Fic Post: Of Crimson and Amethyst - Chapter 10
Title: Of Crimson and Amethyst
Author: songoffate
Fandom: Fruits Basket (Furuba)
Pairings: Kyo/Yuki, Ayame/Shigure, Momiji/Haru, Hatori/Tohru
Rating: M laterr
Good lord is this chapter 10? I can't believe how far this story has come! And how is everyone's new year so far? Mine's been crazy, as usual, lol. Which is really my only excuse for this taking forever. And GOD why do I feel like I just gave you a long ass filler chapter. *headdesk* I fail at life. I apologize. Bring your rotting vegetables if you wish. We're having a 'stock' party tonight with me as the main entertainment.
I do love you all though? :)
Yuki, Tohru and Momiji had made it back in twenty minutes with everyone completely unharmed as promised where they found Haru reclined against a tree, enjoying the shade and virtually ignoring his wounds. Haru thanked the gods for small favors when he heard the three of them returning because if by some small chance Kyo had ended up being right…well he had been known to release seven different kinds of hell on anyone responsible for pissing him off. And Kyo was frightening enough in his current state as it was.
The Cat had long since retreated to the rooftop and was probably still up there. Their 'spar' had really been nothing more then Kyo kicking the shit out of him in an embarrassingly short amount of time, leaving him to blink up at the sky in a daze wondering what the fuck had just happened. It had not been one of his finer moments.
Not that Haru had been surprised after what he'd said. The black eye and bruised…well everything, were really the least of what he'd expected to receive after that. Even he could admit it had been a little brash. And knowing his cousin like he did, it wasn't the best thing to say to him right now anyway. But it just couldn't be helped. Kyo was one of those people that would deny and deny until someone shoved the obvious in his face and made him think about it. His feelings for Yuki were a prime example.
That didn't mean the resulting ass-kicking he'd received didn't hurt like a motherfucker though. He made a mental not to get the bastard back later when he wasn't as emotionally compromised.
Yuki's eyebrows had raised in concern when he spotted him, a frustrated sigh rushing out of his mouth followed by an apologetic smile when Haru merely grinned back unrepentantly. Yuki rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as he took off towards the tree closest to the roof, not needing to be told where Kyo had run off to and leaving Haru to Tohru's fussing and Momiji's snarky comments. Haru had grumbled petulantly at the Rabbit. Feelin' the love here, babe. He'd thought at the blonde who, apparently, could read his mind and just grinned wider at him, eyes sparkling. Brat.
"Haru-kun! Are you alright? Please come inside so I can bandage that cut up for you! U-um." She stuttered at Haru's slowly raising eyebrows, face going red. "T-that is if you don't mind, I just hate seeing you hurt and I-"
"Thanks Tohru-chan, that'd be fine." Haru cut her off with a fond smile. "Do you still have some of that throat coat tea? Bastard got me good in the chest and that always helps to soothe it."
"O-oh!" She perked up. "Of course I do! I'll go put some on now and get some bandages and get everything out for the crisp and-" Tohru's voice trailed off excitedly as she disappeared into the house once more, glad to be of some kind of use. Haru turned his grin on Momiji who was now looking at him with an exasperated smile.
"You had to provoke him didn't you?" Momiji sighed, lightly fingering the bruise on Haru's jaw. Haru smirked back, nosing his lovers hand and placing a light, reassuring kiss on each of the probing digits.
"It's really not as bad as it looks. He probably thinks I'm worse off then I really am. He wasn't really all there this time." The blonde's mouth tilted into an adorable little scowl and Haru couldn't resist the urge wrap his arm around Momiji's small waist to pull him closer. "You know how he is when you try to talk to him about his feelings. The guy just completely shuts down."
The smaller male sighed again against his neck, reflex had his arms coming up to hang leisurely on Haru's shoulders. Some of the weariness bled out of Haru when Momiji fit himself into the concave of his body that seemed to be made for him. "That's why most people try to avoid it." He murmured, voice growling lightly in a way that other's would find uncharacteristic of him but Haru knew to mean that he was just concerned. Not many of the family knew that Momiji was more then just the clan spazz. He liked to keep it that way.
"We can't just let him hide behind his 'bad boy' attitude this time. He's going to end up hurting himself and Yuki in the process." Haru returned.
Momiji worried his bottom lip, brows furrowing. "No. We really shouldn't get involved any more then we already have."
"We?" Haru raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Momiji blinked up at him, trying to look innocent. "I may or may not…already been thinking of a plan. Sort of.."
Haru stared down at his lover, eyes roving over the too-wide eyes and pursed lips in shock. A slow, amused smirk slid it's way onto his face before a laugh burst forth from Haru's sore throat and aching chest that arched him backwards nearly in half as he squeezed Momiji tightly to him. The sharp protest of his aching muscles was totally worth it.
"That's my boy." He muttered affectionately, pressing his lips to Momiji's forehead while he hummed pleasantly in Haru's arms. If anyone could play matchmaker it was the hyperactive teen in his arms. That's my boy.
Kyo didn't need to open his eyes to know who's particular shadow was blocking his sunlight.
"Lemme' guess. I've got thirty seconds." He muttered blandly.
Yuki's exasperation was clear in his tone. "More like ten. And be grateful for that because I've a mind to just kick your ass of the roof and watch you face plant into Shigure's roses." He nudged Kyo's arm with his foot. "You really did a number on Haru, you jerk."
A streak of guilt shot through Kyo's chest and he grumbled low to himself, eyelids drifting open cautiously in case the Rat decided to move suddenly and let him get blinded. "It was just a spar." He grumbled. The sulking growl made Yuki sigh in aggravation.
"Look, I don't remember how you guys usually fight. But that didn't look like the results of a friendly match." Yuki studied Kyo's bruised face. There was a pretty good gash above his right eye that was starting to swell and an angry bruise blossomed along his jaw line. His knuckles were red and cracked, fingers twitching every once in awhile unconsciously. Kyo didn't seem at all affected by any of this Yuki noted with a sigh. Why the red head had to solve everything by throwing his fists around he had yet to recall or figure out.
Kyo turned his head away, jaw clenched. "Trust me. This isn't nearly as bad as it's gotten before."
"Was this about earlier?" Yuki asked suddenly. "Because if you took out all your frustration at me out on Haru I swear Kyo, I'll tie you out here and leave you to the storm."
Betcha don't know how you know that little tidbit in the first place huh? Kyo almost smiled at the thought and looked away from the prying eyes of the Rat to hide it. Of course Yuki wouldn't realize that his senses were more in tune with everything around him then a normal persons.
The truth was, he felt like an idiot. Of all the thing's to freak out over, and in front of other people no less. Just because Yuki had lost his memory didn't mean his strength of will or body was gone. The Rat had never let anyone mess with him before, and he sure as hell didn't need Kyo hovering over him all the time like a worried parent.
And fuck. It had just been a ten minute trip down the street. He felt his face flush at the memory of his reaction. Stupid. He really was the idiot Cat Yuki loved to say he was.
" You could try." He snarked. "And it didn't have anything to do with you. We just got carried away, that's all. It happens all the time." Liar.
"That's all, huh?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Kyo could see Yuki's skeptical look. He grudgingly turned back to face the Rat, trying to will him to believe him with his eyes because telling Yuki the truth was just absolutely not an option for him right now. Hell, it wasn't an option ever. What was he supposed to say? Haru said something that freaked him out so bad he kind of lost his shit? Yeah. He could see that going over real well. Because Yuki would want to know what was said and why it freaked him out which would force Kyo to lie and he didn't want to do that anymore then he needed to.
He still couldn't believe that bastard cousin of his either. And to think Kyo had actually been sort of grateful that Haru had been willing to give him something to take his mind off of his issues. He'd been relieved at the thought of a good challenge to throw himself into. But then the fucker he'd…he'd gone and said…
"You're in love with him aren't you?"
Once more his fingers twitched with the urge to hit something. The Cow was an idiot. A presumptuous fucking asshole. Who did he think he was, saying that to him? Like it wasn't even really a question. As if there had been no way Kyo would have replied with anything but a fervent yes. Fuck, he was sick and tired of people throwing around words like 'love' where he and Yuki were concerned. It wasn't going to happen. It couldn't happen.
Because the stupid Rat hated him…and couldn't even remember he hated him for a start. Because Kyo hated him back and-
No. Fuck. No. That was also lie. He didn't…he couldn't say he hated Yuki anymore. In fact he even sort of liked him. A little…Or maybe more then a little…Well, Kyo could admit that at least to himself. That didn't mean he was going to be singing the guys praises from the rooftops or falling to his knees before him or anything like that. It was freaky enough that it was happening in the first place. Years and years of venomous hate does not disappear in less then a month. It just doesn't. But Yuki had sort of wormed his way past Kyo's barriers with an ease that not even Tohru had found when she'd fallen into their lives.
He tried not to dwell on the implications of that.
"Kyo..?" Yuki broke in, voice suddenly soft as though he was afraid to startle the other teen. "Are you alright?"
Kyo breathed deep through his nose, eyes clenching shut for a moment. His chest contracted agonizingly in his chest at the sound of the Rat's genuine concern; how easily he released his anger at him. And the pain that came with the knowledge that none of it was real. This wasn't how Yuki would really act with him. Any feelings of affection and friendship Yuki had for him now would quickly morph into disgust as soon as his memories were returned. Things would go back to the way they were before and Kyo…Kyo would just have to remember who they were and get over this thing he had for this Yuki.
"Che." He scoffed suddenly, forcing a smirk. "Don't you have a pie to bake or some other girly shit like that?"
Yuki blinked at the sudden change in attitude. But he crossed his arms over his chest, catching the tone of Kyo's expression. "Crisp, asshole. Not pie. And yes as a matter of fact I do. Just figured I'd round up the stray cat glooming around the roof first." He smirked back and Kyo was once more grateful and slightly awed at how well Yuki seemed to read him now.
Kyo jumped to his feet with a natural grace that should have surprised Yuki but didn't, as he'd watched the red-eyed man enough times during his morning routine to know his movements weren't usually as brash as his attitude.
Kyo moved to walk passed the lavender-haired man, shoulders brushing purposefully as he did so. His body was still sore, pulsing painfully in the areas Haru had hit the hardest. The pain kept him grounded. His eyes met Yuki's still suspicious ones and he smiled again through the stuttering under his ribcage that the Rat's wide-eyed gaze created.
"Well the gloomy cat's waiting for you." He said with a smirk, grasping the nearest branch and swinging out and into the tree. Yuki watched him jump from the last branch to the ground and walk around the house towards the back door. He hadn't even looked back.
Yuki sighed, again, pressing the heels of his palms to his burning eyes. He smiled ruefully behind his arms. He's hiding something. He thought bitterly, teeth clenching in frustration and the need to keep from screaming. Of course he was. Kyo always seemed to be hiding something. At least from him. There were times when he'd thought the other teen trusted him. Then things like this would happen and Yuki would remember just how much he really didn't know about the fire-eyed man.
He couldn't understand why Kyo was so evasive with him. Hadn't they become closer since the family brought Yuki home from the hospital? Yuki knew the others kept things from him too, he wasn't stupid. There were whispered conversations stopping whenever he walked into the room; silent looks and pained expressions when Yuki would ask certain questions about his past. Whether it was for his protection or something else he hadn't figured out yet, but he'd ignored it for the most part because he thought Kyo at least was honest with him.
He dropped his hands to his side, eyes still closed as he tilted his head up towards the sun.
Things are not going to go on like this. he thought, feeling the warmth slide over his face and heat his skin. The red light burning his eyelids made him think of another pair of glowing orbs. Whatever he's hiding, whatever they're all hiding, I'm not going to let them keep it from me anymore.
"YUKI-KUN!"
Yuki jumped with a startled yell, eyes dropping down to the blond waving frantically at him from the ground. Hand pressed to his chest where his heart pounded furiously, he glared down at Momiji.
"You little shit!" He tried to growl but only ended up laughing breathlessly. "You scared me! What if I'd fallen off the roof and died?"
Momiji grinned back. "Then you'd actually have a valid excuse to be TAKING SO DAMN LONG! Come on already! Kyo's lounging in the living room. Who are you talking to up there? Yourself?"
"And what if I was?" Yuki shot back as he climbed down the tree to meet the blond, landing in an easy crouch when he jumped from the last branch. "Stranger things have happened, I'm sure."
Momiji just smiled at him again. "Okay so you have a point." He laughed, jumping up and down excitedly as Yuki finally joined him. Grabbing the taller teens hand he started dragging him towards the house. "BUT! I'm super freaking excited to make this stuff so I can EAT it, so come oooooooooon!"
"Like you need any more sugar!"
Yuki's previous unease was replaced by bubbling amusement and he found himself laughing loudly in response to Momiji's insistent ramblings as he allowed the blond to tug him inside. The bouncy blond was definitely one of his favorite cousins. Yuki could be in the worst mood and Momiji would just fly in ranting like a mad man and make him completely forget about it. It was a special talent, no doubt.
"Yuki-kun!" Tohru smiled prettily at him, wooden spoon in hand. "You're just in time! I was starting to think you'd changed your mind." Momiji released Yuki's hand and flew to her side, arms sliding around her middle to give her a squeezing hug.
"He didn't! Yuki was just deep in conversation with himself. BUT HE'S DONE NOW!" The younger teen batted his ridiculously long eyelashes at the now blushing girl. "So can we pleaaaase start now? I LOVE PEACHES!"
Haru's chuckle drifted in from the living room where he was reclined on the couch next to Kyo who was looking in with an interested eyebrow raised.
"You guys better get on that." He smiled fondly at the blond that was still pouting. "Otherwise he'll just torture you both 'til he gets what he wants."
Yuki rolled his eyes but his grin never wavered. "And of course you, the only person that could help, would just sit back and enjoy the show."
Haru's arms came up to rest behind his head. "Perks of being the boyfriend. Let him do whatever he pleases and receive all the love in return."
Kyo and Yuki snorted in disbelief at the same time that Tohru giggled behind her sugar covered hand. Momiji whimpered impatiently again and they all finally broke down to the blond's now watering eyes instead of trying to come up with any kind of retort to that.
Tohru was, as always, magnificent at what she did. She was a patient teacher and Yuki found that he was enjoying himself even more then he'd thought he would. Momiji was covered in sugar and flour(which they didn't even really use) and all kinds of other things but he looked like he couldn't be happier. Yuki's face hurt from smiling and he was still recovering from his laughter when his younger cousin had proceeded to drag Hatsuharu off his comfortable place on the couch and press his (somehow sticky) body to his boyfriend's in a victory dance over their finished products. The scent permeating through the house was heavenly and even Kyo had come floating into the kitchen demanding to know when it was going to be done.
It took all of five seconds for that crisp to be gone when it came out of the oven. Tohru had stood back and smiled proudly at Yuki and Momiji while everyone took their first bites before digging in to her own. Yuki was impressed that they hadn't somehow managed to ruin it, but the gooey, peachy substance was fucking fantastic so he was more then a little okay with it. Especially after Kyo had busted out the ice cream. Things got a little wild after that and the second crisp disappeared just as quickly as the first.
Momiji happily slurped up the rest of his ice cream, humming happily to himself. Haru leaned back with a content sigh, arm resting on the back of the blond's chair. Yuki grinned.
"Tell me we're not amazing!" He crowed around his spoonful of awesomeness.
"You're both amazing!" Tohru beamed at him after swallowing her modestly small bite. She was a bit of a slow eater. Haru chuckled at him and flicked Momiji's nose playfully.
"Yeah yeah it was good, I'll admit. It wasn't burned at any rate." Yuki and Momiji both turned to stick their tongues out at him childishly. What? There was a crap load of sugar in those things! Yuki turned his expectant gaze to the red head sitting next to him.
Kyo gnawed on his spoon in a bored fashion, raising his eyebrow at the Rat who obviously was expecting some sort of praise.
"Eh." He scoffed with a shrug, biting down hard on the spoon to force down his amused grin.
Yuki blinked. "Come again?"
"It was okay."
"Okay?" Yuki shrieked, dropping his spoon with a glare at Kyo. Momiji and Haru shot each other amused smiles and eye rolls, the smaller teen reaching out to touch Tohru's hand to ease the frazzled look on her face.
"Well you're no Chef Ramsey that's for sure."
"Oh please, I'd like to see you make something decent."
"The only reason this shit is the slightest bit edible is because you had Tohru do most of the work."
"Bullshit! You were watching us the whole time! You know we were helping!"
"Chyeah. By sitting on your asses."
"Why you son of a -"
"Yuki-kun!" Tohru cut in, scandalized. Yuki and Kyo stopped their tirades to stare at the girl. They glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes and tried their best to bite back giggles at her hanging jaw and wide eyes. Needless to say, they failed. Miserably.
"We…we were just…" Yuki's head was in his arms as he tried to muffle his laughter. "It was just a joke Tohru-chan!"
Tohru blinked rapidly, face turning steadily redder as she looked between Kyo's shaking shoulders and Yuki's teary eyed grin.
"O-oh…" Her blush reddened. "Of-of course!" She tried to chuckle, waving her hand to divert attention away from her face. "I knew that."
Momiji patted her arm sympathetically with the hand that wasn't busy trying to hide his smile. Haru chuckled at her. "Don't sweat it Tohru-chan. You know how they are."
Eyes rolling towards the ceiling, Kyo scoffed again as he stood to take his dishes to the sink, wordlessly snagging Yuki's as he passed. He poked Tohru lightly on the forehead when his hands were free, smirking down at her in his own affectionate way.
"You've always been way too easy." He chuckled as she lifted her head up to pout at him.
Yuki was up in an instant, feigning a disapproving look at the red head. "Aw don't tease our Tohru!" He crooned playfully. "She's sensitive!" He said, leaning down to give Tohru a hug.
Tohru's eyes widened as his arms wrapped around her small neck and he vaguely heard Haru and Momiji's gasps behind Kyo's sudden shout of, "Wha-Yuki! NO!" Yuki's brows furrowed together in confusion as he drew Tohru to him in a proper hug, but before he could open his mouth to ask what the hell he was talking about there was a loud 'pop' and the room was filled with grayish smoke.
Yuki started coughing more out of reflex then anything else. He'd found out early on that his lungs weren't in the best of shape, but the smoke wasn't ripping him up from the inside like such things usually tended to.
His body did feel weird though, he mused waiting for the smoke to clear. It was thick enough that he couldn't make out any of the other's faces. He'd have to figure out who pulled the prank, because that's the only thing he could think of this being, and find out what kind of smoke it was.
Yuki chuckled lightly at that. "Okay guys, interesting choice of trick, but you're lucky I'm not hacking my brains out right now because Hatori would have a fucking fit."
The fog finally started to clear and Kyo was the first he managed to make our in the haze. Yuki's laughter quickly died down at the look of pure terror on his face. Wow he was really taking this joke to the next level…at least, he hoped that's what that look was all about. Kyo seemed taller from this view for some reason. Yuki must have fallen to his knees when the appeared or something.
Momiji's face came next, then Tohru's and Haru's. All matching Kyo's frightened expression.
Yuki's face fell. "Hey guys…what's going on?" He tried a weak chuckle. "Do I have something on my face?" He asked, lifting a hand to his face in emphasis and touching his cheek. He blinked hard at the odd texture. His face felt…furry? Okay, this had to be some sort of joke.
He slowly lifted his gaze to Tohru again, who was the closest to him and suddenly huge, finally noticing that she had tears glistening in her eyes. Yuki had definitely missed something again.
"T-Tohru-chan?" he asked, concerned. "What's wrong?" They were all starting to scare him with their silences. His glance flitted over her shoulder to Kyo, who had turned his head away from him, jaw set angrily. What the hell was going on?
Tohru bent her head forward and her face was even closer to his own now, her tears barely contained in her pained blue eyes as he shook within the confines of her hands.
…Wait a fucking second.
Yuki looked down then, eyes growing wider and wider as his horror slowly grew. He was sitting in Tohru's hands. Literally in them like he was some, some child's toy! Further inspection showed him how exactly that was possible.
"Oh my god." Yuki breathed, shaking his head slowly. He was covered in lilac colored fur…apparently from head to toe from what he could feel. He clenched and unclenched his 'fists' bringing them up to find pink, lightly clawed fucking paws in place of his hands. Oh no. Oh god oh no oh fuck!
"Yuki…"Haru broke in, voice tight. " Hey, man…"
"What…what the fuck?" Yuki's hands, paws were starting to shake now.
"Listen.." Haru tried again tentatively but Yuki wasn't having any of it.
"What the FUCK happened?" He screamed, breath coming out in short, angry bursts. It was all he could do to not just bust down and cry. "I'm a RAT! A fucking purple RAT!"
Tohru's tears were flowing freely down her face at Yuki's obvious pain. She held him lightly in her palms, bringing his tiny body up to her chest and cradling him there as she tried to soothe his growing hysterics.
"Oh Yuki-kun. Please don't worry. It'll go away very soon, I promise." She whispered, lightly stroking his fur. He clung to her desperately willing his racing heart to stop. Yuki could sit in the hollow of her neck and shoulder and was scared senseless at the revelation. He didn't want to be angry at them. There was no way any of this was their fault. None of them had the power to do…something like this. He would have known, right?
"How-How do you know?" He winced when he found his voice wet with tears. He turned his gaze to Kyo again, wishing he'd look at him without terror or anger. "K-Kyo?"
Tohru closed her mouth as she went to answer and swung her head to look at the red head who closed his eyes for a brief moment before finally looking Yuki in the eye. His gaze looked pained as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
"We weren't going to tell you yet." He muttered with a ragged sigh.
Yuki was confused. "Tell me what? That I was some kind of freak that turned into a rat?"
"Yes. No." He growled in frustration. " Look it's not…we. Goddamit."
"Kyo, for fuck's sake, what?" Yuki pleaded.
Kyo's jaw clenched again. "It's our curse." He explained in his oh so brilliant fashion.
"Our family's, I mean." He tried again at Yuki's narrowed amethyst eyes. Even as a rat he could shoot a death glare with the best of them. "If we touch chests with someone of the opposite gender, we each turn into a different member of the zodiac." Yeah. That sounded so much better. Fucker was a rat and he still probably thought Kyo had lost his mind.
Yuki blinked twice, furry face a blank slate before telling Kyo exactly that.
"You. Are fucking. Insane."
In his own words of course.
Kyo groaned loudly wanting nothing more then to bash his head into the wall till he lost his memory.
We are so, so fucked.
Author: songoffate
Fandom: Fruits Basket (Furuba)
Pairings: Kyo/Yuki, Ayame/Shigure, Momiji/Haru, Hatori/Tohru
Rating: M laterr
Good lord is this chapter 10? I can't believe how far this story has come! And how is everyone's new year so far? Mine's been crazy, as usual, lol. Which is really my only excuse for this taking forever. And GOD why do I feel like I just gave you a long ass filler chapter. *headdesk* I fail at life. I apologize. Bring your rotting vegetables if you wish. We're having a 'stock' party tonight with me as the main entertainment.
I do love you all though? :)
Yuki, Tohru and Momiji had made it back in twenty minutes with everyone completely unharmed as promised where they found Haru reclined against a tree, enjoying the shade and virtually ignoring his wounds. Haru thanked the gods for small favors when he heard the three of them returning because if by some small chance Kyo had ended up being right…well he had been known to release seven different kinds of hell on anyone responsible for pissing him off. And Kyo was frightening enough in his current state as it was.
The Cat had long since retreated to the rooftop and was probably still up there. Their 'spar' had really been nothing more then Kyo kicking the shit out of him in an embarrassingly short amount of time, leaving him to blink up at the sky in a daze wondering what the fuck had just happened. It had not been one of his finer moments.
Not that Haru had been surprised after what he'd said. The black eye and bruised…well everything, were really the least of what he'd expected to receive after that. Even he could admit it had been a little brash. And knowing his cousin like he did, it wasn't the best thing to say to him right now anyway. But it just couldn't be helped. Kyo was one of those people that would deny and deny until someone shoved the obvious in his face and made him think about it. His feelings for Yuki were a prime example.
That didn't mean the resulting ass-kicking he'd received didn't hurt like a motherfucker though. He made a mental not to get the bastard back later when he wasn't as emotionally compromised.
Yuki's eyebrows had raised in concern when he spotted him, a frustrated sigh rushing out of his mouth followed by an apologetic smile when Haru merely grinned back unrepentantly. Yuki rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as he took off towards the tree closest to the roof, not needing to be told where Kyo had run off to and leaving Haru to Tohru's fussing and Momiji's snarky comments. Haru had grumbled petulantly at the Rabbit. Feelin' the love here, babe. He'd thought at the blonde who, apparently, could read his mind and just grinned wider at him, eyes sparkling. Brat.
"Haru-kun! Are you alright? Please come inside so I can bandage that cut up for you! U-um." She stuttered at Haru's slowly raising eyebrows, face going red. "T-that is if you don't mind, I just hate seeing you hurt and I-"
"Thanks Tohru-chan, that'd be fine." Haru cut her off with a fond smile. "Do you still have some of that throat coat tea? Bastard got me good in the chest and that always helps to soothe it."
"O-oh!" She perked up. "Of course I do! I'll go put some on now and get some bandages and get everything out for the crisp and-" Tohru's voice trailed off excitedly as she disappeared into the house once more, glad to be of some kind of use. Haru turned his grin on Momiji who was now looking at him with an exasperated smile.
"You had to provoke him didn't you?" Momiji sighed, lightly fingering the bruise on Haru's jaw. Haru smirked back, nosing his lovers hand and placing a light, reassuring kiss on each of the probing digits.
"It's really not as bad as it looks. He probably thinks I'm worse off then I really am. He wasn't really all there this time." The blonde's mouth tilted into an adorable little scowl and Haru couldn't resist the urge wrap his arm around Momiji's small waist to pull him closer. "You know how he is when you try to talk to him about his feelings. The guy just completely shuts down."
The smaller male sighed again against his neck, reflex had his arms coming up to hang leisurely on Haru's shoulders. Some of the weariness bled out of Haru when Momiji fit himself into the concave of his body that seemed to be made for him. "That's why most people try to avoid it." He murmured, voice growling lightly in a way that other's would find uncharacteristic of him but Haru knew to mean that he was just concerned. Not many of the family knew that Momiji was more then just the clan spazz. He liked to keep it that way.
"We can't just let him hide behind his 'bad boy' attitude this time. He's going to end up hurting himself and Yuki in the process." Haru returned.
Momiji worried his bottom lip, brows furrowing. "No. We really shouldn't get involved any more then we already have."
"We?" Haru raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Momiji blinked up at him, trying to look innocent. "I may or may not…already been thinking of a plan. Sort of.."
Haru stared down at his lover, eyes roving over the too-wide eyes and pursed lips in shock. A slow, amused smirk slid it's way onto his face before a laugh burst forth from Haru's sore throat and aching chest that arched him backwards nearly in half as he squeezed Momiji tightly to him. The sharp protest of his aching muscles was totally worth it.
"That's my boy." He muttered affectionately, pressing his lips to Momiji's forehead while he hummed pleasantly in Haru's arms. If anyone could play matchmaker it was the hyperactive teen in his arms. That's my boy.
Kyo didn't need to open his eyes to know who's particular shadow was blocking his sunlight.
"Lemme' guess. I've got thirty seconds." He muttered blandly.
Yuki's exasperation was clear in his tone. "More like ten. And be grateful for that because I've a mind to just kick your ass of the roof and watch you face plant into Shigure's roses." He nudged Kyo's arm with his foot. "You really did a number on Haru, you jerk."
A streak of guilt shot through Kyo's chest and he grumbled low to himself, eyelids drifting open cautiously in case the Rat decided to move suddenly and let him get blinded. "It was just a spar." He grumbled. The sulking growl made Yuki sigh in aggravation.
"Look, I don't remember how you guys usually fight. But that didn't look like the results of a friendly match." Yuki studied Kyo's bruised face. There was a pretty good gash above his right eye that was starting to swell and an angry bruise blossomed along his jaw line. His knuckles were red and cracked, fingers twitching every once in awhile unconsciously. Kyo didn't seem at all affected by any of this Yuki noted with a sigh. Why the red head had to solve everything by throwing his fists around he had yet to recall or figure out.
Kyo turned his head away, jaw clenched. "Trust me. This isn't nearly as bad as it's gotten before."
"Was this about earlier?" Yuki asked suddenly. "Because if you took out all your frustration at me out on Haru I swear Kyo, I'll tie you out here and leave you to the storm."
Betcha don't know how you know that little tidbit in the first place huh? Kyo almost smiled at the thought and looked away from the prying eyes of the Rat to hide it. Of course Yuki wouldn't realize that his senses were more in tune with everything around him then a normal persons.
The truth was, he felt like an idiot. Of all the thing's to freak out over, and in front of other people no less. Just because Yuki had lost his memory didn't mean his strength of will or body was gone. The Rat had never let anyone mess with him before, and he sure as hell didn't need Kyo hovering over him all the time like a worried parent.
And fuck. It had just been a ten minute trip down the street. He felt his face flush at the memory of his reaction. Stupid. He really was the idiot Cat Yuki loved to say he was.
" You could try." He snarked. "And it didn't have anything to do with you. We just got carried away, that's all. It happens all the time." Liar.
"That's all, huh?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Kyo could see Yuki's skeptical look. He grudgingly turned back to face the Rat, trying to will him to believe him with his eyes because telling Yuki the truth was just absolutely not an option for him right now. Hell, it wasn't an option ever. What was he supposed to say? Haru said something that freaked him out so bad he kind of lost his shit? Yeah. He could see that going over real well. Because Yuki would want to know what was said and why it freaked him out which would force Kyo to lie and he didn't want to do that anymore then he needed to.
He still couldn't believe that bastard cousin of his either. And to think Kyo had actually been sort of grateful that Haru had been willing to give him something to take his mind off of his issues. He'd been relieved at the thought of a good challenge to throw himself into. But then the fucker he'd…he'd gone and said…
"You're in love with him aren't you?"
Once more his fingers twitched with the urge to hit something. The Cow was an idiot. A presumptuous fucking asshole. Who did he think he was, saying that to him? Like it wasn't even really a question. As if there had been no way Kyo would have replied with anything but a fervent yes. Fuck, he was sick and tired of people throwing around words like 'love' where he and Yuki were concerned. It wasn't going to happen. It couldn't happen.
Because the stupid Rat hated him…and couldn't even remember he hated him for a start. Because Kyo hated him back and-
No. Fuck. No. That was also lie. He didn't…he couldn't say he hated Yuki anymore. In fact he even sort of liked him. A little…Or maybe more then a little…Well, Kyo could admit that at least to himself. That didn't mean he was going to be singing the guys praises from the rooftops or falling to his knees before him or anything like that. It was freaky enough that it was happening in the first place. Years and years of venomous hate does not disappear in less then a month. It just doesn't. But Yuki had sort of wormed his way past Kyo's barriers with an ease that not even Tohru had found when she'd fallen into their lives.
He tried not to dwell on the implications of that.
"Kyo..?" Yuki broke in, voice suddenly soft as though he was afraid to startle the other teen. "Are you alright?"
Kyo breathed deep through his nose, eyes clenching shut for a moment. His chest contracted agonizingly in his chest at the sound of the Rat's genuine concern; how easily he released his anger at him. And the pain that came with the knowledge that none of it was real. This wasn't how Yuki would really act with him. Any feelings of affection and friendship Yuki had for him now would quickly morph into disgust as soon as his memories were returned. Things would go back to the way they were before and Kyo…Kyo would just have to remember who they were and get over this thing he had for this Yuki.
"Che." He scoffed suddenly, forcing a smirk. "Don't you have a pie to bake or some other girly shit like that?"
Yuki blinked at the sudden change in attitude. But he crossed his arms over his chest, catching the tone of Kyo's expression. "Crisp, asshole. Not pie. And yes as a matter of fact I do. Just figured I'd round up the stray cat glooming around the roof first." He smirked back and Kyo was once more grateful and slightly awed at how well Yuki seemed to read him now.
Kyo jumped to his feet with a natural grace that should have surprised Yuki but didn't, as he'd watched the red-eyed man enough times during his morning routine to know his movements weren't usually as brash as his attitude.
Kyo moved to walk passed the lavender-haired man, shoulders brushing purposefully as he did so. His body was still sore, pulsing painfully in the areas Haru had hit the hardest. The pain kept him grounded. His eyes met Yuki's still suspicious ones and he smiled again through the stuttering under his ribcage that the Rat's wide-eyed gaze created.
"Well the gloomy cat's waiting for you." He said with a smirk, grasping the nearest branch and swinging out and into the tree. Yuki watched him jump from the last branch to the ground and walk around the house towards the back door. He hadn't even looked back.
Yuki sighed, again, pressing the heels of his palms to his burning eyes. He smiled ruefully behind his arms. He's hiding something. He thought bitterly, teeth clenching in frustration and the need to keep from screaming. Of course he was. Kyo always seemed to be hiding something. At least from him. There were times when he'd thought the other teen trusted him. Then things like this would happen and Yuki would remember just how much he really didn't know about the fire-eyed man.
He couldn't understand why Kyo was so evasive with him. Hadn't they become closer since the family brought Yuki home from the hospital? Yuki knew the others kept things from him too, he wasn't stupid. There were whispered conversations stopping whenever he walked into the room; silent looks and pained expressions when Yuki would ask certain questions about his past. Whether it was for his protection or something else he hadn't figured out yet, but he'd ignored it for the most part because he thought Kyo at least was honest with him.
He dropped his hands to his side, eyes still closed as he tilted his head up towards the sun.
Things are not going to go on like this. he thought, feeling the warmth slide over his face and heat his skin. The red light burning his eyelids made him think of another pair of glowing orbs. Whatever he's hiding, whatever they're all hiding, I'm not going to let them keep it from me anymore.
"YUKI-KUN!"
Yuki jumped with a startled yell, eyes dropping down to the blond waving frantically at him from the ground. Hand pressed to his chest where his heart pounded furiously, he glared down at Momiji.
"You little shit!" He tried to growl but only ended up laughing breathlessly. "You scared me! What if I'd fallen off the roof and died?"
Momiji grinned back. "Then you'd actually have a valid excuse to be TAKING SO DAMN LONG! Come on already! Kyo's lounging in the living room. Who are you talking to up there? Yourself?"
"And what if I was?" Yuki shot back as he climbed down the tree to meet the blond, landing in an easy crouch when he jumped from the last branch. "Stranger things have happened, I'm sure."
Momiji just smiled at him again. "Okay so you have a point." He laughed, jumping up and down excitedly as Yuki finally joined him. Grabbing the taller teens hand he started dragging him towards the house. "BUT! I'm super freaking excited to make this stuff so I can EAT it, so come oooooooooon!"
"Like you need any more sugar!"
Yuki's previous unease was replaced by bubbling amusement and he found himself laughing loudly in response to Momiji's insistent ramblings as he allowed the blond to tug him inside. The bouncy blond was definitely one of his favorite cousins. Yuki could be in the worst mood and Momiji would just fly in ranting like a mad man and make him completely forget about it. It was a special talent, no doubt.
"Yuki-kun!" Tohru smiled prettily at him, wooden spoon in hand. "You're just in time! I was starting to think you'd changed your mind." Momiji released Yuki's hand and flew to her side, arms sliding around her middle to give her a squeezing hug.
"He didn't! Yuki was just deep in conversation with himself. BUT HE'S DONE NOW!" The younger teen batted his ridiculously long eyelashes at the now blushing girl. "So can we pleaaaase start now? I LOVE PEACHES!"
Haru's chuckle drifted in from the living room where he was reclined on the couch next to Kyo who was looking in with an interested eyebrow raised.
"You guys better get on that." He smiled fondly at the blond that was still pouting. "Otherwise he'll just torture you both 'til he gets what he wants."
Yuki rolled his eyes but his grin never wavered. "And of course you, the only person that could help, would just sit back and enjoy the show."
Haru's arms came up to rest behind his head. "Perks of being the boyfriend. Let him do whatever he pleases and receive all the love in return."
Kyo and Yuki snorted in disbelief at the same time that Tohru giggled behind her sugar covered hand. Momiji whimpered impatiently again and they all finally broke down to the blond's now watering eyes instead of trying to come up with any kind of retort to that.
Tohru was, as always, magnificent at what she did. She was a patient teacher and Yuki found that he was enjoying himself even more then he'd thought he would. Momiji was covered in sugar and flour(which they didn't even really use) and all kinds of other things but he looked like he couldn't be happier. Yuki's face hurt from smiling and he was still recovering from his laughter when his younger cousin had proceeded to drag Hatsuharu off his comfortable place on the couch and press his (somehow sticky) body to his boyfriend's in a victory dance over their finished products. The scent permeating through the house was heavenly and even Kyo had come floating into the kitchen demanding to know when it was going to be done.
It took all of five seconds for that crisp to be gone when it came out of the oven. Tohru had stood back and smiled proudly at Yuki and Momiji while everyone took their first bites before digging in to her own. Yuki was impressed that they hadn't somehow managed to ruin it, but the gooey, peachy substance was fucking fantastic so he was more then a little okay with it. Especially after Kyo had busted out the ice cream. Things got a little wild after that and the second crisp disappeared just as quickly as the first.
Momiji happily slurped up the rest of his ice cream, humming happily to himself. Haru leaned back with a content sigh, arm resting on the back of the blond's chair. Yuki grinned.
"Tell me we're not amazing!" He crowed around his spoonful of awesomeness.
"You're both amazing!" Tohru beamed at him after swallowing her modestly small bite. She was a bit of a slow eater. Haru chuckled at him and flicked Momiji's nose playfully.
"Yeah yeah it was good, I'll admit. It wasn't burned at any rate." Yuki and Momiji both turned to stick their tongues out at him childishly. What? There was a crap load of sugar in those things! Yuki turned his expectant gaze to the red head sitting next to him.
Kyo gnawed on his spoon in a bored fashion, raising his eyebrow at the Rat who obviously was expecting some sort of praise.
"Eh." He scoffed with a shrug, biting down hard on the spoon to force down his amused grin.
Yuki blinked. "Come again?"
"It was okay."
"Okay?" Yuki shrieked, dropping his spoon with a glare at Kyo. Momiji and Haru shot each other amused smiles and eye rolls, the smaller teen reaching out to touch Tohru's hand to ease the frazzled look on her face.
"Well you're no Chef Ramsey that's for sure."
"Oh please, I'd like to see you make something decent."
"The only reason this shit is the slightest bit edible is because you had Tohru do most of the work."
"Bullshit! You were watching us the whole time! You know we were helping!"
"Chyeah. By sitting on your asses."
"Why you son of a -"
"Yuki-kun!" Tohru cut in, scandalized. Yuki and Kyo stopped their tirades to stare at the girl. They glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes and tried their best to bite back giggles at her hanging jaw and wide eyes. Needless to say, they failed. Miserably.
"We…we were just…" Yuki's head was in his arms as he tried to muffle his laughter. "It was just a joke Tohru-chan!"
Tohru blinked rapidly, face turning steadily redder as she looked between Kyo's shaking shoulders and Yuki's teary eyed grin.
"O-oh…" Her blush reddened. "Of-of course!" She tried to chuckle, waving her hand to divert attention away from her face. "I knew that."
Momiji patted her arm sympathetically with the hand that wasn't busy trying to hide his smile. Haru chuckled at her. "Don't sweat it Tohru-chan. You know how they are."
Eyes rolling towards the ceiling, Kyo scoffed again as he stood to take his dishes to the sink, wordlessly snagging Yuki's as he passed. He poked Tohru lightly on the forehead when his hands were free, smirking down at her in his own affectionate way.
"You've always been way too easy." He chuckled as she lifted her head up to pout at him.
Yuki was up in an instant, feigning a disapproving look at the red head. "Aw don't tease our Tohru!" He crooned playfully. "She's sensitive!" He said, leaning down to give Tohru a hug.
Tohru's eyes widened as his arms wrapped around her small neck and he vaguely heard Haru and Momiji's gasps behind Kyo's sudden shout of, "Wha-Yuki! NO!" Yuki's brows furrowed together in confusion as he drew Tohru to him in a proper hug, but before he could open his mouth to ask what the hell he was talking about there was a loud 'pop' and the room was filled with grayish smoke.
Yuki started coughing more out of reflex then anything else. He'd found out early on that his lungs weren't in the best of shape, but the smoke wasn't ripping him up from the inside like such things usually tended to.
His body did feel weird though, he mused waiting for the smoke to clear. It was thick enough that he couldn't make out any of the other's faces. He'd have to figure out who pulled the prank, because that's the only thing he could think of this being, and find out what kind of smoke it was.
Yuki chuckled lightly at that. "Okay guys, interesting choice of trick, but you're lucky I'm not hacking my brains out right now because Hatori would have a fucking fit."
The fog finally started to clear and Kyo was the first he managed to make our in the haze. Yuki's laughter quickly died down at the look of pure terror on his face. Wow he was really taking this joke to the next level…at least, he hoped that's what that look was all about. Kyo seemed taller from this view for some reason. Yuki must have fallen to his knees when the appeared or something.
Momiji's face came next, then Tohru's and Haru's. All matching Kyo's frightened expression.
Yuki's face fell. "Hey guys…what's going on?" He tried a weak chuckle. "Do I have something on my face?" He asked, lifting a hand to his face in emphasis and touching his cheek. He blinked hard at the odd texture. His face felt…furry? Okay, this had to be some sort of joke.
He slowly lifted his gaze to Tohru again, who was the closest to him and suddenly huge, finally noticing that she had tears glistening in her eyes. Yuki had definitely missed something again.
"T-Tohru-chan?" he asked, concerned. "What's wrong?" They were all starting to scare him with their silences. His glance flitted over her shoulder to Kyo, who had turned his head away from him, jaw set angrily. What the hell was going on?
Tohru bent her head forward and her face was even closer to his own now, her tears barely contained in her pained blue eyes as he shook within the confines of her hands.
…Wait a fucking second.
Yuki looked down then, eyes growing wider and wider as his horror slowly grew. He was sitting in Tohru's hands. Literally in them like he was some, some child's toy! Further inspection showed him how exactly that was possible.
"Oh my god." Yuki breathed, shaking his head slowly. He was covered in lilac colored fur…apparently from head to toe from what he could feel. He clenched and unclenched his 'fists' bringing them up to find pink, lightly clawed fucking paws in place of his hands. Oh no. Oh god oh no oh fuck!
"Yuki…"Haru broke in, voice tight. " Hey, man…"
"What…what the fuck?" Yuki's hands, paws were starting to shake now.
"Listen.." Haru tried again tentatively but Yuki wasn't having any of it.
"What the FUCK happened?" He screamed, breath coming out in short, angry bursts. It was all he could do to not just bust down and cry. "I'm a RAT! A fucking purple RAT!"
Tohru's tears were flowing freely down her face at Yuki's obvious pain. She held him lightly in her palms, bringing his tiny body up to her chest and cradling him there as she tried to soothe his growing hysterics.
"Oh Yuki-kun. Please don't worry. It'll go away very soon, I promise." She whispered, lightly stroking his fur. He clung to her desperately willing his racing heart to stop. Yuki could sit in the hollow of her neck and shoulder and was scared senseless at the revelation. He didn't want to be angry at them. There was no way any of this was their fault. None of them had the power to do…something like this. He would have known, right?
"How-How do you know?" He winced when he found his voice wet with tears. He turned his gaze to Kyo again, wishing he'd look at him without terror or anger. "K-Kyo?"
Tohru closed her mouth as she went to answer and swung her head to look at the red head who closed his eyes for a brief moment before finally looking Yuki in the eye. His gaze looked pained as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
"We weren't going to tell you yet." He muttered with a ragged sigh.
Yuki was confused. "Tell me what? That I was some kind of freak that turned into a rat?"
"Yes. No." He growled in frustration. " Look it's not…we. Goddamit."
"Kyo, for fuck's sake, what?" Yuki pleaded.
Kyo's jaw clenched again. "It's our curse." He explained in his oh so brilliant fashion.
"Our family's, I mean." He tried again at Yuki's narrowed amethyst eyes. Even as a rat he could shoot a death glare with the best of them. "If we touch chests with someone of the opposite gender, we each turn into a different member of the zodiac." Yeah. That sounded so much better. Fucker was a rat and he still probably thought Kyo had lost his mind.
Yuki blinked twice, furry face a blank slate before telling Kyo exactly that.
"You. Are fucking. Insane."
In his own words of course.
Kyo groaned loudly wanting nothing more then to bash his head into the wall till he lost his memory.
We are so, so fucked.