Chapter Text
Ch 26
Minoru snapped his suitcase shut. This was it. He was really doing it. Two years of hard work and studying, countless hours of listening to the drone of professors and tutors, and focusing on textbooks. And just as many hours of listening to Kyou recount his own day at the end of it all. He was going to miss that last one.
Minoru looked around the room one last time. There were just a few more things he wanted to pack.
He couldn't take all the framed pictures, but a couple wouldn't hurt. He wasn't going to be able to sees his lover for a least a year. Sure they could talk, but that's a poor substitute for being with someone in person. Especially when you were going to more then a train ride away from each other. He crossed to his dresser and considered the photos there:
Graduation - Kyou, Tohru, and Yuki stand proud with their diplomas in hand. It was taken last year in front of Kamijou Academy, but only Kyou is wearing that school's inform. The other two had stuck it out at Kaibara.
New Year's Eve - They danced to music that Minoru doesn't really hear. He is lost in Kyou's eyes and smile. It's midnight. The bells chime, signally the end of the old year and start of the new. Minoru whispers Happy Birthday and Kyou kisses him long and hard right there in front of everyone. Takeru takes the picture. In the morning they watch the sun rise. Minoru asks Kyou what he wished for, Kyou tells him he already got his wish. Minoru still doesn't know which part of the event Kyou was talking about. Kyou just smiles at him when asked and changes the subject.
Spring: The year Kyou came to live at the Kuramae estate - Kyou and Minoru are covered head to toe in mud. The rain is washing some of it away, but not that much. It is the first really good rain shower of the year and Kyou had been bouncing off the walls. It is also the first time the rain hasn't sapped all his strength and energy and he doesn't know what to do with it all on days like this. Minoru takes him out and shows him how to play in the rain.
Minoru decided on the rain picture from this set. He picked it up and held it close. They all had special meaning, but that one was very precious because it marked the first time Kyou really truly realized that he was free from the curse and the Sohma's outdated traditions. It was also the first time he told Minoru he loved him, out there in the rain, as they fell all over each other in the wet grass and mud. Minoru slipped the picture into his carry on.
It would be lonely, but Minoru would get by. He wished Kyou was able to see him off, but the boy had ducked out early in the morning, saying he couldn't go because he had work. Minoru was sure the Kazuma would have given his foster son the day off if asked. Kyou was just running away from what would probably be an emotional goodbye. He wasn't good with that kind of thing in public. Oh well, they had said their goodbyes last night.
And what a goodbye it was. Minoru shifted slightly and hoped the plane seats were well cushioned or it was going to be a very uncomfortable ride. But then, Kyou was probably going to be just as uncomfortable sitting. Minoru had given as good as he got.
"Minoru. It's time to go." His mother called to him from outside the door.
"Just a second. I'm on my way." He looked around one more time, taking it all in.
"Goodbye," he said to his old life and walked out the door.
X
"Thank you for letting me care for your son. I promise to return to him as soon as possible," Minoru said with a bow. Kazuma just smiled serenely.
"We'll see," the man said. Minoru was sweating bullets. He wasn't expecting so many of the Sohma family to come see him off. It also made Kyou's absence more striking. Even Yuki and Kagura-san were there. Minoru didn't have that many dealings with either of them, Kagura-san less so then Yuki, so he was really confused why she was there and balling her eyes out.
"Are you going to be okay Kuramae-san?" Tohru asked.
"Yeah, just wish Kyou had changed his mind and come to see me off."
"Oh, you know how Kyou-kun is. He hates goodbyes." Tohru smiled sweetly, but Minoru got the feeling there was something mischievous behind it. In the last two years he had gotten to know her well and found the thought of her being devious disturbing.
Before he could question her about that twinkle in her eye the plane began boarding. Minoru finished the last of his goodbyes, hugging his mother and sister.
"Minoru." His father patted his shoulder. "Do your best. And know that there is always a place for you in the company should you change you mind."
"Thanks, Father. I won't forget. You keep reminding me." He returned the shoulder pat, grateful that, at least this time, his father hadn't insinuated that Minoru would be unable to keep his half of their deal.
"Oh, and son. You'd better appreciate your going away present."
Minoru faltered at the ramp when heard this. What on Earth had his father meant by that. His mother must have snuck something in his luggage on the way here.
He took his seat on the plane and dared a peek out the window. It really wasn't that bad. He was definitely getting better with heights. His seat was on the side facing the terminal and he squinted, trying to make out his friends and family inside. The sun's light reflected off the windows and blocked everything from view except for a distorted mirror image of the plane.
He had hoped that Kyou would show up at the last second, but it would appear Minoru wasn't that lucky.
"This sucks. I would have liked to have seen him one more time."
"Ah man, I wanted the window seat," said a last minute passenger. Minoru froze, eyes wide.
"I almost didn't make it," said the familiar voice, "Stupid lady at the door was hassling me about my carry on."
Minoru looked over as the boy finished shoving his bag into the overhead compartment and stared, stupid eyed, at the person taking the seat next to him.
"Hey," Kyou said.
"What are you doing here?" Minoru looked around expecting the steward with security to show up. "Only passengers are allowed on the plane," he mock whispered.
"Good thing I'm a passenger then," Kyou said as he adjusted his seat. He looked over at Minoru finally and smiled.
"But, I thought, why?" Minoru was having trouble organizing his thoughts.
Kyou laughed and said, "Surprise! I'm going with you. Obviously. You didn't think you could escape from me just by going to another country, did you? I'm your responsibility now, remember."
"But the dorm is students only. Where are you going to live?"
"Your dad is going to fund an apartment for us just off campus. I'll find a job once we get there to help cover the cost of everything else. It shouldn't be too hard. I did take Italian with you, so it's not like I'll be completely unable to get around."
"So, this is why everyone was acting so strange today. And why you wouldn't say goodbye. But where'd you go this morning?"
"There were a few things at Shishou's I wanted to grab. You going to be okay? You look a little shell shocked."
"I'm fine," Minoru reached over and took Kyou's hand. "Never been better. This is the best going away gift I could have asked for." He leaned over and pressed a kiss to Kyou's cheek.
"So what was it that was so important that you almost missed the plane?" Minoru said.
"I had a gift for Tohru I needed to give her as a thank you present."
"For what?"
"For you. Didn't I ever tell you the whole reason I ended up in the park dressed like that?"
"No, I don't think you did."
"Well, let's just say it was all Tohru's fault."
The End
Continue for a special extra. It doesn't have anything to do with the main story, but wouldn't fit in the end notes.
Deleted Story: That's right, Story. This is the first chapter of the story I started to write for the crossdressing plot device, but didn't so I could write Adolescent Boys instead.
Since it doesn't get explained in this chapter, Kyou was suppose to reveal that he has two sets of vocal chords which he can switch between at will and that's how he was able to change his voice so convincingly. Cats have two sets of vocal chords. Studies don't know what the second set is for yet, people have a 'false' set that look like vocal chords but aren't really. I forget their real function, but they're there. That's all I have to say about this, so here you go:
The Untitled Story That Didn't Get Written.
The blow sent Yuki flying back across the room, his back impacting hard with the dojo wall. The room tilted and went fuzzy for a frightening second, then cleared in time for him to focus on his opponents slow approach. Something warm and wet dribbled down his chin; he wiped it away only to have his sleeve come away with a new red stain. He was breathing heavily, and his whole body was sore.
The person responsible came to a stop only a few feet away and stood waiting for him to get back up and continue the match. Yuki thought it unnerving that despite the blindfold, he could swear the other was staring down on him. He wasn't accustomed to this, rarely being on the receiving end of attacks. Every hit and kick felt like two tons of brick was smashing into him. This was wrong, so very wrong. It was never supposed to be this way. Had the laws of reality been suspended in this room? Had he unknowingly fallen into some sort of alternate existence?
Probably not. He thought back on how he had ended up this way. Bleeding and bruised on the floor of Kazuma's dojo, a blind folded Kyou standing over him, waiting, while Hatori, Shigure, and Kazuma himself watched on the sidelines. It was all Uotani and Hanajima's fault, of that he was sure. He stood shakily as memories of the bet, that horrible night, and Kazuma's ultimate disregard for Akito's orders following it, then, the months of silence that had all lead up to the here and now.
Yuki lurched forward, took a deep breath, and made a staggering run toward Kyou; Kyou moved with that frightening and strange fluidity he had been using since the start of the match. Abruptly after, Yuki was overcome by the blackness of lost consciousness.
'Yes', was his last thought, 'it's all that stupid bet's fault.'
X
"Well, lay them cards down ladies. Let's see what ya got." Uotani taunted the two boys sitting across from her and Hanajima. It was a bright and sunny day outside and the living room screens had been opened to let the light and soft breeze in. Two weeks into summer vacation and the two girls were over to visit with Tohru. Somehow Uo had managed to rope everyone into a game of cards. After an hour of playing, Kyou accusing Uo of cheating, which secretly, Yuki agreed with him, but he'd never say so outloud if for no other reason then it made him feel that much more superior to the Cat, Hana creeping everyone out by simply being herself, and Yuki winning four out of six hands, Tohru got up with the intention of making snacks.
This put them at a bit of a stand still when it came to the game, when she came back ten minutes later, Uo had devised a new strategy. A two on two match, and winners get to make the losers do whatever the winners wanted for one week. There was, of course, much debate about the teams. Only Tohru and Uo were willing to be paired with Hana, Hana had wanted either Yuki or Tohru, both the boys wanted Tohru with them, and only Tohru expressed interest in partnering with Kyou. None of the others wanted his bad luck with cards to be brought onto themselves. In the end Tohru decided to sit out and Hana and Uo agreed to play partners, leaving Yuki and Kyou, arch rivals, as one team.
It is worth noting that at this time the two teams were currently tied too win. It fell on this last hand. Kyou's cards had been surprising good all though the game and the hand he just laid down on the table was fairly decent. If Yuki's hand gets then seventeen more points, they would win. It is also worth noting that Yuki's hand only gives them twelve.
He stared, unbelievingly down at his cards, the traitors. They were going to lose and, for once, it wasn't the Cat's doing, it was his own. To make matters worse, they were all staring at him, waiting, expecting. He let his eyes drift nervously around the room, remembering Kyou's half grumbling complaint, half-resigned contemplation that, at least, with Yuki on his side, he'd actually win for once. Yuki wondered about the sudden feeling of regret that washed over him. He wasn't honestly feeling bad about letting his cousin down, was he? He decided that the feeling was meant to be for himself, after all, in about ten seconds he was going to be condemned to whatever torture the two girls across from him had planned.
"Well, come on Prince. We don't have all day." Uo leaned forward and grinned evilly. Kyou didn't bother waiting for him to put down the cards, instead he leaned over and had a look for himself. And promptly groaned loudly, letting his head fall forward to hit the table. Uo and Hana exchanged satisfied looks at his reaction and Yuki let the cards scatter on the table. Tohru patted him on the head in consolation. It didn't make him feel any better.
Tohru took down the count, tallied the score, then let everyone else recheck the end numbers. No matter who did the math, the two Sohma were screwed. Horrible images of himself and Kyou waiting on the two girls, hand and foot, for one whole week of vacation flitted though his mind. Maybe they'd just make him do their homework and instead make the Cat do all the troublesome work. Not that he condoned cheating on schoolwork, but it would be better then household chores and servant work.
The girls were leaning, huddled over, and whispering to each other in a hushed argument over the boys punishment. Yuki spied his cousin out of the corner of his eye, Kyou didn't seem too concerned, but neither did he look as if he was enjoying himself. More, defeated was the word Yuki was looking for, then anything else. The huddle broke apart and Uo smiled in a way that sent shivers up both their spines, Hana just had that creepy little grin on her face that she usually got when she was about to mess with someone's mind. Both Kyou and Yuki gulped nervously as the girls across from them began to chuckle insanely.
X
Two hours later, they all found themselves standing outside a reasonably modest clothing store in the shopping district. The name plate proclaiming 'Ayame' in flowery Hiragana. Yuki turned a withering glare toward his cousin.
"I can't believe you willingly suggested my brother's store. For that matter, I can't believe how well your handling this. One week of cross-dressing and you, of all people, didn't yell or scream, and, in fact, suggested that we go to Ayame for the clothes."
"We lost, now we have to face the consequences like men and carry out our punishment. If I wasn't prepared to do so, then I wouldn't have gone along with the bet in the first place," Kyou actually looked affronted at the accusation that he would put up a struggle. In reality, when Uo had told them what they would have to do for the whole of one week of their vacation, he had completely shut down for about two minutes, and began muttering in a shaky voice about all sorts of nonsense. All anyone had been able to make out was something along the lines of not being able to escape it and the name Kagura. Big surprise.
When he had finally snapped out of it, he'd gone quiet while everyone else tried to figure out where they would get the clothes needed for the week. They all agreed that buying one week's worth of clothes for both boys would be too much money and a waste since they wouldn't wear them afterwards. Hanajima had the nerve to suggest they ask Yuki's fan club to make the dresses, but the consensus was that those particular girls had no fashion sense and, either way both Yuki and Kyou wanted to avoid the school knowing about this as much as possible. Then, much to Yuki's horror, Kyou had said Ayame's name.
More to the point, he called Ayame to let him know the group was coming. Yuki hadn't even known the other boy knew the number. Now they were approaching their doom and Kyou still hadn't completely answered all his concerns. He stared pointedly at the other Sohma and waited for him to continue. Kyou picked up on the looked and smirked. It was the kind of smirk that implied he knew something Yuki didn't and that pissed him off like nothing else.
"If I have to suffer because of you, then you must suffer ten fold. Ayame will just love the opportunity to 'bond with his precious baby brother' and all I'll have to deal with is his slightly deranged girlfriend," Kyou followed up his answer with a demented little laugh.
"You've been waiting for this for a long time, haven't you?" Yuki asked, his eyes narrowing in disgust.
Kyou didn't respond, just continued into the store at Uo's shout for them to hurry up. Yuki followed him and was confronted with the most horrific sight ever. His brother, barreling toward him with arms wide open and Yuki's name falling from his lips. He sidestepped the assault and let Ayame crash into a display rack instead of allowing the overenthusiastic glomp. Ayame stood up and dusted himself off, straightened his collar, smoothed out his hair, and struck a dramatic pose.
"Little Brother, you don't know the extent of joy I felt when I received Kyonkichi's call," in the background Kyou grumbled at Ayame to not call him that, Ayame ignored him and continued talking, "It warms my heart to know that you would come to me in your time of utmost need," Yuki remarked that it wasn't really 'utmost' nor that much of a need, Ayame ignored this as well, "Come, come. I have picked the styles and colors that would best complement your tone and structure while I awaited your arrival. Those that I have judged as worthy of you are already in the fitting room. Mine-chan, be a dear and take care of Kyonkichi, will you,"
"Don't call me that," could be heard in the background.
"This way, dearest little brother of mine. You should have need of my services while changing, I'm sure."
"Just what did you pick out for me that I would need help getting into it?"
"Wait and see, wait and see," Ayame brushed off his concerns and grabbed up something that looked like a dead animal off the counter as they walked by. As they entered the dressing room, Yuki froze as he spotted what appeared to be some kind of medieval torture devise. Not really, it was just a special top worn under shirts and dresses to give off the appearance of breasts, but as far as Yuki was concerned it was torture none the less. Then he saw the reason Ayame said he'd need help, piles of lace and fabric in baby blue and powder pink were everywhere. Some of the dresses had what looked like built in corsets.
"After much painstaking deliberation, myself and Mine decided on the popular Lolita look for you."
In the next room over, Yuki could clearly hear Kyou's exclamation of 'Woman, what do you think your doing. Keep your hands to yourself. I can put it on by myself, I don't need your help!' followed by a moment of silence, then an ominous boom and a delighted squeal. Yuki glared balefully at Ayame, at the same time as a wave of self satisfaction at Kyou's predicament washed over him.
"You just want to turn us into your own, personal life-sized dress up dolls."
"To imply such a thing. Dear brother, you wound me to the core," Ayame threw an arm over his eyes for extra measure, but seemed to recover quickly enough a moment later when he realized Yuki wasn't taking the bait. He scooped up a dress and the fake bust and advanced. Thus, began the longest thirty minutes of Yuki's life. He was turned, twisted, pulled, pushed, stuffed and plucked. In the end, Ayame finally decided to let him go in a modest sun dress with minimal bows and a simple headdress. The ruffles on the collar hid evidence of a flat chest, as was their original purpose, so he got out of the fake bust. The dead animal from the counter turned out to be a wig that was, surprisingly, a perfect match for Yuki's naturally unnatural hair color.
Once the wig was secured with bobby pins that pulled at his scalp, his makeup was applied, and the ankle straps on his shoes fastened, he was released from the confines of the dressing room and Ayame's dubious attentions. Disgruntled and more then a little unnerved, Yuki looked at his reflection once more. Never before had he looked so effeminate, not even during the cultural festival. Yuki had always secretly agreed with Kyou when the other boy made note that the dress had been hideous. He had just ended up looking like a boy in a dress, certainly he hadn't looked cute. But now, well, he looked like a girl.
Taking a deep breath and trying to prepare himself for the ridicule he'd be receiving in a moment, he walked into the main section of the store, where Tohru and her friends waited. It started immediately when a low wolf whistle greeted him.
"Hey baby, you come here often? Seriously though, I hadn't expected him to look so cute. Definitely prettier then the last time you wore a dress." Uo's remarks were accompanied by clapping from Tohru.
"Yes, truly a beauty. Perhaps we should start calling him Princess Yuki from now on." Hana chimed in. Yuki felt his face turn red. He didn't like being called Prince as it was, if they insisted on calling him princess for the week he would lose it for sure. They were still talking, going on and on about how cute he looked. Ayame congratulating himself on a job well done and siting Yuki's naturally girlish looks as helpful. Yuki wanted to die, he needed something to distract them from him, but Kyou still hadn't come out yet. What was taking so long in there anyway?
From seemingly nowhere Ayame's arm snaked around his shoulders, drawing him back to the present and away from the other dressing room.
"I am almost distrustful of letting you out into the big bad world. As any concerned older brother would be for such a charming and lovely little sister. You'll have to beat the boys away with a stick," Ayame announced. Uotani and Hanajima froze for one brief instant in time to let their crude imaginations play and then burst into perverted fits of laughter. Tohru giggled, not because she understood the humor, but because the laughter was contagious at this level and she couldn't help herself. Yuki might have figured that much out normally, but right now he was being made fun of and taunted by an entire room full of people and couldn't take it anymore. His face burning red with humiliation and anger, he stormed out of the store and into the street without looking back.
"Sohma-kun, wait. Don't run away, they didn't mean to upset you!" Tohru tried to call out to him, but either he didn't hear or he didn't want to and he was too fast for her to catch. She sagged in worry and defeat, then turned back to the store.
"Don't worry about him. He's a big boy, or should I say girl, he'll be fine. You'll see, he'll be back in no time, then we can all go get something to eat. I'm starving." Uo reassured her. Tohru was about to reply, when the back curtain was flung away with a flourish and Mine stepped out. She smiled proudly and announced that she was finished. She gave a half bow and placed herself in the standard 'ta-da' pose and waited for Kyou to emerge. And waited and waited and waited. Finally, with a slight twitch in one eye, she reached behind the curtain and began to tug with all her might.
"Come out. You can't stay back there all week. I worked hard on making you look right, I want everyone to see what a good job I did. You look cute."
"No way and I can to stay here. Just watch me," was the curtain's reply.
Uo leaned over to Tohru's ear and whispered into it. Tohru's eyes went wide and she looked up at her, unsure.
"Go on. Just say it. It's the only way to get him out," Uo said.
"If you're sure, I guess I could give it a try," then turning back toward the dressing room, "Please come out, Kyou-kun. I'm sure you look fine and I would love to see the outfit Mine-san picked out."
The sound of struggling stopped briefly and Mine smiled as Kyou let her pull him out into the main room. Silence descended onto the world. Tohru's face turned pink with her blush, the mocking comment on Uo's lips died before it had fully formed in her mouth, and Hana had to look away as a strange feeling coursed through her veins. For once in his life, Ayame was not only quiet, but still and Mine smiled happily at everyone's stunned demeanor. Kyou looked out at the shocked faces of his family and friends and was slightly confused. He had expected ridicule. The suddenly still atmosphere unnerved him.
"What?" he asked.
X
Yuki made it all the way out of the shopping district and into a small park before it completely occurred to him that going off by himself while in drag may not have been the best idea he'd ever had. Too late now, his feet hurt too much from the shoes he was wearing to head straight back. Instead, he sat on a nearby bench and contented himself with brooding about his current predicament. He was just about to consider heading back, when a looming shadow blocked out the sunlight that had been shining on him. He looked up into the less then reassuring faces of three boys.
"Hey baby, you look down. Your man stand you up?" one started.
"Forget about him. He can't appreciate a hottie like you enough to show up on time, then he don't deserve you," the second chimed in.
"We'll be happy to make it up to you in his place. What's your name and I suppose you don't happen to have any friends looking for a good time, do you?" the third added before Yuki could manage to say anything. He was about to tell them off when he noticed something familiar about them. It took only a second for him to realize that they went to his school. Not only that but one of them was in his class. He must have blushed due to embarrassment at classmates seeing him like this, because the second one leaned forward and smiled at him.
"No need to be shy. A pretty thing like you must get a lot of attention."
Did they not know who he was or were they just mocking him? Should he say something or would that give him away? He didn't want them to think he did this sort of thing normally and if they found out, it would be all over the school before class started again. What would that do to his reputation, it wouldn't look good if the student council president was rumored to be a cross dresser. Panic was starting to edge it's way to the front of his mind and the three boys were waiting for his answer.
The boys were about to start in again when he was saved by an angel from heaven running up to them and calling out to him. Her voice was melodic like a wind chime and her smile was a ray of sunshine.
"Yuu! Yuu, were have you been? Every one has been waiting for you," she turned to the three boys as if she just now noticed them, "Please excuse us, but Yuu-chan and I must be heading back now. Thank you for keeping her company." She gave them a heartwarming smile that, had they been paying attention, they would have noticed didn't quite reach her eyes. Of course, at the moment they were too busy trying to see through all the lace and ruffles of her blouse and puffy skirt to notice her eyes. She turned to Yuki and let of look of disgust flash across her face briefly before grabbing his hand and pulling him up.
Yuki found himself being gently dragged away from his school mates and not really caring. He was about to thank this kind stranger for her timely intervention when they turned a corner back into the shopping district. He was taken aback slightly by a sudden change in the young girl's demeanor. Her step went for a light glide to a determined stomp and her grip on his hand was starting to become painfully tight. Was she mad at him for having to come to his aid.
"Um, miss. Thank you for your help, but you can let go now. I think we're...," he was cut off mid sentence when the girl turned on him with a flip of auburn hair, which now that he really looked at it, was more a light orange color. Gone was the gentle expression she had worn a moment ago, the ray of sunlight promptly blotted out by the dark clouds of anger.
"Just what were you thinking. You're suppose to be the smart and considerate one and you ran off without telling anyone where you were going. Tohru is worried sick about you and I had to deal with her friends and Ayame all on my own,"she shouted.
And gone was the sweet chime of the angels voice, replaced now with the masculine anger Yuki was used to hearing come out of his cousin's mouth. Yuki blinked a few times in confusion. The person before him sounded like Kyou, walked and talked like Kyou, but didn't look like Kyou. He looked Kyou up and down a couple of times and stared directly into his face, trying with all his might to find his boisterous cousin somewhere inside the young girl in front of him.
"What now? Don't you start with the silent treatment too." Kyou grumbled and leaned away from Yuki's scrutiny.
"Shh, don't talk. It ruins it when you speak. Really, it's quite amazing. Every one says I'm the girly one and yet, had you not spoken just now I would have never known," Yuki responded.
Whatever Kyou might of yelled at him, it was interrupted by a ringing coming for somewhere on the dolled up boy's person. Yuki watched as Kyou looked startled for a split second, then began rummaging through a small black bag that hung from one of his arms. Yuki stared, somewhat dumbfounded, when Kyou pulled out a cell phone and answered as though he was expecting the call.
"Since when do you have a cell phone?"
"Huh? Oh, um, since elementary school," Kyou said, then he turned his attention back to the phone, "what, no not you. Yeah, I found him. We're on are way back now, so tell her she can stop worrying. The station? Why? Fine, have it your way, I don't care anymore," he hung up with a disgruntled noise and a snapping shut of the cell phone that was more forceful then strictly necessary. Yuki heaved a deep sigh. He may have only heard part of the conversation, but it was enough to understand what was going on.
"Let me guess, Uotani wants to meet up at the train station as an excuse to make us walk around in public like this even longer?"
"It's your fault, if you hadn't run off we wouldn't be out here right now."
"Give it a rest. They were probably going to drag us out anyway, the only difference is their not here to mock us. At any rate, we'd better get used to this, we're stuck in these stupid outfits for the rest of the week," Yuki said as he straightened out the waist of his dress.
"Which is also your fault. You probably lost on purpose just so you could see me humiliated," Kyou huffed.
"Don't be ridiculous, if I wanted to see that all I have to do is wake up in the morning. You do a fabulous job of humiliating yourself all on your own."
"You trying to pick a fight, rat boy!" Kyou moved as though to attack, but instead his feet gave out from under him, the slight heal on the shoes he was wearing being designed for looks and not practicality. Around them the pedestrians stopped in their tracks and turned to the commotion.
"Oh my, is she alright?" a concerned housewife asked.
"Did she trip on something?" a salaryman on lunch wondered.
"Well it's little wonder, the clothes kids wear these days, just look at that dress and those shoes. It's a wonder her parents let her out like that," an elderly lady gossiped to a noodle stand vendor. Yuki listened with a sense of self satisfaction, then looked down at his cousin who had started to pick himself up. Kyou's face was bright red in embarrassment.
"I rest my case," Yuki told him.
"Shut up. It was these stupid shoes, I can barely walk in them," Kyou said, though he didn't look Yuki in the eye. He stood up and dusted himself off with as much dignity as he could muster under the current circumstances. Yuki just started walking ahead. It was going to be a long day and an even longer week.