Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Rising Affections ❯ What ( Chapter 9 )

 

 

Rising Affections

 

Chapter 9 “What”

 

Warning: slight Akito spoiler if you squint.

 

Disclaimer, still don't own it. Not making any money off of it.

 

 

 

On their way home Shigure had made a few snide remarks to Hatori about his lack of presence in the fight. Hatori wished there was a way to convey the terrible feelings he had endured at the time without having to deal with them himself just then. There was no doubt in Hatori's mind what would happen as soon as they were through the front gates and out of earshot of the driver. He wasn't much looking forward to it.

 

He decided to take the upper hand and explain his inaction as best he could. So instead of going straight to Ayame's house, he led Shigure into the clearing in the woods for a talk.

 

“Before you start in on me there is something I want you to understand.” He said as he tromped noisily through the newly dry underbrush.

 

“And what is that?” Shigure asked.

 

“I didn't want to abandon Ayame to those thugs earlier.”

 

“So why Ha-san? Why did you just stand there and do nothing?”

 

Hatori let out a tired sigh. “It's hard to explain. You know that yourself, Ayame and I have always been close?”

 

“Yes…”

 

“And I don't need to tell you that things between myself and Ayame have changed a bit here lately. Do you know how bad it would be if the nature of our relationship should get back to Akito?”

 

“You mean to tell me that it was a fear of Akito finding out that had you unable to lift a finger to help him?” Shigure replied darkly, anger smoldering in his eyes.

 

“No, that isn't it,” Hatori hurriedly waved off the idea. “But if I had taken action it would have definitely been an issue. I'll try to explain as clearly as I can. When you saw those boys hurting Aya what did you think? What did you feel in your gut?” he asked.

 

“I thought I had to stop them; they were hurting Aaya” Shigure replied shooting a look at Hatori that said he was being stupid.

 

 

“Because you care about Ayame, right?” Hatori continued unperturbed.

 

“Yes you know that. He's been my friend for ever. So what's the point of all this?”

 

 

“Just because he is your friend, or was it something else too?” Hatori asked flatly.

 

“I'm not sure I like what you are implying here Hatori.” Shigure ground out angrily.

 

“Not like that you idiot.” Hatori sighed in frustration, but then continued; “Were you thinking of him as a friend, or a relative, or as one of your pack that needed protecting?” He asked watching Shigure's face intently.

 

“Pack?” Shigure repeated, blinking. “Yes, I guess that could have been part of it, the need to jump in and protect him may have stemmed from something instinctual like that.”

 

“Well, the instinct I had was to utterly destroy everything between me and what I consider as mine. It was…difficult, not to act on that.” Hatori said, the act of recalling the feeling making him tense up and set his jaw.

 

“Oh… So there is a bit more between you and Ayame than what he has told me.” It wasn't quite a question. “Last I heard he was considering the whole situation as a friend helping a friend out with his hormone problems.”

 

“Is that how he feels?” Hatori asked a bit hurt that Ayame would say such a thing.

 

“Not on his part, I assure you, but he was sure that was how you would see things. His feelings are very deep where you are concerned; have been for some time now. I think he was afraid to hope for anything else.” Shigure said “So does this mean you feel the same about him?”

 

 

“…. We should take Ayame his homework now.”

 

“Please be careful Hatori, Ayame gets hurt more easily than he lets on and something like this could potentially cause him great pain. I would hate to have to watch my two best friends suffer needlessly because they rushed into something they weren't ready for.” Shigure said quietly as he turned and headed back toward the house.

 

`It is probably a bit too late to worry too much about that.' Hatori mused as he shouldered the book bag and followed his friend. The thought that he would do anything that could hurt Ayame seemed totally ridiculous in his mind.

 

 

A little while later the three of them sat on the big, tan, ugly, trendy, overstuffed, European-style couch together. Leaning on each other for the support they had come to expect from one another over the years. Ayame was reclined back against Hatori who was sitting with his back in the corner of the couch. He had his arms wrapped around Ayame loosely in an unconscious effort to make him feel safe and protected. Ayame had an arm draped over Shigure who was lying on his side with his head almost in the snake's lap. Ayame was running his fingers through the dog's hair absently. The conversation was light, and friendly as they avoided talking about the things they were all worrying over internally. The events of the day had been bad enough and they were bound to get worse before they got better. Shigure still had to go face his parents, who by now had been called by the school concerning his suspension. Even worse, Ayame had no idea how long it would be before he would be brought before Akito to face his punishment

 

Although he wouldn't admit it, the other two knew Aya was also depressed that all of this hadn't put a dent in his parents' travel plans. They left on schedule with a few words in passing to Kenji, the chief house servant who happened to have served as Ayame's nanny when he was younger. Even that had very little to do with Ayame in particular. “He's grounded until they let him back into school” was the only `Ayame' specific instruction they left with him. Of course upon seeing the bruises on his one time charge, Kenji had tried to help. He may have overreacted a bit by putting enough ice packs on Ayame that he transformed from the sudden drop in body temperature; it did however seem to reduce the bruising and swelling on his ribs some.

 

 

Shigure sighed contentedly letting Ayame pet his head; which he found to be soothing. Part of him was thrilled about the little romance cooking between his friends, and another part felt kind of left out. He supposed he would get used to it; after all they were still the same guys he always knew. Their relationship with each other had changed but not with him, so things should be fine right? Well except that this relationship had already caused a major fight at school and, even worse, an impending meeting with Akito. How best to handle that? First he has to be present at the big event. That should be easy, the way they were stacked on the couch he would be the first to the phone when it rang. The rest is just giving the whole incident the right spin…

 

Ayame sat in thought, at least Shigure had seemed to have taken his words to heart and forgiven Hatori for not getting involved in the fight. The more Ayame thought about it the happier he was that Hatori escaped this bit of trouble. If he had to see Akito with Hatori present he knew there would be no hiding his feelings where the dragon was concerned. It was much better this way. It might be better if he stayed away from Hatori all together. The thought hurt him to the quick, but he could do it to protect `Tori if he had to. After all the worst that could happen to him was to have his memories erased, Hatori would be the one to suffer. Well ok, in the very worst case scenario Akito could decide its time to wait for a new and better snake and hire someone to kill him, but the current situation shouldn't warrant something that extreme.

 

Hatori shifted a little on the couch, the position he was in had one leg along the back of the couch and the other hanging off onto the floor, both Aya and Shigure were doing their best to push the one leg into the limbo space that is the area where the couch back ends and the seat cushions don't quite reach. It would be asleep before too long, but it was ok for now and he didn't want to move yet. His mind wandered over many different things, most having to do with a certain snake and how best to protect him.

“So does this mean you feel the same about him?” `Yes Shigure it does. Like you even had to ask.' “ I would hate to have to watch my two best friends suffer needlessly because they rushed into something they weren't ready for.” `Who's rushing? He… I… We have been waiting for this for years. I didn't realize the person I was looking for would turn out to be Ayame, but it seems to be so.”

 

 

Less than an hour later…

 

 

Shigure and Ayame walked silently down the polished wooden floors of the main house until they came up to the door leading to Akito's public room. Shigure knocked softly on the door frame even though it was already open as a show of respect. “Akito, I brought Ayame, just as you a-asked.” He said quietly, in a singsong voice.

 

 

`Way to suck up `Gure.' Ayame thought; slightly irritated. He vaguely hurt all over and stress from worrying what Akito would do had him in a foul mood.

 

“Don't just stand there looking like a stupid mutt. Bring him in.” Oh yes, Akito was in a lovely mood today.

 

“Yes Akito” they mumble as they quickly entered the large bare room kneeling politely; nervously waiting for him to speak.

 

“Why was I contacted by your school Ayame?” He finally asked after several minutes; not bothering to turn around from studying the texture of the far wall which seemed to hold his interest at the moment.

 

“I am not sure, really. I was in a fight, well more like I was the victim of school violence, and my parents decided that it would, for whatever reason, be a good idea to leave my discipline up to you instead of dealing with it themselves since they are out of town on business for this family right now.” He paused to take a breath.

 

 

Akito turned to look at the snake, dark eyes narrowing as he noticed the cuts and bruises on Ayame's pale skin. The child god of the zodiac then reached out a finger to push painfully against his split lip; causing it to break open and a small trickle of dark red blood to begin to flow sluggishly toward his chin. “Keep it short and to the point Ayame I have no patience for your speeches, I am not feeling well today.”

 

“Sorry to hear that Akito; I will try.” Ayame answered quietly. Ayame hated meeting with Akito. The head of the whole Sohma Empire was several years younger than he. Taking orders and punishment from someone so young was hard for the snake; especially since his own parents seldom bothered with either and he was truly unused to it. The child god of the zodiac also gave off this aura, a persistent gloom that shrouded Akito and clung to everything around him like a syrupy dark shadow. Part of Ayame knew he should respect Akito; even be thankful to him for bearing the full weight of the curse for them, but it was difficult to keep that in mind at a time like this.

 

“How did this happen? How could you let this happen?” He said with a sneer. “You are so weak… pathetic. You couldn't control your temper and got into a fight? Over what? What was so important?”

 

“I didn't exactly start the fight; I was attacked by three guys in the hall between classes.” Ayame replied sheepishly.

 

“And what did you do to cause these three guys to want to hurt you? Not that I'd blame them you are annoying enough to me most days.” Akito said, moving to study the wall again. Upon closer inspection there was a spider busily wrapping a beautifully colored green and pink jewel beetle in its web that was the focus of his attention.

 

“Nothing Akito. I did nothing at all.” Ayame said with a sniff.

 

“Nothing?”

 

“They attacked him due to some recent rumors filtering through the school.” Shigure interjected.

 

“Rumors? What type of rumors?”

 

“The type where Ayame's sexual orientation is brought into question”

 

“Tell me what exactly the rumors were Shigure.”

 

“It was rumored that Aya and I were lovers, and that Ayame made sexual advances on one of the underclassmen, Akito.” Shigure replied simply.

 

Akito's head snapped around to look at Ayame, all interest in the spider forgotten. “So, are any of these disturbing rumors true Ayame?” He asked his voice like honeyed silk.

 

 

“Shigure and I would never…we aren't lovers and never have been.” Ayame said, a bit flustered by the question. “As for the other rumor, I have absolutely no interest in any of the underclassmen in my school at all whatsoever, they are all boys.”

 

“So the rumors are false.” It was a statement and not a question.

 

“Yes these rumors are completely untrue. Although I can see why they would have their reasons to wonder I suppose.” Shigure supplied anyway.

 

“Why would that be?” Akito asked genuinely curious.

 

`Well, let's see… Shigure started listing things in his head…There are three of us who all arrive at and leave from school together, we hang around each other a lot and have very few if any outside friends, none of us has ever had a girlfriend or even dated.' out loud he said:

 

“Ayame is a bit eccentric in his behavior at the best of times. He also looks different, what with his unusual hair and eye color. I think that's got something to do him being the focus for their anger. It can't be helped, as zodiac members we are different. People can sense that on some level, and they act on some innate instinct to single us out.” `Come on Akito, realize one of `your' junishi was being hurt by someone other than you.' He tacked on in a silent prayer.

 

“And when these boys ganged up on Ayame the school had nothing in place to keep it from happening?” Akito asked cocking his head to the side as if thinking over something. “Where were the faculty and staff? Have they not heard of hall monitors?” He suddenly turned and stomped his way to the one open window in the room planting his fists on the sill as he went on “This estate pays enough to that school, my family should be able to walk through the halls in safety! I am going to have a talk with the school board. This is an outrage, one of my people being harmed like this over some… some rumor!” He basically spat the last word out as if it tasted bad to say it.

 

He turned suddenly and pointed at the snake “Ayame! You are to stay in your house until I have a chance to deal with this matter at your school, in person.” Ayame just bowed his head in agreement. “Shigure,” he turned his attention to the dog. “Next time don't rescue the worthless snake, do like your smart friend Hatori and just stay out of it. I will allow your parents to handle your punishment this time. Now leave both of you. As I said before I do not feel well today.” With that he turned to lean on the window sill staring out the window.

 

As soon as he was sure they were gone he sagged limply on the sill. So what if the stupid snake got beaten? It wasn't like the bruises wouldn't heal. It wasn't as if there was some terrible thing eating at his life force draining the energy from his body slowly but steadily and leading him on the trail to an early grave. Akito would have given anything to have the freedom to go to school with the other boys, but he couldn't. It wasn't allowed, his position as head of the family and his frail health left him being home tutored by the best money could buy. The school was at fault. He would make them sorry. How could this happen, based solely on hearsay, what else had happened to his junishi that they hadn't told him about? How much else were they keeping from him as he sat here in his rooms, unable to go see the outside world without a good reason? `Thank you Shigure,' he thought. `At least I can get out long enough to see the school board in person now.' He looked up at a slight scrabbling sound and saw a bird perched on the window sill. He liked birds, and also envied them their freedom. He liked to imagine one day he too would be free, free of the curse, free of his mother, free to be the Akito she was born to be.

 

 

 

The boys noticed that it was just turning twilight as they walked away from the main house. Ayame fiddled with the sleeves of his traditional robe. He never understood how Shigure could be so comfortable in his yukata. The loose sleeves seemed too baggy and awkward to the snake, He preferred the Chinese style mandarin robe, but Akito's mother insisted the children wear traditional attire when they visit the main house as a form of respect. She was real big on demonstrations of respect toward Akito. It was especially so if it would be directly showing that respect to her as well by following her wishes.

 

Ayame waited until they were halfway to his house before breathing a sigh of relief. “Good job `Gure. You managed to get Akito's ire focused at the school and keep yourself out of it almost all together somehow. You manage to say the right thing at the right time to direct a conversation when you need to, and you handle it with such finesse. You have to teach me how you do that one of these days…”

 

 

“Who me?” Shigure pointed at himself exuding an aura of bright eyed innocence.

 

 

 

When they arrived at Ayame's house Hatori was there waiting to hear how things had gone. After a brief recap of everything and a few chuckles over how they almost felt sorry for the school board, Shigure decided he should get home and face the music from his parents, he'd call in the morning and let them know how it went.

 

 

It was then that Ayame noticed that Kenji hadn't come in to check on him yet. “I wonder what Kenji is up to.” He mused quietly.

 

“Kenji had a problem,” Hatori told him “He didn't expect to have to keep an eye on you tonight and he has a date. Kita went home to her family already and your mother let Miki go after the sake incident last week…”

 

“Oh yes, the sake incident…I guess no one will use the good drinking sake to steam fish with any time soon, but it was delicious.” Ayame reminisced.

 

“So, with your parents out of town, Kenji is the only one here tonight.” Hatori continued before Ayame could go off on his own train of thought about sake-steamed fish. “Usually he wouldn't worry about leaving you here by yourself, but since you were hurt earlier he was really uneasy about going out for the night. That is until I reminded him I am going to college to become a doctor next year and volunteered to stay here and keep an eye on you.”

 

“Keep an eye?... You're my…babysitter?” Aya asked, stunned.