Kayane was tired of this bullshit, of his little brothers stupidity. Between him and the baby sitter he felt as though he was going insane. Bloody idiots. He raised a hand to his face, in the mirror, staring at his own reflection. Kayane had ate up everything that bloody idiot was saying, even if he had hid his interest behind a scowl. Idiot. Kayane tightened his fits and started down the hallway. Now that mom and dad were on a date and not yelling at him like they were earlier for something or a rather he could finally get his hands on Aki. The baka had got him in trouble, and was stupid enough to challenge him, it was about time he learned respect of some sort.
---
The day had been rough, the issue with Aki and his brother somewhat getting under her skin as she went to work, providing a distraction when she should have been more focused... but not only that, but Wylde and his brother were demanding more of her time. She rolled her shoulders as she looked out of her window in OU, her feet sore and aching from the four inch heels she had worn all day. Something kept her up... she wasn't sure what, but she knew it wouldn't be good.
---
Aki paced the floors of his bedroom, watching himself stride in the mirror. Weak. Weak. Weak. He'd been weak, and in front of such a strange...well, stranger. "Ash" Aidan had called him. Hah. Probably because of the stupid flame tie. Aki had taken his leave and gone to find Tempette, trying to enjoy the rest of his day, even when she was busy. He didn't want to bother her with his problems, but he needed someone. She was the only one he had. Sure, he had Mom and Dad, but he sure as hell wasn't gonna run to them saying "Help, help, Kayane's threatening me again!". That would be even weaker.
His ears pricked up as he heard footfalls outside his door. He paused, heart pounding. Tempette had snuck in again? He'd told her his parents were out...
---
The dark haired boy looked at his brothers door, vaguely wondering if he would feel bad after this, if he was making a mistake. Perhaps Aki would age and gain some kind of brain... but he doubted it. Kay shoved open his brothers door, looking around his room with a scowl. "Pathetic Aki really, pacing in front of your mirror like a fool." he shut the door, leaning against it with a smug look on his face. "puffing out your chest for the next time you see prissy princess?" He grinned, eyes narrowing dangerously, obviously pissed off about something... and quite possibly drunk or something. He just didn't -seem- right.
---
Aki froze, his muscles tensing up as the door swung open. No. Not Tempette... A shiver ran down his spine, freezing him like he'd just been hit with ice. Kayane... His ears flattened against his head, his eyes narrowing. "It's a free country. No collar, see? I can pace if I want to pace. Perhaps if I didn't have a dickhole brother like you I wouldn't need to." He sneered out, lips twisting in a snarl. "Get out, Kay. This is my room..." What the hell was he supposed to do now? He glanced at the window, pondering if he could get away, run to the Uni, to be safe. Surely Alice and Dhiren would keep his insane brother from knocking the s**t out of him. "You still sore about earlier, brother dear?" Oh, he was really stupid to have said that, but it just popped out.
---
His eyes flashed dangerously, as he spun and engaged the lock. That little p***k, how DARE, he. "You know little brother, you are all talk and no actual force behind your words, im going to teach you something brother, something your long over due." Kayane strode forward, His eyes narrowing, taking in Aki in all of his cockiness. His hands quickly grabbed his brother by the shirt, looking him up and down.
"Im going to give you one chance to tell me why I shouldn't kick your a** to next year."
---
She shook her head, taring her gaze from her window... but something screamed at her. Dead on her feet Tempette pulled a dark jacket over her silk and lace night dress -or lack there of- and took off barefoot down the hall. By the time she was outside, Tempette was running.. not sure why but knowing she had to get to the plaza. Something important called her.
---
Aki's hair stood up on the back of his neck at the lock. s**t. s**t. s**t. Trapped. Trapped with his brother, who went off half-cocked alot of the times. His ears flattened against his head but he stood tall, straight, rigid, refusing to back off. Not now. Not after being tormented by him earlier, in front of Ash and Itsuki. His lips sneered at his brother. "I don't have a reason." His voice shook the slightest. "But I know it's not because you -love- me. I don't think you're capable of loving anything." As his shirt was gripped, he did the boldest thing he could. He was gonna get beaten either way... He spat right in his face. "Bite me. I won't scream."
---
Kayane released one hand, wiping the mucus from his face, his eyes getting even darker in color. "You deserve every second of what I do to you." He cocked his fist hand hit as hard as he could at the space between Aki's nose and mouth. "oh but you will scream later little brohter, you will scream to mom and dad like the weakling you are." he let a small smirk come onto his face as he looked into the eyes of his triplet. So close to looking like him physically, but so weak. He shoved him hard, so that the back of his brothers knees would find the bed and collapse. It was wayyy past due he showed Aki what it meant to be the youngest, and the most outlandish.
----
Tempette trotted along, not really paying attention as the night owls took in her getup and gave out cat-calls. Her Blonde hair flew behind her coming out of her pony tail. When she saw the bookstore in the distance, and noted Aki's light still on, and two shapes in the room her feet flew faster. She needed to get to him, but the front door was locked. Temp ran to the other side of the building, looking up at Aki's window, hoping that just maybe she would reach him in time.
---
Aki knew it was coming, but his brother's hand was a blur. And then white-hot pain that ripped through him. He clenched his jaws as he felt his nose snap, resisting the urge to moan -- he'd never hear the end of THAT. He was sent stumbling backwards but trying desperately to save his fall. He caught his balance and righted himself just as Kay gave a shove. As intended, he fell back against the bed, legs folding out. He brought them to his stomach and kicked out, snarling and hissing at the same time. "I'll never submit to you, brother," he spat out. "Never. You can hit me twenty times, mess up my face, black my eyes but I refuse to scream! I REFUSE!" He bellowed the last words, kicking again.
---
The older boy caught Aki's ankle with one hand, holding his cheek where the first foot had connected. Bloody d**k. "What do you think your doing right now Aki, your screaming. The look in your eye, the tone of your voice. Your screaming." Kayane brought his hand to his brothers foot, catching his toes, other hand still on the ankle itself. "you know, I came here to teach you a lesson, but you have turned it into more. Like always. Normally I wouldn't waste this much time with you, but well... we need to bond." Kay twisted his brothers foot, only stopping when he heard a satisfying 'pop' sound. He dropped the limp foot, throwing himself on top of Aki so that he was straddling him and pinning his arms. "spit again and I will draw more blood then whats coming from your nose little brother. How will your princess like that?"
Tempette cried out in frustration, stripping off her robe because of the heat of the night... what was with this weather, cold during the day, warm... caressing at night? She stormed to the front door again, searching her body for anything that might be able to pick the lock... and trying to recall if there was a spare key anywhere..
---
Aki struggled, snapping his jaws shut with a clack of teeth. He was right. He had screamed, but it was out of anger... Not out of a frantic need to get free. Not yet... He wouldn't. He wouldn't! He stuggled and swung his fists wildly -- he was hardly a fighter. Hardly. He just seemed to have bad luck. He swiped claws against the older boy's face, or attempted to, when Kayane grabbed his foot. Pain screamed down his leg and Aki arched against it, keeping his lips sealed shut though his eyes watered. Black spots danced along his vision, threatening the edges of his consciousness. "******** you!" As his brother straddled him, he squirmed, pulling up both knees to try and dislodge him. Mom and Dad wouldn't be home for hours... "Why waste your time. We're bonded enough," he sneered back boldly, but his eyes showed his alarm, his fear. His foot throbbed, already swelling where the bone had cracked. Broken... Useless. Even if he got away, he couldn't run now. "What are you going to do, Kayane?" he whispered, his voice cold. He raised his hand to wipe at the blood trailing down his nose. "Are you going to -kill- me?" His heart raced like a rabbit.
----
"Kill you? I wouldn't waste my time." Kayane took one last punch at his brothers face before spitting in his face just as his brother had done. "Pathetic useless little brat". His chest oozed blood from three swipe marks over his heart. Kay looked down and smirked. "feeble attempts at bravo." He ran a hand over the blood, letting it trace on his palm, before smacking the bloody hand hard on his brothers neck. "One day your going to encounter someone even stronger then me, and guess what little brother... you will die." He tightened his grip, only satisfied when it felt like his brothers pulse was through his hand, pounding so hard that his fingers vibrated with it. "If you say anything to mother or father, I will make sure next time wont be as pleasant as this encounter." He released his hold, sliding off of Aki and getting off of the bed. "Pathetic loser, I cant wait till the day you realize I did you a favor." Kay un latched the door and swung it open without even looking back at his baby brother.
---
Aki felt a rush of anger -- he was both relieved that he wouldn't die, but angered that Kayane wouldn't even respect him enough to finish the job he'd started. Coward. The words wanted to come out, his mouth opened to call him that, but pain raced through him at the next punch, sending him silent. His head spun, dizzy. He didn't feel the sting of the slap from the last blow but he felt Kayane curl his cold, hateful fingers around his throat. Aki hissed out his breath, boldly meeting Kayane's gaze. He said nothing -- brains finally kicking in. If he wouldn't have said anything in the first place, he would've been fine, just fine. Damnit... He pulled his ears back as Kay strode off, laying there on the bed, pain ringing through every pore of his soul, his heart still hammering. How was he going to hide this from Dad? His face was already bruising, his teeth throbbed from the pounding they'd taken and his nose was broken definitely, his foot possibly. s**t... He lay there, unmoving, unthinking. "Go to hell..." he whispered to his brother, though it would've been inaudible to Kayane. "God damnit..." He was weak... Weak and broken...
----
Tempette screamed silently with frustration. Mother. ********. Door. She banged on it with each word that entered her mind, her heart racing. Her eyes narrowed, searching for some way in, she wandered over to the back of the building, noticing a old rusty ladder from a fire escape that no longer existed. Taking a deep breath she watched how far it went up, noting that it was still somewhat far from Aki's window. Temp sighed, closing her eyes and reaching up with a jump, fingers latching on the ladder and praying that she was light enough to manage this. She brought her leg up to the first bar, bare foot grasping onto the ladder as her arms pulled her up, two bars at a time. Maybe, maybe it was nothing... his baby sitter making sure he was in bed or something... but something told her otherwise. Temp came level with the window, trying her best to reach with one foot to the glass. She managed three taps before returning to the shaking ladder. She needed to get inside, who knew what had happened, but the sill wouldn't hold her unless she had the window open.
---
Aki heard the tapping. At first, he thought it was his head pounding, slamming him with agony with each tap. Then he actually listened. Only three taps came through his ears, the rest was in his head. Wearily, exhausted, he pushed himself up on his elbows and turned his foot. It was swollen and pain lanced up the limb. "s**t." He winced, then glanced up at his window. Damnit. He had to move. Struggling on one leg, he caught sight of himself in the mirror and a strangled laugh came up his throat. It continued into near hysterics, his shoulders shaking. His face was horrifying and somehow, it was funny? He unlocked the window and shoved it up with the last of his strength. "What else could you possibly do--" And he paused, meeting the gaze of Tempette, not Kayane's cold green eyes. His heart sunk. "Tempy..." His voice wavered and he stumbled back inside. He forgot and used his foot, then black edged around his vision again. He stumbled and dropped to the floor, deciding that it was more comfortable than standy. He looked up at Tempette with wide eyes. "Why are you here?"
----
Her eyes went wide as she looked into her lovers eyes, his face hardly recognizable. Her hand slipped, and she nearly went tumbling to her own demise, with the mere sight of him. Wh.. what the ********? She reached one leg out, not caring that she was doing the splits in well a night gown -lingerie- Temp managed to get her legs through the window, then shimmy her torso through. What... what had happened? She ran barefoot, not noticing the pain in her own feet as she stumbled and fell to her knees by him. "A... Aki?" She reached out with a hand, delicately brushing some of the blood from his face. "I do... something told me to come here tonight, feminine instinct I guess..." she gave a soft chuckle worry plain on her face. "lets get you onto the bed... and then your going to tell me everything that happened, from the beginning to the end... oh Aki, it was him wasn't it..." She hid her face behind her hair, looking down at his ankle and wincing. She had seen one of the dancers have something like that... she was screaming. Temp brushed her cold fingers lightly against the inflamed skin, her eyes darkening. Someone had to pay for this.
"Your ankle is dislocated, meaning the bone had come out of the joint.. someone has to push it back in or it wont set right. Tendons are more then likely torn, but they will heal if you rest it well enough." Her voice was clipped, cold, assessing the damage that she would have to do to Kayane later. She sounded very much like the daughter of the headmistress of the university in that moment. "And so help me god if you say something stupid like you fell Aki, im not only going to kick his a**, I'm not going to talk to you for a very very long time."
---
He watched her, feeling like a scolded child suddenly. He couldn't meet her gaze. He couldn't see the pain there, the pain at seeing him in pain. And he hurt... He did note that she was rather skimpily dressed and barefoot, too, and if he'd have been more in his right mind, he would've admired her. Instead, he leaned his head back, neck arched -- the blood-smeared slap evident. And he began to laugh, softly at first. His voice rose and cracked. "I'm just a lucky, lucky person tonight," he managed to rave. "Oh don't worry, Tempette. My mouth has gotten me into plenty of trouble already. I can't lie to you, anways..." Offering her a brave smile, he struggled to get to his feet, the ankle throbbing angrily. "H-Help me..." His voice was a whisper and it made him angry, fury rising to the surface again. He needed a girl's help... He truly was the weakest of his brothers...
----
"If you weren't in such a shitty condition I would slap you right now. So I'll save it for later." She glared at him, happy for a bit of frustration rather then the feelings that had burned deep within her. It took quite a lot to make her snap, but damnnnn this hit the mark just perfectly. No one, NO one touched her pet, her Kitty, but her. So when she grabbed his ankle she made a point of looking at his face, before tugging the foot the other direction from which Kayane had twisted it. She watched as the lump that was above the skin slid deeper into the socket and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Aki must be screaming in his head, but she couldn't risk letting him have the chance. Now was not the time to let everyone know she was here. She got behind him, putting both of her arms under his and pulled with her legs, hoping that she would be able to at least move him to the bed, so that from there she could get him on his feet.
"I see his hand print on your neck Aki, I know he touched you. That he dislocated your ankle, tried to choke you, and broke your nose. Is there any other damage? And don't be a smart a** about it."
---
Aki couldn't help himself -- as she quickly grabbed his ankle and twisted, he let out a half-strangled yelp, clapping both hands over his mouth and glancing towards the door cautiously. He helped her move himself to the bed, trying and shaking as he moved, finally collapsing on the mattress, slumping forwards. Perhaps he was in shock. Shock that his own brother could harm him without a single bad feeling... He had heard the shower turn on -- he was probably cleaning the blood from his hands. This should've made him angry, but instead he was just tired. "Yeah, yeah..." He muttered softly. "No damage. Just my nose and my leg." He reached down and touched his ankle, his fingers tingling a little. Definitely shock, some sort of it anyways. He rested with a sigh. "I guess we just don't get along, huh?" He tried to be lighthearted about it, laughing again. "Sorry." He shut his mouth. "No more smartass... Promise." Then he looked at her, serious. "Don't go bothering him. I'll...find a way to hide this."
---
Tempette's eyes narrowed, as she leaned down and laid a kiss on his forehead. "shut up. Im going to go get a rag and a ice pack for your face/ankle." She padded softly to the door, pulling back her hair to listen for a brief second before slipping out. Couldn't have Aki calling her back now could we? She heard the water turn off in the bathroom, a few doors down, and padded softly to the door, waiting for the douche that had hurt her lover to come out. She reached down her shirt, withdrawing a pocket knife about the size of her hand and unsheathing it.
Kayane opened the door, oblivious, happy to be clean and done with his brothers bullshit... when something cold and sharp snuck around his neck and pressed against his pulse.
"don't you dare scream" Tempette said softly, expecting him to look around, but was pleasantly surprised when he merely nodded. "take me to your room now, we need to talk. There's a good puppy. Walk."
---
Aki frowned at her. No... No. "Don't, Temp... Just let it go. It's my fault. My fault, okay?" He kept talking, but her kiss silenced him. He frowned and leaned back, watching her go with a dazed expression on his face. Kayane would hurt her, too... He just knew it... He whined softly, biting the inside of his cheek. "And then it'll be my fault...my fault..." He shook his head and watched the door shut behind her. He knew better than to yell for her, or at her. He had to hide this from his parents, anyways... He'd stay in his room for a few days, feigning sickness until the bruising was faint enough for him to cover it with makeup or something -- he knew Temp would lend it to him... He frowned again.
---
She watched him as he walked, not getting cocky, but knowing she had the upper hand. Yeah he had force, but she was quick, and fit in smaller places, and there was the big shiny thing in her hand. "face me now." Her eyes narrowed, though he was stupid, she was sure Kayane knew who she was, and what it would mean if he hurt her or even killed her. War, plain and simple, between their territories. She kept the knife between them, her eyes glowing in the moonlight. "if you ever, ever so much as harm a hair on my kitten's head again, I will make sure that." she gestured with her knife to the rather large bulge under his towel. "will never, ever, be able to go anywhere ever again. You will leave us be, or so help me god, I will tell my mother that you have... touched me."
"as if I would touch you." His eyes narrowed, but they were less self assured then usual. More afraid. Perhaps he had gone too far... perhaps Aki was truly hurt and this girl was going to seek vengeance either way... He reached a hand forward, quickly, as to grab her shoulder and shake some sense into her, but Temp was quicker. She managed to bury her knife into his shoulder, extract it and duck away. "********!" he let out a yelp and looked down at the blood welling up. "******** b***h!" He glared at her, but made no move to go any further.
"so Now I repeat, you will never, touch him, or anyone else I care about, because I have no fear of going to war, I have no doubt whom would win. Two territories against one ring a bell." Temp backed from the room, watching as he paled, and looked around, for something to cover the wound with. "this didn't happen, and you will not, say, anything anymore."
... though he hated it, some part of Kay respected her for her bluntness, and brute force to protect those she loved. Maybe not as prissy as he thought.
---
Aki stared up at the ceiling, making patterns in the cracks and crevices, his vision still a bit dotty. He hoped Tempette would stride back through that door and be fine, not a hair on her head harmed. He didn't even know why he cared -- he just did. And if Kay touched her... He growled low in his throat, possessiveness rising up and it surprised him. Why would he be possessive? She could handle herself... But if he did touch her... Aki was sure that he would slit his big brother's throat in the night. He could even see the blade sinking through flesh, red billowing out like a wave, and it brought a crooked, half-demented smile to his face. Finally after what seemed like forever, the door swung in.
---
Tempette had a bundle of things in her arms, a bright cheery face on as she nudged the door open with her foot. She sauntered over to Aki, her bare feet making no noise at all on the hardwood floor. She stopped in front of him, picking out a damp hot rag and wiping at the blood, as gently as she could. Temp straddled his waist, setting down everything but the rag she held in one hand. "I was thinking babe... at least until your wounds heal, come to the university with me in the morning, I'll tell your parents -when im more appropriately dressed- that you were selected for a scholarship and are taking art classes for two weeks.. or longer, if you so wish..." Temp finished moping up most of the blood, a sad smile on her face. "there, now you resemble my kitten, though... im going to have to set your nose." she winced at the thought, but also knew it had to be done unless he wanted it to be crooked for ever.
---
Aki watched her, thanking no one inparticular when she was unharmed. He couldn't see his beautiful Tempette with blackened eyes... The thought made his stomach hurt. He lay submissively, ears pulled back as she was gentle with him. It reminded him of Mom... Mom, who would be worried about him if she saw him. He felt heat rise to his face as she straddled him, but he listened intently to her words. A chance to get out of the same house Kayane lived in? A chance to be away... Kay would call him a coward for running... He reached up and touched his crooked nose and nodded, wincing himself. "Alright..." He took a deep breath. "I'd like to come with you, then... If Mom saw my face..." He stared across the room, at the mirror and winced again. "Yeah... Probably better that she didn't see... She'll be a bit suspicious that I didn't say goodbye, though..."
---
"Write her a note." She shrugged a bit nonchalantly, closing her eyes and taking his nose in her fingers, with a sharp tug she managed to make it not as crooked, and bandaged it the best she could. "Just be happy... you wont have to have it rebroken to fix it..." She bit her lip, concern filling her eyes again. "He could have killed you with this hit, what was he thinking?" softly she placed a hot/cold pack over his nose, and got the cold pack settled on his ankle. "and here I couldn't even cheer you up by wearing a skimpy nurse outfit..." Temp pouted, attempting to bring the mood back up, and looked at him from under her eyelashes. "how is ... your neck?" she asked softly, wiping the blood hand print from Aki's neck. So much blood... for such a petty reason. No she seriously doubted Kay would have the balls to do this again, hell or even tease Aki for leaving for a bit. She had made damn sure of that. b*****d needed to bandage that wound, and even if he complained, he should have been glad she didn't twist the knife.
---
A note. Of course... His fingers still worked. That he was thankful for. "Ow..." he complained softly as she pulled on his sore nose. He looked into her eyes, looking ashamed again. "It was my fault. Really..." At least that's what he believed -- maybe Kay was just insane... "I pissed him off..." His leg throbbed under the icepack, but it was soothed by the cold. "Aww... I'd love to see you in a skimpy nurse's outfit, too..." This time, his lips turned into a wry smile and he looked like the old, confident Aki again except for the docked ears. "Maybe next time?" He didn't dare ask her what she did to him. "Are you...staying tonight? Or are we leaving under the cover of darkness?"
---
Her eyes narrowed and darkened. "If there is a next time Aki darling, I will murder both you and your brother. Both of you are idiots." She flicked him in the third eye and actually pondered this. "Do you think you would be able to walk? I know I need a shower." She looked down, her once elegant silky nightie ripped and torn, her feet red and throbbing. Temp closed her eyes, rubbing her temples to get rid of her headache at least somewhat. "if not then we are leaving early morning... and im taking work off." Temp winced, shivering slightly, as though she was moving for some weird god and only now that it was all over did she feel cold.
"all I want to do is sleep." She mumbled, looking down at what was left to bandage him with. A ace bandage for the ankle, tea bags to help with the swelling... Temp gave a half smile, trying to remember where she had learned all this, but failing.
---
Aki pulled his ears back and ducked his head, nodding. Idiot... That stung, but it was the truth, really... If only he'd kept his mouth shut... If only he'd been born into a single-kitten-family... Oh well. "I can try to walk," he agreed, nodding. "It'll hurt, but oh well." He shrugged, as if he didn't care about himself. "We can leave. Let...Let me pack some stuff." He pulled away from her and began to hobble around his room, wincing every time he put alot of weight on his ankle. He gathered up a duffle bag of clothes and plopped it down on the bed. "Done." His tone was even and he was definitely back to being himself. He even offered her a confident smile as he stood there, hands on his hips, finally getting the chance to look her up and down and smiling.
---
While Aki was getting his things Tempette had curled up on his bed, and when he declared himself done she merely mumbled. "you letter for your mum." Temp reached over and dragged his bag to her, stuffing some of the medical supplies into the bag. Better safe then sorry. Before she knew it Temp was curled back up around the bag, her head resting on her arm with her eyes closed. Such a long day... and it only seemed to be getting longer. "you should get your hose key too... today the door was locked." She mumbled softly, just pointing out the obvious things that one so often forgot.
----
Aki paused, realizing he had forgotten. He found the key in a drawer on his dressed and tucked it into his pocket, then dug through old papers to find a pencil and a clean, mostly unwrinkled sheet. He scribbled down a note, his handwriting sketching as he bent over the desk. -Mom and Dad. I've received a scholarship at the Ongaku University and will be living there for the next few weeks while I take classes. Don't worry about me -- I'm with friends. ~Aki- Pulling his ears back, he reread it and put it under a paperweight shaped like a dog bone (don't ask). Then he stood and hobbled back over to the tired-looking Tempette. "You sure you don't wanna stay the night?" He looked at her curiously. It looked inviting to just curl up next to her and fall alseep to the pounding of his heartbeat in his nose.
---
"No, I don't feel safe here." Temp picked up his bag, slinging it across her chest and waiting for him at the door. "Kitten, I love you, but know i'm never going to let this happen again. She lightly reached forward and brushed a strand of his brilliant red hair form his face. "even if your strength is to endure, and to love... I won't let you be disrespect ed, violated, and treated like crap for it. No matter who is doing the hurting." She started down the stairs, making sure that Aki was close behind, so that he wouldn't fall or get more damaged, before unlocking the door an opening it to freedom.
{Fin}
Free Collars Kingdom Guild
