I'll Take a Rain Check, Koneko-chan

Author's Note: This is a Haru fic, because, well, I adore Haru and hold the belief that he deserves more fics. Technically, I have no idea where I am going with this despite the suggestive title. Everything is subject to change. ^^; (Jan 2003)


Chapter 1

The world seemed to have gone mute as I watched them. Kyou, as usual, was yelling at Yuki over a rather dizzy-eyed Tohru. Koneko-chan never learned to shut up, and he argued every time with a renewed passion as if he had a chance against Yuki's satirical pacifism. Yuki. I studied the porcelain face betraying not even the slightest notion of backing down. His eyes focused on the ceiling all the while delivering cutting words to his natural enemy, who suddenly snapped with fury from hell. For a moment I thought Kyou's orange hair had turned into fire, his eyes shooting fire rings, and he became a part fire-breathing...er, cat. But then she stepped in, with her qualmish stance and two hands separating the two. I can almost trace her words as her lips mouthed "anou..." Then something cracked in Yuki's impassive posture, just a thin line perhaps, down his porcelain skin... he shook his head... and down... he murmured apologetic words... and down... he smiled.

Kyou grunted.

But Tohru laughed, and Kyou's fangs were gone just like that, replaced with a sheepish smile. It was strange to see Yuki and Kyou smile consecutively. They never smile, and once I had dismissed that as part of their character. It was what made them 'tragically beautiful.'

I was into metaphors, imageries and pretty words then.

Honda Tohru. Her meek body and soft features beguiled me at first, I thought her a fool, just a cute fool. She wasn't, Tohru wasn't an idealist like me who found excuses in words and fate. Tohru was a doer. She was manipulative vixen (I imagined her as one and sweatdropped), well, one that doesn't realize it. There, those idiots were still beaming at her, like two Sohma slaves looking for a continuous acceptance. They reminded me vaguely of a family. A rather malfunctioning one, if you will, but still a family.

I recalled the day when Yuki decided he had enough of the Sohma family. He had left. He had left without giving us a chance. He had left without giving me a chance. Sometimes I wondered, If I had been human, whether Yuki would have let me in then, whether Kyou would have let me in. No matter how much they hated each other, they always had a bond. I've tried so hard to penetrate that bond. No, to be apart of that bond, to be the one...that makes both of them smile. But the coward in me restrained me to step in, and I spent lifetimes idly staring, analyzing and spacing out. Plus, I didn't look cute in a skirt and flowy ribbons. I was not Honda Tohru.

Nauseous... all of a sudden. I raked my hand against the nearest wall, and tried to stand up.

"Oi! Haru! Baka ushi! Where did you go off to now? Oiiii!" Kyou was suddenly next to me, yelling gratuitously into my eardrums.

I tried to breathe, think of wide open spaces...wide open spaces... He slapped me in the back of my head. I snapped. "What do you want?!? Baka neko!?!"

Kyou gave me a freaked look, studying me a bit and softening his tone. I knew what he was thinking, that he had awoken his holiness 'Black Haru', and that he was on his way to either hell or another black eye. "Lunch is ready, is all."

"Arigatou," I said. Standing up, I noticed I was a bit taller than Kyou 'sempai.' I couldn't help but to smile, remembering all those times in elementary school, when cool, big brother Kyou used to hold my hand and lead me around the school. I honestly do not know why I get lost so often. Some people thought I was retarded, but Yuki said once, he said I just thought too much, a little too much maybe, for my own good.

"What's with you today, Haru? You didn't forget where the kitchen was did you? Do I have to hold your hand and guide you there or something?"

He was teasing me, with a wicked smile. He used to tease me too, but it was always marked by petulance, and a scowl. "No."

"What?"

"No, I didn't forget."

Kyou blinked. "Haru..."

"I'm not very hungry today, Kyou, please apologize to Honda-san for me," I bowed. "I think I'll go take a walk."

"Na...nani? Kid...you all right?"

Kid. I was still a kid to him.

I turned and smiled. "I'm fine, Koneko-chan, really."

"Hey! Don't you be like that Ayame!" I yelped as he grabbed for me, swinging an arm across my neck and squeezing the life out of it. "I'll disown you! I swear I will."

"Okay okay, I won't call you Koneko-chan, and I'm only going on a walk, not jumping off a cliff."

He let go of me then give me a look. "Hey, listen. I know Hatori is a good guy and all, but he's always busy with his medical stuff, not to mention Ayame" he drenched the three syllables with maniacal bitterness. "So... if you need anyone to talk to... get directions..." I raised an eyebrow. "...or anything, I'm here."

Honda Tohru had...she had done...

I got out of Kyou's grip then leaned forward until my nose almost touched his. "I'll take a rain check," I brushed my tongue lightly against his lips, "Koneko-chan," and turned and left.

A stumbling fall crashed behind me and some words echoed along the lines of 'Black Haru' and 'perverted' and 'I'm gonna kill you when you turn white.'

I stared into my hands.

They were pale white.