…I liked this side of him, he… had a sense of humor. He didn't portray himself as grumpy or angry like usual. Honestly, I think Kyo was able to find peace at the moment. This was only peace that only Kyo himself could possess and control. His eyes never seemed so carefree, those beautiful ruby eyes. I smiled at him…

…I just wondered if he would ever go back to being grumpy. Maybe he would after Yuki came home. Then he would see me the way he saw Yuki, an enemy. I knew it was because I dated Yuki…

Chapter 5 - Cat Humor

"What he means is… friendly warning…"

We sat in silence for a long time but the silence was broken as soon as Shigure cleared his throat. Yuki stood up and motioned me to leave the dining room. I obeyed, pushing in my chair and scampering upstairs. I didn't know why I was so shaky. I knew things weren't like they were, back when we all had school. But, there was one thing I could point out that bogged my mind and that was how everyone's attitude had changed. Not just Kyo's but Yuki's and Shigure's.

Everyone seemed to be hiding something from me. It wasn't for my protection. I was sure of that much. I felt like they didn't wanna tell me what they knew because maybe I couldn't handle such news, whatever it may be. That, I was fine with. However, I wasn't fine with them leaving me clues to solve for myself.

…How did I know they were leaving me clues? It was simple. Shigure told me about the advancing stages of the family curse, Yuki warned me about being careful and both warned me about Kyo being different.

I had my doubts about Kyo being some giant monster thing, even if I had the proof to back up most of my weird thoughts about him. Even if all this stuff was true, I still wouldn't believe it. There was still so much I had to figure out about Kyo. Between denial and accepting, I was definitely in denial about Kyo. I still wanted to know more.

So what better time than to ease drop. Yuki's conversation with Kyo wasn't over yet. So, very quietly, I slowly walked halfway down the stairs, resting my head on the rail. I put my hand over my mouth and listened. I convinced myself ease dropping was the only way of knowing the truth.

I watched my fiancé and Kyo as they just stood there frowning at each other. Shigure had already left the room. Maybe because they asked him to leave too.

"As long as you live here Kyo… you will leave Tohru alone." Yuki demanded, his voice was harsh and cruel.

"Hey, you ain't the boss of me, Rat boy! And that's not what Shigure said."

"I know exactly what Shigure said; he said you could stay here for as long as you wanted. Which was a stupid decision if you ask me. If I were him, I would never invite a creature like you into this home." Yuki cooed, glaring hatefully at Kyo, "However… Shigure didn't say anything about harassing Tohru…"

Kyo frowned, "Since I've been here… I haven't done crap to her. I haven't had any reason to even talk to her. And, I don't give a damn if she's said anything to you or not."

I paused to wonder if Kyo was really meaning the things he was saying. I also wondered if Yuki really meant the things he said too. Both men were always irrational when it came down to talking with one another.

"She didn't. But I'm not stupid. I saw that bruise on her forehead. You did that to her, didn't you?" Yuki questioned him, "Don't lie. I know you hunt at night when everyone is asleep."

My head rose as I began nodding slowly.

Hunt.

That made sense. And here I thought what happened last night was a dream. It couldn't have been. There was no way. That monster I saw last night had to be Kyo. I assumed that I disrupted his time of 'hunting.' Whatever he was seeking…

"Are you kidding me?" Kyo flared his ruby eyes at my fiancé, "If you're worried about me harming Tohru, you can stop there. What you ought to do is keep her locked up, she attends to get out at night."

"Excuse me?"

"She got that bruise on her own, by falling on the ground. She was unconscious from the fall, I was the one who picked her up and brought her back to her room. So sorry Rat Boy, I have no reason to be killing your little girlfriend."

"A monster always has a reason to kill…"

I gasped accidentally. The men didn't notice. I considered myself lucky and I continued to cover my mouth. I could tell Yuki's words were getting to him. Kyo snarled at him, his eyes feeling with much anger, "Shut the hell up, you damn rat! You're just as much as a monster as I am."

"Yuki grunted, "Don't compare me to you, you bloodthirsty freak! I'm nothing like you!"

"Riight… and what makes you so damn sure?"

"Unlike you, Tohru Honda accepts me…" Yuki answered, confidently. "If she found out what you were, she wouldn't even look at you." Yuki pointed to Kyo as he spoke, his voice growing with so much disgust for his rival. It was so hard to believe that he had gathered this hatred much for Kyo.

I wondered what Kyo meant by Yuki being a monster like him. Did Yuki have a form like Kyo's? I wanted to know why Yuki thought I wouldn't accept Kyo for who he was. Mixed emotions invaded me, mostly emotions of apprehension. Now that I knew it wasn't a dream, I wondered how much of my life was in danger if I continued to spy on Kyo.

After all, Kyo tried to harm me, right?

…But Kyo said he took me back to my room after I fell last night. Which meant he was watching me… I shook my head as I came back down to reality. I had to find out more about what was going on. This was only the beginning.

"I have told you this many times," Yuki warned Kyo, who was biting his lip in anger. "…She may have accepted you like the ugly monster you used to be but she will never accept you now, as a killer…"

I gasped, louder this time, as my stomach dropped at the pit of my belly. Did I just hear that right? Did… Yuki call Kyo, his cousin, a killer? I couldn't tell you how many times I wanted to replay that back in my head but something was stopping me. I don't think I could even tell you my emotions after hearing that. Never, could I picture Kyo as killer.

But he did try to harm me last night… at least, that's what my weird thoughts told me.

The conversation ended quickly. I heard Kyo pace outside, slamming the door behind him, followed by Yuki grunting at the loud sound of the door.

"A worthless idiot." Yuki mumbled.

It wasn't safe for me to come down yet and I was almost caught by my fiancé who decided to finally go upstairs to see me. I scampered up the stairs once more and waited in my room.

"That was close." and more to that, I anticipated on my next opportunity to spy on Kyo. I needed more facts on what was going on. No… I mean what was really, REALLY going on. I could feel me getting closer to that answer, so close, I could touch with my fingertips.

A knock at the door distracted me of my thoughts.

"Oh come in." I tried to smile. I even tried to smile a little more when I found out Yuki was the one who was knocking.

"Miss Honda…"

"Yes?" I still supposed Yuki wasn't going to call me by my first name.

"I'm sorry for Kyo's outburst." he admitted, "What I said to you wasn't a warning at all. It was merely a suggestion because I didn't want you to be lonely while I was gone. That's all."

"Oh…" my mind kept telling me there was more to what he was trying to tell me. But I kept my mouth shut and allowed him to finish.

"Now," he grinned lightly, "I would feel so much better if someone stay here with you. While Shigure and I are gone."

"Well," I wondered, "I will be fine by myself." I told him, "I want you to be able to do things with without worrying about me. I mean, were getting married, Yuki…" I giggled like that didn't bother me. "I want you to be able to trust me."

Quietly came a soft, "…Well it's not you that I strongly distrust."

"Hm?" I couldn't hear Yuki's low mumble. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing…" Yuki smiled again, "Now, are you sure you will be fine…?"

"…Yes." It may have sounded uncertain but darn it, I was sure I was going to be fine with Yuki leaving. He was only going to be gone for a few hours anyways. Besides, I trusted that Kyo wouldn't try to harm me in daylight. For now, I was safe.

"Yes," I told him again this time, my voice sounding certain that it was going to be just fine without him. "Kyo will be around…"

What may have sounded good to Yuki before, sure lost its purpose now. "NO!" my fiancé exclaimed, then calmed himself by putting a hand over his mouth. It was like, he knew that his voice sounded harsh and for that reason he hesitated. "I mean… no… I don't want you to be alone here… with him."

"Oh…" Now… I really had to wonder…

"Just please… do me a favor and call a friend of yours to keep you company until I get back from the Sohma house." It sounded weird hearing him beg and I felt really bad for saying that I didn't mind staying with Kyo. "I would be a much happier man if you did so."

"Ok. I'll call Hana," Only because Kyo and Uo never got along, hehe.

A huge relief crossed his face. "Good, thanks."

"Um you're welcome…"

"One more thing…" Yuki questioned before leaving the room and I raised a brow.

"Yes?"

"What do you think happened in order to get that bruise on your forehead?" he mused lightly.

Oh that's right, my boo - boo that showed up randomly this morning. I touched my head and secretly wince at the pain. It still stung every time I touched the spot. I just hadn't noticed it because I forgot all about it. Figures huh? Now that I knew where it was from, I wasn't that alarmed.

I laughed to ease the tension between us. "I guess I fell out of bed last night or bumped into a wall or something…" I laughed louder. "I'm such a goof…" I played stupid but it worked I guess.

"I see…" He narrowed his violet eyes at my forehand, touching it lightly with his warm hands. Instead of wincing, I held in the pain that stung so.

"I'm fine Yuki. It doesn't even hurt at all." I lied again.

"Heh… okay." he let it go but before leaving he pointed to my phone, "Don't forget to call…"

"Hehe… I know, I know…" I grabbed my phone, "I will, I promise."

Our conversation ended quicker than him and Kyo's. Before he left with Shigure, Yuki kissed me on the forehead and a giant but very cautious side hug.

Kyo just frowned, looking the other way. "Hn."

"Oh and Miss Hanajima is coming right?" Yuki asked me before fully walking out the door.

"Yes, hehe… don't worry she's coming."

Yuki glared at Kyo. "Good."

…And just like that we were alone. Kyo looked at me, then turned his head around, sighing. I didn't let it bother me, maybe there was something bothering Kyo other than the fact of Yuki calling him a killer. I kinda wanted to walk over to him and tell him that I accepted him no matter what, although he wouldn't know what I was talking about; or try to act like he didn't.

I sauntered out to the front yard where he could see me clearly in the day light. A slight change of wind made me turn around and I realized, within a blink of an eye, Kyo was gone. He had gone inside the house it seemed like. I guess he really did want to keep his distance like Yuki demanded him to do.

I sighed, this sucks. Was this how things were going to be from now on? I felt lonely outside by myself so I walked back in the house as well. There was no point of me staying out there, if he wasn't there. I figured today was going to be boring and quiet.

"This really sucks…" I mumbled, closing the front door.

My eyes only blinked once before I heard a quick grunt.

"Do me a favor and watch where you're going… sheesh." Kyo scared me, he was standing in the living room, where I was about to step. If he hadn't of said anything, we would have bumped into each other but I knew Kyo wouldn't allow that; it's why he decided to scare me out of my shoes before any transforming occurred. But forget all that, I was sure Kyo wasn't in front of me before. In fact, I was positive he that wasn't even in the room when I came in.

…I didn't feel him in the living room; at least not like other times. In most cases, I could feel his eyes burning on the side of my face. This time there was nothing… It was almost like he had the ability to hide his presence…

"I - I'm so sorry… I…"

"Never mind."

"I didn't know t-that you…"

"I said! Never mind."

"Sorry…"

"Quit saying that…"

"Saying w-what…" I swallowed.

"That word."

"I'm sorry, but what was the word again…"

"That word." Kyo grunted, "… the word sorry word…"

"Oh… of course." I was so embarrassed and I felt like an idiot. He hates me! He really, really hates me!

Then there came the awkward silence that last about five minutes.

I blushed walking towards the door. "I'll… just be outside."

"Why?" His voice sounded confused and concerned. Before he didn't even seem like he cared. Was his careless crude attitude just an act?

My hand gripped the door knob nervously. "I wanted to give you time to yourself, that's all."

Kyo finally sighed, this time, it sounded like he was extremely tired. Maybe tired of me. "Give me… time to myself?" he asked urgently, brows drawing closer together. He acted like it was the stupidest reason he had ever heard.

"Y-yes" I trembled. He really did hate me!

Then the weirdest thing happened, for once Kyo stopped looking angry. I know, I can understand why you would think that wasn't weird but ever since Kyo came back, he has always been cranky and irritated. So it was weird to see him not looking like that. The expression basically erased off his pale face…

"Tohru, are you afraid of me?" he asked bluntly. I stared at him blankly, wondering why he was ask that now. The answer was yes, I was even afraid to answer his question.

"No why?" I lied…

"…Cus… you act weird around me," he admitted. My eyes widened to his worried tone. This was weird and it was all a prefect contrast to how he acted previously, mean and cruel. He frowned, "I guess because I was an ass huh?" was he talking to me? Because he never gave me a chance to answer…

"…But I only acted like that because, well…" he tried to find the words. "…at first, I thought Yuki and Shigure were feeding you crap… about me. But now, I'm not sure." Now I was sure he was talking to himself. I blinked distantly, continuing to listen until I couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" he wondered, seizing his thoughts for a second.

"Nothing." I giggled.

"No tell me… I sound dumb don't I?"

"No, of course not. It's just that I couldn't see why Shigure would say anything mean about you." I beamed a smile of happiness. "He's the one who told me not to believe everything I hear…"

Kyo grinned lightly. I could tell that he was feeling bad for blaming his cousin Shigure for talking badly about him already. And Yuki? Well, I wasn't so sure. "Now, how did that work for ya?"

"Well…" I thought, "I don't know. I just remembered him joking about you being a man - eating beast, with large fangs and at 3am in the morning, you worshiped the devil…"

"Hm…" He watched me giggle. "…That Shigure was pretty damn accurate, I wonder how he knew I worshiped the devil…" he stepped outside and I followed.

"KYO…"

"Relax. I'm kidding."

"Phew."

"What? You thought I was being serious? I guess you think I eat men too, huh?"

"Never…" I answered, "That would be absurd."

"Duh…" Kyo smiled, then gave me an evil grin, "Cus everyone knows brunette girls taste the best."

That would have been funny if I didn't secretly know that Kyo was a monster and that I was the brunette girl he was talking about. My face turned white as snow and I couldn't help blush in a frightened way. "Oh that's… nice…"

"I'm joking, Tohru." Kyo began to laugh, "I thought you said you weren't going to believe everything you heard…" he finally sat down on the steps, with the wind elegantly blowing through his elegant orange hair and smiled.

"I know! I know! I'm so sorry!" I liked this side of him, he… had a sense of humor. He didn't portray himself as grumpy or angry like usual. Honestly, I think Kyo was able to find peace at the moment. This was only peace that only Kyo himself could possess and control. His eyes never seemed so carefree, those beautiful ruby eyes. I smiled at him.

"There you go with that word again…" he rolled his eyes.

"Ooops…" I realized that he was right, I said 'sorry' way too much. "How about I say 'I apologize'? That sounds better right?"

"Uck…not really."

"Then what should I say to replace it?" I blinked distantly.

"How about nothing."

"Nothing… alright." I nodded in silence.

"Well I didn't be quiet…" Kyo quickly said right after me.

"Right. I mean… okay…" I wasn't scared, I just didn't know how to act in front of 'happy Kyo'. I waited a long time for us to be alone. I just wondered if he would ever go back to being grumpy. Maybe he would after Yuki came home. Then he would see me the way he saw Yuki, an enemy. I knew it was because I dated Yuki. That was something I couldn't help or fix.

"…Your friend isn't coming is she?" Kyo raised a brow. "You only said that to Yuki so he could leave without worrying about you… am I right?"

Creepy… but he was right. I only picked up my phone to make Yuki think I was calling my friend Saki Hanajima. "Uh… how did you…"

"I know a lot of things, though it doesn't seem like it…"

That was shocking and then again, Kyo was full of surprises. "Please don't tell… I just don't like when he worries about me."

"Hn." his eyes glared in the far distance. "Who cares what he thinks…"

"I do…" I just stared at him. I really did care about Yuki. I loved Yuki, actually. I would do anything for him and I knew he would do the same for me. He was reliable, sweet and loyal to me but lacked understanding. And Kyo? He was mysterious, unpredictable and understanding but lacked congeniality and the ability to accept friends and their trust.

"I know you do… you're a loyal girlfriend to him." I could tell that made him sick to admit. "But… that's life right? All girls gotta be loyal to their boyfriends." he said that like I was made to be loyal to Yuki. But now that I thought about Kyo's statement, he was sorta right. Ever since Yuki asked me to marry him, I have been feeling nothing but pressure. I don't know why but I feel like I must be happy to keep Yuki happy.

"Are you happy Tohru?" Kyo asked conversationally.

I quit thinking, staring at him again, "What? Do you mean by that?"

"Just answer it."

"Of course I am happy. I'm always happy."

"Oh really." he raised a brow. "You're… always happy?"

"Well not always but most of them time…"

"Uhuh. And what about the times that you're not always?" he spoke through his lips. He was trying to read me that I could tell just by his expression. I couldn't lie. When I wasn't happy, I was thinking of committing myself to marriage. All this time I had been saying I loved Yuki but did I really love him the way he loved me?

"Maybe when I sleep." I answered, hoping to see this topic die off.

"No… you're happy when you sleep."

I laughed, "Really, Kyo and how do you know what I look like when I sleep."

"Because." Our eyes locked, his ruby eyes stared deep into my soul. "…I watch you all the time… you're always smiling." Not only did his eyes stare deep into my soul but they were also stained with persuasiveness.

"W-what you do? And I do? Huh?" Was he serious? He watched me sleep? When? How long? I wasn't freaked out. I just never thought that he would do that. I mean this Kyo we're talking about. Then again, I believed I called him unpredictable. Kyo laughed, shaking his head.

"I'm kidding… you're so gullible." he laughed again.

"Oh… heh…" But I didn't buy it. Something told me that Kyo wasn't pulling my leg.

…Or maybe he was.