HOW I LOVE YOU


Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or King of Fighters or Never On Sunday sung by Connie Francis. (Listen to the song on youtube, search for Bourne&Kraatz Never on Sunday for visual presentation.)

Shout Out: Exhausted. This is my chief emotion after finishing this chapter. I won't ever be a professional skater, so writing in that venue was a bit stressful for me. But it's finished, so I hope you will enjoy it. RavenWhiteMoi, find out four yourself and have fun! Amarante96, I too am the poor schmuck who is also frankly terrible on the ice skates. Hope this chapter will surprise you some! Suzu no Miya, thanks, Kyo is just going to be traumatized. Mortred101, well, ahem. It's Orochi's turn to get on Harry's bad side. Ishipit, hope you will become better with ice skates, and yeah, stopping is a murder. Still, take care at your work, my stories will wait for you anyway. Wishing you luck!

Warnings: AU-verse, SLASH, Iori taking a temporary hike and Harry finally uses the gift from Yamato-san.


The tension between his self-acclaimed protector and fuming brown-haired stranger was palpable.

If Harry could, he would've face palmed at the moment. Really, who exactly had he pissed off in his former life to be a butt of cosmic jokes in this one? Maybe there really was a phenomenon known as a HP Effect (patent pending… somewhere), characterized by idiotic situations, unbelievable misfortune and luck taking their respective turns. Really, this was like clockwork – if there was a disaster, somehow, Harry would came up on the top… most of the time, and when he finally thought the situation would pan out, it veered straight in the opposite side.

Harry had given up on resolving this particular paradox long ago, but that didn't mean he was at peace with this unique facet of his life.

Waddling like an adorable duck, he somehow got around Iori's back beside his arm and clutching to it like terrified little girl, all in order to keep his balance. Whoever invented the skates had to be one seriously sadistic bastard who enjoyed people wobbling and tripping over their feet on the evil plane of whiteness called ice.

"Hey." He called to the snake, tugging lightly at his arm. "Let's just go."

"What, you are using innocent bystanders now?" The Kusanagi spat out, his brown eyes narrowing. Harry felt the man's body beside his own stiffen with anger.

His own body tensing in response at the insult Harry glared at the idiot. "At least he stopped me from crashing into the fence, while you, buddy, just stood here, gaping like moron and not doing anything. Get lost, hero." He spat out, the last words acidic on his tongue, causing the Kusanagi flinch. "Your words of wisdom are not needed or wanted here."

"But - Don't you know that he's dangerous!" Kusanagi spluttered his cheeks red with embarrassment at Harry's jibe at his uselessness in the situation. He made a step forward, only to be stopped by a growl/hiss from the snake's throat.

Harry eyed him flatly. "You don't know half of it. " Mind flashing back to the kitchen disasters, he grumbled out, as he once again tugged at the redhead's arm. "Hey, Iori. Let's go, you still owe me a date."

That effectively stopped the Kusanagi idiot in his tracks. "You-Iori -date!? What the hell, man - "

He was stopped by a rumbling chuckle from Iori. "I was right, Little One. You are very interesting." He saw how those red eyes looked at the smaller green-eyed man affectionately as he helped him to turn around and skate toward the edge of the rink. He stared after the pair, completely freaked out.

Iori on a date. Now he knew the world was ending.

"I didn't know you were such a coward to hide behind your date, Iori." The words flew out of his mouth before he even thought of them.

The pair paused and Iori's previously relaxed shoulders stiffened.

"What do you want, Kusanagi?" The agitated hiss made the brown-haired martial artist smirk.


"A match." Kyo Kusanagi answered cockily, enjoying that for once, it was him to press his rival into the corner and not the opposite. Truth to be told, he kind of missed Iori's challenges lately. Not that there was anything wrong with more snuggle time with Yuki, it was just…kind of strange not to be hounded by Iori anymore, ever since their resealing of Orochi.

It was kind of a sheer dumb luck they met on the same ice rink, especially when Kyo didn't think that Iori would ever step on ice. It was more of Kyo's domain, what with the ice hockey and all.

So imagine his surprise - no, downright shock - when he was leisurely skating with Yuki and Shingo, to be called out by the panicked guy wrapped in green and yellow scarf, claiming that he couldn't stop, and just when the collision was almost inevitable, Kyo was preparing for the worst, there was a tiny stroke of luck, sending the guy to veer off from colliding with Yuki by mere millimeters, and then the red blur snapping by Kyo, only to reveal the only and one Yagami Iori snatching the guy by the way and stopping them both cold in the same breath, thus saving the guy in question from the painful close meeting with the fence.

Kyo saw red. It was one thing for Iori to engage him, but to use innocent bystanders was a whole another barrel of fish, so to speak.

So he called out at the bastard, only to be reamed by Iori's 'victim' for his slow reactions and then promptly dismissed in order to prompt Iori into going elsewhere to continue their date.

Oh no. Not on Kyo's watch.

And so, Kyo blurted out the only word that was a surefire guarantee for Iori to focus his attention on him – and if he was lucky, Iori's little date would see Iori for what he was and hightail out while he could still do it.

"Which words out of 'I am on a date,' you don't understand, Kusanagi?" Iori snapped back.

"The words 'you' and 'date'," Kyo promptly answered back, smirking. "But if you are so insistent on proving me wrong, then.." He flexed his fingers, preparing to ignite his famous flames. "Prove it."

The red eyes glared at him, causing his grin to widen. "I will not fight with you on the ice."

"Kyo!" A female voice called out, causing Kyo to look to his side and smile as his girlfriend stopped by him, punching him on the arm, "What is taking you so long, I want to dance!"

He wrapped his hand around her wait kissing her cheek affectionately, and then straightened out, looking into Iori's eyes.

"Compete against us. On ice."


No way. No way, no way, no how.

That was possibly the worst imaginable combination of sports Harry ever had to participate in. He already had two left feet in dancing, and he was freaking lucky he had been stopped from crashing into the fence by the snake, but there was no way in seven frozen hells he would actually manage to combine the two and get out unscathed.

Oh, he was so using that little gift Yamato-san had given him, as soon as they get home…

His eyebrow twitched as he practiced stopping and balancing his body.

Orochi would get his due, the stupid snake. He didn't know just why Orochi was so obsessed by defeating that Kusanagi idiot, but really, drawing even Harry into his pissing contest was a little too much for the green eyed wizard.

"You know what they say about idiots, Orochi." He growled out at his skating companion when they skated around the perimeter accelerating and decelerating to warm up. "Allow them to fight with you, they will drag you down on their level and beat you with experience." Sharp emerald eyes glared at the bemused spirit entity currently in the front driving seat of Iori's body. "Besides that, this was my and Iori's date. Not yours."

"You would leave me all by my lonesome, Little One?" The snake eyed him, amused, red eyes full of mirth and mock-woe. "How positively cruel of you." He turned around and begun back-skating, careful to be in line with Harry's own speed.

"How astute of you." Harry mocked back, before sighing. "Why did you have to accept his challenge, Orochi? You knew I am an absolute beginner, and you agreed to ice dancing of all things. I have two left feet when dancing is concerned!"

Orochi chuckled, the edges of his eyes crinkling slightly with amusement when Harry made a frustrated face. That dating business seemed to be more entertaining by the minute. "Don't worry about it, just skate to the best of your ability..."

"… and not worry about killing any poor fences on the way." Harry concluded dryly, grimacing at the wobbly stop he had just executed. "Thank you, you are a veritable fountain of wisdom. However did I manage to live without you up until now?"

The hissy, raspy chucked coming out of Iori's throat caused a shudder to sneak up the young wizard's spine.

Well. Here's to hoping he would survive the oncoming humiliation.


Harry's dark thoughts were proven right when he was watching the dance that Kusanagi fool and his girlfriend executed on the ice rink, seemingly flying all over the frozen expanse of water with an almost insulting ease. Miserably, he wondered just how many casts would he end up in after his own little dance with Orochi.

"Little One. " Harry looked up into those red eyed, blinking. For once, Orochi was serious, as he gazed into Harry's green eyes, offering him his gloved hand as if supplicating to him.

"Harry. Trust me."

Swallowing heavily, Harry nodded, placing his own into that wide, big hand, so different of his own.

"I trust you." The words came out of his mouth, in a shaky whisper causing those red eyes widen with astonishment. Their little moment was interrupted by the announcer beckoning them onto the ice plane to begin their own dance.


Shakily, Harry exhaled as he placed himself in front of Orochi.

'Alright. Just like flying.' He gulped, swallowing harshly, willing his heart to slow down. 'And here's to hoping the snake bastard would catch me in time.'

And then, the song began to pour out of the loudspeakers, momentarily freezing him with a surprise.

Involuntarily, his mouth twitched as he listened to the beat, his body unconsciously moving to it, as he began skating backward, still a little bit awkward, but if he concentrated to the rhythm, it was easier.

He knew this song. He knew it very well and it wasn't an irony…. He looked into those red eyes, smirking with amusement.

A crystal clear, mellow voice floated across the ice rink as he gained speed, Orochi following him seamlessly, catching his hand as and tugging him into a wide turn, Harry's legs automatically sliding, allowing himself to be tugged even closer in a waltz hold, while Orochi gained the speed beginning to cross skate backward, unconsciously prompting his green-eyed partner to follow to him, his red eyes fastened on Harry as he too smirked in response to Harry's amusement.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la…

(Oso keeyiampsaxo then vrisko allo lay manee)
(trellee na me he kanee oso to piraos)

Giving him a half-hearted scowl, Harry clenched his hands, prompting him to stop. He turned, Orochi's hand finding themselves on his hips, their warm, solid weight sending a shiver up Harry's spine, as he reached with his left hand back and up, to hug Orochi's neck, leaning back for a smidgen. He tilted his head up and to the side in a show of trust, the picture of lovers to anyone who saw them at the moment.

Oh, you can kiss me on a Monday a Monday a Monday
is very very good

Harry barked out a chuckle, as they began to move forward, Orochi subtly pushing and stabilizing him at the same time, giving him confidence to place his own hands on the top of Orochi's and then slowly prying them off, as if reluctant to be free of them when he made an extra push to get an additional amount of speed to 'escape' Orochi's hold.

Or you can kiss me on a Tuesday a Tuesday a Tuesday
in fact I wish you would

Orochi 'ran' beside him, a mock-begging expression on his face, before he once again caught Harry in his hold, rising him up as he turned around and then lowered him, Harry's body pliant as a bow in his arms, allowing himself to be dragged along, before he rose again, following Orochi - or was that Orochi following him?

Or you can kiss me on a Wednesday a Thursday a Friday
a Saturday is best

It was hard to tell as the pair changed the holds with the ease that could be only borne out of long time practice and complete trust. Harry felt his body relax as they skated together in a parallel hold, Orochi's hand supporting him, their bodies falling in rhythm. Harry allowed himself some fun, trying out some more complicated footwork, like twirling in place, sure in the knowledge that if he lost his balance, Orochi would be there to catch him if he were to fall. He gave him fake coy look, followed by a mischievous grin, prompting a chase across the rink, 'allowing' Orochi to catch him once more into a spin -

But never never on a Sunday a Sunday a Sunday
'cause that's my day of rest

Orochi's comically slumped shoulders elicited some incredulous chuckles out of their audience as Harry turned away from him, pushing away from with a hand on Orochi's chest, in an gesture eerily similar to the one from the morning, only to be 'surprised' by Orochi's hold around his waist behind him once more.

Come any day and you'll be my guest
Any day you say but my day of rest

The notes of chorus were wide, velvety and welcoming and oh so true to their situation. Shaking his head bemusedly, Harry freed himself of the hold, skating a small step forward before turning around and beginning to skate backwards, his arms wide open, as if they were wings, before he beckoned Orochi to follow him, to catch him into his hold again, causing him to lean back like a rose out of a crystal vase when he was being spun around in a lazy spin before he was reluctantly released and they separated again.

Just name a day that you like the best
Only stay away on my day of rest

Only for Orochi to catch him by his wrist dragging Harry after him, while executing backward cross-steps to gain the speed. This helped Harry to turn with his back to him, and then, Orochi moved in front of Harry, holding his hand so it looked like it was Harry trying to get free of his hold, allowing Harry to lift his right leg into the air, a picture of lover that was about to leave for some hard-earned rest.

Come any day and you'll be my guest
Any day you say but my day of rest

Orochi dragged him close, twirling them around and then lifted him up, making him sit down on his leg causing Harry to wrap his arms around his shoulders and their eyes met.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

Green eyes looked into red ones and Harry stretched his right hand into the air, leaning backward when Orochi spun them around before helping Harry transit into the standing pose, and after gaining some speed, he lifted him up by one leg before setting him down, causing the chase to begin again, Harry feeling as he skated backward and Orochi following him. Finally, Orochi caught him by the waist, and swept him up in the air, turning him around three times, slowly letting him down. Harry reached his hands up and burrowing them in the mass of silky red hair ducking his head down his face that they touched their foreheads while the music quieted down, as is reluctant to leave them alone entwined in each other's embrace.

There was a profound silence, before the cheers exploded.


His heart was thundering wildly when he was looking into those deep green eyes, feeling their owner's breath tease his lips He had been in shock when he heard those words slipping out the Little One's mouth in sibilant hiss denoting his own language.

"I trust you." Three words that had left him thunderstruck. How long had it been, since he was spoken to, and in the language of serpents, nonetheless?

His Little One was special, indeed. Lips quirking up affectionately, he nuzzled his neck, even covered with the scarf as he hugged him, immersing himself in Harry's scent and warmth.


Kusanagi Kyo stared.

He had thought that he had this impromptu little competition in the bag. He had been ice dancing with Yuki as a hobby for three years. Iori, to his knowledge, never had, and his ice dancing partner was a newbie that was ice firstie, so to speak.

The song that had been randomly chosen for the pair was also a bit difficult of an arrangement to ice dance to, what with its rhythm, changing from fast to slow from one breath to another.

But somehow, the duo made it work. The two were two planets orbiting around each other… but what creeped Kyo out the most was Iori's openness to Harry when they were dancing. Iori was all barks, bites and sharp edges, rude as rude can be.

However, this new version of Iori was warm, protective and horror of all horrors, cuddly! Cuddly! Kyo felt ice shivers travel up his spine at that particular anathema. Iori was never, ever cuddly! He was the type to brutally murder kittens and puppies – well, Kyo didn't have any proof for this one, but he was! As an opponent, Iori was a nightmare and when there were those rare occasions the two had to team up, in the aftermath, Kyo was both absurdly grateful and immensely irritated that Iori had been on his side.

"Awww. Aren't they soo cuuute." Turning to her, Kyo looked at his girlfriend with horror. She had flushed cheeks and her hands were clutched to his chest, her gaze dreamy and sparkling when she was looking at the pair with envy.

"Kyo-chan… Why aren't you like that with me?" Big accusing eyes looked at the Kusanagi heir as she pouted, causing Kyo to backpedal slowly.

"Er… Yuki – "He stammered, waving helplessly in front of him, hoping to stave off the big guns. No luck on that front, the big weapons came out anyway. Shimmering, wet and hurt brown orbs that made Kyo feel like heel for causing her hurt. Even if he hadn't done anything to deserve it this time. Really!

He swallowed as his shoulder slumped with defeat.

Why the fuck did Iori have to change into such a Casanova? Most importantly, when did that happen?


Harry sighed with relief when they came back to their apartment. His legs were still shaking with shock when they finished their little challenge. Thanks to Orochi, he had made it out whole, and as a bonus, that Kusanagi creep also got his dues, what with him and Orochi winning their impromptu little pissing contest. Still, Harry inwardly swore that if he ever saw that Kusanagi idiot again, he would have words with him.

"Finally," He breathed out, slumping as he changed his shoes for his divinely comfortable slippers, his jacket, scarf and cap already off and on the hook in the wardrobe.

Ice skate shoes were a murder on his feet. Why would anyone spend hour upon hours in them and freezing their butts off on the treacherously slippery cold surface known as ice, Harry would never understand.

Suddenly, he was turned around and kissed, a hot mouth on his cooled down lips, with slick tongue sneaking past his teeth and claiming Harry's orifice for its own, prompting his own tongue to play with Orochi's.

Twitching, Harry reached around, fingers scrabbling to the nearby commode and snatching the now much needed item off of it.

THWAP.

The thick sound of harissen hitting the redhead's skull echoed in the antechamber.

"Oww. Why did you do that for!?" Iori's indignant voice overlapped with Orochi's one in a confused hurt.

"Because – "Harry began coldly, his cheeks flushed and breathing heavily after the hot kiss he had received still in the redheaded fighter's hold, with a ghost apparition now holding him on his other side. Both of the taller men were holding their heads where they had been smacked by harissen and giving him bewildered looks – "You two were both idiots and you don't deserve any prizes after the stunt you've pulled on me!"


/To Be Continued/