Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ I LOVE YOU ❯ To You I Bestow ( Chapter 19 )

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

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or its characters. It belongs to Takaya Natsuki. Nor do I own the lyrics to "To You I Bestow," they are property of Mundy.

Hello everybody.

As always, thank you to Smiling Onigiri for her quick and perfect editing job.

Also a giant thank you to Macbaby1 for being so amazingly kind to me and for e-mailing me lots of yummy stuff. YTR loves yummy stuff.

I also want to take a moment to tell you all how much it means to me to have so many of you let me know that you are happy with my story. I love all of my readers, but want to send some extra big hugs out to: Sandy, Bleedforme, Lady Indigo Star, Orangellama, Joan Mistress of Magic, Kativa-chan, Darkdreams69, gigglegurl8788, shikon jewel, shiichan921, Inubunny, unknown goddess li-chi, cursors, Kohako Otaku, R Junkie, Devil666sc, Raeluvs, I'll never tell, Shiemi, and Kuramaskitsunemate. I'm tired, so I hope that I got everyone's pennames correct. You guys have written reviews and/or e-mails to me that have both touched and inspired me. This story would never have gotten as far as it has without your supportive words. Thank you all so much, I hope that you will continue to read and enjoy, and I in turn will continue to write.

***

I LOVE YOU

Chapter Nineteen: To You I Bestow

****

Wait a minute now,

I'll see you when I come back

I could be sharing someone else's pillow

And my love for you is better than diamonds

To you, everything I bestow

"Akito," I whispered through the numbing haze that was presently my mind.

Instinctively, I pushed Uo away from me and leapt to my feet, causing the entire house to spin and a bolt of nausea to shoot up from my stomach to my throat. Swallowing hard, I managed two small steps forward only to watch Akito back away.

---------

ELEVEN HOURS EARLIER

--------

POOF!

`I've transformed!' I realized, and quickly fluttered into the air to avoid Uo's body as she lost her balance, fell forward, smacked her head against the side of my car, and dropped unconscious to the dirt drive.

"Arisa!" I called out and flew down to her face. "Arisa, wake up!" I yelled as I waved my worthless wings in front of her eyes.

"Damn it!" I cursed, hating my tiny, useless bird form. Landing on the ground next to my clothes, I waited impatiently for the inevitable....

POOF!

Then I stood up, grabbed my pants, and was just about to pull them on when she came to.

"A bird?" She said quietly and I looked up to see her staring at me, wide eyed and slightly dazed, but smiling nonetheless.

"OH! Thank goodness you are all right. You hit your head, I was worried." I stammered foolishly, momentarily forgetting about my state of total undress in my relief at learning she wasn't seriously hurt.

"Yes," she agreed and rubbed her forehead where a large bump was already forming. "It hurts a little, but I think I'll live." Then her smile grew wider and while running her eyes curiously along my chest and downward she added, "Nice jeans, by the way."

"Sorry, sorry," I stuttered. Realizing she could see `everything,' I hastily positioned my pants to hide my nudity from her inquisitive eyes.

"Don't cover up on my account," she said with a grin.

I expected to feel myself turning red, but I didn't. Instead, I felt a crazy need to explain. "When we transform we tend to undress ourselves."

"I see." She said, and I wondered why she didn't seem more shocked. "We knew about Orange Top, The Prince, and Shigure, it just never crossed my mind that you might be one as well. It makes sense, though, since you're a Sohma, right?"

"You knew about the curse?" I asked in amazement. "How did you? Did Tohru tell you?"

"Oh no, sweet Tohru would never think of betraying her Sohmas. In fact, she has no idea that Hana and I even know," she explained and rubbed at the bump on her head again. "We found out the first time we came to the house to visit Tohru. All three of them transformed right in front of us, and then they had the nerve to pretend that nothing happened. It was really quite hysterical, looking back on it, but it pissed me off a little at the time… it was like they thought we were blind or stupid. Hana was worried that it would cause trouble for Tohru, so we decided to have a little secret of our own. So... now I know your secret and you know mine." Smiling, she turned her head away, allowing me the chance to quickly dress.

"Yes," I said as I stumbled into my pants, "But it would probably be best if you continue to hide the fact that you know." If Akito ever learned that someone outside the family knew about us without his knowledge, and had for years... I didn't even want to think about the consequences for everyone involved.

"Not a problem, your secret is safe with me," she told me sweetly. "So what is it, anyway? The curse, I mean? Hana believes that it is inherited, like some type of cool birth defect?"

"Cool?" I wondered at her choice of words. She thought it was `cool?' That made no sense, it wasn't cool, it was a curse. It a curse and people would hate us if they knew about it... at least, that was what Akito had always taught me... but then, Akito had also taught me how to lie, hadn't he?

"For certain it's cool," she assured me. "I would love to be able to transform into a little bird. You could fly wherever you wanted, see the world in a whole other way. Oh, and you could hang out on people's window sills and spy on them while they're taking a bath... uh... you don't do that, right?"

"Of course not!" I protested, although it wasn't completely true. I didn't spy on people personally, but I had coerced my friends into spying for me.

"I was just joking." She said, and since I was dressed, I walked towards her and held my hand out to help her up.

"So is this why you never called me?" She asked as she took my hand.

"Partially," I admitted. "But not the only reason, there were... uh... complications."

"Really?" She said as she pulled herself up from the ground. "And what might those be?" She asked and let go of my hand in order to brush the dirt from her clothes.

"I'd rather not say." I told her, uncomfortably. I had learned from conversations with Tohru that Uo had once had very deep feelings for me, and in all honesty a part of me was insanely attracted to her. Uo was certainly a beautiful girl, and she seemed very kind, but... I was in love with Akito.

`Akito isn't in love with you, though,' I was reminded by a voice in the back of my mind, a voice that sounded annoyingly similar to a certain little rat.

"I won't judge you." Uo assured me, and I stared down into her eyes and felt certain she was telling the truth, and yet I still couldn't bring myself to say it. I was a man who was in love with another man, and worse than that, I was in love with my own cousin. It simply wasn't something that you go around telling people about.

"Well, then, you can keep your secrets." Uo said coldly, and I worried that I had insulted her, but then she smiled and gestured towards the house. "Nobody is home. I came to town hoping to talk to The Prince, to see if he knew how I could get in touch with Tohru."

"Tohru?" I asked nervously. Why was Uo looking for Tohru? She wasn't supposed to be doing that. It would be really bad if Akito found out... bad for Tohru, and possibly bad for Uo, as well.

"She's moved away with Kyo." I told her a little too hastily and noticed a flash of something in her eyes, suspicion perhaps? "Didn't she call to tell you?"

I knew Tohru had indeed called her, because I had been in the room with her when she did. After years of experience in covering up sudden disappearances, usually of family members who have gotten on Akito's bad side and ended up exiled, I have become rather proficient in it. The trick is telling people something they will easily believe.

In Tohru's case it was decided by Akito that she would tell people she was moving away to be with Kyo. She was to say that Kyo was journeying to the mountains to train in martial arts for an extended period and she was going with him. Tohru was to make everyone believe that she was in love with Kyo, because Yuki's life depended on it... or so she had been told. It didn't answer all the questions, of course, but Tohru was an excellent actress when she needed to be. I had been certain she'd sufficiently convinced her friends and relatives of her plans for the future, but apparently I was mistaken.

"Yes, she did tell me, but it doesn't make any sense. Tohru isn't in love with Kyo. She cares for him, certainly, just as she cares for your whole family, but Tohru has always been in love with The Prince," Uo informed me.

"She told you that?" I asked, curious as to how Uo could know such a thing since Tohru herself had told me on the ride back from the beach house that she'd kept her feelings for Yuki a secret for years.

"I know that what I've done is stupid," Tohru whispered to me through her tears. "But I love him so much and I've kept it a secret for so long. I just needed to tell someone, to tell him, but it was foolish of me, and now I've put Yuki in jeopardy."

"Akito won't hurt Yuki." I assured the girl, although I didn't really know if I was telling the truth. "Just do as he asks and Yuki will be safe."

"Will you watch over him?" She asked desperately, "If Akito tries to hurt him, will you stop him?"

I looked away from her, from the bright blue ocean of tears that were her eyes, before answering coldly, "Do not ask this of me. I will never go against Akito, especially not to save that rat!"

"I'm sorry, Kureno. It wasn't fair for me to ask that of you. Of course you could never consider such a thing. Please forget that I said anything." She said softly.

And that was the end of it. She remained silent for the rest of the ride, and from that moment on Tohru Honda has been the ideal captive. She has done everything I have requested of her, all in the hopes of protecting that rotten little rat. She couldn't have possibly spoken to Uo since the day I allowed her to call everyone, because she didn't have access to a phone. So how did Uo find out?

"No, Tohru would certainly never admit to something like that. She has never been capable of telling people how she feels, or what she needs for that matter. She's kept her heart locked away, and I have to admit it tears me up to see what it's done to her over the last year. She's just changed so much, and not for the better. Unrequited love is a terrible thing, after all. As for The Prince, he doesn't have a clue, which is pretty pitiful if you ask me. How can he not know how she feels, how can anyone be that dense?" Uo asked, and looked at me so pointedly that I was forced to look away.

"But if she's never told you, how can you be so certain, isn't it possible that you're wrong?" I asked. I knew what Uo was getting at. The unspoken message behind her words was undeniable and begging to be acknowledged, but I chose to ignore it. For the moment I needed to focus on the issue at hand, which was to protect Akito at all costs.

"I'm not wrong. I know because I was in love with someone myself once, but he evidently didn't get it, or maybe he didn't want to get it." She said, and the tone of her voice was so hostile that it made me want to squirm away.

"Uh... well then, perhaps Tohru went away with Kyo in order to get over her feelings for Yuki," I suggested. "Seeing as how Yuki belongs to another...." When faced with lying to someone who does not trust you, the trick is in mixing the truth so thoroughly with the lies that it makes it hard to tell the difference.

"What are you talking about? Belongs to another? It's not like The Prince is betrothed, or something stupid like that?" Uo suggested, and since that felt like the perfect solution, I decided to run with it.

"Well, actually, he is. Yuki has been promised to someone since birth." I explained, and since my car door was still hanging open, I closed it and gestured to the house. "Maybe you would like to come inside, so I can better explain."

"Do you have anything to eat in there?" Uo asked shyly. "I sort of missed breakfast." Feeling embarrassed to admit that I did not, and only because I was too intimidated by a Super Market to go shopping, I quickly came up with a plan.

"Let's go out for something. My treat, of course," I suggested. "It's a little late for breakfast, but an early lunch perhaps?"

"That sounds great," Uo admitted. "But if you're buying then I insist on driving."

***

Lying to Uo turned out to be much harder then I ever could have imagined. I found it impossible to look her in the eye as I spoke, and she asked so many questions that I actually feared I might slip up and end up disclosing everything to her.

Finally, after almost two hours of laborious interrogation, I managed to convince Uo that Tohru's shock at learning Yuki was engaged to one of his distant cousins had forced her into Kyo's waiting arms. I also convinced her that neither Tohru nor Kyo had left a forwarding address, but that I was certain Kyo would make Tohru very happy.

"Well, good for Orange Top, although I never thought he had it in him." Uo said, and I smiled, assuming that that the subject was closed and we could move on to more pleasant conversation, but I was wrong.

"But what about The Prince?" Uo asked after taking a sip of her tea. "He couldn't possibly be happy with an arranged marriage."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," I said coldly, unable to keep my resentment from slipping out. "Yuki and his future bride appear to be quite happy together."

"Really?" Uo said doubtfully, but then she relaxed and leaned back in her seat, smiling sweetly at me. "I guess I have been worrying over nothing, and to think I skipped school during exam week to check on Tohru."

"You were that worried, then?" I asked, and silently scolded myself for not having prevented this. I'd made Uo worry and almost ruined Akito's diabolical little plan. I would have to be more careful in the future.

"I was," she admitted, "But you've put my mind at ease."

"I did?" I said in surprise, and then added honestly, "I'm glad."

"It has also been really nice to see you again." Uo admitted, "And as for this lunch..." she patted her tiny belly cutely, "It was incredible. I was really starving, I can't thank you enough."

"I'm pleased that you enjoyed it." I told her, and then turned to look at our waitress as she stepped up to our table and removed Uo's empty plate.

"Would you care for anything else today?" She asked, and I looked at Uo, who shook her head.

"That will be all, thank you." I said to the waitress, and then turned my attention back to Uo.

"So what will you do now? Going back to school?" I asked her.

"Not today, the drive is too long. I'll leave in the morning. I suppose I'll need to find a place to stay."

"You have no place to stay?" I asked, "Can't you stay with your family?"

"No, that isn't possible." She said sadly.

"Well, what about a friend's house then?" I suggested guiltily while debating if I should offer to pay for her hotel room, since it was basically my fault that she was without a place to stay. She had come to town because she was worried about Tohru, and that was my fault for not doing my job properly.

"Hana's family moved last year, but no worries, I can get a hotel," she said. "I was going to ask Shigure if I could stay the night, which was rather presumptuous of me, I suppose, but since he's out of town and Yuki isn't living there any longer...."

"Don't do that. Go to a hotel, I mean. You can stay with Shigure - I mean, you can stay with me, at Shigure's house." I blurted out without thinking, before I could stop myself, and she peered at me curiously. "I mean, a hotel is expensive, and it's only for one night, and... maybe it's a bad idea. I shouldn't have...."

"No! It's not a bad idea. It's a great idea." Uo said and clapped her hands. "A sleepover, it will be a blast."

"Well, I don't know about that." I told her, and picked up the check the waitress had just placed in front of me in one hand while searching for my wallet with the other. "I probably won't be any fun at all. I didn't really sleep much last night and...."

"Let's go back to the house and go to bed then." Uo said loudly, then slapped her hand over her mouth, blushing bright red. "I'm sorry, that isn't what I meant. I only meant let's go back to Shigure's and take a nap, uh, but not together. I didn't really sleep last night either, so we can rest up for a few hours and tonight we can go out on the town and have some fun."

"Out on the town?" I wondered as I paid the waitress.

"Yes, we'll go dancing. You dance, don't you?" Uo asked and jumped out of her seat and stood waiting for me to stand.

"Well, a little, I suppose." I told her, although my only real dance experience was preparing for and performing at the zodiac banquet. I had a feeling Uo was not talking about that type of dancing.

"Great, then it's a date. I mean a plan. It's a plan." Uo said giddily before taking me by the hand and practically pulling me to the exit. "Oh, and for dinner let's do sushi and sake bombs."

"Sake bombs?" I wondered nervously as I was pulled out the door and down the street toward Uo's car.

"Yes, sake and beer. You do drink, don't you?" She asked and then actually stopped at the passenger side of her car and opened the door for me.

"Yes, I drink a little. Wine mostly." I mumbled to her while I found myself thinking with a small smile, `Such a strange and wonderful girl you are, Arisa. I think I shall enjoy spending a bit of time with you. In fact, this is just what I needed, a night on the town with a nice girl, someone to help get my mind off of Akito and the fact that I lost him to Yuki.'

And tomorrow, I'll be dancin' on my own

And I'll need a kiss for my head that's achin'

And I'll be a hungry dog without a bone

Hoping my place with you is not taken

Sake bombs, just as the name suggested, turned out to be a very scary experience.

After returning to Shigure's, Uo had napped upstairs in Kyo's room and I had laid on my futon on the floor trying and failing to fall asleep. At 5 p.m. Uo had waltzed downstairs, freshly showered and looking rather attractive. She waited impatiently, actually knocking on the bathroom door at one point to inquire on whether I might have drowned, while I took my bath, and then grinned big upon seeing me fully dressed and ready for a night on the town.

"You clean up really well." She told me, and I found myself wondering, but not asking, exactly what that was supposed to mean.

Uo suggested the restaurant since I didn't have a clue about such things. It was a peaceful, picturesque place with individual rooms and lovely decor. Uo allowed me to order our dinner for us, but piped in at the end to remind me about the sake and beer. I was disappointed to learn that she was actually serious and utterly terrified when she explained what she expected me to do.

"Oh, no," I quietly begged. "If you don't mind, I think I would just like to drink them separately. The other way, it just sounds so messy, and we are in a public place."

"We'll have none of that," Uo told me. "It's just you and me here, and even if it wasn't I wouldn't let you off the hook. Now trust me. You are going to enjoy this."

"Okay then," I said doubtfully. "Explain it one more time."

"It's easy." Uo told me with a devilish grin. "But first you need to drink some of your beer. Your glass is way too full." Holding up her own glass to show me how much I needed to drink, she waited while I took a tentative sip.

"I don't like beer much." I admitted, which earned me a frown of displeasure. Not wanting to spoil Uo's fun, I held my breath and took a large drink, then held it up for her to see.

"Much better," she said joyfully. "Next, take the sake cup and hold it over the rim of your beer glass, like this."

I did as she suggested.

"Then you drop it in." Uo told me and let go of her tiny, white sake cup. It dropped into her beer with a tiny splash, turning it into a glass of fizz and foam.

"Drop yours in, hurry!" Uo insisted, and I released the cup from my fingers and watched as my own glass started to boil.

"Now drink it all, quickly." Uo said and put her glass to her lips. I lifted my own drink, sniffing at its horrible aroma. Seeing that Uo was glaring at me over the top of her nearly empty glass, I held my breath again and took a large chug of the vile tasting liquid.

`This is terrible.' I silently complained as the wet heat of the sake coupled with the icy coolness of the beer and burned its way down my throat and into my belly.

Following Uo's example, I finished my entire beer in one long, painful drink. Then I swallowed hard and sat the empty glass down on the table.

"Woo hoo!" Uo cheered happily. "I knew you could do it." Then she quieted down, because the waitress had pushed aside the curtain to our room and entered.

Uo sat silently, an innocent smile gracing her pretty, feminine face while our first course was laid out in front of us. It was all an act, however, for the moment the waitress exited and we were alone again her wicked, somewhat boyish grin returned.

"Ready to go again?" She asked excitedly and gestured to our glasses of beer and sake that the waitress has just refilled.

"Again?" I wondered and shook my head no.

"Oh yes." She said, and shook her head yes. "Now let's drink."

***

A couple of hours later we stumbled out from the restaurant. After my second sake bomb I had felt satisfactorily drunk, but after my forth I was well on my way to being utterly shit faced.

Uo, on the other hand, hardly seemed effected at all. Because of this, because I didn't want her to know that I couldn't hold my liquor, I decided that I needed to pretend. `I will match her drink for drink tonight.' I vowed to myself and this, as you can probably imagine, was an incredible mistake.

From the restaurant we drove a few blocks down to a small shopping district. At its center was our destination, a nightclub called "The Black Scorpion".

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I wondered as I followed Uo through mildly crowded streets and up the stairs leading into the club. "It tends to be best if I avoid crowds altogether, because of the curse and all," I explained.

"Don't worry." Uo assured me, and she opened the door and pulled me inside. "It's very early. This place doesn't really get packed for a few more hours. We'll stay for a drink and a couple dances, then we'll leave."

Although I wasn't wholly convinced by this logic, I was sufficiently drunk. Additionally, I was completely infatuated with Uo's reckless attitude, so I decided to take my chances.

"Wow. This place is amazing." I noticed, and couldn't help but gawk as I was dragged through the dark but thoroughly fascinating club. The décor was completely black from the floor to the ceiling, with the exception of the dance floor, which was bone white and pulsing with a colorful mixture of lights, creating a faux rainbow effect. The music was loud, so loud that I could feel it coursing almost erotically within me, and as Uo had promised, the place was only moderately busy.

"Dance first, and then drink." Uo announced and pushed me towards the brightly glowing core of the club. Nervously I stared at the other couples that were already dancing and tried to quickly get a feel for what would be required.

Fortunately I tend to be a quick study. After a few minutes on the dance floor my awkwardness left me and I was filled with a feeling of warm contentment and absolute joy.

"This is amazing." I said out loud, and Uo smiled at me and screamed something back. I couldn't hear her, though, since the music was so loud.

"I have never done this, you know." I screamed back, and she nodded.

"You're so funny. I know you can't hear me, and yet you're nodding." I yelled across the floor at her and watched her smile and pretend that she understood me perfectly.

"I really like this, and I think I like you, too." I added thoughtfully, and it was true. For the first time in my life I was out in the world and I wasn't afraid. Perhaps it really was possible for me to enjoy myself even if Akito wasn't a part of my life. `Yes,' I realized. `It's possible. It's completely possible.'

"I don't need that spoiled Princess. Yuki can have..." I hollered loudly, not realizing quickly enough that the music had momentarily stopped. Biting my lips to silence myself, I stared around the dance floor at the other couples who had apparently heard me, but were pretending that they hadn't, and at a hysterically laughing Uo.

`It isn't funny,' I thought to myself as the music returned to its ferocious beat, but then realized that indeed it was, and so I found myself laughing as well.

"Come on!" I hollered pointlessly at Uo. Dancing across to her, I grabbed her by the hand and pulled her toward the bar.

"I'd like another drink," I said into her ear once we were seated together at the bar. "What do you suggest?"

"We'll take a couple of screaming orgasms." Uo hollered across to the bartender and my eyes went wide.

"I don't even want to know." I told her, then lifted her hand to my lips and kissed it gently before leaning over to whisper in her ear, "Thank you."

Kiss me and tell me it's not broken

Kiss me and kiss me 'til I'm dead

See, I give you the stars from the bruised evening sky

And a crown of jewels for your head now

For your head now

For your head

Uo still appeared relatively sober, and I was out of my mind with drunkenness, when we left the bar and wandered down the street.

The night was warm, with a mild breeze that felt soothing against my sweaty skin and smelled so fresh in contrast to the alcohol stained air of the nightclub.

We rushed along the dirt sidewalks, laughing like children as we admired the numerous goods that were being sold from a long line of street kiosks that littered the walkway. Uo bought a pair of gaudy, florescent necklaces and then suggested that I wear the pink, while she wore the blue. Without complaint, I let her wrap the glowing pink chain around my neck and smiled when she placed a gentle kiss upon my cheek.

"Uo," I whispered dolefully. "There is something I should tell you."

"No." She told me, and placed a finger upon my lips. "You don't have to, I think I already know. Yuki stole your princess away, didn't he?"

"Yes." I whispered within my drunken shame, and didn't even bother to try to stop the tears that had started to flow.

"I'm sorry." Uo told me and squeezed my hand reassuringly. "But I, for one, think this princess is a dumb shit, choosing that prissy prince over you. She must be a complete idiot."

"She is," I agreed unhappily.

"Oh my god! Look." Uo said suddenly, and I was once again pulled down the street towards a kiosk full of glittering, fake jewel tiaras.

"You have to buy one of these, Kureno, for her. A tiara for the princess," Uo said to me, and for the first time I realized Uo was a little drunk herself.

"You think?" I wondered and tried to picture Akito in one of the dainty little crowns. "I'm not so sure the princess would approve."

"Most definitely," Uo said. "If you don't buy one for her, I will."

"Well, okay then, I'll take this one." I decided and picked up one that was covered in fake diamonds and phony rubies.

"A fake tiara for my fake princess, how very appropriate," I said to Uo as we headed for her car.

"Exactly," Uo agreed and then stopped, because I had stopped.

"Oh no," I moaned as my head spun unexpectedly, painfully, and I was hit by an overwhelming bout of nausea.

"Kureno? Are you okay?" Uo wondered and placed her hands on each of my shoulders.

"No, don't." I said and tried to pull away, but I wasn't quick enough. To my utter and extreme humiliation I threw up all over Uo's shirt.

One last night in bed for a time

And two more wishes and both are for thine

And three guesses, you're the angel's child

Four hopes that this love's not spoiled

Kiss me and tell me it's not broken

Kiss me and kiss me 'til I'm dead

See, I give you the stars from the bruised evening sky

And a crown of jewels for your head now

For your head now

I didn't speak on the way back to Shigure's. I was appalled at myself. I had given Uo my shirt to wear and we'd disposed of the evidence in a garbage can on the side of the road, but I couldn't get over the fact that I had actually thrown up on another human being.

The moment we walked into the house, Uo hurried to the shower. To clean me off of her, I supposed. Unrolling my little futon, I quickly turned the living room into a bedroom, and then opened the closet and pulled out my favorite, newly washed pajamas. I then walked upstairs and sat on the floor outside the bathroom door, holding my pounding head in my hands and waiting until the door slid open and a towel clad Uo exited.

"I brought you something to sleep in." I told her, standing quickly and bowing humbly, while holding the pajamas out toward her and keeping my eyes glued to the floor.

"I'll just need this." She told me and grabbed only the top, leaving the bottom behind. "You can wear the bottom."

"Okay," I agreed, and continued to stare at the floor until I heard Kyo's bedroom door open and close, and then I stepped into the steamy bathroom and headed for the shower.

****

I was surprised to find Uo sitting on the edge of my futon when I came staggering down the stairs a short while later. The shower had helped somewhat, but I was nowhere near sobriety.

"I thought you would be in bed already. Don't you need to get up early?" I asked as I walked towards her.

"I do, but I wanted to say goodnight. I was sort of worried about you," she told me.

"I'm okay." I said, but my stomach and head disagreed, and I was hit with another wave of dizziness coupled with another rush of nausea.

"Kureno?" Uo called out, and jumped to her feet to assist me just as I was about to sit down. The top of her earlier injured forehead smacked painfully against the bottom of my jaw.

"OH SHIT! THAT REALLY HURT!" Uo screamed loudly, and together we dropped to our knees.

"I'm so sorry," I told her. "I'm such an idiot."

"No, it's my fault." Uo insisted.

"Like hell it is!" I told her, and stared at the ground, once more avoiding looking her in the eyes. "I'm the one shuffling around like a drunken fool."

"And who is the loudmouth girl who forced you to get drunk in the first place?" Uo asked and then took my chin in one hand and forced it up, making me face her.

"That would be you." I admitted, and watched as a wild grin broke out along her face.

"Exactly!" Uo said, and giggled happily. "And I've enjoyed every minute of it."

"Actually, so have I." I told her honestly and found myself laughing along with her.

"I have to admit you really are quiet the amusing drunk," Uo said. Reaching out her hand, she ran it lovingly through my hair while staring deeply into my eyes.

"I'm glad you found my whole hearted mortification entertaining." I said with a smile, and silently debated the insane idea of perhaps kissing her.

"No!" The well-known voice touched me like ice water, bringing me immediately to my senses and shattering the joy inside me in one hostile blow.

"Akito," I whispered through the numbing haze that was presently my mind.

Willing myself sober, I opened my mouth to speak only to find myself without any words. Looking at Uo, it struck me how this must look to Akito. She was wearing only a pajama top, my pajama top, and it barely covered her up. I myself was topless and we were together on the futon.... Akito had essentially caught me in bed with someone else!

So why wasn't he saying anything?

`Shouldn't he be screaming,' I wondered to myself, `and throwing things?' If I were Yuki - or any other member of the family, for that matter - that is exactly what he would do... so why wasn't he? Why was he just standing there, staring at me like that? Staring at me with such a blank, empty look....

"Akito?" I repeated and staggered forward, reaching one hand out and grabbing him by the arm. His mouth moved silently, mouthing something that I couldn't make out, and then he jerked his arm away, turned his back, and rushed toward the front door.

Mindlessly, I started to follow, but before I could make it to the door I was hit by another wave of nausea, so instead I rushed to the toilet and dropped to my knees.

As what remained of my dinner was forced from my stomach and my head screamed in pain, I felt a gentle hand upon my shoulder. I didn't need to look up to know that it was her hand, and not his. Akito would never think of coming near me when I was in such a state. It would disgust him, without a doubt... but her, Uo... she understood, she understood about everything. Uo was an angel and Akito... he was the worst of all demons.

So why didn't that make me love him any less?

And if you come back, I'll take you to the garden

We'll dance to an orchestra on the lawn

And we roll in the foggy dew

And dance with the ghosts upon

The dawn and on the dawn and on the dawn

Then you'll kiss me and tell me it's not broken

Kiss me and kiss me 'til I'm dead

See, I give you the stars from the bruised evening sky

And a crown of jewels for your head now

For your head now

And for your head now

For your head now

For your head

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Also, just so you all know, I will probably not be posting another update for about 3 to 4 weeks. My editor will be unavailable during that time, and I've decided to use this opportunity to take a short break myself. I need one, actually. I will try to get something up as soon as possible, though, and will try not to keep you waiting too long.

And just so you know, the next chapter will be Kyo's POV. I know a few of you are eager to find out what exactly is going on in that little cottage in the woods. So I will just have to investigate the situation for you.

Bye for now,

YTR