Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ I LOVE YOU ❯ #1 Crush ( Chapter 18 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or its characters. It belongs to Takaya Natsuki. Nor do I own the lyrics to "# 1 Crush" they are property of Garbage.

Tee hee hee

*

I LOVE YOU

Chapter Eighteen: # 1 Crush

*

I would die for you
I would die for you
I've been dying just to feel you by my side
To know that you're mine

*

`At last!'

It had taken so long and involved so much hard work and an amazing amount of self control, but finally... finally....

*

I would cry for you
I would cry for you
I would wash away your pain with all my tears
And drown your fear

*

As Yuki's oil swathed fingers ran prudently across my shoulders and then down along my back I allowed myself a small sigh of self-satisfaction. I had won! Everything was exactly as it was fated to be, my lover was nearly ready to be possessed.

"Does this feel all right?" Yuki wondered quietly and I smiled to myself.

"A little harder would be good, and lower, can you go a bit lower?" I requested. Yuki's fingers paused for a moment, and then obediently slid down to delicately caress the small of my back. `Being the victor is certainly pleasant,' I thought to myself and closed my eyes in order to fully enjoy the divine fruits of my labor.

The last few weeks have been... interesting. That stupid twit really did a number on my pretty little rat. Yuki has been such an inconsolable mess, poor boy. I have to admit that I have rather enjoyed picking up his wounded little pieces. Who would have thought the simple act of crying could be so therapeutic, or so useful? I would have cried in front of Yuki ages ago if I had known what the payoff would be. All these years of trying to win Yuki's affection and all of my unsuccessful attempts at manipulation when all that was really required were Yuki's broken heart and my tears.

*

I will pray for you
I will pray for you
I will sell my soul for something pure and true
Someone like you

*

Yuki hadn't been lying; the boy obviously had never given a backrub in his entire life. He was really no good at it, none at all, but I was certain he could be trained.

"Is that better?" Yuki whispered, and I couldn't help but notice the breathless quality to his voice. `Oh, yes, my little rat is starting to like this, isn't he?'

"It's still not really hard enough." I said and thought to myself, `or low enough.'

"Um... okay," Yuki said and put a little more force in his movements. "Like this?"

I thought to myself, `No, it's still not right,' but to Yuki I said, "Maybe just a little more oil?"

*

See your face every place that I walk in
Hear your voice every time that I'm talking
You will believe in me
And I will never be ignored

*

"Oil?" Yuki wondered, and then reached one hand across the futon for the bottle of oil while his other hand slipped slowly downward to stroke along my buttocks.

`Yes!' I nearly screamed out loud. `That is perfect, right there, exactly there, oh it feels so wonderful, Kureno, don't stop!' My eyes flew open and my body tensed involuntarily as Kureno's name coursed through me.

"Sorry," Yuki said very softly and jerked his hand away. "I didn't mean to, I wasn't paying attention, my hand slipped...."

"It's okay, Yuki." I said and quickly sat up to stare into his wide, violet eyes and wonderfully flushed face.

It struck me again how beautiful he was and I pushed all thoughts of Kureno from my head as I leaned in and covered Yuki's lips with mine.

Yuki let out a tiny gasp of surprise, but he didn't pull away. Lifting my hand, I ran one finger along his cheek while staring deeply into his eyes and intensifying the kiss.

Pressing my tongue through closed lips, I lowered my hand and pulled him nearer into my arms. His body tightened up for a moment and I hesitated, not wanting to frighten him, not after coming so close... but then his eyes closed, he relaxed, and I knew that he was mine. Finding his tongue, I swirled teasingly around it and was pleasantly surprised when he responded with a weak sigh and I felt gentle fingers running faintly across my back.

But something was wrong. Something was growing in the pit of my stomach, an ugly, dark, and unfamiliar feeling, and I hated it. I detested the way it was making me feel dirty, like I was doing something bad.

`What is this?' I wondered uncomfortably. This was my dream, I was kissing Yuki, his body held firmly against mine and my tongue exploring his sweet mouth... and yet... it was unfathomable, but every ounce of my being wished it was Kureno I was holding, Kureno I was kissing.

`No!' My heart cried out as I pushed Yuki away from me and jumped up from the futon.

"Akito!" Yuki said as his eyes filled with confusion and pain. "What did I...."

"Go... get out of here." I said to him cruelly while bending down to retrieve my robe. "I want to be alone."

"But..." Yuki started and peered over at me, his beautiful eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Have I done something to upset you?" He asked in a whisper.

"I... I..." I mumbled, and shook my head, trying to clear Kureno from my mind.

"Are you okay?" Yuki inquired weakly.

Disregarding the question, I turned away and quickly dressed.

"This was a mistake..." I told him softly, and since it appeared he had no intention of leaving, I headed for the door.

"Akito!" I heard him call out as I slid open the garden door. Ignoring him, I entered the house, closed the door behind me, and walked quickly to my bedroom.

*

I would burn for you
Feel pain for you
I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart
And tear it apart

*

Entering the room, the first thing my eyes came across was the birdcage. Hurrying towards it, I fumbled with the latch and pushed my hand inside to carefully catch hold of the small bird and gently bring it out.

"Kureno," I whispered. Closing my eyes and gently caressing my lovebird's silky feathers, I pictured Kureno's face and remembered his words from that night.

"Why the hell do I love you so much?"

"Because you're mine, Kureno, and you belong with me," I informed the empty room with a smile.

Opening my eyes and loosening my fingers, I allowed the bird to fly away, and then I walked over to my bed, sat down, and picked up the phone.

*

I will lie for you
Beg and steal for you
I would crawl on hands and knees until you see
You're just like me

*

Dialing quickly, I tried to put my thoughts in order. I had made a mistake in sending him away, I knew this now, and I wanted him back. I wanted Kureno home and in my arms right now! But what if he didn't want to come home? What if he meant those awful things he said to me this morning?

"You have Yuki. You've gotten everything you've always wanted. Now I just need you to leave me the hell alone for a while."

The phone rang... and rang... and then, just as it had every time I had called earlier today, his voice mail picked up. Kureno was apparently avoiding my calls. Closing my eyes, I felt a familiar emotion growing within me, an unbearable longing tinged with frustration and anger.

"Damn it!" I screamed into the phone and pulled back my hand, intending to throw the phone across the room, but I stopped. Instead, I pictured Kureno's gentle face, took a deep breath, and sat the phone aside.

`He's still angry,' I realized. `He's angry and he's trying to teach me a lesson. Kureno is, after all, just like me. He loves me, so he wants me to feel pain.'

"That is fine, Kureno," I said to myself. Standing, I walked across the room to my closet so that I might pick out something to wear. "If that is how you want it, then I shall have to come to you."

*

Violate all the love that I'm missing
Throw away all the pain that I'm living
You will believe in me
And I can never be ignored

*

Yuki was laying face down on the futon when I entered the garden a few hours later and walked over to sit at his side.

"Yuki, I wanted to let you know that I am going out for the evening." I told him, and waited for a moment while he sulked into his pillow. It was obvious that the boy was still rather gloomy, which was really too bad. `That damn girl, causing all this anguish for him, perhaps I was too lenient on her,' I mused.

Oh well, it was a shame that Yuki was in such a melancholic state, because I myself felt magnificent. Having decided I couldn't very well show up at Shigure's covered in massage oil, I had taken a long, luxurious bath. This had allowed me the time I needed to think. Kureno would no doubt be delighted to learn that I wanted him back, and soon I would be in his arms. I could hardly wait, it was going to feel so incredible to make love to him again, and maybe if Kureno behaved himself, I might even let him do that thing again... that might be rather nice. Yes, I think that I will.

After bathing, I had pulled on a thin black turtleneck and a pair of form fitting black pants. Then I had brushed my teeth and taken the time to perfectly style my hair. I had considered just leaving without saying anything to Yuki, because I wanted to avoid this exact thing, his depression cramping my style, but in the end I had decided it was only right that I tell him goodbye. It was the proper thing to do.

"You're upset, aren't you, Yuki?" I asked him and patted his shoulder in a friendly manner. "Don't be. Okay? That kiss, it didn't mean anything, you know. It's already forgotten. I understand that you're going through a lot right now, what with everything that horrible girl has put you through."

"I'm not upset," Yuki told me and sat up, but the redness of his eyes and the sour expression on his face said differently.

"That is good," I told him with what I hope was a heartening smile.

"Where are you going?" Yuki asked, and looked me over, obviously admiring how lovely I looked. I just hoped Kureno would feel the same.

"To Shigure's, to see Kureno," I told him honestly and ignored the look of worry flashing across his face. "And I've decided that I will be spending the night, so you shouldn't wait up," I added.

"So you're going to... with that rapist?" Yuki mumbled softly.

"Uh? Oh.... Yes, I guess that I am," I admitted. As I stood up, my stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since breakfast and giving me the most fabulous dinner idea, something I was certain Kureno would enjoy. "So I'll see you tomorrow, Yuki, and don't look so depressed. Why don't you call Hatsuharu or one of your school friends to cheer you up?"

Yuki said nothing, only nodded, but I took it as a sign that he was okay.

I hurried out of the garden, because I still had preparations to make and I didn't want to waste another moment in Yuki's dreary company.

"Good evening," I said to my cook when I entered the kitchen, catching her unaware and napping on a chair in the corner.

"Master Akito!" She said and hopped to her feet. "I'm sorry, it's just... I didn't sleep well last night and...."

"It isn't a problem," I told her, and smiled. "I need you to prepare something for me. A sort of... picnic, if you will," I said, and then thought deeply for a moment before asking her, "Do I own a picnic basket?"

"No, sir, I don't believe that you do." She informed me, and I frowned in displeasure. After all, what was a candlelit picnic without a basket?

"I wonder if Hatori might happen to have one," I said and pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. Walking over to the chair that my cook had just vacated, I took a seat as I dialed. After several rings, a half-asleep Hatori picked up.

"Hatori, it's Akito. I need you to procure me a picnic basket immediately." I told him excitedly, and smiled at my cook, who nodded encouragingly before turning her attention to her work.

****

"You took your sweet time, didn't you?" I told the bedraggled Hatori when he showed up forty minutes later with the requested picnic basket in hand.

"I came as quickly as I could," he informed me. Grabbing the basket from his fingers, I offered it to the cook who took it and set about filling it.

"Just what is all this nonsense about, anyway, Akito?" Hatori questioned. "Is this another stunt to torture poor Yuki?"

"Excuse me?" I said darkly, and turned a threatening glare upon my arrogant doctor. We stared at each other momentarily until Hatori backed down and averted his gaze. Satisfied that I had won, as always, I smiled, "This has nothing to do with Yuki. I am making this for Kureno. I thought it would be fun to have a picnic by candlelight, very romantic, don't you think?"

"Kureno," Hatori said in astonishment and opened his mouth, probably to say something nasty, I presumed. Before he could, I put a stop to it.

"Yes Hatori, Kureno! My lover and I are going to have a picnic. Do you have a problem with that?"

"Very well then, I hope you and Kureno enjoy yourself," he said in a low voice.

"Yes, I think that we will." I told him, and took the picnic basket that my cook had finished filling and was holding out towards me. "Come along, Hatori, I'll see you out."

Hatori remained silent as we exited the kitchen and headed towards the front of the house. Glancing over at him, I knew his academic mind was trying to decode me, trying to figure out what I was really up to. I knew this, because it was what Hatori did. My doctor didn't trust me, he hadn't for years, not since that nasty Kana incident, but he did dread me. Fear was my weapon of choice when it came to my family, and in Hatori's case it had worked surprisingly well.

But not, apparently, well enough.

"So now it's Kureno, is it?" Hatori had the nerve to ask. "And what of Yuki?" He added suspiciously. "You're leaving him on his own tonight? Is he all right? You haven't beaten him again? Akito, does Yuki require my aid?"

Slamming open my front door, I turned my head and flashed bitterness into Hatori's arrogant eyes.

"Yuki is doing just fine. Don't worry, Hatori. Yuki and I are friends, and I would never hurt my friend. In fact, I would give my life to protect him. You see, Hatori, unlike some people, I am generous to those who are loyal to me." I told him icily, and then added, "My enemies, though, are a whole other matter."

Hatori didn't answer, instead he looked past me and his one visible eye grew wide in surprise. Turning my head to see what was distracting him from my coercion, I saw that there was a pretty, dark haired boy coming up drive. Spotting us, the boy waved and flashed a gigantic smile.

"Hatori, who is that boy? Do we know him?" I wondered curiously.

"I don't believe so. Perhaps he's soliciting something, but at this hour...." Hatori said. "I wonder how he got through the gate."

"Hello," the boy said as he came upon us, then bowed politely before speaking further. "I am Kakeru Manabe, a schoolmate of Yun... uh... Yuki's. I've come for a visit."

"Yuki?" Hatori said, a tad uncomfortably. "Is he expecting you?"

"Well, not really," the boy admitted. "And should I apologize, the gate was open and I sort of let myself in. Yuki called me, you see, and it worried me. He seemed... well...."

"Depressed?" I finished for him, and smiled while running my eyes over every lovely inch of him. Although I felt fairly certain that Kureno was the one for me, I couldn't help myself, this boy was simply too scrumptious. From the time I was a child it has been a nasty habit of mine, whenever I see something pretty I desire to possess it.

"Yes, he sounded extremely upset," the boy agreed. He had obviously caught my full body assessment of him, because now he was staring boldly into my eyes and smiling at me rather invitingly.

"It's true. Yuki is feeling very sad, I'm afraid. Anyway, I am Akito, head of the Sohma family, and this is Hatori Sohma. We are very pleased to meet you. I am sure Yuki will be delighted that you've come for a visit."

"You're Akito?" The boy said in surprise, and coming to his senses, pulled his eyes away.

"Yes," I acknowledged, "I see you've heard of me. Well anyway, I must be going." I stepped aside and gestured to the open door. "Please, go inside, Yuki is in the garden. Hatori, would you mind showing this young man the way to the garden before you leave?"

"Of course," Hatori said tightly, and from the look on his face I surmised that he was still convinced I was up to something. Oh well, it couldn't be helped.

"Well, goodnight then. It was nice to meet you, Kakeru Manabe. Oh, and by the way, I don't believe that Yuki has eaten dinner yet, and it's rather late. Hatori, would you see that something is served?" Then I nodded my farewell and headed to where my driver was waiting.

*

I would die for you
I would kill for you
I will steal for you
I'd do time for you

I would wait for you

*

The driver pulled up to park behind Kureno's small sports car and I jumped out quickly. Hugging the heavy picnic basket to my chest, I rushed excitedly to the door and knocked loudly. I hid the basket behind my back, posed prettily, and waited. He didn't answer.

`What's taking so long?' I wondered as I knocked again, much harder and longer this time. When there was still no answer, I glanced over to where his car was parked. `Why isn't he answering? He must be home, where else would he be? It isn't as if Kureno has any friends, with the exception of me, that is.'

Moments passed and I continued to wait, growing impatient and just a tad annoyed. Was Kureno inside? Was he ignoring my knock? Was he still so upset with me that he didn't want to see me at all? That wouldn't do! I pounded on the door once more before setting the picnic basket down and searching my pockets for the tiny key ring that I had been clever enough to bring along.

Using the key, which I've always possessed but never needed before today, I unlocked the door and let myself inside.

The house was dark, but the moonlight through the windows provided me enough illumination that I didn't bother searching for a light switch.

"Kureno, are you here? It's Akito. I've come to spend the night." I called out to the empty rooms. Walking quickly through both floors of the small house, I discovered that I was completely alone. Kureno had gone out someplace, but where? And why did he go without his car? Was he perhaps taking a late night stroll through the woods? `Well, then, I'll just have to wait for his return, won't I?' I decided, and then smiled ecstatically. `Actually, this is perfect. I can set out everything for our picnic and won't it be a nice surprise?'

With this thought in mind, I rushed outside and asked my driver to leave.

"Park down the road a bit, and keep out of sight, I don't want you spoiling the surprise," I told him. "And you should make yourself comfortable, as I will be staying awhile, probably the entire night."

Then I returned to the house and debated where the best place for our picnic would be. I decided on Shigure's room, because Yuki's bed was too small and his room too messy.

Sitting the basket at the foot of the bed, I opened it and smiled. Inside was everything Kureno could possibly wish for. Candles, wine, and all his favorite foods, this was going to be perfect, just perfect.

Using the small blanket that the cook had packed, I set up the picnic on the floor in one corner of the room. I uncorked the wine, lit the candles, and then as a last minute thought I ran outside and picked an armful of fragrant flowers which I sprinkled on the bed and picnic blanket. Then I sat down in the corner to wait... and wait... and unwillingly fell asleep.

*

I'd make room for you

I'd sink ships for you
To be close to you
To be part of you
Cause I believe in you

*

I was awakened by... something... a loud noise which had come from downstairs. Sitting up from the floor, I blinked the sleep from my eyes and smiled happily. Kureno was home.

I stood up for a moment, thinking I should be standing when he entered, and then I changed my mind and sat back down again, because I decided I should actually be sitting. I smiled wickedly as I debated the idea of getting completely undressed and greeting my lover in the nude, but then I decided against it because I looked so good in this outfit.

And then I noticed them... there were voices coming from downstairs, two of them, and they were laughing. One was Kureno's and one was....

A girl's!

*****

I was out the door, down the hall, and down the stairs in a jealous flash. Who was this girl, and what was she doing to my Kureno to make him laugh like that?

My question was answered immediately upon entering the front room... and it was worse then I could have ever imagined.

Kureno was half naked and a horrible, ugly, half dressed blonde harlot was... she was touching him... they were both on their knees on a futon in the middle of the room and her hand was in his hair, touching him! And Kureno, my Kureno, was smiling at her.

"No!" I moaned, and Kureno turned his attention towards me, the smile falling from his lips.

My world spun, for a moment I thought I would collapse. My heart swam in a muddy puddle of emotions... resentment, disappointment, and unbearable grief.

"Akito," Kureno said in a whisper, pushing the girl away and leaping to his feet. He took two shaky steps towards me and I took three desperate steps back.

I had to get out of there. I had to get away, because something was killing me, a feeling stronger and clearer then anything I had ever felt before. It churned at center of my soul, existing where it didn't belong, existing although I was certain that I didn't want it. Love!

I love Kureno... and he has betrayed me with another because I have driven him to it.

*

I would die for you

*

For the first time in my life I found myself wishing I were dead.

********

Another chapter down, approximately six or seven, possibly eight, more to go. Yikes! Next up is Kureno's POV.

Thank you to my brilliant editor, Smiling Onigiri, for inspiring this chapter and helping to make it what it is.

And thanks to my wonderful readers, for all of your various kindnesses. I really love you people!

Now I want to discuss something with my Fanfiction.net readers. Over the last few months I have known of three different writers who have had their stories yanked from the site, due to someone (who apparently has nothing better to do with their miserable lives, poor things) reporting them for rating abuse. The way I figure it, sooner or later this is going to happen to me. I will be moving this story to the R rated section, but should I suddenly disappear from this site, you will still be able read my stories' updates on mediaminer.org. You can also e-mail me at yukitherat@yahoo.com for information regarding my chapter updates.

YTR