The FURUBA ROUND ROBIN PROJECTChapter Fifteen: Something Weird this Way Comes…by AdriaPosted: January 23, 2005Kyo had always been an early riser and the next morning was no exception. His eyes opened at sunrise and he groaned. What a night! He thought. Tohru had still been upstairs when she heard Yuki collapse. Her cries had brought Kyo, Haru and Shigure running. Yuki was sprawled on the bathroom tiles, blankets tangled around him. His skin was pale, so pale that Kyo had felt an inadvertent pang at the sight of him. While Shigure attempted to calm Tohru’s second panic of the night the two boys had hauled the rat back to his bedroom, carefully avoiding the tray tohru had set beside the bed. Kyo growled to himself as he brushed his teeth. That dumb rat probably wouldn’t even thank him—not that he would want him to. That would be too weird. He rinsed the toothbrush and made his way downstairs. Tohru was in the kitchen. Kyo wasn’t the earliest riser in the house. “Good morning!” she said, smiling. The corner of his mouth quirked up in response. “Morning.” He grabbed a carton of milk, taking a long swallow from the container. “Did you know that most cats are lactose intolerant?” Yuki’s cool voice behind him caused him to start and spew a mouthful of milk in the direction he’d been facing—and consequently, at Tohru. She shrieked in surprise as Yuki laughed loudly. “Y-Yuki-kun!” Tohru said. “Hatori-san said you should rest today!” She rushed to him. “How are you feeling?” “Much better, Tohru-san.” He reassured her while Kyo bristled. “You did that on purpose!” he yelled. “It was merely an observation,” Yuki shot back coldly. “Kyo-kun, Yuki-kun’s been very sick!” Tohru protested. “Well, he doesn’t look very sick right now,” he grumbled. Tohru placed a concerned hand on Yuki’s forehead. “Oh, your skin is so cold, Yuki-kun!” “It is? I don’t feel cold.” Yuki replied. Kyo looked closely at the gray-haired boy. His skin was pale. And when he got that much singular attention from Tohru he usually had a little color, but he wasn’t even blushing. In fact, the way he was looking at Tohru made the small hairs on his neck rise up. “I know what you need, Yuki-kun! A nice, hot bath!” Tohru cocked her head. “Kyo-kun, you can use it after you finish with your practicing!” “A bath does sound good,” Yuki agreed. He glanced at Kyo and smiled. Kyo took another pull off the milk carton and Yuki’s gaze rested on it for several seconds. “I’ll start running one for you!” Tohru turned to leave and stopped when Yuki placed a hand on her arm. “You might want to wash that milk off you,” he reminded her. She nodded, eyes widening, and rushed off. “You could have at least apologized to her,” Yuki said after she’d left. “Shut up! You’re the one who shouldn’t go around surprising people! Besides, didn’t Hatori tell you to rest?” “Yes, he did. I just didn’t feel like staying in that room,” Yuki smirked. “I thought I’d watch some television.” Wait a second, Kyo thought. Since when does YUKI get up at sunrise? Kyo stared at Yuki. Besides the pale skin, there didn’t seem much physically different about him. It was more a feeling than anything else. “So what happened?” he asked. “What do you mean?” “You collapsed in the bathroom and damned near gave Tohru a heart attack. I think it’s the first time she’s seen more of you than your chest.” He remarked as he finished off the milk. “Well, I have been sick,” Yuki replied. He crossed his arms and regarded the cat suspiciously. “Don’t seem like it today. You were pretty freaked out yesterday.” Kyo looked away from the other boy, unaccustomed to such conversations with him. “Hm.” Yuki was noncommittal. “Why do you care?” “I don’t.” Kyo glared at him. “But you freaking out and collapsing upsets Tohru. She’s got enough to deal with, without you adding to it with your stupid dramas.” “I see.” Yuki smiled—he’d been doing a lot of smiling this morning, come to think of it—and leaned against the wall. “You like her.” “What?!” “You and Tohru-san. I’m surprised I didn’t see it sooner.” Yuki raised a hand and inspected his fingernails. “What’re you talking about?” “Well, I have to warn you. I’m not going to give her up so easily.” “Give her up?! What the hell?” “I think this is going to be a lot of fun…baka neko.” He straightened and turned to leave the room. “Shall we see who wins?” “Wins what?” “The fair maiden’s heart, of course.” Fair maiden? He sounds like that idiotic dog! “To the victor go the spoils.” “Tohru’s not some plaything! What is up with you?” Kyo yelled. Yuki just chuckled and left, calling, “Tohru-san, are you finished cleaning up?” He turned and shot Kyo a suggestive look before he disappeared. Kyo stared after him impotently. “That was…strange,” Haru said as he came into the kitchen. Kyo jumped again. “Goddamit! What is with this house today?!” he screeched. “Is this ‘Let’s weird out Kyo day’ or something?!” “Not that I know of.” Haru went to the refrigerator. “You drank all the milk.” “Yeah, so?” “Yuki wasn’t acting like himself.” “Tell me about it.” “Maybe we should tell sensei about this?” “About what? That Yuki’s starting to act like a bizarre combination of him and Ayame?” Haru murmured something unintelligible as he rummaged through the contents of the fridge. “What are you mumbling about?” “Where’s Honda-san? I’m hungry.” Haru said. Kyo growled at the taller boy and began to make breakfast. “Oh. You can cook?” “Have you eaten Shishou’s cooking?” “No.” “Yeah, I can cook. Not as good as she does, though.” Kyo grumbled. “What the heck was that about? ‘To the victor go the spoils’.” He mimicked. “That’s what I was talking about.”
Tohru was just exiting the bathroom and ran into Yuki. “Oh, Yuki-kun! You’re bath is running right now!” “Thank you, Tohru-san.” He smiled and leaned towards her. “By the way, you’re looking very cute today.” “EH?!” Tohru’s eyes went wide. Yuki laughed. “You’re even cuter when you’re all surprised like that. It happens often, doesn’t it?” he mused. “Uh…” she glanced in both directions. “Yuki-kun is very sick! I’ll just fetch you some towels…” She jumped when Yuki laid a hand on her shoulder and bent even closer. “I look forward to you bringing them.” He smiled and stepped around her, brushing his chest against her side.. Tohru nodded and rushed off, hearing Yuki chuckle behind her. It was only as she was gathering the towels that she realized something: He hadn’t transformed! He hadn’t transformed last night after his collapse, either. Tohru glanced fearfully in the direction of the bathroom. What was going on? She debated telling someone, and finally shook her head at herself. Of course, she thought, it was my imagination. I didn’t touch his chest. If I had, he would surely have transformed. I must have imagined it…I shouldn’t burden anyone with this silly stuff. It was nothing. Really. Tohru nearly managed to convince herself that it really was nothing. Nearly.
“So what should we do about it?” Kyo asked Haru. The boy shrugged. “Don’t know. It doesn’t make much sense to do anything until we’re sure.” “Okay, so how do we figure that out? Ask him, ‘Hey, dumb rat, why’re you acting so weird’? That’d tip him off for sure.” “Hm.” Haru finally pulled out a pitcher of juice and poured himself a glass. “Maybe you should pick a fight with him.” “Pick a fight with him?” “Why not? You do it all the time.” “I do not!” Kyo bristled. “If anything, it’s that damned rat who’s always picking the fights with me! Why should I do anything for him!” “True. Why did you do anything for him last night?” “That was…that was for Tohru!” “Oooh?” Haru looked at him. “Maybe Yuki was right.” “Shut up!” Kyo shook a spoon at him. “Keep that up and I’ll—I’ll burn your breakfast!” Haru snorted at the threat and shrugged. “Seriously, the guy can barely take care of himself. Gets sick at the drop of a hat. Somebody’s got to be around to pick him up when he collapses and Shigure’s not good for much more than an occasional punching bag. It’s not like Tohru can help him.” Kyo rationalized. Haru just gave him another long, inscrutable look and turned away. “Where are you going?” “Getting ready for school,” Haru replied in his usual monotone. “You probably should, too.” “Oy! What about your breakfast?!” ******
Tohru walked slowly back into the kitchen after giving Yuki the towels. Her head was still whirling. If Yuki-kun wasn’t transforming… She stopped at the sight of Kyo manning the stove. “Ah-ano…” “Oh, you’re back. Did you get yourself cleaned up?” Kyo asked shortly. He looked more irritated than usual. “Ah…yes! All clean!” “I’m sorry.” Kyo looked at the mess he was cooking. “It’s okay! They say milk is very good for your skin…” she trailed off. “Oy, Tohru,
have you noticed anything, I don’t know, different
about Yuki this morning?”
Tohru jumped at Kyo’s question.
I can’t tell Kyo-kun about my silly suspicions!
There’s no proof! Kyo frowned at the look on her face. She looked almost…scared. “Um, no. I haven’t noticed anything unusual, except that his skin’s so cold. I’m sure Hatori-san will have an explanation for that when he returns today. I’m sure of it!” she said so vehemently that Kyo was certain she suspected something. What was she doing? Was she protecting that damned rat? Kyo scowled. “Hatori doesn’t know everything.” Something weird’s definitely going on. “Um, of course he doesn’t! I mean, how could he? I mean—“ “You don’t have to freak out about it. I’m just not sure if Hatori will have an answer.” “Well, he seemed very concerned when he left last night.” “Huh?” “He was very serious and didn’t poke at Shigure-san like he usually does. I think he’s worried about Yuki-kun, but he didn’t want us to know. I think Shigure-san’s worried, too.” Tohru rushed on. “He was in his room all night, but I didn’t hear him humming to himself like he usually does when he’s writing. He checked on Yuki-kun a couple of times after you and Hatsuharu-san put him to bed, too. I don’t think he knew I was still awake.” Kyo stared at Tohru for a minute. “Uh, okay. Whatever. Like it matters to me if that damned rat has pneumonia or something.” “Kyo-kun is always saying that!” Tohru giggled. “Yeah, it’s the truth!” ****** Hatori arrived at Shigure’s house late in the afternoon. Tohru was taking down some laundry and he saw Kyo and Hatsuharu sparring next to the house. “Good afternoon, Hatori-san!” Tohru sang as he approached. “Good afternoon. How is Yuki?” Kyo and Haru stopped their kicks and punches and walked towards the pair. Tohru’s face was worried. “He’s asleep. He came down to the kitchen this morning, very early. He was so cold, Hatori-san! He bathed and after that he went to bed. I think he’s still there.” “How early did he get up?” Hatori asked curiously. “ “That’s
true,” Tohru said, sounding as though this hadn’t occurred
to her. “Usually
Yuki-kun doesn’t get up before “Hm.” Hatori said noncommittally. “Where is Shigure?” “Still in his room,” Hatsuharu said. “He hasn’t come out yet.” Hatori nodded. “I’ll just go and check on Yuki.” Hatori turned towards the house. Tohru’s hand on his arm stopped him. “Oh, I’m sorry, Hatori-san! It’s just…have you found out the cause of Yuki’s illness?” She was the picture of concern. Hatori didn’t miss the two boys exchange a look. “No, Honda-kun. I haven’t.” He left the three and entered the house, making his way to Yuki’s room. The boy was sound asleep. Not wanting to bother him, he turned and went to Shigure’s room. The dog was asleep on his futon, a blanket tangled about him. He shook his head and tapped on the man’s shoulder. “Wake up, Shigure. We need to talk.” No response. Hatori tried again. No response. Alarmed, he checked Shigure’s vitals. And shook his cousin when the cold stethoscope didn’t wake him. Still no response. “Damn it, Shigure, this is not the time for one of your pranks!” Hatori growled. ******
Upstairs, Yuki smiled.
End
of Chapter 15 |