Sorry for taking so long to update. I've just been...ugh, these last couple weeks have been insane. Finals, moving to my sister's house, so much crap. But now, things have settled, I have some free time and I can update.
Recap:
Hearts racing, stomach lurching, palms sweating, the two were aware that it was right. There was nothing wrong about it…
"Aya, don't you dare go down to them!" Hatori shouted, "Yuki will never forgive you."
"Kyo Sohma, unhand my brother this instant!"
Mortification couldn't even come close to describing how the cat and rat felt when they'd been caught by Ayame. Yuki tore away from Kyo and toppled back into the burning water. Kyo merely sat there petrified, mouth wide open and his eyes open even wider. Yuki resurfaced and wiped the water from his face.
"Ayame, what are you doing here?" Yuki moved closer to the edge of the bath
"Yuki what are you thinking?" Ayame questioned, getting on one knee.
"I'm thinking I have an annoying older brother who doesn't know how to stay out of things that don't involve him." Yuki hissed, "Go away."
"Just listen to me here, Yuki." Ayame said
Yuki groaned again and covered his face with his hand, then turned his back on his older brother. Ayame opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut short when the sound of footsteps came behind him. Shigure and Hatori had just arrived.
"What have you said him, Aya?" Shigure questioned.
"Nothing yet. Just asked him some questions. Thanks to you, Shigure, he's so confused!"
"I am not confused. I wish you would stop saying that!" Yuki whipped around to face the elder zodiacs, "I'm not confused, scared, angry or anything, I'm... I'm..."
Yuki's mouth opened a few times. He couldn't say it. Why? Why couldn't he say what he's been thinking and trying to say to Kyo this whole time?
Shigure stepped in front of Ayame, who let out a sound of protest, and finished the rat's sentence "In love?"
Yuki's bottom lip quivered as he looked up at Shigure. This entire time, Shigure had been teasing and tormenting, but at that particular moment, he seemed to be the only one who really, truly understood.
"Y-Yeah...that." Yuki said, half-smiling.
That's how a real older brother should be like. Not opposing it. Ayame always ranted and raved about Yuki should settle down and find a love and now that he had, he was opposing it. Of all the Sohmas, it always seemed like Ayame would be the most supportive of the type of relationship Yuki and Kyo had: one of the homosexual persuasion. And yet...
"Ignore what Ayame is saying then, Yuki." Shigure said, "It's your choice."
"Don't tell him to ignore me, Shigure!" Ayame tugged at the back of Shigure's kimono.
"I've had it!"
All the men present turned to face the red-head who'd just spoken. He got to his feet,
"I knew this was a big mistake! I'm out of here." And Kyo began to get out of the bath.
"Kyo, wait!"
And Yuki grabbed the cat's arm. Kyo merely shook him off and got out, grabbed his towel, wrapped it around his waist, and started inside. Yuki stood there, arms still out, and followed Kyo with his eyes. When Kyo had dissappeared inside, Yuki's eyes, now full of rage, turned to Ayame and the other zodiacs.
"Now look what you three have done!"
"Three?" Shigure put his hands up in defense, "Aya's the one who came barging down here. I was just trying to help!"
"Well you didn't succeed then, did you?" Yuki said in a low tone, "Now Kyo's mad at me."
"I don't think that's true, Yuki." said Hatori, "He's mad at Ayame, the situation. It's not you."
"Don't comfort him, Hatori." Ayame held up a hand, "Not in such a manner. All you'll do is make him go talk to Kyo and that's not--"
"Actually, that's exactly what I want Ayame." Yuki climbed out of the bath and grabbed his towel.
"Yuki --"
"Just leave me alone, Ayame." Yuki wrapped the towel around his waist and looked at Shigure, "Shigure...umm..."
Shigure just smiled and nodded, "You're welcome."
Ayame just watched as the two shared yet another moment. A moment that, one would think, would be shared between...well...siblings. As if he weren't already frustrated enough, that just added to it. Never had he felt an urge to go off on Shigure. Not on his best friend. Yuki walked away from the group without a second glance at Ayame. The snake got to his feet and brushed a lock of silvery hair aside.
"Shigure, you're not helping the situation in the slighest." Ayame turned to him.
"Aya, you're making a mountain out of a mole hill." Hatori said, halting Shigure just as he was about to speak, "You know that there's nothing you can do to stop those two. Leave them be. If anything, be happy for them."
"Hari, I can't be happy." Ayame said, his voice falling, "This is just so --"
"I'd think you would be most supportive of this. What with the stupidity you and Shigure portray on a regular basis."
The jaws of both Shigure and Ayame dropped and for a moment they just stared at Hatori. Hatori's face turned into a knowing smirk and it wasn't long before smiles appeared on the other's faces and they both began to laugh. He turned his head towards the door Yuki had dissappeared through and his smile faded to a more serious expression.
I can't make them forget like this all the time you two. I hope you know what hell you're in for...
Yes, I ended it early. Don't shoot me. haha. Next chapter is the oh so wonderful...uh...well, yeah...you know. Reviews are love, critique is welcome, and flamers will be sent to thier fiery graves.