Nine Lives

Day 7/9

Warning:

The following chapter contains intense themes. Reader discretion is advised.

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Alright, so he couldn't hold her or hug her. Big deal. There was still plenty they could do. "... Yeah that sounds a bit creepy, Kyo." he blushed to himself as he shuffled around his filthy run down "home". He never really referred to it as a home; more of a place to crash for the night. His last real home was with his master that had passed.

He had always felt betrayed about that- by whom, he didn't know- but he felt he had so little to begin with, and then another thing was taken from him. It felt like the world was just out to get him, and anything good he had was destined to be taken away.

"Will that happen to Tohru too?" he thought. He wanted to say he doubted he could fuck everything up for her in the few days he had left with her, but he was bad luck, and he didn't want to take that chance. He logically thought he should stay away from her to be safe, but he selfishly wanted to be near her as well.

He groaned loudly because he could and plopped down at the window. He had a rather nice view of the Sohma estate, which fueled his rage before, but now it seemed like a symbol of hope almost; a hope that someone cared about him, and that he could find peace once he turned into a cat.

"As long as I'm with her..." he thought, then shook off the thought. "What, so I'm just okay with essentially dying now?" he hissed at himself aloud. "Not like there's a whole lot I can do. My time's running out- there's no point anyway." he thought nihilistically.

"Please don't say that." her voice rang in his mind sympathetically.

Kyo sighed. "Right, right." Maybe he could go teach her a few sword fighting techniques today and fulfill his offer a few days ago. He decided that's what he would do, so the ginger grabbed his sword, donned his cloak, and headed out the door.

He had to be far more careful than he used to, now that Akitos' upgraded curse was in effect. And it was really starting to get annoying. "It's bad enough I can't hold Tohru, but I've gotta watch out for stupid maids getting groceries in town?" he thought bitterly. As if things weren't already difficult enough for him.

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"So he's coming again today, right?" Uo-chan asked as Tohru graciously offered to help her friend brush the horses. The brunette smiled and nodded excitedly. "I don't know if he has anything planned today, but regardless, I am excited." "I can tell" the blonde rogue snickered. "What's that supposed to mean?" Tohru shot back, leering at her friend accusingly. "I'm just sayin'." she held her hands up with dismissive surrender.

After a moment, Tohru sighed, and got back to brushing her horse. Never in her wildest dreams as a child could she believe that this would be her life; that she had a nice place to live, friends who cared, and even a boy who... Her cheeks turned pink as she did her best to hide a growing smile. "Anyways, when do I get to meet this guy?" Arisa asked. "Well..." she trailed off. "I'm hoping he'll accept my invitation to the ball, since you and Hana-chan are coming. But..."

"It's on the last day of his curse."

It felt almost wrong to invite him to a party on the last day of his human life. What if he took it the wrong way? Then a thought occurred to her: would he even want her around when he transformed? Would he want to be alone, or would he allow her to be there for him when it happens? Her heart plunged in her chest at the reminder that she couldn't break the curse.

Arisa began to give a horse a treat, and was about to ask Tohru to continue when they heard something. "Psst!... Tohru?" Her heart lifted at her name and she jogged out of the stable in her "working dress". The door wasn't far, so when she glanced around, she saw Kyo himself, crouched by the entrance. "Hello!" she chirped.