Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Broken ❯ Love is Pain ( Chapter 6 )

Kyou looked up at the sound of someone clearing their throat. He turned his head toward the door, noting as he did so that a lot of time had passed since he'd come in here. The room was darkening quickly as sunset approached. He still held Tohru, though she'd fallen asleep awhile ago and then gotten lost in his own thoughts. Shigure stood in the doorway, his head leaning against the frame and his arms crossed in front of him. The shoulders of the suit he still wore straining a bit from the pose. A single tear strayed down his cheek. "So, it is true?" He spoke into the silence of the room. He crossed the room to where Kyou sat and looked down at Tohru's sleeping form. His eyes taking in the full extent of the damages Akito had wrought for the first time. He visibly twitched at the sight of her face. "I stopped by the Main House today, Hatori told me about this while he was telling me to go ahead and take out the IV tonight and check those stitches in her abdomen." Kyou just gave him an untrusting look. "Kyou, he showed me what to do and told me what to look for. Those cuts on her abdomen are quite deep, we don't need them infected." Kyou nodded, his look saying that he'd really rather Hatori was here to do this, and raised her arm up to Shigure so that he could pull the needle from the vein.

The Dog reached into one of his pockets for some gauze and tape to place over the needle mark. Shigure unbuttoned the three bottom buttons on her pajama top as Kyou moved her in his arms so that he could get to where the stitches were. Though the skin around the stitches was a little red and puffy, they didn't seem to be getting infected. Shigure changed out the bandage there as well. He looked at Kyou even as he reached out a hand and gently brushed her bangs away from her face. "And, what else did Hatori tell you Shigure?" Kyou asked once he'd finished. His gaze locked on Shigure's face. Maybe he'd be able to get the truth from his cousin now. "He told me only that she could be hugged. He offered no explanation of why or how." Shigure returned Kyou's look, his eyes never wavering. Kyou just nodded. He should have known that the older Juunishi would continue the fiction. They had lived within the intrigues of the Sohma family so long that they could never just come out with the truth about anything that might hurt the family. They were, one and all, masters of deception, especially when it came to the family.

An uncomfortable silence fell between the two of them. Kyou broke the eye contact and centered his gaze on Tohru's face. Shigure broke the silence, his voice not betraying his unease. "Anyway, Hatori says that she needs to be up and moving a bit tomorrow. Laying here will do her no good, and whatever has happened to her will only prey on her thoughts if she remains up here with nothing to do but think." Kyou nodded again. He could agree with that. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of voices outside. Kagura and the others were back. A feeling of relief passed through him and he could see the same feeling passing through Shigure. For a brief moment there was something that seemed to pass between them. Maybe it was regret that they couldn't be like other families and share their feelings and thoughts. Maybe it was simply a wish that things could be different for them all. Shigure spoke first. "Perhaps we should go down and look into some dinner." "Probably." was Kyou's only response. Kyou gently laid Tohru back against her pillows. As soon as Shigure turned to go, he swept a soft kiss across her forehead and followed the dog out the door.

They arrived downstairs to see that dinner preparations were already in full swing. Hiro and Kisa were setting the table. Gazing into the kitchen, Shigure and Kyou could see Kagura removing the contents of store bought containers into serving dishes. As she finished each, it got walked to the table by either Haru or Yuki. Kagura turned and noticed the two of them standing off to the side. "Yuki decided it would probably be easier to just pick up something that was already cooked?" She made it into a question. Shigure just shrugged to say it didn't matter to him. Kyou nodded. They must have found Haru and Yuki on the way home. "Probably better than letting him loose in the kitchen." Yuki looked up at the salle, but didn't utter a word. Once dinner was on the table, they all sat down to eat. It was a fairly quiet affair, the only conversation having to do with the passing of food and condiments. Shigure was the first to finish. "I have some work I need to get to. If you need me, I'll be in my office." He rose and went quickly from the room. Once he was gone, there was a near collective breathing out as if the tension of the room had been high while he remained. Dinner continued in near silence, but the mood in the room lightened or so it seemed. Kyou's thoughts turned back to the ones he'd been having upstairs. 'Masters of deception, and we are following in their footsteps.'

Once everyone had finished eating, Kagura spoke. "Ok, Momiji and Haru, you have dish washing and Kisa, Hiro and I will clear the table." She looked at Yuki and Kyou. Her voice lowered to a whisper. "I think you two need to have a talk. Catch each other up on what's happened today. We've heard all of it from you both." Kyou and Yuki gave each other a weighing look. Neither one seemed to be too fond of the idea of being in the other's company alone. Kagura looked at the two of them. "This is hardly the time to worry about old grudges. If you won't do this for me, at least put things aside for her." The two boys looked at Kagura and then at each other and rose from their places and on unspoken, if hostile, agreement grabbed their coats and headed out the door.

They walked in silence as they headed to Yuki's secret base. They hadn't even spoken where they would go. It seemed a given. There wouldn't be any prying eyes or ears there. They stopped when they reached the base, turning to look warily at each other. They seldom entered each other's company voluntarily, and hardly ever for private conversation. Yuki was the first to relax his guard, stepping with an agile grace to a log and sitting down upon it. Kyou followed his lead, turning a near by bucket over and sitting on it's bottom. "So," Kyou spoke into the silence, "Kagura said you have some news." "Well, nothing that is going to be new to you, I'm afraid. Kagura managed to get everything on Tohru's condition from her that I was able to get from listening to "their" conversation. The only thing I know is the plans of our older cousins. They are going to try to find out how Akito managed to forge the link between Tohru and the Juunishi, and if they can they are going to break it. According to Hatori, he thinks that Akito used some shamanistic blood sex ritual." Yuki looked at the Cat. He wished he had the freedom of emotion that played across the Cat's face. "So what are they going to be doing then?" "They are going to try to find out exactly what was done by doing research into the old shamanistic faiths. Then, if they can they are going to try to break the link. Beyond that, they have yet to plan."

"So, what your saying is that all they intend to do is just break the link. They aren't going to make him pay in any way for what he has done." Kyou stated the words rather matter of factly. There wasn't any shock in his voice or in his manner. Yuki's voice held the same tone as he replied "They haven't talked about taking any action against Akito as of yet. I doubt they will. You know how they are, Kyou. If they can, they will work against him quietly and covertly, but never openly." "Kyou we need to talk," he hesitated, "about Tohru." Kyou looked straight into Yuki's face, he swallowed, the motion visible as his throat moved. "What exactly do you mean?" "You know what I mean, the curse if they can't break it. One of the males of the Juunishi is going to have to be with her. We can't allow her to be alone, to never be a mother." "Why do you make it sound like such a horrible thing? You make it sound like being with her would be a punishment." Yuki just looked at him, and sighed. Did the Cat always have to be difficult? Just one conversation this lifetime without an argument would be so nice.

"Kyou, you know that I care for her. I would stand by her side through whatever comes if it were necessary, but, do you really think that I would be what she needs. I am to unemotional, I don't seem to be able to express myself with her, or anyone else for that matter. The others care for her too, but I don't think they care for her in the way we do." Kyou arched an eyebrow at that last. Had he been that transparent. No wonder Akito had known. "You have to be the one Kyou. You have to finally let go and let her in. She's given you so much already, she needs you go give something in return." "So you are valiantly going to step aside and let me throw myself on the sword." Kyou's voice sounded strained. "Have you thought about the fact that in a few short months I am going to be living in a cage? That's hardly a happily ever after existence." "Listen Cat, we have to do something!" "Yes, and we will, but I don't need you sacrificing yourself by handing her graciously to me. You don't have that right. That will be her decision. If she wants me, don't you worry about me jumping at the chance. But I won't be doing it because she has a curse, or because she won't have children. I'll do it because I love her." Kyou's eyes grew wide, and his mouth snapped shut. He hadn't meant to say that last. Yuki gave him a tight smile. "Yes, you will."

Kyou stood quickly nearly falling over the bucket he sat on and stumbled backed a few paces. He was still looking wide eyed at the Rat. His face had paled and something akin to pure fear was masking his face but behind his eyes Yuki could see the thoughts churning. 'How could I have said that? How could I tell him that? Akito will know outside of a day and then where will we be?' Then, without warning he turned away and all but ran from the "base".

Yuki watched him go, not intervening. He sighed sadly. One lone tear slid down his cheek. He nodded his head and bit his lip. This was for the best. Tohru deserved someone that could give her love and support. Someone that was capable of shedding more than a single tear when he lost the most precious thing in his life. He was too cold. Kyou could and did show emotion. The cat also cared for Tohru as much as he did, if not more. He would never have believed that before, but now there was little doubt in his mind as to exactly that. Kyou had come home with Tohru in his arms and his shirt ripped to shreds. That only happened when the vengeful side of him came out. The bracelet held that in check. He'd taken off the bracelet and changed form to be able to carry her home. The Kyou that he had believed Kyou to be would never have done that. Kyou had stayed by her side the whole night. After Hatori had shown up that night, he had taken the welcome chance to get out of that room and away from the emotional pain it was causing him. Kyou had never left upstairs. There was a new respect for the Cat dawning in him that he had never believed he would feel. He rubbed a tired hand across his brow and rose from his seat, beginning the trek back to the Shigure's at a leisurely pace. He only hoped that he never regretted everything he'd said today and that Kyou was the person that he believed he was finally beginning to see.

Kyou made his way back to the house quickly. The turn the conversation with the Mouse had taken hadn't done anything for his nerves. He entered the house and walked passed his cousins, who were watching a movie, and up the stairs. He acknowledged their greetings with a nod. He walked to his room and opened the door before thinking that he should probably check on Tohru before he headed up to the roof. Closing his door, he turned the other direction and went down the hall to her room. He tapped lightly and opened the door, hoping that if she were asleep, he hadn't wakened her. She was standing at her window looking out into the darkness. The moonlight pouring through her window gave her an otherworldly quality and hid the bruising that marred her countenance. She looked like an earthbound angel as she stared into the night. She had her hands pressed to the glass with her head just touching the glass. She showed no evidence that she knew he was there. He stepped quietly inside and shut the door behind him.

Tohru looked out into the night. The coolness of the window helped her headache. Her body hurt, her heart hurt more. She wanted to run and hide more than she'd ever wanted to do anything. Maybe if she just went away, this would all be over with. Maybe, she could get Hatori to erase everything. She could forget the Sohmas forever. That thought was followed by others unbidden. Kyou holding her in his embrace. A flash of memory of walking through the forest with Kyou's voice telling her to hold on, but the vengeful cat holding her in his arms. Momiji laughing. Kisa's hugs. Fixing the door with Kagura. Yuki giving her the ribbon she wore. Haru so sad when Rin left him. Only to be brought back to Kyou, his touch, his words. "I'm here for you, Tohru. I will always be here for you, until the day I die."

Never. Akito would not break her. He would not pull her love from those that she cared the most about, no matter how much pain there was.
"So you want to know this family, love this family. I have a way to make that happen. Yes, let's see how you would deal with a curse of your own." Her love was being tested, and this was a test she had to pass. She lifted her head to look up at the stars overhead. No matter what happened, she would love them all forever. If she had to be alone all her life, so be it. She loved this family more than life itself. They had given her a home and their hearts. She would never, ever betray them or their love. She just hoped that they would all feel the same and that the curse Akito had lain upon her didn't end up just tearing them all apart.

Finally she just could not hold the tears back any longer. She moved one hand from the window to her abdomen. The words carved into her, flitting through her memory. "Cursed of Sohma." Her fingers brushed the words through the material of her pajamas and the memory of the pain of it's creation overcame her bringing her to her knees. She could never go back, never forget. It was too late for all that…she'd been marked for life.

She'd lain in a daze. The second rape had been far more brutal than the first. In the beginning, she'd tried fighting back and he'd twisted her arm so hard that they'd both heard the bones as they popped in half. Then he'd hit her in the ribs. Her head kept swimming, conciousness faded in and out. She had long ago forgotten the rule about not screaming, and so had he apparently, because it seemed he was enjoying them now. Every scream of pain seem to give him a renewed strength. He was still inside of her, rivulets of his sweat falling onto her body. He was chanting as he pumped in and out of her. With half closed eyes she'd watched him dip those claws into a bowl of red liquid. He paused long enough to smile at her evilly. "This liquid will aggravate the tissues and make the scarring worse. For as long as you live you will carry the Sohma family name on your body for all the world to read!" She bit down hard when he started carving the Kanji into her, the chant growing more heated with every mark he made. Finally, she simply fainted from the pain. She awoke in time to see him spilling his seed onto her abdomen and combining it with the Kanji and her own crimson blood.

She slid to the floor as the memories faded only to feel a pair of strong arms wrap around her. "Tohru, I'm here." Tohru simply nodded as she reached for him, knowing that what she needed more than anything right now was his embrace.