Back to ze past

"Etsuko was here" Sadaharu said, disbelief apparent on his face. "And Taro's unconcious or something."

-----

Mori scowled. "Etsuko is a panther. not poisinous. i don't know!" He said, frustration clear. He had managed to throw off his initial shock and was back to staring anxiously at Taro. "He's okay at the moment right? maybe it'll just wear off."

Suddenly, something occured to Yuki. He took hold of Sadaharus arm and walked into the room. "Mori, get out."

"What?" Mori asked in suprise. "Why?" he demanded, not moving an inch.

"Mori, Just get out." Yuki barked, a tone entering his voice that he never used. He was comanding Mori leave.

Mori, with a scowl, left the room, casting a glance at Taro's prone form before he slammed the door behind him.

Amaterasu rose an eyebrow at Mori.

----

Yuki bent down beside Taro. "Sadaharu. Do you know whats poisoned him?"

"No, why would I-" he stopped suddenly and narrowed his eyes. "It couldn't be something like... the stuff at the market could it? I mean, with a strong dose of something like that..." He looked to yuki. "Is that what you meant?"

------

Mori just crossed his arms and paced the room, jaw set furiously. Yeah, he was worried. Definently. He stopped midstep and looked to the door. Etsuko. She'd be long gone... Why would she even come past? What did she want?! he continued to pace.

Yuki nodded. "I think so, and if Injected incorrectly..." he trailed off.

----

Amaterasu leant against the wall, watching Mori pace.

"Shit! What the hell are we meant to do then?" Sadaharu asked, looking down at Taro with fresh concern. His breaths, once steady were now coming in short gasps, sweat beading on his forehead.

------

Mori heard Sadaharu curse and growled, scuffing the floor with his foot.

Elizabeth ran her hand across Taros forhead. She bent down and murrmered into his ear.

Yuki shrugged. "We don't have the technology we did in the future. I don't fucking know!" he punched the wall angrily. "Dammit!"

---

"Mori?" Amaterasu asked.

Sadaharu ran a hand through his hair. "If he can last long enough..." He stopped and glanced down at Taro again. "We don't know how much" He said, fighting the panic tightening his chest. "If it wasn't that much..." It would kill a human. A human. then there's a chance that... "If he lasted through it, until it wears off..."

-------

"What?" Mori asked, turning to her. He hhad crossed his arms tightly over his chest, and his eyes were set in a glare.

"Maybe we couldtry sweating it out of him?" Yuki asked suddenly. "Like when someone has a fevor and you sweat it out of them. Maybe the drugs, the poison in his system will extthrough the sweat?"

----

"Nothing." Amaterasu said, trying to hide a smile as she looked away.

Mori scowled. "This is serious! If that idiot dies because of Etsuko-" He growled and resumed pacing, shaking his head.

----------

"That could work" Sadaharu agreed. 'He is fevered, right?" He looked down to Elizabeth. "Blankets. Can you get some more blankets?"

"Mori, are you blaming yourself?" Amaterasu suddenly asked.

---

Elizabeth nodded. "I have a few in my room and the children have a collection."

The old woman pshed her way from the room to collect them.

Making a noise of irritation, Mori shrugged. "I'm sure I don't need to remind you why she snapped in the first place" he said curtly, looking up when the old woman walked back into the main room. "How is he?"

--------

Sadaharu sighed. 'Okay, that's one option to try." He said and rolled his shoulders.

The old woman shoed at him. "Bad energy. Too much." She collected the blankets and went back in the room.

She placed them on Taros body, Elizabeth kept taros head in her lap however.

((FUCKING WASHING MACHINE WON'T LET ME OPEN THE DOOR!))

Sadaharu walked out of the room, deciding that now they'd naarrowed the cause down to one idea, that was all he could do for the moment. He sat down at the table in the main room.

((You having tea here?))

Amaterasu walked over and sat by Sadaharu. "You ok, Love?"

((Mmmhm. leaving now. I forced it open ))

Hikaru left a note for Yuni stateing that they would stay in the nearby forest
and continue to protect the village, but leave her in peace so as not to bring
more trouble down on her head. Also thanking her for her help and asking
her to call them if she needed anything at all.

she left the note with the young Miko who was careing for her and then went
to catch up with Kuroi and Momiji who were scoping out an new home in the
aforementioned forest

"Fine. Fine" Sadaharu said, shaking his head to clear from his daze and smiled. "Just a little worn out. Might go for a quick walk; stretch my legs a little." He said and stood up, glancing at his murderous father-figure. "Mori, don't break anything." Mori snorted.

Yuki appeared behind Mori, having left the room seconds before hand. "Don't worry." Yuki grinned, drapping his arm over Mori's shoulder and waving Sadaharu off. "I'll make sure Daddy stays nice, safe and wound free. That means no smashing glass Mori."

Mori growled and swatted Yuki away from him. "I'll smash what I want" He grumbled and slumped down at the table. "How's th- he going?" He asked, resting his cheek on his hand. Sadaharu walked out with a wave.
"I'll be back in a minute."

Once outside, he walked from the cabin to the edge of the village and grunted, leaning against a tree and pulling out the remaining two vials. He cast a glance to the cabin and grimaced as he opened them.

Yuki looked after Sadaharu, worried. "I hear a kiss from your one true love can break you out of any fever." He said seriously. "Excuse me."
The rat stood and left.

Mori scowled after them.

Sadaharu was sitting down at the base of the tree, empty vials by his side as he cradled his head, a small smile touching his lips. It really was pathetic, wasn't it? He gave a small sigh and closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the tree.
If he needed it, who was Yuki to say otherwise?

"Oh Sadaharu." Yuki sighed, dropping beside his friend and touching the vails. "What the hell... two at once..."

Sadaharu laughed slightly and looked up at Yuki. "You can't just leave me be can you?"

"If your trying to kill yourself, overdosing isn't the best way." Yuki said. "This needs to stop. This addiction."

The younger's eyes flashed. "You can't tell me what I have to do with my own life. I need this!" He snapped, standing up with one hand on the tree. "And I can't just stop."

"This isn't healthy." Yuki said, also standing up. "You don't need anything. Thats a damn lie and you know it. I'll help you get off it and if you continue." Yuki rested his hand next to Sadaharus on the tree. "I will do something to make you stop."

"How can you claim to know that?" He asked furiously. "You said you didn't care, that I could do what I wanted so long as I didn't hurt anyone. I haven't!" He snarled, using the tree for support. "Stay out of this."

"That means you to Dammit!" Yuki yelled. "Your my best mate. Don't you think it kills me to watch what you do to yourself every day?!"

"If I'm your best mate, shouldn't you respect my choises?" Sadaharu retorted angrily, shaking his hair out of his eyes. "It's my choice what the hell i do!"

"Do you even know what your saying?!" Yuki snapped, stepping away. "Stop this! Dammit Sad. I could just smack you!"

"Could you? That's sinking to a new level." He spat. "I never interrupt what you're doing, why can't you just back off?"

Yuki wrapped his arms around Sadaharus neck, pulling the younger boy into a hug. "You know I wont do that." he whispered. "No matter how much you ask."

Sadaharu trembled for a moment before he hugged Yuki back, breathing heavily as he fought off the tears that were welling in his eyes.

Yuki gave a small laugh. "Look at us." he whispered. "Two kick-ass demons falling apart."

"Shut up" Sadaharu said miserably, managing a smile.

Yuki held onto his friend tighter, but rose his head. "Please. Can't you put some of that pride away and let me help you?"

Sadahar made as if to push Yuki away, but seemed to decide against it, letting his arms drop to his sides. "I can't" He said iwth a humorless laugh. "I can't stop."

Yuki held onto Sadaharus face, forcing the boy to look at him. "Let me help you stop. You can do this. I know you can."

"How do you know that?" Sadaharu asked, trying to turn away from him. "You're my best mate, but you can't just..."

"I lived it Sad." Yuki said, his eyes unmoving from the other boys face. "I thought like you do now and look at me dammit." Yuki said, giving the same humorless laugh. "I beat it."

"It's not that bad." He said quietly. "And it helps. I..." He shook his head.

"You don't need to change." Yuki snapped. "Luke is a damn Lair and I should know! I ran around with him since before you were born! This drug is not helping you. It wont ever help you."

Sadaharu just shook his head, closing his eyes tightly. "It does, it will." He let his hair fall in front of his face and backed up.

"Look at me Sad." Yuki said lowly, pinning Sadaharu up against the tree.

Sadaharu tilted his head and looked up at Yuki. "What?"

"You and I. We'll get you off this stuff." Yuki told him. "Trust me Sad. I'm ya best mate, give me this one thing."

Sadaharu dropped his eyes to the floor and rose a hand to hold his face. "I don't think I could. I'm not like you."

"No. Your not." Yuki whispered. "But you have me here."

"I just... I don't, i can't do it! I couldn't do it!" He said, angrily brushing a hand over his eyes.

Yuki Slammed his fist into the tree beside his friends head, and took hold of the hand Sadaharu used to brush over his eyes. "Stop saying that!"

"What else am i meant to say?" He asked, looking at yuki once more.

Yuki sighed and looked away from Sadaharu. After a few moments he touched the boys cheek gently. "Listen to me Sad. I went trough hell and back and still I managed to get off my demons."

Sadaharu grimaced. "Fine. Fine."

Yuki's hand slid to behind Sadaharus head and he touched their forheads together. "Thank you." he whispered, eyes closed.

"I only agreed to try" He murmured.

"Thats all I could ask for." He said just as softly before conecting their lips together.

Sadaharu's eyes widened in suprise. After a moment, his hands rose from his side and wrapped hesitantly around Yuki. Then he kissed him back, eyes slipping closed.

Yuki's arms slipped around the boys waist as he pulled him closer. A small moan escaped his mouth before the rats eyes snapped open. He moved away fast. "Oh fuck Sad. I'm so sorry."

Sadaharu reached out and took hold of Yuki's shirt, stopping him from moving away. "Wait. W-why did you do that?" He looked to him.

"I," Yuki took a deep breath. "What am I supposed to say? I wanted to? I like you? I don't know dammit." He sighed and looked away. "I swore I wouldn't and then... Fuck, I took advantage of your situation."

Sadaharu rose his other hand and took hold of Yuki's shoulder. He pulled him closer again. "Even so..." His voice shook slightly as the contents of the vials started to kick in and he tightened his hold on Yuki's shirt. Then he gently touched his lips to Yuki's.

Yuki didn't know how to react as he slowly kissed him back. This was against everything he ever stood for. He was taking advantage of his best mate in his weakest moment, and not only his best mate but his sisters lover! But still... He couldn't pull away and not only he couldn't but he didn't want to.
He was enjoying this kiss and he was enjoying the feeling of Sadaharus lips.
He was the worst person in the world.

The kiss was broken when Sadaharu sagged against Yuki, squeezing his eyes shut as the world spun. "Should have listened" He joked, unable to make sense of what had just happened.

Yuki gave a laugh and lifted Sadaharu bridal style. "You think? Come on Sadi, Lets get you back. We'll say a infected Rat bit you causing you to be in this state yeah?"

"Infected rat" He repeated dazedly, still holding onto Yuki. "Sure." He wasn't thinking straight. That was all.
Right?
What about Amaterasu? What had he done?
The thought didn't manage to trouble him for much longer and his head dropped against Yuki's chest, eyes slipping shut and his hold on Yuki loosening. "Sorry" He whispered.

"No Sad." Yuki said, just as softly. "I'm sorry." The rat held tighter to his friend and walked back to the hut. His story of an infected rat turning into the story of how the rat scared the cat, causing him to faint.
It was more believable.

"He's really out of it" Mori said, looking up at Yuki from his spot on the floor beside Sadaharu. He'd been lain out on the remaining blanket that hadn't been given up for Taro. "A rat, you said?" He questioned in amusement.

"Yes." Yuki smiled, sitting in a close by chair. "A rather large non human freaky dirty rat." He held his hands together and pressed them to his mouth.
Amaterasu rose an eyebrow and pressed a hand to Sadaharus forhead. "He's a bit feverish..."

"If it was just a rat, I'm sure he'll be fine. Right, Yuki?" He asked, sitting back and sighing. "He's a hanyou. He can get sick." He shrugged.

Yuki grinned. "He'll be just peachy." He looked away, hands remaining to his mouth.

---

Taro took a sharp breath and turned his head, frowning slightly.

Elizabeth moved over to the fools side quickly. "Taro, thank the lord your alive. I was so very worried."

He opened his eyes, blinking and trying to focus on Elizabeth. "Too many blankets" He said with a small smile. Then he remembered what had happened just beforehand and tried to sit up. "The necklace. She took it!"

"What necklace?" Elizabeth asked. "Taro, what did that woman do?"

"Mori, Yuki, or Ama. One of them. I need to-" His head dropped back down and he sighed in frustration. "They'd know.

"I'll get you Mori." Elizabeth said, standing up. "Just don't move too much."

Taro nodded and worked on focusing his eyes on the roof. That didn't work; so he closed them again.

----------

Elizabeth stepped out into the main room, a light blanket drapped over her delecate shoulders. "Mori. He's awake."

Mori stood up quickly. "He's alright?" He asked gruffly, trying to cover up fpr his speed. Failure.

Yuki gave a small laugh. "Bit worried there Mori-po." The rat gave a smirk.
"He wants to speak with you." Elizabeth said, A small smile covering her fair features at Yuki's comment.

Mori scowled darkly at them both and stalked into Taro's room.
"Hey. You still... awake?" He asked the bundle of blankets.
"I'm awake." Taro said softly, opening his eyes again. Mori walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"You look awful" Mori said with a grin.
"Ah. How observant of you." Taro said wryly, glaring up at him. His blonde hair was drenched with sweat, his skin pale and the gaps between his speech betraying how weak he still was. His dulled eyes flashed suddenly. "The necklace. She took the necklace."
"Sorry?"
"Necklace! The one I had. She... took it." Mori sighed.
"What necklace?! I think you need to get some-"
"I've slept enough" He snapped.

"He had this necklace." Elizabeth said. "Beautiful gold chain and a blood red ruby placed in the centre."

Mori paused. "Oh. Oh really?" He asked, looking slightly worried. "Where did you get that?" He asked, turning back to Taro.
"That's not the problem." He stopped to take a breath. "You know what it is. She has it."
"We can deal with that later." Mori said, shaking his head. "Don't worry." Taro sighed and sank back.
"Elizabeth. Why the blankets. I know you know I don't like the... cold but this is ridiculous"

Elizabeth gave a small smile and started to remove the blankets. "We were ridding you of your fever."

"Maybe you should leave some of them there... He's ranting about necklaces." Mori said, one eyebrow high. Taro made a face.

Elizabeth gave Mori a soft look. "I'll leave you two alone. I have to see a man about a shirt anyway. Play nice alright?" She gave taro a smile and kissed his forhead before leaving.

------

Shade sat on the far end of the table in his hut, arms crossed as he glared at the mass of stitching in front of him. It was a shirt. It had the shape of a shirt. Sure, it was a little wonky. That could be dealt with. it would be wearable. No problem. Right? He scoffed.

----

Yuki looked down when he felt a small tug on his pants. "Ahh, Hi?"
Evelyn smiled up at him. "Your pretty. When I grow up, I'm going to marry you." And with that, the blushing three year old ran off.
"Elizabeth!" Yuki called to the newly appeared Princess. "Your daughters weirding me out."
Elizabeth smiled and looked to Amaterasu. "Look after the twins for me?" The other girl nodded and Elizabeth walked out. She walked down through the roads to a small hut.
She knocked on the door.

----

"Come in." Shade said wearily, still shaking his head at his attempt of sewing. "Door's open."

Elizabeth walked inside. "Good evening Shade,"

"Evening. How's all been in the past few days?" He asked, smiling slightly. "Oh. I finished the shirt." He made an odd guesture to the end of the table.

Elizabeth walked over to his side of the table, her hand running over the make-shift shirt. "The stitches are all wrong, you didn't follow the pattern. You'll have to start again."
She smiled softly up at him. "But, a good attempt."

Shade sighed and folded his hands. "So." He rose a hand to his head. "Am I allowed to apologise yet? Or is he sick again?" He glanced over to her.

"Depends." Elizabeth said.

Shade ran a hand through his hair. "On what?"

"On this." The princess smiled softly, leaning down and kissing him lightly.

Shade rose his hands and was about to pul her closer when he moved away from her suddenly. "Elizabeth..."

"What?" She asked, her eyes darting over his face. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry. I am, but you shouldn't." He stood up and ran a hand over the stubble on his cheeks, eyes boring into the wall.

"Shouldn't what?" Elizabeth asked, trying to catch his eyes. "What should I do?"

"You shouldn't be so damn forgiving" He said and shook his head. "You're meant to still hate me; throw this abomination at me," He pointed to the sirt. "Something like that."