Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations I put them in. Everything else belongs to somebody else so remember to give credit where it is due. Thanks again for reading and please review because I'd love to hear from you!

Paying The Piper

It was just after nine in the morning when Shigure arrived at the Sohma family estate. There was a strong breeze and it looked like it might rain soon, he thought absently. That in mind he picked up his pace on the way to Hatori's place. He had no doubt that he'd find Hatori just fine but it didn't hurt to make sure. Hatori did have a high tolerance for alcohol after all but there had been one or two occasions when it had been a good thing he and Ayame had gone to check on him. He was nearly at the house when he spotted Haru coming towards him looking worried and seemed to be looking for something. "Something wrong, cousin of mine?" Shigure asked with a teasing grin on his handsome face.

"It's Momiji. I can't find him anywhere and his bed doesn't look like it's been slept in." Haru explained, his jacket swirling around him in the wind. "Have you seen him, sensei?"

"No, but I just got here so that's not saying much. I was on my way to Hatori's, maybe he might know where Momiji kun has gone off to."

"Yeah, I guess so. Maybe Momiji got sick or something and went over there." Haru thought out loud, walking beside Shigure as he continued on his way. "Why are you going to visit Hatori, especially so early. Don't you normally sleep until noon?"

"I just wanted to see how he's doing. I haven't seen him in a while." Shigure answered, ignoring the comment about his sleeping habits. Together the two of them walked the rest of the way in silence. Haru didn't try to start a conversation because he wasn't at all interested in hearing Shigure pretend to be the harmless goofball and Shigure didn't try because he didn't want to risk teasing Haru into going black. Both were comfortably aware of how they stood in each other's books and made no attempt to change the nature of their relationship. Arriving at Hatori's door Haru just raised an eyebrow when Shigure let himself in without bothering to even knock first. Following behind Haru bumped into his older cousin when Shigure stopped dead in his tracks with a loud, "What the hell!"


Peering around Shigure Haru was just as surprised by the picture in front of them as Shigure had been. There was Momiji, fast asleep on the floor, curled up like a kitten as he rested on the his stomach. Sitting around the low table were Ayame and Kureno, both fast asleep with their folded arms in front of them as pillows. Rounding off the group was Hatori who was in the process of putting three large, empty liquor bottles into a recycling box. The usually impeccably dressed Hatori appeared to be wearing the same clothes he'd on the day before and they were looking very wrinkled. With the smell of booze and take out in the air it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what had happened the night before.

"What the hell are they doing here?" Shigure demanded to know, motioning towards his three sleeping cousins thought Hatori had no doubt as to which person Shigure was really upset about seeing.

"We had a little party last night." Hatori explained with a shrug, not about to justify letting Kureno join them. In fact, Kureno had been better company than Shigure would have been in he was honest. Shigure, when he was drunk, could be extremely annoying. Even more so then usual.

"I'll say." Haru said dryly, walking around Shigure to kneel beside Momiji, poking his cousin's side. "So how come I wasn't invited?" He added, grinning up at Hatori. "Obviously age wasn't a factor."

"They all sort of invited themselves actually." Hatori replied with a small smile of his own. Things had definitely not gone the way he'd planned last night. But really, when he thought about it, he was sort of glad they'd all burst in on him. Not that he was going to admit that to any of them. They might get it into their heads to make a habit of this. "You didn't really miss much though."


"Well isn't Akito gong to be pissed off when he finds out about this." Shigure said slowly, looking at the passed out Kureno with a hint of glee now. Maybe he'd stick around to see the fireworks when Akito discovered that Mr. Goody Goody had gone off and gotten plastered. Oh yeah, he definitely couldn't miss that.

"Thanks for reminding me." Hatori said absently as he walked over and picking up his cell phone quickly dialed the number of the head of the servants in charge of looking after Akito. "Yes, this is Doctor Sohma. Can you please inform him that Kureno san is here, at the clinic under supervision. He had severe stomach pains last night and came here for treatment early this morning. It looks like he might have a virus of some sort so I'm keeping him here to make sure that Akito isn't exposed to it." After talking to the woman a bit more Hatori said his good byes before hanging up, his eyes going immediately to Shigure. "If Akito hears any differently, Shigure, I will not be pleased." Hatori said carefully, the look in his eye saying it all. There were some things that could be forgiven and others that could not. "Haru, see about getting Momiji up, will you?"

"Sure." Haru agreed good naturedly with a nod, watching the by-play between Shigure and Hatori with interest. Now what was up with that, he wondered as he shook Momiji's shoulders. It had to do with Kureno, that at least was obvious.

While Haru did that Hatori shook Kureno awake, the other man waking up fairly quickly since he was used to being woken up at all hours to deal with Akito.


"What's wrong with him now?" Were the first words out of Kureno's mouth, followed by some pretty inventive curses as he became aware of the splitting headache pounding in his poor, stuffy head. Oh dear God, Kureno thought, clutching his head like it might fall off. Was he dying? He hoped he was if for no other reason then that the pain would stop.

"I called to tell them to tell Akito you were here. I told him you were sick so lets get you in the shower and sobered up so he'll believe me when he comes to check on you himself." Nothing else but the threat of Akito's arrival could have gotten Kureno moving as he painfully got to his feet, thankful for Hatori's supporting arm around his waist as his cousin helped him walk out of the room towards a shower and hopefully aspirin.

Meanwhile Momiji came to and blinking sleepily rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Haru? What are you doing here?" He asked as he sat up, covering his mouth to hide a loud yawn as he looked around him in a daze.

"I guess you can hold your liquor as well as Hatori san huh?" Haru replied in amusement, fanning the air in front of him since Momiji's breath was pretty bad. Oh yeah, his little cousin had definitely joined in last night.

"Oh ya, I'm at Hari's, aren't I?" Momiji said over another yawn as his eyes focused, taking in the room around him. Shigure was there too, he noted, looking rather pissed for some reason as he interrogated a very unhappy looking Ayame about why Kureno had been there. "Yeah, where is Hari and Kureno?"

"Hatori is helping Kureno to the shower so that when Akito comes the guy won't reek of the booze you guys all consumed. How did he end up joining you guys anyway? We aren't supposed to talk to him remember?" Helping Momiji to his feet Haru watched carefully in case the rabbit wasn't ready to stand alone yet.

"He saw Hari's light on and came to make sure he was okay. We invited him to join us and then Ayame came and we really had a party!" Beaming like an idiot Momiji spun in a quick circle, stretching his arms out above his head. "It was a lot of fun! We had take out and sake and all sorts of good stuff. Did you know Hari and Ayame can sing?"

"No, I didn't know that." Haru snickered, looking over at Ayame who was looking a bit rung out though not as hung over as Kureno had been.


"Quit complaining, Shigure, it wasn't that big a deal." Ayame moaned, holding his head in defense. His head had been nearly bearable until Shigure had opened his big mouth. "He just had some drinks with us, it's not like we replaced you! You weren't here and he was, simple as that. Now please stop talking because you're making my poor, beautiful head pound!"

"You could have called me, Aaya." Shigure pointed out angrily, crossing his arms in front of him. It was one thing not to invite him and an entirely other thing to invite that bastard rooster to join them. That was just unforgivable. They were supposed to be his best friends, dammit!

"He was here before I was and if we'd done that you would have spent the whole night acting like a jealous housewife confronted with your husband's mistress." Was Ayame's just as angry reply, taking his splitting headache out on Shigure since it was technically the dog's fault it was hurting so much anyway.

"Uhmm..why is he so mad?" Momiji whispered to Haru who just shrugged. Neither of them knew Kureno well but he'd always struck them as a relatively nice guy if a bit on the cool side. In other words, Kureno was pretty much the opposite of Shigure. So why would Shigure dislike Kureno so much?

"He's mad because he's a childish baby when it comes to Kureno." Hatori answered them from behind the boys while the sound of Shigure yelling Hatori's name in outrage filled the air.


Whacking Shigure upside the head Ayame actually gave his best friend a pretty good version of Yuki's death glare. "Do that again and I'm getting one of our bottles and bashing you in the head with it. Can't you see that I'm in pain!"

"I brought you something that should help." Used to this Hatori walked over to hand Ayame a glass of his hangover cure which he always made in case he overindulged a little too much. He had a good head for alcohol but every once in a while...

"Oh I love you!" Snatching the drink Ayame guzzled it like a dying man while Shigure pouted silently. "Have I told you lately how wonderful you are, Tori san! You are absolutely the most wonderful person in the world. Unlike some people..." Another glare.

"You kids should get back to your houses. Explaining why you're here when Akito arrives would not be fun." Turning Hatori knew he could trust the boys not to mention any of this without having to ask them to keep it to themselves. They were both good kids and they unfortunately knew too well how things worked in the Sohma house. "And thanks for coming, Momiji kun." Hatori added, smiling a little at the blonde rabbit. It really had been a lot of fun.

"No problem, I had a lot of fun, Hari!" Momiji announced with a beaming smile, no sign of a hangover in sight. "And don't worry, we'll never tell. Right, Haru?" Waiting until his friend nodded Momiji beamed at Haru and then at Hari, full of good will towards all at the moment.

"It must be the German in him." Ayame muttered as he watched the two teenagers head out the door after they'd said their good byes. "He nearly drank as much as Kureno and I put together."


"You might as well head back too, Shigure, Ayame. I can handle the rest." Shoving his hands into his pockets Hatori looked around him absently, making sure that he'd picked up all signs of the party. Momiji's pictures had been scattered everywhere that morning.

"I'll get out of your way as soon as I'm absolutely sure I can walk in a straight line, Tori san." Ayame assured him, taking a seat with a sheepish look. Looking over at the look on Shigure's face he sighed. "I'm sorry, Gure san. My head feels like hell and you weren't exactly helping. But I shouldn't have yelled at you."

"You mean because yelling at me made your head hurt worse?" Shigure asked, not looking the least bit mollified.

"That too." Ayame muttered, closing his eyes before opening them again to mere slits. "Why don't we say that we're sorry we didn't invite you but we aren't sorry Kureno san joined us. Just because you don't like him doesn't mean we can't. He's really actually a very interesting fellow once you get to know him? I told him all about my shop and he was most interested! It is positively heartbreaking that I cannot take him to see it. I shall have to bring him treats from now on to make up for the fact that he can't go get them himself!"

"Rules are rules, Ayame." Hatori reminded him, the voice of reason as always. "If any of us tried to get close to him there would be hell to pay with Kureno getting the worst of it."

"Sad but true." Ayame had to agree.


"But thank you...for the thought." Turning everyone looked to the doorway where a rather pale Kureno stood, a towel around his neck as he watched them with those unreadable brown eyes of his. The clothes he'd borrowed from Hatori were a little small but not terribly noticeable thankfully. He'd been surprised to find himself the topic of conversation, much less to hear Ayame not only defend him but talk as though they were friends. He'd stopped wanting them a long time ago but now...now it looked like he could add Momiji and Ayame to his list, giving him three. He'd forgotten how nice it was, to have people want to be his friend. "Did Akito san say when he would arrive?" He asked, sticking his hands in his pockets once he caught sight of Shigure. Now there was one man who would never want to be his friend, Kureno thought.

"He could be here anytime. Lets get you tucked in on the cot and you can have a little day off maybe. You two scat." Hatori reminded them on the way out the room with Kureno on his heels after saying a quiet good bye, complete with a bow for his younger cousins.


Heading back to Momiji's house Haru noticed that his friend seemed deep in thought which wasn't something you saw Momiji doing very often. "A couple yen for your thoughts?" He asked, setting a friendly hand on Momiji's shoulder.

"I was just thinking how awful Kureno san must have it." Momiji looked up to meet Haru's questioning gaze with a small sigh. "Everyone says that he's Akito's favorite but doesn't that mean that he just has it worse than we do? I don't think I could stand to spend a whole day alone in Akito's company, much less years."

"I guess he's gotten used to it." Having never really given it much thought before Haru's mind also turned to their older cousin. All the members of the zodiac had restrictions on them but for Kureno, his whole life was constricted. Had the guy ever been to the movies or out with a girl? How long had he been stuck taking care of Akito for anyway?

"I guess being the rooster suits him, since he's like a bird in a cage. Even if we opened the door he wouldn't be able to fly free, would he? Akito's clipped Kureno san's wings too well."

"Well he had fun with you guys last night, right?" When Momiji nodded Haru smiled, squeezing his cousin's shoulder. "So there, you see. His wings aren't that badly clipped, they can still grow back if he wants them to. It is too bad that he can't interact with people more though. He could do with a good dose of Tohru."


"Tohru makes everything better." Momiji agreed with a smile. "And I'm going to come up with some way to make Kureno san's life better. I can't visit him because Akito will only make his life more miserable but there has to be something I can do."

"Well you could ask Hatori about him." Haru suggested, returning his hands to his pockets. "I mean Kureno san has to do something when he's not babysitting Akito. Maybe he has a hobby or something."

"That's a great idea." Momiji agreed with a wide grin, pleased with the idea. And he knew something else he could get Kureno that his cousin would really, really, like. The only question was, how did he go about not only getting pictures but concealing them from Akito so that Kureno would feel safe enough to keep them? "Hey, Haru." Momiji said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I just remembered, I was going to ask you this yesterday but I forgot to. I'm writing this story for class and I need to figure out a way for my character to hide these pictures without them getting discovered even when his room is fanatically searched. Any suggestions?"

Raising an eyebrow Haru shrugged, giving the idea some thought. "Well the best way to hide something is to keep it in plain sight. When you're looking for something someone's hidden you usually assume that they'll have gone to great lengths to hide it. Put it somewhere noticeable and odds are they'll never think to look there."

"So how would you hide photographs in plain sight?"


"Well I guess, depending on how many of them there were, I'd hide them in a picture frame. Put a regular picture on the front and then conceal all the other photos behind the first one. That way no one can see them but you can get at them easily when you want to. Or another thing you could do was put them into a book that no one in their right mind would want to read. That way no one would bother to open it and find the pictures inside. I even saw this one murder mystery series where a guy pasted up three sides of a page in a book and stuck it to the next page to make a pouch to hide valuable documents in."

"Wow, that's a really smart way to do it." Momiji exclaimed, his head filling with ideas now.

"Yeah, so whatever pictures you're going to smuggle to Kureno, make sure they can't be traced back to you and that no one but him is going to find them." Grinning at Momiji's shocked look Haru shook his head. "Oh come on, Momiji, give me some credit. I'm not the one that spent last night killing his brain cells."