Lifted

Yuki sat in front Akito waiting for him to say something. He didn’t so much as sleep a wink the entire night. The man sat with is back to the rat holding the bird, seemingly oblivious to the teen sitting behind him.

“Why have you not come to see me?” Akito spoke finally.

“I’ve been busy.” Yuki said quietly.

“With school?” Akito inquired

“Yes” Answered the rat.

“I hear from Hatori that you are the new student counsel president. Congratulations, Yuki.” Akito stood and walked over to the teen. He sat down and brought his thin fingers the Yuki’s collar, smoothing over the fabric.

“You still should find time to visit me. I haven’t seen you since Miss Honda came to visit me. That was such a long time ago.”

Yuki swallowed before replying, “I’m sorry.” Akito lifted his hand from the rat’s collar and drew it across his face in a quick motion.

“You’re sorry? Is that the best you can come up with? No more pitiful excuses?” Akito stood and towered over the rat who was now trying very hard not to curl into a ball. “It’s obvious to me now. I’ve been entirely too lenient. You will remain here until you realize just where your loyalties are supposed to lay.”

“But you promised…” Yuki tried to ague. He was stopped by a kick square in his chest. The rat lay on the floor trying to get his lungs to breath again.

“You will obey me. You know you can’t go against what I say. It’s not possible.” Akito gripped Yuki by the neck, “I wonder what would happen if the new student counsel president where to show up with bruises.” Yuki’s eyes widened in fear as he thought about that. Akito sneered.

“Go get breakfast Yuki. I’ll be sending someone around for your things from Shigure’s house.” The said just releasing the teen with a shove. Yuki’s head hit the floor with a thud. He quickly sat and bowed to his tormentor and left the room.

“May I have permission to visit a friend next Sunday?” The rat asked before leaving.

“Sure, I wouldn’t want to keep you from your budding social life. Give Onwa my regards when you visit, would you.”

“How did you know?” Yuki sat back down. Apparently, their conversation wasn’t finished.

“I gave permission for Hatori to treat the Wutase cursed. He gave Houseki a check up and she kept talking about ‘big brother Yuki’, or so Hatori reported to me.”

“I see.” Yuki said softly. With another bow, he left the room. ‘This is more complicated then I thought.’ Yuki turned over the new information in his head. ‘Ayame, Shigure, Hatori and Akito all know about the Wutase’s.’ Yuki decided to put it a call to Onwa after he ate. He went back to his own small house and asked the cook for a light breakfast. Some one knocked as he sat waiting for the food. He found Haru standing at his door.

“So you are here.” The ox said a little out of breath.

“How did you find out?” Yuki knitted his brow.

“I called Shigure’s. You know, Tohru’s worried about you. Apparently she was crying after you left.” Haru sat down to take his boots off after Yuki had let him in. The rat asked if he was hungry since it was kind of early in the morning. The two teens sat at the table and waited for the rice and salmon. They discussed how summer was going and their plans for the new school year. The cook came out of the kitchen and told them that the food would be ready in a few more minutes. When Yuki turned his head to the side, Haru noticed the slight sheen of a bruise on his check.

“Hey, come here.” Haru moved closer. And lightly hooked her finger under the rat’s chin.

“What?” Yuki tried to pull away. It was then that the ox noticed the small, long bruises on the rat’s neck.

“What happened?” Haru was instantly mad.

“It’s nothing.” Yuki pulled his collar up to his throst.

“Akito.” Never had one word held such anger. Yuki only nodded.

“He says I have to live here now.” The rat explained.

“So your moving back?” the ox clarified. He didn’t know why but this news made him both happy and sad. Yuki nodded deftly. The food was finally brought to them and the two teen just ate in silence.

“Have you ever heard the name Wutase?” Yuki asked suddenly. Now that breakfast was out of the way, he had a phone call to make.

“No, why?” Haru asked.

“They have the Zodiac curse too.”

“You’re kidding.” Haru’s jaw dropped.

“I’m not. I have to make a phone call to one of them now actually. If you excuse me.”

“Yeah, no problem.” Haru watched him disappear down the hall.

“Onwa, Hello, it’s Yuki. I was wondering if I could come for another visit.”

“Of course, You know you’re always welcome and Houseki misses you.” The older rat said. “You could come up today if you’d like.”

“Thank you. Could I bring my cousin too. I have a feeling he’s curious bout your family.”

“Is he zodiac?” Onwa asked.

“Yes.”

“It’s fine with me. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“Yes, see you later.” They hung up.

“Haru, I’m going for a visit. Would you like to come too?”

“Yeah, I’d like to meet them.”

“Get ready to go. The next train leaves in thirty minutes.”

“Okay.” Haru rushed over and put on his shoes. “Ready.”

Yuki smiled a little and slid on his shoes, “Okay then, let’s just go.”

The two teens walked to the train and boarded the next one to Wutase manor. Haru was very curious about this whole thing. Why did Yuki know how to get there? How long had he known about this? Oh well, at least they had the train ride to talk about it.