Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Gentle Persuasion ❯ Just a little bit against the world ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: We don’t own it, we don’t claim it.
A/N: This has been co-written with BizarreLoveTriangle.

Gentle Persuasion
Chapter One
Just a little against the world


It was the dead middle of the afternoon--not even four o'clock yet--and he was already out cold, asleep. He'd been sleeping so much lately...it really couldn't be healthy, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't help it any more than he could help the almost mandatory headaches that had been coming so often lately.

It was like some massive force, pressing in on him. Something he needed to resist. But trying to do so was exhausting. His body was so heavy, his muscles tight and achy. But, nothing hurt more than his head. A constant, near blinding, throbbing. Like a permanent migraine. He KNEW that wasn't healthy, but, at the moment, he didn't really care. He'd ask Hatori about it, whenever he woke up...

Going to Hatori wouldn't do him too much good though. The doctor just came up with fatigue and listed off a list of things that might help. Eating better, sleeping more etc....

"I've been sleeping almost constantly." Haru frowned a little at him. He was being rather useless. "How can I still be tired?"

"Quality over quantity." The dragon murmured. "Your sleeping habits may not be sound, or even where it is you sleep."

Haru still didn't seem convinced, but just sighed and nodded. Hatori wasn't going to be any more help, he knew that. There wasn't much point in bothering him, if he wasn't going to get any answers.

Hatori watched after him in concern. He'd keep an eye on his cousin, and if he didn't get better soon he'd have to take a more in depth look at him, and maybe prescribe some various drug to him.

Haru just yawned, and rubbed his temples unhappily. Maybe he'd just go back to sleep, and hope his headache went away...Or, at least that he eyeballs didn't pop out and go rolling across the room...That would be helpful.

School... he'd probably need to go there too. And there, his fatigue went fairly unnoticed. Momiji and his teachers... were really the only ones. Momiji offered him candy and his teacher just scolded him for not taking care of himself though.

Haru took both the candy, and the scolding in stride, though. And, it continued like this for some time. Until, one day, he didn't go to school. That within itself wasn't the biggest deal, it was where he was that was troublesome. That happened to be in bed, with his eyes closed tightly, head under his pillow. This was for one pure-hearted attempt alone: to block the sunlight from irritating his already more than throbbing headache. It felt like it could split open--like HE could split open. Like the universe itself had just done a one eighty, and it was all he could do to stay on his feet, and not be sucked into the black abyss of oblivion. However, at that particular moment, he'd almost welcome that, his head hurt so much. As soon as he could force himself to get out from under his pillow, he was going to try with Hatori one more time. If nothing else, maybe he had some aspirin?

When the pained creature showed up in his office, Hatori was more than happy to give him the drugs... Then he set about trying to find out just what was wrong with his cousin. Perhaps he had migraines or chronic fatigue...

Either one of those would explain it, but, neither were correct, apparently. For, other than the severe headaches, and almost constant lack of energy, there didn't appear to be a thing wrong with him. That irritated poor Haru more than actually finding something. At least then, Hatori might have been able to fix it.

The doctor frowned. If Haru was irritated, he was ten times that. How could how not find something wrong? He ended up digging through a drawer of medicine and pulling something out, suggesting the ox try it.

Haru let his aching head rest in his hand, eyes closed once more against the sunlight, and mumbled his thanks to his older cousin. Maybe he'd go back to his room, and hide in a dark corner of his closet for a while...

Hatori ruffled his hair carefully and promised to see about finding out what was wrong for his poor cousin.

Haru thanked him again, and got up slowly, trying to jostle his head as little as possible, as though that was going to help it to stop hurting, or something.

The dragon could really only hope now that the medicine he'd given the boy helped. He should probably also write a note to the school... It appeared Hatsuharu needed some rest.

Well, he certainly didn't need to try and go then, and have to deal with Momiji, and everyone else, on top of his already pretty steady migraine. Either way, he went back to his room, and grabbed his pillow, laying down in his closet, with the door shut, to block out the light, and was soon back asleep again. He really just wished he knew what was going on, so that he might be able to, maybe, fix it.

No school, and Momiji was worried. When he went to ask Hatori where Haru was, he was advised by the dragon to leave the ox alone. The bunny pouted, but the doctor promised he would be going to visit the boy. He needed to see if the medicine he'd given him had helped any.

Well, it would take some work to find him, and then to wake him up again. He was currently in a state similar to unconsciousness. He'd grown tired of having to deal with his headache, so he'd just slipped off to the same place he went every time Black Haru came out. It was comfortable enough, and he didn't have to deal with physical pains, there.

The dragon sighed when he saw that. Well, at least he was asleep... He'd just have to come back to talk to him later. If they were both lucky, the medicine had worked.

However, there was a slight flaw in Haru's plan. See, he found out what that pushing force in the back of his mind was. And, Haru doing that was exactly what Black had been waiting for. He'd been wearing White down, slowly, for some time now. This was his change. The way he saw it, he was the stronger personality, he deserved to be out more. HE deserved to be the dominant. And, now, he would be.

The sad thing for Black is, most people hate him. So the logic that he deserved to be out didn't really seem to work.

Yes, that did seem to be the plan's downfall. However, this didn't exactly occur to the strangely pleased ox until he ran into someone who didn't like him, and who had learned to recognize which personality was out. That really was a self-confidence damper...

"Haru-chan--" One Kagura Sohma started. But then she immediately stopped and frowned. "Oh. Tch... it's you. When are you leaving so I can talk to Haru-chan?" She demanded irritably.

Black scowled at her, but, that scowl soon curved up into a smirk.
"I'm not." He stated smugly. "It's my turn."

The boar snorted at him. "One good smack upside the head and you're gone." She shrugged. White just might have a bit of a headache... But it always worked.

That scowl returned with a vengeance.
"I wouldn't try that, if I were you." He warned tersely. "He won't be too happy with you, either."

"He won't be too happy that you're out either." Kagura retorted, and it was fairly obvious there was about to be a fight right here, and Kagura was happy to start it.

"He's a lot happier now than if he tries to take this opportunity away from me." He stated, frowning still more. "I can make his life a living hell from the inside out, and he knows it."

Kagura didn't really care, she was peeved now, and everyone knows how she is. Their little fight started, but it was over in a very short amount of time. Kagura got her ass kicked we might add too. She ended up on her ass, on the ground, vainly wiping at a cut on her brow and her bloodied lip.

"And, might I add," Black snorted, once they were done. "Unlike Kyo, I have to trouble hitting women?"

She spit some blood out of her mouth in his general direction, and would have frowned but that would have hurt. So she just picker herself up, shot him a glare and went to make herself stop bleeding.

Haru just snorted with amusement at her, and continued along with his, quite frankly aimless, wandering around the compound. He wanted to acquaint himself with it better, seeing as he planned to need that knowledge quite a bit from then on.

Hatori wasn't very happy when Kagura came into his office in her state. But unlike most in the family, he just sighed indifferently when he heard who had done it. He should probably expect a visit from the ox very soon then... Black usually managed to get himself into trouble.

We won't go into just HOW Haru managed to hurt himself. It's just for best of all. The point is, he was, indeed, in less than great shape, in Hatori's house, being tended to within the hour.

"You don't have a headache do you?" The doctor wondered as he got some bandages out. He was still trying to figure out what had been bothering the ox... Perhaps Black knew.

"I DIDN'T before it made contact with the rock." He frowned a little more, rubbing the bump that said rock had made on his scalp.

"Hnn..." Hatori sighed. That wasn't very helpful. Oh well. "Try being more careful." The dragon suggested as he began to put the bandages on.

"Yeah. Careful." He agreed, with a shrug. Hatori didn't piss him off as much as most people... "Why'd you ask about the headache?" He was just going to play (relatively) dumb about it, and find out why he wanted to know, before making an unnecessary confessions.

"White had been having complaints about severe headaches and fatigue..." The dragon murmured idly as he tied off the bandage. "I don't know what was wrong with him exactly, and I'm concerned." He left the ox there for a moment before returning and offering and aspirin for the bump on his head.

"Oh, that." Black really didn't see the point in lying. It wasn't like Hatori could do anything to him--or to stop him. Really. "That was me. I hadn't expected him to last that long, though. I thought he'd give up after about a week..."

"Hnn..." Hatori nodded. Well, he felt better now, knowing that. He had been afraid there might be something seriously wrong with his cousin.

He smirked a little, seeing how Hatori wasn't angry with him. It was a pleasant change. Not only did Hatori not piss him off, but, apparently, he didn't HATE him--like the rest of the family seemed to. Well, everybody except Momiji and Kisa--but, they didn't seem to hate anyone. That wasn't the point, though. He felt almost comfortable around Hatori. Almost. He didn't think he really cared about anyone, but he most certainly didn't HATE him…

"If... you could do me a large favour, try to avoid injury anyone else." The doctor requested after a final look over the ox. "You’re included in that, again."

"Mmm...We'll see." He had a couple choice people that he wanted to go egg into a fight, but, for anyone else, he'd wait for them to start it.

Hatori shrugged helplessly. "At the very least avoid any permanent damage..." He let up, then he went over to his desk to fill out some papers, and said Haru was all set to go.

"Right." He agreed with a shrug. "They'll recover." He really just wanted to smack them. That wouldn't leave any permanent damage. Maybe not even a bruise...

"All right." Hatori finally nodded absently, and that seemed to signal the end of this conversation.

Well, there really was someone he wanted to hit, and had for several years. So, he set off to Shigure's house to find him. All he would need to do was make Yuki think he was White Haru long enough to get into the house, and then, all would go as planned, he was sure.

"Oh! Hello Haru-kun!" Tohru greeted him cheerfully. She most certainly didn't notice he was Black. She moved aside to allow him in and spit out a short list as the everyone’s locations. Kyo was upstairs, Yuki was in the living room, and Shigure was... somewhere...

Living room...he could work with that. It wouldn't take long, after all.
"Thank you, Honda-san." He murmured, before setting off to find his rodently cousin.

Tohru scuttled off to the laundry room immediately after that, and the vermin looked up upon his cousin's approach. He sweat dropped when he saw whom it was though.

"Hello, Haru." He greeted politely, even though he was silently hoping Haru would just go away.

"Hi," Haru replied, pleasantly enough, as he went over and sitting down next to him, and waiting a moment, before properly back-fisting his nose, snickering gleefully, as he did so. That had felt good...and long over-due.

Yuki reeled for a moment, then he had to stare at his cousin. He'd only been here for what, a few minutes? What could he have possibly done to make him mad? Actually. Haru hadn't hit him, White or Black...
"Haru--wha---"

"That needed to be done." Haru stated calmly, not making any move to apologize for doing that.

"I don't think I've done anything to you." He really didn't do much of anything actually. but that's beside the point. He had no idea what Black was talking about.

"Not directly," He agreed with a shrug. "But, you still had that coming."

Yuki rubbed his nose. "And just why is that?" He wondered.

"I have my reasons for hitting people." He replied vaguely. "For the moment, though, I'd prefer to leave them undisclosed."

"Right...." The rat frowned. Well... he most certainly wasn't letting that happen again. That'd hurt...

"Well," Haru started with a dark grin, rising to his feet. "Thanks very much," He added, before heading for the door to leave again. He really had just wanted to smack him. Back fisting him was just as good, though.

"Uh-huh..." Yuki watched after him oddly. He didn't want him to stay any longer, but he really had to wonder what had gotten Haru all pissed off.

Well, nothing, actually. Black was happier than he had been in a long time. He was actually out, and he didn't have to worry about that meddlesome White Haru getting in his way, this time.

Of course... being Black, he wouldn't really feel like going to school and would go off to do things he actually found fun. Also... since this Black... none of that is particularly safe. That's why he showed back up at Hatori's bleeding and bruised in several various places. As was his job the dragon just shook his head and let him in so he could take care of that...

"You really don't hate me, do you?" Black murmured, as Hatori patched him up, sounding a little surprised, and uncharacteristically calm. Even more calm than he'd been after he'd hit Yuki.

"No," Hatori answered idly. He was on about the same stance with everyone. Well, except Shigure and Ayame. But they were another matter all together.

"Hnnn..." The ox watched him thoughtfully, not quite sure how to feel about that. It seemed a little weird for anyone, other than Momiji and Kisa, to be anything other than blatantly rude and hateful toward him. (Granted, that was mostly his own fault, but still! It was more of a principle.)

"I think I must be wasting my breath..." No one ever listened to him. Seriously. "But please try being more careful."

"This time it really wasn't my fault." He muttered, a bit defensively.

"All right..." Hatori shook his head. He didn't know why he bothered asking anymore. He finished on a cut on the ox's head, above his eyebrow and then pressed a Band-Aid on it.

Bleeding really was an over rated activity, Haru noted dryly, as Hatori continued to tend to the various other boo boos he'd managed to acquire. But, still. Hatori didn't hate him. That fact within itself was enough to make him think of an excuse to go back over there, without hurting himself. It really would be much easier for everyone involved, if he just went to visit.

Either way once Hatori was done cleaning him up the doctor rubbed his temples and tried to think up a warning that might actually... be listened to.
"I'd say be careful... but try just not dying." That was really all he could ask.

"I've yet to die so far." Haru pointed out, in an odd tone. That was pretty much his way of saying, 'of course, I'll be more careful, Hatori!'

"Good... keep it up." Hatori cast one final look over him before declaring him patched up and saying he was free to leave now.

Yeah...he'd think up some sort of excuse to return, unmarred, But, for now, he just muttered some words akin to gratitude, and left the dragon's house. He'd think up that excuse later...

First, of course, he would need to be pestered by Momiji as to why he wasn't at school... But, he could probably go see Hatori without an excuse actually. The dragon didn't tend to turn people away, it's not like he had something better to be doing.

"I just didn't feel like going," He half spat at the annoyingly bouncy and chipper bunny, as he made his way back toward his room.

"Aww, but Haru! You're gonna get in trouble!" The blonde admonished. "If skip again tomorrow I'm telling Ha'ri! He'll make you go." He nodded resolutely.

"Feh," Haru snorted slightly, rolling his eyes. "I'd like to see him try." He was confidant that Hatori couldn't do anything to keep him from doing whatever he wanted.

Momiji stuck out his tongue. "He will."

"He can't." Nope, cause Haru planned to spend that time he'd usually be in school for bugging Hatori.

"Haaaru, school is fun! You SHOULD go!" The rabbit whined, hanging on his arm.

"Somehow, I can think of better ways to spend my time, rather than listen to that woman lecture for hours on end."

"You're hopeless." Momiji sweat dropped.

"I don't know how much time out I have." He shrugged a bit. "I'd just assume not waste it."

"Don't get White in too much trouble." The bunny finally warned waggling a finger at him before pittering off.

He honestly didn't give half a damn how much trouble White got in. He still had a list of people to get back at a mile long, and, he planned to get through it.

Yeah... and that list included... a lot of the Juunishi and various other people. He could already check Kagura and Yuki off the list. But... there were still plenty. Besides, why wouldn't he want to hit Yuki and Kagura again? Really.

But, either way, the next day he set off for Hatori's--again. He was still trying to think of a reason to be there, but, when he actually arrived, all he had was that he was bored, and had no where better to be.

The dragon was used to that though. That was usually why Shigure or Ayame showed up. So he just opened the door.
"Make yourself comfortable..." He murmured. "I'll be there in a moment." He had been in the process of some pointless paperwork. But that could wait.

Haru just nodded and went in to sit down on his cousin's couch. He really was enjoying his time outside, White hadn't even started to whine yet. It was almost relaxing...

The dragon returned a short while later, asked a maid for some tea and sat down.
"Momiji came to complain to me that you didn't go to school." He cast an appraising look over the ox. It was still Black all right... "Please go just enough not to get him expelled. I don't care beyond that."

"Nnn..." He growled a little. "Fine." He agreed shortly a few minutes later. "He won't be."

"Thank you." Hatori murmured. "Since, I'm always the one who has to go about finding him a new school." He'd already done it more times than he cared to count and it was always a boring affair.

"Yeah," He shrugged a bit. "Whatever. I'll go...sometime."

"Enjoying your time out?" Tori wondered conversationally. Despite having friends who talked continually... he knew how to mediate small talk.

"Mmhmm." He confirmed with something between a smirk and a grin. That had been the first time he'd been actually consciously aware of sleeping in a real bed. It had been a little elating.

"I'm glad." Hatori told him idly. "I imagine it's more than unfair to not be the dominate personality. But, that's how it is." He shrugged.

Haru's eyes cooled again, loosing whatever warmth had been in them upon thinking about the night before.

"Not anymore." He stated in a tone as cold as his gaze.

"Hmmm?" The doctor wondered absently.

"Not anymore." Haru repeated, in a firmer tone. "I'm stronger, anyway. And, it's my body too. I deserve to get to use it. He's had it for sixteen years, don't you think it's my turn yet?"

"Hmm," Hatori nodded his understanding. "You're right. But if you intend to stay, you may want to get along with the people around you." He was directly refrencing his fight with Kagura, and the two times he'd come in here after various injuries.

"I don't give a damn about that." Haru rolled his eyes, even though that wasn't QUITE true. Hell would freeze over before he'd admit it, though.

All the dragon could really do was shrug. It wasn't his problem. His only problem was taking care of people if they happened to show up here.

Haru nodded decidedly, though, it was mostly to himself. This was HIS body now, and, he was strong enough to keep White inside...

The maid finally returned with the tea and Hatori took his own, then carefully offered it over to Haru and continued the idle talking. Haru was better conversation than either of his friends. They tended to babble. So The dragon was appreciative of the actual talking.

Black had to admit, he enjoyed it too. At least somewhat. He hadn't really had a good conversation with someone...ever. White never let him out long enough to do that.

It would have to end eventually though.

"I apologize for the abrupt ending... But I have some paperwork that requires my attention before I have to go see Akito-san again. You should probably go to dinner anyways." He murmured, and that signalled the end to that.

"Oh..." He blinked, frowning a little. "Right. I've wasted enough of your time." He added, standing up quickly, and exiting Hatori's house without another word. He'd make Hatori his forever...somehow...

The one person who doesn't hate him. Someone who doesn' just love everyone. Who could really blame Black? In a world where he pisses pretty much everyone off, there's this guy who doesn't treat him like that. He even goes so far as to take care of him and treat him like an actual person. Hmm... in Ayame's words, Tori-san is really too kind for his own good.

Well, that was what led up to it. That was how Black Haru ended up striding determinedly toward Hatori's house, late the next afternoon, hell bent on holding onto that one sliver of happiness for the rest of his life--no matter how unlikely it was that this one action would do so. Still...he had to put out an attempt, or he might loose his one chance forever...

In all honesty, Hatori hadn't been expecting the boy to come back so soon. So he was working on paperwork concerning Akito's health as usual when the ox appeared. He didn't glance up when he came in though and just called from his desk that he'd be right there...

Haru walked past him, over to his couch, without a word, and simply swallowed slightly, his determination now quite concrete. He was going to do this. Hatori would be HIS...

The dragon finally glanced up when he didn't hear any answer, to see who it was.
"Oh, Hatsuharu." He was here again. "Do you need something?" He sighed mentally to himself, noting the boy wasn't at school... AGAIN. But then he just had to realize that matter something was wrong, and his doctoring instinct took over.

"Um...kind'a." He frowned a little more than usual, not sure whether he wanted to ask, or just start. What if he asked and Hatori said no? Would he continue anyway?

Hatori got up and moved over closer to him in concern, looking expectant for elaboration.

However, he got none. Well, no verbal elaboration, anyway. He did get a kiss, though. A deep, long, tongue-filled kiss. But, no elaboration.

Too bad for him, Ha'ri wasn't going to respond to that. He was in the ox's clutches and he wasn't so stupid as to think he could physically push him away. So he just waited it out and then gave Black a very cool look.
"Hatsuharu," He murmured icily. "Just what are you doing?"

"Kissing you?" The ox offered, with a raised eyebrow. He would have thought that had been pretty obvious...Unless Hatori really was just THAT dense.

"That's rather obvious. Perhaps I should rephrase that." The dragon took a step back. "What are you thinking and why."

Haru didn't really say anything to that, just watched him intently. He wasn't quite sure he wanted Hatori to know that particular thought process, thanks...

When he didn't answer Hatori just shook his head. "Perhaps you should go." He had been right in the middle of something.

"No." Haru protested instantly. "Not until I get what I want."

"And that is---?" The doctor kept his gaze calm.

"You." The ox stated in an almost gentle tone, before getting up and moving over to kiss him again.

Hatori gave him a very dry look and backed up in accordance to Haru's advances. "I think not."

"How come?" Haru frowned at him, just feeling more determined by that. "I'm really good at it--or, that's what Rin used to tell me--I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself."

"That's beside the point, Hatsuharu." The dragon murmured. He had a few good reasons. Four, actually. Haru was his younger cousin. Like, thirteen years younger. He wasn't Kana. He wasn't Shigure. AND he wasn't Ayame. Four perfectly good reasons right there. But Haru doesn't need to know about that.

"Oh, c'mon..." He breathed out, actually catching up with Hatori now, and running one hand up the dragon's chest. "That IS the point. You'll have fun, I'll have fun, where's the downside?"

There really was only so far that Hatori could back up and he eventually ran into something. That irritated him a little.

"Because you're a sixteen year old boy." He stated very clearly. "And I don't have the kind of feelings for you that are required for that."

"You wouldn't be the first person I've slept with who didn't give a damn about me," He pointed out, with a frown, kissing him again and leaning forward to pin the dragon to the table. "But, either way, you will be mine today..."

"Hatsuharu," Hatori warned. "I suggest you think about this first." He moved experimentally in the ox's grasp and found his assumptions that he wouldn't be able to break free correct. This is what he got for being a doctor. No muscle at all...

"I have..." He stated slowly, moving his lips down to suck, almost tenderly, on Hatori's neck, just above his buttoned collar. "And I want you." He continued to murmur against the warm skin. "And, you WILL be mine."

Tori moved uncomfortably under his touch. "Think with your big head, Hatsuharu." He elaborated irritably.

"Done that too," He nodded slightly, moving back up toward his jaw line, and actually standing on his toes a little to do it properly. "And, I've come to the conclusion that you're what I want."

The dragon frowned a little. This was looking hopeless. He already knew it was nearly impossible to talk Black into or out of things. The ox didn't listen to him on normal occasions, what made him think now would be any different? It appeared... his best bet was to resign to his fate. Maybe he'd get lucky and Hatsuharu would get discouraged by his lack of enthusiasm.

Well, if he did he didn't let on any, and just continued to lean Hatori against the table he'd run into, until they were both laying on it.
"You'll enjoy this," He promised, licking his lips seductively, before continuing.

Well. What could Hatori say. His desk was a mess? He could say that. Being taken hurt. He could say that. He wasn't used to being taken. He could say that too. But probably the biggest one was that he'd just been raped by his sixteen year old cousin and he wasn't feeling very happy about that right now.

Haru gave him an almost happy look, and kissed him one more time--gently, though. He'd gotten a bit rough during the actual process of this making Hatori his business.

Tch. Good thing he was fucking happy! The doctor gave him a cool look, the same looked he'd tried to maintain throughout the whole ordeal. It'd been a bit difficult in a few places. Especially the ones that really hurt. But on a whole, he just wanted to look as unaffected as possible.

"Was that really so bad?" Haru wanted to know, running his fingers idly through Hatori's hair. "Really worth all that fuss?"

"You can leave now." The dragon replied.

"You didn't answer my question," He reminded him lowly, with another few butterfly kisses.

"I think you know the answer." Hatori answered scathingly.

"It would have been better, for you, anyway, if I'd thought to bring lube..." He mused, allowing his hand to leave Hatori's hair for his cheek and jaw bone. "But, it didn't exactly register..."

Hatori still really wonder if the child had thought at all before doing this. And really, lube wouldn't have helped. He still would have been forcefully taken. He never ever would have had sex with Haru without being forced.

After a quick glance at the clock, he saw that it was nearing dinner time, so Haru carefully moved back off Hatori's desk, and over to wriggle back into his pants.

"I'd better go now," He informed the dragon, speaking as he dressed. "I guess I'll go to school, for you, tomorrow."

The doctor gave him and odd look and quickly snatched up his own clothes. Right about now he didn't care what Haru did. Just as long as he wasn't involved in it.

"Thank you for the afternoon, Tori-nii," He half teased, recalling his white's nickname for their older cousin, before exiting the house, and headed back toward the main house, and his room. He was in such a good mood, and, he was sure Hatori would feel better too, once he got over his post-sex-discomforts.

The dragon sighed and headed for his shower. That hadn't been one of the better moments of his life. Damnit. Now he hurt too... How positively irritating. He hoped he would limp too. That, that would just take the cake... Shigure, Ayame, and Akito would notice such a thing and that was the LAST thing he needed.

The last thing Haru needed, too. He needed those three after him about as much as he needed the sneak attack from Kagura that came the next morning, as he tried to get out of the compound to go to school--like he'd told Hatori he would. That was just irritating.

The boar didn't look too happy. As a matter a fact, she was still peeved Haru had beaten her up last time. So she intended to beat him up now.
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