Title: Sing For Me, Baby

Author: Keir

Rating: M for swearing & sexual situations

The Gist of Things: Haru and Kyou have been together for three blissful months, but both their pasts seem destined to come back to haunt them.

A/N: Wrote this one completely on the computer, which is unusual for me. Gotta churn out fanfiction this spring break!

//blah// = flashback


Kyou sighed in irritation as he felt the woman's eyes boring into him. "What?"

"Nothing. Simply wondering why Ayame lets you go on stage while you're so unkempt. Don't you feel you owe it as an entertainer to look good for the audience?"

He dabbed at the sweat that had beaded on his temple from the heat of the stage lights. "I do my job, that's what matters. It doesn't matter how I look." He grit his teeth as a little noise of scorn passed her lips. "Don't you have anything better to do? Someone to go home to?" He gave a pointed look to the ring sparkling on her finger. He wanted nothing more than to be rid of the headache that had begun to throb in his skull the moment he was introduced to this annoying woman.

"Hmm." Rin glanced at the ring, crossed one leg over the other. "A man once proposed to me, almost half a year ago. He was handsome, tall. A doctor," she hinted, but Kyou failed to notice the meaningful look she shot him. He had bent to tie his shoe. "I think he loved his motorcycles more than he loved me. He left me for some…filthy stray alley cat."

Kyou finished tying his other shoe, scowling at the floor. 'No wonder he left you. I can't stand you even for five minutes.' He chafed to be gone, away from his new duet partner. "I'm going."

"Have fun on your holiday," Rin said, her lips curved in a poisonous smile. How dare such a man ignore her, and worse yet that he should be too stupid to realize that she was talking about the man he was sleeping with, her Hatsuharu. What an aberration he was, unseemly, unsightly.

A…a monster.


Kyou took the stairs up to his apartment two at a time, irritation itching under his skin. He still couldn't shake the annoyance that idiot woman Rin left him with. He hadn't felt this way about someone since…

A chill ran over his body. 'Forget it. Just forget it. That was a long time ago.' He was so preoccupied with the past that he ran straight into someone in the hallway. He opened his mouth for his usual berating rant when he realized exactly who it was. "Oh, Tohru. Sorry," he said shortly.

Tohru smiled, forgiving him anything that that sunny look. "Kyou! I'm so glad to see you, and you're looking well. Kisa is healthy, I hope."

"Y-yeah. Come in." He unlocked the door, stepped aside to let her in. "The monthly visit. I almost forgot." Nervously he set his keys and wallet on the dining table, slung his jacket over a chair. "Kisa!"

The young girl came quickly from her bedroom at her brother's call. She bowed slightly to Tohru.

"Kisa-chan," the brunette said warmly. "How have you been?"

"I'm well," the girl replied softly. "Kyou-nii has worked hard this month. He even bought me new hair clips." She touched the shining decorations in her hair.

"They're beautiful!" Tohru exclaimed. "You're so lucky to have a big brother like Kyou. How has school been?"

"My grades have been good this quarter," Kisa said demurely. "Haru-nii has helped a lot."

"'Haru-nii'?" Tohru asked with a quizzical look.

Kyou's face flushed as his sister continued, "Kyou-nii's boyfriend."

He cringed, opened his mouth to explain himself when Tohru said, "Oh, that's wonderful! I'm so glad you're all getting along." She glanced at her watch almost in surprise. "Oh, this was just supposed to be brief visit this time, so I'll get going!" Kyou escorted her to the door, fingers twitching nervously. "Ah, Kyou-kun."

"Yes?"

"I would love to meet Haru next time. You know I'm supposed to meet everyone who frequents the household, especially someone who influences Kisa-chan."

He blushed, nodded. "I-I'm sorry. Next time maybe I could arrange for him to be here."

Tohru smiled. "I'd really like that, to meet someone Kyou-kun likes. You seem so much happier than last time I saw you. I'll see you next month!" She stepped into the hall and smiled at the closed door. Sometimes she felt bad having to check up on Kyou and his little sister—the man always seemed to take such wonderful care of her—but the law was the law. Anyway, it was just a formality by now; she had been assigned to the Sohma case file two years ago and she had never seen anything but love in the household. There was no way they would ever separate the two and take Kisa away from such a loving caregiver like Kyou.


Kyou leaned against the door with a sigh. How stupid of him to forget that Tohru was scheduled to come by today for her regular visit. His fingers clenched into fists and he shut his eyes. How could he ask Hatsuharu to show up for a child services appointment? How embarrassing. How could he admit that such a thing had to happen monthly, as if he couldn't take care of Kisa properly. Obviously it would scare the other man off; Hatsuharu would definitely see it as having to be shackled to Kyou, stuck with some annoying responsibility.

The phone rang as if sensing Kyou's frustration and wanting to add to it. He growled, praying it wasn't Ayame demanding he work tomorrow on his one day off. "What?" he practically yelled into the receiver.

"My, kitten, is that any way to say hello to your boyfriend?" the smooth, teasing voice said over the line.

He sighed. "Haru. What do you want?"

"You have tomorrow off, right?"

"Yeah," Kyou replied, stomach in knots at the thought of asking his lover to have a meeting with Tohru.

"Well, I was thinking that tonight maybe you could come over to my place and we could get cozy, share that bottle of wine." The older man's attention was diverted now, his mouth dry at the proposal that hung in the air. "Kyou? Are you still there?"

"I…"

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

"I want to!" Kyou protested.

"Let's consider it settled then. I'll pick you up at seven," Hatsuharu practically purred over the line. It was enough to make Kyou blush and slam the phone down, heart thumping.

The black and white-haired man chuckled to himself, setting the receiver down gently in the cradle. "I hope you aren't making personal calls on the business line," someone reprimanded.

Hatsuharu swung around on his swivel stool. "Ah, Hatori. Maybe a little bit."

"Use your cell phone for those kinds of calls," the brunette admonished. "This new boyfriend of yours is making you delinquent, even more so than Rin."

"Sorry, cousin." Hatsuharu stood, shook out his long white coat. "I was wondering if maybe I could take off early tonight. I'll make it up tomorrow with double shifts."

Hatori adjusted his glasses, stared speculatively at his younger cousin. "Fine, but I expect you here at two in the afternoon tomorrow. You have five appointments left before you can leave. Don't foist the x-rays two of them need off on the radiology team, and don't think I won't find out if you ask Momiji to push a few patients off on someone else." Amber eyes sent his cousin a warning look.

Hatsuharu's fingers tangled in the stethoscope around his neck, an easy smile coming across his face. "Of course, Hatori." His mind was already on what patients he could as Momiji to pass on to someone else, and what kind of wine to pick up to set the mood for the first seduction of his kitten at his home.


Kyou stuffed more of the beef and noodles into his mouth. "This isn't too bad," he mumbled around his mouthful, taking a gulp of wine.

Hatsuharu chuckled as he watched his boyfriend eat indelicately. "I had to throw out the first batch. The second one wasn't too good, either. I'm glad this third one turned out all right."

The older man blushed, fingers turning the stem of his wine glass. Images of Hatsuharu slaving away in the kitchen for him made him feel warm inside. Or maybe it was the wine.

"How was work today?" Hatsuharu asked, taking his own sip of the alcohol.

"Ayame hired some annoying woman as a second singer. She bugs the shit out of me, thinks the world starts and stops with her," Kyou complained. He took another gulp of the red liquid, eyes straying around the open floor plan of the condo. Hatsuharu's home was huge; Kyou's whole apartment could fit inside the living room alone. Everything was modern: hardwood floors, beautiful marble, gleaming steel. He felt so out of place. The only homes he had ever lived in were rundown, where there were no dishwashers, washers and dryers, and especially no enormous, wide-open spaces.

"Kyou, are you all right?"

His attention snapped back to his lover and his blush deepened. "Yeah, just…I'm not used to big places. I feel like I'm making it dirty just by being here."

Hatsuharu smiled, grasping his boyfriend's chin and tilting his face up. "You make every place perfect, Kyou." He drew the other in for a kiss, lips moving softly against the other's. "I've been meaning to talk to you," he said.

Immediately the orange-haired man was wary. "About what?"

"You know this place seems empty sometimes," Hatsuharu said, glancing around the condo. "Sometimes it lacks a certain warmth."

"So what? You want to redecorate?"

"No." Hatsuharu almost laughed out of frustration. "There are two bedrooms here, Kyou." His boyfriend's eyes widened as he finally caught on. "There's more than enough space. Kisa could have her own room and we…" He paused, smiled. "We could share mine."

"What the hell, Haru!" Kyou sputtered, shooting to his feet. A hand went to his mouth as his mind spun. "That's too much. We've only been dating for three months!"

Hatsuharu stood as well, taking his boyfriend's hand. "Three months, three years, three decades. It doesn't matter, Kyou. I'm ready. It feels right. Doesn't it feel right to you?" He could feel the tremors running through the other's body.

Kyou tried to focus on breathing, tried not to hyperventilate. "I…" He clutched at Hatsuharu's fingers. "It…You've been good to me, Haru. And good to Kisa."

"It's more than that, Kyou. Do you feel the way I do?"

"I don't know," the older man hissed. "How do you feel? It's not like I can read minds!"

"Like I'm going to explode in frustration!" Hatsuharu exclaimed, then tried to calm himself down as he saw Kyou shy away. "I want to provide for you, Kyou. I don't want to see you sleeping on some old futon in a living room because you gave up the only bedroom to Kisa. I want to see you happy, living carefree. I want to come home to a family every night where you're cooking dinner and I can help Kisa with her homework. I'm tired of takeout boxes filling up my trash can, of my home being like a hotel room where it's sterile and all I do is sleep. I want you to come in here and turn my life upside down in a physical way to match the way you've turned me upside down emotionally; I want to see your imprint on everything I own. I want you. I love you, Kyou."

"So you just want me as some home fixture? I know I don't have the best job, and maybe I can't provide for Kisa like I want to, but I work hard! So what if I'm not privileged like you?"

Hatsuharu grasped Kyou by the shoulders, fought the need to shake some sense into his stubborn mule of a boyfriend. "That's not what I'm saying, Kyou. I'm saying I want to see you happy, no matter what that takes."

"What if living in my apartment makes me happy?" the orange-haired man retorted.

"Then I want to move in with you, but I'm bringing my bed with me if that's what I have to do. Don't you feel anything for me, Kyou?" Hatsuharu asked desperately.

"It's not that. I do love you," the older man mumbled, unable to meet his lover's eyes. "You're…you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, but it's a lot more complicated than that."

"What is it? We can work out anything. I'm willing to do anything for you."

But Kyou couldn't bring himself to say some things. "I…let me think about it."

Hatsuharu felt his frustration rise but it wouldn't do to get upset. "Please, think hard about it, Kyou." He pulled the shorter man close, reveling in the feel of body against body. "I'm infatuated with you," he whispered, taking those full lips for the second time that evening. Kyou let him plunge his tongue into his mouth, fingers digging into Hatsuharu's sweater. The orange-haired man broke the kiss and suckled at the barbell piercing through a pale lip and the other man moaned, body responding.

Suddenly Kyou found himself hanging in the air and he clutched desperately at his lover. "What the hell!"

"You're too tempting, kitten," Hatsuharu murmured teasingly, holding Kyou tightly against himself.

"Where are we going?"

"To the bedroom," Hatsuharu said, his voice rough with lust. "To our bed."


The three men sat in Ayame's office, enjoying glasses of wine. One of them took a drag from a cigarette and blew the smoke out toward the ceiling, an indolent smile on his face. "So you've replaced the little stray cat, Aaya?"

"Not hardly, Shigure," the white-haired man answered from his seat behind his desk. "I've simply added some flair to the show. Besides, two singers with overlapping shifts will mean more entertainment for my customers."

"I hope business is well, as usual," the third man said, his wine untouched.

"Of course, Akito-san. I would never cause worry for our biggest investor," Ayame answered with a flutter of his fan. "And now that Rin is here, business will be even better. Kyou has such a beautiful voice, really, but he lacks that certain something to really pull the audience in."

"'Kyou'?" the black-haired man asked, his voice soft.

"Ah, yes, I forgot you've been out of the country on business for some months now, Akito-san. Kyou is the man I hired to replace our old stage singer; I can't quite remember her name any more…"

"Ah." Dark eyes traveled over the club owner. "Is he on stage now?"

"No," Ayame sighed in annoyance. "He insisted on leaving early tonight and having the day off tomorrow. Something about spending time with his little sister."

Akito seemed to become more interested with every word. "Do you happen to have a picture of him?"

"Of course." Ayame opened a drawer, rifling through some files before pulling out a picture. He handed it to his investor with a sly smile. "Not much to look at, really; he's quite plain, but his voice more than makes up for it. I do try to get him to dress better, but he's so surly. Completely unsociable," the white-haired man said with a pout.

Akito's fingers tightened imperceptibly on the photograph of the singer under soft mood lights. Orange mop of hair, such delicate permanently-tanned skin and those long, feminine lashes. Unmistakable.

His Kyou.

"You're right," he answered the other man. "Completely unremarkable. I hope his singing is as good as you claim, Ayame."

"Of course, Akito-san."

"I must go. I have appointments."

"Yes, of course. We are always glad to see you, Akito-san. Stop by again soon so you can witness Kyou sing for yourself."

"Yes, I'll have to do just that." The dark-haired man exited the office, fingers running over his silk suit tie. He attempted to control his breathing, heart beating fast.

"You seem interested in Kyou," a voice said in the dark hallway.

Cold, dark eyes locked in on the woman, narrowing. "Eavesdropping is rude."

Rin smiled, stepping closer. "You are interested in Kyou, aren't you?"

"You would do well to not concern yourself with my business," Akito said coldly. "Something could happen to you."

She ignored his threat, pressing on. "I have a problem with Kyou; I think it may be beneficial to work together. I want to get rid of him…"

In the blink of an eye, Akito had her in his grasp, dangling her out over a railing. She fought not to scream, fingers grasping at his arm. "You will not touch Kyou." The slight man seemed possessed with unworldly strength suddenly.

Rin tried to keep calm, heartbeat jumping in her throat. "You're interested in him in a different way, then. Whatever your interest in him, it doesn't matter to me. I just want him out of the picture; he stole my boyfriend."

Akito stared at her for a moment before easing her back over the railing. He let her go. "Kyou has a boyfriend then?" he asked softly, a thread of hatred buried in his voice.

"Yes," Rin said. "I just want him out of the picture so I can get Haru back."

"Haru…" He rolled the name on his tongue, pursing his lips afterward.

"I know where Kyou lives," the raven-haired girl said, "if you'd like to see him. All I want is to get my boyfriend back. I could take Haru out of your way if you'll take Kyou out of mine. Does that seem mutually beneficial enough?"

Akito stared at her for a moment, mulling the idea over slowly. "That seems very beneficial to the both of us. You have an agreement."


The leather seats were cool inside Akito's limousine, the air conditioner blowing chilly air across his overly-hot body. He bit at his thumbnail, eyes seeing something other than the interior of the car.

Kyou. He couldn't get the boy off his mind. His wallet lay open to a picture of the orange-haired boy when he was sixteen. His fiery eyes had been turned away from the camera in shame, that gorgeous pout on full lips. He was sitting naked on the king-sized bed in Akito's condo, skin bruised here and there, which only made him more beautiful.

The dark-haired man bit harder at his nail, breathing becoming more laboured. There had been nothing sweeter than Kyou's mewls, his cries. Like the sound of an angel. His body shivered as he remembered the cuts he would leave along that perfect tan skin, blood dripping as the boy cried. Oh, how sweet the sound of Kyou crying. There was nothing like making such a headstrong individual weep and beg, to hear those pained words tumble from beautiful lips.

His body responded to the memories favourably and he couldn't help but smile. Soon he would possess that sweet boy again, possess him like nothing else. His to love, his to punish, his to make bleed. He could almost smell that spicy scent Kyou had about him, taste that not-so-virgin skin on his tongue.

Akito pressed the button to his intercom and gave the address of the apartment Rin had written on a napkin to his driver. The car went into motion with a smooth purr. The dark-haired man exalted inside. Kyou had been in hiding these twelve long years and now Akito had finally found him.

It was time to claim his long-missing slave.