected, though the doctor wished it was. He walked in and placed his bag on the desk quietly.
"I figured you would need some medical attention."
Yuki sighed, turning back to the window. "I suppose Haru asked you to come, or was it Akito?"
"No," he replied, "I've spoken to neither of them."
"I don't see a reason for you to be here then. I didn't ask for your help."
Hatori's fingers rested on the handle of his bag, still, trying to draw strength from the quiet solid piece of leather as he faced the moody boy.
"Nevertheless, Akito no doubt injured you. I would like to."
"You mean you're supposed to. Akito strikes and you follow obediently to clean up the mess, because that's your purpose."
Those poised fingers settled on the bag. There would be no use for opening it. Yuki was not ready.
"I do what I'm told Yuki, yes. You know we have no choice. It's what we are. It doesn't mean I'm not concerned."
"Doesn't it?" The boy asked quietly. "Akito once told me that you were as cold as ice. no," he faltered, trying to remember, "As snow. As cold as snow. And that's what I am as well isn't it? Snow. This family has made us cold. We've become too cold to care. You don't care. I don't care. I don't need you. Go away."
Hatori couldn't help but close his eyes. He remembered the first time Akito called him that. It was after he had erased Yuki from his friend's memories.. the first of many times.
Yuki was facing him now, waiting for him to take his leave. He spoke quietly.
"I do care, Yuki. I do, and so do you. If you didn't, you would have left Kyou to his fate. If you didn't, you wouldn't bother to keep fighting him. You care about him."
Yuki bristled, biting his lip.
"I thought I told you to leave. did I not make myself clear?"
Hatori picked up his bag. "No. I understand. I realize when the prince has put me in my place."
Yuki blinked. "Ha-"
But the doctor was gone, and nothing but the firm final sound of a closing door was left.
Yuki put his head in his hand. Was it necessary to be so cruel? And yet, as much as Yuki thought about it and tried to put the past behind him, he could never truly forgive Hatori for all he had done. not mad at Akito for making him do it, but mad at Hatori, for following orders. And he was no better. No better. He would do as he was told. Even Kyou wouldn't disobey their god, no matter how much he was degraded and belittled.
And yet Kyou fought it. He was fighting, kicking and screaming til the end, which was far too near. The rest of them could somehow go on with at least slightly normal lives, but he would be locked away. It would be soon. This semester, and then it was over. But Akito had decided to make even that small amount of time a time of pain. He would not have them live normally and forget them. He would hurt them. and they would remember.
Yuki couldn't help but limp a bit as he exited his room and made his way down the hall. Hatori was just coming out of Kyou's room, quietly shutting the door. He didn't even see Yuki in the dark, so Yuki called to him. He turned, looking tired and resigned.
"Hatori," he started softly, "Please drive safely home."
That was all he could give, but Hatori nodded, a flash of hope flaring through his dark eyes before he went back downstairs. Yuki watched him go, then turned to the room that Hatori had just left.
It was dark save for the light through the window. Yuki found the bedside lamp and switched it on, casting a yellow light on the pale form in the bed. Yuki couldn't tell if the lamp made Kyou look better than his usual pallor, or just sickly. His red hair was clean finally. It was no longer greasy, and feathered against his cheek softly. Kazuma must have helped him clean up a little since this morning. His breath was soft and even, puffing out against his hand which rested close to his mouth in a fist, almost as a baby's unconscious desire to suck a thumb. It was his left hand, the wrist devoid of the bracelet. Yuki could see the white spots where the beads had blocked the sun from browning the pale skin.
He reached out tentatively and brushed a finger along that line.
Kyou's brow furrowed suddenly and he pulled his wrist away, whimpering in his sleep. Yuki felt the boy's forehead. He was warm, but not burning up. He smoothed the red hair back, his cool hand warmed by the slightly feverish boy. Kyou settled, relaxing into his pillow again, before his eyes blinked slowly open. Yuki drew his hand away.
"Nezumi," the word was whispered in a tired, faint voice. "What." he trailed off, struggling to wake up.
Yuki reached out again, smoothing back the hair. "I came to see if you needed anything."
Kyou shook his head, sighing against the exhaustion of the drugs.
"To.."
"Tohru's not back yet."
Kyou nodded, something escaping his lips that seemed like "good," but he swallowed painfully and coughed. Yuki grabbed the half full glass of water off the nightstand and held Kyou's head up, helping him to drink. Kyou finished off the glass and took a deep breath.
"What happened?" His voice was clear, if still very weak. He blinked, struggling against sleep.
"What do you mean?"
"I." Kyou tried again, forcing his eyes open. "I smell blood."
Yuki gasped. He had forgotten. forgotten about the cat's powerful sense of smell, and he had neglected to clean his wounds properly.
"It's nothing," he insisted, annoyed at his mistake.
"Don't lie, mouse, you're no good at it." Kyou's red eyes stared up at him. "I know you."
Yuki reached out and stroked the red hair, pleased when Kyou's eyes began to droop shut. "It's none of your business, stupid cat." He whispered. Kyou tried, but he couldn't fight the heavy feeling in his eyelids. He felt himself slipping into a drug induced sleep again, the last thought in his head, a swearing off of any more painkillers.
In the bathroom Yuki sat on the floor and eased off his socks. Though the blood hadn't soaked through, it had stuck and the pain of the cotton tearing at the dried blood was stinging. The wounds were angry and pink, some of them beginning to swell with infection. He gazed at them clinically. Not that bad really. He could deal with a little pain. It was Akito's harsh words and oily voice, and the sheer weight of his presence that terrified the mouse. It was memories of lonely nights and screams, memories of learning things no child should know. memories of being ignored, abandoned.
"Oh, Sohma-kun."
Her sad voice cut through the silence like a gunshot, jerking him from his memories. Yuki looked up, alarmed. Tohru stood in the doorway, still in her scrubs from work, carrying her purse, staring at him with unmasked sadness, her soft brown eyes shimmering with tears.
"Honda-san, I thought you were already in bed."
She shook her head. "I stayed late at work to cover another shift." She said, something unreadable in her eyes. She set her purse on the sink and got alcohol and bandages from the cabinet. Letting the water run hot, she held a rag under the stream, soaking it and wringing it out. She knelt down and ran delicate, thin, cold fingers over the wounds, lightly. Yuki flushed.
"Honda-san, you don't have to."
"Yes, I do," she said gently. "I need to help. Please let me help." A tear escaped her eye as she pressed the warm rag against the harsh wounds. Yuki hissed in pain, although the water was softening the dried blood and skin.
"Did he do this?" She asked and Yuki nodded silently. Her hand shook a little on the cloth.
"I know Akito-sama has a painful life. but why? Why does he need to hurt other people?" Yuki's heart clenched as he looked into her pained eyes. "Why must he inflict so much pain. on such good people?"
Yuki put a hand on her shoulder. "It's the curse." Tohru's eyes opened wide, as she remembered Momiji using those same words. Yuki continued. "It's the way we are. We all have a role to play. So does Akito. He's. not well."
Tohru shook her head sadly, scrubbing gently at the pinked wounds, getting them to open before applying antiseptic. Yuki grit his teeth at the pain of the alcohol doing its work on his infection.
"But it doesn't make sense," she said. "I don't believe that anyone is just evil. no one!" She shook her head desperately. "There must be a reason." She was quiet as she took Yuki's foot and tenderly began to wrap the white bandage around it and the antibacterial cream she had applied to his cuts. "I think. I think he's afraid."
Yuki watched her, taken with the strength she held inside as she tried to understand their god.
"If I had to die, and leave behind such precious people. I would be afraid. And maybe. inside, I would blame them. Maybe I would want to hurt them, to punish them." She looked up, sadly. "Maybe I would hate them, and love them too.. just like you and Kyou-kun."
Yuki stared at her in shock. Did she realize what she was saying? Yuki wanted to protest, to deny with all his heart what she had said. But instead, he stared at the top of her head dumbly. He couldn't say it. He didn't know why, but he couldn't deny that there was some truth to that. Why deny it when they were both staring at its evidence, which raked in jagged red lines along the tops of his feet.
She wrapped his feet tenderly, securing the bandages. "There," she said, eyeing her work critically. "I think I'm getting better. I've been practicing at the hospital."
He blinked out of his reverie, confused. "Hospital? Don't you do janitorial duties there Honda-san?"
She smiled gently. "Until recently. but with Kyou's injuries, I've decided that maybe I can be a nurse. Momiji's father is giving me an opportunity I hardly deserve," she blushed "to work with the nurses in his hospital and learn from them. He says as long as I'm diligent with my studies, I would be welcome." She looked up with that determined look in her eyes and Yuki was lost to her. "So I'm going to work extra hard!"
He laughed softly, a hand brushing her cheek. "That sounds wonderful, Honda-san. you will be perfect at it. Just please don't work yourself sick."
Tohru nodded, entranced by her prince's eyes, and shocked at the soft touch of his hand on her cheek. He leaned forward tentatively and brushed his lips against hers, barely touching and then growing bolder. Melting at his touch, she clutched at his shoulders, needing to hold onto something.
POOF
And ending up with a mouse in her lap. She slammed a palm to her forehead. Stupid stupid stupid.
"I'm so sorry, Sohma-kun. I forgot."
He sighed, resignedly. "It's okay, Honda-san. Um. I'm afraid you'll have to redo these bandages though." He said, holding the folds of white gauze in his small mouse arms.
"I don't know if he'll ever forgive me. or if I even deserve it."
"Nonsense, of course you do." Shigure said lightly, preparing tea for his distressed lover. He pressed the steaming cup into Hatori's hand. Hatori merely stared into the brew forlornly. "He's still so angry."
"And he doesn't know half of it. But he's a teenager, Ha-san, they're always moody. Look at Kyou. He's always pissy. Yuki's always brooding. It's what they do."
Hatori raised an eyebrow. "You and Ayame were never like that."
Shigure looked at him darkly. "You know that's not true. We weren't as quiet as you, but you remember my tantrums?"
Hatori's mind clicked. He had forgotten about that. It seemed so long ago. Though it hadn't happened often, he did remember some of Shigure's more violent outbursts. Usually, it had ended up with broken furniture, and most often a bruise or two. It might have continued, if Shigure hadn't ended up seriously hurting Ayame. After that, he had been told to stay away from sugars and starches. He had also been put on a strong regimen of herbs that he was able to abandon once out of high school. It had worked, fortunately, and more prescriptions weren't needed. Hypoglycemia and hormones didn't make a happy combination.
"Yes, I had forgotten."
Shigure smiled, "You have to admit though, our 'kiss and make up' sessions were worth it don't you think?"
"They were embarrassing." He said sternly, remembering the antics of the other two in school. Lord knows how many times he had to keep them from getting in trouble. Hatori had little doubt that if it hadn't been for his powers, "The Mabudachi Trio" would be a household name. Maybe they would be rich by now.
Shigure saw it, even though it was sternly suppressed. the small twitch of Hatori's mouth as it fought not to smile.
"Don't be shy Ha-san, you know you liked it."
"I didn't. You were both pests. You still are," he said sternly.
"You never said that about the library. Remember the library?"
Hatori frowned. Shigure moved onto his lap, the cloth of his kimono slipping over the slick of the doctor's fine trousers. He groaned and set his tea down. "Shigure, damn it."
"You never said you didn't like the library." Shigure whispered into his ear, making him jerk at the sensation. "Remember, Ha-san? In the study booth?"
How could he forget? He still wondered how Shigure managed to get the security guard to take the night off for that one.
Shigure slipped a hand between his legs and squeezed, making him close his eyes languidly. Lips met his and he gave in, spreading his legs and letting Shigure play. The dog, quietly unzipped the man's pants and slid his hand inside. Hatori slid his own hands up and down the man's hips.
"Stay the night." Shigure commanded, sliding a hot tongue into Hatori's ear.
"Momiji's home alone," he protested, trying to keep the lust out of his voice. Damnit, Shigure knew how sensitive his ears were.
"Momiji's a big boy. and so are you," his lover said, squeezing delightfully. "He won't mind."
Hatori was quickly losing his will to the talented hand between his legs. On squeeze and he grunted his assent.
"Let me call him."
Kyou woke up hot and uncomfortable. It felt like he was sleeping in a damn coffin, and God, his head hurt. He moaned uncomfortably, knowing from the birdsong outside and the light on the back of his eyelids that no one was home to hear. save maybe Shigure. He threw the covers off and sighed, wincing in pain as his wound began to ache. The medication had obviously worn off, at least most of it. He felt so weak, but it was the stuffiness of the room that finally brought him out of his stupor. He eased himself slowly up, even though the movement shot pains through his stomach and sides. Pulling up his shirt, he looked at the wound. There was only a small bandage covering the ugly stitches, but a huge bruise still covered most of his abdomen and side. He could feel his heartbeat throbbing in the wound and he grimaced.
Standing carefully, he hobbled toward the door. He had to get out. and he had to pee.
His head was starting to throb and he felt sick to his stomach, but the bathroom wasn't that far away and he was tired of needing help for everything. It was just a couple of feet for god's sake.
He was distracted by an interesting smell though, coming from the stairs. He thought he could hear muffled voices as well, coming from down there. Shigure's and. Hatori's probably. As he edged closer, trying to hear what they were saying, he could tell they were in the living room. It didn't sound like talking though. It sounded more like.
He took the first couple of stairs carefully, peeking down into the main room.
"Gure-san."
Shigure was mostly hidden by the back of the couch, but Ayame wasn't and even for someone as naïve as Kyou it was pretty obvious what they were doing. The sound of gasps and grunts as Ayame bounced up and down. naked flesh against naked flesh and his hand hidden by the couch, but the action and position obvious. His head was thrown back and Kyou could see the thighs he sat on flexing as the bodies undulated. The cries became louder and Ayame threw his head back, his hair glinting in the light as he clenched, his arm moving faster. His eyes opened in a lust ridden haze and they looked up to meet shocked red ones.
Kyou backed up quickly, catching his foot on the step behind him and he fell hard, his vision going white with pain as he jarred his injury. But those eyes remained, in his vision, in his mind's eye.
The same eyes as Yuki's.
~ ~ ~
Did that weird you guys out? I hope so. Don't worry, all will be explained.
Thanks for hanging with me.