Fruits Basket Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Neko's Healing ❯ Understandings ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.

 

I'm nearly finished writing this--I'm up past chapter 20, and unless something really unexpected pops up, it should get wrapped up in chapter 21.

 

--Whoops, make that chapter 22...Ryoga just butted in and shanghaied a chapter on me! Grrrr...dang Lost Boy, showing up out of nowhere and getting pushy...! Heh. I'll fix him; I'm giving him a new girlfriend! <WEG!>

 

I've only been posting one chapter a week because 1) if I get stuck, you won't have to wait three months for an update; 2) I want this sucker as close to “perfect” as possible, and typos hide in the darnedest places, until I've given `em some time to sit and fester; and 3) I've already had to jump back several chapters and add things, as well as moving other bits around, as I get near the ending--and I'd rather not have to re-post any chapters!

 

Enjoy!

 

7 - Understandings

 

Kazuma, Shigure, and Tohru watched in amazement as Kyo stared intently at Yuki until the medicine began to take effect, starting to ease the nezumi's breathing. The neko's concern was so intense, and so out of character, they didn't know what to make of it. Even Tohru wasn't certain if she should be overjoyed at this obvious sign that Kyo did care about his cousin's welfare, or if she should be worried about it!

 

Kazuma, having long suspected that the enmity between the two wasn't entirely real--at least not on his son's side--looked very thoughtful, watching Kyo intently for the boy's every faintest reaction. He'd known Kyo had been spying on Hatori and he when they'd been talking about Yuki's asthma and martial arts training, all those years ago. Having his new child just seemingly out of the blue start attacking the nezumi the very next day, had made him suspicious.

 

Especially after those questions about asthma and training that Kyo had asked, all within a couple hours of Hatori's leaving! The boy never had seemed much on subtlety in speech, at least not back then.

 

The karate master had been told that Hatori had taken both boys' memories of their friendship away...but he'd quickly started to suspect that maybe it hadn't worked completely, at least not on Kyo. He hadn't told anyone his suspicions, not wanting something worse to happen to his new son...especially as the boy had so quickly grown his own special place in his “Shisho's” heart. An arrangement that had started from a sense of guilt on Kazuma's part, for one single act of refusal towards his grandfather when he was himself still a small child, had led to a strong emotional bonding.

 

He couldn't love Kyo more if the boy was his own flesh and blood son.

 

The boy would never say or do anything to confirm his foster-father's suspicions, but Kazuma knew him too well. Raising Kyo had required a lot of careful observation; the boy wouldn't admit to anything he considered a weakness, even serious illness. Kazuma had learned over time, with quite a bit of effort, to interpret even the smallest nuances of his son's body language--even as Kyo had learned to interpret his, much to his occasional chagrin...

 

The karate master had caught fleeting expressions on the neko's face, when Kyo thought there was no one around who could see him, that gave the lie to his so-frequently avowed hatred for the nezumi. Kazuma would concede that anger was there--but that could well be more at the circumstances that put Kyo at odds with his once best friend, than at Yuki himself. It was certain that Akito wanted the neko and the nezumi at odds, at any cost; and even Kyo wasn't strong enough to go against the Clan Head's wishes.

 

Maybe especially Kyo, the outcast.

 

When hearing that Yuki was hurt, a brief look of pain would usually flicker across Kyo's face. When learning that Yuki had been allowed away from the Honke on any sort of outing, and most especially when he was allowed to go live with Shigure--Kyo had looked guardedly pleased. Kazuma had caught sight of a real, relieved smile on his son's face the evening he learned of that bit of good fortune.

 

After fighting with Yuki, once he thought he was alone, Kyo would sometimes have a look of disgusted self-loathing that Kazuma truly did not believe was because the neko had once more lost to the nezumi. Kazuma had personally trained both of the boys; he, of all people, knew the fighting ability of each--and who was clearly and without any doubt better at the martial arts.

 

And that better martial artist was not, and had never been, Sohma Yuki. The karate master had suspected for a couple years that his son was now holding back against even him. If Kyo ever fought Yuki seriously, Kazuma was sure the nezumi wouldn't know what hit him.

 

Kazuma had actually seen Kyo `fighting' Yuki only once; Kyo was usually very careful to not start anything where his Shisho could see. Kazuma had watched in surprise from his impromptu place of concealment behind some trees that screened the path he'd been walking on, as a twelve-year-old Kyo performed some rather amusing moves in order to make Yuki think he was winning. There had been no doubt, in the eyes of an experienced martial artist of Kazuma's caliber, about what Kyo was doing.

 

Kazuma had suddenly realized that when Kyo felt it was actually warranted, that boy could likely be more subtle than even the devious Shigure! He'd kept an even closer eye on Kyo after that, looking for other hints of behaviors that might not be completely genuine; but the karate master had only seen more of what he'd taken as confirmation that Kyo was trying to help Yuki, as much as he could get away with...while pushing away anyone else who might want to make friends with the Neko no Jyuunishi.

 

Remembering his own grandfather's fate, and other hints that Akito and Kyo had both dropped at times when their guards were down, it hadn't taken much for him to realize that Akito was planning on locking his son up--and Kyo knew it; and most likely when it was supposed to happen. The boy wouldn't want anyone to mourn for him, or risk themselves in what he would think was a fruitless effort to save him. Kyo's heart was bigger than anyone else's that Kazuma had ever known, for all Kyo took great pains to hide it.

 

So; the boy had apparently chosen to go quietly into the cage, not allowing anyone else close to him if he could stop it. Not even letting his former best friend know that Kyo was still helping him, all that he could.

 

Then, along came Honda Tohru. That girl had gotten right past his boy's defenses, and gone straight into his heart. It was obvious to anyone who'd taken the time to get to know Kyo; and even some who hadn't. The boy only seemed to apply his subtlety to helping others, not to just helping himself. He seemed to really believe that he, as the Neko no Jyuunishi, wasn't worth the effort...

 

-.-.-.-

 

While Kazuma buried his present concern in reminiscence, Tohru kept her hands clasped in front of her, trying not to wring them with worry as she stared at the two boys; while at the same time, being rather wistfully pleased at Kyo-kun's behavior. It looked like her dream of the neko and the nezumi becoming friends wasn't so far-fetched, after all! Oh, Mom, isn't it wonderful?! Kyo-kun obviously does care about Sohma-kun, at least a bit!

 

The telling moment would come when Sohma-kun woke; would he still act so cold towards Kyo-kun? And would Kyo-kun then go back to his usual angry touchiness around Sohma-kun? That would make her feel sad. She just knew those two could be great friends, if they let themselves be!

 

She wondered why Kyo-kun was always so intent on being angry. She knew it just couldn't be his natural temperament; she'd seen beyond it enough times, to the overly caring person he was at heart. She thought Kyo-kun could be quite sweet, at times, in his blunt way.

 

You always knew exactly where you stood with Kyo-kun. He wouldn't smile and pretend happiness if he was upset with you; and he wouldn't use a lot of flowery, meaningless phrases when a couple of blunt words would do. He might be quick to snap, and sound angry; but Tohru had quickly learned to tell when it basically just sound, with no real fury behind it.

 

Kyo-kun was just so frustrated with people who beat around the bush, and wouldn't admit the truth about their own feelings or actions... He expressed his feelings; and it was over and done with, nothing left to fester. The only grudge she'd seen him appear to keep was the one against Sohma-kun, and she'd had a feeling for a long time that there was something about that situation that no one had told her.

 

She was afraid Akito-san was involved in that, somehow...she truly hoped not; but she feared it was so. She couldn't imagine how scared Akito-san must be, knowing he lived only to die for his family... That fear must be why he--did some of the things he did, to them; why he was so cruel, sometimes.

 

Her mother had told her about people who had mental illnesses, also--sometimes, those people really couldn't help their awful behavior. Maybe the curse was like having one of those illnesses, for Akito-san. So maybe--if the curse was ever broken, Akito-san could be the person he could have been, without that terrible fate hanging over his head for his entire life.

 

Tohru wished she could be more practical, like Kyo-kun; but it just wasn't in her nature. She so wanted everyone around her to be happy, she just couldn't force herself to be selfish enough to show sadness, making them sad too; not when she could smile instead. Not when her smiles seemed to cause everyone around her to feel happy! So, she'd continue to smile, and act cheerful; and so do what she could to make life a little better, for the people she cared about.

 

Her eyes darted back to Sohma-kun as she suddenly realized she'd been obsessing over the neko, again, and not even thinking about how Sohma-kun was doing. Her eyes watered a bit and she swallowed hard at a lump in her throat, feeling bad that she'd had so little concern for Sohma-kun's welfare. He was in the middle of a really bad asthma attack--people could die from those! What kind of friend was she, to ignore his distress like that?! He had certainly shown great concern for her well-being in the past! She dropped to her knees at the end of the couch, near Sohma-kun's head, hands clasped in front of her mouth.

 

Before she could work herself into a frenzy of remorse and self-chastisement, Kyo-kun glanced over and caught her eyes for a brief moment. He wore a faintly disgusted scowl as he shook his head at her, his brows drawing down a bit; then he went back to staring at his still-wheezing cousin. He didn't say a word, didn't even growl at her; but Tohru understood what he wanted to tell her, just the same.

 

Her eyes went wide and she sat up straight, one hand covering her mouth. She abruptly closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath, resting fisted hands in her lap. She mustn't panic--that wouldn't help Sohma-kun at all! Kyo-kun was always telling her to calm down, to not get panicked over the littlest things; and right now, Sohma-kun needed her to be calm as she could be! When his medicine worked--and it would work!--he might need something, and she'd just have to be ready to get it!

 

Within her mind, Tohru pumped one fist in the air, proclaiming to the world her readiness to do anything Sohma-kun needed her to do when he woke. A feeling of readiness flooded through her, calming her taught nerves and loosening the overly tense muscles in her back and neck.

 

Luckily, she managed to keep these thoughts to herself, for a change. Maybe because she knew Kyo-kun would be bothered by such an emotional display; or because she didn't want to disturb Sohma-kun. Whatever the reason, when she opened her eyes again, that tinge of impending hysteria was gone, replaced with simple worry.

 

A quick glance at Kyo-kun's expression, concerned yet calm, and Tohru slumped a bit against the couch, a sense of relief now flooding her body. She trusted Kyo-kun would have been acting much more concerned, if Sohma-kun was still in danger. If his expression went back to its usual glower, that would likely mean Sohma-kun was waking up, and was all better!

 

So Tohru settled herself comfortably on her knees by Sohma-kun's head, laced fingers just barely resting on the edge of the couch at his shoulder, joining Kyo-kun in staring intently at Sohma-kun's face.

 

-.-.-.-

 

Shigure was watching in amusement from the other end of the couch as Kyo somehow managed to snap Tohru out of an impending panic-attack and reassure her, all with just a rather grouchy-looking glance. He wasn't certain if it was a tribute to Kyo's knowledge of Tohru, or her understanding of the neko--he just knew there was no one else that could settle their precious, but flighty little flower faster than the neko. There was a connection between the two of them, without a doubt. The inu would have thought that the girl would have been driven away by the boy's fiery temper...but apparently she'd seen something about him that his own family had most willfully missed.

 

Though it seemed that there might just be a good bit more than even he'd suspected, that they had missed about Kyo. The boys' explanations should tell him if that was so.

 

The inu went back to his study of Kyo's profile, with an outwardly bemused expression. Inside, he was a seething mass of curiosity, confusion, wonder--and flat-out worry. The inu always wanted to know everything that was going on around him; if he didn't know about something, it might interfere with his carefully planned manipulations, after all. And there was apparently something going on between Kyo and Yuki that he had never even suspected, not once their memories of their friendship had been taken from them.

 

How would that affect his machinations, in his search for a cure for their family's curse? Would it help or hinder? Not that he'd truly gotten very far towards real results, even after all his efforts...

 

Perhaps--the neko had some of his answers, if he knew how to properly ask.

 

-.-.-.-

 

Yuki came to himself about ten minutes after breathing in his medicine. His eyes slowly focused on the ceiling, and his mind noted the odd sensation of someone holding his hand in a firm, calloused grip. He blinked, trying to raise his head, and coughed briefly, grimacing at the too-familiar feeling of weakness in his muscles. He was relieved that his lungs were now feeling loose enough that coughing didn't lock them up, so he couldn't breathe at all.

 

A wiry, strong arm slid behind his shoulders and gently lifted him to sit upright, staying in place once he was up. Confused for a moment, unable to remember where he was or what had happened, Yuki glanced over into unexpected, and highly concerned red eyes.

 

The nezumi started. Then memory rushed in, and he slapped one hand over his heart; hanging his head, closing his eyes, and sighing in relief. He shook his head to chase the last of the post-attack cobwebs from his mind, then looked back up at the kneeling Kyo, blinking against weariness.

 

“I'm all right now.” It wasn't exactly a lie; he was only more tired than he'd been in a very long time. He only needed a few hours of sleep, and he'd be fine. Say...twenty-four, at least...

 

The neko nodded dubiously, but didn't remove his supporting arm. Yuki sighed, and surprised everyone in the room by slumping against Kyo, resting his head on the neko's shoulder and closing his eyes, without an apparent second thought. He was exhausted, after all; the asthma attack, alone would have been enough to put him in bed for a day; never mind all of the other major shocks he'd had! He knew, beyond all doubting, that he could trust the neko, no matter what words might come out of Kyo's mouth.

 

Besides--by the tension in the arm and shoulder supporting him, Kyo's face must be absolutely priceless. Yuki couldn't help a small grin as he imagined it, and wished he wasn't feeling too tired to bother to look up.

 

Suddenly remembering his new-found determination to save Kyo from the fate Akito wished for him, a surge of adrenaline washed through him, pushing the tiredness off for at least a little while. Yuki's eyes shot open and he sat straight up, looking about for Shigure; finding the inu sitting on the couch at his feet, as Kyo dropped his suddenly unneeded arm to lean with it braced on the couch.

 

The nezumi glared at Shigure, pursing his mouth as he decided if he was going to bother to try and convince the inu, before brow-beating him into agreeing to help them. Maybe he should just go ahead and soften that hentai up first, with a few good throws...

 

Shigure's mysterious smile faded to outright nervousness as Yuki's expression went glacial--but with that peculiar spark in his violet-gray eyes that usually led to Kyo receiving a beating. Shigure somehow didn't think it was the neko targeted for pain, just then.

 

“Sohma-kun! Are you feeling better now? Do you need anything?”

 

Tohru's anxious voice made Yuki start and turn around, to see the distress on her face. He sighed, feeling a stab of self-recrimination for having worried her. His voice was soft as normal as he assured her, “I'm all right now, Honda-san.”

 

Inspiration hit; Yuki didn't want her to overhear his talk with Shigure, after all--there was no way Kyo had told her about what Akito intended to do to the neko after graduation...and Yuki was well aware there was no way in hell Kyo would want her to know; not if he could help it. The nezumi agreed; Honda-san would only worry, and there was nothing she could really do to help Kyo.

 

“Could you please get me a cup of tea? And maybe something to eat?” He smiled warmly at her, watching her brown eyes light up her entire face as she smiled back, before leaving in a flurry for the kitchen. Violet-gray eyes locked back on Shigure like laser sights as soon as she was out of hearing range.

 

“Shigure. Do you know what Akito has planned for Kyo?”

 

The neko tensed, head snapping around to stare at Yuki's profile. “Yuki...!”

 

Violet-gray eyes turned to red, snapping with determination. Kyo visibly swallowed and drew back a bit in surprise as the nezumi said, fiercely, “He can help us. He will help us! I. Will. Not. Let. It. Happen!!”

 

Kyo glanced at the curious Shigure, who was staring at them in fascination; then back at Yuki. Indecision was clear on his expressive face. Then he started, eyes going blank for a moment, and looked back and up at his Shisho--who was standing right behind him. Yuki's breath caught for a second, just then realizing the silent Kazuma was even there.

 

The karate master, curious as Shigure, was watching calmly, questions clear in his serious charcoal eyes. He met Kyo's suddenly sickly gaze, cocking his head to the side with a quizzical look. Seeing the blood suddenly drain from his foster-son's face, Kazuma softly prodded, “Kyo? What is Yuki talking about?”

 

Kyo winced, turning his face down and away, hiding his eyes behind shadows and orange hair. Yuki glanced back and forth between the two of them, waiting for Kyo to say something...suspecting Kazuma had no idea what Akito had planned. When it became obvious the neko was too tongue-tied to even try to explain, determinedly keeping his face averted from everyone, Yuki sighed softly, looking down to gather his thoughts.

 

He could hardly blame Kyo for not wanting to tell the closest thing he had to a real father, that he was soon going to be locked away from all human contact, but for their sadistic Clan Head. What could Kazuma do to change that?! What would he do, that wouldn't end with the man being harmed in some way? Akito was not the forgiving type; if Kazuma went against the Clan Head, he would be punished!

 

“Kazuma-sensei--” Violet-gray eyes met charcoal that were grave as can be, but with a spark of concern growing in them. “Do you know what Akito has planned for Kyo, after graduation?”

 

Kazuma's eyes were quickly changing from curious, to worried, though they still kept their perpetual calm. His gaze flickered to Kyo, then back to Yuki. There was a spark of quickly dawning dread in his eyes; he must suspect something, at least. “...No. I've heard of no special plans for him, from Akito... What is going on?” Kazuma locked his eyes on what he could see of his foster son's averted face, waiting. Yuki drew in a shaky breath, trying to decide how to break the news to the karate master.

 

“I'm gonna be locked up. The day I graduate.”

 

The neko's quiet voice had no inflection at all. Kazuma's face showed shock for a brief moment, before he quickly schooled his expression again. His breathing had sped up, though.

 

Shigure's face showed no trace of shock. Yuki took that to mean he had known all about it already, and nearly frowned at him in anger...except, the inu's expression showed a deep sadness, as he gazed at Kyo. Yuki had never seen that kind of look on the hentai inu's face before. It went too deep in the dark eyes for it to be faked.

 

When he felt eyes on him, Shigure glanced over at Yuki, and promptly tried to cover the unusual expression with his normal smarmy smirk. The nezumi stared back at him, his own expression troubled instead of angry. Shigure's smirk faltered; he dropped his eyes and looked away, as it slipped completely off his face.

 

“Kyo. What do you mean--locked up...?” Kazuma may have gotten his face under control, but his eyes clearly gave away his trepidation. His grandfather had been Neko-cursed before Kyo, after all... Was his foster son truly going to have to suffer his grandfather's fate?!

 

Kyo sighed, hanging his head farther before straightening his shoulders, taking a deep breath, and turning to squarely face his foster-father. Anxious red eyes met worried charcoal; Kyo twitched, like he was about to turn away again, before catching himself and forcing his eyes to stay on his Shisho's. His voice only wavered a bit when he said, “It's been set since--M-Mom died.” His eyes flickered briefly with emotion, then he regained his self-control. “When I graduate high school--I'm to be locked up. In the Neko's House. Just...just like Kenji-neko was.”

 

Kazuma's control over his expression wavered as he slowly sank down to kneel right by Kyo, his eyes never leaving his son's. “...what...!”

 

Kyo looked down for a moment, then back up. He swallowed, slanting his eyes over to Yuki, then back. “I--uhm...” He took a deep breath, obviously steadying himself. He swallowed hard and said to his Shisho, “He never held it against you, you know. --That you didn't take the candy.”

 

Shigure's eyebrows rose as Kazuma started and gasped, staring at Kyo like the boy had grown another head. The inu's curiosity wall fully piqued now!

 

“How--! How can you know about that?! I've never told anyone...!”

 

-.-.-.-

 

Hey--this one's getting to be really fun to write! Lotsa deep delving into characters' heads...::wiping sweat and `rock-dust' off forehead, then grabbing the figurative pickaxe to swing it into the next character's brain-pan::

 

::suddenly remembers last time raising the pickaxe...one foot screams in terror; now delicately placing pickaxe on the ground and backing away, sheepishly reassuring the poor throbbing foot that it's in no danger any more...::