Anything

Chapter One

…Slick skin sliding against skin…

…Soft whimpers sounding in his ears…

…Wet, bruised lips screaming out his name…

It was enough to wake Hatsuharu from his deep sleep. A glance at the clock on the wall showed the time to be 3:13. Shaking his head softly, he trudged out of bed to his dresser and grabbed a pair of black leather pants and a black muscle shirt. It was no use going back to bed, so he might as well get up.

Hatsuharu climbed down the stairs, trying not to wake Momiji. He wasn't in the mood to deal with his childish antics. It normally wouldn't bother him, in fact, sometimes he even welcomed them. But there are times when Momiji was just a little too much to handle. Hatsuharu couldn't be sure to control his temper right now with his newly acquired dream in mind. He groaned softly just remembering it, his eyes glinting sharply for a moment, and then residing back to normal.

He wasn't a fool. He knew who the dreams were about. But there was nothing he could do about it without being hurt by the other Sohmas. Oh, but there were times when it seemed taking the risk was almost worth it… to be able to do what he'd dreamt of doing for so long. God, he could teach her so many things! Things they'd both grow to love and crave. He'd do anything just to have the chance. Anything…

Anything to have Tohru Honda.

Anything…

.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.

Tohru hummed quietly to herself, ignoring the loud banter going on beside her. Yuki and Ryo were at it again. She really didn't know what this new argument was about, but she figured it wasn't really important. There arguments never were. Of course, she'd never tell anyone that, in risk of hurting their feelings! She wouldn't want that to happen!

"-Miss Honda?" Tohru came to with a start. Feeling guilty for being caught ignoring them she quickly sought to appease their wounded egos.

"Yes Yuki-kun?"

Yuki smiled in amusement. "I was wondering if you would enjoy going to the school dance with me." Tohru instantly shook her head, a soft blush tinting her pale cheeks. "Oh, no! You don't have to do that, Yuki-kun! I'm sure one of the pretty girls from your fan club would love to have the chance to go wit-"

Kyo snorted. "What she meant to say is that she doesn't want to go with you, you dumb rat!" Tohru gasped in dismay. "That's not-"

"Shut up stupid neko!" Yuki's face was flushed in anger, his eyes turning a dark purple. Kyo growled. "You want some of this you damn rat? Come and get it!"

"I'd rather not. Besides, I don't want to get my hands dirty by beating you to a pulp," Yuki said returning to 'Prince' mode. Kyo didn't take the hint. "Why you!" Kyo attempted to kick Yuki but once again failed and was flung back to the ground.

Tohru, who all but forgotten in the heat of the battle, cried out in alarm. "Kyo-kun! Are you okay?" She rushed to the fallen Kyo's side running her hands along his body to check for injuries. Kyo blushed and brushed her off, not noticing the hurt look that entered her eyes. "I'm fine."

Helping Tohru to her feet, Yuki tried to reassure her. "Don't worry Miss Honda. It's nothing he's not used to." "I heard you, bastard!" Kyo could now be seen in the background shaking his fist towards Yuki, an animated scowl on his face.

"I know-" Kyo blushed in outrage when he heard her oft exclamation, "but you never know. You might seriously hurt him one day." Yuki shook his head. "I'm glad you think so highly of my skill, Honda-san. But it's nothing you need to worry about."

Not wanting to distress Yuki any further, Tohru quickly nodded. "Okay." Glancing at her watch, Tohru nearly had a heart attack. "Oh, no! Look how late it is! I have to start dinner!" Yuki grabbed her right hand, Kyo grasping the other. "Alright, Miss Honda. Let's get home." The trio headed home, unaware of the obsidian eyes staring after them in envy.

Hatsuharu climbed down from the wall he'd been sitting on, his gaze centered on the three teens walking away. He couldn't stop the deep jealousy he was feeling from reflecting in his eyes. His eyes narrowed on each of the hands clasping Tohru's. Anger started swelling inside him, his legendary black side starting to show itself.

"Haru?" Jumping slightly in surprise, Hatsuharu found himself face to face with Momiji. Well, as close as they could get without him having to bend over. Momiji stared in shock. Hatsuharu was in his 'black' mode, in the middle of the day! What had set him off?

"Are you okay?" Momiji's voice held none of the child-like innocence it normally conveyed. Hatsuharu fought to gain control, releasing a gruff, "I'm fine," before turning away. Momiji watched in concern as he looked elsewhere, unable to do anything but watch as he battled with himself. It really was a wonder. No one really knew all the trouble Hatsuharu went through because of his two sides. How important the two sides were to Hatsuharu's state of mind and health. It was mandatory that the two sides balance each other out to prevent one from taking over the other. Especially if that one side happened to be the black side. Momiji shuddered just thinking of the dangerous turmoil everyone would go through, and worse, what Akito would do. Momiji though that, in a sense, Hatsuharu was almost like Akito. More than anyone wanted to admit, was afraid to admit. He was good and evil unto himself.

Hoping his usual care-free attitude was exerted in his voice, Momiji continued to stare at Hatsuharu. "What were you doing over here, Haru?" Fortunately, Hatsuharu had gotten himself under control and returned Momiji's statement with a dark smirk.

Seeing that Hatsuharu was indeed fine, Momiji went to ignoring him. Momiji turned away, and to his delight, saw Tohru and the other zodiacs who were quickly fading away. "TOHRU!" Momiji ran towards the unsuspecting trio, leaving an annoyed and bewildered Hatsuharu to follow suit.

.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.

'Damn.' Hatsuharu mentally cursed watching Momiji run towards the others. Now was not the time for him to be near Tohru- not when his dreams of her were still so fresh in his head. Just thinking of an aroused Tohru made his nostrils flare and his eyes darken. He could already hear her begging for him, screaming his name and- Hatsuharu shook his head frantically, waving the tempting images away. Sighing softly he made his way to the group waiting in the distance.

"Hatsuharu-san!" The excited whisper came from Tohru's soft lips, her pale brown eyes lighting up when she spotted the handsome zodiac walking towards them. She smiled brightly at him, a blush threatening to grace her cheeks at the thought of Hatsuharu being handsome. Well it is true. Tohru gasped. Where did that voice come from? She looked around, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary turned back to the walking figure.

Meanwhile, Kyo was frowning in anger. He had heard the low exclamation from Tohru, not liking the tone at all. Her voice had been almost wistful… But that couldn't be right! No! Kyo would not, could not believe that Tohru would ever fall for that...that…wild cow! He looked toward Yuki, but the rat seemed unaware of Tohru's slip. Not wanting to confront Tohru and upset her, and not really wanting to know the answers to his questions he decided to let the matter drop. Beside, maybe he was just overreacting. That had to be it. Tohru was always like this, wasn't she? Always happy to see other people? Just thinking about Tohru's sweetness made Kyo's frown turn into a soft smile, which unfortunately didn't go unnoticed.

"What's this? The big, bad cat actually smiling? Is the world ending?" This came from Hatsuharu who had finally reached the group. He stood next to a giggling Momiji, smirking at the now raging cat. "Finally going soft, are we?"

"Uuugh- shut the hell up!" Kyo's eyes flashed in frustration. Tohru wouldn't be too upset if he pounded the ox into the ground would she? A quick look at her worried expression told him that it would be so. It took some effort, but Kyo forced himself to calm down for Tohru's sake. He didn't want to scare her away.

Hatsuharu just stood there, a knowing smile on his lips. "What? No fight? Really Kyo! You shou-" He froze when he felt gentle tug on his arm. Looking down, he saw Tohru's hand resting on his forearm. He bit back a groan at the feeling of Tohru's soft skin on his own. What was she doing? She normally didn't touch him like this, especially not in front of the others. Oh, but if only the other weren't here….

"Stop fighting, okay?" Tohru smiled softly at him, soothing him with her voice. Her mind was completely elsewhere though. She was thinking of how nice and smooth Hatsuharu's skin felt, the way his muscles tensed when she ran her fingers over them… Her caring face quickly went scarlet when she realized she was still rubbing his arm. Tohru dropped her hand as if Hatsuharu's arm was on fire. Hatsuharu almost moaned at the loss of warmth, wanting to draw her back, but knowing he couldn't.

"Are you alright, Miss Honda?" Yuki had seen her quick flush and was worried if maybe she was sick. "Maybe we should get home…?" Maybe Shigure would know what was wrong with her…

"Oh! That's right! I have to start dinner right away!" Grasping onto the idea whole-heartedly, she started ushering everyone home. "Hatsuharu-san? Momiji-kun? Would you like to stay for dinner?" Kyo and Yuki bother opened their mouths to protest, was interrupted by Momiji's squeal.

"Of course we will Tohru!" Momiji jumped up and down in excitement, grabbing Tohru's hand with his own and rushing past the three frozen boys. Yuki, Kyo and Hatsuharu stood staring dumbfounded after the two energetic figures skipping down the sidewalk.

They stood there for a long moment which was finally broken by Kyo. "You better not try anything, blackie!" He glared at Hatsuharu who stood watching him impassively. "I think it's you we should be worrying about." He finally answered.

Before Kyo could come up with a comeback, Yuki told them both to stop fighting or they'd never make it home for dinner in the first place. Quickly agreeing, Hatsuharu and Kyo followed Yuki back to Shigure's.

.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.