Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ I Lov'er ❯ Chapter 1

I, Lov'er

A Fruits Basket Fanfiction by Andrea Readwolf <andrea_readwolf @hotmail.com>

August/September 2003

Pairings: Yuki + Tohru, Kyo + Tohru, Kyo x Yuki/ Yuki x Kyo, Kyo x Yuki x Tohru, Yuki x Kyo x Tohru; Momiji + Hatsuharu + Kagura

Warnings: Kyo Point of View; Yaoi smut, with a small splattering of plot and hetero smut, too. Akito's death.

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket does not belong to me... the anime would be happily into its second (if not third) season right now, and the manga would have long ago been translated into English (curse TokyoPop's slowness, but bless their willingness to go through the hassle just to make money!)

Summary: Kyo likes/wants Tohru. Yuki likes/desires Tohru. Frustrated that they can't have *her*, they have each other instead.

I love her.

Is it really that surprising? Her with her goofy smile and so easy to please, ready to please attitude? Those stupid clothes that would look gay on any other person. Anyone else but her...

Her. I love her.

It was a strange feeling. It is a strange feeling, I should say. Settled in the center of your chest... It feels like something is being torn in two different directions. And if that wasn't enough, someone starts twisting your guts into little bow-tied knots.

Sometimes it hurts so bad--and this is love?

Yeah. It's love; 'cause even when it hurts, it feels good. Like my soul could fly right out of my body because she is looking at me. Smiling at me. Touching me. I love her touch.

I still remember that morning... walking into the kitchen and having my world crash down around my feet. That fateful morning... Would things be different now if I hadn't woken early that morning? If I hadn't gone downstairs for a glass of milk?

Yuki was already awake--he always was now that he was an University student. If he was to continue living at home and attend classes he needed to rise early enough to catch the morning trains---and living at home was *not* an option. Not even I could leave this house. It was our first real *home*.

I'd had my chance to leave, to go live with my Master once again, but after that night when Tohru first saw the cat's true form, I haven't had any desire to leave this place... to leave her. Oh, I do help out at the dojo. In fact, I'm second in charge; pretty cool huh?

But the dojo has nothing to do with that morning. That morning was when I saw them.

It wasn't anything torrid. In fact, it was sickeningly domestic. Yuki sitting at the kitchen table with Tohru. Tohru leaning near to add something to his plate--or was it his coffee? Oh, whatever!--and their lips gently brushed.

Like I said, nothing torrid. Just a chaste little kiss.

Maybe she had more to do with Yuki being up and out of bed, all awake and fresh looking, in the mornings than his University. The bed he and Tohru now share...

They didn't see me. They didn't hear me---one of the quirks of being the cat. I *can* be quiet and sneaky, you know. No, really. Honestly, I can. I did. I escaped that sticky situation with stealthy ease and deposited my sorry ass straight up onto the roof. My roof. My spot.

At least, that's what *she* calls it... and the princess is always right, ne? That's where she found me an hour later after Yuki left.

"I thought you might be here!" she declared happily. "Won't you come down for breakfast, Kyo?"

I wasn't hungry, but the sound of my name rolling off her lips.... I could never deny her anything anyway. Especially when she asked...

Nothing seemed different about her... except that I'd *seen* her.... Her and Yuki. Kissing. In the kitchen. At the kitchen table.

I wanted to ask her about it, but before I could work up the courage to say anything she was dancing out the door on her way to the main house.

The main house. Now there was another place she'd worked her magic. She's managed to woo and charm almost every Souma. Even Hiro and Akito had warmed to her--and that was saying a lot. I'm convince that Akito fell in love with her, too. In the short time she started to visit him, he changed so drastically... for the better, thankfully. I don't know what the other juuinshi might have done if he'd managed to somehow get any *worse*...

Was there anyone, really, who didn't love Tohru? Even Kagura was good about it. She loves Tohru, too. She knows what it's like to love her, and to receive Tohru's unending love in return. Of course, I'm sure Hatsuharu and Momiji have *something* to do with that crazy woman's acceptance, but every time I think of those three together I get squicked out, so let's not go there.

I loved her. But I couldn't have her. She was Yuki's. Once again, he'd taken my chance away. We fought more that week then we had in the last four years. It was my fault--I'd start something, he'd finish it. Later, Tohru would patch me back up and then worry over us.... Which would cause Yuki to worry about her and be more annoyed at me....

And then, one day as Tohru sat patching me up again, she laid her head down in my lap and cried.

I was frantic. I didn't know what to do. If I hugged her, I would transform and *then* what good could I be? If I sat there and did nothing, she might think I was put off or something. So in the end, I did the only thing I could think of: I touched her. Hesitantly, I petted her head, and then with a little more confidence, I stroked her hair and shoulders.... stroking circles over her back, fingers tangling in her long dark hair. So unlike my own carrot top orange... So unlike Yuki's silver-spun silk.

The thought of Yuki brought my hands up short. The memory of him and Tohru kissing in the kitchen was still too fresh in my mind to forget.

"K-Kyo, daiski!" she cried quickly, red-rimmed eyes staring up into mine. And then she leaned forward to press her lips to mine... and for one blissful, shock-filled second I felt her body against mine, her soft bosom pressing into my chest, her arms folded around me, and mine against her.... and then there was a loud puff of displaced air.

"Sumimasen!" she cried before running from the room. No, not running. Fleeing. And not the room either. She was fleeing from me. I didn't go down to dinner that night.

It wasn't any really big surprise, though, when I crept downstairs later in the middle of the night, after I was sure everyone had gone to bed--even that crazy dog---and found three perfect looking onigire waiting patiently for me.

As I sat at the table, munching on the rice balls, I wondered what I should do. Mostly my thoughts just ran in circles.

Tohru kissed me. Tohru told me she likes me. I like Tohru, too. But I *saw* her and Yuki kissing. Tohru kissed me. Tohru kissed Yuki. Or was that Yuki who kissed Tohru? I like Tohru. Tohru likes me. Yuki likes Tohru.

These thoughts chased each other around and around inside my head until I growled aloud with frustration. He must have been standing there for some time before I noticed him, though. Yuki, wide awake--and dressed, even--leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, and just watching me.

"You love her." It wasn't a question.

"I could say the same to you."

We both knew it was true, and no one said anything for the longest stretch of silence that has ever extended between the two of us. In fact, I think it was the longest stretch of silence that had *ever* existed between a cat and rat.

"I don't want to hurt her."

The quiet admission took a lot to say.

"Me, either."

Our eyes met, held... and then looked away. I know we were thinking the same thing. The Souma family is cursed. The very name 'Souma' was a synonym for the words "pain" and "misery". But in five years...

"I still remember the night Shigure and I found her, living just off the road in that tent.... She had a fever, but was still determined not to impose."

His smile was a little wistful I suppose, but mine, I knew was nothing but rueful.

"I still remember that morning, screaming her head off for a vet."

There was no hope for it. We both smiled and even laughed a little.

"I love her, you know. So much it hurts sometimes."

"Yes, me too."

"It's crazy."

"No doubt about it."

"I just want her to be happy. I want to be the one to make her happy."

"Yes, I know."

We stared at each other. Somewhere over this bizarre conversation, I'd stood and washed my dish off. Now I stood not a meter away from Yuki. There was a tension in the air--sort of like the ones that tingle when we're about to fight, but completely different. Charged. The air was charged.

"We could....?"

Tension between the cat and rat wasn't uncommon by any means, but this was making me nervous. Uncomfortable... uncharted territories. My mouth was dry, my heart racing. I was tired of fighting him all the time, of getting my ass kicked all the time, but what other course was there for the cat and rat?

I licked my dry lips and tried.

"Listen, Yuki, I'm tired of fighting you all the time."

Yes. I know. It started freezing in hell that night. It was more than just being tired... I was actually *weary* of it... I didn't want to fight him anymore. The cat didn't want to fight the rat anymore.

So quietly, so quiet that I wouldn't have heard it if I hadn't been standing so close, he whispered, "Me, too."

"I'm saying I don't want to fight you anymore," I clarified. And I knew I was trying to instigate a fight then. I wanted him to argue. I wanted him to call me a 'baka neko' and slap me or something.

"I understand."

"Not as the Cat and Rat, not as Kyo and Yuki," I tried one last time.

"No more, Kyo," he agreed softly...

Had he stepped closer to me? Or had I? It must have been him because his fingers skimmed lightly over my cheek, and he was leaning against me, not the other way around. He was the one to whisper, "Hold me," before pressing his lips to mine....

What the hell was this? Everyone kiss Kyo night?

I opened my mouth to protest--and received his tongue instead. I reached up to push him away---and ended up holding him closer, so that not just his lips, but his entire body pressed against mine.

Oh, gods. It felt so good, being pressed up against another body, a real, warm, fleshy body that wasn't trying to hurt you. That was pressing back against yours, writhing and undulating against yours, causing all these star-blazing feelings to shoot straight through your entire body and ignite in your groin. To hold a body and not hear that annoying "poof!" sound.

I think my lips are the first to draw away, but they don't get very far, finding his chin and ear.

"My room," Yuki pants, his fingers slipping under my shirt. "It's closer."

I'm really not sure how we get there. All I do know is that we got there, and were on the bed, writhing nakedly against each other, practically without a clue as to what the hell we were supposed to be doing. I know *I* had never thought about sex with a guy before, at least not with myself as one of the parties involved. Momiji was quite generous with facts one just didn't want to know, but at the moment, they were all I had to go on.

Spreading Yuki's thighs I thrust my hips against his pelvis. I must have done it right because I know it felt damn good for me and the sounds Yuki was making said he liked it, too. But he obviously knew a whole lot more about two guys and sex then I did because he's the one who said, "Kyo, want you... inside me... please..."

Yes, I nearly bolted for the door right then and there. I won't deny it. How the fuck did he expect me to be 'inside' him when he didn't have the proper... and then it hit me... and I did try to bolt. Good thing his legs were already wrapped tightly around me, as were his arms.

"Please... Kyo...." he moaned against my lips. Fuck, he was so damn intoxicating like this. How the hell could I have missed this siren? Oh, yeah, up until about ten minutes ago we were mortal enemies. Good reason.

"I don't know... how..." I managed to get out between messy kisses and surprised gasps. Oh gods! Who knew a dick rubbing up against yours would feel so damn good?

"Lube," he growled, and then, before I knew what was going on, I found myself lying on my back, Yuki above me, over me, stretching his body across my to reach his nightstand drawer.... and recoiling back with an innocent looking tube of gel.

All hail the makers of lubricant. They are gods.

He was kissing me again--I suppose to distract me from what he was about to do as he took my fingers and coated them with the super slippery gel and then wrapped my arm back around his waist. I was ignorant of the matters of male sex, though, and it wasn't until he worked the first finger inside his body that I caught a clue of what was happening.

My fingers curled--trying to fist--and the only thing that stopped him from screaming was biting down hard on his lip. His body's weight was off my chest now, his hips angling down towards my pelvis, crushing my trapped hand. I watched the tiny trail of blood seep down his chin.

"Kyo... more..." he pleaded, raising his hips up slightly and coercing my fingers to unclench. I don't know how he did it, but in less then a minute he was fucking my hand, tiny moans like a kitten's mew escaping his sweet rosy lips with every thrust of his pelvis.

"More, Kyo," urged me on. And, "Want you, please," had me eating out of the palm of his hand--literally, I was nibbling on his fingers when his other hand reached for my penis and squeeze. "Want you inside me."

Okay, so maybe he had to guide me through that, too. It wasn't that I was stupid or anything... just really ignorant on this subject, so I needed a lot of hands-on practice. He was more than willing to help, just so long as he got what he wanted.

Yuki was a very demanding lover. If I hadn't figured that out the first time we did it in his room, with him riding me like a crazed maniac, then definitely by the third, fourth, fifth time that night.... Yeah. Five times in one night. Don't ask me how. I blame it on teenage hormones. So what if we were in our twenties at the time.

It was one of the most mind-blowing nights of my entire life.

And if that wasn't enough, Yuki was a freak. Oh yeah. The sex was great, every single time, but Yuki, man... Who knew the quiet, proper looking little rat was an exhibitionist? I swear, there isn't a room left in Shigure's house that we didn't screw in.

*And* we didn't get caught, which was the really amazing thing.

Well, that's not exactly true. We got caught once. It was the last room we had left to christen. Perhaps we saved it for last *because* it was *her* room. Still, it was the last room left in the entire house. We'd even returned for seconds and thirds in the kitchen and sitting room before finally making our way to *her* room.

It was a Sunday. Shigure was out for the afternoon, and Tohru was visiting the main house.

We did it right on her bed, Yuki spreading the towel over the bedspread and taking extra care to stay *on* it even as he thrust into me. Oh, yeah, we switched positions regularly, depending on our moods. And right now he was sitting on Tohru's bed guiding my hips up and down on his cock, his mouth sucking on my neck and shoulder as I keened and begged for more.

Blame it on my cat's instincts that I heard the door, but something convinced me to peek an eye open.

And I came, shuddering, screaming her name.

"Tohru!"

Behind me, Yuki's breath hitched, and he looked up at me--I'd never screamed out anyone's name during these times--and then he saw her, too. With a startled "Tohru!" Yuki came inside me.

Oh gods... the rose in her cheeks. The hitch of her breath, catching in her breasts. Her wide blue eyes staring at us.

The sight of her there melded with the touch and feel of Yuki behind me and my own breath hitches. Oh gods... we're both naked, and Tohru's right there...

"Um... I just.... ah, Akito's dying," Tohru breathed, mouth working several times before her voice actually sounded out. "Hatori... Hatori asked me to come over here and get you. He said... He said Akito won't.... Akito won't make it through the night...."

And that was all it took for Yuki to stiffen behind me.

Tohru continued to stare at us for several more seconds before her nervousness and embarrassment of the situation finally got to her and she fled the room, calling over her shoulder, "I'll just, um, wait downstairs."

It took Yuki and me another moment before we finally moved, his cock slipping out of my body with a sloppy 'pop' as I moved to grab our clothes from the floor.

"We... don't... *have* to go..." I mention softly, handing him his shirt before pulling mine on.

"I have to go," he whispers, holding onto his shirt.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, and more shit.

I finish dressing quickly before turning to help Yuki get dressed. I take more time with his dress than mine. Yuki was always impeccably dressed. We joined Tohru down in the living room nearly ten minutes later. And then it was the tense walk to the main house; not even Tohru tried to break the silence.

It was horrible, seeing all those family members hovering around the main house with candles wavering. Not to mention all the looks, stares, and glares the three of us received as we made our way into the inner sanctuary of Akito's chambers. Well, actually, I was the recipitant of the majority of those glares.

The rest of the juuinshi was already gathered, and quite a few stares were shot at the two of us for being so late.

"Yuki..."

Damn, if Akito's shaky voice didn't just piss me off, but Yuki went to him, taking the seat Shigure had previously been sitting in.

"I'm here, Akito."

One skeleton hand reached up from the bed, reaching up to touch Yuki's cheek. "Why did you do that," he begins, but Yuki just shakes his head free and takes Akito's hand in his, pressing the frail digits to his lips.

"Don't," Yuki whispers. "Don't let me remember why I hated you, Akito, but why I loved you," he adds before placing a tiny kiss to the center of Akito's palm.

Unobserved until now, off to the sidelines, I finally stepped forward, resting my hands on Yuki's shoulders for support. Yuki leans into the touch. The others looked startled that I'm still here, at my appearance and familiar touch on Yuki, not to mention Yuki's reaction to it.

Akito looks shocked, too, but then his eyes close and he rests back into the bed, laughing softly. "I was wrong about you, Miss Honda Tohru. Apparently you *could* cure our curse. To think I should live long enough... to see... a sixteen hundred year tradition of misery... ended... how ironic."

And then... Akito fell asleep... forever. Akito really was dead, his hand still in Yuki's.

The others are frozen in place. Only Hatori seems able to move as he leans over Akito and confirms time and reason of death. Hatori reaches for the hand in Yuki's, but Yuki resists, shaking his head.

"Mmn... it's okay. Just a little while longer."

Hatori seems to think about it, but he nods and moves for the exit. "I will inform the rest of the family and add the recording to the family archives."

Shigure follows with a small comment, and Ayame follows without a word.

Tohru shifts before turning to leave, but before she can go more than two feet, her arms are filled with a sobbing Momiji, begging her to stay. Tohru wraps her arms around the young man, and they both fall to their knees crying. That's enough to start the waterworks.

Kagura turns her head into Hatsuharu's shoulders; he wraps his arms around her and buries his face against her head. Ritsu is in a corner, crying and rocking and whimpering "I'm sorry," repetitively. Hiro and Kisa are holding onto each other

Finally things die down enough for them to notice: Momiji's blond head is resting in Tohru's lap as she strokes his hair.

"Momiji! You didn't transform!"

They look at each other with stunned expressions, and then Haru reaches over to pluck Tohru off the floor and glomp her. Nothing happens for several seconds, and then the rest bombard Tohru, except Yuki and me.

I move closer to Yuki, pressing my entire body against Yuki's and the silver-haired boy melts against me. Outside wails and some hysterical shrieks can be heard. The door bursts open and a woman storms in, screaming and shouting at Tohru, blaming her for Akito's death.

It's madness and chaos, and Yuki and I turn just in time to see the woman raise a hand to strike Tohru.

"Okasan--no!"

Momiji moves to take the slap, however, and the sound of it muffles the sound of all the others who are pressing in at the door; some to see the drama, some needing to see for themselves that the clan head is indeed dead.

The remaining juinshi either move in to protect and shield Tohru or just glare at the quivering woman.

"Onichan, daijyabo?" Kisa asks as she helps Momiji and Tohru both stand. Hiro joins the glaring guard

"It's okay," Momiji protests, moving in front of the human shield, and then he does something he hadn't been able to do in over ten years. He reaches out and touches his mother's arm. She flinches back when he tentatively wraps his arms around her, still, he's hugging his mom.

"What's that stinking cat doing here?" someone says a little too loudly to even be polite.

I shrug it off--after all, it's same old same old for me, but Yuki starts towards the voice, murderous rage evident on his face.

"Yuki, no, it's okay," I whisper harshly, quickly, but it wasn't okay.

"Kyo is as much a member of this family as you are!" Tohru cries defensively. "He's a Souma, too!"

"And in case you haven't noticed," Kagura adds smugly, "he's comforting his *lov*er*" she enunciates. "You know, the new Head of the Souma clan?"

Stunned silence follows that... though, who knows whether it's from the fact that Yuki and I are lovers (which *should* have been a surprise to *everyone* and I'm *still* not sure how Kagura knew about our affair) or the fact that Yuki is the new head of the family (from Yuki and myself, most definitely)?

"Tohru?" Yuki spoke quietly, and I knew he was in shock. "I think... I want to go home."

"Your car's out front, Bon," Shigure answers, having returned with Ayame and Hatori.

I'm sorry I can't go with you," Hatori says. "There are still things I need to arrange for. Call in the family members from abroad... wake/funeral, official readings of the will" I tuned all of Hatori's ramblings out.

I wasn't about to leave Yuki alone for a second, and I was relieved to see Tohru seemed to share my sentiments. She held his other hand all the way along the silent drive home and didn't try to let go until we were safely inside Shigure's house.

"I'll go make some tea," she offered, moving off towards the kitchen.

I felt Yuki tense even before Tohru was brought up short when he refused to let go.

"No," Yuki whispered, and the scared little voice I heard knotted my gut. "Stay...?

Please?"

Tohru's expression softened immediately, and that was it. She moved towards him, her arms slipping around his waist in a loving, accepting, understanding embrace. Yuki was still tense--as if waiting for that awful sounding puff of displaced air that signals our transformations--and then he melted against her. His arms wound up around Tohru, leaning into her.

Gently, I try to maneuver them up the stairs and into the bedroom--any bedroom would have done, but Yuki's was closest. Yuki and Tohru were kissing by the time we reached the bed, and I try to worm my way into the action, too. I thread my hands and arms around his waist, over the gentle swell of her hip.

Softly, I press my lips against Yuki's shoulder and throat--a real key spot for the rat--but Yuki freezes in my arms.

Gently, his palms reach up to cup Tohru's cheeks, forcing her to look at him, at us.

"Tohru, are you sure?" he asks softly, his voice wavering. "It's not too late to walk away, Tohru. If you're not sure... if you don't want to be--"

A finger presses against Yuki's lips, soon replaced with Tohru's lips.

"I love you," she whispers, first to him, and then to me, kissing me, too. "I love Kyo and Yuki, both, so much. So much it hurts. I love you."

"Tohru," Yuki breathes before falling into her. He starts exploring her body; touching, kissing, nibbling, undressing.

I help, finishing my work from earlier, slipping Yuki's dress shirt free from his body before moving on to his pants. Fingers fumble against my own pant's fly, and belatedly, I realize they're Tohru's. Tohru's blouse is already littering the floor somewhere, and her skirt is quick to follow.

Yuki was moving like crazy--like he was trying to devour all of Tohru at once. His mouth fastened over her breast, and I moaned--I knew from first hand experience the wonderful things that mouth was capable of. Ah, but I wanted to taste Tohru, too. I had learned a lot about sex and pleasure from Yuki. I put that knowledge to work here, attacking her other breast with my lips and teeth.

Once--or was it twice?--my lips wandered, so I was sipping of Yuki's lips, but that didn't last long. Yuki was trailing lower, and I took the opportunity to slip up to drink from Tohru's lips. Her gasp and moan drew my attention down her body, and I moaned in response.

Yuki had buried his face between her legs.

I was so hard--I wanted to fuck both of them so hard they'd have trouble moving tomorrow. Which, of course, led to the problem of 'how'.

Oh, gods. Tohru was moaning and begging, and Yuki showed no signs of stopping. Making my decision, I grab a tube of lubricant from the nightstand and smear my cock slick before moving behind Yuki. I give him several moments' chance to tell me 'no'--rubbing my cock against his cleft. Checking, making sure I had permission to take what was so freely given.

I nibbled along Yuki's back and shoulders, even as I guided my thick, swollen cock inside his tight, welcoming body. Even as I set myself completely, I knew it wasn't going to be enough. A few quick thrusts, and my hand found its way into Yuki's lap, working his slim, beautiful erection swiftly.

Tohru was writhing, moaning incomprehensible words. With a little coaching, I managed to convince Yuki to release the gentle folds of her sex in favor of Tohru's lips and mouth, too; which was a fun and interesting event, considering I had to drag Tohru down the bed by the ankles.

But finally---finally---we were evening out. My hand brushed against her sex, and just as if I was preparing Yuki, I thrust two impudent fingers into her hot sex.

I was *not* expecting it to be so moist and cushiony. Yeah, I know now, but the farthest I'd ever gone with a girl before that had been Kagura's tender, loving mercies. But Yuki was insistent--his hips rocking entreatingly against mine, and with a little more waiting, I had Yuki's beautiful cock angling towards Tohru's sex.

It took only one, deep thrust.

It's amazing to think back now on that first time. The first time all three of us made love.

That first night...and the morning after. That day, and the day after, and the day after that.

And the curse.

The curse is broken by the way it started all those years ago in the legend--- the Cat and the Rat

####*****####

Epilogue'

The Master Bedroom door slid open with gentle ease. The seeming delicate woman behind the action, slipping inside and shutting the door again with care not to catch her flowing dressing robe. She was brought up short when she turned and saw the figure sitting at the small writing desk set up in the corner.

"Kyo," she whispered lovingly, "what are you doing up?"

She went to him, resting her hands on his shoulders as he dropped his pen back into a cup holder and slipping a bookmark into his journal.

"Just writing some thoughts down," he shrugged off the question, reaching up to bring her lips in for a kiss. "Akito okay?"

She pulls away with a smile. "Mmm hmm. Well fed and fast asleep."

"For something so small, he sure eats a lot," Kyo griped good-heartedly.

"He's a baby," a sleepy voice answers from the bed. "He's supposed to eat and sleep."

"Oh! I'm sorry, Yuki," Tohru immediately apologizes. "Did we wake you?"

"Mmnn," the silver haired man sat up and looked over at his two lovers. "I've been awake for a while. Just waiting for you two to hurry up and come back to bed."

Smiles lit both faces as Kyo and Tohru both crawled onto the bed and around Yuki, dragging the covers up over them, giggling.

~OWARI~