Chapter 14: Red Sky at Night

Kyo squirmed, snarling as an antique lamp tumbled down from atop a pile of old junk, landing with a thud on the top of his head.

“Ow!” He hissed through clenched teeth, projecting his anger onto the lamp and smashing the lamp shade on his knee.

It was not the most convenient hiding place, but the little shed had a plethora of felines roaming about the outside, and enough dust to choke any sniffing beasts that dare look for him. Besides, he couldn’t have gone much further with the condition of his legs being so low. Five stories. His mind was still reeling from the adrenaline coursing in every vein of his body. Each hair stood on end and his skin crawled at the possible messy splatter he should have been in that garden. It was pure instinct that he latched onto the ledge and landed on his feet.

The cat flipped his head backwards against an old oak desk, wondering to himself how he’d ever been able to run on the feet he couldn’t even walk on when he got out of his hospital bed. He’d run so fast, so hard.

A lesson Shishou once taught him surfaced to the front of his mind, making him smile.

“There was once a rabbit, small and white, that lived in the forest by himself in the bushes. One day, a hungry wolf, strongest wolf in the forest, spotted the weak little rabbit sitting out in the open eating its lunch. Which is stronger, the wolf or the rabbit?”

Kyo proudly answered, “The wolf is, Shishou!”

“That’s right! The wolf took chase, knowing he would have a meal of the rabbit in no time. He was strong and muscular and fast, whereas the rabbit was weak and slow. What do you think happened?”

The six year old paused and shrugged, “The wolf caught the rabbit?”

“No. The rabbit ran with all its worth and escaped.” Shishou smiled mysteriously.

Kyo’s lips pouted out, “Nu-huh. The wolf is way faster, Shishou! The rabbit couldn’t have escaped!”

“Ah, but you see…” Shishou leaned sideways and smiled, “The wolf was running for his lunch, the rabbit was running for his life. Which do you think you would try harder to get? Would you run faster if you were about to die, or if you just wanted a snack?”

Kyo nodded in understanding as if Shishou had just pointed that out to him. The mind and body combined in times of crisis to create a momentary burst of strength, even if the body had none. It was tiring and painful afterwards, but necessary for any animal to survive the world.

Unfortunately, Kyo pointed out the harsh reality that he may have exhausted what reserves he had left from that time of life and death escape. His body ached, his limbs felt detached, and his head was floating on a cloud of confusion.

“Meeooowww!” A pleading voice bated Kyo from outside the shed.

His hissed and tried to shoo the cats away, only to earn further interest from the felines outside.

He was miserable and annoyed, knowing they could give away his position soon if he didn’t do something. There was nothing he could do, though. Only to sit and rest and regain his strength.

“Ee!”

Kyo’s head snapped back in curiosity and surprise. He smirked lightly as a rat skittered beneath a pile of boxes. “I can’t believe you got past the killers out there.” he muttered, ignoring the fearful rodent.

Ktunk.

The door swung open with a threateningly quick woosh. A looming grey figure stepped forward, and no sooner had the door opened, did it close. Kyo gaped, trying to find words as he stared at Yuki’s knees. “What-what are you doing?” he murmured the first phrase that passed the front of his mind.

“I could ask you the same thing.” Yuki stared down at him, eyes wide with the mixture of excitement and revelry. “You fell a very long ways, Kyo.” he murmured, “You can’t be doing all that well.”

“Not with you leading them to me!” The red head spat quietly, “I can barely move... you’re not safe here. If they track me down, I can’t run.” he stared at his sore and twisted feet.

Yuki crouched down, knees nearly knocking Kyo’s chin space was so limited. He bowed his head over the red heads and whispered ever so softly. “Kyo... I’m going to fight with you. Will you let me?”

A dry scoff was his short reply. “Meh... why not. I don’t know what I’m gonna do with you though. You’re better off fighting alone.”

Yuki smiled lightly, having already predicted such an answer. He lowered his head just a bit more, lips pressing to the cat’s hairline ever so delicately. “Kyo... let’s get out of here.” The breathless plea sent shivers down both their spines. Gravity of the situation settled slightly, and they locked eyes. For a split second, there was a knowing between them. They both knew.

“Let’s go.” Kyo agreed.

o0O0o

“If you have money, there’s a motel I know about.” Kyo murmured, pulling a straight face through the pain of his entire body. There wasn’t a single part of him that wasn’t pained.

“We need to get you to another hospital.” Yuki disagreed, hefting his partner in crime up by slinging his arm around the boy’s waist and removing some of the weight.

Kyo didn’t fight the helping hand, but snarled, “They’ll be watching the hospitals.”

“Then we need to get you to someone that is willing to help you.” Yuki argued his point seriously. “You’re in no condition to go unattended.”

“Hm.” Was his only response, eyes down casting in a mix of exhaustion and deep thought.

o0O0o

“Why do you know about such a horrid little motel?” Yuki’s nose lifted in disapproval. It was a dingy, smelly little room, with rat poison all round that made Yuki squirm uncomfortably.

“... I come here to get away from the house sometimes.” he explained, letting the grey haired boy lower him to the bed. He flopped onto his side, body groaning simultaneously with the bed springs. “Have pain killers on you by any chance?”

“No, but I can go buy a bottle in the office. I saw some overnight things for sale.” He turned the heater up and flicked a lamp on beside the bed. “I’ll be right back.”

Kyo paid no attention as he left the room in a silent scuffle. The room seemed alive with the humming of the ugly old heater trying to boot up, and the lamp faded in and out with a buzzing noise.

o0O0o

“Sorry I was gone for so long!”

“Wuh?” Kyo’s head rotated curiously. “You just left.” he muttered, one hand running down his face.

“I’ve been gone for an hour.” The rat prince gave the cat a warm smirk, “Falling asleep in the heat of escape are we?”

“You try staying awake when you’ve been asleep for the past however many weeks.” he snarled, face burying into the bed. “All I want to do is sleep, rest... but I can’t.” he sighed, remembering suddenly Yuki had come with the promise of pain killers.

“I brought someone.” The boy hesitated, then stepped aside to reveal none other than Hatori Sohma.

That skin on the cat’s body bristled in fear and indignation. “It was a good hiding spot until you brought him here you stupid rat.” He hissed, sitting bolt up and glaring at the two who had stepped into the room.

“Kyo... he’ll give us time to escape... but you need a doctor.” Yuki insisted sternly. “Just let him do as much as he can for you, alright? Then we’ll leave.” he promised quickly.

An angry glare was set indecisively against Kyo’s brow. “Hn.”

“I’ll give you money for a rental, and enough for a few days meals.” Hatori whispered, setting a medical bag on the bed. “You should be very very dead, Kyo. Lay down please.”

Albeit the tiny flame of outrage in his chest, Kyo laid back on the bed, watching his older family member begin to examine his feet for any obvious broken bones.

“You’re lucky to be a cat, Kyo. That’s all I can say.”

o0O0o

“Kyo, I think it’s time to stop now.” Yuki murmured, shaking the cat awake.

“...How long have we been driving?” The blurry eyed boy noted that the moon was already a good few feet into the sky, and Yuki’s eyes had grown red and puffy.

“About eight hours. It’s two a.m.”

“You could have stopped a while ago.” Kyo murmured, rubbing his eyes to extinguish the blur in his vision.

“I could have... but why stop now that we’ve come so far?” he chuckled lightly, pulling into a promising looking motel.

o0O0o

“This is much nicer than the last one, don’t you think?” Yuki glided to the bathroom to inspect the facilities. He smiled happily, “No rat poison either.”

Kyo snorted and headed straight for the bed, staggering on his broken leg and flopping face first with a contented sigh. “Yuki...”

“Hn?” The pallid boy was already stripping of his outer clothes, down to his skivvies in which he would sleep at least somewhat comfortably. Kyo didn’t continue his question for a long while, so Yuki took the time to walk forward and slip beneath the covers of the bed.

Kyo was reflecting though. He was remembering his faux comatose state, wherein the rat had doted him so much, and so lovingly. The doting was still there, but the loving voice had faded. Kyo missed the sweet touches, the soft murmurs in the night, the kisses. Oh, the kisses! How he envied himself for the past few weeks, getting such attention. Now all he got was scolding and pain killers. He shifted, wincing and undoing the movement to avoid a pained rib. Yuki was nearly asleep already. It was almost three in the morning, so his exhaustion was understandable. The day had been ridiculous.

Yuki had fought Akito, making him the second to rebel against the family tradition. Kyo smiled fondly to the drowsy face before him. What a dysfunctional pair they made. He took a deep breath, extending his hand to run through Yuki’s uncombed hair. It was nice to be paired with someone though. Kyo had always be one against one hundred, never two against the world. It was nice to have an ally for once.

Yuki’s breathing had evened into a deep repetitive pace, every once in a while a light snore forced its way out. Kyo looked around the room suspiciously, checking all the corners and the crevices for any sign of life. After waiting a satisfactory few seconds, the red head scooted forward and snuggled closer to the thin boy. Finally at a nice distance, he leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss directly to Yuki’s parted lips. He retreated when Yuki began to inhale in his breathing, the boy being none the wiser of his stolen lips.

Kyo berated himself internally, but was content none the less. He got his kiss!