Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Haru ❯ Us or Him ( Chapter 4 )

Haru

Chapter Four

Us or Him

Haru went straight to Shigure's house, with hopes of finding Kyo there, when he left Akito's chamber. Goddamnit did he ever want to see Kyo…

 

Tohru smiled when she saw him and inquired how she was. But he cut straight to asking where Kyo was and she sweat dropped.

 

“He's asleep upstairs. He's been sleeping a lot lately… I think he's depressed.” She murmured worriedly. Though, it was fairly obvious to everyone BUT her just what Kyo's reason for depression was.

 

“Right. Thank you, Honda-san!” Haru bowed to her, before quickly scampering off toward where he KNEW for a fact Kyo's room was. He was sure his kitten wouldn't mind being woken THAT much…

 

If he had the heart to wake the red head up that is. He looked cute. He'd laid his futon out in a sunbeam, since at the time he'd just been lounging. But then he'd fallen asleep and now he was all curled about around his sheets with his arms wrapped around his pillow, hugging it close to his chest as he slept.

 

So…in the end, Haru just ended up sitting there next to him, watching him sleep. He could wait a few more minutes, before waking him up to give him his greetings…

 

Kyo did jump when he finally woke up. He wasn't used to waking up with people sitting right there. He managed not to yell like he had when he'd awoken to Ayame in his bed… But he was about to kill Haru before he realized who it was, then it went from an attack to an over zealous display of affection.

 

Haru was more than happy to return the kisses and hugs, and proceeded to apologize again and again, once the kisses broke.

 

“I am so sorry. I wouldn't have just disappeared, but Akito and all his crap…and, I'm sorry…”

 

“Akito and his crap?” The red head repeated, not quite understanding.

 

“Yes.” Haru confirmed with a nod. “Akito and his crap. He's decided he wants to make me `useful'. So, he's been having Tori-nii train me, so I can actually turn my…stuff on and off when I want.” He explained where he'd been for the past week and a half or so.

 

Kyo hugged the younger closely, and didn't care who came in and saw.

 

“What an asshole…” he scowled unhappily.

 

“It'll be fine.” Haru tried to assure him, even though he, himself, wasn't positive. Hatori's warning was cryptically remaining in his mind, but he wasn't too worried just yet.

 

“He kidnapped you for a week!” The cat retorted irritably.

 

“I know,” The ox nodded. “But…he let me go too. I can catch up in my classes, and the training WAS useful…”

 

“Oh?” His older boyfriend muttered flatly. He wasn't buying a word of this.

 

“Oh yeah…” He nodded slowly. “I can make stuff float now. Want to see?”

 

Kyo laid his head tiredly on the other's shoulder. “Sure,” he mumbled.

 

Well…Haru did his thing, and he soon had a book just soaring around the room. Well…not quite zooming, but it was going faster than an injured bird…

 

“Oh, that's impressive, Haru.” The cat teased him a little.

 

“I can do more than that…” Haru mumbled, a bit defensively, tightening his arms, wrapped around Kyo's shoulders, and nudging his nose into the nape of his neck. “I can mutilate flatware, set things on fire, blow them up, and other various things that I don't feel like going into right now.”

 

“Very good.” The cat snickered. “I'm very proud of you.”

 

He lowered the book back down to the floor, before kissing him. He didn't particularly want to damage it, by loosing his concentration and letting it drop.

 

“Just wish I weren't in Akito…ranks, or whatever.” He murmured, still trying to not sound too worried about it, even if he was. Really, he wouldn't be. Except…Akito didn't like Kyo. He didn't want the head to make him do something to his boyfriend. It was fairly obvious that he wouldn't be able to refuse, if he did, either.

 

Kyo shivered a little and his face darkened. He wasn't too fond of that idea himself. Akito wouldn't have a problem with having Haru do something to him…

 

But…Akito wasn't there to do that now. So, Haru just leaned Kyo back, so that he was laying on his futon, pinned down.

 

“I missed you…” Haru informed him, sucking lightly on the skin right above Kyo's jugular vein.

 

The red head bit back an amorous purr and just hugged the ox closer. “I certainly hope so…” He murmured, as his very roundabout way of saying he'd missed the other as well.

 

“Hopefully, he won't lock me up for weeks at a time anymore.” He hoped, jokingly, before returning his attention to his showing of affection.

 

“At least… I'll be able to guess where you are next time you disappear.” Rather than just worry himself sick like he did last time.

 

“Yeah…” Haru agreed. “I would have told you, but I couldn't get to a phone.”

 

“Could have gotten Hatori to do it.” The red head stated in a pouty tone before forcing the ox to roll over and sitting on top of him

 

“Didn't really think about it, at the time.” He admitted, letting his kitten pin him down. “Should have, though. He, Akito, and Kureno were really the only people I got to see.”

 

“You're such an idiot.” The cat pointed out dryly.

 

“I was a bit busy, at the time, trying to get out.”

 

“He didn't actually SAY anything about kidnapping you again, did he?” Kyo wondered worriedly.

 

“No,” Haru replied slowly. “He did say something about learning to do what he tells me to, without question, though.”

 

The cat frowned before getting off the ox and flopping down listlessly next to him.

 

“He sucks.”

 

“I can handle it.” Haru tried to assure him, rolling over and wrapping his arms around him again. “You might want to be careful, though.”

 

“Of what?” The feline blinked at him.

 

“Just…in general.” He tried to explain. “I…really don't want him to tell me to do anything to you…” He was still having trouble getting his message across, but that was as close as he was going to get, he was sure.

 

“I can handle you if that happens.” Kyo stated flatly.

 

“Right.” Haru snorted, and nuzzled him. “I know you can, I just would rather it didn't happen at all.” He was fucking hoping Kyo could handle him, if that ever happened.

 

Both wishes seemed a little silly. Of course it was going to happen, And even though Kyo was a better fighter, Haru could very well light him on fire, or throw any various object that happened to around at him WHILE fighting him.

† † †

The day Akito ordered him to take care of Kyo came a few weeks later.

 

“Hatsuharu…” The head murmured, sounding oddly disappointed. “Tomorrow, I would like you to go the cat and bring him to me.”

 

“Why?” Haru glanced sharply at him, his eyes wide with worry.

 

“To have a little talk with him.” Akito shrugged

 

“You won't hurt him, will you?” Haru really felt the need to wonder. If Akito was going to hurt him, he'd be more reluctant to do anything to get him over there…not that he really had a choice, but he would still feel bad about it.

 

“I don't plan on it.” But that really didn't mean he wouldn't.

 

“Right…” Haru nodded slowly…not really believing a word of it. “W-when would you like him, Akito-san?”

 

“Perhaps tomorrow… after he's out of school.”

 

“Alright…should I bring him home with me?” Haru wondered, half absently.

 

“If that would be convenient for you, Hatsuharu. It doesn't matter to me either way.” Akii snorted.

 

“Okay.” The ox nodded reluctantly. “He'll—WE'LL be here tomorrow afternoon.” He might be able to protect Kyo from Akito that way…at least a little…if he were there…

 

“Thank you.” The head smiled, which really isn't as pleasant a thing as it sounds.

 

“No trouble, Akito-san…Was there anything else?”

 

“No, that's all.” Akito waved him off absently.

 

“Alright.” He repeated, bowing, before taking his leave and wandering distractedly back to his home. Well…that was just fucking great. Maybe he should have listened to Hatori, and stayed away? Either way, the next day he approached Kyo about it, during lunch.

 

“Akito wants to see you.” He stated, rather point-blank.

 

“And that's just too bad for him.” The red head answered dryly.

 

“Kyo…” Haru frowned at him. “He told me to bring you to him today.”

 

“As in… ordered?” Kyo cringed slightly.

 

“Right.” His cousin confirmed, with a short nod.

 

“Fine…” The cat grumbled uncomfortably. He could just imagine what the mean head wanted…

 

Well…they'd find out, wouldn't they? And, they did. They found out soon after Haru knocked softly on Akito's door, gesturing protectively to Kyo, to stay a couple feet behind him.

 

Akito wasn't going to have any of Haru's protective crap. He allowed the ox to stay in the room, but he called Kyo over next to him while Haru sat at the other side of the floor. He was even talking to the red head so quietly that Haru couldn't hear. All he could do was see how Kyo paled as Akito spoke.

 

Haru frowned, as this happened, and made a mental note to interrogate Kyo later.

 

Akii patted Kyo's head with a look of disdain before addressing Haru.

 

“Hatsuharu… Please take the cat to one of the open rooms down the hall.”

 

He'd spent most of that time staring at the floor, and trying to catch snippets of the conversation, but he looked up quickly when he heard his name.

 

“Akito-san…is that really necessary?” He wondered softly, pleadingly.

 

“Just do it, unless you would rather Kureno have the honour?”

 

“I'll do it.” Haru shook his head quickly. At least he'd be able to give Kyo some farewell word, this way…

 

“Good. Now go on.” Akito shooed the feline away from him. Kyo scrambled up and headed over to the door, looking decidedly despondent.

 

“What did he say?” Haru all but demanded, once they were outside, walking at a decidedly slow pace toward the rooms Akito had mentioned.

 

“He's mad at me.” The red head mumbled. “And he says he's grounding me to the compound as punishment.”

 

“Did he say why he's mad?” Haru wanted to know, pausing to think about which hallway they needed to go now next. He couldn't think of anything that might have pissed Akito off this much…

 

“I've not been behaving myself, apparently…”

 

“Fuck.” Haru spit, looking up and seeing they were drawing near to the rooms.

 

“Could you think of something to tell Tohru?” The feline wondered. “I don't want the stupid girl to flip out or anything.”

 

“I'll think of something…” Haru promised him, before pulling him into a tight hug. “This is it…but I'll see what I can do about getting him to get you out soon…”

 

“Yeah. Thanks.” Kyo murmured, he was annoyed about this. Fucking Akito…

 

Haru continued to hold Kyo like that for a few minutes, before letting go, and opening the door. The room wasn't as big as the one Akito had dedicated to Yuki, but it was just as dark. The poor ox felt REALLY bad about locking his boyfriend up in there…

 

The red head wasn't nearly as bothered by the dark as Yuki had been as a child. Mostly because he was Kyo, not Yuki. But we don't really need to get into the psychological differences between the two. Just know he went in without looking back at Haru. He found the wall with one hand and followed it around until he found the back corner and set about making himself comfortable there.

 

Haru went straight back to Akito's room, to see what he could do about getting Kyo out quickly, and knocked more rapidly on the door, when he arrived.

 

And when he put this to the head he was given a very useless.

 

“He'll be let out when I let him out.”

 

“But…could you let him out soon?” Haru requested, almost meekly. Almost. “Please, Akito-san?”

 

“I'll think about it.” Akii shrugged.

 

“Thank you…” He knew that was the best he was going to get, for now. So, he decided to just leave well enough alone. Maybe he'd decided to go with the soon thing…

 

Soon wasn't really all that soon. Actually. Or it really didn't seem very soon to Haru since he knew exactly where Kyo was he just couldn't see him and had no idea how he was. That is until Akito finally decided to cut a deal with him weeks later.

 

“Would you like the cat released soon. Say… tonight?”

 

“Yes!” The ox responded instantly, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes.

 

“Hmm well… He still had a few weeks and a bit more punishment coming to him.” The head snorted. “But, you give him today's punishment and you can take him out when you're finished.”

 

That hopeful look darkened significantly.

 

“What punishment?” He wondered slowly.

 

“Mmm just a little physical abuse.” Akii shrugged like it wasn't that big a deal at all.

 

“I can't hit him.” Haru shook his head. “He wouldn't let me, even if I wanted to.”

 

“Oh you shouldn't have much trouble. And it'll give you a chance to see just what all your nice mind powers can do.” Akito mused

 

“Akito-san…” He started to protest, but then changed his tactic. “Just what did he do, to be punished for in the first place?”

 

“Well, just his very existence is enough…” Akito told his little underling. “But recently he annoyed me by thinking he was allowed to be with anyone. Especially someone in my direct circle of lackeys…”

 

Haru flat out frowned at him, now.

 

“That's not his fault.” He stated quite plainly.

 

“I don't really care.”

 

“Akito-san—“ He tried again, but finally just sighed. “You SWEAR he can leave, if I do this…?”

 

“Why of course.” Akii nodded with a grin.

 

“Will you leave him alone, after that?”

 

“Maybe.”

 

“Hnnn…” It was better than nothing, right? “How badly do I have to hurt him?”

 

Akito thought about that for moment. “Mm you don't have to break anything… but some bleeding and pained whimpering from the filthy thing would be just lovely.”

 

“I'll see what I can do…” He muttered darkly, with a small nod. Maybe he could get Kyo to fake it, and get it done quickly.

 

“There are plenty of toys already in there.” Akito laughed softly. “You can feel free to use any of them.” Then he dismissed the ox to go beat up the kitten. Which was really what he would be doing. Kyo was already plenty abused after Akito's trips into his room. He had no choice but to just sit there and take it. So he was bruised and bloody and when the ox came into the room he couldn't even look up because at the moment he was too busy coughing. Little flecks of blood smattering his pale, cracked lips. And on top of that there was a thin trickle of blood running down his face from a shallow but free flowing cut on his forehead.

 

Haru really was nauseated by the sight, and was quickly over by Kyo, embracing him, comfortingly.

“Act like it hurts, and maybe it won't have to.” He hissed quietly, in his kitten's ear. He didn't want to hurt him…and he was going to try not to.

 

“It DOES hurt!” The feline coughed out uncomfortably.

 

“That's not what I meant.” Haru stated softly, speaking quickly as he tried to explain. “Akito told me that if I did your `punishment' today, you can leave today. So, just go with it. We can get you to Tori-nii soon, hopefully, and get you cleaned up then.”

 

Kyo groaned and just didn't care anymore. Whether Haru added to his pain or not, he already hurt. He could just stop holding it in and it should be just fine…

 

“I promise, I won't do much.” Haru mumbled apologetically. He didn't let go of him, either, taking most of the grunt of the damage he dished out, by carefully aiming the objects he mentally threw to only hit Kyo a little. Just enough for a cut or two…He hoped it didn't hurt too much.

 

It wasn't so much that it hurt, it's that it added to his hurt. Kyo did indeed whimper slightly and ended up very close to unconscious in the ox's arms. It was all just too much for him right now.

 

Haru stopped before too long, and eventually gathered Kyo up in his arms, murmuring something about not trying to walk, and how he could handle it, before setting off for Hatori's. He didn't even care about the cuts and bruises he'd ended up inflicting on himself, just that Kyo be tended to.