Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Of Blood and of Ashes ❯ One-Shot

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket.

Aubrey: *Groans* Soooooo out of characterrrrrrr!!!!! *Faints* Oh…my…God…poor Haru. What have I done to you? *Sniffles and cries* I am soooooo sorry! I cannot write smut. Do not blame my co-author for this. *Sighs* Eep. Um, must stop being self-condescending. Anyway, um, this is co-written with my dear friend, Sunfreak! All is well, out of character or not. I do hope you guys enjoy this! *Grins*

"Oh my god, oh my god, Sohma-kun, I'm so sorry!" Tohru wailed anxiously, already scooping up the boy's now-discarded clothes and the boy- now rat- himself to quickly duck into the school janitor's closet with him before he changed back.

"It's all right, Miss Honda." Yuki sighed. No matter how many times he told her not to worry about it, she still was near tears every time she hugged him...or tripped into him, as was the case this time. "Really."

"But it's my fault! I'm so sorry!" Tohru wailed again as she turned to stand with her back to him- no desire to see cute boys naked before homeroom, thank you, it was just a little too distracting.

"But you didn't mean to, I'm sure." Yuki pawed lightly at her leg, trying to comfort her.

Tohru blushed and glanced down at him, automatically pressing her legs together. Yuki wouldn't look on purpose, she was sure, but she was sure they'd both be more comfortable if he didn't have to risk doing so accidentally. "Well, no . . ." she mumbled.

"So don't blame yourself for it." He continued, staring politely at her shoe.

"But it was still my fault," Tohru said miserably, shaking her head and squeezing her eyes shut. She always did this . . .

"If you're going to blame someone, blame the cat." Yuki suggested darkly. It had been Kyou who had been the round about cause for this, he was sure. How he was sure, he didn't know, but he was most definitely sure.

"But Kyou-kun wasn't even there, was he?" Tohru asked in confusion, her eyes opening again as she looked down at him bemusedly. "I mean, I didn't see him, but-" There was a sudden sharp rap at the door.

Yuki squeaked in surprise, most likely an effect of being the rat and hid behind a bucket. How degrading to be hiding behind a bucket. He could only pray that they left before he turned back.

"We freaking heard you in there, you two," Uo called from the hallway, crossing her arms in exasperation. "Yuki, you'd better not be doing anything to get Tohru-kun in trouble, you asshole, or Hana's going to do something really nasty with her electric waves."

Yuki froze from behind his bucket. 'Please go away!' He mentally screamed. 'Go away before I turn back!'

"Tohruuuu . . ." Uo called, knocking again. "We're waiting."

"Um, just a minute, please!" Tohru squeaked nervously- she couldn't open the door now, Hana and Uo would see that Yuki wasn't in the closet (or worse, that a rat was).

"I'll hide here, Miss Honda." Yuki whispered hurriedly. "Just make sure they don't come in. I'll catch up to you when my problem has ended."

Tohru nodded quickly, whispering another apology and slipping out the door, careful not to let the girls see inside.

"Don't do shit like this in school, you idiot!" Uotani yelled at Yuki, giving the door a nasty thump before they left. "Your fan club will kill Tohru if they catch you!"

Yuki slumped down, breathing a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, outside, a certain ox and rabbit were coming closer.

"Tohru!" Momiji called happily, skipping over. "We were looking for Yuki, have you seen him?"

Hatsuharu nodded, placing a hand on Momiji's shoulder protectively.

"Ummm . . ." Tohru blushed darkly, hiding her mouth behind her hands.

"Way too much of him," Uo grumbled darkly, jerking a thumb over her shoulder. "The perv's in the closet."

"But why is he..."Haru started, but then, catching the look on Tohru's face silenced and nodded acceptingly. "Oh. It happened again?"

"Haru!" Momiji scolded lightly. "I'm sure Tohru doesn't want to talk about it with us."

"You make it sound so dirty." Haru teased.

"Oh. My. God," Uo muttered, twitching slightly as she shoved her hair out of her eyes.

Hana gave the closet a considering look and started toward it, but Tohru caught her around the waist. "No, Hana-chan, please don't hurt him!" she squeaked. "It's not like that, I swear!"

"Oh." Haru snickered. "Did you think we were saying that they were having sex?"

"Did you go Black without telling me?" Momiji gave him a worried look, shrinking slowly away.

"Nope." He shook his head. "Just feeling unusually blunt. Hey, Tohru, can we talk to Yuki?"

"Oh, yes, he's just . . . um!" Tohru glanced at Uo and Hana worriedly and then waved her hands. "You know. Just."

"Yeah." Haru nodded, steering Momiji carefully into the closet. A few moments later they heard a rather loud, "What the hell were you thinking, Yuki?!"

"Oh dear," Tohru said worriedly as the other two steered her off.

"Bell rings in two minutes," Hana reminded her when she hesitated.

Meanwhile they also heard, "What do you mean tell the teacher you'll be late? What am I supposed to say? Do you have any idea how wrong it sounds to say that Yuki Sohma's still in the closet?" Then, momentarily Haru and Momiji exited the closet. "Tohru, Yuki's not feeling well, I'm going to take him home, okay? Can you make sure Momiji gets to class?"

"Um, yes, of course!" Tohru replied anxiously, wringing her hands together a bit. "I-Is he okay?" she asked as she bit her lip.

"Yuki's fine." Momiji explained. "But Haru kinda lost it for a few minutes back there. It's more a matter of embarrassment than anything else."

"Huh?" Tohru blinked in confusion. "What do you mean . . .?"

Momiji motioned for her to lean down and whispered in her ear. "He went Black for a minute, but he's fine now, don't worry about Yuki. Haru won't squish him or anything."

"B-but why?" Tohru squeaked, already worried.

"I'm not sure." He shrugged. "It's been happening a lot more often lately. I'm worried about him..." He added.

"But you just said not to!" Tohru yelped, eyes wide with fright. Uo groaned under her breath.

"I'm not worried about Yuki, I'm worried about Haru." He clarified.

"Oh . . ." Tohru blushed in embarrassment. "Then . . . should we take Haru to see Hatori, do you think?"

"I don't think he's sick..." Momiji struggled to find the proper wording. "I think he's...upset about something. But he won't tell me what's bothering him. Can you talk to him, Tohru? Please?"

"Tohru, the bell . . ." Uo reminded with a sigh, then just shook her head. "Never mind, we'll say you're at the nurse's. Go on." Tohru nodded gratefully.

"Thank you, tell him I went straight to class, okay? That'll make him happy." Momiji smiled.

"Yes, of course!" Tohru nodded again and then hurried back to the closet and slipped inside.

"Something's wrong." Yuki murmured from where he was positioned next to the bucket he'd been hiding behind. "It's taking far too long. Miss Honda, maybe I really should go home. Shigure might know what's wrong with me. Or if it's as simple as taking longer than usual."

"Oh noooo . . ." Tohru moaned, dropping to her knees next to him and covering her face with her hands. "I'm so sorry, Sohma-kun . . ."

"Miss Honda, could you take me? It wouldn't take as long for you to get there as it would for me." Yuki looked pleadingly at her. "Haru went on ahead to tell Shigure to expect me early." He added.

"Of course, Sohma-kun! But . . . how did he get past us?" Tohru blinked in confusion. "Why didn't he just take you himself?"

"I told him not to." He whispered half embarrassed. "Didn't Momiji tell you? He was in a...bad mood."

"Yes, but he said it was quick . . ." Tohru bit her lip. "What happened? He seemed okay before."

"Momiji tripped over a broom." He mumbled. "He...didn't like it."

"That Momiji tripped?" Tohru blinked, confused. "I don't understand, Sohma-kun."

"I don't get it either. But Haru's been over-protective of Momiji lately. It's odd."

"But to be upset for him tripping . . .?" Tohru wondered. "Momiji said he'd been oversensitive, but that much?"

"Haru's always been a bit oversensitive for a normal person, to be oversensitive for Haru is like a normal person being on the verge of a nervous breakdown." Yuki explained, climbing up into Tohru's hands.

"Oh, you're going to be stuck longer . . ." Tohru murmured, automatically cupping her hands around him carefully. She was so worried now.

"I'm afraid of that."

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, Momiji had followed Hana and Uo farther than he had needed too. "Miss Hanajima? Miss Uotani? Do you think Haru's alright?"

"I think he's just a prick," Uo grumbled sourly, shaking her hair out.

"He's not!" Momiji protested. "He's normally the most gentle, kind person you'd ever meet! He's upset over something. I hope he's alright..."

"His waves were erratic . . ." Hana mused aloud, brushing her own hair over her shoulder.

"What's that mean?" He frowned.

"Just . . . erratic," she murmured, waving a hand slightly. "Violent and cool, calm and hot. Like two people in one."

His eyes widened in terror for a moment, but then he smiled again. "Not too surprising."

"Isn't it?" Uo raised an eyebrow at him.

"It's not really news, of course," Hana shrugged.

"Haru's...different..." He murmured fondly, but then just grinned. "He's always done everything he could to protect me though!"

"Fucking better, not much of a friend if he doesn't," Uo grumbled, ruffling the boy's hair sharply. Momiji too easily came off as if he needed it.

"He's more than a friend." Momiji commented to himself, almost inaudibly.

"Ah, right, family," Uo realized with a sheepish grin.

"Something like that."

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, back in closet-ville . . . Tohru was trying to figure out how to hide a rat somewhere not indecent on her person. "Ummm . . ."

"How about your bag, Miss Honda?"

"I left it in the classroom . . ." she mumbled, biting her lip. "Um. Sohma-kun, do you think . . . I mean, can you stay really, really still? Just for a bit, until we're outside?"

"I think so." He replied. "Why?"

"Ummm . . ." Tohru turned bright pink. "I'm going to put you in my shirt, okay? It's the only place, really . . . otherwise we'll get in trouble."

"Miss Honda!" Yuki looked shocked, but nodded and allowed her to do so.

"I'm sorry!" she squeaked, even as she picked him up. "Just, um, hold on to my . . ." she blushed even darker, "you know . . . and I'll try to hurry."

He nodded again. Terrified at the prospect of being down a girl's shirt. But, he tried to be brave, so as to not upset Tohru. Things would be okay as long as he kept his eyes shut.

* * * * * *

"Shigure!" Haru yelled at from the front door of Shigure's house. "Open your damned door! Shigure!!!!"

"Is something wrong?" Shigure asked in amusement from behind him, raising an eyebrow.

"It's Yuki." Haru explained, annoyed by the cheerful attitude. "He's been in his Zodiac form way too long. Something's wrong with him."

"And how long is 'way too long'?" Shigure inquired dryly.

" 'Bout a half an hour before I left."

"Not the worst, but . . ." Shigure frowned slightly. "Where is he? Still at school?"

"I think Tohru's supposed to be bringing him home now."

"And you didn't because . . .?"

"Because...it's not a good time for me to be carrying passengers." He replied simply.

"Ah." Shigure's eyebrow lifted again. "Go hose yourself down, then. I'll wait for them."

"That's not what I meant!" He snapped. "I mean that it's getting worse! I went Black from Momiji tripping over a broom today!"

"That's . . . not good," Shigure muttered, wincing slightly. "Go to my room. Take a nap. I'll call Hatori for Yuki and he'll figure out what to do for you."

Haru nodded. "I know it's not good, that's why I didn't want to take Yuki home. Tohru'll get him back safe, though."

"Of course." Shigure grinned. "Now, you: inside. Stay . . . you know, calm. I'll be in with them in a bit."

He nodded and went inside right as Tohru came up to the house.

"Shigure-san!" she called eagerly, rushing up to him. "Shigure-san, Sohma-kun is- um, you talked to Haru, right?"

"Yes he talked to me!" Haru shouted, as a vase exited the house at relatively high speeds.

Tohru shrieked and automatically ducked even as Shigure quickly covered her.

"Hatsuharu!" Shigure snarled warningly. "Watch it!"

"I understand that he doesn't have full control over himself when he goes Black," Yuki commented. "But does he have to throw things?"

"Sorry!" Haru yelled back.

"I-It's okay, Hatsuharu-kun!" Tohru called back nervously, arms still over her head. Shigure just rubbed his shoulder where the vase had hit, looking pained.

"Haru?" Momiji called running up. "He did it again?" It was obvious that he was terrified of something bad happening. "He's loosing to it?"

"Calm down, calm down . . ." Shigure sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Everything is fine. Why are you not in school?"

"I told the teacher my cousins were sick and I needed to go check on them." He replied, slightly ashamed at his actions. "I had to make sure he was okay, Shigure!"

"He's fine, don't worry," Tohru said quickly. "But please go back to school, Haru might . . . um. You know, be upset- I promised to get you to class . . ."

"But..."He looked like he wanted to say more, but just nodded, his eyes filling with tears as he turned to go back.

"Ah, please don't cry!" Tohru squeaked in panic, her own eyes wide and worried.

"Tohru..." Yuki mumbled. "There's a reason that Momiji and Haru are closer than most of us."

"I'm sorryyyy!" she whimpered, looking close to tears herself.

"What's with all the glum faces?" Ayame asked, walking up. "And why aren't you three in school?"

"They're skipping to go do kinky things, I think," Shigure replied with a shrug, grinning at him.

"Ah." Ayame nodded. "Well, good luck. Why don't you and I go do our own kinky things?" He purred at Shigure. "I hear that bed calling..."

"That might not be the best idea." Yuki warned, Momiji in too much of a state to say much of anything.

"Oh?" Ayame blinked. "Why not?"

Tohru pointed towards the house sheepishly. "Hatsuharu-kun is upset . . ." she mumbled.

"Ah." Ayame repeated. "Well...maybe we can wait." He decided, sitting down on the porch, as Momiji gave out a small sob.

Tohru whimpered with nervousness and her hands fluttered slightly- she wanted to hug him, but obviously that would be a bad idea.

"Make him stop crying!" Haru yelled from inside, yet more inanimate objects flying out, narrowly missing Ayame.

"STOP THAT, YOU IDIOT!" Shigure roared, then turned back to the others with a perfect smile. "Anyway. Momiji, you're leaving now. Haru is being very, very bad today."

"But he..." Momiji sighed and looked sadly at the house. "It's not his fault."

"For now, let's assume it is." Shigure shooed him away. "Before someone else cries."

"But I know it's not!" Momiji protested. "I need to be with him! Maybe I can help him!"

"No," Shigure said firmly, expression perfectly serious. "Not until he talks to Hatori, at least."

"Shigure..." Haru spoke up softly from the doorway. "Get Hatori...get him now. Before I hurt someone."

"You'll come with me, of course?" Shigure smiled at Momiji. "And Tohru . . . you and Yuki and Ayame will stay in your room. I won't be long."

Momiji nodded and Yuki climbed back up into Tohru's hands.

"What about Kyou?" Ayame questioned. "Does he even know any of this is going on? And how long has Yuki been like that?"

"Almost an hour, now," Tohru said fretfully. "I haven't seen Kyou-kun at all, though."

"That's not good." He commented. "Tell you what, I'll take Yuki up to Tohru's room, she can go fill Kyou in on what's going on with Haru, okay?"

"Shigure...we need to go get Hatori for Haru now." Momiji reminded him.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming . . ." he sighed, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "Tohru, just call the office for Kyou- we don't want the school dragging you back to class just yet."

Momiji tugged on Shigure's sleeve. "Shigure! Hurry up!"

"Patience is a virtue . . . Be right back, Ayame."

Ayame nodded as Momiji tugged Shigure off towards the car. "Forget patience!" He ranted. "The longer we wait, the worse Haru gets!"

"Whoa, bunny," Shigure muttered as Momiji dragged him off.

"Come on." Ayame gestured for Tohru and Yuki to follow him. "Hurry, before he realizes that Momiji's gone."

"He didn't hear . . .?" Tohru scurried after him, however, Yuki cradled carefully in her arms.

"Most likely not." He pointed to the corner where Haru was curled up in a futile position. "But it won't be long until he figures it out, so hurry."

"Ah, right." Tohru hurried to the phone, dialing quickly. "Sohma-kun, Ayame-san, please watch him?"

"Haru?" Ayame blinked. "As long as there's nothing to upset him, he should be fine."

"I know, but Momiji just left-" Tohru began, then interrupted herself for the phone. "Oh! I need, um, I need to speak with Kyou Sohma- it's a family emergency."

"M...Momiji..."Haru whimpered. "Where are you?"

Ayame watched sadly as Haru waited expectantly for Momiji's reply.

"Kyou-kun, please come home," Tohru begged, glancing back to Haru nervously and tightening her grip on Yuki. "Haru's in trouble. And Sohma-kun, too . . ."

* * * * * *

"Do you think Haru's going to get better when we get Hatori to him, Shigure?" Momiji asked softly, staring out the car window.

"Hatori makes everything better," Shigure replied with a faint grin.

"But...can he fix whatever's wrong with Haru? I really...don't want to lose him..."

"We don't want to lose you, though," Shigure said, suddenly serious again. "So tell us when bad things happen with him."

"What do you mean? It hadn't been this bad before."

"He's been getting worse, right?" Shigure raised an eyebrow at him. "You both should've come to us sooner."

"It wasn't this noticeable before...I mean, yeah, he freaked out in the beginning of the school year, but that was the worst of it until now."

"I suppose," Shigure said carefully, "but before today? How recent is this?"

"Him being this bad?" Momiji blinked, thinking. "Three days. It happened really suddenly, I didn't think much of it though. It was just Haru trying to help...except that he wasn't helping, was he, Shigure?"

"No, not really."

"He didn't remember doing it...it was like he had blacked out while it was happening, just like always. But, today he knew. He remembered throwing that vase at Tohru..." His eyes filled with tears again. "I'm sorry, Shigure. If I had thought he was in danger, I would have told you, I swear!"

" . . . What didn't he remember?" Shigure tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing.

"When he went Black. He didn't remember doing anything that he did. Was he supposed to?"

"He shouldn't not."

"Oh no..."

"Calm down. It's nothing new . . ." Shigure sighed.

"Huh?" Confusion. It sets in on the young.

"He's always like this, isn't he?" Shigure shrugged. "I think we hoped it would go away, you know?"

"Oh." He mumbled. "So...he's supposed to remember stuff, but he never does?"

"Do you have blackout sessions?" Shigure replied dryly.

"I don't have a split personality." Momiji reminded him.

"So?" Shigure shrugged.

"So...isn't it different for him?"

"It's still one brain, Momiji," Shigure said tiredly. "And if he remembers doing things suddenly when he never did before . . ."

"How much longer until we get to Hatori, Shigure?" He questioned urgently.

"Almost there." Shigure gave him a quick smile.

"Good..."

* * * * * *

Kyou got home in record time, slamming the front door open and glowering at the house in general.

"Everyone here? Come on, all." Ayame led the way up to Tohru's room. "Fill in time. I don't know exactly what's going on, so why don't you explain, Tohru?"

"Um. Sohma-kun is broken," Tohru mumbled. "And Haru."

Yuki glanced at Kyou, gauging his reaction.

Kyou just blinked. "This is news?" he asked flatly.

"He's more broken than normal." Yuki elaborated.

"And you, rat?" Kyou raised an eyebrow at him. "Why're you lettin' Tohru hold you? You'll never turn back at that rate."

"At the rate I was going before I wasn't turning back anytime soon anyway."

"Eh?" Kyou blinked in confusion.

"Sohma-kun isn't changing back, Kyou-kun," Tohru said softly.

Ayame blinked. "At all?"

"Um. No." Tohru shook her head. "He walked away from me all the way home but never did . . ."

"That isn't good." He commented. Yuki glanced at Kyou, again, to see how he was reacting to it.

Kyou was absolutely silent, just staring at a blank space in the air. "Not . . ."

"Not what?" He asked, trying to ignore the frantic screaming from Haru.

"God, I really hate you sometimes," Kyou muttered darkly, his hands clenching into fists.

"It's not my fault that I can't change back."

"Momiji! Where are you?!" Haru shrieked from the main room.

"Do I need to beat him down?" Kyou muttered tightly. "Please tell me I do, 'cause I can't hit the fuckin' rat when he's like this."

"I don't think you should bother him right now, Kyou." Yuki advised. "He's been going Black at the smallest things today. Don't do anything stupid."

"Good." Kyou grinned darkly and cracked his knuckles. "Back in five."

"I told you not to do anything stupid!" Yuki shouted after him. "He threw stuff at Tohru, Kyou!"

Kyou's grin vanished and his expression grew even darker. That had not been a good way to convince him to stay away from Haru.

"Oh no . . ." Tohru gulped.

"Don't get yourself killed."

"I haven't yet." Another crack of knuckles and he started for the door.

"NO!" Tohru shrieked, jumping after him. "Please, no fighting!"

"Tohru I wouldn't..." Poof! "Do that..."

"I'm sorry!" She dropped Kyou instantly, and he landed hissing, hair bristling.

"Well...now you're not going to be fighting Haru." Yuki commented. "For a while at least. Besides, I think Momiji might murder you if you hurt him."

"I can fight you now, though, so watch your mouth, rat," Kyou snarled, his ears flat.

"I wasn't being sarcastic. I honestly think Momiji might kill you if you hurt him."

"Whatever," Kyou sneered. "Like I give a fuck right now."

* * * * * *

"Hatori!" Momiji called, running up to the brown haired man. "You've gotta come quick!"

Shigure, however, was already dragging the man by the wrist.

"Do I even want to ask what's going on, Shigure?" Hatori questioned, allowing himself to be led by the other man.

"No," Shigure said with a sigh, "you don't."

"Ah. I see, okay then, you can explain in the car."

"Mm-hmm." Shigure kept dragging.

"How far away did you park?"

Shigure didn't bother answering, as they'd just turned a corner and were now ten feet from the car.

"Oh." They entered the car and Momiji sat in the back. "Okay now, what are you getting me into this time?"

"I wish I knew. Momiji . . . you're up."

"Haru's going Black at random, becoming a crazed psycho, throwing things at people, blacking out at random, and Yuki isn't turning back from his zodiac form."

"Oh." Hatori muttered. "Now I see why you didn't want to tell me."

"Pretty much." Shigure gave him a falsely relaxed smile.

"Quit faking it. I know you're worried."

"Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Understanding me. And put on your damn seatbelt, Momiji."

Momiji obeyed, suddenly scared. Was Shigure going crazy too?

"Shut up. It's my job to understand you."

"Doesn't mean I want you to." Shigure sighed and concentrated on the road.

"I'm your friend. I've known you for God knows how long. I'm going to understand you."

"Yes, well . . ." Shigure shrugged loosely.

"Care to explain exactly what Haru did?"

"Threw something at Tohru," Shigure replied flatly, his grip on the wheel tightening.

"He what?" Hatori blinked. "What'd he throw?"

"Vase." Shigure grimaced. "I'm going to have a bruise from it, I fucking know it."

"Did he do anything else out of the ordinary?"

"Yeah, he remembered it," Shigure answered with another grimace.

Hatori "And now he's not."

His frown deepened. "Not good..."

"Hatori," Momiji half whimpered. "What's wrong with Haru?"

"Not sure yet..."

"Which doesn't mean he won't be," Shigure said lightly.

Momiji nodded. He had to be strong, for Haru.

* * * * * *

"Where is Shigure?" Ayame wondered, looking out the window, looking for Shigure's car.

"Who gives a fuck?" Kyou asked darkly, still pulling on his shirt.

"Shigure has Hatori, genius." Yuki responded.

"So what?" Kyou snapped, glowering at him. "We're in hell already, why bother fixing it? It's just going to get worse later." He was not in a good mood. Yuki as that rat forever? No. No.

"Look, I understand that you're upset about Haru trying to hurt Tohru, so am I, but would you really describe it as hell?"

"That's not it," Kyou said in frustration. "He's . . . broken. Like Tohru said. We all are. And we keep hurting each other... "

"We're not broken." Yuki sighed. "We're...different. So's Haru. And Hatori's going to fix him."

"Sure he is," Kyou said coldly, crossing his arms across his chest. "And fucking pigs will fly, rat. You can't fix him."

"Who says?"

"I don't know, fucking medical science?" Kyou sneered. "Few hundred years of us all being this way?"

"I didn't say that Hatori was going to cure him of being a Zodiac member. I said he was going to fix his mind."

"I know that, I'm not an idiot," Kyou snapped, yanking on his own hair. "I mean, we're all fucked up in the head. He's just one of the worst."

"Maybe. But we've got to try to help him. Do it for Momiji, Kyou."

"What-fucking-ever," Kyou growled, then glared out the window. "Your idiots are back."

Ayame clapped happily and ran downstairs to meet them. Yuki sighed. He'd wanted to go help Haru too, but the chances of that were very slim at the moment.

"Hari!" Ayame cried joyfully. "He's been getting worse since you left, Shigure. Never stopped screaming for Momiji."

"Great . . ." Shigure looked pained. "Give you any trouble? Or did Kyou keep him down?"

"He wanted to. But, Tohru decided to show her affection. But no, he just sat there and cried the whole time."

"Ohgod." Shigure winced.

"What?" Ayame blinked. "That's better than physical aggression, right?"

"Just a horrible mental image . . ." Shigure grumbled. "At least my house is in one piece, though."

Momiji stepped cautiously into the room, then saw Haru and ran over, embracing him. He was followed by Hatori. "Haru, I want you to look at me." Hatori murmured, to which Haru only sobbed harder into Momiji's shoulder. "Hatsuharu, look at me."

"Damnit," Kyou grumbled as he finally came down the stairs, dragging Tohru, who was cradling Yuki carefully again.

Slowly, Haru directed his eyes so that they were facing Hatori. Raising his head up he trembled for a moment. "Help me Hatori."

Kyou bit back a sharp statement, for once. Shigure just sighed slowly.

"Please...I don't want to...hurt anyone anymore. Especially not Momiji."

"I'm going to try to help." Hatori murmured. "But you're going to have to let me. Keep it repressed."

He nodded trembling still. "I can try."

"Still think we're all unsaveable, Kyou?" Yuki asked quietly from Tohru's arms.

"Yes," Kyou muttered under his breath.

"But...Haru-"

"Haru's going to get better now." Momiji smiled up at Hatori. "Right, Shigure?"

"Right." Shigure grinned. "Now, all of you get the fuck back to class."

"Even me?" Yuki questioned dryly.

". . . okay, not you," Shigure allowed. "But the rest of you!"

"Haru too?" Momiji asked hopefully.

"Not Haru." Shigure shook his head. "Not yet."

Momiji looked disappointed, but Haru put his index finger under the younger's chin. "Hey, I'm going to get better for you, you hear?" Momiji nodded.

"See what I was telling you, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked. "They're closer than the rest of us."

"Yes." She smiled down at him. "I'm really glad."

"I'll be back soon, Haru." Momiji told him, lunging a huge hug onto Haru.

"I know, Momiji. I'll be waiting."

"Are you lot ever leaving . . .?" Shigure grumbled. Kyou glared at him.

"Come on." Momiji smiled from the doorway. "The sooner we go, the sooner we get back."

"No, actually, 'cause school still let's out at the same time . . ." Kyou snorted, even as he followed the other.

"Well...that's true, but it's almost over by now anyway."

"Except for the last four hours, right?" Kyou rolled his eyes.

"Except for those."

* * * * * *

"Miss Hanajima!" Momiji called to Hana as school let out.

"Yes?" She paused and gave him a calm look.

"Tell me, did you know about me and Haru all along?"

"Your waves mesh nicely," she remarked after a moment.

"Thought so." He smiled, before running off. He had to get home. Hatsuharu was waiting for him.

* * * * * *

"Hey, Kyou?" Yuki spoke up a few weeks later.

"What is it?" Kyou muttered sourly.

"Why were you so upset when you found out I was stuck like this?" Yuki asked.

"I can't fight you like that," Kyou growled, glowering at him.

"That all?"

"Just shut up, rat."

"Seriously, I want to know."

"Well, seriously I don't wanna talk to you!" Kyou yelled.

"I'm just going to keep following you until you give up." Yuki told him, grabbing a hold of one of his pant legs.

"Do you want me to step on you?"

"You've already came close to it six times since you came home this afternoon."

"And believe me, nothing would make me happier than to!" Kyou snapped, speeding up.

"I have very good grip."

"Fucking enjoy yourself, then," Kyou said through gritted teeth.

"Tell me why you were so effected and I'll leave you alone."

"I'm just pissed off, okay?!" Kyou yowled. "I don't need a reason with YOU around!"

"Tell me why, or I'll go get Shigure or Ayame to get it out of you."

"Let them try!" Kyou snarled.

"Why?"

"I. Don't. Want. To. TALK."

"Why?"

"Stop saying that!"

"Tell me why and I'll stop asking."

"Fuck if I will!" Kyou growled.

"Why?"

" . . . I'm not talking to you anymore."

"Why not? All I wanted you to do was answer a simple question. One that I'm involved in, by the way."

Kyou ignored him.

"C'mon, Kyou, just answer the one question! Do I need to send Kagura after you?"

Further ignoring.

"Fine, ignore me. I'll find out eventually." He then let go and scampered off. Upon passing by Tohru's room, he heard two voices talking. One was Tohru, of course, but the other was...Momiji?

"Guess what, Tohru!"

"Hm?" Tohru blinked, glancing up from her homework.

"Hatori says that Haru's getting his control back. He can come home soon!"

"Ah, that's wonderful!" Tohru enthused, forgetting the work altogether and clapping happily.

"He overcame a great thing in a very short amount of time."

"Yes, it's so good to hear . . ." Tohru smiled softly.

"I've really missed him, you know."

"I know," Tohru replied, smile a little sad. "We all have."

"Tohru, did Yuki ever tell you what was going on between me and Haru?"

"He said you were very close." The smile sweetened again. "Most of all."

"It's more than that. I love Haru so much that it hurts when he's not near me. I am so happy that he's coming home."

"I know," she repeated, petting the boy's hair.

"You knew?"

"Kyou-kun said so," Tohru explained, nodding.

"Kyou? When?"

"Oh, a little while ago . . ." She suddenly blushed. "Um. I shouldn't talk about this."

"Why not? It's my and Haru's secret that everyone's blabbing around."

"Um, that's not why . . ." Tohru's blush deepened. "Just, the way it came up . . ."

"What happened?"

"We were talking about the people we liked," she explained. "Kyou was jealous of you two."

"Jealous? Why?"

"You have a relationship." Tohru shrugged. "Kyou doesn't think he can have that . . ."

"Who's he want to be with?"

"Ahhh . . ." Tohru blushed again. "Promise you won't tell?"

"Cross my heart."

"It's, um . . . Sohma-kun," Tohru said quietly, biting her lip.

"Yuki?!" He gasped. From the hallway, Yuki felt his heart jump to his throat.

"Shhhh!" Tohru clapped a hand over the other's mouth. "You can't tell, remember!"

"I won't." He smiled.

He wouldn't need to anyway, Yuki thought, he already knew. Quickly running into the kitchen he found Kyou. Jumping up beside him be met Kyou in the eye. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Kyou asked in irritation, forgetting the silent treatment.

"That you like me."

"What the fuck, I do not!" Kyou sputtered in disbelief, cheeks turning crimson. "You're the rat!"

"I overheard Momiji and Miss Honda talking." He continued. "Why didn't you tell me, Kyou Sohma?"

"Wait, what?" Kyou blinked in confusion.

"You heard me."

"Fine, so maybe I don't always hate you." Kyou scowled at him. "But you're an asshole and I'm going to kick your ass as soon as you're human again."

"You mean if I'm human again."

"Shut up." Kyou glowered at him.

"It's a possibility we're both going to have to face, Kyou."

"Fuck it." Kyou turned away from him. "Whatever. See if I give a shit."

"You do. You know you do." He murmured softly.

"Hey, Kyou, Yuki, Haru's coming home soon!" Momiji said happily.

"Whoop-dee-fucking-doo," Kyou snapped.

"What's wrong with you?" Momiji asked, calming down a bit. "I thought you would've been happy that Haru's getting better."

"Just. Giddy," Kyou bit off. Not angry at all that Haru was fine and Yuki wasn't.

"What's wrong?" He asked again. "Are you angry at Haru for something?"

"Nothing's wrong!"

"Something is."

"No, it is not."

"Kyou," Yuki murmured softly, "Hatori looked at me before he left with Haru. There was nothing he could do."

"I know that, for God's sake!" Kyou hissed.

"Then don't blame Haru for it."

"I'm. Not."

"Kyou," Momiji said, catching on, "Hatori didn't even know the cause of what happen to Yuki. It's never happened before."

"Why are you both fucking repeating this shit?!" Kyou half-screeched.

"To get it into your head." Yuki growled, jumping down and starting to run off.

Kyou snatched him up angrily. "Hey! I know it already! Stop bitching at me!"

"There's one more thing you need to remember, Kyou." Yuki stated. "They. Can't. Fix. Me. Haru's problem was a mental illness, not a physical alteration. There is nothing anyone can do about it if it doesn't undo itself."

Kyou just glared at him. "Asshole," he hissed bitterly. "I want to fight you again." Touch you again.

"I know." Yuki nodded. "You can only hope that this thing ends soon."

"Fuck it." Kyou dropped him on the counter, turning away again.

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere," Kyou growled. "Just . . . nowhere."

"Then if you're going nowhere anyway, stay here with me."

Kyou turned around and glared at him again, but sunk to the floor silently.

"Thank you." He nodded. "Momiji, could you help me down please?" Momiji nodded, placing Yuki on the floor, where he ran over and curled up in Kyou's lap.

"I hate you," Kyou said bitterly, hanging his head and giving Yuki another pained glower.

Yuki nodded. "I understand."

"You fucking asshole, you never do." Kyou squeezed his eyes shut. " . . . Momiji. Go away now."

He nodded and turned to leave. "I wanted to make sure that Shigure knew about Haru, anyway."

"Whatever," Kyou said tonelessly, fingers brushing Yuki's back listlessly.

"Kyou?"

"Come back," Kyou said quietly. "Please. I don't want you to be the rat anymore."

Yuki nuzzled further down into Kyou's lap and hand. "I would give anything to come back for you, but I don't know how. I don't think I have any control over this."

"I know," Kyou muttered. "I fucking hate it, though. Can't stand the rat."

"Does that mean that you can't stand me...when I'm like this?"

"I'm sorry . . ." Kyou's hand shook slightly, even as he stroked the other's back once. "But I just . . . I look at you, and I think about it. All the time."

"I...I'm sorry, I wish this had never happened."

"Yeah, like you'd want it to?" Kyou just snorted, eyes falling shut. "Fuck it."

"I love you..." He murmured. "I want what Momiji and Haru have. I want it with you."

"Damnit." Kyou's shoulders tensed. "Don't say that. Not now."

"Why not now? How is now any different than yesterday?"

"Can't say it back to that body," Kyou replied tightly, eyes still closed. "Not . . . not that body."

"...oh." Yuki mumbled, standing and started to walk away. "I...guess I'll leave you alone then, since you can't stand to look at me."

"Just stop it," Kyou moaned, dragging him back with one hand, hating to touch the rat but knowing it was Yuki.

"Tell me you love me."

"I can't," Kyou muttered. "Damnit, Yuki. Not the rat."

"Then close your eyes and pretend your talking to the real me. If you can't do it, even then, then...I guess it's not real."

"Don't say that to me!" Kyou hissed darkly, glowering at him. "Do you have any idea how much I hate this?!"

"Yes." He stated. "I do. Because I hate it so much more. Damnit! I care so much about you that it hurts. I feel like I'm frozen and on fire at the same time. All I want is to be with you, but you hate me because of this stupid curse."

"Why do you think I'm trying so hard?" Kyou said bitterly, shoving his hair out of his eyes. "That fucking form . . . it scares me."

"What...?" He whispered in terror. "I...I scare you?"

"Not you. The rat." Kyou looked away.

"There's virtually no difference now."

"Don't say that!" Kyou yelled.

"It's the truth, isn't it?" He whimpered, shrinking back. "The minute I find a way to undo this I will, but until then I am this damned thing!"

"You aren't," Kyou hissed, glaring at him. "The rat . . . it's a liar and- and traitor and- and it doesn't care about anyone else! That's not you."

"I'm sorry." He said again. "I wish I'd been born to a different year, or a different family, or something! Something to save you from this grief."

"Just shut up," Kyou snapped. "Don't be stupid."

"But I thought I scared you like this."

"The rat scares me."

"You could pretend I'm a mouse?" Yuki suggested.

Kyou stared at him for a moment, and then burst into laughter. "You- idiot!"

"What?" He huffed. "It might've worked."

"Dumbass . . ." Kyou grinned weakly.

"Whether you can say it back or not, Kyou, I still love you."

"Thank you," Kyou replied quietly, breathing out slowly.

Yuki nodded. "Hey, everybody!" Momiji called. "Shigure's going to take me to go see Haru, anyone else want to come?"

"Not now, Momiji," Kyou muttered from the floor, not even looking up from Yuki.

"He'll be back soon anyway. We'll say hi to him then." Yuki agreed.

"Yeah . . ." Kyou nodded quietly.

"Okay then." Momiji smiled. "I'll tell him you said hi."

"'Kay." Kyou's fingers tightened around Yuki, still barely touching him.

"You really can't tell me, can you?"

"I'm sorry," Kyou said quietly. "Not . . . not the rat. Yuki, yes, even with . . . everything. But not the rat."

"I'm not the rat. You said so yourself. So, don't tell the rat. Tell me."

"Want to," Kyou muttered. "So fucking bad. But in that body, I just . . ."

"Close your eyes." Yuki repeated. "And see only me."

Kyou's hands flickered away from the other uneasily. "Yuki . . ." he mumbled weakly. "I . . . "

"Just me." He repeated.

"Yuki," Kyou repeated quietly as he closed his eyes and tried to think of him as he was supposed to be. The thin fingers and too-beautiful face and distant expressions . . .

"It's just you and me now. Not the cat and the rat, but Yuki and Kyou Sohma."

"But . . ." Kyou tensed up, still not opening his eyes. "I just . . ."

"Think about me. Not my animal. Just me."

"I can't . . ." Kyou shuddered and looked at him again. "I'm sorry. I . . . I want to be able to look at you when I say it . . ." he whispered. "See your face again."

"I...understand." He nodded again, this time he actually made it to the door. "Shigure, are you still here?"

"What is it?" Shigure paused, glancing back to him.

"While your there anyway...I want you to take me to Akito. See if he can help my...problem."

" . . . what?" Shigure blinked.

In the kitchen, Kyou went stiff.

"I...want to see if Akito can help me." He repeated. "No one else can."

"Are you fucking insane!?" Kyou screeched.

"I want to get better. For you." He said softly.

"No!" Kyou snarled, getting to his feet and storming up to him. "You're not going near him!"

"But if he can fix this so that you can see my face again..."

"I don't care!" Kyou yelled, fists clenching. "I'll- I'll figure out a way to say it! Just don't go back there!"

"I'm willing to face my greatest fear for you..."

"Well I'm not willing to let you!"

"You're...not?"

"Don't make me repeat myself, Yuki!" Kyou hissed.

"But...I'm not human anymore." He whimpered. "I'll never be able to kiss you or...anything."

"Don't be stupid," Kyou hissed, dropping to his knees again even as Shigure's eyes widened slightly. "I don't care about that. Not if you can stay away from him."

"I..." He let out a choked laugh and ran forward, burring his face into Kyou's stomach. "I love you so much."

"Thank you," Kyou said quietly again, half-cradling the other. It was really as much as he could say.

"Oh my . . ." Shigure blinked slowly.

"Oops." Yuki cringed slightly at that. "I forgot to mention that, didn't I, Shigure?"

"Just a bit . . .?" Shigure blinked again. "Ah. So . . . who wears the dress?" he asked finally.

Yuki gave him a long, hard stare. "Who fits into a dress, Shigure?"

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Kyou squawked.

"That I'm six inches tall and your not."

"So we'll buy a fucking Barbie doll," Kyou sniped in retort.

"Fair enough."

"Idiot," Kyou grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"You know..." He thought about it for minute. "Really, what we're doing isn't that much different than what Haru and Momiji are doing, or Ayame and Shigure. I don't think even Akito can come up with a valid argument against it."

"Besides the good ol', 'I don't want you to so deal'?" Kyou muttered darkly.

"What're you talking about?"

"If Akito doesn't want us to . . . you know he won't let us." Kyou shrugged. "That's all."

"He didn't care about Shigure and Ayame, or Momiji and Haru." Yuki reminded him.

"Cared about Hatori and you-know-who, though . . ."

Yuki growled slightly. Kana. It's true, Akito had cared about the relationship Hatori and Kana had had together. He'd put an end to it. "But I won't let him mess with my memories." He assured Kyou.

"I don't care if you lose yours," Kyou said quietly. "I just don't want to lose mine. I don't want to hurt you that way."

"Maybe I care if I lose mine." Yuki retorted as Momiji ran down the hall, bouncing and skipping occasionally.

"I'm ready, Shigure!"

"Eh?" Shigure tore his eyes away from the other two. "Oh! Right, yes."

"Did you forget about Haru?" He asked suspiciously.

"Uhhh . . ." Shigure coughed slightly, fumbling for his car keys. "Look at the time, let's hurry!"

Momiji nodded and headed out for the car.

"Will you be able to stand to look at me if I'm stuck like this?" Yuki asked quietly.

"Don't ask stupid questions," Kyou muttered, stroking him gently.

"I...don't want things to work out for us like they did for Hatori and Kana."

"I know." Kyou sighed.

"Yuuuuu...ki, I'm leaving now." Ayame turned to leave the hall when he saw Kyou and Yuki, but then thought better of it turning back to them. "Getting along better?"

"You can go away now," Kyou grumbled, glowering at him, irritated to be interrupted.

Ayame put up no argument for once. "You too look cute together." He added, leaving the hall.

"Shut up, asshole!" Kyou yelled, blushing darkly.

"He was trying to be nice." Yuki murmured. "That's just his way."

"Since when do you get along with him so well?" Kyou muttered, still red-faced.

"I don't. But he really is trying to be nice."

"Fucking creepy on him . . ."

Yuki laughed a little. It was small, but it was there. A real, actual, laugh. The kind only Tohru usually got out of him.

Kyou gave him a faint smile. "Feel any better?"

He nodded. "A bit."

"Good," Kyou muttered.

"I want to change back. There's so much I can't do like this. I can't be with you, not really anyway."

"I don't care."

"You don't? But earlier, just a few minutes ago you said..." He cut off short, happy tears filling his eyes.

"Aw, crap, don't do that," Kyou mumbled, shaking his head.

"Sorry..." Yuki mumbled, his fur wetting from the tears.

"Jerk." Kyou stood up, holding Yuki carefully in the crook of his arm.

"Sorry." He repeated.

"Stop saying that."

"But I am." Yuki explained, looking confused.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Kyou sighed.

"I keep upsetting you, don't I?"

"Not your fault."

Suddenly he laughed. Short, bitter, but laughter. "I'm acting like Tohru."

"Worse," Kyou grumbled past a snicker.

Yuki nodded, chuckling slightly. "I'm..." he stopped and met Kyou's eyes. "Not going to apologize again."

"Thank you!" Kyou laughed, smirking at him.

Slowly, cautiously, a small pink tongue snuck out from his furry white mouth, licking carefully, yet affectionately, at Kyou's arm.

"I...love you." He murmured again.

"Thank you." Kyou brushed his fingers down the other's back again, leaning back against the wall and breathing out slowly.

"You're welcome."

"So now what?" Kyou asked with a weak grin.

"Hmm..." Yuki pondered, but just then, the door burst open and Momiji ran in, grinning madly.

"We're back! And guess who doctor Hatori let out early?"

"Haru . . .?" Kyou looked up, blinking in surprise.

Low and behold, there, a few feet behind Momiji stood none other than Hatsuharu Sohma. But there was something different about him. His gaze was almost carefully empty as he nodded, silently.

"You okay?" Kyou asked slowly as Shigure came in behind him, kicking off his shoes.

"Been better." He murmured.

"At least he's in one piece," Shigure sighed.

Yuki blinked. "Shigure? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course." Shigure smiled quickly. "Kitchen?"

Yuki nodded and looked up at Kyou, asking him to let himself and Shigure talk alone.

Kyou set him down carefully. "'m goin' to the roof," he mumbled.

"We'll be done in a few minutes." Yuki promised.

Kyou just nodded and left.

"Did you have a question?" Shigure glanced down at the rat as he headed into the kitchen.

"Yes." Yuki nodded. "What did Hatori tell you? Why's he acting like that?"

"Black and White don't mix well."

"I could have figured that out on my own. Now, what did Hatori tell you?"

"That is what he told me." Shigure shrugged.

"Oh. How uninformative." He mumbled. "Did he mention how long it would take him to get over it? Anything we can do to help?"

"Yuki, it's . . . it's a mental thing, you know that." Shigure pressed his lips together tightly. "He could get over it tomorrow. He could have it forever. It's just . . . Black and White are both trying to dominate and neither can."

"I...know that. I was just curious if he had any idea. How's Momiji taking it."

"I honestly can't tell." Shigure shrugged again, shoving his hair out of his eyes.

"Is he trying to hide it?"

"Can't tell that either." Shigure chuckled weakly. "Not much help, am I."

"Not much, no."

"You don't have to agree!" Shigure put on a wounded look.

"You wanted the truth, didn't you?"

"Did I ask for it?

"Not technically, but I know you wanted it, deep, deep down."

"Shut up, you." Shigure sniggered. "Go bother your boyfriend or Tohru-kun."

"I can't get to my boyfriend."

"Then go bother Tohru-kun!" Shigure laughed.

"Hmm..." He thought about it for a minute. "Okay. She'll probably want to know that Haru's home anyway. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her since I was eavesdropping on her and Momiji earlier."

"Eavesdropping . . .?" Shigure snorted. "Yuki-kun, I'm ashamed. Didn't I raise you better than that?"

"You tried. I am short though, and passing through the hallways when others are talking can get one very interesting information."

"I'll keep that in mind," Shigure replied dryly. "Get thee gone, vandal."

"Quit whining, you."

"Shoo, or I'll put out the rat poison."

"Don't you think I'm smart enough to avoid that?"

"Not if it's in Tohru-kun's cooking." Shigure grinned.

"Wouldn't you guys get poisoned too?"

"We have bigger bodies." Shigure smiled down at him. "Enough to kill you would just give us tummy aches, and I'm willing to make that sacrifice."

"I think I'll go visit Tohru now."

Shigure grinned again. "Good boy."

"Miss Honda!" Yuki called. "Haru's home!"

"I, um, know, Sohma-kun," Tohru said sheepishly from behind him.

"Oh." Yuki sweat dropped.

Tohru smiled at him and leaned over the pick him up. "Is Sohma-kun okay, too?"

"All things considering."

"That's good." Tohru's smile widened.

"I'm worried about Haru though."

"Yeah . . ." Tohru bit her lip, expression falling. "He seems very distant today . . ."

"Shigure wouldn't tell me much. Just that Black and White don't mix well."

"But wouldn't they just be grey . . . ?" Tohru blinked.

"On the colour spectrum, not the Shigure spectrum."

"But . . . still." Tohru frowned in confusion.

"Actually it would be the Haru spectrum."

"Oh." Tohru bit her lip. "Oh . . ."

"Yeah."

"Haru, come back!" Momiji called chasing after Haru.

"Where is Kyou?" He asked Tohru softly.

"He went upstairs." She pointed. "To the roof, I think . . ."

He nodded, beginning to walk up the stairs. "Thank you."

"Do you need help?" Tohru asked. "To get up there?"

"My mind was screwed with, not my body, thanks."

"Sorry." She looked embarrassed. "Just worried."

"Don't." After he reached the roof, he walked over, tapping Kyou sharply on the head. "Kyou."

"What is it?" Kyou muttered.

"It's about Yuki."

"What about him?" Kyou asked defensively, glaring up at him.

"Hatori told me to tell you that he still has no idea what's wrong with him, but- he may have found a cure for it."

"What the fuck?" Kyou stared at him. "That makes no sense."

"That's what I told him you'd say." Haru snickered. "But it won't hurt any involved parties, even if it doesn't work."

"What is it?" Kyou asked suspiciously. "And who the fuck are the 'involved parties'?"

He snickered again; crouching down he leaned in forward, stopping a few inches away. "Tell me, Kyou, have you ever read a European story called The Frog Prince?"

Kyou blinked, opened his mouth, and then fell over and rolled off the roof.

"You're an idiot." Haru commented, catching his wrist before Kyou fell to a rather painful end.

"What the fuck is this?!" Kyou squawked in outrage. "A fucking kiss?!"

"Hatori think it'll work."

"And who the fuck is doing it?" Kyou asked darkly.

"His true love."

" . . . " If Haru hadn't still been holding his wrist, Kyou really would've fallen off the roof.

"I thought you knew the story."

"It was a freaking hot princess, not some 'true love' bullshit!" Kyou yowled.

"He figured that we wouldn't have a princess on hand, so this would have to work."

"Yuki's the closest we've got to one of those," Kyou snorted, shaking his head.

"And yet he can't kiss himself."

" . . . could try," Kyou grumbled sulkily.

"Good! Then you agree to do it." Haru grinned standing and turning to leave, dragging Kyou behind him. "Hatori said that it was more likely to work the sooner we get it done."

"Wait, I agree to what?!" Kyou shrieked in panic, trying to dig his heels in. "No! No way do you seriously think I'm doing this!"

"You know you two could be at least a little careful if you're trying to keep a secret." He commented, rubbing the back of his head, fingers tangling into black and white strands. "Or at least wait for Momiji to leave the room first."

"Fucking ass!" Kyou yowled, scrabbling at his grip. "Who said it was a secret anyway?!"

"Wasn't much of one, you two were practically going at it in front of Shigure!"

"Shut up!" Kyou blushed darkly and tried to punch him.

Haru avoided it with a soft laugh. "Work on your aim and try again."

"Damned cow!" Kyou snarled.

"I'm an Ox." He corrected. "There is no Year of the Cow."

"Yeah, well, like that matters," Kyou snorted, still trying to escape. "Leggo!"

"Not until you kiss your mouse, Princess." He teased.

"Who- who said I was even his 'true love' or whatever anyway?!" Kyou demanded, blushing darkly. "You don't know that!"

"I told you before, Momiji was still in the freaking room!" He growled, his hands clinching into fists. "Now, you ignorant bastard, you are going to help him, right?"

"Hey, I tried to kick him out . . ." Kyou grumbled darkly, ducking his head. "And just because Yuki thinks he loves me . . ."

"Look." Haru sighed, calming down again. "I told you before, it won't hurt you if it doesn't work. If it does, then Hatori is an ingenious lunatic and you two are meant for each other. If it doesn't, no harm, no foul, right?"

"If it doesn't, I'll know why," Kyou said bitterly, glowering up at him.

"Hatori is just a normal lunatic if it doesn't work."

"Or Yuki doesn't love me that way . . ." Kyou mumbled, his head hanging. "Which wouldn't be a surprise."

"Oh, quit your whining." Haru ordered impatiently. "We both know he does, and you're not telling him how you fell because you're a scaredy cat -no pun intended."

"I want to," Kyou muttered. "But I can't say that to the rat . . ."

"So you're going to pass up the opportunity to be with an amazing guy because you're afraid of some damned story? God, it's fiction! Get that through your head and move on!"

"If it's fiction, then why is there a cat?" Kyou asked quietly. "Because there is no place for it . . ."

"There's a cat because Yuki needs someone to love him back." He stated. "Because Tohru needs someone to be a friend to her, different from the others. Because. You. Have. Your. Place. In. This. Family."

"Just shut up," Kyou muttered, looking away from him.

"I mean it, Kyou. Yuki and Tohru...they care about you. Shigure too. Why, I'm not sure. You're a big enough of an ass for anyone to hate just on that alone, but they do. So, are you going to succumb to some stupid story? Or are you going to prove yourself the bigger man and kiss your prince, froggy-boy?"

"Because that's not another stupid story either, right?" Kyou snapped.

"No, it is." Haru nodded. "But, at least it has a happy ending."

"So that's why you want to listen to it?" Kyou let out a bark of laughter. "Because it sounds better?"

"No..." He answered, his lips curving up slightly. "I'm doing this because Momiji wants me to."

" . . . not the worst reason," Kyou admitted in a mutter.

"You going to help Yuki or do I have to dress Shigure in drag and have him do it?"

Kyou grimaced at the mental image. "Asshole."

"Reaction I was aiming for." He smirked smugly. "Do you really want to do that to poor Yuki?"

"You are such a bastard," Kyou growled, but stopped resisting the other's tugging.

Down the stairs, through the hall, into the kitchen and- "I'm assuming you explained things to them, Momiji?"

"Yep!" Momiji grinned, though I must say, I misjudged Yuki's reaction."

"What reaction?" Kyou asked suspiciously.

Yuki was sitting on the table looking torn between glee, anger, and sadness. "You're going to try it, then?"

"Um." Kyou reddened and ducked his head. It was Yuki, not the rat. "Yes."

"Well...?" Yuki looked up at him. "Do you intend on doing it from across the room?"

"I might be," Kyou said sulkily.

"Do I have to come to you?" He asked, preparing to jump off the table, which thoroughly freaked out Haru and Momiji.

"I'm coming!" Kyou snapped. "Goddammit, you're impatient!"

"I've been stuck as a rat for the past two weeks!" He yelled. "I have a right to be impatient!"

"Well, ten more fucking seconds won't kill ya!" Kyou shot back.

Yuki growled and sat back down. "Well, walk faster."

"Jerk!" Kyou snapped, leaning on the table and glaring down at him. "I could just go back to the roof, you know."

"Are you really going to force a cross dressing Shigure on me?"

"I might if you don't watch your mouth," Kyou growled.

"Rather watch yours'."

"Asshole."

"Shut up and kiss me."

"I hate you," Kyou muttered, even as he leaned over and, hesitating for a second- ratratnottherat- finally brushed his lips over the other's head.

Poof! "Well...I guess Hatori's an ingenious lunatic." Haru commented, wrapping his arms around Momiji's shoulders. "Get some pants on, Yuki."

Kyou stared at him for a moment, then breathed out slowly, closing his eyes and yanking Yuki to his chest, hugging him with a fierce, silent anger.

Yuki wrapped his arms around Kyou's waist and buried his face into the other's shoulder. "I love you." He murmured for what must have been the seventieth time.

"That," Ayame said, popping up out of seemingly nowhere, "I thought I'd never see."

"Shut up, Ayame!" Kyou snapped over his shoulder, and then returned his attention to Yuki, nuzzling him. "I love you too," he muttered. "Ass."

"You...you said it..." Yuki's eyes widened. "You finally said it..."

"Idiot," Kyou said flatly, closing his eyes tightly. "Said I would, didn't I?"

"Mmmhmmm..." He nodded. "Tohru, Momiji, in fact, everyone except Kyou leave. I have no desire for any of you to see me naked, ever again for any prolonged period of time."

"Neither do I." Kyou glowered at them. "Mine. Shoo now."

"Let's go, Momiji." Haru led the shorter boy out, covering his eyes. "The only naked man you're allowed to see is me."

"Did not need that mental image!" Kyou barked.

Yuki giggled and shook his head, rubbing his hands over Kyou's back. "You're beautiful..." He murmured.

"Oh, shut up," Kyou grumbled, hugging him more tightly.

"Why do you always get insulted whenever I try to complement you?"

"Because I fucking do. Anyway, look who's talking about looks . . ."

"They are." He pointed over to Ayame and Shigure, who were doing their normal flirty thing.

Kyou rolled his eyes. "Go away."

"Touché!" Ayame scoffed, pulling Shigure away. "Come, we are above watching them hug anyway!" He announced dramatically.

"We are? I thought we liked that kind of thing when it involved nudity . . ." Shigure mused.

"Only when we're the naked ones." Ayame corrected. "I really don't need to see my little brother naked anyway."

"But I don't mind."

"I. Do." He repeated, still dragging him out of the room.

"Damn . . ." Shigure pouted. Kyou just sighed in relief.

"Thank God my brother isn't such a big pervert that he would watch that." He sighed too.

"Small favors," Kyou grumbled.

"What did you do?"

"What do you mean?"

"What small favours?"

"That he's not a voyeur . . ." Kyou clarified dryly.

"Oh. Yes, that is a good thing. I was thinking more the fact he's my brother than...what did you say?"

"A voyeur?" Kyou repeated with a shrug, nuzzling into Yuki's shoulder.

"Oh. Kyou...?"

"Yeah?" Kyou asked, sighing quietly.

"Give me a real kiss. That one was pitiful."

" . . . asshole."

"Fine." He purred. "I'll kiss you." And he did. It was the best thing he'd ever felt. Like honey and...Chap stick. Well not the most romantic thing to taste like, but it was still wonderful.

"Damn," Kyou muttered when they broke apart, slightly dazed. "Um."

"Did you enjoy that?"

"God you're a pain," Kyou snorted, leaning in to kiss him again- more fiercely, more confident.

Wow. Um, okay, that had to top his kiss. Hands down, Kyou Sohma was a wonderful kisser. No question about it. Things were going to be good for them. He wouldn't let even Akito tear them apart.

"Better than the first one?" Kyou asked dryly. "Seein' as you have a mouth I can get my tongue in and all?"

"Much." He blinked.

"I'd hope so."

"...Kyou?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"Whatever," Kyou said quietly, pressing their foreheads together.

"I mean it. Thank you. For saving me."

"It's no big deal," Kyou muttered. "Probably would've worn off anyway."

"Have you ever heard of anyone staying in their Zodiac form for more than three hours?"

Kyou just shrugged silently, wrapping his arms tighter around the other again.

"Do you think Haru's going to be okay now?"

"Yeah," Kyou replied softly, smiling faintly. "Can't help it when I feel this good."

"Do you still think we're all unsaveable?

"Not right now . . ." Kyou closed his eyes.

"Good."

Kyou pressed his mouth to Yuki's throat. "You're you again," he murmured.

"Mmmhmmm."

"I'm glad." Kyou bit lightly, his hands loosening to run down the other's sides.

"Kyou..."

"Yeah?" Kyou licked the other's neck gently.

"Take me."

Kyou reddened darkly, glancing up to meet Yuki's eyes. "You sure?" he asked softly. "Already?"

"I love you." He insisted. "I want to be all yours'. So come inside and take me."

"God, when you talk like that . . ." Kyou bit his lip, shivering slightly. "Come on."

Yuki stood and allowed Kyou to lead him. He didn't care where he went, as long as Kyou were with him.

Of course, about the only place to go was Yuki's own room, which was where Kyou was headed. "You drive me crazy, you know that?" he sighed.

"How?"

"Fuck, you should know." Kyou shut the door behind them and leaned back against it, giving Yuki a heated look.

"Hurry up." Yuki insisted, pulling Kyou towards the bed. "I'm horny now."

"Couldn't tell . . ." Kyou murmured, eyes trailing down the other's body even as he followed him.

"Oh?" He tugged again, and they both fell onto the bed. "I never pictured myself as bottom." He whispered with a blush.

"I don't care," Kyou murmured, brushing Yuki's hair off his face. "I'll be either for you. Whatever you want."

"No!" He whispered almost frantically. "I want you inside me."

"Don't wanna hurt you, though," Kyou muttered, biting the inside of his cheek.

"You won't!" He assured the other. "Just...please?"

"Told you I'd do whatever you wanted," Kyou replied softly, lowering his mouth to Yuki's collarbone. "Just want to make you feel good."

Yuki let out a groan and a harshly whispered. "So stop playing Man Servant and fuck me already!"

"But it's fun to tease you . . ." Kyou sniggered faintly, a hand sliding down the other's stomach to wrap loosely around his erection.

Yuki's eyes widened and another moan escaped. "D...don't...stop!"

"Did I say I was going to?" Kyou raised an eyebrow, stroking him slowly. "I won't unless you ask. I want to make you scream. For me," he added, voice quietly possessive.

"Kyou..." His voice was harsh as he uttered. "Kyou, Kyou, KYOU! I love you so much...don't ever leave me. Never."

Kyou didn't answer, more occupied with continuing his ministrations and kissing his way down the other's chest.

Kyou's lips were like fire on his flesh. Yet they neither hurt, nor burned as the sweet, wet saliva trailed down his chest. He closed his eyes, panting softly. He wanted this. He needed this.

"God, you're fucking perfect," Kyou rasped against Yuki's stomach, eyes burning as he looked up at the other.

"No I'm not. You're...you are."

"Shut up," Kyou muttered, and just to make sure that Yuki would, he licked a thin, hot stripe up the paler boy's cock.

"Ugne!" He moaned. "More...give me more, Kyou."

Kyou wrapped his hand around Yuki's erection loosely, gently licking precome off its tip and then half-swallowed him, purring softly.

A satisfied moan met his ears and Yuki felt his climax approaching. It was his first time, after all. "Hurry up and do it." He whispered hoarsely.

Kyou swallowed him further to slick the fingers still wrapped around him, then lifted his head. "Try to relax, okay?" he said quietly, trying to keep his voice soothing and calm. "Don't tense up."

Yuki nodded. "Right."

Kyou's lips quirked in a brief smile, and then carefully slid one finger in the other slightly. "Stay calm," he murmured. "I promise it'll feel good."

He nodded again, relaxing himself, offering his body up to the other. His other. His Kyou. His forever.

Kyou slipped in his second finger when he was sure Yuki was alright, and then very gently scissored them both, stretching carefully and seeking the sweetblisspleasure spot.

Yuki grunted as pleasure coursed through him. "Yes...more..." He hissed softly.

Kyou nodded silently, stroking the spot more firmly and ducking to take Yuki's erection in his mouth again, swallowing more deeply this time.

Such bliss...he had never thought it possible. Was this even real? Would he wake tomorrow to have found the whole thing a dream? Or would he wake in Kyou's arms. Oh how he prayed for the latter. He didn't think he could stand it if he didn't.

Kyou scissored his fingers one last time, still sucking firmly on the other, reveling in the bitter, salty taste- Yuki's taste, Yuki's, and Yuki was letting him touch him like this . . . Too much, too good. He was aching . . .

"Do it!" He begged. "Please do it now!"

Kyou pulled back, breathless, not even bothering to properly undress, just unzipping his pants harshly and freeing his own cock, gasping in relief as the pressure his zipper had provided was gone and then darting forward to kiss Yuki deeply, needily. "God, wanna feel you," he moaned, remembering the slickhottight that his fingers had met and nudging his erection against the other's entrance, slowcarefuldon'thurthim.

"Go on." Yuki panted, his eyes closed, relaxed. "Come inside me."

Kyou groaned at that, barely keeping his hips from just slamming forward- had to be cautious, Yuki probably didn't even know how much he could take- and sliding in achingly slowly. And oh, God, that HEAT, so tight, so much he could barely breathe . . . "Yuki," he choked hoarsely. "AhfuckingGod."

Yuki silenced Kyou by pulling him down to himself, claiming the other's lips. This was..."More..." He whispered. He really seemed to like that word lately.

Yuki silenced Kyou by pulling him down to himself, claiming the other's lips. This was..."More..." He whispered. He really seemed to like that word lately.

"God, Yuki . . ." Kyou half-whined, rolling his hips against the other. "God, so tight, so good . . . Thank you, love you, so perfect . . ." He was nearly incoherent at this point.

Yuki smiled at him, a slight shudder overcoming him as Kyou found his spot again and a moan escaping his lips. "Love you too..."

"Ohgodohgod," Kyou chanted breathlessly, eyes squeezing shut and hips jerking forward again, this time not stopping, just thrusting as desperately as he dared to let himself.

Yuki couldn't wait any longer, he knew he couldn't. Releasing his climax, He relaxed fully as he felt this great pleasure.

"Fuck!" Kyou gasped, his eyes flying open at the sudden stickyhotsweet heat on his stomach, transfixed by the rapturous expression on Yuki's face and still moving, so close, though, because Yuki felt so good and looked so good and . . . He threw back his head and yowled when he came, spinecrackingheatblissohgodsogoodYukiYukiYUKI!

"Thank you." Yuki smiled, tired from the wonder he had just experienced. "That was...amazing..."

"Ohgod, Yuki," Kyou said harshly, hoarsely, staring down at him and still struggling for air. He pressed a harsh kiss to the other's forehead. "Love you. So much. Thank you."

"You did it for me, not the other way around. I love you too, Kyou."

"So glad," Kyou mumbled hoarsely as he pulled backwards and out of Yuki, trembling slightly from aftershocks. "So glad to make you happy."

"Are you happy?"

"Yes," Kyou said huskily, burying his face in Yuki's shoulder. "So much."

"Good. That's all I wanted. Your happiness, and sex." He smiled, brushing the orange strands of hair off Kyou's face.

Kyou grinned loosely, sniggering down at him. "Jerk."

"I...love...you..."He mumbled before drifting off to sleep.

"Yeah, love you too," Kyou mumbled, fumbling for the blankets and pulling them up over the other, then tucking his wilted cock back into and yawning as he sat on the end of the bed. "Damn, you're pretty . . ." he sighed.

Soft, even breathing met him as Yuki rolled over and snuggled down into his chest.

"Idiot," Kyou mumbled, blushing.

"Door..." Yuki mumbled sleepily. "Haru and Momiji are outside the door..."

"What?!" Kyou squeaked, falling off the bed.

Yuki yawned and pulled the blanket further up to cover himself better. "Haru and Momiji are outside the door." He repeated groggily. "You're still somewhat clothed, you answer."

"How did you know?!" Kyou demanded. "And why the fuck didn't you say anything?!"

"They just showed up and," He reached over the side of the bed, picking up a small grey rat. "He told me."

" . . . " Kyou glowered at the rat. "Why is that in here?"

"I have no idea." Yuki groaned, putting it back down. "They like it in here."

"We are so not doing it in here again," Kyou said darkly, snapping his teeth at the rat and then going to open the door.

"Suit yourself."

"What the hell do you want?" Kyou snapped at the other two.

"What're you talking about, Kyou?" Haru asked, raising his eyebrow. "Momiji tripped, I was helping him. How'd you know we were out here anyway?"

"Fucking rats running through the damn house," Kyou replied with a glower back into the room.

"Why're there rats in Yuki's room?" Momiji asked. "And why are you in Yuki's room, and still clothed?"

"What the fuck is wrong with that?!" Kyou demanded in irritation.

"He thinks people should only have sex in bedrooms." Haru explained quietly. "What have I done to this poor child?"

"Just stay off my roof with your kinks," Kyou retorted sourly.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Haru replied solemnly. "He's a screamer. Wake up half the neighborhood...if there were a neighborhood around here. We'd wake up Yuki's rats." He winked teasingly. "You're not still scared of them, are you Kyou?"

"Shut up, asshole!" Kyou snarled, seriously tempted to just deck him.

"Come on, Momiji," Haru snickered, picking up the shorter blonde boy, "time to go see Shigure and Aya now."

"Have fun!" Kyou snarled. "I hope they're fucking sucking each other off when you walk in!"

"Hey, Haru!" Momiji sounded frighteningly excited at this prospect. "If they are can we watch?"

"Come, my overly perverted lover. " Haru laughed. "We shall see what the future has in store for your already shattered innocence."

"God," Kyou groaned, coming out into the hall too and closing the door behind him, already determined to find Tohru while Yuki recovered from the last few weeks and last few minutes. Damn, it had gone so quick . . . he wished he'd been able to make it better for him.

Yuki smiled again as he heard the door close. He wished he could make Kyou feel more comfortable around him...but how....?

Kyou just trotted down the stairs, off to seek out Tohru, barely resisting the heated blush at the thought of what he and Yuki had done.

How could Yuki change what he turned into? There must be someway...

* * * * * *

"Go away." Shigure scowled at Haru and Momiji, just barely holding his kimono shut. "We're busy."

"You can blame me for turning such innocence into what you see before you today." Haru offered apologetically. "I take full responsibility for sleeping with him too early."

Shigure glowered at him and grabbed his ear, twisting sharply. "Haru . . . "

"Ow, ow, ow...yes?" He asked through clenched teeth.

"No fucking the cute little boys."

"Too late. Happened about six months ago!" Momiji giggled. Haru gave yet more apologetic looks.

"I am so sorry about this, should I take him home?"

"No, you should go bother someone your own age and leave the grown-ups to do the nasty like they were trying to," Shigure grumped sourly, kimono slipping off one shoulder.

"We tried." Momiji protested. "Kyou looked like he was ready to kill Haru."

"That's because we interrupted their sex time too, Momiji." Haru explained patiently.

"Oh for God's sake . . ." Shigure groaned. "AYAME! Help!"

Ayame just laughed. "But it's so fun to watch them when they're like this."

"Ayameeee . . . " Shigure growled.

Ayame glanced at Shigure. "That's the get-rid-of-them-now-or-no-sex tone, isn't it?"

"Forget it." Haru shook his head. "Maybe Tohru will talk to us without thinking about rodents and sex." He grumbled.

"That would be very nice of her," Shigure bit off, slamming the door in their face.

"Touché." Haru muttered. "C'mon, we're going a'Tohru hunting."

"Yay!"

"How much Saké did you drink anyway?"

"Tohru!" Momiji yelled excitedly, dragging Haru behind him. "Hiiiii!!!!! Tohru!" He yelled again.

"Oh, sorry!" Tohru called a moment later. "We're in the kitchen, guys!"

"Is Tohru sleeping with someone too, Haru?"

"Oh, God I hope not. I don't think I could stand to walk in on anyone else."

"I heard that, you perverts!" another female voice fumed from the kitchen.

"Uo?" He called, cringing a bit.

Uo's arm darted out and dragged him into the kitchen, which resulted in her catching him in a headlock and glowering down at him. "Hello, Haru."

"You're...angry about something?" He hazarded.

Uo glared. "What did you say our Tohru-chan was doing?" she inquired sweetly. Behind her, Hana was crackling and Kyou was glowering, while Tohru just looked worried.

"That was Momiji." He corrected. "And while I'm sure in some round-about way this is my fault, it wasn't directly me."

"Don't touch my Haru!" Momiji yelled, stomping in and removing him from the Grasp of Death that was also known as Uo.

"Oh, my little Momiji." He sobbed gratefully, hugging the blonde boy. "Thank you so."

Uo clenched a fist. "So you admit it's your fault?" she asked with a dark smirk. "Hana, you're my witness, he said it."

"Haru, quit acting like Aya." Momiji sighed.

"Sorry." Haru blushed. "Anyway, we've just had bad luck today, that's all. Nothing personal, Tohru."

"Bad luck with what?" Tohru asked curiously.

Haru and even Momiji blushed. "Call it the worst timing ever."

"Just about," Kyou snorted.

"Shigure and Ayame were a bit busy as well..."

"God, the pervs," Kyou groaned. "At this time of day . . .?"

"You're one to talk."

"I had an excuse!" Kyou blushed darkly.

"Really? This must've been after you made us leave. Do tell."

"Shut up, you." Kyou blushed again. They'd thought Yuki might be stuck like that, after all.

"Oh." Haru caught on. "Nevermind, Kyou."

Kyou just glared at him.

"I said neverminid." He huffed.

"Oh, please no fighting!" Tohru begged.

"Um...Tohru, you watch Momiji for a minute? There's something I need to talk to someone about."

"Of course!"

"Thanks." He nodded, walking out of the room. Straight back over to Shigure's room. "Shigure, I don't care is you're bare-ass naked in there! Open this door!"

Shigure slammed it open, glowering. "You know," he growled, "more experienced lovers take more than thirty seconds to finish!"

"I know that!" He growled. "Momiji takes forever to get to climax, but that's not what I came here for. I need to talk to you."

"I didn't need to know that! What the hell is so important?" Shigure readjusted his half-gone clothes.

"Yuki and Kyou. How long had they been...together while I was gone?"

"Eh?" Shigure blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you have any idea what they were doing upstairs?"

"Should I?"

"Depends. How comfortable are you with people their age having sex?"

"Aren't they older than you?" Shigure sighed. "Anyway, they're the same age and presumably consenting."

"So? Momiji's not that much younger than me."

"Fuckload more childish, though." Shigure gave him a tired look. "Why does my opinion matter this much?"

"Because they're sleeping together."

Shigure sighed again. "So I gathered."

"Why'd you freak out on me but not them?"

"They didn't interrupt my sex time."

"It was only twice. Kagura's done it up to six times with us...which you most likely didn't want to hear either, did you?"

" . . . my head," Shigure groaned. "God."

"..." He blinked couple of times and..."You two have fun, we can talk when you're not horny."

"GOOD."

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen...

"So, Kyou, how many times did you and Yuki do it?" Momiji asked innocently.

"Once, okay?" Kyou growled, glowering at the rabbit. "Christ."

"Wow." He blinked. "Only once? I would'a thought you'd do it at least two times."

"No killing cousins, no killing cousins . . ." Kyou growled under his breath.

"Haru usually does it twice, except when Kagura keeps interrupting us and he goes Black and starts chasing her." He continued, ignoring Kyou and his growling.

Kyou looked ready to deck him.

"It's really fun. He's good at it too. Wow...is he ever good at it-"

"That's enough, Momiji." Haru interrupted him, walking back in.

"Thank you!" Kyou fumed.

"Like I really want him talking about my sex life with you guys." He muttered, blushing.

"I-I'm sorry, Haru!" Momiji whimpered, tearing up.

"Don't cry." Haru sighed, slapping his forehead. "Please?"

Tohru was blushing. "Just as long as we stay off this topic," Kyou grumbled to himself.

"Sure." Haru replied, still crimson, and trying to calm Momiji down. "Not a problem."

"Oh dear . . . " Tohru bit her lip. Uo and Hana shared an exasperated glance.

Any...way..." He continued, picking up a blubbering Momiji, "what're you two doing here, anyway?"

"We have a project to do with Tohru-chan," Hana explained, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Ah." He smiled as Momiji started to calm down, small cooing noises coming from the blonde boy. "Need any help?"

"We're fine, don't worry about it." Uo waved him off. "As long as you idiots can all keep from tearing the place apart . . ." She jabbed an elbow into Kyou's ribs purposefully.

"Er...right then..." Haru nodded slowly.

A few minutes later, Yuki came downstairs, clad only in a robe, saw Uo and Hana and turned swiftly around and left again, blushing furiously.

"What the hell was the point of that?" Uo asked blankly.

"That was Yuki not knowing there was company." Haru stated simply.

"And having very nice legs," Hana observed idly. Kyou bristled and glowered at her.

"Um..." Haru felt Momiji tighten his grip about his shoulders. "No comment." He replied, veering back into what he hoped was safety.

More glowering from Kyou.

"Er...I mean, not nearly as good as Momiji's." He hazarded, thinking all the while that this was most likely not the best thing to say either, though it seemed to make Momiji happy.

Kyou literally growled. Sure, he didn't want Haru looking, but he didn't want him dissing his Yuki either.

"This is a bad subject for me to be on." He decided. When it came to Yuki's legs, he either got murdered by Kyou, or made Momiji cry. Neither seemed too appealing at the moment. "What kind of project are you working on?"

"It's for Sex Ed, you sure you wanna know?" Uo asked dryly, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"I do!" Momiji perked up.

"You're not allowed to anymore." Haru announced. "And no sex until you stop thinking about it all the time."

"But Harruuuuuu-"

"I'm decimated your innocence." He sighed.

"Most boys would be happy to do that to their significant others," Uo drawled.

"He's twelve!" Haru yelled.

"Then why'd you fuck him in the first place?!" she yelled right back.

"He...asked me to." Haru blushed. "I don't…like to tell him…no."

"Then I don't think he needed help getting his innocence decimated," Hana put in dryly.

"Maybe not..." Haru laughed a little, glancing at the blonde, who had randomly fallen asleep in his arms. "But...I really do love him..."

"One can only hope . . ." Kyou grumbled.

"S'not like I'd have sex with him if I didn't." Haru defended. "He's my cousin too, you know."

" . . . and that didn't sound wrong at all," Uo muttered.

"Shut up, you." He growled. "I can't help blood relation."

"You can help what you do to them . . . "

"Can't help how I feel though."

"What. Ev. Er." She waved him off.

"Besides, it's not like we do it much or anything..." He murmured, brushing a pale hair affectionately from Momiji's face. "Which is most likely why he craves it so much. I love him, so when he asks, I try to give him what he wants..."

"Ohhh . . ." Tohru blushed happily, watching them starry-eyed.

"So...anyway, he's asleep for a while, I think, what kind of project are you working on?" He questioned, sitting down.

"Analysis and definitions of human sexuality." Uo shrugged.

"Well, you can get plenty of help for that in this family." He smiled softly.

"That's okay, we'll manage," she replied dryly.

"I meant, if you need to ask any questions, you'll always find one or two queers around here. What'd you think I meant?"

Hana pulled a textbook out of her bag, holding it up and open to a rather explicit page featuring two women.

"We'll manage," Uo repeated smugly, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"Hm?" Haru blinked and jumped up, careful not to jostle Momiji too much, walking over and started reading the page over Hana's shoulder.

Uo just grinned. "That position's a fun one," she said approvingly.

"Huh?" He blinked up at her. "You mean that you're-" He cut himself off. They hadn't asked about his sexuality, Momiji had volunteered it. Why, he wasn't sure, but he had.

Uo just batted her eyes exaggeratedly. "I'm what?" she asked sweetly.

"L... you'll kill me if I say it, I know you will." He muttered.

"Will I?" She smirked slowly.

"Lesbian?"

Uo had him in a headlock before the word was finished. "Bi. Sex. U. Al," she corrected politely.

"Bah." He choked, attempting to keep Momiji in an upright position. "Told you so."

"You're not dead yet, are ya?" she retorted.

"I will be if you don't let go!" He retorted.

"You're still breathing," Uo replied dismissively.

"Not between the two of you, I won't be for long." He attempted to loosen Momiji's wind-pipe-crushing hug.

"Not my problem, pedophile . . .."

He started growling and slowly his gaze lifted up to Tohru. It was cold, and...grey. Which made one wonder why they called it Going Black. "Tohru, I want you to hold Momiji for me." He ordered slowly.

"Haru, don't you even try anything!" Kyou barked, already tensing to attack if necessary.

"Don't mess with me right now, stupid cat." he continued monotonously. "Now, Tohru, hold Momiji. I don't want him hurt and I refuse to be responsible for any future action if this bitch doesn't let go of me right now."

"Too fucking bad!" Uo snapped. "You are responsible for yourself, asshole!"

His eyes flickered up to her. "Momiji, wake up." He ordered, sitting the younger boy down, before turning his gaze towards Uo. "Am I?" He questioned, a slightly crazed tone in his voice. "Do you really think so? You freaking idiot! Don't talk when you don't know what you're talking about!"

"I don't have to know!" she shot back. "It's your fucking body, and that means that you are in charge of it!"

"H...Haru?" Momiji opened his eyes to see what was going on. "Black Haru!" He corrected himself, jumping up and running out of the room, only to return with Shigure a few minutes later. "Stop him!" He whimpered loudly, tugging on Shigure's sleeve and pointing to Haru. "Please, stop him!"

"Oh god . . ." Shigure grumbled, still retying his kimono. "Uo, don't move. Tohru-kun, go get Yuki," he ordered, and the latter girl rushed past him, dragging Hanajima with her. "Kyou . . . "

Kyou cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, yeah, I know what to do," he snorted.

"You want some, cat?" Haru got into stance. "Come and get it."

"Not in the house!" Shigure snapped.

"Shigure!" Momiji whimpered some more. "Don't hurt him! Please...?"

"Momiji, get out of here, would you?" Kyou said through gritted teeth. "You're only gonna make it worse."

"But...Haru..." Momiji's eyes were watering up again.

"Miss Honda, what's going on?" Yuki interrogated Tohru as she dragged him down the hall.

"Uo! Haru! Black!" she squeaked desperately, tugging harder. "Kyou's going to fight him!"

"Kyou?" Yuki sped up his pace, inadvertently ending up dragging Tohru behind him. If Haru, black or not, harmed one hair on Kyou's head...

"Sohma-kun!" Tohru yelped, having to run to keep up.

"Kyou!" Yuki repeated, quickening even more and quickly reaching the kitchen. "Don't touch him, Hatsuharu!"

"Make me, Yuki." Haru growled. This was bad, usually, even when he was black, Haru wouldn't harm one of them. "Go ahead and try."

"Oh for God's sake!" Kyou fumed. "Yuki, you idiot, worry about the damn Yankee!"

"Just knock him out." Yuki hissed, running over to stand in front of Uo.

Momiji buried his face into Shigure's chest, sobbing slightly and whimpering still.

"Oh, right, 'cuz I have something better to do?" Kyou snorted, cracking his shoulder and bracing himself on the ground. "C'mon, you stupid cow, I don't have all day."

"Come and get me, cat." Haru ordered. "Just don't hurt Momiji."

"Hello, which of us do you think I am?!" Kyou snarled.

"Forget it." Yuki muttered, walking up behind Haru and pinching the nerve at the base of his skull. Haru froze and fell to the ground, his gaze blank. Momiji looked up from Shigure and ran over, embracing Haru tightly.

"I was getting to it!" Kyou complained, glowering at Yuki.

"Too slow." He murmured, looking sadly at Momiji, who was crying into Haru's shirt.

"I thought you were better!" He sobbed, torn between anguish and anger. "He said you were going to be okay!"

"'Better' . . .?" Uo glanced over to Tohru questioningly, raising an eyebrow, but the other girl just shook her head.

"Momiji?" Yuki looked pleadingly up at Shigure.

"He shouldn't have let you come home yet!" Momiji continued to choke out, his face buried in Haru's shirt. "Hatori said you would be okay, after a while..."

"'After a while' is not 'right now,'" Shigure sighed, reaching down to pull Haru out of the other's grip.

"Haru!" Momiji clung to him, as though his life depended on it. "Please, Shigure. Where are you taking him?"

"To bed," Shigure replied with a chuckle. "So he won't wake up with a crick in his neck."

"Oh." Momiji allowed Shigure to pick the larger, older boy up, but followed closely on his heels. "Can I stay with him?"

"Yes." Shigure nodded.

"Thanks." He smiled sadly.

"My apologies, Miss Uotani." Yuki mumbled, leaning against the wall next to Kyou, his head leaning tiredly on the orange haired boy's shoulder.

"I think your cousin needs some serious therapy," she grumbled in reply.

"That's the problem." Yuki explained. "He went already, and obviously, it didn't work very well."

"Imagine that," Kyou snorted, rolling his eyes.

"Poor Momiji. I'm starting to worry about him more than Haru. He's been taking it worse and worse every time this has happened lately." Yuki sighed. "Wish there was something to do for them, either of them."

Kyou just shrugged and briefly pressed his mouth to the other's collarbone.

Yuki shivered a bit and moved to meet the other's lips. After the kiss broke he met Kyou's eyes. "Thanks. I needed that."

The other shrugged again, offering him a weak grin.

Yuki was about to reply when Shigure came back. "How are they?" He asked.

"Sleeping, or soon to be." Shigure shoved his hair out of his eyes.

"Think he's going to be okay?"

Shigure just gave him a wan smile.

"I meant Momiji, but Haru too. What are you planning to do, Shigure?"

"Well, I'm going to go back to bed and finishing fucking your brother," Shigure replied cheerfully. "Hopefully the world will make more sense after that."

Yuki blinked at that. "Okay...?" He responded slowly, a slight blush covering his cheeks.

"Damn straight it is," Shigure grumbled, skulking out of the room.

There was a long moment of silence before the chaos continued. "Haru!" Momiji called as the black-and-white haired boy ran down the stairs, closely followed by the blonde. "Wait!"

"Don't you get it, Momiji?" Haru asked, not slowing down. "I'm dangerous! You'd be better off without me!"

"But I'm not!"

"You are!" Haru insisted. "I wouldn't tell you these things if I didn't love you. You're better off without a monster like me..."

"Holy fucking god, do not take another step!" Kyou snarled, stepping in front of him.

"Get out of my way, Kyou." He growled, trying to side step the cat. "I'm only doing what's best for him."

"Right, because you're a monster," Kyou retorted sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"What do you call what I just did?!"

"Being an idiot." Kyou punched him. "But don't talk about being a monster to me."

"Oh quit your damned whining!" Haru spat. "I couldn't control what I was doing in there, genius! I never can. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is? I would have killed her if you and Yuki hadn't been there. Do you know what it's like to have to live with that? I'm scared that I'll hurt him someday!"

"First of all," and this time Kyou put actual force into the punch, "we were there. And don't think I'm stupid enough to believe that either of you would hurt Momiji."

"I can't control him anymore, Kyou. And the worse part is, I can't block those memories anymore." His eyes were filling with tears as he turned to Momiji. "I'm sorry." He uttered. "I can't risk that..."

"But...Haru...?" Momiji was close to tears too, as he ran forward and grabbed Haru in a hug. "Don't leave me..." He moaned. "Please! Don't go!"

"You shouldn't block them," Kyou said darkly. "Uo's right. Black is still you. You can control yourself."

"I can't..." He whimpered. "Don't think I haven't tried. I'm hurting the people I care about. It's only a matter of time until he hurts Momiji." He carefully placed his hands on Momiji's shoulders.

"Oh for fuck's sake, like he HAS to!" Kyou snarled.

"What are you talking about?"

"Christ, how cliché can this shit get?" Kyou muttered, shoving his hair out of his face. "You're hurting him. Black doesn't need to."

"He'll try to kill him, eventually. You know he will. I don't know what's going on while it's happening, but now I can't block them anymore. I'm forced to live with the aftermath of what he does." He choked back a sob as he looked down at Momiji. "I'm going to see if Hatori can recommend a good nuthouse." He continued. "I don't deserve to walk free...no one deserves for me to walk free..."

"Idiots!" Kyou threw his hands up in exasperation. "Would somebody say something, damnit!"

"You...you're not insane, Haru." Yuki told him softly.

"Oh yeah?" Haru laughed bitterly. "Tell that to the fucking shrink."

"For God's sake, it's not like Kagura isn't almost as bad!" Kyou fumed.

"They have a name for my problem, Kyou." He growled. "It's called a split personality disorder. He wanted to lock me up to begin with, Hatori wouldn't let him. And the only one Kagura's ever tried to hurt is you." He reminded him impatiently. "Now will you get out of my way?"

"Oh, screw that," Kyou snorted.

"Get out of my way, cat!"

"Not a fucking chance!"

"Do you want me to kill someone?" He demanded. "If you're going to keep me here, I want you to send Momiji somewhere safe."

"Stop acting like you aren't responsible for yourself!" Kyou yowled.

"I told you I can't control him!" Haru shouted. "He won't even give me warning anymore!"

"Well he doesn't have to if he's you!"

"He isn't me!" Haru burst out. "He may have used to been, but he isn't anymore!"

"What are you all yelling about-" Ayame started, opening the door, then stopped mid-sentence. "Shigure, honey, he's awake. And not happy." He called back into the room, buttoning his over jacket.

"I hate this house," Shigure grumbled as he came out next to the other, not even bothering to dress this time and just standing there in his boxers and a scowl. "Haru! I fucking put you to bed, so fucking stay there!"

"I have to get out of here before he hurts someone!" He yelled, close to, if not already in, hysterics. "Why don't you people get that?"

Shigure absolutely growled. "No. More. Leaving!" he bit off, stalking forward and grabbing the boy by the ear, twisting sharply. "Not from any of you, got that?!"

"Let go of me!" Haru yelped. "Hatori told you what was going on in my head! He's fucking beating me, Shigure! I have no control over him anymore!"

"Did Hatori tell you what was going on in your head?" Shigure asked with a sigh, twisting harder.

"Yes! He did! I know he's fighting me, as if I didn't before. He used to talk to me. Did you know that? When I was little. He'd tell me he'd win eventually. Well guess what? He's winning!" He felt like crying, but he couldn't. He almost willed them to come forth, but they wouldn't. Was it possible that such an immense despair could not be comforted by tears?

"It's not . . . it's not exactly like that," Shigure said slowly, shaking his head. "Do you know why he doesn't talk to you anymore? It's because he can't, Black and White don't mix well, but they do mix."

"Then why'd he try to hurt Tohru? And her friend?"

"He threw a vase without aiming. He threatened someone who was yelling at him." Shigure shrugged. "He didn't do anything."

"But..." Ah, there they were. Blessed tears. Maybe now would come some enlightenment. "It's not my fault then?"

"No, it's not. Not really." Shigure sighed, massaging his own forehead. "Think of it like . . . growing pains."

"And I'm..."He glanced down at the sobbing blonde at his waist. "I'm not going to hurt Momiji?"

"Well, not any more than you are currently," Shigure said ruefully.

"I...I tried so hard to protect him." He mumbled, taking off Momiji's hat and stroking the silky strands. "Did a damn bang up job there, huh?" He questioned sarcastically.

"Some of us do worse," Shigure pointed out dryly.

"Did you ever threaten to leave Ayame because you thought you were insane?"

"No. I just left him because I was a bastard," Shigure replied patiently.

"What?" Haru blinked kneeling down and returning Momiji's hug and picking him up again.

Shigure gave him a rueful look. "Long story."

"Since I'm apparently under house arrest, I have plenty of time." He replied seriously.

"You are, and you do, but I'm not telling anyway." Shigure chuckled.

"Shigure, don't make me go back to school until I'm sure I have him under control, okay?" He still looked dead serious. "Please?"

"Hope you two feel like bringing his homework home for him." Shigure glanced over to Yuki and Kyou.

"He's not in our class." Yuki responded hurriedly.

"You can pick it up at the office." Shigure smiled at him.

"Fine." He growled, drooping his head onto Kyou's shoulder again. "I'll do it."

"Good boy." Shigure smirked even as Kyou nuzzled Yuki's scalp.

"Momiji..."Haru whispered in the blonde's ear. "You can stop crying now. I'm not going anywhere for a very long time, according to Shigure."

"R...really?" Momiji blinked.

"If he does we'll only drag him back," Kyou snorted into Yuki's hair.

"You promise?" He asked skeptically, to everyone, not just Kyou.

"Would you feel better if we put an electronic tracker on him?" Shigure suggested helpfully.

Momiji put on a thinking expression. Haru narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Momiji...?"

"I'm just kidding!" He grinned and pressed his lips against Haru's. It struck Hatsuharu by surprise, he was not expecting his. When he pulled back Momiji was met by eyes brimming over with happy tears. "I think I can trust him." He winked.

"Well, perhaps we'll just put it on Kyou-kun, then," Shigure decided. "Just in case."

"Hmmm..." Yuki got a suddenly interested look on his face. "Could we?"

"I hate you," Kyou said sourly, glowering at him.

"Love you too." Yuki smiled and kissed Kyou on the cheek.

Kyou reddened and glared at him again. "Bastard."

"Don't be an ass." Yuki grinned.

"Will if I want to."

"Not if you want any more for a very long time, you won't." Yuki purred into his ear.

Kyou turned bright red, but glowered at him. "Hey, I was the one doing all the work!" he grumbled.

"True, but it's still an admirable threat, if I do say so myself." He whispered. "Wouldn't you agree, Kyou-chan?"

"Shut up." Kyou scowled at him.

"Well, Miss Honda calls you 'kun' I wanted a name all my own for you. And I've never heard you called 'chan' before." He winked.

" . . . I hate you."

"No you don't."

"Maybe I do."

"Nah." Yuki shook his head. "You don't."

" . . . damn you for being right," Kyou grumbled.

"Shigure?" Momiji spoke up softly, his arms tightly wrapped around Haru's neck. "Can Haru go outside? Just for a minute?"

"As long as he comes back in," Shigure sighed.

"I'll make sure he does."

"Alright, then." Shigure nodded.

"Thanks!" He smiled. "Outward, Haru!" he pointed out to the door. "To worlds still known!"

"Uh boy . . ." Kyou rolled his eyes.

"Who thinks they're going back to his place to have sex?" Ayame questioned in an idle tone.

Kyou and Shigure simultaneously raised their hands, dubious looks on their faces.

Yuki laughed and raised his hand too.

"Glad the see I'm not the only one." Ayame snickered. "You're in a mighty good mood today, little brother."

"Am I?" Yuki blinked. "Imagine that."

Kyou blushed darkly and quickly ducked his head.

"Ohhhh!" Ayame grinned. "Did the kitty do well?"

Yuki remained silent. "This is why I never talk to you about this kind of thing."

Kyou, still blushing, just hid behind Yuki.

"Aren't you comfortable to talk to my brother about this kind of thing?" Yuki commented dryly.

"Can we get off this topic?" Kyou mumbled.

Yuki smirked, then smiled, then grinned, then kissed, and then fell over. "I really need to get readjusted to human boy weight." He sighed.

"Maybe you just need to lose some weight," Kyou muttered, barely keeping the other on his feet.

"Shut up, Kyou-chan." He grumbled.

"Make me, jerk."

Yuki thought about it for a moment, then decided that another kiss would be the best method, so he did.

"Cheater!" Kyou whined.

"Yep." Yuki nodded solemnly.

Kyou glowered at him. "Bitch."

"Ass." Yuki grinned.

"Enough with the flirting!" Uo said in exasperation.

"I'm sorry again about Haru's little episode." Yuki smiled sheepishly. "He should be fine now though."

"Whatever." Uo rolled her eyes.

"You know it bothered you."

"I've had worse," she replied with a snort, shaking her hair out.

"Why don't I find that hard to believe?"

Uo just grinned and Hana rolled her eyes.

"How long did you two know about Momiji and Haru, anyway?"

"Longer than Momiji and Haru did, I'm betting," Kyou muttered. Hana just gave him a polite smile.

Yuki blinked at Kyou. "Is that even possible?"

"The waves . . ." Kyou glanced over at Hana. "Last year she kept predicting couples."

"Oh."

"Mm-hm."

A few moments of silence passed and the door opened. A very wet Haru carrying an equally wet Momiji walked in. "Thanks." Haru smiled softly. "I think that getting thrown into a pond is exactly what I needed right then."

"I'm glad." Momiji giggled. Then he blinked around the hall, everyone in which were staring at them. "Hi?"

" . . . no comment," Kyou muttered finally, shaking his head. "Just . . . no comment."

"Why does that look so much more dirty than it should?" Ayame questioned, blinking. "I mean, there are several things I can think of that involve getting thrown into a pond but-"

"Time to shut up now, Ayame." Yuki growled. "Now." He repeated forcefully.

"Good idea," Kyou agreed sourly, glowering at Ayame.

"What?" Ayame humphed. "It was innocent enough."

"I find that annoyingly hard to believe." Haru sighed, sitting Momiji down and wandering off to go find some towels.

"Hey, Yuki," Kyou said under his breath, into the other's ear, "wanna get out of here?"

Yuki nodded. "I'm getting a headache in here." He muttered lowly.

"Ditto," Kyou murmured, already heading for the door.

"So, anyway." Haru commented, coming back and handing Momiji a towel, as Yuki and Kyou snuck out, rubbing his own hair with one. "All we did was Momiji threw me in that pond a little away." He glowered at Ayame. "Nothing more, you pervert."

"Suuure . . ." Shigure just snickered.

"Okay." Haru admitted. "Maybe a little more, but nothing indecent. Which brings me to my next question." He looked down at Momiji. "Why'd you throw me in a pond again?"

"You were being too serious!" Momiji explained, smiling. "I thought you needed to do something fun, so I took you swimming."

"So that's what you were doing." He nodded. "I get it now."

"We are never going to get our homework done . . ." Hana murmured.

Haru blinked and glanced over at Hana, Uo and Tohru. "Oh, I forgot you two were here. Sorry." He blushed sheepishly.

"Yeah, we love you too," Uo retorted dryly, folding her arms. "Now can we have some peace?"

"Well...more like though you would've gone home by now, but...sure." He shrugged. "Oh, and Shigure, you're running low on bedrooms. Where am I supposed to sleep while you hold me captive, exactly?"

"Don't worry, Kyou-kun's moving in with Yuki-kun," Shigure replied cheerfully. "You can have the couch."

"Is he?" Haru asked, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't think he's agree to moving into that room..."

"He doesn't get a choice," Shigure answered with a grin.

"Ah. That explains it." He nodded. "I didn't think he'd do it otherwise."

"I doubt he'll be that upset . . . " Hana murmured, her eyes sliding in the direction Kyou and Yuki had left in.

"Huh?" Haru blinked. "Oh, nothing to do with that." He shook his head. "Kyou just doesn't like rats as much as rats like Yuki."

"Rats . . .?" Hana raised an eyebrow. Uo made a face.

"Long story, not going into it."

"Riiiight," Uo muttered, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Like we wanna hear it?"

"Don't ask questions if you don't want answers." He shrugged. "Has anyone seen Kisa lately?"

"No, not really . . ." Tohru shook her head. "Is something wrong?"

"Not really." He shook his head. "Just haven't heard from her or her mom for a while, that's all."

"Why don't you try calling them?" Uo snorted, leaning back against the wall.

"Could try it, Haru." Momiji giggled. "Might actually work!"

"Crazy, innit." Uo rolled her eyes.

Haru growled again and earned himself a worried look from Momiji. "I'm going to go take a nap." He muttered, and stomped past them.

"Have fun!" Shigure waved after him brightly.

"You're really not making Haru too happy with you right now you know." Momiji commented.

"Whatever!" Haru snapped back."

"Don't you mind him. Someone just needs anger management," Shigure said to the girls in a stage whisper.

Momiji grinned and winked. "Yep. But he'll be okay."

"Of course he will!" Tohru agreed with a smile, clasping her hands together.

"I need to go now." Ayame smiled, tangling his fingers in Shigure's hair. "Promised Hatori he could take me shopping today."

Shigure twitched. "You're just trying to make me cry now, aren't you," he grumbled, shoulders slumping.

"Sorry, sweetie." He winked. "But you know I don't get to go spend time alone with Hari every day!"

"Neither do we," Shigure said through gritted teeth, glowering in the direction of Haru's exit.

"Don't be bitter, you know it's not his fault." Ayame scolded. "If you want, you can come along next time." He added happily.

Shigure just put on a wounded look and skulked out of the kitchen. "Have fun. without me."

"Shi-chan...?" Ayame followed him. "Do you want to come along?"

"Actually, no." Shigure sighed. "Just . . . stressful day. I want to go back to bed and die, I think. I'll see you later." He pressed a quick kiss to the other's temple.

Ayame smiled and winked. "You can go back to bed if you want, but...no dying? Deal?"

"I'll think about it," Shigure replied with a snicker, pushing his hair out of his eyes.

Ayame grinned and waved to everyone as he left.

"But, seriously." Momiji continued. "You'll want to be more careful about what you call Haru. He's a bit...oversensitive."

"He'll deal," Uo replied dryly, hands on her hips.

Suddenly something that looked suspiciously like a bowling ball rolled down the stairs, through the hall and out the still open front door.

"Oversensitive and with very good hearing." Momiji finished quietly.

"Mm-hmm." Uo rolled her eyes.

"Shigure?" Momiji looked over to the older man, and the still rolling ball. "When'd you get that thing?"

" . . . I don't recall owning one." Shigure gave the ball an odd look.

"Weird."

"Like we have room to talk?" Shigure drawled as Tohru scurried after the ball to retrieve it.

"This is very true." Momiji nodded. "But I'd still like to know where Haru learned to bowel."

"Does it matter . . .?"

"I guess not." Momiji shrugged. "He just never mentioned it."

"Where'd Shigure get a bowling ball?" They heard Yuki ask, quickly followed by the reappearance of Yuki and Kyou.

Who looked, by the way, pleasantly rumpled and flushed. "You know, I really don't give a damn?" Kyou purred, raking a hand through his hair and licking his lips.

Yuki grinned and placed a quick kiss on Kyou's cheek. "I had a feeling you'd say that." He winked.

"Smug bitch," Kyou muttered, slinging an arm over the other's shoulder.

"Yep."

~ END ~