Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Butterfly Effect ❯ Furtive Pleasures ( Chapter 13 )

-Happy Holidays!-

Author's Note: Yup, another bonus song reference in here... And here you thought that I'd forgotten all about them :) Hint: Marilyn Manson did a cover of the far-superior original version of this song. If I've gotten any of the word translations wrong this chapter- please let me know:) For those who are curious- the moon stations that are mentioned in this chapter are real. Go figure.

Quick Vocabulary:

Yuki- snow

-Sigh- I just found out that the kanji for the name "Yuki" and snow "Yuki" are actually different, but I'm keeping my definition anyways

Kagimimochi- special rice cakes left out at New Years to feed the god of the passing year

Chapter Summary: The boys are afraid of things. Tohru is afraid of the boys' fear. Butterfly is afraid that it's never going to get its threesome.

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket belongs to Natsuki Takaya/HAKUSENSHA - TV TOKYO - NAS - Fruba Project.

Warning: Rated R for language, implied rape, torture, and adult situations. This chapter- sexual situations. Sexual situations are suggestive rather than graphic.

-Chapter 13: Furtive Pleasures-

-But the green Paradise of childhood loves

-The outings, the singing, the kisses, the bouquets,

-The violins vibrating behind the hills,

-And the evenings in the woods with jugs of wine

-- But the green Paradise of childhood loves,

-That sinless Paradise, full of furtive pleasures,

-Is it farther off now than India and China?

-Can one call it back with plaintive cries,

-And animate it still with a silvery voice,

-That sinless Paradise full of furtive pleasures?

- Charles Baudelaire, trans. "Grieving and Wandering" from `Fleurs du Mal'

Strangely enough, sex seems to be the magic key to eliminating most of the tension between the boys.

*What do you think that I've been trying to tell you?*

Tohru's not convinced that they're both completely happy with the situation, but they aren't fighting anymore and really, that's all she can ask of them. On the plus side, it's made them both a lot more physically comfortable with her. Even Yuki has relaxed enough to wander around the bedroom in his boxers with his hair uncombed.

And it's not all sex. Some nights Tohru just talks with whichever boy is sharing her bed, Or cuddles. Or has a pillow fight. Or a tickle war. It's never a fair fight though, because the boys are both a lot stronger than her, insanely competitive and surprisingly devious. Fortunately Butterfly seems to know every ticklish point on the male body. Tohru sometimes wonders where a bodiless spirit gets this kind of practical information but she figures that she probably doesn't really want to know. Of course there are also the nights where Akito tears her body apart, piece by piece, but Tohru tries not to think of those. It is easy enough to pass them off as nightmares and forget them. After all, she is not the only one who sometimes screams in their sleep.

The joint sleeping situation has now truly become permanent and the boys have decided to move at least a few of their things into the master bedroom with Tohru. Tohru figures that this is a good time for her to clean their rooms and go through some of the unopened boxes stacked in their closets. She only gets part way through the cleanup before she is forced to stop and let her shock settle. Standing in the hallway, she stares at the boxes in front of her as if they are going to take on lives of their own and run away.

Apparently Yuki is a violinist and Kyou plays the guitar.

Tohru isn't sure why she felt betrayed when she found the instruments in their closets, but it makes her realize with an entirely new force how much of the boys' pasts she still doesn't know. When she breaks out of her thoughts, she finds herself sitting on the couch in the living room with the two instruments lying on the floor in front of her. She is staring hard at the instrument cases when she feels the warm body settle in beside her.

"Have you decided to form a one-person band?"

Tohru turns towards Yuki, her voice quiet and slightly hurt. "I didn't know that you played violin."

Yuki gets up and carefully removes the violin and bow from the case. "I haven't touched it in years." He holds the violin away from his body as if he isn't quite sure what to do with it. "I don't know why I packed it."

Tohru looks up at him from the couch. "If it makes you unhappy, please don't but... I love music and could you- please?"

Yuki slowly smiles and moves the violin under his chin.

*You're really lucky the guy loves you enough to translate Tohru into human speak.*

Yuki is so relaxed as he plays, as if all of his stress has melted away. The music is beautiful and Tohru has to blink back tears. Maybe if she were smarter she could sense what exactly the music means to Yuki, but all she knows is that it makes her feel sad and hopeful and loving all at once. She closes her eyes and lets the music wash over her until she is almost dizzy with emotion. She doesn't even realize that she has started crying until the music stops and she feels Yuki's finger gently trace the tear track down her cheek.

Tohru opens her eyes and meets the concern and shame on Yuki's face with the most open face she has ever shown. She hears the hitch in Yuki's breath as he realizes how deeply the music moved her.

"That wailing was nezumi playing the violin?"

Tohru is feeling unusually clever as she gives Kyou a wide-eyed innocent look. "But Kyou, I was hoping to hear you play your guitar as well!" She pauses before blinking. "It is yours, right?"

Kyou turns an interesting shade of red as he stares at his feet. "Kazuma taught me to play the guitar a while back. I'm not even sure why I brought it."

Suddenly Yuki laughs. "For the same reason I did- to show off to Tohru. Come on neko, let's give her a good show."

There is a brief silence and then Kyou breaks into a grin. "You got me, nezumi. What do you want to play?"

They both look at each other and then burst out at the same time, "High School Girls!"

Tohru blinks. "That's actually a song?"

Tohru is a little scared by the evil expression on Kyou's face. "Well, it was definitely a song after Shigure got finished with it. I think we need to do the version of his lyrics that he didn't borrow from his novels."

Tohru decides that maybe it's a good thing that she doesn't know everything that the boys did in the past.

They both have good voices- Kyou's slightly lower than Yuki's. Tohru wonders if the Sohmas are just somehow bred to be good at everything. She feels an unfamiliar twinge of resentment as they harmonize on the chorus.

*You could just join in with them you know.*

`You live in my head. You have to know that I sound like a dying cat when I sing.'

*Is that your own opinion or did someone else tell you that?*

`My entire class in middle school.'

*Ouch.*

Butterfly doesn't press anymore and Tohru remains happily quiet for the rest of the song. She blushes a little when they get to the part about what positions the flexibility of high school girls allows-

*And just think! This is the censoredversion!*

-But it is good to see the boys getting along after all of the tension and anger of the last few months. They're getting along so well that they want to talk while Tohru goes to make supper.

*Um sweetie, when has a conversation between the boys ever had good results?*

`Plenty of times!… Sometimes?… Well there was that one time…There's always a first time!'

The boys spend a good hour or so in conversation while Tohru makes supper. They're still talking when Tohru arranges the last of the daisies into little bundles for the kitchen and the bedrooms. She actually has to cover the food to keep it from getting cold before they come to the table. Tohru secretly glances at them several times during supper but she can't see any visible bruises and none of their limbs seem to be disconnected. Something must have happened though because Yuki keeps looking at her as if it hurts to see her and Kyou is avoiding her altogether.

Yuki is unusually quiet as they get into bed together. Tohru's fear increases when he makes no move to touch her, instead lying stiffly on his back on his side of the bed.

"Tohru?"

"Yes?"

"Can we practice transforming together tomorrow morning? We haven't done it for a while and I… I miss it."

"I'd love to! I've missed transforming with you too."

Silence.

"Yuki- did something happen when you talked to Kyou?"

"I don't want to talk about that right now. I promise that I'll tell you tomorrow, but tonight I just… I just need to hold you."

Tohru reaches out to him and he pulls her so tightly against him that it almost hurts. Eventually he falls asleep and his grip loosens, but Tohru lies awake, locked in the steel grip of the fear in her heart.

-###-

Tohru and Yuki stand in the garden patch, neither one of them moving to get undressed.

Tohru realizes that they're still a little shy about being naked in front of each other. She mentally sighs and goes to work on her buttons. Yuki politely averts his eyes as Tohru pulls off her jumper and Tohru stares into space while listening to Yuki unzip his pants.

*Hard to believe that only this morning he was telling you to `fu-*

`Okay, let's just not think about that.'

Tohru feels the pain of the transformation mingle with the crisp bite of the late fall air. It is a lot colder here than it was at Shigure's and some of her classmates have mentioned that there would normally be at least a little snow by now. Tohru is grateful that it has stayed unusually warm. It has allowed her to practice transformations well into the late fall and she knows that she will miss flying when it becomes too cold to change.

Oh…There is nothing like this. Tohru feels almost giddy as she brushes over Yuki's back, flattening his whiskers as she passes.

"Nobody teases the rat and gets away with it!"

`He sounds happy- maybe he's not upset anymore?'

*I wouldn't count on it.*

`I'm going to ignore you.'

Tohru wheels in the air, darting just out of Yuki's reach and then speeds off over the dying strawberries. Yuki chases after her and Tohru circles up into the air coming to hover in front of his nose. Yuki reaches up with his head, pressing a light nip to one of her antennae.

"Well it looks like I've caught you- how do you want to be punished for daring to tease the Sohma prince?"

Tohru laughs and moves just out of reach again.

"You'll never catch me! Silly rat- you're stuck on the ground."

Tohru can see the colors on Yuki shift from gold and yellow to a deep navy blue. He doesn't even respond to her as he takes off and Tohru has to hurry to catch up with him. She flutters above his head as they move through the remains of the garden, willing him to speak. Yuki doesn't say anything until they reach the edge of his plot.

"Tohru can we change back now? I really need to talk to you."

Tohru transforms back, letting her body recover from the pain before she tries to stand up. When she finally gets to her feet, Yuki is partially faced away from her, staring out towards the reserve.

"Neko said that you asked him about our animals a while ago."

Tohru nods, puzzled. Yuki turns towards her and he looks surprisingly hurt. "Why didn't you ask me?"

"I didn't think that Butterfly was really like the normal cursed animals and I thought that well maybe Kyou might-"

"Understand you better than the Sohma Prince?"

"Oh Yuki...."

"No- it's true. It's just... I hate being jealous. I hate feeling so insecure all the time. You have to understand Tohru- rats are hoarders. They build nests and store things." Here he turns to her and places his hand over hers. "They're very, very possessive. And Rat wants to put you in a nest and fight anything that tries to touch you." Before Tohru can respond, he rushes on very quickly. "It's not just Rat- a part of me wants to do that too." He withdraws his hand and places it at his side, fists clenched. Tohru has never seen him look more vulnerable.

Tohru walks up to him and stands so that they are separated by the space of a hand. She slowly moves her arm up and brushes her fingers down the side of his cheek. "You are so beautiful- you glow, Yuki. You're so bright sometimes that I can hardly stand to look at you." She brings her other hand up and runs her fingers over the pulse point on Yuki's neck while he arches into her touch. "You may be snow, but you are always so warm with me. Everyone loves you. Nearly everyone at school wanted you and the people here want you too. I don't understand why you want someone like me, but I thank the gods every day for it."

Yuki reaches up and encloses both of her hands in his, bringing the joined hands up over his heart. His voice has an edge of desperation. "I'm no different from you, Tohru. As long as you think that I am, you'll push me away and turn to the neko. What do I have to do to show you that we-" He stops and gently releases her hands, turning away from her. "I've already lost, haven't I?"

Tohru feels a cold sickness start to grow in her stomach. "What do you mean?"

Yuki's shoulders slump further and further as he continues talking. "You've always loved the cat who was late, from the first time that we met. I stayed too isolated, too cold for too long. Akito told me that I could never be truly loved outside the family and she was right. You could never love me like you love the neko."

"You stupid idiot!"

Tohru has never, ever been this mad. Yuki turns to face her, his eyes wide with shock.

"Of course I can't love you like Kyou! You're Yuki. I love your gardening, I love your conversations, I love how you smile when you're happy, I love how you can't even open your eyes when you wake up in the morning. I love you so much it aches. And not just like family, like you were kind enough to tell me. I get all achy and fuzzy when I'm around you and I can hardly think straight because I want so badly to hold you, to kiss you, to take away anything that could ever hurt you. Because when you hurt I feel like I hurt twice as much! And you- you stupid, stupid... you dare to tell me that I don't love-"

Yuki's tongue very effectively prevents her from finishing her rant. Oh, this is so much better than arguing. Tohru's remaining anger is rapidly turned into passion of a very different kind. Yuki's mouth and hands easily draw heat everywhere that they touch, and she eagerly tries to return the favor. His clever, clever fingers are doing wonderful things to her collarbone, to her breasts, to her stomach, to her- Oh. Tohru had completely forgotten that they were both naked. Yuki is moaning, talking as he touches her, as she runs her own hands over him, but she can't hear him over the pounding in her head, in her blood. Oh god, oh god she is going to fall apart from the burn in her blood that is almost pain. Each touch is winding her body tighter until she is wound so tightly that she- OH GOD! Oh god... Oh god... Where did Yuki learn to do that!?!

Tohru is shaking and she can no longer stand on her own. Yuki supports her completely, holding her as he lowers them both to the ground. He looks almost wild over top of her- face flushed, hair disheveled, mouth parted as he pants. "Need you."

*Who am I to disagree?... Oh ... Oh… OH!...Clever, clever little rat! We'll forgive you the Black Plague for that one!*

They lie there for a while, holding each other, taking in the smell of dying grass and damp earth. Tohru is overwhelmed, out of her depth and very, very happy. Yuki moves down and out of her arms and looks up at her.

"So I can keep you in a nest?"

Tohru is completely unable to respond while he is doing that thing with his tongue.

Yuki's smirk is very, very evil. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."

-###-

Tohru has turned back the bed and dressed in her pajamas before she realizes that her bedmate is nowhere in sight. In fact, her bedmate has been avoiding her since that little chat yesterday. Tohru goes downstairs and takes a few minutes to admire the boy typing and studying in the half-light of the living room lamp. She reluctantly interrupts the silence to ask her question.

"Where's Kyou?"

Yuki looks up from his textbook. "Neko's probably on the roof- as usual."

"As usual?"

"That's where I always see him when he's not with you or doing homework, so I assume that he's up there now."

Tohru bites her lower lip. "It's not good weather for him to be outside for so long. I should probably call him in."

Yuki shrugs absently and goes back to taking notes.

It is only after Tohru has returned to the bedroom that she realizes that she has no idea how she is going to get up on the roof.

*Hey, you're a butterflysweetie.*

'Oh. Right.'

Tohru opens the bedroom window and strips out of her pajamas. She holds the sill as she braces herself for the transformation. It hurts, but it is over quickly enough and she smoothly flies up and out of the window.

*You're lucky that it's clear and calm right now- it's supposed to get cold and windy and personally I don't feel like explaining to some farmer in Chiba how we managed to get blown halfway across Japan.*

There is a slight breeze, but Tohru is able to work her way to the roof without too many problems. Kyou is lying on his back staring up at the sky. He nearly falls off the roof when she lands beside him and transforms.

"Tohru? Roof? Naked?"

*I think that he's covered the important points.*

Tohru takes pity on him and starts to talk, giving Kyou time to recover himself. "I was just worried about you. It's getting pretty cold out and-" Kyou interrupts her by taking off his sweatshirt and forcefully pushing it over her head.

"Here- put on my sweatshirt. I don't want you to get sick, silly girl."

*Naked woman and he tells you to get dressed. Obviously you're doing something wrong.*

The sweatshirt ends mid-thigh on her and she has to roll the sleeves back to see her hands, but Tohru feels unusually comfortable and safe. She lies down beside Kyou and stares up at the sky. "What are you doing up here?"

"Thinking."

There is a short silence while they both stare up at the sky.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing important. I'm just finding the stars that I know."

"I don't know the stars at all. Could you show me?"

Kyou pulls her back so that she is nearly cradled against his chest and directs her hand with his own to point out the constellations.

"See- the White Tiger there? He marks the fall in the sky, but now he's passing over to the Black Tortoise of winter. The moon stations pass from rain and getting together to woman and roof top."

Tohru blushes. "Kyou, it's not very nice to tease me because I don't know the stars."

Kyou's breath on the back of her neck sends shivers down her spine. "I'm not teasing." He puts a hand up under her sweatshirt, tracing lazy circles on her stomach. "It seems that even the stars knew that you'd come here tonight."

*Where does he come up with these lines? What the hell did Kazuma teach him in that dojo?*

Tohru doesn't care. As long as Kyou keeps his hands right there, he can say whatever he wants. She shifts backwards to get closer to him and Kyou's hands still while the puffs of breath against her neck become faster.

*Well that's definitely not a wallet.*

"Tohru?"

"Yes?"

"You asked me what I was thinking about.... Well, I've been scared by how much Cat likes you."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"You don't understand- Cat doesn't like anybody. I don't think that he even likes me very much. He hardly spoke to me more than once or twice a year. But ever since Akito and since we... well he's been talking to me a lot more. And it's mainly about you. That really scares me."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for one thing, he really hates sharing you with the nezumi. Maybe even more than I do. But I think that he's starting to get over that, because... Fuck it. He's obsessed with you. As far as he's concerned, since you slept with us, anything that you do is perfect. And he's getting more and more demanding. I'm standing in public with you and he keeps telling me to grab you and well..."

'Why does this sound familiar?'

*We're animals sweetie. We like sex.*

There is silence behind her and Tohru turns in Kyou's arms so that she is facing him. He brings his hand out from under the shirt and runs it along the side of her face. His voice is the faintest of whispers. "I don't want to hurt you, Tohru. "

Tohru brings her hand up to Kyou's face so that they are mirroring one another. "Do you trust me?"

"More than anyone."

"Then trust me when I tell you that you're not going to hurt me. I like Cat too. And if he likes me then we can all get along since Butterfly really, really likes you."

*What kind of teenagers are you? Enough with the angst- let's get some action here!*

'I don't know-'

Tohru is forever cut off because Kyou has closed the gap between them to plant a very hard kiss on her open mouth. Tohru returns the kiss with enthusiasm, digging her fingers into Kyou's back, trying to move closer. Kyou responds almost immediately- he quickly pushes down his pants and presses himself against her. Somehow the tiles digging into Tohru's side, the lack of foreplay and the cold only enhance the desperation as they wrap themselves around each other. Tohru can hardly think through the haze of fire in her mind but she is sure that Kyou's grip on her is going to leave bruises. Of course, a few of her frantic scratches may have drawn blood. Kyou's moans send flashes of pleasure through her entire body. She loves seeing him like this- out of control, caution and cynicism buried by an overwhelming need. She can feel the tension build inside her as they move and Kyou swallows her final cry in a deep, needy kiss. He stiffens shortly afterwards and pulls Tohru so that she is half-lying on his chest and shoulder. Tohru cuddles in against him, letting the warm feeling leave her lazy and happy.

"I'm not good at saying it- but I do... care about you."

"I know."

"We need to get back- it's getting cold."

"I know."

"And you're not transforming again- I'm going to pack you back down."

"Mmmkay."

Somehow Kyou gets his pants back on and works his way to the roof edge while carrying an unmoving Tohru-lump. He drops into the bedroom and Tohru snuggles tighter as he gently tries to detach her. Kyou chuckles. "Come on leech, let's go to bed."

"Don't wanna move. You're warm."

"Fine lump- if you want to wear my sweatshirt all night that's your problem." He gently lays them both down on the bed and pulls the covers over top of them.

"Tohru?"

"Mmmm?"

"I really do love you."

"Love later. Sleep now."

-###-

Tohru's "talks" with the boys seem to have calmed some of their fears. The three of them settle back into routine, broken only by Tohru's celebrations of their various "firsts" in their new home. The boys claim to be entirely sick of the little camera that she bought and Kyou even threatened to take it apart after Tohru snapped a picture of "Kyou's first stomach flu". Tohru secretly admits to herself that sometimes she just starts taking pictures because an angry boy leads to really, really passionate make-up- Well anyways, Tohru has decided that Butterfly has had far too much of an influence on the way that she thinks.

But there are real firsts that Tohru captures as well. Their first snowfall where both boys teamed up on Tohru to drop her in the snow bank after she stuck snow down the back of their jackets. Yuki's first "no" to joining a student society. Strangely, Yuki was really proud of the picture of him refusing the president of the Debate Club and even had it framed. Tohru's first perfect test score- on the various traditional dishes that used rice as a base, ironically enough. Kyou's first birthday- which he insisted on spending in bed with Tohru. Tohru managed to get one shot of him with clothes on, and that was only because he'd passed out from exhaustion and she pulled on his boxer shorts while he snored. And now, now they are coming to their first New Years in their own home.

Tohru throws herself whole-heartedly into preparing the house for New Years. Maybe she shouldn't be making such a big deal out of it. After all, any celebration is only going to remind them of everything that they left behind. But Tohru really wants to clear out the memories of the old year and do everything in her power to make the new year good for them.

*So covering the house in pine needles and straw to hang branches and bundles is going to appease the gods... how?*

'Shhh.... I'm trying to remember how to make kagimimochi.'

Tohru manages to make just about everything necessary for a traditional New Years, but it isn't until the actual New Years Eve that she realizes that she forgot one tiny little detail.

Tohru and the boys are sitting on the living room couch when Yuki suddenly ruffles her hair. "So, great organizer of New Years- what are we actually going to do to celebrate?"

Tohru worries her lower lip. "What can we do to celebrate the New Years? I mean, we're probably too old for kites or tops."

The boys look at each other. "Sake!"

Tohru blinks. "But none of us are of age. How are we supposed to get it?"

Kyou turns to Yuki. "We need sake. It's just not New Years without sake."

Yuki sighs. "Fine, I'll go try to buy some. But it's on your head baka neko if I get arrested."

"As much as I hate to inflate your little ratty ego, there is no way that any clerk is going to card you."

As it turns out, Kyou is absolutely right. Yuki returns quickly with a large bottle of expensive sake.

Tohru has never had much to drink, aside from a few sips on special occasions or holidays. The boys both seem to have had a lot more experience than she has, judging from the way they are knocking back cups of sake. She suspects that even the little that she is having is far too much as she finds herself giggling uncontrollably at everything the boys are saying. Trying to focus herself, she remembers something important that she had planned to do for the New Years.

"If we sit outside we can probably hear the bells from here."

Yuki and Kyou look up from their sake, faces flushed, slightly lopsided grins on their faces.

"Sounds like a good idea, darling."

"Who ya calling `darling' kuso nezumi?"

"I'm calling my darling, `darling', baka neko."

"Then I'm calling her `love'."

"Like hell you are!"

*Oh god. They're belligerent drunks. Sweetie, you may want to get the Wonder Twins outside and sober their cute little asses up before they start mortal combat over your preferred pet names.*

Tohru still has enough coordination to grab a blanket, kiss both boys on the cheek and gently lead them out the door to the front lawn.

They all lie down on the blanket and stare out over the reserve. Tohru breathes in deeply- the cool night air is going a long way towards clearing her fuzzy head. She even remembers something that has been bothering her for the last couple of days and she's just drunk enough to bring it up.

"Even if I wouldn't be able to see it, I'm disappointed that I'm going to miss Hatori-san and Ayame-san dance."

The boys look at each other and grin.

"Ha-san and Aya... Damn, now I'm disappointed."

Yuki gets a strange gleam in his eye. "That would be something to see."

Then Tohru gets a brilliant sake-and-butterfly inspired idea. "Why don't we do our own New Year's Dance? You two can grab the guitar and the violin. We can be our own Jyuunishi, make this our own year."

And because the boys have had just the right amount of sake, they disappear into the house to get their instruments. They are back almost instantly, carrying not only their instruments but the cups and the bottle of sake.

*You know sweetie it might not be a good idea for you lightweights to be drinking any more of that stuff- Please tell me that you aren't taking another cup!?!*

`I like sake!'

*Dear lord. I'm going to have the headache from hell tomorrow, aren't I?*

After an undetermined number of glasses, the boys are ready to start. They position their instruments and solemnly agree on a song with the grace and confidence of the very, very drunk. Just as they start to play, the New Years bells start sounding in the village and they all burst into laughter. Kyou and Yuki keep playing though, even through the ringing. Somehow their instruments blend with the distant bells and the drunken music becomes strangely beautiful.

Through the haze of alcohol in her mind, Tohru realizes that something is missing.

*Wasn't the whole point of this little performance to have a New Years dance?*

`Oh. Right.'

Tohru shakily makes her way to the lawn in front of the boys and starts to move. She is hesitant at first, making small stiff steps, but soon she is moving faster and faster. In no time at all she is spinning with her head back thrown back, reaching to the sky as if she is trying to grab the air.

"What the hell kind of New Years dance is that? Let me show you how it's done."

Kyou has her in his arms, holding her tightly against his body, sake-flavored breath fanning over her cheek. He's graceful and gentle and Tohru feels like she is floating as he moves her around the yard. Really Tohru has no complaints, but she feels that she has to make some kind of protest.

"But you didn't perform New Years dances, did you?"

"Know these things instinc-hic-tively."

"But I know them from experience."

And Yuki has grabbed one of her hands and all three of them are spinning around in circles, going faster and faster until Tohru trips and pulls the boys with her. They fall down in a laughing heap, instruments and dancing long forgotten. Tohru wobbly pours them each a glass of sake.

Yuki raises his glass. "To the year of the Butterfly."

Kyou echoes him. "The year of the Butterfly."

Tohru's not sure whether it's the sake or the toast, but she suddenly wants to cry. "Thank-you."

*Hell ya! We're going to get some action tonight!*

`What are you talking about?'

*Hey it's my year- don't I get to choose how I want to start it?*

`Ignoring you.'

Despite Butterfly's protests, Tohru proceeds to ignore the increasingly graphic images in her head as she picks up the instruments and sake and brings them inside. She continues to ignore the butterfly as she helps both boys up and walks them into the house.

Tohru is in between the boys supporting them as they stagger up the stairs. When she moves them both towards the master bedroom Kyou gives a sleepy murmur of protest.

"Don't wanna have sex with the kuso nezumi."

Yuki looks as horrified as he can while half-asleep. "Not ever having sex with the baka neko."

The sake has made Tohru stubborn. "No sex. It's my year and I wanna sleep with you. Jus' sleep."

That seems to have eliminated the boys' remaining protests. They lurch like a three-headed animal into the bedroom and collapse onto the bed in a heap of arms and legs. With some unenthusiastic movement, they manage to separate out with Tohru in the middle, Kyou at her back and Yuki at her front.

*So this is where we ravish them right?*

Tohru curls into Kyou's chest, her head on Yuki's shoulder.

*You were kidding about the sleeping... Right? Right?*

Tohru feels the world fade away in the warmth of the bodies beside her.

-###-

Tohru's head doesn't hurt when she wakes up.

*Apparently you are one of those insanely lucky people who don't get hangovers. Don't ever tell anyone else.*

But she really, really has to go to the bathroom.

*At least you're somewhat normal.*

This seems to be a lot harder than she had planned since Yuki has a death grip on her waist and Kyou is… fondling her-

*Ass. Figures- Yuki's a breast man and Kyou's an ass man. It actually works!*

It's a little tricky, but she does manage to untangle Yuki without waking him up. Unfortunately, when she tries to turn over, Kyou's eyes are opened and staring straight at her. He doesn't look like he has a headache.

*Oh gods. There are two of you.*

Kyou gets right to the point.

"Even if it means sleeping beside the rat, I want to be able to spend my nights with you. I-I don't sleep well when you're not there. But I don't want sex with the rat involved in any way."

Tohru runs the pad of her thumb over his lips. She tries not to get distracted as he starts to open his mouth and nibble her finger. "I'm happy with that. I don't know if I would want both of you together anyways. I think that it would be a little strange for all of us."

*Take it back! Take it back!*

"But since Yuki isn't up- how do you feel about a shower to start the New Year?"

*Fine- at least we're getting some sex. But you're not distracting me next time!*

Kyou's eyes widen. "Oh...OH!" His smile is almost feral as he swings her out of bed and packs her towards the bathroom. "I think I'm going to like the year of the Butterfly."

-###-

Quick Note: This chapter marks the official half-way point of "Butterfly"! Well, at least according to my outline. Of course, the last time I checked my outline it also said that "Butterfly" was going to be sixteen chapters and I think you can see where that all got shot to hell. So for those of you keeping track- currently "Butterfly" is looking at about 27 chapters. I refuse to let it expand even more- even though some of those later chapters are starting to look a little bit monstrous….

-Reviewer Responses-

Neonlite17: I'm glad that you think the last chapter worked with the intimacy of the various relationships- it was a bit of a tough balancing act while I was writing it and worrying over how true to the characters I was being :) As always, it was a pleasure to hear from you and I hope that you enjoy the new chapter!

Thornwitch: When I was sketching out this story, I actually came up with three ways that I thought that the curse might be broken in the manga- something to do with Kyou's second form was one of them. We've probably both read too many Grimms' fairytales:) Delighted that you enjoyed the chapter and I appreciate you taking the time to review!

-Updated 12-17-04-