Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Broken ❯ Restless Dreams ( Chapter 8 )

No snappy lines this time... I don't own anything here except the idea behind the story.

Broken ~Chapter 8 ~ Restless Dreams

Nocturnem's Koneko

A scream pierced the night bringing Kyou to his feet before he'd even been aware he was moving. It was only when he found himself at his bedroom door that he realized that he was awake. Another scream came as he paused to clear his dreams from his thoughts. "Tohru." He moved quickly from his room to hers, knowing that if he didn't go to her no one else would be. This wasn't out of spite or because the others didn't want to help. It's just that the others being there was futile. She'd be dreaming again within an hour and the waking and calming would be something to be done all over again.

When the nightmares had started a week ago, the others had tried to help. It had only brought loss of sleep for everyone sleeping under Shigure's roof. Only he, it appeared, could put her dreams to rest and let them all sleep most of the night through. She'd been having nightmares every night since she had started to recover. Now that her body wasn't demanding all of her energy to heal, she relived at least once a night whatever had gone on with Akito through her dreams.

Kyou slid her door open quietly and walked to Tohru's bed. She'd kicked the covers off in her restlessness and her body was alternately shivering and writhing. Her eyes were squinted and face contorted. Until these nightmares had started, Kyou hadn't believed a person could actually cry in their sleep. The tears streaming down her cheeks however were proof yet again that you can. She was still pale and the cast on her arm stood out shockingly against the blue of the sheets. He lowered himself carefully onto the bed, taking care not to jostle her and took her casted arm into his hand. Only then did he shake her lightly with the other.

"Tohru, Tohru, come on now wake up." His voice while not soft, held a gentle tone. Tohru's eyes popped open at his voice.

"Kyou?" her eyes met his and then lowered quickly. "I'm sorry, Kyou. I was dreaming again. I woke you...again."

He released her arm now that he knew she was conscious. The first time he'd done this, she'd nearly knocked him out, taking him for her attacker in her dreams. That had led to some severe self-recrimination on her part. She'd apologized for what seemed like forever. He'd only been able to quiet her by placing a finger to her lips and telling her that she'd done nothing wrong. He'd been more than happy to know that while she'd been hurt, apparently she'd fought back a bit. At least, to his mind anyway, that meant that Akito would have carried a few bruises for his actions.

Kyou shrugged at her words, "Yeah, but it doesn't matter. You can't be responsible for your dreams, Tohru." He fixed her with a look holding her blue eyes with his own crimson ones. "Stop apologizing for things that aren't your fault." Tohru simply nodded at his words, lowering her eyes to look at the bed.

Kyou sighed moving onto the bed more fully and dragged her slowly to him, careful of the places on her body he knew were still bruised or sore. Once she was across his lap, her head pillowed on his shoulder and his arms wrapped around her, he swept his lips across her forehead. "Go back to sleep, Tohru. I won't let anything happen to you while you sleep."

She relaxed slowly into him and soon he could hear her even breathing. He smiled softly, even as he moved an arm behind him to pull the pillows up into a more comfortable position for him. He wouldn't be going anywhere for the rest of the night, so he might as well be comfortable. Once the pillows were in position bracing his back in his semi reclined position, he pulled the girl in his arms a bit tighter to him and closed his own eyes.

Kyou knew this situation was wildly inappropriate. He slept here like this every night now. Every night they went to their individual rooms hoping that this would be the night that she slept all the way through the night. Every morning, he woke here because she hadn't. Yet, even though to him it seemed twisted because he wanted her to get better, he knew that when the dreams finally gave way he wouldn't be able hold her like this. She wouldn't sleep without him here now, but when she finally got everything back together and her thoughts and dreams were better and brighter, would she still want him at all?

He tore his mind away from those thoughts. Best not to think on those things just now. He fidgeted a bit, a touch guilty about his concern over her feelings for him. How she felt about him didn't matter, what mattered was that she got well, and got her confidence and strength back. His own feelings were not even remotely important in times like these. He looked at the clock at the bedside. Half past one, the hands showed him. Well, he could sit here and worry about things that hadn't happened yet or he could think through the things that had during the past week. He was awake, now anyway and these wee hours were the best time to think and to plan anyway.

~~~~Memory~~~~

Tohru's first day from her bed had been over all a strange one. She'd woken before all the others and made her way to the kitchen to cook breakfast without anyone noticing she was up. They'd all awakened with wide eyes to the aroma of food cooking. Kyou'd been the first to wake. After checking her room to confirm his suspicions, he'd headed downstairs to find her in the kitchen, humming softly and moving around, albeit slowly, as if nothing had happened. She'd stopped when she noticed him watching her from the door, setting the dishes she'd been carefully bracing on her casted arm on the table in the kitchen.

He'd moved over to where she was standing, to stop just behind her. He'd winced inwardly when he saw her tense at his proximity. "Are you sure you should be up and doing so much so soon," he'd whispered into the silence, leaning close to his ear. She nodded at his words and turned to face him with eyes that seemed to be pleading. "I have to get back into my routine, Kyou. I won't push myself, I promise."

Something in the look she'd given him had told him that he needed to just go along with her. Kyou had simply nodded in response and then smiled for her. "Ok, so what can I do to help?" He hadn't been happy that she was cooking and such, but if this was what she needed...

She'd opened her mouth to answer him when Momiji had come barreling into the kitchen and flung his arms around her. "Tohru!" She'd flinched visibly at the contact.

Kyou'd pulled the rabbit off of her, "Be careful idiot, she's got stitches, remember?" Momiji's eyes had widened to the size of saucers. 'Oh, Tohru, I'm sorry!"

Tohru had only smiled and pulled the rabbit back to her carefully. "It's ok, Momiji, just hug me loosely." Momiji had smiled and resumed the hug. "Tohru, I'm so glad your going to be ok. I love you, Tohru."

Kyou'd watched those words sink into her thoughts. Her eyes had widened and her smile had widened. She looked at Kyou even as she hugged the Rabbit. "I love you, too."

It had been at that point that the rest of the younger set had made their way into the kitchen. It made for a cramped space but a loving one. Tohru had greeted them each happily and pulled each of them into a hug. The look on her face had been one of true happiness as she hugged each of the boys. They'd hugged her hesitantly at first, but when they didn't change, they'd pulled her closer. Once the hugs were over, the questioning about her health and why she was doing so much started. She'd just smiled and shrugged as she'd gone back to the stove to turn the eggs she was cooking.

Shigure had joined them as they took the dishes to the table. The dog had looked more than a bit dragged out when he'd shown up for breakfast. He too had gotten a good morning hug. The dog's eyes had widened as he'd hugged her. Kyou wanted to know what that shocked look had meant. Was it simply that for the first time in his life, he was hugging a female he wasn't related to, or was there something more?" They'd settled down to breakfast, and Shigure'd begun his usual routine of picking on the boys and praising "his little flower's" cooking. But there had been something missing in his cousin's banter and his faced had seemed oddly shuttered.

As the group had cleared away the dishes, the phone had rung. Shigure'd walked to it and picked it up. "Ah Ha-san." He'd nodded as Hatori said something on his end of the line. "Uh-huh, ok. See you then." Tohru had looked at Shigure expectantly, since she'd been forbidden to help with the breakfast cleanup, from her position at the table her legs and hands beneath the table's covering. As Shigure had hung up the phone, he'd smiled at the girl taking in her tousled hair and pajamas. "Well my little flower, why don't you go make ready for the day. Ha-san will be here soon to check you over."

They'd all been watching television when Hatori had shown up. The younger set was greeting him cheerfully when Ayame and Kazuma had entered the house as well. Ayame had had Kazuma's hand in his and was clucking to the man about not taking better care of his fingernails. Hatori's eyes had rolled up as he listened to Ayame's incessant chatter and Kazuma finally got weary of the snake playing with his fingernails. He'd jerked his hand away from Ayame, only to hear a couple of giggles from the table.

Kyou had watched Kazuma take a seat at the table and Ayame find a new person to prey on. Somehow, the snake managed to get his brother into a hug and had waxed eloquent on brotherly love. Once all the greetings had been given, Hatori'd looked at Tohru. "Tohru, I'd like to look at those stitches now." He'd nodded toward the stairs meaningfully and she'd nodded her ascent as she rose from the table and headed up the stairs. "We'll be back shortly." Hatori had said as they'd gone up the stairs.

The group quieted down once they'd left. Ayame and Shigure had gone to Shigure's office. Yuki had watched them go, the look on his face had been comical in it's relief. They'd gone back to watching television. With Kazuma still present, the room seemed to hold a certain amount of tension.

Suddenly, his foster father had stood and walked up the stairs. Kyou'd found this odd to say the least. He'd waited until Kasuma was out of sight and then stood to follow the older man up the stairs. He'd remained hidden on the stairs as Kazuma stood at the door to Tohru's room. Kazuma had tapped the door lightly. "Come in Kazuma." It was Hatori's voice not Tohru's. Kyou had wondered what was up. They'd definitely planned what was going on, so he'd decided to find out for himself.

He'd slid up to the door to Tohru's room and crouched down at the edge of the door frame so he could listen to what was going on inside the room. "Tohru, it looks like your healing up fine. I'll leave the stitches in another couple of days though just to be on the safe side." Tohru's voice had been soft when she'd replied, "Ok, Hatori-san," Everything had fallen into silence and then Hatori had spoke again, his voice sounding a bit nervous.

"Tohru, Kazuma has joined us here because we need to see if the curse Akito has placed you under is going to cause you problems with hugging people not of the Juunishi."

"You mean you want to make sure I won't transform like you and the others do?" Tohru had asked the question quietly. "Yes," had been Hatori's only answer.

He'd heard Tohru's footsteps cross the floor of her room. He'd known it was her because she was still walking with a slight limp, and her gait was off as she walked. Then, he'd assumed she'd reached his foster father because everything had gotten quiet. Suddenly, she had screamed. Kyou'd been on his feet and through her door before he'd even considered that he might have to explain how he'd gotten there so quickly. He heard the sound of the rest of the house coming up the stairs behind him as he went through the door.

Hatori was leaning over Tohru, who was crouched on the floor clutching her chest. Hatori had looked up at him, and then past him to the open door. "Keep them out." Kyou slammed her door shut and held it in place, watching as Tohru gasped for breath. "What the hell did you do to her, Sensei?" Kyou glared at his foster father who was looking a bit at a loss. "I only hugged her, Kyou." Hatori nodded his head in agreement as he took Tohru's pulse.

"Then, what happened?" Kyou asked, his voice a little lower and calmer. "I do not know. I was expecting a transformation, so I made the hug loose. She gasped a bit, but I assumed it was just from stretching sore muscles. When she didn't transform, I hugged her to me tightly, wanting to give her some comfort. And then this..." Kazuma had looked pale, his hands shaking slightly. "I didn't know... I could never have imagined..."

The others had gotten to her door at just about that time and started knocking and demanding entrance. Kyou had stepped into he hall, blocking the doorway. "You can't go in, Hatori's looking at her."

"But what happened, Kyou," Kagura asked. The question was echoed by all the younger set. Ayame and Shigure were conspicuously absent.

"Sensei hugged her." The looks on their faces could have made a study in lack of comprehension. "She didn't transform," Kyou said, "but something did happen." Haru, shockingly was the first to get a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "She's not linked in with our part of the curse. She's linked into Akito's, that's why she didn't transform. What happened?"

Kyou had simply shrugged. "That's what they are trying to find out right now. Just go back downstairs, we'll be down in a little while. I'll tell you everything I find out when they leave. If you hear anything else up here, unless it's someone screaming for one of you, just stay down there, ok?" Kyou's voice had sounded pleading. They'd all nodded slowly and gone back down the stairs. Hatori had looked a little shocked when Kyou re-entered. "What? You think that we're not going to keep an eye on what's going on with her. You guys won't tell us anything, so we needed a representative to find out what's going on. I'm the representative." He fixed Hatori with a look that dared him to try to make him leave. Hatori had only sighed and turned his attention back to Tohru. When her breathing had returned to normal, he led her to the bed. She sat down on it's edge and looked at the Dragon.

Hatori's voice was soft when he'd finally spoken to her again. "What happened Tohru?" She'd looked at him, opening her mouth and then closing it. Finally she had answered. "It felt like someone had my heart in their fist and was squeezing. At first, it was just a twinge. It hurt a little, but no more than sticking your finger with a needle. When he fully hugged me, I thought my heart would burst." Hatori nodded, looking fairly lost in thought. "Are you up for a second test? I think maybe we should find out just how much of a hug is too much of one for you to bear, before you are coming into contact with normal people everyday." Tohru had nodded, going back to Kazuma. For some reason she adopted Kyou's name for him. "It wasn't your fault, Sensei-san. None of us could have predicted this."

Finally, a couple hours later they all descended the stairs. They'd parted ways at the dining room. Hatori and Kazuma went to Shigure's office and Tohru and Kyou stayed in the dining room. "I should start lunch, " were the first words out of her mouth once the older men had left. Kyou'd just looked at her. "I don't think so, this latest round of tests had to have worn you out. We will get lunch, you will sit down and rest for a bit."

Kagura had chimed in at about that time. "Tohru-chan sit down, we can handle the work for now. Sit here with Kisa and Hiro and watch some TV while the rest of us do the cooking." Even Tohru could sense defeat, knowing that they were all doing what they thought best for her. "Ok." was her only response. Once they got into the kitchen though, Kyou pulled Yuki to the side. "They are up to something in 'Gure's office, why don't you go find out what that is?" He'd grinned at his cousin for probably the first time in his life, and his cousin, surprisingly enough grinned back. He nodded and looked at Kagura, Haru and Momiji who were in the process of peeling vegetables. "I'll be back in a little while. I've got some errands to run." All three of them gave him a knowing look and then went back to work

Yuki had made his way around the house and made a seat for himself just at the edge of the outer door of Shigure's office. He'd wrapped his coat tightly around him and once he was relatively comfortable, he leaned against the doorframe listening to what was going on inside. By concentrating he could take his hearing up to the level of a mouse rather than his own human range. He'd wondered for a moment why the cat didn't just do this himself, but Yuki had to acknowledge that he was better at sitting still for long periods of time and better at hiding as well. he smiled as the voices beyond came clearer.

"It seems she has been affected by the hugging portion of the curse, though not the same way as we are," Hatori was saying. Silence and then Shigure's voice, "How do you mean, affected?" Kazuma answered the question, "Well hugging her causes intense pain apparently, comparable to a heart attack in some ways. She can be hugged, loosely and only feel twinges, but if she gets drawn into a full out hug, it's fairly intense." Kazuma seemed kind of shaken. Yuki made a mental note to ask Kyou exactly what had happened upstairs later. "So, has anything turned up in the research yet?" That was Hatori again. There was a long silence. "Yes," Shigure's voice sounded fairly defeated. "Ayame and I both have managed to find the same information. The curse can be broken." Yuki felt his hopes rise, only to have them crushed when the next sentence came out of Ayame's mouth. "But, Shigure and I have spoken and we can't do the ritual needed. The costs are far too high."

"What do you mean costs?" Kazuma had asked, his tone of voice demanding. "The only way to break the curse is to have a sacrifice," Shigure had answered him in a hushed tone of voice. "Sacrifice..." Hatori's voice echoed Kazuma's as they each echoed the word. "Do I really have to explain it?" Shigure didn't sound to happy with the prospect of doing so. But the they must have nodded yes, because he launched into a full explanation. "Ok, here's the short and dirty. The rituals that Akito used are binding rituals. They are cast, normally, only to bind two people together. They are normally only cast when both parties are willing, to make a pairing stronger. The only way to defeat spells cast in blood and sex is to go to the next step, which are the spirit magicks. Given what I was able to sense this morning of the bindings that have been placed on her, the only way to counter act the curse he's bestowed is to do a ritual sacrifice of someone and let their soul cleanse her of the taint." The room fell into silence. Of course, if Kazuma and Hatori were feeling like Yuki was at that moment, he understood why. "We can't let the boys find out, I mean if Yuki or Kyou knew they'd be demanding...." Kazuma stopped mid sentence. "It would make no difference, what they wanted, Kazuma, sacrificing either one of them would do no good." That was Ayame. "But..."

Shigure picked up where Ayame left off. "The sacrifice has to be strong in spirit and innocent. His love has to be able to overcome the barriers of the curse itself. There can be no selfishness, no hatred. Kyou and Yuki are neither one capable of the amount of pure love that would be necessary for the ritual." "Then who?" Kazuma had asked, his voice had seemed almost timid. Ayame answered in a way that was so characteristic of him, "Kazuma, you should know that when a girl has been raped the thing you have to worry about is if the rabbit dies."

Yuki sat stunned. They were right. The only person in the Juunishi that had a heart and soul large enough to do this was Momiji. If Tohru's very life were in danger, the Rabbit's self sacrifice might have been worth it, but she was alive and healing. If she was never able to hug another male not of the Juunishi, it would be sad, but not life threatening. It certainly wasn't worth Momiji's life to clean her of the curse. Moreover, Tohru wouldn't allow it.

"Definitely not an option," Hatori's voice rang into the silence that had fallen. "So there's nothing we can do to break the curse." Shigure and Ayame must have given him a silent negative. "At this point, Ha-san, it might be detrimental for us to try. Each hour that passes, entwines the curse with her own being. It's becoming a part of her, as our curses are a part of us. Her aura, is not something that is separate from the curse now. Her aura and the curses energy are melding into one smooth flow of energy. At this point I think that if we tried anything we might damage her, because we'd be ripping out a part of what is "her."

When the silence was broken again it was Hatori. "Well, I think I've had all the bad news I can handle for one day. I think it's time to get back to the main house." He could hear the older Juunishi moving around and he scrambled away from the doorway to the corner of the house. The door opened just as he'd made it to his new hiding place. "I'll be back in a couple days to take those stitches out, " Hatori said as he, the snake and Kazuma made their way across the yard.

Yuki went around the house and entered from the back into the kitchen. He'd arrived back in time to see the last of the lunch preparations being done. Shigure had also joined them as lunch was being put on the table, He'd smiled at Tohru when he entered the room. "Well, Ha-san says you are healing nicely, my little flower." He looked around the room at the group of kids assembling around him, somewhat amazed that they were all still here. But then, they all cared for Tohru, and would most likely be here until school started back. "I think I'll order in dinner tonight so we don't have to cook." Shigure said as they started on lunch.

Later that evening, Yuki informed the Younger set of what he'd overheard. They'd all grouped in his room, when Tohru went to take a nap and Shigure had pled a deadline. Momiji had been more than a little shocked at what the Older Juunishi had found out. "But if it will help..." Yuki cut him off. "They won't do it Momiji, and you know that Tohru would never agree. If she was dying... well that would be your choice I suppose, but she's not and she will heal. Right now, you do her a lot more good alive than dead." Momiji considered that statement. Then he nodded, understanding finally what the mouse hadn't said. She needed his heart and his love, maybe not in the way she needed Kyou's, but she needed him, as she needed all of them. It was a good feeling.

The next couple of days had been uneventful, except for the nightmares. That first night was horrible. Each of the Juunishi alone and in pairs had tried to calm her, taking shifts as she slept. It had resulted in little rest for anyone until Kyou's turn had come. She'd slept straight through his two hour shift, only to awaken and start dreaming all over again when he left. The next night, by silent agreement he had been the one to stay with her. When she'd awoken the first time, he'd joined her in her room. She'd passed the rest of the night without a nightmare.

Hatori had shown back up in the late afternoon on the day he'd removed her stitches. He apologized for his tardiness, as he sat down with them for their evening meal saying that Akito was sick again. The entire table had nodded knowingly. Hatori got worked to the bone when Akito was sick. It was no wonder he looked so drained . After dinner he and Tohru had ascended to her room and he'd carefully pulled the stitches from her abdomen and lip after numbing both areas with a local anesthetic. "I don't want you doing anything at all tonight once I finish taking these out. Once the local wears off you are going to hurt and I want you to just take the pain killers I'm leaving and stay up here and rest." Tohru had simply nodded her assent to his request. Once the stitches were out, he carefully looked over the wounds. They'd healed well all things considered. If Akito hadn't interfered with the healing process the way he had, they'd probably have healed to thin white lines. But, even without the stitches in, you could clearly read the Kanji. He'd shaken his head. "Can I look at the cuts on your back, I want to make sure they are healing well too." She turned around so he could lift her shirt and check the cuts on her back. They too were still very visible, though they were healing well. Fortunately, most of Akito's permanent damage had been to areas that weren't readily visible. The bruises and swelling on her face neck and arms were all but memory now. If she didn't mind the fact that she couldn't wear current fashion, with its tight belly shirts and hip hugger jeans, no one except for those that were actually shown these scars would know they were there.

Once he completed her exam, he walked to the window and lit a cigarette. He really didn't want to talk to her about this but Akito was being insistent and she was going to need some time to adapt to the idea. "Tohru, we need to talk. Well, I need to talk and I need you to listen. You're not going to like it, but well, we have little choice. One of the things about this family is the fact that choice is a luxury." Hatori had turned to face her. "Akito is demanding your presence at the New Year's Celebration. He says you are to be our guest of honor this year." She paled as his words hit her, but nodded. Her voice was low as she responded to him. "If that is Akito-san's wish, then I will attend, of course." She'd held Hatori's eyes with her own, though her voice had trembled. Hatori had only nodded and left the room, leaving Tohru alone to contemplate what this could possibly mean.

She hadn't been alone long however, Kyou had joined her in her room almost as soon as Hatori had closed the door. "I heard it all from my room," he said into the silence. She nodded to him, "I thought you would have." "Why did you agree to go?" "Because, like the rest of this family, I have to obey him, Kyou. Isn't that what you all do, obey him blindly regardless of what it does to you?" Her words stung, mostly because they were true to a large extent. The younger set was still rebelling in some ways, but the older Juunishi always obeyed, seemingly blindly. "I'm going with you then." "But Kyou, you aren't allow..." "If you are going, I'm going to be there to protect you from him damn it, I don't care if I'm not allowed, I will be there." He grinned at her. "We cats never obey anyone blindly." That line earned him a smile as she pictured anybody actually managing to get a cat to obey. "Ok, Kyou, but on two condition." He'd looked at her and waited. "You don't start any fights and you let me deal with Akito my way." He nodded his agreement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~Present~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyou looked at the clock as he came out of his reverie. Half past three. Tohru still slept soundly. The nightmares had gotten worse since Hatori had come to visit. And he wondered about the psychology of the situation. Tohru spent her days acting as if nothing had happened. She pushed away all the bad memories and put a smile on for the world. She had never talked about any of what had happened to any of the Juunishi since the day she'd told Kagura of the curse. The more she bottled herself up the more he feared for her. Eventually, this whole situation was going to come to a head and he was afraid of what was going to happen to her when she finally lost control of all those emotions she was bottling.