2. Long Nights And Bear Bottles
It was one of those rainy nights, The ones where people got drunk and went on rampages. Bad things happened while other people stayed in bed and had no clue to what was happening.
This was one of those nights.
Mikage yawned and wondered who in the world would be beating on his door at this hour of the night. He didn't understand it himself, All he knew was they better have a good explanation.
They even woke Tomoe up, who was walking down the stairs with his messy white hiar tossed about in tangles. He glared at the front door as if it was another yokai and Mikage chuckled through his own annoyance.
The blond god walked over to the door and pulled it open; only to be shocked.
Gwen was standing there with a small bag.
"Gwen?" Mikage asked out of concern.
This caught Tomoe's attention and the teen froze on the staircase. He quickly walked up behind Mikage, His ears twitching. He looked confused but also worried. This was his best friends mom. Where was Nanami?
Gwen looked up and swiped her lip, only letting Mikage see the blood trailing along with her wet hair.
"He did it again, And I couldn't take it." She muttered quietly.
Tomoe looked at Mikage confused, Who did what? Nanami never told him about any hims and whos; and she told him everything. Or at least.. Thats what he thought.
Realization hit him, He didn't let Nanami see his weak side.. What made him think he saw hers? He swallowed the clud of confusion and Mikage nodded.
He knew didn't he?
The god let her walk in and Tomoe blinked. Nanami was standing behind her mother; She looked fine expect for a few brusies. He swallowed his relief and then ground his teeth when she limped up to him, a ghost of a smile was planted on her face.
"Hey.." She said quietly and Tomoe stared at her. He didn't know what to do. This was his best friend, she knew everything about him; but at this time he didn't know what to do for her.
He hated this feeling.
It was like the day his mother died, he was alone and didn't know what to do. He saw she was hurt but what was a friend supposed to do? Shove her like always? Tell her she weighed to much? He teased her just like she did him; But now?
His breath was catching in his throat at the sight of her.
She looked down and winced, " Sorry, Did we wake you? I know you like your sleep.." She muttered and Tomoe paused.
What was he supposed to do? He never really comforted people. It wasn't his thing, he was just a person that watched from the crowds.
"You did wake me; but it seems to be for a good reason." He titlted his head, His fox ears pinning at the injustice in front of him.
Her body was brusied, and he wondered how that happened.
"Gwen this has gone to far." Mikage sighed out and he woman nodded,
"I know; And he hit her too."
Tomoe glanced at Nanami, Who was he? And why was he beating them?
The fox had known her since kindergarden, Her smile, the way she would laugh. He was the hard one; he was the upset one; but right in front of him he saw Nanami limping and not making eye contact.
"Stay with us." Mikage muttered and Tomoe looked at Him surprised, " We have extra rooms and Nanami and Tomoe can go to school together. They already do so it shouldn't be hard."
Gwen paused and looked at Nanami weerily. She knew this was for the best, And when she looked at Tomoe she was surprised at his expression. It flashed with concern and anger. As if he wanted to help her daughter but didn't know how.
Gwen nodded, " Alright, But if we become a burden."
Mikage shook his head, " Not at all."
Tomoe's shoulder slumped and Nanami looked at the ground, she looked tired and Tomoe swallowed his pride for once in his life. He walked in front of her and glanced over his shoulder.
"Hop on." He said quietly and Nanami looked at him with tear filled eyes.
She consented and climbed onto his back, letting him grab her legs to steady her. Then he started for the stairs and looked back at Gwen.
"I'll stay home from school tomorrow and show you around the house. I'm taking Nanami to a quest room.. She can barely walk."
Nanami rolled her eyes, " I can to."
"Quiet Human." Tomoe spat out and Nanami gripped his shirt btween her fingers. The teen paused and looked at her. His eyes hard but soft at the same time.
Gwen nodded, " Alright, You can carry her to bed but I want you going to school tomorrow. We'll be fine with your dad here."
Tomoe seemed to want to protest but Nanami's head hit his shoulder as exhaustion took over. The fox looked at her and Gwen saw the look of worry cross his features again. He readjusted her daughter and kept moving.
She smiled as Tomoe continued up the stairs; She had a feeling that this was the beginning of something she wasn't planning. It would be awkward for two teens to live with each other; especailly after being friends for years. They were already at that awkward age; but.. She couldn't worry about that right now.
What she had to think of was how to stay away from the man that beat her daughter senseless, and then turned on her.
Tomoe creaked the door open and walked backward to the guest bed, Nanami sighed lightly and unwound her legs from his abdomen, Letting herself fall backwards on the cushion.
The white teen turned to look at her and sighed lighty. He didn't understand..
Why hadn't she told him what was wrong? Did he do somthing to make her not trust him? Or was she just being stubborn?
Tomoe decided it was the latter and draped the comforter over ther sore girl. She was unmoving expect for her chest and her eyes fluttered every once in a while. The teen sighed and turned out the light, Preparing to leave.
He had to get to sleep if he was going to school tomorrow; but when his head hit the pillow? Sleep would not greet him, thats when he realized he was shaking.
His hands were shaking and he shivered at the look on Nanami's face. His best friend...
He swallowed and looked up at the roof, trying to collect his thoughts. He didn't know what to think, but his chest hurt. He felt like someone hit him and shot his family.
Who would have hurt Nanami?
He was a violent person and he would never touch her; she was to innocent and kind. She was kind to him when he didn't deserve it.
So he questioned it again, Who would hurt Nanami?
The Next Day
The bell rang letting Tomoe get up from his class and walk to the outside door, He was in a hurry to be honest. The sooner he got home the better.
Nanami was there..
Tomoe readjusted his school bag and looked around, the sakura were blooming because of the spring season and girls and boys were chatting to themselves about who knows what. To be honest it was lonely.
Not that he hadn't put up with hit before but; When He first met Nanami? She helped him through his classes, or she bugged him to go shopping and eat ice-cream, Now she wans't here and she was at home aching.
The teen ground his teeth in frustration. Never in his entire life had he thought about his friend so much in one day. He woud usualy get a text or a call but that was it.
Right now he could stop thinking about how he wanted to skin whoever hurt her. He couldn't get her out of his mind, not the picture that he saw last night.
She had limped in, Her white nightdress clinging to her from the rain. It had dirt smeared into it and her thigh high stocking were coming down to her ankles. If she wasn't hurt Tomoe would have fought the urge to pull them up.
He had learned that those socks were his enemy. They were always falling down and Nanami was always pulling them up in front of him; not that he looked everytime; but... He was a male. Curiosity was not on his side...
Tomoe paused and bit his lip, cursing at himself and his own thoughts. Here she was hurting at his house and he was thinking about her socks? How stupid and childish of him. He just wanted to make sure she could walk..
The way she was limping was a bad sign and he wondered if she had fallen; but her mother was saying something about a man. He wondered what that meant.
Nanami was the only person who didn't look down on him because of his animal features, His fluffy tail and ears were just something that was a part of him; and somehow Nanami looked past it and claimed he was her friend.
Or as he recalled it..
'Her Bestest F'w'Riend in the whole Wide World!'
Tomoe sighed as he neared his house. He was relieved that Kurama or Mizuki didn't stop to talk to him today; they usualy just talked to Nanami but when she was gone? They would ask him were she was..
Tomoe opened the house door and trudged in, taking off his shoes and throwing his bag in the floor. He walked up stairs and knocked on Nanami's door. Of course he didn't get a response so he walked in and sighed in relief that she was clothed and sleeping.
He furrowed his brow until his father came up behind him and chuckled, " She's okay, She always had been right?"
Tomoe glanced at his father and paused, That was true, but when they were little they took care of each other; some attempts more embarrassing then others.
FlashBack, Tomoe: 8 : Nanami : 7
'STUPIDDD!" Tomoe chimed; trying to get his words to reign last in his argument when the hiccuping Nanami. She pouted and slumped back on her pillow in defeat. The little fox laughed as his tail wagged at his victory. He was over at Nanami's flat today.
Why?
The kid got herself sick while they played in the rain the previous day.
"I can't believe you got sick from playing in water! Humans are so dull." Tomoe snickered as he crossed his arms and sat at the foot of the little girls bed.
Nanami glared at him and tugged at a strand of her brunetter hair, She sneezed and whimpered in pain. The doctor said if she didn't get better she would have to go to the hospital, but Tomoe didn't seem to get it.
"I wanna get better! So Leave!" Nanami kicked Tomoe of the bed and the fox landed on his tail with a thub, He turned to glare at her but paused when he saw she fell asleep.
"Your a weird'o." Tomoe muttered as he stood up and dusted off his now wrinkled clothes, The child looked at his friend and cocked his head to the side.
He didn't have time for sick humans or whatnot. He was going home and then he was going to school. He didn't want to go because people called him cat-boy but it was better then hearing his father make love confessions all day.
His father was a match maker and Tomoe feared if he stayed around to long he would be his fathers next unwanting target.
The little boy sighed as his ears pinned and he looked at Nanami, ' Get well soon; Silly girl." He muttered and let his lip pull out in a depressed pout. He was gonna go home but he didn't want to..
The Next Day
Nanami opened her eyes to see Tomoe run into her room and jump on her bed with rag in his hand. He looked determined and The girl blinked. The fox put the cloth on her head and crossed his arms before sighing loudly.
"Whats this for?" Nanami mumbled as she started to sit up.
Tomoe glared her hard and pushed her back on the pillow. She plopped back and Tomoe crawled up beside her, Opening the blankets. He got in and sat beside her.
"Stay that way; The teacher said sick people die." Tomoe's voice trailed off as his ears plopped over.
Nanami felt herself smile, " Your worried?"
Tomoe suddenly glared at her; his stubbornness leaking through in a puddle, " N-NO!" He fumed and clenched his clawed hands, " Why would I worry for a human?" He stuck out his tongue and Nanami smiled lightly.
She gripped his hand and Tomoe looked at her with wide eyes; They were the eyes she saw before she fell back to sleep. Th ekitsune looked at her and then their hands; he was confused but okay with the situation. He tugged his knees to his chest and glanced at the girl.
"Your Silly Nanami.." He whispered as his eyes fell also.
End Of Flashback
Tomoe looked at Nanami and tensed when he saw her stir; he didn't know if she was going to wake up or not but standing there staring wasn't going to help matters. The kitsune readjusted his school jacket and closed the door; letting himeself roll his eyes. He swore under his breath and started for the main living room.
He was about halfway down the hallway when Tomoe heard his father scream out,
"YOUR NOT WELCOME HERE! GET OUT!"
Tomoe looked down the stairs and let his eyes harden. It was Nanami's deadbeat dad. He HATED Her fathe rbut he kept that to himself because he never wanted to offend Nanami; but now that he was forcing himself into the house he wanted to say something.
"Let me go see my Wife.." The Man slurred out and Tomoe then noticed the Bear bottle in his hand.
Oh god.. He was drunk.
"GET OUT!" Mikage fumed and pointed towards the door.
The man suddenly had an atittude change and hit Mikage square in the jaw. Tomoe gasped and his eyes widened.
No
NO!
Flashes of his dead mother flashed through his mind and The teen ran off the steps towards the unfolding scene. He bent down to look at his father and was relieved when Mikage looked at him and gave him a thumbs up.
Tomoe breathed out and then let his body tense, He turned towards the man and snarled. If this man was drinking and hitting his way through houses, then Tomoe had a guess of what happened to Nanami and her mom.
They were being abused..
"Get out." Tomoe snapped, letting his voice snap like a whip through the air. It even sent a chill down his spine but he didn't care, He let his fox-fire dance on his fingertips, Yes.. His fox-fire. It was one advantage of being a kitsune and putting up with all the teasing. He lit it and glared at the man.
He would never hurt Nanami's father but he sure would scare him.
The man looked at Tomoe's hand and snorted at the teen.
"You think your a man? Pfft," Mr. Momozeno stumbled towards him and yanked Tomoe's school jacket, Staring coldly into the kitsunes eyes, " I'm the man here. You don't know what it means to die!"
The mans words slurred and his grip loosened on Tomoe's uniform. He glared at the man and prepared to aim his fire when The Brunette haired man let his Glass bear bottle come in contact with the side of Tomoe's head.
Tomoe yelped out in pain and shrunk to his knees in shock. Blood dripped down into his hand and he gasped out as it smeared into his white uniform. The man saw what he did and dropped the nozzle of the bottle and took off out the door.
"TOMOE!" Mikage gasped out as he ran to his sons side and yanked his head up.
Blood ran down from a large cut in on his face and Mikage saw some glass sticking out of his skin just barely.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?" Mikage screamed out in fear of his son's safetly.
Tomoe jerked his face away and swallowed, He would not explain it. It wasn't just for His best friend, it was more personal. The whit haired fox reached up and pulled out the glass; wincing loudly as he did so.
The glass wasn't large but Tomoe felt the blood gush down his face.
The kitchen door flew open and Tomoe looked over to see Gwen huddling in the corner in fear. She looked up and saw the foxes face and gasped loudly. She crawled over and sighed.
"You don't need stitches, but I do need to clean it."
Tomoe sighed a bit, He had forgotten that Nanami's mother was a nurse and a doctor in training. He looked at her as she started to clean his wound.
Thats when pounding reached his ears and he paused, He turned his heart to the side and saw Nanami standing on the stairs, She looked mortified. Tomoe knew how that felt all to well.
"TOMOE?" She scqreeched and Tomoe rolled his eyes.
"Its just a scratch. Really.."
He was cut off as Nanami kneeled beside him and whimpered, " I'm sorry; But, Stay away from my dad. All this time and he finaly hurt you to." She shook her head and Tomoe grimaced.
"You should not worry. I am fine." He muttered out annoyed.
Nanami shook her head, " No, Your my Best Friend Tomoe... And he hurt you."
Tomoe sighed and stood up, letting Gwen finish his face. When she was done she went ot clean her hands and Tomoe looked at Nanami with a smirk.
"I am fine, You of all people should know I can handle something like that; you are staying here so don't get ay stupid ideas." He crossed his arms and watched Nanami turn from upset to ticked off.
"DON'T BE SO SEXIST!" She screamed and he rolled his eyes.
"Lower your voice, I cannot take your constant noise." He turned to start cleaning up the glass when Nanami stopped him and Ran her fingers tips over his cut.
"I am sorry."
The fox paused, His ears perking as her fingers tingled against his skin. Her eyes were teary and Tomoe almost gagged. He hated crying women with a passion, Now his best Friend was crying.. And he didn't know to do!
Tomoe sighed and removed her hand from his face.
"I am fine; You are the one that is weak. Go lie down, Your in the way." He looked at her blankly and Nanami instantly fumed.
"IDIOT! I WAS WORRIED! YOUR MY BEST FRIEND!"
"Well Best Friend, Make yourself useful and help pick up this glass." He said matter of factly.
"JERK!"
Tomoe rolled his eyes as they swept up the glass. He glanced at the door and shuddered. That man had better not come home again.. Not yet.
I did not put that much Romance in this chapter because I want to settle their friendship first; but the Next Chapter is soley based on the awkwardness of living with each other and wierd, Overly friendly moments. Bye the way..
What should Tomoe and Nanami's Ship name be? Anybody? I was thinking..
Tommi
Or It could be... T&N?
I don't know.. Any suggestions?