6. Kissing, The Animal Way
Tomoe moaned and tossed on his bed in a flurry of hate, worry and tirdness. In a nut shell he couldn't sleep much at all. All he could think of was Gwen and how much her Husband beat her. He rememebered the man from when he and Nanami were younger. He was never around and when he was, he was drinking.
The child had hated it and stayed away; because...
He was scared because of that bottle and its contents. He lifted his hand and fingered a shoulder slightly. A light scar proving that what happened so long ago existed and played with his head and made him hate everything about it.
If he pressed on it to hard it would hurt right away, Something that he would have to live with forever; But he also had to live with the nightmares of his mothers lifeless body and her bleeding figure.
The teen shuddered and sat up in his bed, trying to direct his thoughts to other things; He flicked the light on. Tomoe sat there and pulled his knees to his chest, Thinking about his conversation with Nanami today.
It mostly consisted of kissing and what type of person he would date. He had replyed with the simple shrug.
The fox hadn't thought about it really. Liking someone like that? Dating someone... He was eighteen and was still in the line of never having a first kiss. Mizuki had his when he was fourteen and Kurama when he was fifthteen. Once they had theirs they had decided that Tomoe was the perfect target to tease since his lips were still not grazed by a womans' loving touch.
Tomoe Rolled his eyes and let his tail curl around him, He was tired but sleep hated him right now. He had nightmares of the viuals that played through his head all day.
This was the side of him that Nanami never saw.
Never.
Because his problems were not meant to weigh her down; She was care free and innocent in his eyes, While he was scared by life in the most hateful way possible.
Now she was going through the same thing and he didn't know what to do. She was always for him but now he had no idea how to help her. They told each other everything but she didn't tell him this;
But he couldn't blame her, He never told her about how his mother died.
The teens hand slipped to his shoulder again; he pressed down and let the pain gush through his body. He grimaced and stopped before he couldn't take it anymore.
Before the memories came back to haunt him.
He groaned and sighed, Looking at his clock he nearly doubled over at the time, Two O'clock in the morning. Great... He still had a while before school in the morning.
Tomoe prepared to plop back into his sleeping position when his door was opened. He blinked as Nanami poked her head in and rubbed her eyes, sleepily.
"Tomoe?"
The foxes ears perked in surprise, " Why are you up? Go back to bed Nanami." His voice came out with a harsh tone but also full of worry.
Why was she up at this time of night? She needed her rest, More than he did actually.
"I should ask you that question, " She muttered and walked to his bed. She sat down and then laid down, stairing at the ceiling, " Your up too."
Tomoe glared but then turned his harsh look to a wall, " Forget it; I am fine."
She propped her head in her hands and looked at him slightly, " Are you not tired?"
Tomoe groaned and plopped down beside her on the bed, Letting his back hit the comforter and his tail to curl about his body. His ears flattened a bit as he yawned behind his hand and looked at the girl.
"Why are you up?" He mumbled quietly.
She shrugged her shoulders, " I saw your light on under your door; I got up for some water and I thought I would check on you."
Tomoe's ears twitched but he remained quiet, She didn't have to be worried about him. It was her that was to worried over at the time. The teen lowered his hand from his stomach to his side and accidently let his hand brush causlly over Nanami's.
He froze and quickly retracted it. He turned his head to look at her, His ears slowly bending to level with his head. His tail flicked lightly and then laid against the bed.
Why did he feel nervous right now?
His bangs feel from out of his eyesight as he looked at the girl; Nanami looked at him and smiled lightly.
It was quiet and Tomoe knew that wasn't right, They were both, basically half asleep. Their eyes drooping but managing to stay open for a short time and then blinking with the heavy sense of lack of sleep.
Tomoe started to feel strange, They had been looking at each other for a while and he felt his breath leave his chest in a fast fleeting sense. He swallowed and nearly shuddered when their faces leaned in towards each other.
His hand entwined with hers and he felt his heart nearly stop with anticipation; For what he didn't know. He propped his body up in his elbow and he paused when he looked down at Nanami in their laying position.
His hair slipped a bit and laid around his face; framing it perfectly. An owl hooted outside his window but he couldn't seem to hear it at the time. His head was screaming at him.
What was his best Friend doing?
His chest hurt as he grasped her hand tighter and brought to her chest, Still in his enclosed hand. His body pressed against hers as his head dipped slowly,
He didn't really understand what he was doing himself.
Maybe this was one of those perverted dreams that teenagers had; but why was Nanami the main character in it? He would have whimpered as his tail flattened and his ears flopped.
Nanami looked up at him, Wide eyed and confused. She looked frightened but also curious. He didn't get it, Why was his heart pounding because of her? She even had a few bruises on her face, But..
He swallowed and leaned down further, All he could think of was what he was doing...
He felt his heart pound as he lips brushed, just barely, over Nanami's. It was a soft kiss, Since it was his first time even doing this. His lips pulled slightly at hers, but just soft enough to be innocent. It was his first kiss too, after all.. To make it a memory, Was that what he wanted? He bit down on her lip, Sucking a bit harder by accident; Their hot breaths were mingling and Tomoe felt Nanami's hands slip to his ears.. Her fingers brushed against them and he froze, She continued to pet his ears with long strokes and his heart started to pound, uncontrollably. What...!?
He pulled away quickly and sat up, his face red and burning to an unknown heat. She had to stop touching his ears like that, Especially if they were kissing...
He had told her many times that she couldn't do that. It was his weak point and he wanted someone he liked to pet them.. It was something personal.
It seemed to click rather quickly in Tomoe's head what had happened though; He let go of Nanami's hand and looked away, His breath turning heavy. He tired to hide that fact though..
"You should get your water." He spat out quickly; trying to figure out what he had just done. Nanami laid there for a few minutes but then turned crimson. Her eyes were wide but she nodded.
"Right!" She scurried off the bed and then paused at the door, " Tomoe?"
He paused and slowly looked at her, " W-What?" His voice came out in a whimper and Nanami looked at him,
"I know you've been worried, And I would like to say.. Thank you for taking care of me. You even gave me my first kiss to cheer me up. Your The Best Friend I have!" Her smile seemed forced, As if she was trying to convince herself that; but soon it turned genuine and Tomoe guessed she succeeded.
Tomoe looked at her, His eyes wide with shock. That was so NOT why he kissed her. He swallowed but noticed his mouth being really dry from all the pessure.
"You mean your Bestest F'w'riend In the Whole wide world?" He teased lightly, trying to get his head back into the game. Apparentely it worked because Nanami giggled and stuck out her tongue.
He stared at her tongue and then flushed, What the CRAP!?
He looked away; feeling like the world'd biggest pervert, He did not kiss her to cheer her up. It was more like a , 'Heat of the Moment, ' Type thing. He swallowed embarrassed that his hormons leaked out and dared to come close to Nanami.
Its not like they made-out or anything, it was just..
His first kiss.
"I'm going to bed, I have to go to the lawyers with my mom tomorrow. It will take a year of seperation before mom can divorce dad; but.. I know my Best Friend will never let me go homeless!" She smiled and walked out leaving Tomoe to reflect on his actions.
That should have never happened, Because now?
Thats all he could think about,
And he hated it. This was his best friend, He was protecting her from her drunkard father and now they were kissing...
Tomoe swore and laid down, Letting his body bounce as it hit the mattress. He vowed that would never happen again, or at least he hoped it didn't. He lifted his hands and touched his ears, causing a blush to casscade down his neck and burn the backs on his ears. His tail went limp as his stomach turned..
He wasn't feeling so well. At least not after that.
School, The Next Day..
Tomoe swore and yanked his bag off his desk, letting some of the contents fall of the floor at his feet. He moaned and bent down, picking up all his English books and Studies in the art of being a god papers.
His father was teaching him all he knew so he was studing even harder than usual. Prayer writing was his class now and he had to admit that it was a pain in the butt.
He shoved the papers in his bag ( After straightening them and making them neat again. Tomoe's a clean freak. ) When he felt someone hit his head with a book. He growled and turned to see Mizuki laughing along with Kurama.
Mizuki held the book but when he saw Tomoes look he shoved it at Kurama who grabbed it in confusion.
'What?" Tomoe said with venom and both of the teens paused.
Kurama wad the first to speak as he gave the book back to Mizuki who was shaking in the corner, " Whats your problem fox?"
Tomoe rolled his eyes, His fox ears flicking about; causing fan girls to swoon as they left the classroom.
"I did not sleep well. Theres to much homework." He mumbled out and the Tengu sighed.
"Thats what you get for having a god as a father."
Tomoe glared at him but then huffed out a breath and turned back to his bag. Mizuki and Kurama looked at each other in shock and then back at Tomoe. He opened his bag and started to look for his book when Mizuki piped up.
"Your acting weird Tomoe-Kun."
Kurama nodded, " Its feels like your more menacing and yet, You won't fight back."
Mizuki's eyes sparkled as a look of complete innocence took over his petite face, He raised his hand as if in class and motioned towards the fox.
"His ears are bent; his tail is limp, And His face is distored and on occasion, red."
Kurama hummed in response and looked at his Friend/Enemy, " I see that too. Is something bothering you?"
Tomoe shot them a ,'Shut up or I'll tear your guts out, ' Look as he found his book and swiped a piece of hair out of his eyes.
"Its nothing, I am tired. That is all."
Mizuki started to panic , " OH NO! HE'S BROKEN! HOW DO WE TEASE HIM NOW!?"
Kurama 'Hpmh'd' and then smirked slowly. Letting his evil side shine through with new colors, ' If You ask me, I think something personal happened that he doesn't want to talk about. Its as if Someone touched his ears." He laughed at the stupid idea but then paused as Tomoe stiffened. His hand sclenched his book and his claws bared into its cover, confirming that what the Tengu said was pretty close.
"Really?" Kurama asked in shock.
" OH!" Mizuki giggled, totally oblivous to their body language, " When A kitsunes ears are touched they loose all sense of control, Its like Kissing passionatly in animal form, right? Or was it something else.. I can't remember. To make it worse would be like kissing and Haveing their ears touched at the same time.. Its like kissing in two ways."
Tomoe slammed his book closed and Mizuki stopped talking to look at him. The fox shoved his book in his bag and quickly put it on his shoulder, Kurama was shocked but then smirked slightly.
"Who fondled you ears, may I ask?"
He just had to use the word, 'Fondle.' Tomoe felt his ears flop and he growled loudly.
Tomoe glared at him , His Blue foxfire danced on his finger tips and Mizuki gulped. His eyes were challenging him to say anything else.
"Tomoe-kun is embarrassed.." Mizuki Muttered making Tomoe snarl his lip and stomp past him.
The classroom door slammed as he left and Mizuki and Kurama stood there for a moment. Kurama had this feeling but Mizuki was clueless. He smiled like a child and said he wanted Sake. Thats when The tengu reminded him he wasn't at the legal drinking age. The snake sulked.
He hated being reminded he was only sixteen. Why did Tomoe have to be older than him? But then again, Tomoe wasn't old enough to hold a glass either so he was okay.
But Mizuki had a feeling that Tomoe would never want to hold a glass. Not after what happened to his mother. Both Kurama and Him knew about it; Nanami didn't.
The only reason they knew was because they had come to the hospital.. Nanami wasn't apart of their little gang yet at the time. That was the first time Kurama and Mizuki ever saw Tomoe scream.
The doctors had to calm him down but the fox only screamed and cried, begging for someone that would never open her eyes again. Mikage had come and even though he was upset, He held Tomoe and rocked him back and forth. Trying his best to get rid of the terrible memories that would haunt the little boy for the rest of his life.
Mizuki shuttered, He wouldn't know what he would do if his mother died; Not like that.
Kurama and Mizuki vowed that they would be Tomoe's friends from then on. Kurama came from an abusive family while Mizuki was adopted as a child. Tomoe was the one that was birthed to his father.
His match-making, Weird'o of a father.
Kurama started to chuckle and Mizuki looked at him confused, Still not getting what was so funny.
Tomoe looked in the bathroom mirror and touched his ears, Watching them flick and flatten. He chewed his lip and looked away from his image, He wouldn't think about it. At least she didn't touch his tail... He shuddered and gripped his tail protectively.
Nanami was his best friend and she was getting abused. He didn't want that for her... He sighed but then froze when his name was called over the intercom.
He furrowed his brow but walked to the principals office, When he got there he knocked and was greeted by Mizuki's mom.
"Is there something wrong?" He muttered but the woman only smiled,
"No, Your dad just wanted to pick you up early today. He says he wants to talk to you about something personal."
Tomoe froze...
Did his dad find out about..About...
About That kiss?