Chapter 5 - I Have My Ways
"Surprise! Your wonderful older brother is here and.." Ayame paused in the doorway. His bright eyes showed a hint of confusion as he looked around at the room before him. Let's just say he was expecting a rather more.. cheerful reaction. In fact, the person who he came to see wasn't even there.
"Aya-san, you're just a little bit late." Shigure informed him through a noise-maker placed rather lazily in between his lips.
"I don't understand. Why is Sohma-kun unhappy?" Tohru was kneeling on the ground, completely confused as to why her good intentions could turn into something bad.
"It's not your fault!" Kyou practically barked at her, sick of hearing her blame herself for Yuki's stupid behavior.
"Hai, Tohru-kun. This happens every time we try to do something for his birthday." Kagura confirmed, gently patting Tohru's shoulder.
"Hm? Did I miss the traditional 'What the hell is this?!?' speech?" Ayame let himself into room, completely aware of what has happened.
"Do you think he's upset with me?" Tears welled up in Tohru's eyes. It seems like everyone neglected to tell her of Yuki's usual approach to any attempt made to celebrate his birthday.
"No, no not at all. Why would he be if he has Shigure to blame?" Kyou mumbled, half sarcastically.
"He did make an unusually big show of running up to his room and slamming the door this time," Shigure pointed out, choosing to ignore Kyou's comment.
"I guess it's about time that I go bring him back," Haru spoke for the first time, and got up out of his seat. He very casually made his way up to Yuki's bedroom.
"Ah," Ayame sighed, "this is all starting to get very typical. How is it that you manage to coax him back down here practically every year?" He directed his question to Haru, who was now almost out of the room.
"I have my ways. Truthfully, I prefer the rare years he doesn't come down," Haru replied mysteriously and disappeared out of the room. Everyone shared a common look of mixed confusion and suspicion before Ayame realized that he hadn't yet "properly" greeted Shigure.
"Gure-san~!" He sang and then proceeded to "properly" greet Shigure.
~
"Yuki, open the door," Haru said calmly as he stood outside of Yuki's locked bedroom.
"You aren't making me come out this year," came the muffled response from inside.
"I don't know why you bother locking this door. It's not like I can't just kick it down," Haru pointed out and positioned his foot at a kicking distance from the doorknob. Before he managed to get a good start; however, the door swung open and a rather ticked off Yuki glared at him.
"I forget that's how you got it open last year," he commented.
"Good then," Haru replied and let himself in. "Do we really have to go through the whole thing again this year?"
"I'm not going," Yuki replied decisively.
"And then I say, 'Fine by me. We can just stay up here in your room the whole day, together.' And then you say, 'Get out.' And then I say, 'Make me.' And then you actually try to make me and we always end up in a very suggestive position in the end."
"I don't care what you say, you're aren't making me come down," Yuki narrowed his eyes in frustration. Haru briefly wondered if he'd paid any attention to anything he said just now.
"Fine by me. We can just stay up here in.." He began, half mockingly.
"I heard you.." Yuki interrupted before he could finish the default speech.
"Alright, so we can talk and THEN you'll come downstairs."
Yuki rolled his eyes and sat down at the edge of his bed, ready for another pointlessly long lecture. "If that's the only way to get rid of you."
"I know better than anyone that you don't want to be part of this family," Haru sighed, looking somewhat hurt. "But we genuinely love you, rather you want to believe it or not."
~
"Why the hell am I even still here?" Kyou stood up in the middle of the silent room and stormed out very spontaneously. Four pairs of eyes followed him out.
"Kyou-kun!" Tohru called after him, disappointed that everything seems to be completely falling apart. She got up in hopes of retrieving him when Kagura pulled at her sleeve.
"Can I go?" Kagura kept her gaze at the door that her love just ran through and bit her lip nervously.
"Ano.. hai," Tohru said and smiled at her. Although, in the back of her mind she was a bit worried as to the condition Kyou would be in after. Kagura smiled and wasted no time running out after him.
Tohru thought of Yuki again and sat down on the ground. "Why was Sohma-kun so upset? A birthday is supposed to be the happiest day of the year. Everyone looks forward to them."
"Yuki-kun is just a bit... anti-social," Shigure reasoned, pasting a wide smile on his face.
"If you haven't noticed, he isn't very happy about being born into this family. He hasn't accepted the curse and doesn't want to. To him, celebrating his birthday is like celebrating the curse itself," Ayame explained and sighed dramatically.
"Then maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Tohru dropped her eyes to the ground again.
Ayame's smile faded as well. "He probably isn't too happy about seeing me either."
"Maa, everyone is so depressed," Shigure pointed out. "Aya-san, I'm happy about seeing you!"
Ayame's eyes lit up and he squealed, "Gure-san, what would I do without you?" This was followed by a dramatic little pose. Tohru sweatdropped, and then announced that she'll bring the food in just in case the boys decide to come down after all.
~
"Ayame's here, isn't he?" Yuki asked.
Haru sighed. "Yes, your brother is here and he's only here for you."
As if on cue, Ayame's voice came from downstairs, "Gure-san, what would I do without you?" Followed by incessant giggling.
"For me, was it?" Yuki said.
Haru rolled his eyes. "Bad example. What about Tohru then? She's worked so hard for this and now she thinks it's all her fault that you aren't happy."
That seemed to hit a soft spot in him, but it didn't quite work as planned. "I'll just apologize to her later and make sure she knows it's not because of her."
"Even Shigure put reasonable effort into it this year and he doesn't put reasonable effort into anything," Haru said and sat down next to Yuki.
"Don't care," was the reply.
"I know, but everyone else does."
"Why?"
"Remember that time when Kisa ran away because she was being picked on?" Yuki nodded. "Remember what we said to her?"
"That no matter what happens we'll always love her," Yuki said quietly.
"Because we're family, right?" Haru finished for him.
"It's different," Yuki replied, getting the point he was trying to make.
"That doesn't make it any less true!" Haru argued, half amused with Yuki's persistence over such a trivial thing.
~
"Kyou-kun?" Kagura barely managed to make it up the ladder and onto the roof where Kyou hid. She had nearly fallen four times, but she was determined that she'll do anything for love.
Kyou's eyes popped open as he desperately searched for an escape route. None was visible and Kagura quickly crawled up onto the roof and sat down next to him. "What do you want?" He asked harshly.
"I wanted to apologize to Kyou-kun," she said, keeping in mind not to close the distance between them.
"Well, I don't accept!" He retorted.
Kagura gasped at the harshness of his tone and looked down at her hands, which she folded neatly on her lap. "I know we're not kids anymore, but I get so excited when I see you that I just can't help myself."
Kyou didn't respond, but found her words interesting. He listened although he hoped she wouldn't realize it.
"It's just that I love you so much. More than anything in the world, more than you can ever know." She tried to hold her girlish tears back.
"Don't be ridicules," Kyou finally responded. He knew Kagura had always had a crush on him, but she was just a silly girl after all. "How can you say that you know what love is?"
"How can you say that I don't?!" She lifted her head and suddenly looked very determined. "You must think I'm so stupid just because you don't realize how true my feelings are."
"I don't think you're stupid. Just naive." Kyou never really was any good with words.
"All this time, every time that I said I loved you.. you never believed it." Kagura seemed to be in a sort of trance.
Kyou suddenly felt the incredible need to defend himself. "Well, how CAN I believe it if you're practically killing me whenever you say it!?!"
Tears welled up in Kagura's eyes. "You hate me," she whispered but kept her eyes on her lap.
"Damn it!" Kyou felt frustrated with the whole situation. "Stop crying! I don't hate you, alright?!"
"You're just saying that," she replied and sniffled back the tears.
"I believe you love me; is that all you wanted to hear? I believe it!" Kyou really didn't know any other way to express any feelings other than anger.
"Really?" Kagura looked up at him with pleading eyes. "And you believe that it's real love and not just a crush?"
He grabbed her hand and stood up on the roof. "Yes, now come on already! Let's get this stupid thing over with."
Kagura's eyes lit up completely as she took Kyou's hand, just like when they were kids. 'This is great, completely great and amazing!' She thought right before she lost her balance on the uneven roof and tripped. Kyou caught her and she held him for a little longer than necessary.
"Isn't it nice, Kyou-kun? To be able to hold a girl and not transform?" She asked, blushing slightly.
Before Kyou had a chance to completely be outraged, a little snicker came from below. They looked down to find a giggling Momiji waving to them as he held on to Hatori's arm.
~
"Can we please come down now?" Haru was bored of trying to convince Yuki to come and resorted to begging pathetically.
"No."
"But I really think we should," Haru pleaded.
"No," the answer still stood.
"You know, I'm beginning to think you WANT me to go to drastic measures," Haru smiled.
"No, I just don't want to go downstairs," Yuki replied like a stubborn child.
"It's somehow easier to do this in B-mode," Haru sighed and swiftly pushed Yuki back onto the bed.
"What are you doing?" Yuki asked narrowed his eyes as Haru held his arms down on the bed.
"Same thing I do every year.." was the response.
"You know I can very easily push you off, right?"
"Of course.. but you're not; you never do. It's surprising that you seem so surprised even though it's such a.. tradition."
"I don't want to throw you off; you'll get hurt."
"Well, I'm not moving until you either hurt me or decide to go downstairs." Haru shifted his weight onto the other side and started twirling Yuki's hair with his free hand.
"Get off. Now." Yuki was getting rather angry.
"I know you're mad, but it's the only way this works," Haru said and cringed, knowing that he'll definitely get hurt for what he's about to do.
"I'm not kidding, Haru."
"Neither am I. The longer you refuse to go downstairs, the more time we have.." He pressed his lips onto Yuki's and was on the ground before he knew what hit him.
Yuki got up and started walking towards the door. "Don't ever kiss me like that again." His voice was cold and angry as he marched out of the room.
Haru sighed, got up and ran after him down the hall. What he wouldn't put up with for the good of love. Yuki didn't say anything else and Haru briefly felt bad for it. He'll get over it though, he always does.
As they descended the stairs, Momiji threw himself onto Yuki in his usual manner of greeting, and everyone let out a halfhearted, "Happy Birthday."
---------------------
A/N- Yes, Yuki probably wouldn't have screamed in the last chapter, but dramatic effect is dramatic effect. Call it a poetic license, if you must. As to what kind of scream it was, I'll leave that up to your imaginations, but I'm guessing that if he were ever to scream, it would be pretty girly as his voice is done by a woman. ^_^
Thanks!
"Surprise! Your wonderful older brother is here and.." Ayame paused in the doorway. His bright eyes showed a hint of confusion as he looked around at the room before him. Let's just say he was expecting a rather more.. cheerful reaction. In fact, the person who he came to see wasn't even there.
"Aya-san, you're just a little bit late." Shigure informed him through a noise-maker placed rather lazily in between his lips.
"I don't understand. Why is Sohma-kun unhappy?" Tohru was kneeling on the ground, completely confused as to why her good intentions could turn into something bad.
"It's not your fault!" Kyou practically barked at her, sick of hearing her blame herself for Yuki's stupid behavior.
"Hai, Tohru-kun. This happens every time we try to do something for his birthday." Kagura confirmed, gently patting Tohru's shoulder.
"Hm? Did I miss the traditional 'What the hell is this?!?' speech?" Ayame let himself into room, completely aware of what has happened.
"Do you think he's upset with me?" Tears welled up in Tohru's eyes. It seems like everyone neglected to tell her of Yuki's usual approach to any attempt made to celebrate his birthday.
"No, no not at all. Why would he be if he has Shigure to blame?" Kyou mumbled, half sarcastically.
"He did make an unusually big show of running up to his room and slamming the door this time," Shigure pointed out, choosing to ignore Kyou's comment.
"I guess it's about time that I go bring him back," Haru spoke for the first time, and got up out of his seat. He very casually made his way up to Yuki's bedroom.
"Ah," Ayame sighed, "this is all starting to get very typical. How is it that you manage to coax him back down here practically every year?" He directed his question to Haru, who was now almost out of the room.
"I have my ways. Truthfully, I prefer the rare years he doesn't come down," Haru replied mysteriously and disappeared out of the room. Everyone shared a common look of mixed confusion and suspicion before Ayame realized that he hadn't yet "properly" greeted Shigure.
"Gure-san~!" He sang and then proceeded to "properly" greet Shigure.
~
"Yuki, open the door," Haru said calmly as he stood outside of Yuki's locked bedroom.
"You aren't making me come out this year," came the muffled response from inside.
"I don't know why you bother locking this door. It's not like I can't just kick it down," Haru pointed out and positioned his foot at a kicking distance from the doorknob. Before he managed to get a good start; however, the door swung open and a rather ticked off Yuki glared at him.
"I forget that's how you got it open last year," he commented.
"Good then," Haru replied and let himself in. "Do we really have to go through the whole thing again this year?"
"I'm not going," Yuki replied decisively.
"And then I say, 'Fine by me. We can just stay up here in your room the whole day, together.' And then you say, 'Get out.' And then I say, 'Make me.' And then you actually try to make me and we always end up in a very suggestive position in the end."
"I don't care what you say, you're aren't making me come down," Yuki narrowed his eyes in frustration. Haru briefly wondered if he'd paid any attention to anything he said just now.
"Fine by me. We can just stay up here in.." He began, half mockingly.
"I heard you.." Yuki interrupted before he could finish the default speech.
"Alright, so we can talk and THEN you'll come downstairs."
Yuki rolled his eyes and sat down at the edge of his bed, ready for another pointlessly long lecture. "If that's the only way to get rid of you."
"I know better than anyone that you don't want to be part of this family," Haru sighed, looking somewhat hurt. "But we genuinely love you, rather you want to believe it or not."
~
"Why the hell am I even still here?" Kyou stood up in the middle of the silent room and stormed out very spontaneously. Four pairs of eyes followed him out.
"Kyou-kun!" Tohru called after him, disappointed that everything seems to be completely falling apart. She got up in hopes of retrieving him when Kagura pulled at her sleeve.
"Can I go?" Kagura kept her gaze at the door that her love just ran through and bit her lip nervously.
"Ano.. hai," Tohru said and smiled at her. Although, in the back of her mind she was a bit worried as to the condition Kyou would be in after. Kagura smiled and wasted no time running out after him.
Tohru thought of Yuki again and sat down on the ground. "Why was Sohma-kun so upset? A birthday is supposed to be the happiest day of the year. Everyone looks forward to them."
"Yuki-kun is just a bit... anti-social," Shigure reasoned, pasting a wide smile on his face.
"If you haven't noticed, he isn't very happy about being born into this family. He hasn't accepted the curse and doesn't want to. To him, celebrating his birthday is like celebrating the curse itself," Ayame explained and sighed dramatically.
"Then maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Tohru dropped her eyes to the ground again.
Ayame's smile faded as well. "He probably isn't too happy about seeing me either."
"Maa, everyone is so depressed," Shigure pointed out. "Aya-san, I'm happy about seeing you!"
Ayame's eyes lit up and he squealed, "Gure-san, what would I do without you?" This was followed by a dramatic little pose. Tohru sweatdropped, and then announced that she'll bring the food in just in case the boys decide to come down after all.
~
"Ayame's here, isn't he?" Yuki asked.
Haru sighed. "Yes, your brother is here and he's only here for you."
As if on cue, Ayame's voice came from downstairs, "Gure-san, what would I do without you?" Followed by incessant giggling.
"For me, was it?" Yuki said.
Haru rolled his eyes. "Bad example. What about Tohru then? She's worked so hard for this and now she thinks it's all her fault that you aren't happy."
That seemed to hit a soft spot in him, but it didn't quite work as planned. "I'll just apologize to her later and make sure she knows it's not because of her."
"Even Shigure put reasonable effort into it this year and he doesn't put reasonable effort into anything," Haru said and sat down next to Yuki.
"Don't care," was the reply.
"I know, but everyone else does."
"Why?"
"Remember that time when Kisa ran away because she was being picked on?" Yuki nodded. "Remember what we said to her?"
"That no matter what happens we'll always love her," Yuki said quietly.
"Because we're family, right?" Haru finished for him.
"It's different," Yuki replied, getting the point he was trying to make.
"That doesn't make it any less true!" Haru argued, half amused with Yuki's persistence over such a trivial thing.
~
"Kyou-kun?" Kagura barely managed to make it up the ladder and onto the roof where Kyou hid. She had nearly fallen four times, but she was determined that she'll do anything for love.
Kyou's eyes popped open as he desperately searched for an escape route. None was visible and Kagura quickly crawled up onto the roof and sat down next to him. "What do you want?" He asked harshly.
"I wanted to apologize to Kyou-kun," she said, keeping in mind not to close the distance between them.
"Well, I don't accept!" He retorted.
Kagura gasped at the harshness of his tone and looked down at her hands, which she folded neatly on her lap. "I know we're not kids anymore, but I get so excited when I see you that I just can't help myself."
Kyou didn't respond, but found her words interesting. He listened although he hoped she wouldn't realize it.
"It's just that I love you so much. More than anything in the world, more than you can ever know." She tried to hold her girlish tears back.
"Don't be ridicules," Kyou finally responded. He knew Kagura had always had a crush on him, but she was just a silly girl after all. "How can you say that you know what love is?"
"How can you say that I don't?!" She lifted her head and suddenly looked very determined. "You must think I'm so stupid just because you don't realize how true my feelings are."
"I don't think you're stupid. Just naive." Kyou never really was any good with words.
"All this time, every time that I said I loved you.. you never believed it." Kagura seemed to be in a sort of trance.
Kyou suddenly felt the incredible need to defend himself. "Well, how CAN I believe it if you're practically killing me whenever you say it!?!"
Tears welled up in Kagura's eyes. "You hate me," she whispered but kept her eyes on her lap.
"Damn it!" Kyou felt frustrated with the whole situation. "Stop crying! I don't hate you, alright?!"
"You're just saying that," she replied and sniffled back the tears.
"I believe you love me; is that all you wanted to hear? I believe it!" Kyou really didn't know any other way to express any feelings other than anger.
"Really?" Kagura looked up at him with pleading eyes. "And you believe that it's real love and not just a crush?"
He grabbed her hand and stood up on the roof. "Yes, now come on already! Let's get this stupid thing over with."
Kagura's eyes lit up completely as she took Kyou's hand, just like when they were kids. 'This is great, completely great and amazing!' She thought right before she lost her balance on the uneven roof and tripped. Kyou caught her and she held him for a little longer than necessary.
"Isn't it nice, Kyou-kun? To be able to hold a girl and not transform?" She asked, blushing slightly.
Before Kyou had a chance to completely be outraged, a little snicker came from below. They looked down to find a giggling Momiji waving to them as he held on to Hatori's arm.
~
"Can we please come down now?" Haru was bored of trying to convince Yuki to come and resorted to begging pathetically.
"No."
"But I really think we should," Haru pleaded.
"No," the answer still stood.
"You know, I'm beginning to think you WANT me to go to drastic measures," Haru smiled.
"No, I just don't want to go downstairs," Yuki replied like a stubborn child.
"It's somehow easier to do this in B-mode," Haru sighed and swiftly pushed Yuki back onto the bed.
"What are you doing?" Yuki asked narrowed his eyes as Haru held his arms down on the bed.
"Same thing I do every year.." was the response.
"You know I can very easily push you off, right?"
"Of course.. but you're not; you never do. It's surprising that you seem so surprised even though it's such a.. tradition."
"I don't want to throw you off; you'll get hurt."
"Well, I'm not moving until you either hurt me or decide to go downstairs." Haru shifted his weight onto the other side and started twirling Yuki's hair with his free hand.
"Get off. Now." Yuki was getting rather angry.
"I know you're mad, but it's the only way this works," Haru said and cringed, knowing that he'll definitely get hurt for what he's about to do.
"I'm not kidding, Haru."
"Neither am I. The longer you refuse to go downstairs, the more time we have.." He pressed his lips onto Yuki's and was on the ground before he knew what hit him.
Yuki got up and started walking towards the door. "Don't ever kiss me like that again." His voice was cold and angry as he marched out of the room.
Haru sighed, got up and ran after him down the hall. What he wouldn't put up with for the good of love. Yuki didn't say anything else and Haru briefly felt bad for it. He'll get over it though, he always does.
As they descended the stairs, Momiji threw himself onto Yuki in his usual manner of greeting, and everyone let out a halfhearted, "Happy Birthday."
---------------------
A/N- Yes, Yuki probably wouldn't have screamed in the last chapter, but dramatic effect is dramatic effect. Call it a poetic license, if you must. As to what kind of scream it was, I'll leave that up to your imaginations, but I'm guessing that if he were ever to scream, it would be pretty girly as his voice is done by a woman. ^_^
Thanks!