Chapter Six

They went another two weeks without too much outside interference and then it happened. Kyo and Haru were having one of their lazy days where all they did was bask in the sun in an isolated spot in the forest. The cat in Kyo loved this and surprisingly so did the ox in Haru.

It made a kind of sense, Kyo reflected drowsily, oxen or cows, snicker, were an outside animal that stood in the sun all day long. He tilted his head in Haru's direction and wondered if they stood in the moonlight all night.

After all, Haru had fallen asleep sitting straight up.

"Hey," Kyo reached over to shove the supposedly sleeping teen.

"What?" Gray eyes opened, alert and curious.

"Do you sleep on your feet?"

He blinked, "What?"

"Do you sleep standing up?"

"Only if he's exhausted."

Kyo snapped up and there was Rin, wearing a ridiculously short dress as her hair blew in the wind.

Haru was slower but he, too, got to his feet, "Rin." The wealth of subdued emotion in that single word resonated within the others so they had to fight the shivers that accompanied it.

"Still trying to save those who can't be saved, Haru," Rin's tone was casual but sank with deadly accuracy, "Pathetic."

On the surface, Haru didn't appear to care but, as always, it was his eyes that gave him away. Filled with hurt and regret, "That's depends on your point of view doesn't it, Rin?"

"Not when it's the cat," her dark eyes were hostile, "You really are stupid if you think Akito will just let this pass unnoticed."

"Rin," Haru took a step toward her prompting her to take a step back to keep the distance, "That's not very nice."

The undercurrent of pain was subtle but there just the same.

Kyo grabbed the ox's arm and leveled a death glare at the horse. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on but he would be damned if he just stood on the sidelines and watched his friend get torn to pieces.

"Leave him alone."

Rin gave him a haughty look before returning to her ex-boyfriend, "At least this one defends you. Yuki never did, did he? And after everything you did for him. Do you think this cat is any different-"

"Hey," Kyo stepped between them, "I said leave him alone."

A cruel smile crossed her lips, "Or what cat? You'll touch me with your dirty hands? Do you really think you can protect him from Akito? When you can't even hope to escape the cage Akito has planned for you?"

"Rin-" Haru protested.

Kyo scoffed, "Am I supposed to be scared? Guilty? I don't give a damn what you think about me and I especially don't give a damn about Akito. He is my friend and you won't take him away."

"He'll get more hurt being your friend than he could ever being my boyfriend," she raged, "And I will not allow you to hurt him."

"Like you already have! You were the one who hurt him! Not Akito!"

Rin flinched then and glanced at Haru for a sign that it wasn't true. He averted his eyes and took hold of Kyo's shirt. She turned and fled.

Kyo snorted at her fleeing figure and turned to Haru. He had his head down and the hand that gripped the shirt tightened. "You're not going to cry are you?" Kyo became highly uncomfortable.

The white head moved in the negative.

"Haru . . ." Kyo trailed off, for what can one really say when all your friend's emotional wounds get ripped wide open for all to see.

"I was wrong." The head lifted and the pain in those eyes almost made him flinch, "You're not like Yuki at all."

Rage flared, how dare Haru compare him to Yuki-

"You're strong."

His wind slipped a gear, "What?"

Haru went blank. There was no other word for it. All of his subtle humor and personality were gone, even those expressive gray eyes had gone flat. There was no one there. "I must go."

"Haru . . . ?"

"Bye Kyo." The ox turned and left.

Kyo was at a loss . . . He felt like the following the younger teen but he didn't know if he should. It was like he'd done something wrong but that couldn't be it! He hadn't done anything! All he had done was stand up to Rin . . .

None of it made any sense!

Kyo ran a hand through his hair and started for home. He'd just have to talk with Haru. A real talk. No distractions. It was about time he found out what the hell was going on!

End of Chapter Six