Epidemic (Of Darkness)
Chapter 3
A/n: sweet! We're already at the 3rd chapter. I'm so thankful for all my fans who read this. I didn't think it was going to be all that good until I started, thank you so so so so much. I'd mostly like to thank my reviewer's, Freederth-chan! firegoddess372, xBlack-Angelx, wickedwitchofthemidwest93, 30 Seconds to YOUR MOM, 2sidedangel 14, torchedheaven, and Rayn Lake. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. I'd also like to thank all the readers out there who aren't reviewing (though really you should).
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits basket, or any other title in this fic. But I do own Freederth-chan! Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!
Kyo watched the clear blue river water fade to a crimson red as him and his soldiers washed the blood and dirt off their bodies. Since Tohru agreed on becoming his slave she was already at work. It was the middle of the day and she had already cooked breakfast and lunch. Searched for food and fire wood, tended to many of the soldiers' wounds, patched up their uniforms, and now she was washing their blood-spattered clothing.
Momiji was tied up to a tree as Rin lectured him from trying to escape. "God would you just shut up already. You're so annoying!" Rin scolded the blonde rabbit. He cowered in fear for a second before returning to his conversation about candy.
"Rin-san…I'll watch him for a little while." Tohru volunteered with a smile.
"Yeah whatever." She trudged off to the river without a second glance back.
"Hello Tohru-kun!" Momiji chimed.
"Hello." Tohru smiled and ruffled his blonde curls. She stared at his adorable yellow ears protruding from his head, immediately wanting to pet them.
"Go ahead." He insisted and bowed his head. Tohru lightly wrapped her hands around the rabbit's soft ears.
"Wow…they're real." Her eyes sparkled in delight as she rubbed them softly.
"Of coarse they're real silly!" Momiji laughed. Tohru glanced over to the river and back to Momiji's face. "You have a question?" He asked. She simply nodded and pointed to her nose.(meaning he got it right on the nose…in case you weren't sure.)
"Actually I was wondering something." She began as she plopped right next to the boy. He waited for her to continue. "I thought that, if a human was in any contact of a demon they were to…be killed or tortured."
"Yeah…" He didn't seem to get it.
"Well…" Tohru sustained. "The soldiers are human, and you're a demon. But you're not dead and they haven't been tortured."
"Oh…well I'm a Sohma so maybe that makes things different." He paused, thinking to himself. "Or maybe it's because they were hunting and we crossed paths and now the soldier people are preparing to take me back with them?" Momiji seemed to be asking himself the question than really answering her.
"Tohru you finished the clothes?" They both jumped at the sudden interruption of Kyo's shocked voice. Tohru suddenly noticed the militia of men standing behind the orange head.
"Oh…uh yes I did." Tohru shot up to her feet and bowed.
"Good job. Alright men saddle up the horses." Kyo commanded and the men scrambled in a hurry.
"It must be nice to be captain, huh Kyo-kun?" Tohru asked smiling. She watched as a deep scowl played across his features.
"I guess so." He hesitated for a second. "Watch this." he turned around to face the men and their horses. Pointing at a man with bright white hair, "You, jump up and down." Kyo demanded and the man did as told. Tohru's mouth dropped. He did what Kyo told him to do without even hesitating.
"You," Kyo continued. "Bite that man's ear."
"Yes sir." The guy ran over to the man named Gaku and bit his left ear.
"What the hell?!" Gaku screamed and raised his fist.
"No. Get back to work." Kyo commanded and Gaku went back his horse, as did the other soldier. "Pretty cool?" he had turned back around to Tohru's stunned stupor. Kyo laughed lightly.
"Wow Kyo-kun."
"Anyways, aren't you supposed to be saddling my horse?" He raised his eyebrow and folded his arms in a teasing way.
"Huh?! OMYGOSH I CAN'T BELIVE I FORGOT, I'M SO SORRY! I'LL GO DO THAT RIGHT AWAY!" With that, Tohru darted off to the huge black stallion.
"Kyo-kun?" Momiji called.
"What is it?" He turned and glared at the annoying rabbit.
"Can I go now. I promise I wont tell anyone about the forest. I swear! Just…don't let Akito hurt me." Momiji's eyes lowered with shame.
Kyo sighed reluctantly and cut the binds around his cousin's neck. "There. And if I find out you mentioned this to the guys back home I'll skin you myself. Ya got it?!" Momiji nodded and hugged Kyo's leg before skipping back into the luscious green forest. He sighed once more and trudged to his horse, where Tohru was having some trouble. All the other men were ready to leave and small sneers on their faces as they watched her struggle with the saddle.
"Kyo I'm leaving. My squad and I are needed else where." Rin looked down at him and Tohru from the high of her horse.
"Aright then go. But I need at least ten of your best men."
"What are you insane?!" She looked back at the forty she had now and there were only ten she really needed. "Your fucking crazy Kyo. You know as well as I do that half of my men are shit."
Kyo sighed and ripped the saddle from Tohru's hands. Throwing it up onto the horse, latching the girth and had the reigns in his hands all in one movement. "Fine then, two."
"You shouldn't have left Brom and the others at the camp. You're not getting any." Rin decided. They scowled at each other for a good two minutes before she whistled and trotted off with her men right behind her.
"God dammit!" Kyo cursed and punched the ground with full force. The soldiers, plus Tohru flinched at the sound of breaking bones.
"Kyo-kun." Tohru grabbed his bleeding hand. "Didn't that hurt?" She asked stunned. He didn't even wince as she pushed into the broken knuckle.
"I'm fine. Let's go." He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto the horse. Kyo was soon right behind her, gripping the reigns and galloping into the forest.
The heat was agonizing. The group of soldiers had stopped at least ten times in the last five minutes. The tall canopy hovering over them making the humidity even more harsh. Beads of sweat rolled down Tohru's body, her bangs sticking to her wet forehead. Kyo's orange hair doing the same.
"Kyo-kun…is…there anymore…water?" The air constricted her throat, making it almost impossible for her to talk. Kyo simply nodded and pulled the reigns back. The horse stopped and fell to his stomach. Tohru rolled off the back and onto the moist ground.
"Come on." Kyo's warmth wrapped around her and she shrugged away from him.
"You're too hot." Tohru smiled politely and rolled over to her side. Once again Kyo scowled at her smile. He grabbed her by the arm and hoisted her to her wobbly feet. The soldiers climbed down from their horses and swigged huge gulps of water from their canteens.
"Here." Kyo shoved the flask into her face and she took it. Tohru twisted it open and pulled the cap to her lips. Kyo watched thirstily as the cooled water poured into her throat. "Shit…you're drinking too much." He complained and reached for the thermos. Tohru was quick, and whisked it away, out of his reach.
"I'm still thirsty." Suddenly she collapsed to the ground. The heat exhaustion finally getting to her. "I'm too tired to drink. I just want…to…sleep…" Her eyelids slowly closed.
"No, Tohru wake up. You could die if your body heat rises too high." Kyo hovered over her. "Dammit." He took the flask and poured the water into his mouth. Tohru's eyes shot open as his lips pressed against hers and water filled her throat.
She swallowed hard and began to cough. "What was that?" Gaku asked a little confused.
"It's called giving her water through my mouth because she's heat exhausted to the point where she cant function right." Kyo shot back. Suddenly he poured the water all over Tohru's body, soaking her through.
"Thank you Kyo-kun." She smiled and stood up. Her legs quaked a little.
"Alright men." Kyo filled his lungs with hot air, burning it. "We have to get out of here. Or find a creek. The horses are…" He coughed and gasped. "let's go" He sort of helped Tohru up on the horse, and then got into his spot behind her.
A few minutes later Haru took his shirt off. The men following his example, including Kyo. Tohru's heart sped up at the heat of his chest on her back. His arms rested on her thighs. Tohru sighed and gasped for the hot air.
"It's okay, you can take off that robe." Kyo assured her.
"What?!" Tohru gasped. She immediately thought it wasn't a good idea, her lungs burned even more now.
"Your face is burning red and you're sweating even more than me." He admitted as he began to slide the extra large robe off her shoulders.
"Kyo-kun wait." Tohru was too exhausted to stop him. Her arms wouldn't move an inch. Kyo continued until the robe finally fell to the floor of the forest and she sat there half naked with a half naked boy wrapped around her.
Suddenly the horse reared and Kyo fell off, Tohru falling on top of him. (Back to chest, it's all good.) The stallion freaked, snorting and grunting before finally trotting off into the woods. Kyo's eyes widened as he stared at the beautiful being in front of him.
"what do we have here?" His voice was slick and enchanting. "It's much too hot for you to be wandering about in the woods." Blonde curls hovered just above his eyebrows. He was paler than the full moon and was a slender but muscled man. He had this distinct aroma about him, almost like vanilla?
"Please, do you have any water? Me and my friends are very thirsty." Tohru beseeched.
"My deepest apologies. But I have no water." His electric blue eyes burned into Tohru's soul, entrancing her. She stood up and moved closer to him, breathing in his scent.
"Tohru no! Get away…from him!" Kyo coughed as the dryness caught in his throat. He was unable to breathe for a moment. He watched as the stranger placed his pastel hands on Tohru's slender shoulders. Her lips parted slightly and her eyes began to close dazedly.
"I do happen to know where some water is though. I'd be more than happy to guide you." He pushed her brown hair back, making it fall from her neck. His long fingers traced circles on the silky skin of her throat.
"Kyo-kun, did you hear that? He knows where there is water, maybe we should…follow him." Tohru called huskily.
"But I need to quench my own thirst, if that's alright?" White fangs sank down from his gums. Protruding past his soft, lush lips.
"Stop it!" Kyo demanded. "Gaku…Haru…" The other men had fallen asleep or were too weak to do anything. "Shit, he's a vampire! Tohru!" Kyo propped himself up on his elbows. But sadly he fell back onto his back.
"Of course, whatever you need." Tohru laced her fingers in the vampire's blonde curls.
"How kind of you." He slowly placed the sharp fangs on the preferred spot on her neck, Kyo could see the blood slowly rising to the surface as the daggered teeth punctured the white skin.
"Fuck." Kyo cursed as he jumped up and tackled the vampire. His body quivering with fatigue. It felt as if he hit a brick wall at full speed.
"Kyo-kun!" Tohru woke up from her trance and held her bleeding neck. Suddenly the vampire disappeared into the woods as the sun seeped through the canopy of trees over head. "Kyo-kun I'm so sorry!" Tohru beseeched as she crawled to his side.
"Ugh…we need water." he coughed and gripped the wet soil with his good hand.
"I'll find some I promise." Tohru smiled lightly and stood up. Her legs wobbled and she fell to the ground.
"Tohru…" Kyo glanced over at her and saw that she was back on her knees, crawling.
"Thank you Kyo-kun. For everything. But now it's my turn to help you."
Dedicated, Tohru crawled for hours and when she was too tired she would slither like a snake. It was now getting dark and the howls of wolves were echoing closer and closer. And still no water. It was cold now. Almost freezing. Tohru shivered and her teeth chattered. She really wished she had that robe. Goose bumps rose on her skin as she saw shadows surround her, smelling the dried blood on her throat.
"Don't worry Kyo-kun, I'll find water." Her eyes began to flutter shut. They shot open. "No stay awake!" She stumbled through the frozen moss on the ground, watching her breath as she exhaled. She heard a low growl from behind her and she whisked around to meet the piercing red eyes of a wolf.
Tohru tried to scream but the cool air froze her lungs almost immediately at her gasp. The wolf was as big as a mini van. The monster sat down only three inches from her and bared it's giant canines. The animal's fur looked so warm and cozy. Tohru imagined herself cuddled into it. Nice and warm. Her eyes started to close and she just couldn't hold them open any longer. She collapsed to the frozen earth limply…
Yuki ran his fingers through his tendrils of hair and sighed. He hadn't stopped thinking of that Honda girl he heard about from Kyo since she left with that god for sake n cat.
"My poor Yuki-kun." Akito purred.
"He was supposed to be back by now." Yuki complained. Suddenly Akito's head was in Yuki's lap. "Not that I care about that idiot."
"Oh…you're thinking about that Tohru Honda girl?" Yuki simply nodded and played with Akito's jet black hair.
"I'm not sure why, but I want her." Yuki sighed, he was tired of always thinking about her.
"Maybe, you want this girl because Kyo has her?" Akito smirked at the thought and burst into laughter. "This should be fun. Don't you think Yuki-kun?"
Yuki thought to himself for a moment. "I will have Honda-san."
"In the mean time, her sister is out in the tent." Akito got up and went to his bedroom. "They probably wont be back for a while. Did you notice Isuzu has already made it back?" Akito smiled and disappeared. Yuki sighed again and walked out of the cabin. The cool air shocked his exposed skin and he shivered.
"Shigure?" He called for his older cousin. The dog appeared out of a far tent and made his way closer to Yuki.
"Yes?" He smiled as he sipped his hot tea.
"Could you ready my horse for me?" Yuki asked politely.
"Of course. You going out?" Shigure asked curiously as he began to saddle a pure white horse.
"I'll be back in the morning." Yuki answered. He jumped up onto his horses back and galloped out of the camp and into the black night.
The warmth enveloped her body, she was almost to the point of sweating. Tohru prayed that she wasn't inside some enormous animal that swallowed her whole. She blinked her eyes open and first saw the crystal white blanket of ice around her. It had snowed, and it looked like it was still nighttime. She turned to her side and saw the orange hair blowing lightly in the wind next to her.
"Kyo-kun?" She whispered and placed her icy hand on his cheek. He jumped up and his garnet eyes glared at her. Tohru just smiled and thanked god in her mind.
"Why the fuck did you leave?!" He scolded.
"I went to find water." Tohru answered in a whisper. The others had woken up and watched intently as Kyo slammed his fist into the ground next to Tohru's head.
"Oh so you got some water?" he looked around. "Well where is it?" Tears formed in her eyes but she blinked them back. "Oh wait… you didn't find any fucking water! Is it because that vampire you decided to trust tried to drink all your fucking blood till you shriveled up! God dammit you're so fucking clueless! You were almost killed and then I find you with a fucking werewolf trying to eat your god damn brains out-oh wait, you have no more fucking brains so it wouldn't even matter!" Heat blazed from Kyo as he clenched Tohru's shoulders.
"I'm sorry Kyo-kun…I was trying to help you…" She smiled feebly, her eyes looking away from him. Suddenly he shoved her to the ground.
"And why are you always smiling!? God its so fucking annoying I want rip my eyes out!" Tohru noticed the grins on the soldiers' faces and she flinched.
"You don't want me… to smile?"
"No! I cant fucking believe you can smile now! We killed your mom, your sister has been raped by strangers and they're probably doing it to her right now! We burned your fucking home to ashes you were almost killed by a vampire! Then a wolf wants to eat you, You barely even get to eat or drink anything! I swear you're a fucking idiot!" He grabbed Tohru by her hair and yanked her so she fell on her back.
"I could probably fuck your brains out right here and by tomorrow you'll still have that stupid smile on your face." His men cheered and hooted, rooting him on. Kyo watched as tears finally poured down her frozen cheeks. Her eyes burned at the water and the lump in her throat made it hard to breathe. "Fuck." Kyo released her hair and sat back on his heels, watching her stand up.
"Just because I smile…doesn't mean I'm happy." The tears wouldn't stop, they kept on flowing. Suddenly her hand collided with Kyo's cheek. So hard, it echoed through the now quiet forest. "I'm sorry… master." His eyes widened as he placed his hand on the burning cheek. The soldiers surrounded her with their swords and guns pointing at her.
"Lower your weapons." Kyo ordered and they hesitantly did as told. Tohru turned and staggered into the darkness.
"Captain, should we let her go?" Gaku asked.
"I'll follow her. You men get back to camp and send Shigure and Yuki to meet me at the far bridge."
"Yes sir." With that, they got onto their horses and rode off. Kyo finally stood and began to follow the trail of small footprints Tohru left. For hours Kyo walked behind her. Making sure she was still in front of him. Tohru didn't seem to show she didn't want him there, she just persisted on her course and never stopped. It was dead silent in the woods. Not even a chirp of a cricket was heard, just the crunching of the snow beneath their feet and the soft breathing when they exhaled. Kyo heard light sobs once in a while and felt guilty for saying all those things to her.
"Kyo-kun?" He noticed he had stopped walking.
"Yeah?" He walked forward to meet with her. Her lips were a light blue and her cheeks were as white as the snow.
"I was just making sure you were still here. I didn't hear your footsteps behind me anymore and I-" She stopped when he wound his hand around hers, lacing their fingers.
"Tohru…I'm sorry." He hated apologies. Kyo lowered his gaze and blushed. But it he was too cold for the blood to rise to his cheeks.
"It's okay." Tohru smiled. "I smile because, it makes me forget about all those things that have happened. And whenever I smiled, Shia or my mother would smile too, no matter how unhappy they were."
Kyo glanced up at her, she seemed far away. Like she had gone back into the past, where her memories were. "I even made Hatori-san smile one day. He had been so upset when Kana had forgotten him, that I cried for him."
He listened to her story in bewilderment. How she knew of Kana was surprising. And even more impossible to believe, she was close to Hatori. Kyo's silent, straight-faced as a rock cousin. "Shia suggested to me that I go cheer him up." Tohru continued. "I never would have thought it'd work but it did!" She was suddenly back to the present, staring into Kyo's garnet eyes.
Tohru slowly moved her hand out of Kyo's and walked behind him. His eyes widened as he saw her arms wrap around his waist and gently squeeze him to her body. "Thank you master. For everything."
"What's with this 'master' stuff?" He questioned. "I like it better when you call me Kyo-kun." He admitted bashfully. "And…I like it when you smile too." Kyo grabbed her hand and pulled Tohru around, his face only an inch from hers.
"Really?" tears pricked at her dry eyes.
"I just wish you'd show your true feelings sometimes. You don't have to be brave and wear a mask all the time." He cupped his hands on her cheeks and closed the precious space between them, but still making sure their chests didn't come in contact. "When you're around me, let your emotions out. Yell, cry, laugh, something."
"Kyo-kun…" His lips pressed against Tohru's. She tensed but soon relaxed into Kyo's touch Heat flashed through them. Their lips met once again, then twice. Soon their mouths moved together, never parting. Kyo slowly inched Tohru to the wet ground, crouching over her.
Tohru grabbed the back of his head, intertwining her fingers with his orange tendrils. Finally the redness of their cheeks began to show and heat rose off of their bodies. As they continued to kiss Kyo moved his hand to the hem of Tohru's shirt and slid his hand up to cup her breast. His touch was cold, making her gasp. An ache pained between her legs as he massaged her breasts, lightly pinching her nipples as he continued.
Tohru pulled his head back and slowly moved down his body, Planting kisses as she went. From the corner of his mouth, to his cheek, down to his jaw. She slowly moved to his neck where she stopped to suck and nip. Blood rose to the surface of his tanned skin, leaving a small red mark.
She jerked away from him once she noticed his hand had wandered too low. "Kyo-kun-" His lips enveloped hers, interrupting her protest. His hand dove under her shorts and passed the thin layer of hair. Tohru pulled the orange tendrils making Kyo stop and pull his hand out.
"Alright, god damn that hurt." He whispered. Their mouths parted and Tohru licked her lips.
"I'm sorry Kyo-kun but I can't." She sighed, a little ashamed of herself. She knew she wanted Kyo, she wanted him badly. And she could see he felt the same way. His arousal was probably painful being held back by his jeans.
"It's fine. I can wait." He exhaled a shaky breath. He winced at the slight pain from his cock and tried to ignore it. In all actuality he couldn't put this off. He hadn't had sex in so long. He never felt the need like his other men. But Kyo didn't want anyone else but Tohru. He didn't realize it till now. At the camp where there are so many other beautiful women he never even made a passing glance. Kyo sighed and ran his hand through his fire orange hair.
"Kyo-kun?" Tohru shivered. Suddenly they both remembered the frozen ground beneath them and it had started to snow again.
"Shit. We better get out of here." He stood up and then offered his hand to Tohru. There was a low crunching sound coming towards them. Kyo unsheathed his sword, stepping in front of Tohru protectively.
"Wanting a fight the minute you see me. You must really hate me." Yuki smiled slightly as he appeared out of the dead trees.
"I loathe you." Kyo stated simply as he placed his sword back into its scabbard.
"Yuki-kun what are doing out here?" Tohru questioned curiously.
"Kyo's men came back a little while ago and said you two were lost." Yuki snickered at a comment he was going to say about Kyo.
"Don't say a word." Kyo warned, fire blazing in his already garnet eyes. Yuki sauntered over to Tohru and wrapped her exposed body in a quilt.
"Kyo really, you should take care of your slaves." Kyo and Tohru flinched in unison.
"How the hell-" Kyo began.
"They could die if you don't treat them properly. That includes trying to get them to sleep with you in the middle of a snow storm." Yuki smirked at his cousin's blush. Blind fury licked at Kyo's insides. He balled his hands into tight fists.
Yuki grabbed Tohru's hand and guided her out of the forest, Kyo following behind them burning his eyes into Yuki's back.
That was purtty good wasn't it? I sure hope so. don't forget to review! Thank you all for the support.