Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ NECTAR ❯ Strange Love ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or it's characters. It belongs to Takaya Nasuki.

Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing, and to awintersrose for all her help.

NECTAR

Chapter Two: Strange Love

HARU * (Flashback)

"Come on Haru. I wanna! I wanna! I wanna!" Momiji begged of me.

"You should have thought of that before you made your little date with Akito," I told him. We were standing in the snow out in front of the main house. Momiji had talked me into walking him to Akito's front door, but now I was freezing and in a hurry to be on my way.

"Oh, you're no fair acting jealous, besides it's only lunch. Why can't we just go ice-skating afterwards? There should still be plenty of time." He smiled up at me, pleading with those adorable puppy dog eyes. Damn it, why did I have such a hard time saying no to him?

"I need to study. We have a test tomorrow, and besides I heard there is supposed to be a big snowstorm on the way. I don't want us to get stuck in it."

"Will you at least come back and walk me home?" He asked, grabbing my hand and holding it tightly.

"Why don't you just ask Akito to give you a ride home? Why should I freeze my ass off for you when you would rather spend time with him?" I regretted my words the moment that they left my mouth. I wasn't being reasonable. By my own choice, Momiji wasn't my boyfriend. I had no right to act this way.

"Haru, why can't you just admit it? Admit that you're jealous. You hate my friendship with Akito."

He was completely right. I did hate it, and I was jealous, but I would be damned if I was going to tell him that. I was certain that Momiji's recent interest in the head of the family was entirely for my benefit. Three months ago, I had broken Momiji's heart, and now he was using Akito to get my attention. It was a reckless move on Momiji's part; Akito was not someone to be toyed with.

"I'm not jealous, Momiji. I just worry about you. You'll get hurt if you're not careful," I warned uselessly. I was the last person in the world that he was going to listen to. The more I tried to keep Momiji away from Akito, the more time he spent at Akito's house. To make matters worse, Akito seemed to have become enamored with my naïve young cousin. For the last month or so, Akito had been keeping the little rabbit very close at hand, too close for my taste.

"You worry too much," Momiji laughed at me. "Besides Haru, when you go black you are a hundred times worse than Akito could ever be."

"You're wrong, Momiji. Akito can be very dangerous. You need to be mindful of what you share with him. Promise me that you will think before you speak." From my relationship with Yuki, I knew exactly what Akito could be like. Those that he loved the most he tended to punish the worst. Momiji, whose father had always protected him, could not possibly understand this. My cousin was too trusting, too forgiving, and too innocent.

"I still say that you're just jealous," Momiji teased. "Akito has a crush on me, and you can't handle it."

"I just don't want to see you get hurt," I told him bitterly. Jerking my hand from his, I turned to leave.

"Wait," He called after me.

"What?" I turned around and caught him as he jumped into my arms.

"You didn't say goodbye." He pouted, wrapping his arms around my neck and kissing me on my mouth.

"Momiji? Are you insane? Akito will kill us if he sees…" I started to scold him, but he put his finger to my lips and gave me a wink.

"Come back and pick me up in a few hours. I want to spend some time with you, Okay?"

"Uh huh." I nodded. I knew that I couldn't win. Once he started kissing me, I was rendered powerless. I pretended not to enjoy it, but we both knew that I did.

"Okay, don't forget, and don't get lost. I'll see you in a while." Ignoring my warning, he gave me another tiny kiss, this time on my nose, before hopping out of my arms, and skipping off into the main house to look for his lunch date.

The snow was coming down pretty heavily by that time, so I decided to visit Kisa and her mother. Their house was much closer than my own, and I didn't want to put too much distance between Momiji and myself. I was already missing him, and I was looking forward to seeing him again in a few hours. Kisa's mom made us hot chocolate, and we all sat under the kotatsu watching anime on the television while Kisa went on and on about the girl she called sissy, Tohru Honda.

"Sissy was supposed to come over today to help me build a snowman, but Kyo caught a cold, so she had to stay home with him," My young friend informed me. "Stupid cat, that's what he gets for sleeping on the roof." She added in a whisper that sounded so much like Yuki that I couldn't help but smile.

"Kisa!" Her mother reprimanded, and Kisa's eyes went wide.

"Sorry mom." Kisa apologized.

"Kisa, You know that it isn't nice to call people stupid?"

"Your mother's right, Kisa." I confirmed, although I secretly agreed with Kisa's assessment. Kyo was a rude fool with a big mouth, and he was making Yuki's life miserable.

Over the last couple of years Tohru Honda had become both Yuki and Kyo's most coveted obsession. It had started out small, with a lot of innocent flirting, but over the last six months it had gotten out of hand. It was annoying really, watching the two boys blatantly throwing themselves at Tohru, only to have her feign ignorance.

"Why don't you just ask her out, Yuki?" I had encouraged on my last visit, and Shigure had seconded.

"What in the world are you two fools going on about?" Yuki asked innocently.

"Don't play stupid, Yuki. It doesn't suit you," I told him, reaching out to tweak his bottom lip. "Everyone knows that you want Tohru, but if you don't hurry up and do something about it you are going to lose her to Kyo."

"Haru's right, Yuki. You need to do something. She's cleaning your bedroom right now, isn't she? Get up there, and make your move." Shigure cheered him on.

"Don't be ridiculous! Miss Honda and I are just friends," Yuki denied, his entire face glowing with embarrassment. "You two make it sound like something dirty."

This comment, spoken with Yuki's usual air of superiority, sent Shigure into fit of laughter and myself into the concerned friend mode. While I didn't really want to see Yuki and Tohru end up together, I knew for certain that Yuki was in love with her.

The reason that I knew this was because once upon a time Yuki had been in love with me. When I was fifteen, Yuki and I were together in a truly bizarre affair. I had fallen in love with Yuki when we were only children, and I spent a large chunk of my life sneaking into Yuki's room to pay him secret visits. Yuki never actually came out and voiced his feelings out loud, but he did allow me to kiss him on several wonderful occasions.

Yuki was allowed to move out of the main house and into Shigure's because of me. I was the one who went behind Akito's back and made a deal with Shigure. I wanted Yuki out of that house, away from Akito's eyes and also his hands. I told Shigure that I was doing it to protect Yuki, but the truth was that I did it out of jealousy. Even though I knew that Yuki feared Akito, because Akito kept Yuki locked in that room and abused him constantly, I also knew something else, something that both Yuki and Akito were both too clueless to understand. Akito did what he did to Yuki out of misdirected love. Akito was in love with Yuki, but he was too immature and homophobic to know how to handle it. Yuki was the number one object of Akito Sohma's affections, and if Yuki remained in that house, Akito was eventually going to wake up. Akito would tell him, or worse, Akito would show him. I couldn't let that happen. So I manipulated the situation.

Unfortunately, this turned out to be my downfall. After escaping the main house and starting a co-ed high school, Yuki dumped me.

"I'm not your boyfriend, Haru," He informed me on the day that I met him at the teashop outside of the Sohma compound. "I'm sorry if I've given you the wrong impression, but I like girls."

"What are you talking about Yuki? I thought that you, that we… Yuki, we've kissed, we've done everything but actually have sex together."

"Well, I didn't like it," He said and I knew for certain that he was lying. "I only kissed you because you wanted me to kiss you. It didn't mean anything."

My heart burst. Right there it the middle of the teashop, my soul was shattered in two. Not caring that we were in public, I started to cry.

"Haru, please don't do that. If someone sees you they'll get the wrong idea. They will think that I have hurt you or something."

"What do you think you just did? You don't think that this hurts?" I asked him.

"Haru, you're acting like a fool," He said cruelly. "Can't we just sit here and enjoy our tea?"

"Fuck you, Yuki." I told him, as I tossed my cup of tea into his face.

I have no idea what happened next, because I went black. Three weeks later, I woke up to find myself in bed with Rin. I had remained Black Haru for three whole weeks, and during that time I had apparently asked Rin to be my girlfriend.

Rin was gorgeous, and I quickly grew to have feelings for her. Thinking about it now, I suppose that I was on the rebound. Unfortunately, Rin turned out to be almost as cruel as Yuki. The moment that I told her that I loved her, she turned me out. I spent the next six months feeling sorry for myself, and during that time all I could think about was Yuki. That was when the family started to talk. The rumor was that a girl had moved into Shigure's house, and that Yuki had the hots for her. The rumor turned out to be true.

I knew immediately when I saw them together, that Yuki Sohma was in love. The way that he acted around Tohru, the endless blushing and the polite sweetness, was the same as the way he had acted around me back then. Yuki tried to keep it hidden, but everybody knew.

Yuki was unbearably insecure, and to make matters worse, he was nearly incapable of defining his emotions; if left to his own devices, he would lose Tohru to Kyo. I didn't want that to happen. Yuki deserved to be happy. On the other hand, I also knew that if Yuki did lose Tohru, it might re-open the door for me. It was because of this, because of my forever waiting for Yuki, that I blew it with Momiji.

Momiji was in love with me. He confessed this to me while we were walking home from school one day, and I had handled it poorly. First of all, I wasn't expecting it; the thought of us together had never even crossed my mind. Secondly, I was certain that at that time, Yuki was the one, and so I turned Momiji down.

"Is it Yuki?" He asked, his beautiful brown eyes filling with tears. "Is that it? You're not over him yet."

"It's mostly about Yuki," I had admitted. "I suppose it's also Rin. I'm still recovering, I guess. The truth is, you've been my best friend for so long, I wouldn't want to ruin it. I'm sorry, Momiji."

"It's okay," He said, smiling, although he had tears running down his face. "I understand, Haru. You're not in love with me, but can I ask you one favor?"

"Yes, Momiji, what is it?" I answered without thinking. I couldn't stand that I was hurting him; perhaps I could do something to make him feel better. "I will do anything. Just tell me what I can do?"

"A kiss," He said shyly, looking down at his feet. "Just one kiss, and if you don't like it, we never have to do it again. Just one okay?"

I stared at him, not sure what to do. I had just told him that I would do anything, and I didn't see how one little kiss could be of any harm.

"Okay, Momiji. Sure." I agreed, and he looked up at me with a giant grin on his face. That grin should have been my cue to run, because I knew how the little rabbit was. Momiji was used to getting his own way, and right now his own way was getting me.

'He really is very attractive,' I thought to myself, as I leaned down and wiped the tears from his face using the sleeve of my shirt. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he put his lips to mine, and kissed me. His lips were sinfully soft, and although it was obviously his first real kiss, he showed no fear. His tongue worked its way between my parted lips, eagerly searching and exploring, while his hands pushed up underneath my shirt and moved lightly along the skin of my back. I pulled back, breaking the kiss, and looked down upon his gentle face. He was like nectar, so sweet, and so pure. "More," He whispered and pulled me back into his kiss. I moaned, unable to control my desire, and he giggled.

"You like it," He whispered into my lips. "I'm going to change your mind. I'm planning to steal your heart from Yuki, so be ready."

"No." I whispered back, but I was lying. I already knew that he was right. The kiss was how he got me.

After that Momiji tortured me. He was already completely adorable; but to make matters worse, he gave up his girly girl attire in favor of a more boyish style, actually it was Yuki's style. Apparently, deciding to dress like Yuki wasn't quite enough, so he also cut his hair; and he got the exact same haircut as Yuki. In order to steal my heart, Momiji had become a little blond haired Yuki. The sad thing was that it worked, after that kiss I couldn't help but find him agonizingly desirable, and these other things were just icing on the cake. I fell head over heels in love with Momiji Sohma. Unfortunately for both of us, so did Akito.

I should have told him as soon as I figured it out. If I had told him, things never would have come to this. The problem was, I was afraid. In my life I had fallen in love two times, and both times I had been dumped. Two times I fell in love, and two times my heart was broken. If I allowed myself to be with Momiji, wasn't I just setting myself up for more pain? Out of sheer selfishness and stupidity, I kept my feelings to myself, and by doing this I placed my purest love into Akito's greedy hands.

**

I awoke to an excruciating pain from deep inside my skull. Since opening my eyes hurt too much, I kept them closed. What in the hell was wrong with my head? It felt like it was splitting in two, and I was thirsty, so very thirsty. I tried to sit up, but that only made my head hurt worse. What had happened? After leaving Kisa's house, I had walked to Akito's to pick up Momiji. Did I have an accident? Was I run over by a truck?

No, that wasn't quite right. I actually made it to Akito's house. I found the front door locked and although I knocked, no one had answered. 'They must have gone out for lunch.' I decided. I was about to sit down on the porch to wait when I heard Momiji scream.

Kicking the front door open, I rushed up the hall and ran into Yuki's old room. Momiji was striped down to his underwear. Akito had handcuffed him to the bedpost, and his back was bleeding from numerous lacerations.

"How dare you tease me you little bastard!" Akito hissed at him. Akito was standing over him, brandishing a thick black whip. He turned to me when I entered the room. "Why are you here, Haru? I don't believe that I invited you. I would like you to leave." Then he smiled and pulled his hand back to ready another strike. That was when I went black.

**

When I returned to myself, Akito was a naked pile of bloody flesh. I wasn't really certain what I had done to him, and I was positive that I didn't want to know. Momiji was unconscious. I found the key to the handcuffs in the pocket of Akito's robe. Releasing Momiji, I took a moment to quickly dress him. Then I wrapped him up in the blanket from Akito's bed, and I ran out the door screaming for Hatori.

**

"Haru? Are you awake?" Yuki asked soothingly.

"Yuki?" I whispered, and forced my eyes open. "My head, it's killing me."

"I'm not surprised. You've been out for quite awhile," Yuki informed me. "Hatori left me these pain pills. He said you might need them when you awoke." He poured some water into a glass, and handed me two small white pills. I put them in my mouth, trying not to choke as the cool water hit my parched throat.

"Is Momiji okay?" It was late at night, and although the room was darkened and my eyes unfocused, I could see well enough to notice that the other bed appeared to be empty.

"Momiji's right there, in the other bed. He transformed a little while after you fell asleep. Akito hurt him pretty badly; his back will probably be scarred for life, just like mine. Right now, Hatori is more concerned about his mental state than anything else."

"And what about Akito? Did I? Is he?"

"You didn't kill him, but Hatori said it was a close call. He won't be up and around anytime soon, but at least he's alive." Yuki said reassuringly, and took my hand into his own. He held it lightly, comfortingly. It brought me peace.

Closing my eyes, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was so certain that I had killed Akito; there had just been so much blood in that room. Momiji was okay, I had rescued him, and Akito was still alive. Beyond that I didn't want to think about anything. I cleared my mind, hoping that I might return to sleep. I drifted off. I was nearly gone when a loud pop signaled Momiji's return to his human form. 'He's back.' I thought, still drifting, letting the pain pills take their effect, wanting them to take me away. A moment later Momiji started screaming.

YUKI *

I looked up from the chair that I was resting in as Shigure entered the darkened room.

"How is Akito?" I asked him in an anxious whisper. Haru and Momiji had just recently fallen back asleep. Momiji had come to a short while ago. He had transformed in his sleep, and awakened with a loud penetrating scream. I had been sitting with Haru at the time, attempting to comfort him. I was literally knocked to the floor as Haru jumped out of his hospital bed and flew to the little blonde's side.

"Momiji!" Haru had cried, taking him into his arms and attempting to calm him.

"Haru, Akito… he." Momiji had started, his eyes full of fear. My heart twisted painfully. I recognized the look in Momiji's eyes, just as I had recognized the marks on his back. I recognized it, because I had lived it. I had no doubt as to what my innocent cousin had suffered through. It was unforgivable.

"Shhh. Don't worry, Momiji. I'm here. Akito will never hurt you again. Not ever." Haru promised. He picked the smaller boy up into his arms, supporting his naked body against his chest, and crawled into the bed beside him. His hands smoothed Momiji's blonde hair as he rocked him gently in his arms. I sat back in my chair, my eyes filling with tears. I wanted to say something, to do something, but I couldn't. I couldn't find any words.

"Haru. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault," Momiji whimpered, wrapping his arms tightly around Haru's neck and burying his face in Haru's chest. "He saw us, you told me to be careful, but I wasn't. I let him see."

"It's all right, Momiji. Please don't cry anymore. Sleep now. I'll protect you. I love you and I promise, no one will ever hurt you again."

My eyes widened, because I recognized the tone of Haru's voice. It was the same way that Haru had once spoken to me. It shocked me, even to the point of mild jealousy, to hear him using it with someone else. Haru was in love with Momiji. When had this occurred?

"You love me, Haru? But… but I thought that you said…. You said that you didn't." Momiji told him.

"I know, Momiji. I lied to you. I've loved you since the first day that we kissed. I'm sorry; I shouldn't have kept it from you for this long. Forgive me."

Haru put his lips against Momiji's, and they kissed each other tenderly.

I watched them, my cheeks reddening in embarrassment, because they had obviously forgotten that I was there, or perhaps they just didn't really care. I sat in my chair and I watched them as they kissed. I couldn't pull my eyes away. I was entranced by it, by its beauty, by their love. 'That could have been me,' I found myself thinking. If only I hadn't been so scared of my feelings for Haru. If I hadn't been so afraid that Akito would find out.

**

Shigure motioned to me with his head toward the door. He wanted me to follow him outside. I stood up from the chair, grabbed my jacket and stepped into my shoes, before I followed Shigure out into the snow. The storm had let up, but it was still freezing. I shivered as we spoke.

"Yuki, Hatori sent me over to ask you to come to the main house." Shigure told me.

"WHAT? WHY?" I asked. I hated the main house. Even if Akito was helpless, even if he was near death, it was the last place in the world that I ever wanted to be.

"He's calling for you, Yuki. Hatori has sedated him, but before that, he was calling for you. Yuki, I know how you feel about this, about him. But Akito could still die, Yuki, and he's asking for you."

"I can't," I begged him. "Shigure, please. I can't go into that house. Please don't make me."

"I won't force you to go, Yuki. You know that I won't, but take some time and think about it, okay? If you won't do it for Akito, do it for Haru and Momiji."

"What do you mean?" I wondered, my mind numb with fear at the idea of being anywhere near Akito Sohma. Even if he were dead, I would still fear him. I would always fear him, he had made certain of that.

"Haru beat Akito within an inch of his life, but Hatori believes that Akito will live, and that he will recover completely. If he does, he will most likely want to punish Haru and Momiji. Perhaps if you are there when he wakes up, you can talk some sense into him."

"Since when has Akito ever listened to me? When has he ever cared what I thought?"

"You're right, Yuki. It may not do any good, but whatever you may think of Akito, you know how he truly feels about you. You more than any other, more than Hatori, more than Kureno, you are the one that Akito loves. In that, you have power, you've just been too frightened to use it in the past."

"Why are you saying these things, Shigure? Why must you always speak such nonsense? Akito doesn't love me, all he has ever done is cause me pain."

"Yuki, Akito loves you, he always has. He has just never been taught how to show it."

"And you think that I could teach him? Are you out of your mind? Do you even listen to anything that you say? I won't do it. I'm sorry, but I won't stay here, and you can't make me."

"Okay, but will you at least think about it for awhile? I will talk to Hatori and let him know that you need some time. For now, why don't you go back inside the hospital and get some rest, all right?"

"I am not going to change my mind, Shigure."

"I understand, Yuki. We can leave in the morning if that's what you want. For now, just think things over. That is the only thing I will ask. Just tell me you will at least give it some thought."

"I will." I promised in order to get rid of him. I returned to the hospital. I spent my night awake watching Haru and Momiji as they slept. 'Akito loves me?' I wondered. Shigure was insane to think such things. From the moment that we met, all Akito has ever done is hurt me. What kind of a strange love is that? 'I won't do it. I can't.' I insisted. I was still talking myself out of it when Shigure returned in the morning for my answer.

****

End of Chapter Two.