Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Gone Full Circle ❯ The Bridge Between Unfortunate Events ( Chapter 10 )

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

Gone Full Circle O

Chapter 10: The Bridge Between Unfortunate Events

Eventually they were kicked out since Ha'ri had to go see Akito. Shigure and Ayame returned to the dog's house and had a rather pleasant afternoon. It was even more fun when Yuki got home. With Haa-kun too no less. How very amusing! But not Kyo-kun? No, he was literally dragged to Shishou's dojo by Kagura. Kazuma really just couldn't HELP but snicker when Kagura dragged Kyo up to his dojo. He considered thanking her for making sure he was on time, but resisted, and simply helped Kyo to his feet. Poor abused Kyo.

"Eh," The cat glared over at Kagura, but the look disappeared as he looked up at Kazuma. "Hey, Shishou." He smiled a little bit. It was gonna be great to come back here. Even if Kagura was there, he still got to see Kazuma now.

"Hello, Kyo." Kazuma nodded, smiling. He'd decided the night before that it really was better that Kyo was over his crush, and that it should only make him feel more comfortable around him, not less. So, that's how he was determined to act. Comfortable. Right? We don't know how good an actor Kazuma is, but Kyo didn't notice anything different throughout the lesson. And he was really rather sad when it was over. Especially since Kagura was trying to talk him into letting her come home with him afterwards. "Kyo," Kazuma interrupted their little quarrel. "I'd like to talk to you a little. Alone." He added quickly, to make sure Kagura didn't try and stay. "Will Tohru-san be too upset if you miss dinner?"

"No," The cat pulled away from the boar anxiously. "I told her I'd be late." Kagura pouted a little, but did indeed pitter off. Then Kyo went over to his Shishou to see what he wanted.

"I'm sorry." Kazuma apologized as the first thing he said once Kagura was out of hearing range. "For all of it."

Kyo blinked helplessly, "I'm not-- Really, it's okay." He wasn't angry about anything. At least, nothing Kazuma had done.

"I shouldn't have just done that." He insisted. "I should have asked first." Of course, if he had, it wouldn't have happened, but that really wasn't the point. "So, I'm sorry." He was sorry for just leaving too, but he didn't mention that.

"Shishou," He grabbed the man's arm and looked at him pleadingly. "You were right. I needed it, but I'd have never done it on my own." Kyo didn't want him to apologize. "Please, it's okay."

"If you're sure." He relented finally. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" There had been a reason he'd asked if Tohru would be upset.

"Sure." The cat smiled. "And you're not cooking."

"Oh?" Kazuma returned the smiled in amusement. "Glad to see your faith in my culinary skills has improved so immensely."

"Yep, and I figure you must get tired of eating your own cooking every once in a while." His Shishou really was a horrible cook.

He snickered lightly in response. "Yes, sir." He relented without too much trouble.

***

So the pretty kitty went off and disappeared into the kitchen. He hadn't been in here since his birthday. Anyways, he made his beloved Kazuma some food that wasn't burned in any ways shape or form, and there was a high potential of it actually tasting good. He'd put up with Kazuma's cooking for years, and he would never eat it again. Kazuma watched him carefully while he cooked. Absently, he wondered just how good a job he was doing of the whole acting comfortable thing.

Honestly, It was good until the watching thing actually. But then again, Kyo is the king of paranoia when it comes to people staring at him.

"Something wrong, Shishou?" He wondered after his valiant attempts, to ignore the feeling of eyes on him, failed.

"Ah, not wrong, exactly." He shook his head a little, before blurting out. "I was just thinking that you gave up on your little crush rather suddenly, that's all."

"Gave up...?" The feline blinked as he repeated that. "Hell no."

Kazuma really had to stare a little to that. "Eh?" He cocked his head. "But, yesterday--you said, Kyo…" He groaned. "Just how illegal do you want to make this?"

"I don't know. How much more illegal can I possibly make it?" The cat asked dryly.

"Quite a bit, if you want me to be your father." He pointed out in a withering tone.

"That wasn't what I WANTED to say." His red headed little charge corrected, looking over at the timer to make sure the food wouldn't burn, then going over to the man. "But Tohru was right there. I didn't think you'd want me to say it with her right there. And, I think I already traumatized her enough for a few days already."

"Oh," His tone was torn between excitement and disappointment. Which was exactly what he'd been feeling since the day before.

The cat stuck out his tongue. "I've already been waiting ten years." He smiled a bit more since Kazuma was being amusing. "I'm not just gonna drop it now."

"That would have been why I was so confused about it."

"Well, no confusion now." Kyo snorted and returned to his cooking station. The food would be ready soon and he could give Kazuma something actually worth eating.

***

"You're amazing." Kazuma almost drooled, only half joking after taking a bite. It was some of the best food he'd had in, well, a while. Tohru's breakfast had been good too, but Kyo's cooking really was something. Something HE very much appreciated, anyway. Another one of those very happy little blushes spread from Kyo's nose to his cheeks. He didn't think he was a better cook than Tohru. But he didn't say anything to refute the half compliment he'd been given; he would have with most people. He was just happy Kazuma liked it.

"Kyo--" He started, but then cut himself off and rerouted his sentence. "Thank you."

"No problem." The cat ate some himself, but he remembered that he'd asked Tohru to save him some of her food, so it was only a little. Then he cleaned up his cooking utensils and sat quite happily with his very favorite person.

That Same Day: Earlier During School

Yuki didn't really know what to think about any of it. He'd never seen Kyo like that. It's true, he'd known of the Cat's `True form', but he'd never actually seen it before then. He didn't know what to think or what to feel. Should he hate Kyo even more? Should he be frightened? Should he feel SORRY for him? He didn't know. He didn't even notice Haru approaching, until he actually was next to him, even then, though he did look up at him expectantly, he didn't say anything.

"Did, something happen?" The ox inquired casually, looking out over the schoolyard. "You seem pretty down." Yuki raised his eyebrows, a little surprised. But, that look faded quickly enough to be replaced by a weak little smile.

"I'm trying so hard to fight it." He admitted softly. "Don't say things like that." He didn't really want to feel or think anything about it.

Haru's black side was laughing helplessly at Yuki's dramatics. "You're 'fighting it'?" Haru asked, indulging a little bit of his darker side with some disbelieving sarcasm. Yuki's lips contorted dryly, a little, but he just changed the subject, wanting to get it OFF of him.

"How's Kagura?" Was the first thing he thought of, so it just came out.

"How should I know? Our houses are no where near each other." The ox wondered. "But, I think she's okay. I haven't heard otherwise." He looked over at Yuki questioningly. "Did something happen to Kagura-nee?"

Yuki's eyes narrowed a little, in quiet frustration. "Kagura is strong." He replied vaguely at last. "Something did happen but she wouldn't say."

What a bunch of bullshit... How stupid did Yuki REALLY think he was? "But," Haru sighed, deciding not to push it. "She's worried about you, you know. Honda-san." The way Yuki looked over at him made him realize his cousin hadn't noticed. "You really didn't notice?" he asked dryly. "Whether you tell me how you're feeling or not is one thing. But you shouldn't make her worry. It's the least you could do." He laid his head down tiredly on his arm. "And it's not like she's the only one worried. I am too."

That wasn't exactly surprising. "You're always worrying so much about other people." He commented with a small snort. He knew he shouldn't laugh about it, but it was just SO typically Haru.

"It's just my personality." The younger boy confirmed. "Still, I hate watching you suffer." Yuki really didn't deserve it. But then again, neither did Kyo. "I want you to enjoy life." That was what he deserved after all the crap he'd already been through.

"Ah--" Yuki started, but then cut himself off and simply relented. "You're right." Haru was satisfied with that and he let Yuki go then. He knew there wasn't much point in any further conversation with the rat, anyways.

***

It was a few days later that it happened. A few days after he'd spoken with Yuki, Haru found himself wandering around the grounds. Lost. Again. It was during this wandering that he saw it. Orange. On the roof, there was something orange. That meant...

"Kyo?" He called cautiously, blinking curiously at the roof where the orange thing was. It was Kyo. But well, he wasn't paying attention. Tohru had gone in to talk with Akito. He wasn't allowed to go, so Hatori had gone in with Shigure and Yuki, with her. He was very intent on watching the door when he heard the call and just about fell off the roof in surprise.

"Crap!" He muttered, turning to glare at his cousin on the ground. "What?"

"Ah--hi?" Haru greeted, waving a little in mild confusion. "Why are you here?"

"Not that it's any of your fuckin' business." The red head snorted. "I'm waiting for Tohru." He jerked his thumb towards the big building behind him where the onigiri was.

"Honda-san?" Haru repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, why's SHE here?" Akito had been in a bad mood earlier. Even Kureno had retreated from the head's rooms. He knew it couldn't be a good time for Tohru to be in there. Could this have something to do with the mysterious incident Yuki had mentioned?

"I don't know WHAT the hell she's thinking. But I'm pretty sure someone has to ask if she can still stay with us." The cat glanced over his shoulder nervously again.

"Huh?" He frowned a little up at his older cousin. "Uh--Kyo, I talked to Yuki the other day and he said that something happened, but he wouldn't tell me what." He explained slowly. "Does this have anything to do with that?"

"He wouldn't tell you?" Kyo sneered. "What a drama queen. Yeah somethin' happened! Tohru saw my other form."

"Wha...?" That frown deepened a little. "How? Who?"

“Shishou took my beads, genius."

"Shihan's back?" Well! No one had bothered to tell HIM, thank you! "Why'd he do that?"

"Tch." He made an annoyed noise. "Yeah he's back, if you care so much go ask him yourself."

***

Haru didn't say anything else, just took off for the gate. Kyo was standing on top of it, anyway. It wasn't easy to miss. Why would Shihan do that? What could he have been thinking? Had he even thought about what would have happened if it hadn't worked?

Well, yes. He had. But we've gone through this already.

"Shihan!" Haru called, all but banging the man's door down. He'd check the dojo's training rooms first, no sign of Kazuma. That meant he was in his house, which was what Haru was currently assaulting. For those who would like to know, yes, he was Black. The gray haired man came to the door languidly and opened it with a surprised blink.

"Hello, Hatsuharu." Yes, what a great way to be welcomed back! With a surprise visit from Black Haru!

"What were you THINKING?" Was the first thing out of dear Haru's mouth, or, at least the first intelligent thing, anyways. There was some indignant spluttering before hand, but that's hardly worth mentioning.

"When I did what?" Kazuma had no way of knowing that Haru knew what he'd done.

Haru replied in a sharp hiss, lest anyone over hear. “When you took his BEADS."

"Oh." That was a bit of a surprise. "That it was what was best for Kyo." He raised an amused eyebrow. "You don't think I should do what's best for Kyo?"

"NO!" Was the first thing out of his mouth, before he hand a chance to think. When he did, it was followed up by, "Well, yeah, but--" and finally, "Damnit, now they're going to be even closer!" He whined profusely.

"That's for the best." Kazuma nodded. With Tohru's help Kyo might be able to get over his crush on him. Besides, the cat deserved a close friend, at the very least. "And I think Kyo is happy."

"Great." He muttered quite sarcastically. " Just fucking PERFECT." Stupid straight boys!

Kazuma smiled at that. It was cute! "You don't want Kyo to end up with a young girl like Tohru," He murmured quietly, remembering a previous conversation he'd had with Haru. "Or an old man like me, do you?" Haru made an odd little frustrated noise, but just shook his head.

"Doesn't matter what I want." He muttered finally. "You won't tell him, will you?"

"No." The older Sohma agreed. "Will you eventually?" He wondered.

"Don't know what good it'd do." He admitted softly. "He won't want to hear it."

He paused, giving Kazuma an odd little look. "Do YOU ever intend to tell him, Shihan?" He wanted to know, his tone unreadable. After all, Kyo actually cared about Kazuma. Kazuma telling him actually WOULD make a difference.

"No, I don't." It was so amazingly wrong that he wouldn't dare. No matter how old Kyo got, or how much Kyo wanted it.

"Well, then you are in no position to be telling me to, Shihan." He felt he should point out, turning sharply on his heels. "Besides, at least Kyo actually reciprocates with you. " He added lowly, before turning back, bowing stiffly to his teacher, and walking off. No matter how annoyed he got, he still had to pay Kazuma the proper respects, after all.