A/n: Okies, first things first... thank for the reviews!!! I love yah all. Thank for being so kind to me taking the time to read this crappy fic *.* thankies^^
Disclaimer: the usual. Don't own anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stained Innocence
Chapter 3: Thoughts
It was almost dusk when he arrived. What little light that remained from the settling sun illuminated the shiny nameplate that decorated the wooden gate.
"S-O-U-M-A..." he whispered quietly, lightly tracing a finger over the metallic letters that were nailed firmly over the chipped yet visibly sturdy wood that made the entrance of the main house look more archaic than it was. It was indeed one of those impressive traditional Japanese houses reminiscent of those noble mansions back in the feudal days of Japan.
A long time ago, it was one of his greatest wishes to be able to touch the nameplate. He would stand in front of the gate and gaze at the metallic letters above him. He would reach up in tiptoes and stretch his arms as high as he could... but his fingers would always merely graze the wood a few inches below the letters.
But no, there were nothing special about the nameplate. It was merely that, when he was a child, being able to touch those letters meant that he would have grown... grown enough to leave the main house. And leaving was the most important thing to him back then.
A fleeting frown marred his beautiful features... but now that he was indeed able to effortlessly touch the nameplate, there was no feeling of satisfaction nor victory that came with it. He gave a wistful smile... now he understood why grown ups always seem to think children's wishes are meaningless and stupid.
He pushed the gate open and stepped inside. He had been to and fro the main house many times after he permanently left many years ago... yet this time, it seemed as if he was crossing an altogether different kind of threshold... and he wondered if his life would still be the same the next time he would cross the same gate again.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The lone figure stood by the window. He had a dark silk draped over his shoulders, his dark hair hung over his face as if hiding the even darker eyes that sharply followed the beautiful visage that suddenly appeared before the wooden gate.
A small smile appeared. Be it a cruel smile, or a genuine one, one could hardly tell. He was born with a face that always seemed to be vindictive, piercing eyes, and a mouth that always seemed to be curved in a malicious smirk. Had he not shown a single sincere emotion in all his life? No one knew. He was the cruel Akito... that's what everyone knew him to be. And he made no effort to prove otherwise. Perhaps that's what he truly is... he never really cared much about other people.
But...
His thoughts trailed off as his gaze continued to follow the boy walking under the Sakura trees that lined the path to the main house.
But...
Closing his eyes briefly as if letting the wind carry off his silent greeting to the boy...
"Welcome home... Yuki..."
As he withdrew from the window where none of the remaining rays of sun could reach him, he let out a brief noise that sounded like hollow laughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"KUSO!!!" Kyou growled, yanking his roommate's closet open, and finding it empty. The sheets on the lower bunk bed were neatly folded as well, as if it's owner was not intending to use it ever again.
What was that nezumi thinking? Sure he had known Yuki was planning on going back to the main house... but he didn't HAVE to leave on the same day as his birthday... and Yuki DEFINITELY didn't have to leave without telling him... they were... roommates, after all.
He glared at the small box resting on his bed. It was prettily wrapped with silver paper and a small yet intricately done ribbon was attached to the side. There was a small card where the words "To Yuki" were painstakingly scribbled by a hand that obviously had a horrible penmanship, but whoever had wrote those words definitely worked hard at making them look more elegant.
Kyou frowned. He HAD painstakingly written those words... and spent hours - no - days trying to figure out how he could give the gift without embarrassing himself. And then what? Yuki left without even bothering to tell him.
He laid himself on the lower bunk bed. He could still catch faint whiff of Yuki's scent - a mixture of herbs and flowers, and something else that he could never put a finger to. It was undeniably Yuki... a mix of fragility and strength, and he always radiated of mystery.
Kyou angrily burrowed his head on the pillow.
"Damn nezumi" he muttered, realizing that he was sulking like a child again. Nothing was to be gained with drowning himself in self-pity. With a last loud curse, he stood and scooped the small box on his bed.
He was going to make Yuki acknowledge him, one way or the other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuki! Ah! My cute little brother has come! Come give your loving Oniiiiiiiiiiii-chan a kiss!"
Yuki flinched at the familiar voice. He didn't know what he expected to greet him, perhaps something gloomy, something dark, but never the pale and silly grinning face of his older brother, nor the sight of an almost drunk Shigure taking another swig of sake... not even the usual impassive face of Hatori-san.
He paused by the doorstep.
"What... what are you guys doing here?"
It was Haru who came forward and boldly placed an arm around his shoulders.
"What are you talking about, Yuki? It's your birthday! Of course we're here to celebrate."
Yuki could only manage a soft "Oh". To be honest, he never expected them to remember... nor care for that matter. Perhaps this gathering was his brother's doing. Lately, Ayame had been very persistent trying to please him. He knew... his brother felt guilty for 'abandoning' him when he was a child. He had stopped feeling resentful a long time ago. If Ayame had known about his past... he wondered if anything would have been different. Perhaps not, after all, Akito would still have the last say...
He was being ushered to the living room where everyone seemed to have gathered. Even Kisa was there, talking demurely to Kagura. Everyone... except Tohru.
And Kyou.
Yuki faltered in his step remembering the orange-haired boy. He had left without waiting for Kyou to get back from his classes. It wasn't that he didn't care... but he just didn't want Kyou to know...
"You ok Yuki?" he heard Haru ask with concern.
Yuki smiled and nodded. Yes... so many things he didn't want Kyou to know...
~~~~~~~
He watched him from the shadows. A smile that would shame even the most beautiful of angels, the skin that glowed like the rarest porcelain... the delicate body that held such a quiet strength within...
The laughter from the main living room drifted through the darkened halls where he stood. He watched as the object of his gaze placed a forced smile on those rosy lips. But that smile, beautiful as it was, was all surreal. Only him knew the real Yuki...
The thought brought a smile on his pale lips. Yuki has come home.
He retreated away from the jolly voices. Gaiety never suited him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
a/n: kinda short chappie, ne? sorry ^^ I'll try to do better next time *bows*
And I might be making this fic rated R pretty soon. Yeah, yaoi is the way to go^^
hope you review^^
Disclaimer: the usual. Don't own anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stained Innocence
Chapter 3: Thoughts
It was almost dusk when he arrived. What little light that remained from the settling sun illuminated the shiny nameplate that decorated the wooden gate.
"S-O-U-M-A..." he whispered quietly, lightly tracing a finger over the metallic letters that were nailed firmly over the chipped yet visibly sturdy wood that made the entrance of the main house look more archaic than it was. It was indeed one of those impressive traditional Japanese houses reminiscent of those noble mansions back in the feudal days of Japan.
A long time ago, it was one of his greatest wishes to be able to touch the nameplate. He would stand in front of the gate and gaze at the metallic letters above him. He would reach up in tiptoes and stretch his arms as high as he could... but his fingers would always merely graze the wood a few inches below the letters.
But no, there were nothing special about the nameplate. It was merely that, when he was a child, being able to touch those letters meant that he would have grown... grown enough to leave the main house. And leaving was the most important thing to him back then.
A fleeting frown marred his beautiful features... but now that he was indeed able to effortlessly touch the nameplate, there was no feeling of satisfaction nor victory that came with it. He gave a wistful smile... now he understood why grown ups always seem to think children's wishes are meaningless and stupid.
He pushed the gate open and stepped inside. He had been to and fro the main house many times after he permanently left many years ago... yet this time, it seemed as if he was crossing an altogether different kind of threshold... and he wondered if his life would still be the same the next time he would cross the same gate again.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The lone figure stood by the window. He had a dark silk draped over his shoulders, his dark hair hung over his face as if hiding the even darker eyes that sharply followed the beautiful visage that suddenly appeared before the wooden gate.
A small smile appeared. Be it a cruel smile, or a genuine one, one could hardly tell. He was born with a face that always seemed to be vindictive, piercing eyes, and a mouth that always seemed to be curved in a malicious smirk. Had he not shown a single sincere emotion in all his life? No one knew. He was the cruel Akito... that's what everyone knew him to be. And he made no effort to prove otherwise. Perhaps that's what he truly is... he never really cared much about other people.
But...
His thoughts trailed off as his gaze continued to follow the boy walking under the Sakura trees that lined the path to the main house.
But...
Closing his eyes briefly as if letting the wind carry off his silent greeting to the boy...
"Welcome home... Yuki..."
As he withdrew from the window where none of the remaining rays of sun could reach him, he let out a brief noise that sounded like hollow laughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"KUSO!!!" Kyou growled, yanking his roommate's closet open, and finding it empty. The sheets on the lower bunk bed were neatly folded as well, as if it's owner was not intending to use it ever again.
What was that nezumi thinking? Sure he had known Yuki was planning on going back to the main house... but he didn't HAVE to leave on the same day as his birthday... and Yuki DEFINITELY didn't have to leave without telling him... they were... roommates, after all.
He glared at the small box resting on his bed. It was prettily wrapped with silver paper and a small yet intricately done ribbon was attached to the side. There was a small card where the words "To Yuki" were painstakingly scribbled by a hand that obviously had a horrible penmanship, but whoever had wrote those words definitely worked hard at making them look more elegant.
Kyou frowned. He HAD painstakingly written those words... and spent hours - no - days trying to figure out how he could give the gift without embarrassing himself. And then what? Yuki left without even bothering to tell him.
He laid himself on the lower bunk bed. He could still catch faint whiff of Yuki's scent - a mixture of herbs and flowers, and something else that he could never put a finger to. It was undeniably Yuki... a mix of fragility and strength, and he always radiated of mystery.
Kyou angrily burrowed his head on the pillow.
"Damn nezumi" he muttered, realizing that he was sulking like a child again. Nothing was to be gained with drowning himself in self-pity. With a last loud curse, he stood and scooped the small box on his bed.
He was going to make Yuki acknowledge him, one way or the other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuki! Ah! My cute little brother has come! Come give your loving Oniiiiiiiiiiii-chan a kiss!"
Yuki flinched at the familiar voice. He didn't know what he expected to greet him, perhaps something gloomy, something dark, but never the pale and silly grinning face of his older brother, nor the sight of an almost drunk Shigure taking another swig of sake... not even the usual impassive face of Hatori-san.
He paused by the doorstep.
"What... what are you guys doing here?"
It was Haru who came forward and boldly placed an arm around his shoulders.
"What are you talking about, Yuki? It's your birthday! Of course we're here to celebrate."
Yuki could only manage a soft "Oh". To be honest, he never expected them to remember... nor care for that matter. Perhaps this gathering was his brother's doing. Lately, Ayame had been very persistent trying to please him. He knew... his brother felt guilty for 'abandoning' him when he was a child. He had stopped feeling resentful a long time ago. If Ayame had known about his past... he wondered if anything would have been different. Perhaps not, after all, Akito would still have the last say...
He was being ushered to the living room where everyone seemed to have gathered. Even Kisa was there, talking demurely to Kagura. Everyone... except Tohru.
And Kyou.
Yuki faltered in his step remembering the orange-haired boy. He had left without waiting for Kyou to get back from his classes. It wasn't that he didn't care... but he just didn't want Kyou to know...
"You ok Yuki?" he heard Haru ask with concern.
Yuki smiled and nodded. Yes... so many things he didn't want Kyou to know...
~~~~~~~
He watched him from the shadows. A smile that would shame even the most beautiful of angels, the skin that glowed like the rarest porcelain... the delicate body that held such a quiet strength within...
The laughter from the main living room drifted through the darkened halls where he stood. He watched as the object of his gaze placed a forced smile on those rosy lips. But that smile, beautiful as it was, was all surreal. Only him knew the real Yuki...
The thought brought a smile on his pale lips. Yuki has come home.
He retreated away from the jolly voices. Gaiety never suited him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
a/n: kinda short chappie, ne? sorry ^^ I'll try to do better next time *bows*
And I might be making this fic rated R pretty soon. Yeah, yaoi is the way to go^^
hope you review^^