Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Prince ❯ Chapter 15

Dark Prince

 

 

 

Chapter Fifteen

 

 

 

Once the food had arrived, Jade had attacked it like a madman. Yuki assumed it was because of the long flight, but secretly guessed that it was also due to nerves. She was just as reluctant as he was to talk about their current situation.

 

They didn't say much while she ate. Yuki wasn't in the mood to make small talk, although he knew he should at least feign interest about what she'd been up to in the two years that he hadn't seen her. If he weren't so anxious about what Jade had to tell him, he probably would have, but under the present circumstances, he didn't want to waste time. He glanced over at her, studying her discreetly.

 

She was still as beautiful as he remembered her, although she looked like she lost a little weight, which concerned him. Yuki remembered her tall, willowy frame, a body any trained dancer would envy. Now she looked a little frailer, a little more vulnerable. Despite this, her face still held its innate glow that radiated from her emerald eyes, making them shine even in the dullest light. Her flowing locks burned against her pale skin and Yuki wondered absently if she'd let it grow out. It suited her.

 

“What?”

 

Yuki blinked, meeting Jade's inquisitive gaze. Her head was cocked to the side, a French fry poised in midair. Yuki shook his head slightly. “Nothing. Just thinking about how much you have and haven't changed.” Jade's brow crinkled, her eyes questioning, but Yuki didn't elaborate. He let out a heavy sigh. The more they sat in silence with this burden hanging over them, the more caged he felt. He rose quickly.

 

“I need to make a call,” he said suddenly, heading for the door. Jade made a move to get up, but he motioned for her to stay seated. “I'll only be a minute. When I get back, we're going to talk.” There was no room for argument in his tone. He was tired of waiting and beating around the bush.

 

Once he was outside the hotel room, he leaned back against the wall.

 

`How the hell did I get here?'

 

There were a series of events that led up to this: seeing Tohru comfort Kyo, Akito's sick manipulation, his forced move to the states. They all contributed, but there was ultimately one thing, as tiny as it may be, that aided his arrival to this point in his life. It's funny how the small things always trip you up in the end.

 

“I don't know about this, Jade.” Yuki looked at the red-head skeptically, uneasy with their current situation. He glanced around her small living room which was presently dimly lit with the curtains drawn to block out the bright afternoon sunshine. They were surrounded by a circle of burning candles, the bright flames casting shadows over their bodies.

 

Jade was looking at him with teasing eyes. “What's the matter? Is the unshakable Yuki Sohma afraid?” She giggled, holding out her hands. Yuki hesitantly placed his hands in hers, once again wondering if he'd made a horrible decision.

 

“I'm not so sure I want to do this…” Yuki was slightly taken aback when her hands enclosed his tightly. Her eyes were half-bathed in shadow, but he could still see her blinding emerald gaze.

 

“Don't you want to get rid of this thing that you've had to live with all your life? Don't you want to be free of it?” When Yuki remained unconvinced, Jade tried another tact. “Name one good thing that this curse has done for you.”

 

Yuki looked away from her penetrating gaze, instead staring down at his lap. There was only one good thing that he could think of that the curse had done for him; getting the chance to know Tohru. Without the curse, they never would have become as close as they had because he would never have allowed it but…because of it, he'd gotten the chance. But not even that could make him forget her betrayal…he would never forget. The pain that was like a strong grip on his heart would make sure that he didn't.

 

“There's nothing I can think of,” he said quietly. Jade knew he was lying, but she didn't call him on it. That was why she was doing this, she wanted to make him forget whatever it was that made him always on guard, made him keep a careful distance from everyone, including her. They'd known each other for a couple of months now and no matter how much Jade tried to breach those walls, he always shut her down.

 

“Tell me one more time what we're going to be doing here,” Yuki murmured. Jade stifled a frustrated sigh. She'd explained the spell to him numerous times, giving him a play by play of what to expect and what would happen. Despite this, Yuki was still skittish about the idea. Jade didn't really blame him. After all, it was her first time attempting the spell, although she didn't let him know that. If he found that at, he'd be out the door faster than she could say `abracadabra'.

 

“First, I'll do a chant to calm you down and open your metaphysical being,” she started out, keeping her voice low and even. “After a few moments, you should be in a state of intense awareness. You'll notice and hear things that you might not otherwise, but don't let this bother you. Instead, welcome it, accept it.”

 

Jade rubbed her thumbs in soothing circles on Yuki's palms, trying to ease the tension that she felt there. For someone carrying around a centuries-old curse, he sure was closed-minded about some things.

 

“I'll then start another chant that will call upon the spirits of the metaphysical plane to come and guide us through this short journey. Along the way, they'll show you things, things that are meant for only you to see and hear and then…voila!”

 

Yuki gazed at her, one eyebrow arched. Jade rolled her eyes. “Just trust me, ok?” Yuki hesitated to answer her right away. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but…

 

“What about these consequences that you told me about? Things coming back threefold and stuff? What if something goes wrong?” He started to slide his hands from her grasp, but Jade held on tight. “Yuki, isn't this what you want? To be free…to live how you want without anything holding you back?”

 

Yuki could already feel himself giving in. Call it selfish, but that IS what he wanted. He wanted a life that was his own, not leased to him for a limited time.

 

“Ok,” he relented, taking a deep breath. “Let's do this.”

 

Yuki reached into his pocket and retrieved his cell phone. He needed to hear Tohru's voice, if only for a minute. Even that was enough to calm him, set him at ease. He punched in his home number and waited while it rang monotonously. After about the eleventh ring, he flipped the phone shut. Before he'd left, she'd told him she might go out to the markets later on so he figured that's where she was now.

 

`Damn.'

 

He'd really wanted to hear her voice. Settling for the next best thing, Yuki closed his eyes and took deep, calming breaths. Once he was sufficiently relaxed enough to return to the room, he opened his eyes and pushed away from the wall. Opening the door, he mentally prepared himself for what was to come next.

 

~*~

 

“You know, I used to come here with my mom every weekend.” Tohru continued breaking up pieces of the loaf of bread she'd bought at the market. It was originally bought as part of her special dinner for Yuki, but she felt it was being put to better use as she and Kyo threw chunks out to the flock of geese floating serenely on the pond.

 

“Mama used to say how soothing it was to be here and talk with someone that never talked back.” Tohru giggled. “I guess that sounds pretty silly, huh?” Tohru glanced over at her silent partner sheepishly. Kyo threw a handful of crumbs out toward the pond, watching the medium-sized birds gobble up the scraps hungrily.

 

“No, it doesn't.” Kyo said quietly, keeping his eyes on the graceful birds. After a few moments he said, “Kazuma used to bring me here sometimes when I was little. I always liked it.”

 

Tohru smiled, happy he was at least confiding in her a little. They continued feeding the geese in somewhat comfortable silence until they'd used up all the bread. Tohru suggested they sit under the trees and Kyo agreed, following her to an unoccupied bench.

 

“I was thinking of maybe dropping by the house to see Shigure-san. I haven't seen him in so long and I don't want him to think I've forgotten about him and I thought maybe I'd cook one of his favorite meals and a special dessert since he probably hasn't eaten a good meal since I left and -”

 

Tohru knew she was rambling, but she couldn't stop herself. She wanted to fill up the silence and the only way she knew how to do that was to keep on talking. As long as she talked, nothing unpleasant could be said or heard.

 

“Maybe it could be a family thing and I can invite Hatori-san and Kazuma-san and maybe Kisa and -”

 

Her words were silenced as Kyo pressed his lips firmly to hers, his hands gripping her shoulders gently. Tohru stared wide-eyed into his amber gaze, too shocked to react. His lips were soft and molded his mouth against hers, tilting his head as he deepened the kiss. He'd only meant to shut her up, doing the first thing that popped into his head. Now he realized that maybe that hadn't been such a good idea. Her lips felt too good, so ripe beneath his.

 

His hands moved from her shoulders to cup her cheeks, stroking the soft skin. He could feel her resistance slipping away like water, her hands resting tentatively on his knee. Something was telling her that there was a reason she shouldn't be doing this…a very good reason but she couldn't remember what it was. Kyo was clouding her mind, making it hard for her to think rationally.

 

Just as suddenly as the kiss had started, it ended. Kyo leaned away, resting his forehead against Tohru's, their noses nearly touching. She stared into his scarlet gaze, momentarily mesmerized. He just looked at her, a flurry of emotions crossing his face.

 

Finally he whispered, “I had to do something to shut you up.” Tohru didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She closed her eyes, pressing forward lightly. Why did she always feel so conflicted around him? There was no doubt in her mind who her heart belonged to, but still…there was always a part of her that weakened just a bit when it came to Kyo.

 

“Kyo, you know…”

 

He brushed his thumb across her lip, silencing her once again. He didn't want to hear her say those words, words that would cut him to the quick. For just one moment he wanted to pretend that things were different, the way he knew they were meant to be.

 

“You don't see it yet, Tohru,” he murmured. “But you will.”

 

Tohru didn't know what he meant, but he didn't expect her to. When the time came, she would.

 

~*~

 

“So when did it start?”

 

Jade clasped her hands nervously, shifting on the bed. “Um, about three months ago. I didn't really pay attention at first because it was just dreams…kind of strange dreams but still just dreams.” Her face was scrunched up in concentration. “I didn't know what the dreams were about. You know, usually dreams have some sort of significance even though they're mostly abstract, but these dreams…they were just random images of stuff that I didn't even understand.”

 

She placed her hands on the bedspread, spreading her fingers wide. “Then they started getting stranger and stranger until they just started scaring the hell out of me.” Yuki remained silent during this exchange, as if interrupting her would somehow spook her. He watched her closely, seeing the tension in her face.

 

“Even then, though, when the dreams got scary, I didn't really connect the dots. It was only when…” she trailed off, her gaze staring into space, as if she were somewhere else. “When I started seeing the stuff from my dreams when I was awake.” She suddenly turned to Yuki, her eyes holding just the barest hint of fear.

 

“I would see the most horrible things while sitting in class or shopping in the grocery store. I was so afraid that I was losing my mind until I started seeing you and then I knew. I knew this was all because of the spell.”

 

Yuki had to look away from her. The expression on her face, such stark terror, was getting to him. When she didn't continue, he decided to chance speaking. “What kind of things did you see?” His voice sounded hollow, no emotion whatsoever despite the steady pounding of his heart.

 

“At first they were just dark shadows; sometimes faint sometimes taking on vague shapes. Then they became…” she gestured helplessly. “I don't know, but they scared me. Then one night I had this dream where they all seemed to melt together into one big mass of bulging things.” Jade shook her head, the auburn locks shimmering under the light. “After that, I started seeing the thing for real.”

 

Yuki sighed, rubbing his temples. His head was beginning to ache and was starting to get a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. None of this was making any sense to him, but somehow he knew this spelled trouble.

 

They'd known the spell could go wrong. Jade had said any time you messed with the metaphysical, and black arts for that matter, you sometimes brought back things that should never be seen in the real world.

 

“It's not always 100% Yuki. Sometimes you bring back extras.”

 

Yuki had basically laughed it off. He still hadn't been totally convinced that the spell would work. A simple spell that could make the curse just disappear, poof, like a puff of smoke? But it turned out that the spell hadn't been so simple and they should have taken that as a sign of things to come…

 

“You should get some rest.” Yuki tilted his head to look at her, keeping his expression blank. He didn't want her to see how upset he really was. He rose from the chair. “I'll stop by tomorrow afternoon.”

 

Jade tensed, alarmed. “Please, Yuki! Can't you stay with me? I'm scared and being here…” she hugged herself tightly. “I just get a really bad feeling.” Yuki felt a tug at his heart, seeing her sitting there so helpless and afraid. He wanted to comfort her, but…

“I can't.” He said quietly, his tone regretful. He saw the hurt in her eyes before she lowered her face, a curtain of red hair shielding her from view. “Ok,” she said quietly. Yuki couldn't help going to her, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. “I'll be back, Jade. I promise.” He smoothed a hand through her silky tresses. On impulse, he bent down, placing a soft kiss on her lips. She responded like a flower to rain after a long draught.

 

Breaking the kiss after a few moments, he leaned away. “Tomorrow.” He told her, letting his hand slide away as he gave her a quick smile. She returned the gesture tentatively, fortified by that small token of comfort.

 

As Yuki shut the door softly behind him, a sudden chill passed over him. He glanced around warily, expecting some cold darkness to come swooping in and swallow him hold. Shaking his head, he chalked it up to Jade's nerves infecting him and walked briskly down the hall to the elevators.

 

///

 

Akito was awakened from his light doze by a whirring noise. He opened his eyes to see the tinted glass partition sliding down. The driver's face came into view.

 

“He just left, Sohma-san.”

 

Akito let out an impatient sigh. He'd been sitting out in the limo for what seemed like days, although in reality it was closer to hours. He looked out the window, watching as Yuki walked briskly away from the main entrance of the modest hotel, his face stern. Akito doubted he would see the conspicuous black limousine parked across the street. His thoughts were obviously elsewhere.

 

“Go get the girl. She's on the fifth floor. I'm sure with your skills you can obtain the room information.” Akito dismissed the driver, watching the small blue bird fly away from the car. The driver didn't question how Akito knew what floor the girl was on, he'd learned to keep such questions to himself. He merely nodded and exited the car.

 

Akito only smiled a smile that was colder and crueler than even the harshest winter day. He was anticipating welcoming Yuki's guest the only way the head of the Sohma family could. His smile grew even frostier, if that were possible.

 

Yes, he couldn't wait to welcome her.

 

*end*

 

 

 

A/N: anyone confused yet? Well I promise things will be made crystal clear in upcoming chaps! Thanks for bearing with me and I hope you like where the story's heading! And Happy New Years!!