Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Gone Full Circle ❯ Teasing and Arguments ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Gone Full Circle

Ali the Co-Authoress Note: Anime timeline, dears. Ayame's shop comes before Kazuma.

Ew… damn Yuki…

Chapter 7: Teasing and Arguments

"Hatori," Akito spoke up one day, during his daily check up to the doctor. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this not the day of that wretched cat's birth?"

The dragon paused for a moment to think about it. "No. You're right Akito-san." Hatori confirmed after remembering what the date was. He'd never been close with the cat, so it didn't really matter to him. He simply shrugged it off and continued with the check up. Akito nodded, allowing Hatori to finish his check-up before rising without a word, and going out to make a phone call. One that would lead to much amusement.

"Hellloooooo?" The ever-lilting Shigure cooed into the phone after picking it up. Tohru was hanging up laundry, therefore if he didn't pick it up, it would not be answered. "Oh? Akito-san! How may we help you?"

"Send the kitten to the main house." Akito instructed quite simply. "I wish to speak with him." The dog blinked at the phone for a moment as the dial tone started, then just hung it up and went to do as Akito had said.

"Kyo-kun! Come here for a moment!" he called to the cat, who was just sitting idly at the table, anyways. Even though he hadn't been busy, Kyo glared fully at the older man. "What?" He demanded irritably once he did get up.

"Akito-san says you're to go the main house." Shigure told him quietly, in case Yuki was around.

"Why?"

"He didn't say. Just go. If you'd like, I'll call Haa-san to get you?" The look on the dog's face really pissed Kyo off.

"No, I can fuckin' walk." He grumbled before stooping down for his shoes, and then stalking out of the house. He only paused to put them on, on the front porch, and then he set off.

Akito couldn't help but snicker when Kyo sat before him, down on his knees like everyone else.

"How have you been fairing?" He asked the cat in a flawlessly silky tone.

'What the HELL was going on.' Kyo wondered helplessly before actually answering. "Fine." He never was very good at making himself say 'Akito-san'.

"Have you managed to defeat my darling Yuki yet?" He asked, rolling onto his stomach and watching Kyo intently.

Honestly, without even thinking about it, Kyo glared. "No." He finally muttered out.

"Such a pity." He stated with an ominous smile. "You're time IS running short!"

That was just plain out getting irritating. "I know that." The cat shot back. "Is that all you called me here for? Is to remind me?!"

"Pretty much," He nodded. "Happy birthday, cat. Enjoy them while you have them to enjoy." Kyo blinked at him in a rather stupid manner for a moment. It was his birthday? Akito hadn't said he could leave yet, so he just sat there trying to remember what date it was. "I bet you miss Kazuma." He continued to muse. "It's a pity you didn't come to New Years, you might have seen him. He hasn't returned to Sohma House just yet." The mention of his Shishou brought the cat back to what the older man was saying.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's a pity I didn't come." Kyo mutter sarcastically, and not very respectfully, but he wasn't thinking about that right now.

"He was quite unhappy that you didn't come." Akito stated, thoroughly enjoying this. "He's quite fond of you, I think he wanted to see you again before he left. Why, I'm not so sure. You really are a worthless creature." The red head's glare darkened. He hated when Akito talked to him like this. Especially since Shishou's lack of an appearance made him feel rather insecure, and abandoned. And, it was apparently his birthday. He'd forgotten/not noticed, entirely. Kazuma had never NOT been around on his birthday before. "Enjoy your day, Cat." Akito ordered coolly, climbing to his feet and strolling out into his porch to sit down. "You're free to leave." Kyo was happy to oblige, scrambling up and out of the room quickly. Once he was out was another matter though. If today were his birthday, Kagura would be at Shigure's. If he couldn't go to Shigure's where could he go? Well, the grumbling of his stomach told him to go to the kitchen first, and on his way there he figured he could go to Kazuma's empty house for the rest of the day. Yes. That would do nicely. He could even cook himself some food in the abandoned kitchen at Kazuma's house.

Haru sighed, staring at the brightly wrapped package in his hands dully. He was standing outside Kazuma's house, intending to find Kyo. He figured that the cat would be here. Not bothering to knock, he entered through the unlocked front door. Eventually, he found the kitten in the kitchen.

"Kyo?" He asked, hesitantly, softly. The red headed creature really, honestly, hadn't been expecting anyone to come see him. He jumped when he heard someone behind him, and managed to cut himself (he had been cooking after all). Kyo turned around with a slightly annoyed look on his face and stuck the now bleeding finger in his mouth.

"Crap." Was the next thing out of Haru's mouth, grimacing. Memory serving, for once, he walked into the kitchen, setting the gift down as he went to the cabinet where he remembered the first aid kit being.

—He'd mentally filed away where the first aid kit was, just in case the kitten needed it again.

"Sorry." He apologized as he rummaged through the cupboard to find the little box. "I just wanted to tell you happy birthday, and to give you that." He didn't make any motion to the box as he continued his band-aid hunt, but it wasn't exactly easy to miss. The cat just gave him a weird look. He didn't give a crap about the thing on the table.

"Heeeere it is." He announced triumphantly, pulling the small box out, and managing not to hit his head at the same time, before moving back over to the table with it.

"I'm amazed you knew it was down there at all." Kyo grumbled around his finger, following to the table so he could get a band-aid out of the red box.

"I remembered from when we were little." Haru shrugged.

Once he'd gotten his cut wrapped up Kyo looked at it grimly. "Now why the hell did you say you were here?" He asked absently as he went back to what he was doing. He hadn't been listening the first time, and there was a good possibility of him not listening if the ox repeated himself.

"That." He nodded to the box this time. "It's for you."

The kitten glanced over his shoulder and gave the taller boy another odd look. "Why?" He hadn't been given a gift in quite some time. Even from Kazuma, but, that was because he'd been taking kisses as his present since he was 13.

"I had money and thought you might like it." He shrugged, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

The older boy continued to ignore the box and just went back to cooking. "How did you know I was here?"

"Because Kagura's at Sensei's house." Haru shrugged. "And, Tori-nii mentioned Akito calling you in. I thought you might come here afterward."

"Kagura's already there?" Kyo winced. "Dammit, I should be far away from here by now. Can't believe I forgot my own damn birthday." This was really starting to suck. Then again, his birthday usually did.

"Just open your present." Haru rolled his eyes, leaning against the table.

Sighing Kyo set down his knife carefully, brushing his hands off on his pants, and went back over to the table. He picked the little box up, and probably contrary to popular belief, he opened it carefully. Finding the end and peeling up the tape and everything. When he did get it open he stared at it for a while. He wasn't given presents very often, so no matter what it was he probably would have stared at it.

"I really wasn't trying to tease you." Haru promised him, before the cat had a chance to hit him. "But it reminded me of you, and I thought you might like it."

Inside that box was a small, orange, stuffed cat. Haru was telling the truth too. It wasn't supposed to be some rude comment, but he really hadn't been able to resist.

The little stuffed animals counter part glared at the ox for a good long moment. "Yeah, sure." He murmured feeling a little edgier than before. Kyo set the box down and went back over to the counter. "Are you going to want any of this food?" He asked to get the subject off the little toy.

"If you want me to stay." Haru blinked a little. He'd assumed that Kyo would want him to leave. And he'd figured he'd just go, drop the doll off, and leave again.

"I don't really care." The kitten answered tersely. "But I think I've got too much here." The classic excuse? "And it's not my house anyways, so whether I want or not wouldn't matter."

"It's not my house either." Haru reminded him with a small shrug. "And Shihan's your guardian, so you'd have more say than I would." Kyo rolled his eyes and just took a plate of food and set it in front of the ox. It wasn't anything fancy. Just rice and some cut up vegetables. Then he just plopped down into a seat with a plate of his own. That certainly solves the problem doesn't it?

"Thanks." He blinked a few times, before starting to eat it. "Look, if you don't like your present, I'll take it back and get you something else."

"It doesn't matter." He was actually, pretty happy he'd gotten something at all. But this is Haru; we don't need to nice to him.

"Alright, then." The ox agreed, feeling a little uncomfortable and eating as quickly as he dared without choking. He wasn't sure why he'd bothered. He should have known Kyo wouldn't like it. The pretty kitty took the plates over to the sink once they were empty but he kind of just stood there for a minute before asking Haru something:

"Hatori didn't say anything about Akito did he?" He still didn't understand why Akito had called him over. Unless it really was just to gloat? But, that wasn't exactly Akito's style. He usually had something else planned too and it was making kitty nervous.

"No." He shook his head. "Just that he'd called you." Of course, it wasn't like he and Hatori had shared any great heart to heart chats lately, anyway. Haru mentioned that too. Kyo sighed desperately and turned to take care of the dishes, but he gave up and just tossed them into the sink. Instead he sat down at the table again. He rather, didn't want to be by himself but he wasn't going to blame the ox if he left. Haru had no intention of leaving until he was told to, though. He knew he wouldn't want to be alone on his birthday, and that this would be the first one that Kyo had spent without Kazuma since the man had taken him in.

The red head knew it too. And it sucked, mightily. He looked just like he had that first morning with Tohru, when he was trying to apologize about the roof, as he picked up the little cat again.

"It's--really not that bad,” he murmured. Which was as close to a thank you as anyone, other than Kazuma, was going to get out of him. And the ox only got it because they were alone.

"Eh?" Haru blinked up from where he'd been contentedly staring at the table. "You do like it, then!" He read into the little compliment, smiling that soft smile he usually reserved for Yuki. That honestly happy smile. That smile made Kyo ungodly nervous. So, to cover up the change, from an annoyed blush to an embarrassed blush, he gathered up the wrapping paper and the box the thing had been in and went to throw them away.

Later that night, Kyo found himself confronted by Tohru!

"Oooh!" She squealed, as she brought his clean laundry to him. "Kyo-kun, what a cute little cat." She gushed over it, noticing it on his desk. "Where'd you get it?"

The red head looked over at the little thing. "Oh." he murmured, and got rather nervous when Kagura also came in and grabbed a hold of him again. She'd been helping Tohru with the laundry this time, rather than trying to do all of it by herself.

"Yes, Kyo my love!" The boar repeated venomously. "Where did you get it from? It's from another girl, is it?"

"No. It's not." He interrupted. Kagura had given him a huge book full of poems about why she loved him. If he said the wrong thing she'd bash his skull in with it. (And when we say huge, we mean... huge.) "I got it for myself."

"It's adorable." Tohru repeated with a small laugh. "It looks like Kyo-kun!" For a moment, Kyo wished he knew where Haru had gotten it, so his story would be a bit more believable. But he had no idea, so he just had to let the onigiri gush and pray Kagura didn't ask anything else. No, it wasn't Kagura who was asking him embarrassing questions. It was Yuki. The rat had been looking for Tohru, and had found her right around the 'it looks like Kyo-kun' part.

"Funny." He commented, though he didn't enter the room, simply peeked in from the doorway at the little doll Tohru was praising. "I'd thought you'd outgrown sleeping with stuffed animals by now."

"Bite me rat boy." Kyo growled defensively, seeing as there really wasn't any way to deny it without destroying his own alibi.

"My, my, the irony burns." Yuki rolled his eyes, before asking Tohru what he'd wanted to and continuing on his way.

"Yuki-kun's in a bad mood. " Tohru mused softly, blinking after him.

"Yun-chan is always like that." Kagura giggled lightly as she continued to smother Kyo with hugs.

"I suppose." The onigiri relented, though she still looked doubtful. A calling up the stairs, from Shigure that Hatori had come to drive 'Lady' Kagura home, saved poor Kyo from any more troubles for that night. Once Tohru and Kagura were out of his room he took the little cat from his desk and looked over it closely as he slid into his bed. It really wasn't that bad a gift. Yuki should get the stick out of his ass.

Yuki was lying on his stomach in bed, a book propped up against his pillow, as he stared at the page in front of him, as though he were considering reading it. This was the position he was in when Tohru found him that night, after leaving Kyo's room.

"Yuki-kun?" She called timidly from the doorway to get his attention before going over to him. "Yuki-kun, uhm, I-- was just... You seemed like something was upsetting you? Are you all right?" She was prying. Oh yes she was! But she was also concerned!

"Huh?" Yuki blinked up at her, admittedly a little shocked. He hadn't heard her coming. "Oh, um, yes, I'm---fine." He lied, a little jerkily.

The poor girl looked at him very hurt. "Are---Are you sure? If something's bothering you... ANYTHING at all... You, you can tell me!"

"Uh---" Damnit, he didn't like that look. "Today just... A few years ago..." He sighed in frustration. "The phrase 'bad memories' is just too cliché." He snorted grimly. All the girl could do was blink at him cluelessly, and offer him a sympathetic ear if he wanted it.

"I shouldn't whine." Yuki tried to shrug it off, though it was still pretty obvious that he was less than happy.

"Please Yuki-kun!" Tohru insisted. "It's making you unhappy, I'm MORE than happy to listen." She got one of those smiles that told you she was about to mention her mother. "No matter what it was it always made me feel better if I talked to my mother about it. Sometimes I didn't want to, but she always insisted. I would really like to try and be helpful like that for you."

"It, was the first day that I moved out of the Main House." He replied vaguely, not really sure just how much he was ready to remember just yet. Tohru was a good girl and was as helpful as she could be. But eventually, it got late and she sort of shooed herself out of Yuki's room. Calling good night to him and Kyo as she scurried down the hall to her own room.

It was the first day of school. They were starting their second year together, classes hadn't even started yet, and Yuki was already miserable. Why? What could have possibly happened in the half hour or so that he'd been in the building to create this melancholy feeling? Three words: Akito was there. Haru was still talking, but Yuki wasn't listening anymore. In fact, he just walked away. He could sort of feel Haru and Momiji's concerned looks on his back, but didn't turn to see if he was right or not. Kyo rolled his eyes at Yuki's reaction to the news. It's not like Akito was going to do anything if they ran in to him. They were at school after all. He was just about to say they leave, but Momiji beat him to it with a friendly reminder:

“We should all go to class soon! Or we'll be late!"

"You go on." Haru dismissed his reminder casually. "I'll be there in a minute." Momiji accepted that just fine and flounced off. The red head didn't really care either he just admonished the ox a little once the bunny was gone.

"I can't believe you showed that idiot president." He was referring to the proving of the hair color. Which had occurred just before the telling of Akito's arrival. "You're worse than Shigure."

"Showed him what?" Haru blinked, cluelessly. He'd been Black during his little demonstration, and now had no clue about it.

Haru got kicked in the shin. "You proved your hair color to someone else while you were Black you moron." This wasn't the first time it'd happened either. Haru blinked, unfazed by the kick, and thought that over for a moment.

"Oh?" He realized finally. "Oh well, he'll see worse." He shrugged it off casually.

"That's beside the point." Kyo seethed before going to stand over by the window.

Haru watched him for a moment, before speaking again. "What do you think about it?"

"About what?" Kitten replied tersely.

"Akito being here."

The red head was good and quite for a while. Akito, and school, only served to remind him about how little time he had before he got locked up. "Just go to class Haru,” he finally growled.

"Thought so." The ox nodded, understandingly, taking off for his class without another word. Kyo glared after him. He sounded like he understood. But he didn't know anything about it. Stupid bastard. He redirected his gaze out the window just in time to catch the unfolding drama between Yuki, Akito, and Tohru.

He was shaking. Akito had walked off about three minutes before Yuki noticed it, but he was trembling like a leaf, or a cornered mouse. Well, Tohru rescued him, and Kyo stalked away from the window to go to class. The onigiri appeared, dragging Yuki in later. Their classes were short since it was the first day, and they all got talked into yes, the badminton. When questioned on it, Hanajima gave off a not-quite-true dissertation on the rules and regulations of the game. This new set of rules soon led to quite a few tired children. Tired, but they were all pretty happy. Even if Kyo still felt inclined to grumble. Haru and Momiji got taken home in their car, and the other five children all walked.

On Shigure's whining about how terribly gross they were, showers were taken immediately and then Tohru scampered off to clean. Which was (eventually) how Yuki found himself in much the same situation, as he had been that January. In his room, considering doing his homework, and being interrogated by Tohru.

"I'm so sorry Yuki-kun! I'm prying..." She paused and sweat dropped. "But you seemed so very upset again..."Yuki knew. He knew that he couldn't just brush it off this time.

Yuki sighed, submitting to her `flawless' logic. "Ah---Close the door?" He requested before offering anything up. He knew what Kyo didn't know what Akito had done to him, and didn't know how much Shigure knew. Either way, he preferred to keep their knowledge as it was. After he was quite sure that the door was very closed, he spoke again, explaining with as little detail as possible just what Akito had done to him all those years.

The poor girl blinked at him. "That's horrible." Stating the obvious Tohru my dear? "I understand why it would upset you Yuki-kun." Now what to do to help him feel better?

"I told you before that I shouldn't whine." He reminded her with a weak little smile.

"No, no!" She returned the smile ten fold. "I'm glad, and it's all right."

"Just don't tell anyone, okay?" He requested, quietly adding, "I'm not sure how much anyone else kno---" He started, only to get cut off by a rather shrill shriek. Blinking over at her, he glanced down and saw a small sea of rats scurrying around his floor. "Oh, they won't hurt you." He assured her quickly, sweat dropping a little, just as a very irate Kyo burst in through his door. "Don't you ever knock?" He asked the cat in irritation.

"Not when Tohru's screaming, I don't." The red head shot back. A lot of the mice scurried away, over to Yuki when the cat entered.

"It's, it's okay." Tohru murmured swirly eyed as she got up. "Ah, and I understand Yuki-kun. I promise. Thank you for talking to me." Kyo moved closer to her, and more rats' pittered away. He glared around a little, like Yuki he was in a fairly bad mood, but he didn't have the luxury of being able to talk about it.

"I didn't ask for them to show up, stupid cat." He reminded Kyo crossly, as one of the smaller ones made it's way up onto his bed and nuzzled against him.

"I didn't say a word about that, you damn rat." The kitten told him tersely. He was sure Tohru was okay now, so, he was free to stalk out of the room, and did so. The onigiri looked between them for a moment before bending down and petting the little one nuzzling Yuki.

"Just startled me," She explained, since she wasn't one of those girls who were scared of mice because they were mice. That would be silly being a friend of the zodiac members and all.

"You get used to it." Yuki smiled softly at her and the mouse. He'd met that one before. "He likes you." He informed her softly.

That coerced a giggle from the girl. "Yes, I'll try not to be so startled next time. Can't be worrying Kyo-kun."

"Worry him if you want." Yuki shrugged. "It'd do him good to care about someone else for a change."

"But Kyo-kun is very kind." Tohru blinked. "And so are you."

"Hm," He knew that arguing with her would get him nowhere, nor did he want to, so, he just relented with, "Maybe." Tohru's smile widened and she soon found herself going to make dinner for the kind men she lives with.

Well, a little less than a month later they all go to Kyoko's grave. It's not exactly unpleasant. But well, seeing graves is never an exactly pleasant thing to do. Anyways, that night after all the fun, Tohru was sitting on the back porch drinking her tea, and Yuki was god knows where. But Kyo was right there in the living room. After not hearing much noise from the onigiri he went out on the porch to find her quite unconscious. Being the kind creature he is, he laid her out flat and was just leaning over her for a moment. Having a look at how happy and peaceful she looked. Even though she'd just been to her dead mothers grave.

Yuki had been walking through the hall, on his way down stairs to get something to drink, when he noticed that not only was Tohru's window open, but all her things were blowing everywhere. After going in to pick them up for her, he noticed a hat, and memories flooded through him. Yeah, those were some of the memories he hadn't been ready to face just yet. They left an uncomfortable squirming in his stomach, but he just tried to shrug it off and continued to put the things away. After doing that, he continued down stairs to get a glass of water, only to see Kyo leaning over a very sleeping Tohru. His stomach squirmed again, but he didn't actually DO anything, just paused to see what would happen next.

He wasn't doing too much, Kyo brushed a stray strand of hair away from her forehead as he spoke quietly.

"Hey, I'm sorry." This was an extremely rare opportunity to talk without talking to himself and feeling completely stupid. He felt kinda stupid talking to a sleeping person, but it was the best he was going to get. "You're always trying... You had no one, we just went to see your mother's grave and you still just kept trying. Kept smiling." He shook his head slowly. "That rotten Yuki and I don't try nearly that hard. I hope your being mixed up with us doesn't end up hurting you. I hope you don't think of me as a friend. It'll end up bad if anyone thinks that about me." The cat leaned back and pulled his knees up. He hated thinking about it. It made him mad and scared, and definitely hurt.

Yuki frowned a little. For some reason, sure it had crossed his mind, but for some reason it had never really sunk in. All the risk Tohru was putting herself at to be with them, risks she could just as easily not have taken. She had moved out, she could have stayed at her grandfather's, with her own family and been safe. But she had come back to live with them. Upon thinking about it in those terms, it really didn't make any sense to Yuki. Before, when he and Kyo had gone to get her, it had been a simple matter of missing her and wanting her back. But now? That move seemed selfish.

"I can't carry you Tohru... but it's cold out here... I'll get you a blanket." Kyonkichi muttered getting up. He was greeted with the sight of Yuki, though. His crimson eyes widened and he had to wonder how much the damn rat had heard. He couldn't ask... then he'd have to admit to having said it to begin with, so he just continued on his quest for a blanket. Yuki didn't say anything either. He simply turned around where he stood, his water forgotten and returned to his room, shut the door and climbed into bed without even bothering to undress.

Well, that little episode wasn't too bad. Of course, many much worse episodes occur. Like the rainy day when Kisa appears. You'll note: rainy. So Kyo is already crabby, and having Haru and Kisa at the house certainly WASN'T helping anything.

"What? Kisa is here?"

Haru glanced up at him, his calm gray eyes a bit less calm than normal, though he didn't lower the book he'd been reading, simply looked over it.

"If you MUST know," He started, a bit defensively; "It looked like Kisa's mother was about to snap, so we all agreed it'd be for the best to give them some time apart."

"Eh??" Kyo was rather oblivious to the recent goings ons. He'd been asleep. Cause it was raining. "What's wrong with 'em?"

"Eeeeh..." The ox considered how to answer. But, the cat should be able to relate as well as he could, so. "You know how it is for Zodiac members in school."

"Oi," The cat rolled his eyes. Yeah, he knew how that could get. But he just beat the shit out of them. "So where is she now?"

"With Yuki and Honda-san, I think."

"Pffffft." Kyo snorted irritably before heading back to his room. "Damn Yuki."

"You haven't changed." Haru grumbled lowly as Kyo left, quickly burying himself back into the overly erotic book that Shigure had shoved at him earlier.

Shigure peeked around the corner a little later. "I heard a grumpy Kyo-kun. You've already dispatched him?" he looked around carefully. "Haa-kun, I must say. I'm jealous. Only you seem to be able to annoy Kyo-kun quite like that. What is your secret?"

"History." Was all he replied with.

"Hmmm." Poor Shii-chan complained quietly. "He's already gone. So, unless I wish to risk personal injury I won't be able to play any tricks on him. What a waste of a perfectly good rainy day."

"Leave him alone, Sensei." Haru ordered simply, then blinked down at the page in front of him. "I didn't know you could do that with a post card." He commented, impressed.

"Ah yes, Aaya, Haa-san and I have tested that one. Believe me it's fun." He hid behind the corner before someone tried to hit him

"Have you tried the one with the milk jug on page one hundred and twenty?" Haru called after him before he could get too far away.

"If it's in there, we tried it. I like to make my stories realistic. It makes them more engaging." Was the soft call.

"You really are a pervert." Haru commented with a low whistle as the main character started doing the most interesting thing with a piece of string. That really is something amazing coming from Hatsuharu. Anyways, Shigure was hiding in the kitchen now and he heard that with his lovely dog-ears.

"Really Haa-kun, I'm sure you'll remember these things to try on some poor helpless lover of yours."

It was later that Haru found himself wandering around upstairs. He wasn't exactly sure how he'd gotten up there; he'd been looking for the bathroom. But that wasn't important. What was important was that he was up there, and that Kyo's door was open, and that the misdirectional ox happened to see a rather familiar stuffed cat laying haphazardly on the bed within said exposed room.

Kyo had been just taking a second to check on Kisa. He didn't show it the same, but he was worried about the kid too. He left the room to find Haru standing in his doorway, though.

"What?" The red head asked raising an eyebrow.

"I didn't know you liked it that much." Haru commented, tearing his eyes away from the stuffed cat to land on the living one. Kyo had no idea what the taller boy was talking about, so he moved over to the doorway as well until his eyes finally caught what Haru was talking about.

"Oh." Kitten offered as his reply. Why the hell was everyone buggin him about it? It was small, and it was the only even close to cutesy thing he'd ever owned in his life. Damn.

"I'm glad." Haru smiled again at him. That same, happy-silly Special-Yuki-Smile. "Where's the bathroom?" He asked then, sweat dropping a little.

"That door." Kyo jerked a thumb in the direction. He made sure the idiot went in the right door, and then tiredly crawled into his bed. "Stupid rain." he complained. And even though Yuki bugged him about it, he held the little stuffed thing as he fell back asleep.

He really should have known better. He shouldn't have let the stupid cat get him worked up. But, really, it wouldn't have happened if Kyo hadn't brought up Akito. But, whose fault it was didn't matter. (He would realize this later, too.) What mattered was that(at the moment) Yuki Sohma was unable to breath. And, like most people, considered this... well, bad.

"Damn rat." Kyo cursed. The stupid bastard looked like he was hurting, again. And honestly there was a difference between hating, wanting to beat, and wanting the person dead. So, he did what he could, he picked Yuki up and laid him out carefully on the couch and made to call Hatori. The dragon was going to be so mad at the both of them! Yuki wasn't too concerned about that at the moment, and simply waited impatiently for the doctor to get there, or, he did for a few minutes before his brain realized it wasn't getting near enough oxygen and he passed out. Just, luckily. Yuki didn't die. If he were anyone else he probably would have. But well, he has the great and masterful Hatori as his doctor. Once the dragon was satisfied, that once Yuki woke up, he'd be able to breath he went to BEAT the details of what had happened out of poor Kyo. Poor, poor Kyo.

"Explain." He ordered the cat in quite the severe tone, glowering unpleasantly at the orange haired creature.

"Hey, it's not my fault." The red head muttered defensively. "We were arguing and he freaked out."

"What did you say to him?"

"Eh, somethin' about Akito. I wasn't really paying attention to it." Kyo shrugged, backing up just a step so Hatori couldn't reach him. See, he hadn't thought about it because Akito had gotten into their arguments before and the other boy hadn't freaked out like that. Remember at the lake? Akito...?

Hatori growled, and repeated, more forcefully. "What. Did. You. Say. To. Him?"

"It was nothing worse than what we usually say." Kyo thought about it a minute longer. "Well, it kinda kept going." Since neither Shigure nor Tohru were there to stop them. It was a touchy subject for the both of them, honestly. The words hadn't been that much sharper than usual, but the two of them kept getting edgier with each mention. "I think it was the usual... You're completely relying on Shigure... What the hell are you calling me lame for. You're the one who was locked up useless in his room for years.... Somethin' like that."

Hatori growled again, and bit out a long stream of incoherent and rude things. The terms `God', `Damnit', and `moron' came up quite a bit, though.

"Eh, bite me." His younger cousin muttered absently. Yuki wasn't dead so he wasn't too worried about it.

"Don't bring that up with him." Hatori ordered, once he'd calmed down a bit. "Ever again."

"Tch, fine, whatever." He hadn't exactly been the one to start it to begin with. And what was he exactly? Chopped liver? Just stand there while Yuki insults him?

(To be fair, Yuki doesn't realize how much some of the things he says would sting Kyo. Seeing, as he doesn't know what part he plays with the cats curse and all.)

"In the mean time," Hatori continued with a sigh. "I need to get back to Akito now. You can take care of him when he wakes up. Make sure he doesn't get sick and that he STAYS CALM."

"And I should do it... Because?" Kyo hissed. "I think the bastard is perfectly capable of caring for himself." The cat's eyes narrowed as he remembered some of the things that had been said to him. "Since, rat boy is soooo superior and all. What the HELL does he need cat boy's help?"

Hatori glared darkly between the sleeping rat and the sarcastic cat "You really weren't paying attention, were you?"

“Eh, bite me.” Kyo rolled his eyes. “I won't let him die or anything. So chill.”

The Dragon kept his dark gaze on his younger cousin. "See that you don't." He ordered softly. "And, be sure to call me if anything goes wrong."

“Yeah, yeah.” The pretty kitty crossed his arms moodily. “Trust me a little, I can't kick his ass if he's dead now I can I? Akito'd probably lock me up right now if he got word of that.”

Hatori almost huffed a little and bid his farewell to the cat and wandered off, to the door, to leave.

Snorting in mild irritation Kyo likewise went to the kitchen. Tohru had work and Shigure was out. So if he intended to take care of anyone he would have to be the one to make food.

Yuki was pretty sure he didn't like the dream he was having, and awoke rather suddenly to the scent of soup? Who would be cooking?

Of course, it was Kyo. He hadn't been sure what to make to help the rat. Since he'd had an asthma attack, rather than actually being sick. So he made soup just by default. But NO LEEKS this time. Once the soup was finished, he tasted it and almost figured it was too good for that damn rat. But he put it in a bowl and brought it out anyways. Only pausing to blink at his conscious cousin before setting it unceremoniously on the table. If he heard one word about how his presentation sucked… So help him…

"You cooked?" Yuki stared at the bowel for a moment, trying to still his shaking hands. "For me?"

The red head one of his nastier glares fly. “Yeah. Eat it or don't. I don't care, but Hatori told me to take care of you.”

"Hatori did?" He then frowned a little, sniffing the soup suspiciously. "What'd you do to it, cat?"

“Augh!” Kyo made a frustrated noise. “Cook for yourself then. And yeah, Hatori was kind of here because you weren't breathing.”

Yuki didn't reply to that, he simply stared at his soup as he tried to sort through his dream.

No matter what he said, Kyo was a BIT interested to know what people thought of his cooking. But when Yuki made it clear he wasn't going to say anything, Kyo went to get his own food. Screw that stupid rat.

As much as he really didn't like Kyo, he didn't particularly want to be alone at the moment either.

"Don't." He'd honestly rather have been with Tohru, but Kyo was all that was there. "Don't--go, damn it."

Yes. Well. Just the fact that Yuki was speaking to him was enough to stop Kyo in his tracks. He pivoted and looked questioning at him. Even though the way he had his hands on his hips made him look more annoyed than confused.

Yuki simply repeated his request in reply to the look. "I said, don't go."

That was a bigger shock than Yuki talking to him in an ALMOST nice manner. So Kyo flopped back down listlessly next to the table and eyed the other teen very suspiciously.

The rat could feel his cousin's gaze almost burning a hole through his head. What did Kyo want? An explanation?

"I don't want to be alone right now." He grumbled, regardless of whether Kyo actually wanted a reason or not.

“Like I care.” The kitten sighed. “I'll sit here and take care of you like Hatori said.” The dragon might kill him if he didn't, actually.

"Oh, well, I guess--" He paused, arguing with his pride for a moment, before muttering quickly, "thanks". Not to say he was any fonder of the cat, the gratitude was purely principle based.

Kyo waved an annoyed hand. Pretty much ignoring the gratitude. He hated Yuki and Yuki still hated him. So it was pretty much a `What the hell ever, this is over once Tohru gets home' wave.

"Why would you bring that up like that?" Yuki asked slowly, after a few minutes of silence.

“Because you got no problem bringing up stuff that's just as touchy with me.” Kyo pointed out.

"What the hell are you talking about, cat?" The purple haired youth asked sourly, it was his turn to eye the other.

“Never mind.” The cat growled. “What do you want me to do? Apologize?”

"Like you would, anyway."

“Exactly. So you should just let it drop.”

"I think it's a perfectly reasonable question." Yuki pointed out.

“Well, ya know what? I don't.” The cat glared. “Besides it's true.”

Yuki didn't say anything. Simply glared. Kyo didn't know anything.

Yeah, well, Kyo was pissed off too. Yuki was annoyed because he HAD been locked up. But now he was free. Where as Kyo had an entire future of being locked up to `look forward to'.

“Yeah well, it's true.” The red head snorted. “Besides what are you bitchin' about? You aren't locked up now, and don't give me any bullshit about the Sohma cage.”

"You don't know anything about it." He replied coolly. "You'll never know what it was like in there no matter how long you're locked up."

The cat's hands fisted and he looked away from the rat. “It's your fucking fault.” He grumbled before getting up and going to the front door to leave. Sadly for him, he bumped into Tohru, who was coming in. Maybe, it WAS luckily because in the moment of confusion, Kyo grabbed his pants in his mouth and fled. He'd had enough of this damn conversation, and that damn rat.

Yuki snorted in disgust with him, and turned his attention to Tohru, and the growing sea of rodents on the floor.

Tohru blinked in that clueless manner of hers before noticing the mice.

“Eek!” Her hair stood on end before she remembered. “Oh, Yuki-kun! Are you all right? And what about Kyo-kun?” She scuttled over to him worriedly.

"I'm fine." Yuki confirmed with a small smile at her. "And, don't worry about him. He's just pouting."

“Oh, I, well, Okay.” She sputtered helplessly before looking at the bowl of soup oddly.

"Honda-san?" Yuki raised an eyebrow at her, after a few minutes of her staring at the soup.

“I guess Kyo-kun made dinner.” She finally deduced with a smile before excused herself and spluttered off.

Hatsuharu was lost. Again. Lost and wandering around the compound, actually. It was just lucky for him that he managed to find his way to Hatori's house. So, upon reaching this place, he walking up to the doctor's porch, and knocked on the door.

The dragon wandered out from behind his desk and opened the door.

“Lost?” He asked idly, not at all surprised to see the boy.

"Yep." Haru confirmed with a small nod. His misdirectional nature was an odd thing. He'd never admit to it, but when asked point blank, he didn't deny being lost either. It never failed to amaze him, somehow.

“Well, then, just wait a moment. I need to finish this then I can take you back.” He left the door open for the ox and headed back to his desk. He was side tracked by the ringing of the phone though.

“Hello?” he greeted but winced and moved the phone away from his head as Ayame's voice blared through.

“Tori-san, you just won't believe it! My dear sweet brother came to the shop today with Tohru! We put her into one of the outfits and Yuki was ABSOLUTELY drooling!” The snake babbled.

“Ayame,” Hatori protested,

“Dirty, Dirty, Tori-san! Nothing like that!”

Haru raised an eyebrow on Hatori's end. The doctor was holding the phone a good two feet away from his head, and it wasn't hard to hear the snake clearly through the receiver.

“Ayame,” The doctor rubbed his temple.

“Oh, but Tori-san! I really did get to talk him for a little while and—“

“Ayame!” Hatori insisted. “I have something I need to do right now. I PROMISE to call you when I get home.” And with that he hung up with a sour expression.

"Drooling?" Haru repeated dryly, eyeing his cousin's phone oddly.

“So says Ayame.” The doctor confirmed. Going to find his shoes, his head hurt and he didn't much feel like doing paper work now. So, he figured he'd take Haru home.

"Yuki was?" Haru continued to question, as he followed Hatori back. "I guess, I should have noticed sooner."

“Ayame is well known for his exaggerations.” Hatori shrugged and headed for the door.

"Maybe." He agreed reluctantly. "But, Yuki--smiles for her."

Hatori just shrugged and they set back out for Haru's room.