Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ I LOVE YOU ❯ Everything I Own ( Chapter 17 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or its characters. It belongs to Takaya Natsuki. Nor do I own the lyrics to "Everything I Own" they are property of Jude.

A/N: Hello everyone!

First, I want to dedicate this chapter, as well as the next still to be written chapter, to my wonderful editor and friend, The Smiling Onigiri. A few weeks ago we were discussing my story in an e-mail and she made the most fascinating suggestion that I simply could not pass up, so I took it and ran away. So in return she gets this chapter, the next chapter, and my deepest thanks!

I also need to send AN EXTRA BIG THANK YOU to: Inubunny, jynnantonnix, macbaby1, Tif, Kativa-chan, Dark-Dreams- 69, WannabeHobbit, Raeluvs, I'll Never Tell, Orangellama, Aishiteru until my dieing day, Kyo's Evil Twin, Lady Indigo Star, Shiemi Shimabukuro, Joan Mistress of Magic (You guys get me! You understand that it's about the story, and not about the pairings, and you have told me so in your reviews and your e-mails!!!! THANK YOU!!!)

And since that isn't everyone, I want to send a little shout of love to all of the rest of you who have been so supportive to me. I have been worried about a few things, which I will cover off on in a minute, and it has been your kind reviews that have kept this story going. SO THANK YOU TO ALL MY READERS! I wish I could mention everyone personally, but if I did there would be no room for the chapter, but you all need to know that you are special to me!

Lastly, I need to touch on a subject that has been a source of sadness to me for the past four or five chapters - the whole Yukiru question. I want to start by saying that yes, this story is a Yukiru, if you have any doubt about that you simply need to go back and read the first half of the story. At the same time, I should say I am very sorry to some of you. When I started this story it was going to be a pure Yukiru, but somewhere early on I got bored with that and decided to make it an Akito & Kureno love story as well. This has garnered me a bit of negativity from some of my readers, and I fear also caused me to lose a reader or two. While that makes me sad, as I am sorry that I am disappointing some of you, it isn't going to change the fact that this story is both a Yuki/Tohru and an Akito/Kureno love story. In the first half of the story - approximately 8 to 10 chapters - I examined the Yuki/Tohru relationship, and I have not forgotten about them, but I also need to examine the Akito/Kureno aspect of this story as well as Yuki's relationship with Akito, which I feel needs to be further examined. I am sorry if that distresses anyone, but the bottom line is that I want people to read my story for my story and not for my pairings.

That said, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you for reading and reviewing, and I welcome your comments.

I LOVE YOU

Chapter Seventeen: Everything I Own

*

"SHE WHAT!?" Kakeru screamed loudly and quickly jumped up from the cafeteria table, knocking over both of our cups of coffee in the process and garnering curious looks from numerous students.

"Shhhh... must you be so loud?" I asked in irritation. Standing up to keep from being soaked in coffee, I quickly grabbed some napkins from the cart directly behind me and tossed them over the wet mess on the table.

"Sorry," Kakeru apologized, and atoned by pushing me aside and taking over the coffee clean up.

"Should I get us some more coffee?" I asked, even though I really didn't want anymore myself. We still had a full hour before our last class of the day started - Kakeru was in nearly all of my classes, since he had tailored his school schedule around my own - and I was tired, still recovering from my recent illness, so Kakeru had suggested a cup of coffee might help. But it hadn't.

"No, no," Kakeru said. He tossed the wet mass of towels into a nearby trashcan, and then motioned for me to follow him outside. I noticed he hadn't actually cleaned up the entire coffee spill, but I said nothing because the truth was that I really didn't care.

For the entire day all I had thought about was Tohru. The pain, which was much worse now that I was out of Akito's company, was devastating me.

At first I had avoiding talking to Kakeru about it. When he asked how things had gone at the beach house, I had changed the subject. Instead I talked about my illness, which had caused my absence in school, and asked if he had bothered to take notes for me. Kakeru had, and was very proud of himself for doing so. Looking over the notes, I realized that I couldn't actually read them, since Kakeru's handwriting was basically illegible. I pretended, however, to be very pleased, which in turn pleased Kakeru, just as I knew it would.

I survived most of the day by cowering inside Kakeru's naturally cheerful personality. Although I suspected that he knew the truth, that I was hovering on the brink of a complete and total breakdown, Kakeru allowed me my privacy. I had been hopeful that I would make it through the entire school day and back to the main house where I could fall apart within the safety of Akito's unexpectedly comforting arms... but then I walked into art class.

In the past, the smell of paint has always brought about a deep-seated fear in me, due to a rather ugly childhood incident with Akito. The only reason I had taken an art class was because Kakeru had pressured me into it. Kakeru alone knew about my abnormal fear of paint and he had made it his mission to cure me. He felt that taking a painting class would allow me, in his exact words, `to make friends with the paint'. Kakeru's theory had proven correct. I quickly learned to not only enjoy the smell of paint, but also the act of painting. I found it was very calming, and although I never felt I was much of an artist, I thoroughly enjoyed art class. Until today.

I cried!

Today, in front of my entire class, I cried. I walked in with Kakeru, took one breath full of paint, and immediately broke down. The scent reminded me of Tohru and it hurt like hell. It ruined me.

So I ran.

Kakeru came after me, following me to the men's room where I had hidden myself within a rather smelly stall. When he asked me what was the matter I lied and told him I was just feeling rather tired. Kakeru immediately took control of the situation, suggesting a cup of coffee as a sure remedy, which led to my whispered confession that Tohru had dumped me and a messy table.

"So tell me again, what exactly happened between you two?" Kakeru asked once we were out of the crowded cafeteria and walking through the busy school quad. Spying a relatively empty spot on the grass underneath a beautifully blooming cherry tree, I headed that way.

"Tohru dumped me. Or something like that, I guess." I admitted quietly, and having reached my desired destination, I dropped down to sit on the grass.

"What do you mean by `dumped'?" Kakeru asked and I shrugged, not really certain how to go about explaining it. "Well, Yun Yun, not to be cruel or anything, but usually for someone to have actually dumped another person... well, the statement generally implies that there was something to dump... like the two people were having a romantic relationship and...."

"Stop!" I said in annoyance. "I know what `dumped' means Kakeru, and that's what she did. I confessed my love to Tohru, we slept together, and the next morning she was gone. Tohru dumped me." I stopped then, because Kakeru was staring at me with his mouth hanging open, then he apparently caught a hold of himself, because he closed his mouth and thought deeply for a moment.

"Yun Yun, by sleeping together, do you actually mean..." and at this point my fool of a friend felt the need to use his hands to clarify everything for me, which I found both insulting and rather repulsive.

"Yes! Yes, Kakeru, that is exactly what I mean, you idiot!" I said and smacked at his hands to stop him before anyone might see. "Tohru and I had sex."

"I see. My little Yun Yun finally got laid, I'm so proud!" Kakeru said with an impish grin and then sobered, continuing on without giving me time to respond to his lunacy. "So, basically, you had sex with Tohru and she dumped you, is that what you're saying?"

"Yes," I whispered and stared awkwardly at an ant walking along a blade of grass as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. Anything to avoid looking at Kakeru, for I simply couldn't face him.

"Okay," Kakeru said, and we sat silent for a bit before he continued. "Ah... Yuki... is it at all possible that... well, that you weren't very good? That maybe you sucked in bed?"

"WHAT!?" I exclaimed and jumped to my feet to stare down at him in anger.

"Now, Yun Yun, don't get mad." Kakeru said with a smile and waved his hand in a calming gesture, which only served to make me madder.

"Get up!" I insisted with every intention of beating the hell out of him.

"Come on, Yuki." Kakeru said, and actually scooted away from me a little fearfully. "I'm not trying to insult you, I just thought that...." And now he was grinning again. "Well, Yun Yun, you are pretty clueless when it comes to women. I just thought you might not know what you were doing, that maybe you needed some pointers."

"I KNOW WHAT TO DO, KAKERU! I'VE READ BOOKS! I DIDN'T SUCK IN BED! I WAS GOOD!" I insisted loudly and then realized that people were watching, and of course hearing, so I lowered my voice. "What was I even thinking, trying to talk to you about something like this? You're such an idiot."

Then I hurried away, but of course Kakeru came after me.

"I'm sorry, Yun Yun! I really was just trying to help," Kakeru apologized once he had caught up with me in the school parking lot. "Where are you going? What about English class?"

"I'm not going!" I said, "That class doesn't matter any longer."

"What do you mean it doesn't matter, Yuki? Of course it matters. I thought you wanted to have perfect English so you could make your dream of running away to London come true." Kakeru reminded me.

"That wasn't my dream, Kakeru." I told him bitterly.

"Yes it was, Yuki." Kakeru insisted. "You said that you wanted to...."

"No, Kakeru, my dream was to learn English and run off to London with Tohru. I'm not going by myself..." I told him, clenching my hands at my sides because I still felt like hitting him. I knew that Kakeru was only trying to be supportive, but it was really just pissing me off. I wanted to hit him because he was making me feel, because he was forcing me to say it out loud. "Kakeru, without Tohru, I don't have a dream... without her, I don't really have anything."

"Well, Yun Yun, I'd go with you, if you wanted." Kakeru told me encouragingly. "Heck, forget London, let's move to America. I've always wanted to see that place, Las Vegas. I hear it's like Paris and Italy and New York all rolled into one, let's move there."

"Las Vegas? Are you out of your mind? Besides, they would never let you into America, Kakeru.... You're practically a terrorist, setting our student council room on fire the way you did, one week before graduation." I said and couldn't help but smile at the memory.

"That wasn't a bomb. It was a box of fireworks." Kakeru reminded me. "And it wasn't such a big deal, they still let me graduate."

"Well, you were lucky," I told him. "Your Student Council President defended you."

"Yeah, you did, didn't you?" Kakeru agreed, and then threw his arm around my neck and pulled me off to the left. "Come on, Yuki. My car is right there, let's go."

"Where are we going?" I asked once I was seated in the passenger seat of his small, unwashed car.

"To Tokyo to see Tohru," Kakeru said and pulled out of the parking spot.

"WHAT! No!" I told him and unhooked my seatbelt with the intention of making a run for it.

"Yes, Yun Yun, I can't allow you to go on like this. I am making it my number one priority to get the two of you back together." Kakeru insisted. "I owe you for the fireworks incident."

"But you don't even know the whole story," I said to him.

"Well, it's a long drive to Tokyo, you can tell me everything on the way." Kakeru said as he pulled out of the school parking lot and into the heavy afternoon traffic.

*

You sheltered me from harm
You kept me warm

You kept me warm
You gave my life to me
You set me free

You set me free
The finest years I ever knew
Were all the ones I spent with you

*

"You're sure of this? That Tohru slept with Kyo? You're sure that was what the letter said?" Kakeru asked.

We were sitting in his car, which had just parked in front of the beat up old building that was Tohru's apartment complex.

"Well the letter didn't actually say it was Kyo, but it was, I'm certain of it." I told him and looked out the window towards the second floor where Tohru lived before opening the car door.

"You're probably right." Kakeru agreed and grabbed my hand before I could slip out of my seat. "But either way, you have a right to know the truth. What she did, Yuki, I have to tell you that I'm not very happy with her for it. It was cowardly of her. I've always thought Tohru was a better person than that."

"Don't talk that way, Kakeru," I told him coldly. "Whatever she might have done, I won't allow you to speak badly of Tohru."

"Yes, of course." Kakeru agreed and let go of my hand. "Did you want me to come along, then?"

"Um..." I thought about his question for a moment before answering. My heart was beating frantically and I had no idea of what I might say to her. What if she got angry with me for coming? Worse, what if she wasn't alone? Akito had informed me that Kyo had gone missing and at the time I had just assumed he was off training in the mountains, but what if he wasn't, what if he was here?

"Well, maybe just to the entrance," I decided. Shutting the car door, I waited for Kakeru to get out and walk over to my side, and then together we headed to Tohru's building.

*

I would give anything I own
I'd give up my life

My heart

My home
I would give everything I own
Just to have you back again

*

"She's not home," I called down to where Kakeru was standing. After knocking one last time, I headed down the stairs.

"Are you sure?" He asked and looked up toward the darkened apartment window.

"She's not." I told him, and since I was at the bottom of the stairs, I took a seat and stared down at my feet to hide the fact that I had tears in my eyes. "I knocked several times."

"So we wait then." Kakeru decided and sat down next to me.

"You don't mind?" I asked him. "I mean, you must have better things to do."

"What, better then hanging out with Yun Yun? Hardly," Kakeru said with a smile, but then he noticed that I was crying and his smile faded. "Ah... I think I have some tissue in the car, I'll go check." He told me and stood up.

"Thanks." I mumbled, then looked past him to the apartment we were sitting right in front of as its door slid open and a very questionable looking gentleman exited.

"Oh...." The man said, and smiled. "Are you looking for Shi?"

"Shi?" I repeated and stood up.

"My younger brother, I thought you were two of his friends," the man explained. "I thought I might be able to bum a smoke off you."

"A cigarette? No, we don't smoke." I said uncomfortably, as this man was now standing right in front of me and smiling down in an overly familiar way.

"No, you don't, do you? You don't look the type. You're looking for her, aren't you? For the Honda girl," he surmised.

"Yes," Kakeru answered before I had a chance. "We're here to see Tohru Honda, but it appears that she isn't home."

"It's not that she isn't home," the man informed us. "It's the same as I told the cute blonde that came looking for her yesterday, she's moved out."

"WHAT?" I sputtered in surprise. "What do you mean she moved out? Where...?"

"I have no idea." The man answered and I felt my heart fall to my feet, but then the man smiled, revealing a mouth full of cigarette stained teeth, and continued, "You should try asking at her work. Perhaps someone there knows."

"Uh... that's a good idea, Yuki. Let's try that." Kakeru said, and grabbed my hand to pull me towards the car.

"Wait!" I said and pulled my hand away. "I don't know where Tohru works. She's never told me."

"Can't say that I'm really surprised," the man said under his breath. "It's not really something to be proud of."

"Well, then, would you be able to tell us where Tohru works?" I asked the man.

"Certainly, she works at the adult book store, the one right down the street on the corner. I'm not really sure what the name is, but you can't miss it, it's the place with all the bright pink neon lights." The man informed me.

"You're a liar!" I said, my voice filled with icy rage, and the man took a surprised step backwards. "Tohru would never... she wouldn't...."

"Well, of course she does." The man told me. "But I do understand where it would be a surprise. Nice girl like that...."

"You're full of shit," I said coldly to him and pulled back my hand in order to slap the grin off of his face, but Kakeru stepped in front of me.

"Come on, Yuki." Kakeru said. "Let's leave this man alone."

"But..." I said in cool indignation. "This man is lying. Tohru would never...."

"I know, Yuki." Kakeru said soothingly, and laid a hand on each of my shoulders. "But let's just walk down the street to the bookstore, just to make sure, okay?" Then he turned his head and nodded to the sleazy lying bastard. "Thank you for your help, sir. Excuse us," he said before grabbing me by the hand again and pulling me away.

*

You taught me how to love
And what it's of

What it's of
You never said too much but still you showed the way
And so I knew from watching you
Nobody else can ever know
The part of me that can't let go

*

"Why did you stop me, Kakeru?" I asked angrily as we walked towards the pink lights up the road.

"Because you were about to bitch slap that man, Yuki, and he was a total stranger." Kakeru told me.

"And your point would be?" I asked in annoyance.

"Really, Yun Yun, sometimes that temper of yours... it can be a bit scary," Kakeru admitted.

"He was asking for it." I told him, and Kakeru looked like he wanted to argue, but he didn't. Instead he nodded and fell silent until we had made our way up the street to the corner.

"This must be it," Kakeru said, and I stared in horror at the building in question.

"An Acquired Taste? Interesting name for a porn shop," Kakeru commented. "Listen, Yuki, I know that this isn't actually your type of... environment. If you want, you can wait here and I'll go inside and ask about Tohru for you."

"No. It's all right, Kakeru. I can do this myself." I told him, but then quickly added, "Unless you want to come in with me."

"Well, of course I'm coming with you." Kakeru said with a grin before ripping the door open and shoving me inside. "Yun Yun's first hentai experience, I wouldn't dream of missing it."

*

And I would give anything I own
I'd give up my life

And my heart

My home
I would give everything I own
Just to have you back again
Just to touch you once again

*

"What in the world is that thing?" I said in fear, and averted my eyes from the weird and rather unnerving device that Kakeru had picked up and was presently examining.

"How exactly do you think this thing works?" Kakeru asked curiously.

"How should I know?" I answered in frustration. "Put it down before you break it." Spotting a small silver bell on the counter next the cash register, I tapped it timidly and a moment later a tall, fairly attractive women stepped through a curtain of florescent blue beads that appeared to lead to a storeroom and smiled at me.

"My, now aren't you a pretty one?" She purred into my face, and I took a step back in nervousness. "And shy as well, I see. That's all right, I like them timid."

"Excuse me Miss, what is this used for?" Kakeru asked, and to my horror waived the device in question at the woman.

"That?" The woman laughed and turned her attention to my perverted friend. "Well, that... it's complicated. Perhaps you might like a demonstration?"

"NO!" I screamed in shock. "That will not be necessary, no demonstrations! Kakeru, we didn't come here for... for that... we came here for Tohru."

"Tohru?" The woman repeated, turning her eyes back to me and staring at me strangely, very strangely. "You're Yuki, aren't you?"

"Ye... Yes," I said in surprise.

"I see." The woman said and continued to stare at me for a moment before continuing. "Well, I'm sorry, but Tohru doesn't work here any longer. She quit a couple weeks ago."

"So she did work here, though?" Kakeru asked and looked at me sympathetically.

"Yes, and to be honest, I was very sad to see her go. The girl was a very good worker. I was disappointed at the way she left us, though, without so much as a moment's notice. I'd expected better of her." The woman said, and then she smiled. "But then, who am I to stand in the way of true love?"

"True love?" Kakeru and I blurted out simultaneously.

"Well, yes, of course." The woman smiled warmly at me, then reached across with one long nailed finger and gently touched my cheek. "Tohru quit so she could move away and be with her lover... uh... what was that boys name again? Kyo, I think it was... Kyo Sohma."

*

Is there someone you know
You're loving them so

But taking them all for granted
You may lose them one day

Someone takes them away
And they'll never hear the words you have to say

*

Neither Kakeru nor I spoke much during the ride home. I stared out the passenger side window, clutching the unopened can of coffee and small plush animal that Kakeru had picked up for me at the vending machines in front of the gas station where we had stopped to refill his tank. The animal, weirdly enough, was a little gray teddy bear with big violet eyes.

"It reminded me of you." Kakeru said with a shrug when he handed it to me, and although I didn't really want it, I accepted it silently. I understood, after all, that this was Kakeru's bizarre, unspoken way of telling me to cheer up, that everything was going to be all right.

I was numb, my body and mind sedated by the shock of Tohru's duplicity. `When had it happened?' I wondered to myself. `When had the wholesome girl that I fell in love with changed into this whole other person?'

`Maybe she has always been this way,' I realized painfully. `Perhaps it is just as Akito has always said. Perhaps women, even one like Tohru, cannot be trusted.'

"Are you going to be okay, Yuki?" Kakeru asked as we pulled off the highway and up the road that led to the gates of the main house.

"I'm all right." I whispered, and then added. "Thank you for giving me a ride."

"It wasn't a problem, Yuki, but I am worried about you. Are you certain that you're ready to go home? We can go for food if you would like, or a drink?" Kakeru said with genuine concern in his voice.

"I can't, I need to get home. Akito doesn't know where I am. He gets weird about that type of stuff." I explained and felt rather childish about it. "Thanks for asking, though."

"It's what friends do," Kakeru said.

"Friends?" I repeated without really meaning to, and I wasn't surprised when Kakeru looked at me funny before smiling.

"Of course, Yuki. You know that I'm here for you, right? Whatever you need," Kakeru told me.

"I suppose." I said softly, and then because we were coming upon the main gate I gestured for him to stop. "The gate's just ahead, but you can drop me here."

"Okay," Kakeru agreed and pulled the car over to the side of the road.

"Well, I guess I will see you in school tomorrow." I said, then unhooked my seatbelt, pushed open the door, and slipped out of my seat.

"Yuki," Kakeru called out to me as I was about to shut the door. Pausing, I leaned down to see what he wanted. "You have my number. If you need to talk or anything, call me, okay?"

"I will, and thank you again for driving." I said, and then I stood up straight, shut the car door, and walked towards the main gate.

*

And I would give anything I own
I'd give up my life, and my heart, my home
I would give everything I own
Just to have you back again

*

Hatori was just exiting the garden when I arrived in the hallway, on my way to find Akito. Upon seeing me he frowned and stepped in front of me, blocking my way.

"You're late, Yuki." He pointed out. "You should have let Akito know that you would not be coming straight home from school, he sent the driver. I'm afraid he isn't pleased."

"He's upset? I was afraid that he might be. I shouldn't have gone without telling him." I said, and then added, "But what about Kureno? He isn't here? He came by this morning... I was under the impression that Akito was going to ask him to keep him company."

"Kureno isn't here, although Akito has been calling him nearly non-stop since I arrived. Evidently Kureno has done something to make Akito extremely upset, but Akito wouldn't tell me what it was."

"That bastard Kureno, did he do it again?" I said furiously and pushed past Hatori in an angry gust. "I shouldn't have left them alone together, I told Akito that it wasn't a good idea, but he wanted to spend time with him."

"Yuki?" Hatori called after me as I hurried away. "What is it? What has Kureno done?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, Hatori. I'll tend to Akito, you can leave now," I called back, then stopped in front of the garden and took a deep breath before sliding open the door and walking inside.

*

Everything thing I own
My life, my heart, my home
I'd give everything I own
My life, my heart, my home

*

"Akito! Are you all right?" I said and rushed towards the bungalow where he was laying on the futon, huddled deeply beneath a blanket that was much too thick for such a warm day. Sitting beside him on the futon, I dropped my backpack on the floor before grasping the edge of the blanket in my hand and pulling it away from his face.

"Where were you?" Akito asked viciously and sat up quickly to grab my chin in one hand. "I've had a very bad day, and I needed you here! I had to make Hatori come, I couldn't bear being alone."

"I know. I'm so sorry. I should have called to tell you that I was coming home late, I didn't think." I explained, and tried to ignore the fact that one of Akito's nails was digging painfully into my cheek.

"Don't ever do that again!" Akito said coldly and released my face from his hand. I nodded guiltily, noticing how red and swollen his eyes were. He'd been crying again, probably all day, and it really was my entire fault, because I had put myself first. I was feeling stir crazy and wanted to return to school, so I'd left Akito with a rapist. I was such a dreadful person. It is really no wonder that Tohru didn't chose me, she's probably known all along how selfish I really am. A stupid, selfish little rat!

"Akito, tell me, what did Kureno do to you?" I demanded gently. "He didn't... hurt you again? He didn't try to take advantage of you?"

"No," Akito said and quickly turned away from me, so that I couldn't see the tears glistening in his eyes. Over the past week the two of us have made quite the pair, both of us breaking down at the drop of a hat, both of us making weak attempts to hide our pain from the other. In the end it's always the same, one of us ends up crying in the other's arms. But in the beginning we pretend, just as he is doing now.

"Does it always have to be this way?" I asked and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Let's not hide it anymore."

"What do you mean, Yuki?" He asked softly and wiped at his face with the sleeve of his robe.

"You can cry in front of me, Akito. It's really okay. I don't mind at all." I told him and smiled when he turned his tear stained face towards mine.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Yuki." He said, and smiled back at me. "I don't cry. Sohma men should never cry."

"If you say so," I agreed, and moved my hand to his face to brush away the tears.

"I miss him." He told me, and I nodded understandingly.

"I know. I miss her." I said and took a deep breath. "But, you were right about her, you know."

"I was right?" Akito asked curiously. "About what was I right?"

"I went to Tokyo, to see Tohru, but she doesn't live there anymore. It's just as you said, Akito, she's with him. Tohru's with Kyo. You were right about everything." I told him, and now it was my turn to move away and hide my sorrow.

"Yuki?" Akito said in a soothing whisper and took my hand in his. "I'm sorry that she has hurt you. That awful girl, it's unforgivable, but you see now that I have only been thinking of you, only trying to protect you?"

"Yes," I agreed and looked up when the phone rang and he pulled his hand quickly away in order to answer it.

"Kureno?" Akito said hopefully into the phone and then continued disappointedly. "Oh, it's you, Hatori.... What is it that you want?"

Laying back on the futon, I closed my eyes and waited for Akito to finish his call.

"No, it's fine. I have Yuki here with me now. I have no further need of you today." Akito said irritably and without a goodbye, slammed down the phone.

"Yuki, are you going to sleep?" He asked and then nudged me with the palm of his hand against my shoulder. "It's too early for that. I've slept a lot already today."

"I'm not." I assured him, and opened my eyes. "Was there something that you wanted to do, Akito? Have you eaten, would you like me to get you something?"

"No, I'm not hungry, not at all." Akito told me, and then he leaned across me and reached out his hand to pull something from the pocket of my backpack. "What's this?" He wondered and held out the small stuffed animal Kakeru had given me.

"Oh that..." I said in embarrassment. "It's nothing."

"It's cute." Akito said and held the stuffed animal up next to my face, "It sort of looks like you."

"You can have it, if you want." I told him, and was surprised when his face lit up gleefully.

"It's for me?" He asked and actually hugged the small animal to his chest.

"Uh... sure... if you want it," I said.

"You've made me happy, Yuki, very happy!" Akito told me.

"I'm glad, Akito." I said honestly, and then stared openly as he laid the small stuffed bear down, carefully, on an empty pillow before turning to give me a big, childish grin.

`He really is happy?' I realized in astonishment, for this was a side of Akito that I had never before seen. `Even when we were children together, I cannot remember Akito ever actually acting like a child, and that,' I decided, `is a shame.' It was really rather appealing, this strangely gentle side, and I hoped that I might see more of it in the future.

"So then, Akito, what shall we do tonight? Would you like me to read to you?" I asked him, sitting up and wrapping my arms around my knees.

"No, I'm not in the mood for books." He told me, and I was sad to see his smile disappear.

"Well, what then? What are you in the mood for? We can do whatever you like," I said and tried to think of something that might interest him.

"There is one thing I might like... something Kureno used to do...." He said shyly and bit at his bottom lip thoughtfully. "But, no... you probably wouldn't like it, it would make you uncomfortable."

"What is it?" I wondered, and for a moment I feared his answer. What if he wanted something... perverted?

Leaning over, Akito pulled open the drawer of his bedside table and removed a small bottle of oil.

"Would you consider, maybe, giving me a massage?" He asked and held the bottle out towards me.

"A... a massage!?" I stuttered awkwardly as my face grew warm. "But I've never, I don't really know how."

"It isn't very hard," Akito told me and placed the bottle of oil in my hands. "I can teach you and after, if you'd like, I can do you." Standing up with his back to me, he untied his robe, and then slowly pushed it off of his shoulders, letting it drop to the garden floor.

*

Every little thing

Every little thing

Every little

Every little thing you ever wanted

*

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Mwa-hahahahahahahahaha!