A/N: Wahh! It's kind of long and drawn out. Well, I guess an inspiration hit me, so I'm updating this about two weeks early. The next chapter will have to wait a while since of finals and the fact that I have to do a little research for the letter Y. Please read and review! Thanks!
-x-
"Damn it! Just let me hit you for once!" I growled, my punches kept missing their target. It was as if Yuki had been training during the hours that I wasn't around.
"Is that your way of saying that you'll never beat me as equals?"
It was just one of those regular days with me and the rat fighting. Everyone had given up trying to tear us apart, now they watched from the sidelines, silently rooting for their favorite fighter. I know I had the least votes. I just know it.
A direct, straight kick upwards had my chin snap back painfully and my balance lost. Before I could regain my composure and fire a strike back, another kick aimed right at my chest, sending me flying towards the back wall of the classroom. The desks and chairs scattered at my flying body. Just where was the teacher when I needed him?
A painful grunt escaped my lips and a pale hand was extended toward me. I looked up and felt my eyebrows instinctively twitch.
"I do not need your help," I got up, brushed the invisible dust from my clothing and flinched when I brushed my hands across my chest.
"Yuki was unfair. You looked really hurt this time. Should I take you to the Nurse's?" the Ox offered. I stared at the dual haired boy,
"As if you know your way there. I can go by myself thanks."
"But Kyou," Haru started and I glared at him.
"Look, I appreciate your rare generosity, but shouldn't you be with your precious Yuki and celebrate this wonderful moment of where he beat the stuffing out of the cursed cat?"
The Ox cocked his head to the side, a face full of confusion was etched on his features,
"Why?"
"Because I said he's your precious rat."
"That was a long time ago. I have someone else who is more precious to me," the Ox followed me out of the classroom.
"Oh?" I said to the person trailing behind me, "So who's the pretty boy this time?"
"He's not the least bit pretty, nor is he the most popular amongst his peers," the Ox muttered. I couldn't help but feel invisible arrows stab into my sides.
"Well that's unusual," I said, mentally shaking off this weird feeling, "Do I know him?"
"You could say that," the Ox said. I could spot the Nurse's office just a few feet away from me.
"Does Yuki know him also?" I said, knocking on the door and getting a feminine voice in response.
"In a way," the Ox replied. I slid the door open and we both walked into the room where the school's nurse sat at her desk. She turned when I sat on the bed in front of her,
"So what seems to be the problem this time, Kyou Sohma?"
"He had a fight with Yuki again and it seemed like his chest was hurting," Haru answered for me. I threw a glance over at the dual haired boy and sneered,
"I don't need someone to speak for me. My mouth works just fine."
"I wonder about that," Haru sent a smirk my way.
"Could you please unbutton your uniform for me please," the nurse said and I reluctantly did so, although quite embarassed. She examined closer and pressed a gloved finger just below my breast bone. I jumped back further on the bed in slight shock and pain.
"Oi!" I cried. The nurse just looked at me with an exasperated sigh and sat straight up again, turning to her desk,
"Just be glad it wasn't shattered or you might've endured even worse pain that what you're feeling at the moment."
"Yes . . ." I buttoned up my uniform and flinched a bit as I stood back up. As I turned to leave the room, the nurse spoke up again,
"Oh, Kyou Sohma? My name is not 'Oi'. I do have a name you know, it's Natsuki Kohan."
-x-
"I think she was flirting with you back there. Was that the first time she saw a young man's body?" Haru asked me. The irritation I felt, reached an all-time high and I rounded on my cousin,
"How the hell should I know?"
The Ox just shrugged and then stared at me pointedly. I stopped,
"What is it? Do I have something on me?"
"Does it really hurt? Right there?" Haru questioned. I sighed,
"Yeah it does, but like Ms. Kohan said, it's nothing that alarming. If I return and place an ice pack on my chest, it will be fine by tomorrow."
"Oh? Ms. Kohan now is it? Have she tempted you into using her name?" Haru said with a slight teasing tone.
"As if!" I said.
"But it would be nice, you know, Kyou if you'd stop doing things that cause harm to your body." (1)
"When have I ever -"
"Just now and like many others before this, with Yuki. If you don't stop challenging Yuki like this, who knows what might happen. You could bust a lung with a fractured bone or be put into a coma. It's endless," Haru said. I stared at him,
"That's the longest I've ever heard you talk, but I can't stop until I've beaten Yuki."
"Why?"
"You don't have to know. It's my problem, it's my business and if I have to harm my body as you say I am, then I'm willing to do it," I said, forming a fist at my side.
"Sometimes, I don't know why I worry about you, kitten," Haru said.
"Who said that you have to - Oi! Just what do you think you're doing?" I cried when I looked down to see the Ox's hands fumbling with the front of my uniform, having already unbuttoned the two top ones.
"Just a kiss, that'll be fine right?" Haru said with an innocent look.
"Who said it will be?" I said, my fists itching to put the Ox in his spot.
"Don't worry, a light kiss that will ebb the pain from your chest . . ." The Ox whispered. I looked away,
"Don't go all sappy with me." I trembled with a slight shiver when I felt the other's lips upon my heated skin and he drew back, chuckling just a little.
"What?"
"You're so cute."
"Huh?"
"Now don't let anyone else touch you and remember, put an ice pack there when you get home. I'll have a little talk with Yuki about harming you," Haru stated as he started walking down the hall.
"You're not the boss of me!" I cried at his retreating back, but he just gave a backwards wave and turned the corner. I fumed, just my luck. I still haven't found who Haru's new precious toy was.
"Next time," I finalized. "I still have next time to ask him."
-x-
(1) It's something that my Mom said to me one day and it surprised me to have suddenly sprung that on me. But I guess after looking back on my life, she was kind of right . . . Heh.