Chapter Nine
The next day, no one was more surprised than Kyo when Haru appeared out of nowhere and embraced the cat from behind. He rested his chin on the orange head while Yuki, Tohru, Hana, and Ou just stared as the vein in Kyo's forehead started to throb.
"Haru?" Yuki glanced between his cousins and the girls, "Did you want something?"
He shook his head.
Kyo grabbed the ox's arms and bent at the waist. Haru, naturally had not expected such a reaction, and hit the ground with a thump.
Tohru gasped.
Haru blinked up at Kyo who was very tempted to kick some sense into his thick skull, "Kyo?"
The cat ground his teeth together in an impressive effort not to explode.
"Get off the floor, Haru," Yuki held out a hand to the ox.
He took it and then turned back to the cat, "I took a shower and thought of you."
Kyo turned red and dashed after the departing teen, "What the hell is that supposed to mean!"
The girls turned to Yuki who excused himself quickly and took off in the direction of his cousins.
"You know," Arisa put a hand on her hip, "If I didn't know any better I'd think there was something going on between those two."
"They have been spending a lot of time together," Tohru turned to Hana, "What do you think?"
"The black clouds have receded but not gone," Saki's gaze was distant and mysterious, "Their waves have changed."
"Changed?" Arisa lifted an eyebrow, "How so?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Hana turned to them suddenly, "The quiet one is hard to read."
"Hatsuharu can be interesting," Tohru nodded.
"He's cute, though, in a rebel sort of way," Ou shrugged, "If you like that sort of thing."
"His waves are serene, though, beneath the surface they clash against each other."
"Okay, enough about waves," Ou rolled her eyes, "Tell us, Tohru, has he kissed you yet?"
"W-what?" Tohru blushed, "No."
Yuki came upon his cousins as Kyo, obviously frustrated, stomped away. "Haru, what's going on?"
The bland teen rolled a shoulder, "He doesn't want me to think of him in the shower."
"That's understandable," Yuki blinked, "Why were you thinking of him in the shower?"
"He gave me a bruise," Haru met the rat's eyes, "He likes to play rough."
Yuki almost glanced away, embarrassed by the implications of his words, but he maintained eye contact determined. "Are you mad at me, Haru?"
"No. Why?"
"It's just lately," he would not fidget, "You don't seem to want to talk to me."
"It's not that," Haru sighed, "I don't want you and Kyo to fight over me."
Yuki frowned, fight over him? Was that really what they were doing?
"Kyo's possessive," he continued, "He doesn't like to share."
Yuki nodded, he remembered the fit Kyo threw when he found out the rat was going to have martial arts lessons as well.
"Besides," Haru eyed the teen, "You should be focusing on Tohru."
"Ms. Honda?" Yuki blinked.
"No, Tohru, Yuki, just say Tohru," Haru instructed, "You'll never get to kiss her if you can't say her name."
A faint blush blossomed on Yuki's cheeks.
Kyo reappeared suddenly and glared at them suspiciously, "What are you guys talking about?"
"Kissing," Haru answered and was secretly amused when both flared a bright red.
"You were WHAT!" Kyo was livid.
Haru arched a brow, "Between him and Tohru."
Yuki visibly tensed in preparation for attack through his eyes were curious, why was Kyo red?
Kyo deflated a bit, "Oh." He turned his red-eyed glare on Yuki, "Don't take advantage of her."
"Like I would," Yuki met the glare evenly.
"About kissing," Haru turned Kyo's head around by his chin, "I-"
Kyo hit him and tried not to glance at Yuki for his reaction, "Dumb ox. Stop joking already we're going to be late for class."
Haru was quiet as he studied the cat, "Uh-huh. I get it. I'll leave you a note." He turned and walked away.
"A note about what!" Kyo was a bit panicked, he didn't get an answer.
Yuki just stared at them inquisitively.
"What are you looking at!" Kyo shoved his hands into his pockets and stomped to class.
The rat tilted his head in thought, "I wonder."
The days continued, and ultimately, they never talked about the kiss or kisses.
Kyo couldn't bring himself to think about what his enjoying Haru's kiss might mean. His family had never been normal but . . . he didn't know if he could handle liking a boy as well. He liked girls . . . didn't he?
One thing was for sure and that was Haru, as always, was a mystery. He didn't know what the ox thought or expected since the incident though his touch had changed.
Haru had always been touchy when it came to him but now . . . things were different. The ox seemed to linger and would now stick his finger through the cat's belt loop, bump his outer hip to Kyo's, and he would even lean onto the shorter teen for support as he blinked sleepily, though nothing as extreme as the first day.
Surprisingly, Kyo found he could live with this change and even enjoyed the almost absentminded affection behind it. It was when Haru seemed to be touching him purposely and judging his reaction to the touch that made Kyo nervous.
Nervous?
No, he wasn't scared of Haru.
Anxious.
No, not anxious. It wasn't suspicion either.
Hmm.
Well, whatever it was, it sent small tingles along his skin and made him far more aware of the other boy then he was comfortable with.. Which was another thing, Haru liked to wear extremely formfitting clothes and when his shirts weren't skin tight then they were open to his navel.
Just something he noticed.
Anyway, sometimes Haru would watch him and just draw small circles on his hand, arm, and, lately, back.
A quick glare or a jerk would usually end the contact peacefully. Still, it said nothing of Haru's expectations and a small perverse side of Kyo, which he denied he had, wanted to piss Haru off just to get some straight answers.
A chill went up his spine as he remembered what happened the last time Black Haru had made an appearance. Where HAD he learned to kiss like that?
Fuck, Kyo rolled his shoulder, he'd just leaned back into the wall and let the ox have his way with him.
"Kyo," Haru linked arms with him, "Let's get something to eat."
Ok, Kyo could admit it, he overreacted. "AHH! LET GO! DON"T TOUCH ME!"
Haru instantly let go and took a step back with hurt in his eyes.
Kyo's chest heaved as he tried to calm his heart.
Gray eyes drifted to the side, "I guess I'll go by myself."
"No, Haru," Kyo swallowed and forced himself to touch the teen's arm, "I'll go with you."
He pulled away. "Don't force yourself."
Kyo narrowed his eyes, "I don't do anything unless I want to."
Haru shrugged and glanced off into space.
"Haru."
Kyo spun and found Hatori watching them with an analytical eye.
"Akito wants to see you."
Kyo swung back to Haru to catch his reaction.
He didn't seem surprised and even his gray eyes seemed calm. "I'll catch you later." He strolled over to Hatori and they walked to his car.
Kyo found himself shaking. He was scared. No one was nice to the cat and this was the reason why. Akito. The esteemed head of the family would not allow it.
Yuki approached the cat concerned, "What's going on?"
"Akito." Was all he had to say.
Yuki paled and they both watched the car drive away.
Hatsuharu entered the room and took the required kneeling position.
"Thank you for coming so promptly," Akito was sprawled on the floor like a bottle of spilled ink.
Haru waited.
"I've heard something disturbing," Akito's black eyes pinned him to the spot, "Is it true?"
"What have you heard?" Haru was his customary polite self.
"That you've befriended the cat," Akito slid into an upright position, the robes pooled out like the wings of a bird of prey.
"Kyo has always been a friend."
Akito's hand flew threw the air and landed with a sharp smack. "The cat has no friends!"
Haru turned his head back slowly. A red hand print colored his cheek.
"I've also heard he's been sharing your lessons with Kazuma," black eyes dared him to contradict the statement.
"He's my sparring partner," Haru's voice was still pleasant.
Black eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Oh? What else do you do when you're with Kazuma?"
"Talk about techniques. My progress. How to improve," he shrugged.
"You spend too much time with our family's outcast," Akito leaned into Haru's space and embraced him with deceptively weak limbs, "You should spend more time with me if you're lonely, Hatsuharu."
His expression went carefully blank, "Are you lonely, Akito?"
The black eyes closed and a smile spread as the head lowered onto Haru's chest. "Of course not, you silly ox, I have Kureno," the smile evaporated, "I just want to know why you're wasting your time on the monster."
"I want Yuki and Kyo to be friends-"
Fingernails through Haru's scalp as laughter filled the air. "Friends!" The head lifted and their noses touched, "You poor, dumb creature. The rat and cat can never be friends. Even they know that and you want to change their fate!"
Akito giggled helplessly, the head went to Haru's shoulder and hands rested at his neck. "I don't know what's funnier. The idea of them as friends or the fact that you actually believe it."
Haru's eyes drifted close, "Please, don't laugh."
"Tell me why you spend time with the cat and I'll stop," Akito's tone changed with all the suddenness of a guillotine blade falling.
"He doesn't let me get lost," Haru opened his eyes and waited.
Akito released the teen with amusement, "Yes, I guess that would be important to you. Poor thing, can't even remember it's way home."
Haru said nothing.
The head sunk back onto the floor. "At least he's making himself useful."
"Kyo is a good sparing partner."
"But not a good friend?" Black brows lifted, "But then I guess you mean to prove me wrong in this, too, Hatsuharu?"
"He has no friends," he lowered his head in submission.
"Enough about you," Akito was pleased with the small surrender, "How about Miss Honda? How is she?"
"All the girls at school hate her," he remarked idly, "She's a target."
"How awful," Akito oozed false concern, "Children can be so cruel. We should have these talks more often, Haru, you always make me laugh."
He took his cue to leave.
"Hatsuharu," Akito's voice stopped him at the door, "I love you."
"I love you, too, Akito."
He shut the door behind him.
End of Chapter Nine