Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Rising Affections ❯ Lucky Day ( Chapter 13 )

Warnings: none

Disclaimer, You all know I don't own it by now.

13 lucky day

Kenji weaved up to the house; he both lived and worked there so thought nothing of letting himself in. After fumbling a bit with the lock he entered and traded his street shoes for a pair of comfortable slippers. He was no longer Ayame's nanny. He had been moved to head of staff for the household servants in this particular corner of the Sohma estate on Ayame's 15th birthday, but after caring for the boy for his whole life he still found himself fretting over how his one-time charge was doing. He'd have to thank Hatori for staying behind and watching over him. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to relax and enjoy the rare evening out. Well it was about 5 am and he was a bit drunk still, but he had decided to get back early so no one could accuse him of slacking on his job. Lord he knew how the kitchen staff loved to talk.

000ooo000

 

It was the best sleep Ayame had ever had, he drifted in and out of slumber feeling his `Tori-chan's strong arms wrapped around him. It was perfect.

 

The sun hadn't peeked above the horizon yet when Hatori awoke, an uncharacteristic smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he looked down at the face of his sleeping lover. He could see Ayame, totally relaxed and so cuddly looking with a hand curled under his cheek as he slept facing him. Hatori tightened his arms around him and leaned forward, kissing him on the forehead.

“Good morning beautiful.” he said, when he saw silvery lashes flutter open to reveal deep golden eyes.

“Oh,” Aya said stunned, he wasn't sure why, but it bothered him a bit to be called beautiful, especially by Hatori. “You are quite attractive yourself.” he replied. “You know I do try to keep myself well groomed and such, but even though I use camellia oil to keep my skin from getting dry and flaky and I keep my hair long, could you find another word to describe me? I want to be more than just a pretty face to you `Tori. All I ever hear is that I look good; no one bothers to compliment me on anything else. Besides, it sounds so… so, feminine and I assure you I am quite happy being a male of the species. So, if you don't mind could you please find something else to praise about me?” He finished, looking hopeful.

 

“No, I can't find a more fitting word Aya.” Hatori said hushing him with a finger when he started to protest. “A lot of different and powerful works of nature, exotic animals, sunsets, ocean waves, can only be described as beautiful, and that is exactly what you are. In mind heart body and soul.” He finished by leaning in giving Ayame a feather light kiss. “And don't you dare think I would use you as some sort of substitute for a woman. You may look slightly effeminate, but I know all too well that you are all male.” He punctuated the thought with a gentle cupping of the areas of significance in his hand.

Then something happened that never had happened before and would probably never happen again; Ayame Sohma blushed from head to toe.

 

Making his way quietly down the hall Kenji decided to check in on Ayame, he hadn't seen Hatori asleep on the couch so the boy must have been on Ayame's floor to keep an eye on him such a devoted friend, he peeked into the room… “What the hell?!!!!”

 

Hatori spun around on the bed to see Kenji standing in the doorway glaring at him. He looked down at himself, nude under the blanket he shared with Ayame who was also nude, and not so much under the blanket after the maneuver he had just pulled. His mind locked up, all he could do was stare with his mouth open, and try to think of something brilliant to say to keep them out of trouble.

 

“There is no use trying to think of a plausible explanation for this is there?” Ayame asked, the first to gain his mental footing. Kenji just gaped at him as if he'd just sprouted horns or something. Ayame reached out and pulled some of the blanket back over himself, leaning forward onto Hatori's shoulder. “We really have got to start remembering to lock the door.” He murmured quietly.”

 

“Well, I left the god damn fox guarding the hen house.” Kenji muttered to himself, rubbing the bridge of his nose and trying to fight the headache he felt coming on like a freight train. Then to the others he said, “How could you? Hatori I thought you were taking care of him, I… I don't even want to talk to you right now. And YOU!” he shouted wincing as it caused a sharp pain to stab through his head. “Ayame I thought you were smarter than this.” He trailed off shaking his head miserable.

“It's not as bad as all that Kenji-san, Tori and I love each other. Isn't it wonderful? ” Ayame asked; upon getting no response other than a groan from his ex nanny he continued “I have had feelings for Hatori for some time now, and he, well recently he began to return the feelings and this solves so many problems doesn't it? I mean we both already know about the curse, and the logistical problems of doing anything without transforming are nonexistent since we are both men, and zodiac members, and we really aren't close cousins, I looked that up. Our great grandfathers were brothers so we are more like third cousin once removed or whatever, so its not actually incest or anything like that, and I really, really want this so could you just support me please? I truly need someone on my side and you always have been there for me since as far back as I can remember …please don't, don't ruin this for me, don't tell anyone, please.”

 

“Tell anyone, you think I would do that? After all of the time I have known you it's not something I would do to you. You, Hatori, get out.”

 

“No.”

 

“What?”

 

“I am not leaving until I get some assurance that Ayame isn't going to be punished as soon as I go.”

 

Kenji held his throbbing temples “I don't know what you think I would do to him but right now I just want something for this headache. I want you to leave and I want to just…just pretend this never happened. You two seem to forget that the whole Sohma family is cursed not just the zodiac members. We all have to deal with it. I hate this so much; it's happening again. Ayame is just like her. I can't, just can't… I'm going to be sick...” He turned and hurried from the room his hands balled up in white knuckled fists at his sides, and tears starting to pool in his eyes.

000ooo000

A bit later Hatori and Ayame approached Kenji as he sat on the porch outside the kitchen, staring blankly at the woods behind the main house. Would you mind telling us what that was all about? Hatori asked him point blank.

 

Kenji didn't move or acknowledge their presence for several moments but at last he did thke a deep breath and begin to speak. “Did you ever wonder why a twelve year old kid was given the responsibility of raising an infant? That's how old I was when Ayame was born. It wasn't because I was specially gifted or even abnormally responsible. It was because I was the only living person with practical experience dealing with the snake cursed of the zodiac. The last snake cursed person before you, Ayame was my mother Aki Sohma. She died when I was ten, I lived with my uncle for a while, he wasn't very happy with the arrangement. Then,when you were born, that solved two problems. What to do with me, and who would care for you since your mother wouldn't.” He broke off then to reach out and take Ayame's hand. “I never regretted it, not even on days like today, but it hasn't always been easy, and there are things I should have told you long ago.” He let go of Ayame to light a cigarette tasking a deep drag and letting the smoke out through his nose and mouth both with a sigh. “You are a lot like her, your personality, and drive. She also lived for the day and had a flamboyant attitude with regal tastes. But she was very stubborn too, it was her downfall. She kept thumbing her nose at the head of the family, Akito's father, and the elders in the main house. It didn't win her any friends there.” He stopped to flick off the ash and take one last drag of the smoke before putting it out. “She never told them who my father was, or me for that matter, just because it bothered them not to know.” He chuckled a bit over that. “Then she took up with my nanny, Izumi in a very public lesbian love affair. That was the last straw for Akira. He ordered Izumi's memories erased and had her thrown out of the main house. He forbid my mother from ever seeing her again, and he moved me and mom into the main house to keep her on a short leash. `kaasan was devastated.”

 

“That's when she jumped off of the bridge?” Hatori asked, having heard sketchy details about the previous snake cursed at best.

 

“Not quite” Kenji answered quietly; locking eyes with Ayame. “That was when she threatened to expose the zodiac to the news media. The Sohmas are a wealthy and powerful family; have been for generations. Akira simply had my mother silenced. She might as well have jumped off of that bridge herself when she threatened the family, but she didn't commit suicide. She was killed.” Kenji looked downward and smoothed his hair back out of his eyes in an unconscious gesture, “And now you two… It's happening again.” He trailed off shaking his head sadly, his gaze returning to the woods.

“Well Akira isn't head of the family anymore, Akito is. And we aren't flaunting our relationship, in any way shape or form. In fact if you had been just a bit later getting home you would never have known of it and you live here right? So therefore you shouldn't worry so much about it Kenji-kun” Ayame said brightly. “But if it makes you feel any better I will swear not to threaten the family with public exposure. That should solve everything shouldn't it?”

 

“Kenji, if you would like I can erase your memories of earlier. That way you wouldn't be culpable if we do get caught.” Hatori volunteered.

 

“No, thank you Hatori,” Kenji shook his head in disbelief that he even offered. “I think it's best that I remember this. I can't keep Ayame out of trouble if I don't know what's going on after all.” He added, trying not to scream.

 

 

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