Chapter Ten

Kyo took his time walking home from school that day.

Yuki had ushered off Tohru so she wouldn't notice anything was wrong.

He was . . . grateful. He didn't think he could pull off a casual answer right now. He lingered by store windows and hoped Haru would be okay. He had just made it to the woods surrounding Shigure's house when he was grabbed around the waist and a hand covered his mouth.

He was lifted off the ground and he kicked the air as he squirmed desperately for an opening to attack.

"Kyo."

He stilled at the sound of the familiar voice but remained rigid. The hand drifted off his mouth and joined the other around his waist. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he was lowered to the ground to rest against a taller male body.

"Haru?"

"It's just a hug."

Annoyance replaced the abject terror of being grabbed, "I don't need a hug."

"I do," Haru's head rested on his shoulder, white hair entered his field of vision, "Please."

Kyo sighed and relaxed his body in the other's grasp. "What did Akito want?"

The body tensed behind him so subtly that the only reason Kyo was able to tell was because his back was pressed against his front. "To talk."

"What-"

"I don't really want to talk about that right now," Haru nuzzled his neck, "Let's talk about something else."

Those damn tingles! Kyo cringed away from his touch. He couldn't help it.

Haru sighed and let go of the cat, "What am I doing?" The question directed more at himself then at Kyo.

Kyo turned and saw the beginnings of a bruise on Haru's cheek.

"What happened?" It was a stupid question. They both knew what happened. Akito. Kyo pushed onto the new question, "What do you mean?"

Haru leaned back into a tree, his open shirt gaped open revealing pale skin. "What do you think I mean?"

Kyo was silent, he didn't know what the hell Haru was talking about.

The ox lowered his head, "Forget it."

"Forget what?"

Gray eyes were bored and dismissive.

"Forget WHAT?"

He dropped a shoulder and turned his head away.

Kyo stomped up to him and pulled Haru down to eye level by his open shirt. "Don't pull this shit with me, Haru."

"Ok, fine," Haru stepped into Kyo, "Let's talk."

Kyo stumbled backwards and had to clutch at him to keep from falling.

Haru took the cat's arm and steadied him. His eyes turned soft and fond. "I just realized something, that's all." He pulled the cat closer, "Rin never understood that I didn't care about what might happen. I just wanted to be close to her and to be loved."

"We've already established she's a bitch, Haru," Kyo remarked irritably, not even noticing the distance between them closing.

A hand drifted down the cat's cheek, "I don't want to feel what Akito wants me to feel. I want . . ." He trailed off, his voice soft and longing.

"What do you want?" Kyo suddenly became are of how close they were and fought for both passiveness and the desire to lean into his touch.

A reluctant smile crossed his lips as his chest deflated slowly, "Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter." His hand dropped and he stepped away, "So . . . are you hungry or what?"

Kyo glared and shoved the other teen, "Don't change the subject. Answer. What do you want?"

Haru stumbled and then just smiled. "This, just this," he stuck his hands in his pockets and assumed a rather clueless expression, "Are we going or not?"

"Why do we have to go anywhere?" Kyo rolled his eyes, "Tohru's probably-"

Haru shook his head, "I don't think I can handle them right now."

Kyo scanned the area and then nodded abruptly. "Fine, let's go."

They walked off together in a comfortable silence.

Kyo eyed him as they walked and, when Haru just hummed to himself, he shrugged. If Haru didn't want to be completely forthcoming with what he wanted then it wasn't any skin off his nose. Besides, what could Haru possibly want that involved him? He shrugged off any and all thoughts of the kiss . . . kisses.

Kyo glanced at his quiet friend again. "Haru?"

"Hmm?"

Kyo chewed his lip for a moment before he decided to just come out with it. "What do you expect?"

Haru stopped and turned those expressive eyes on him. Somehow he knew exactly what Kyo was talking about, "Nothing. We're friends, first, and if we can't be friends, after, then I want nothing."

Orange brows frowned perplexed by the answer, "After what?"

Amusement turned gray into silver, "And people say I'm slow."

"Don't call me . . . slow!" Kyo raged.

Silver warmed, "You're cute when you're angry."

"Haru, damn it!" Kyo was stopped mid-sentence as Haru slid smoothly through his defenses and placed a small lingering kiss on his lips.

The cat gasped.

Haru took advantage and started to explore the other's mouth leisurely like he had all the time in the world.

Kyo's eyes fluttered close and he tried to remember what they were talking about . . . A hand tilted his head and all thoughts dissipated. A gentle hand was placed on the small of Kyo's back and guided him closer. Damn tingles had turned into full blown shivers.

Haru stepped away from him suddenly, chest heaving.

Kyo nearly fell over as all his support was removed.

They glanced at each other then, and this time there was nothing to distract them from what just happened. There was nothing to excuse it either. Haru hadn't been black and Kyo hadn't just been humoring him. Though, he'd kissed him when he was white the first time . . .

"Maybe I do want something," Haru just watched him with those damn silver eyes, "I thought I didn't want to risk losing my friendship with you. But now, maybe, I don't care."

"So you're saying you want . . . me?" Kyo was dumbfounded.

A smile spread then, one Kyo hadn't thought Haru was capable of when he was white. "You could say that," he sobered, "I've never liked a guy before, I guess, I just can't resist your charms Kyo."

Kyo crossed his arms, "What? So now it's my fault?"

"No," Haru's eyes drifted to the road, "It's your choice, Kyo." Then he left the privacy of the woods for the busy street.

"I get to choose," Kyo's heart beat shallowly in his chest.

Haru, in one fell swoop, had stated his desires, thoughts on the subject, and found a full proof way to find out what Kyo wanted or expected. He was no longer going to be able to be a passive participant in this . . . relationship if he wanted it to continue. But did he?

"Kyo," Haru stuck his head back in the forest, "Are you coming? I'm still hungry."

Kyo at him with exasperation, "Why do I have to go?"

Haru did his miniscule pout, "You said you'd come with me."

"I swear, Haru," Kyo shook his head, "After all . . . that . . . You still want to eat with me?"

"Yes," he tilted his head, "We've already established that I want you, Kyo."

Kyo's eyes flashed a warning.

"Seriously," the ox wasn't fazed by it, "What's my favorite food?"

A bit thrown by the change of topic, "You like that grilled pork stuff, right?"

He beamed, "I don't think anybody else knows that."

Kyo frowned, "Yuki knows, doesn't he?"

He shrugged, "Come on, I know a place that sells that and codfish."

"Codfish?" The cat's ear perked up, "Really?"

"I know it's your favorite." They left the privacy of forest and entered the city.

The meal was the best thing they could have done. Haru didn't overly fawn on him like Kyo feared he might have since the confession. Instead, he had returned to the rather casual touches that had defined their friendship when he was being careful.

Kyo was a bit put out. He had grown used to the contact and found he was missing it. No one touched him as frequently as Haru did, for one he didn't allow it and most didn't want to. He was the cat and the cat in him demanded physical affection as it's due and Haru willingly supplied it. Now it was gone.

He glared at the ox accusingly.

Haru was clueless and told him so.

"You're trying to trick me into accepting aren't you?"

"Kyo, if I were trying to trick you into accepting my offer then I would do more then just eat across from you," Haru took a bite of pork an chewed thoughtfully before swallowing, "I could play footsie with you or I could bat my eyelashes at you." The last Haru did in case Kyo wasn't sure what he was talking about.

Kyo's glare darkened, "Shut up. You know what I'm talking about.'

"Do I?" Haru continued to eat and Kyo stubbornly ate his fish that the ox was so kind to order for him.

Then everything clicked into place.

The boundaries had been set and they knew exactly where they lie. Haru could wait forever for him to decide to cross them and he knew it. There was a comfort there that Kyo had not expected. Haru was not forcing him to choose anything, rather was just waiting until it was ok to continue or to back off for good. It was entirely his choice, Kyo understood that now whereas before he hadn't. He'd thought Haru would just bind his time until he could take advantage again but, that was wrong, Haru wasn't like that. He could trust Haru.

Kyo stared into his empty plate with some surprise. He'd never thought he could do that with anyone but his master.

"Haru."

The ox finished the last of his meal and glanced up to find Kyo had withdrawn into himself. "Kyo?"

"I . . . guess."

Haru tilted his head and waited.

Kyo stared at his plate, his jaw tight as he forced himself to talk. "I trust you."

The ox was visibly puzzled, "I trust you, too."

"I've never been in a . . . relationship," red lifted and bore into gray, "I never thought I'd be allowed to."

Haru was quiet.

"If you want to do this . . . I guess, the least I can do is try," Kyo's stare was relentless, "But we stay friends, regardless."

Haru nodded, "I wouldn't have wanted it any other way."

Kyo broke eye contact then, "So what do we do now?"

"Now, we pay for our meal and go home."

"That wasn't what I meant," the cat glanced to the side sullenly.

"I guess we could plan our next date."

"Date?" Kyo lifted shocked eyes to a departing Haru.

"I'll pay."

Kyo glanced back at the table and came to a sudden realization, "That means I'm the girl." He was on the ox's trail in a flash. "No, I'm paying! Damn it!"

The restaurant owners were a bit confused by the two teens arguing about who was paying. Especially since the more quiet of the two had already paid and the loud one didn't actually have enough money.

"Kyo, it's just food."

"Damn it, Haru, I'm paying next time!" With that the cat scooped up his money and stomped away with the other teen on his heels.

The waiter just shook his head, the Sohmas were a weird family.

The following days found little to no change in behavior between the two teens.

Haru had returned to his touching ways, which secretly pleased Kyo, and Kyo had actually started touching back, which pleased Haru visibly. Though Kyo's touches were more bops and less slapping of hands then before.

Everyone around them dismissed the behavior as Haru finally wearing down Kyo.

Yuki had even told him, "Don't worry, after awhile, you won't even notice it."

Everyone accepted this except Hanajima Saki. She sensed something from them and she wasn't sure what it meant. So one day Hana and Haru had a stare off to end all stare offs.

Kyo, Tohru, and Arisa could only watch as the enigmatic duo faced each other without blinking, moving, or even breathing. For ten minutes they must have just stared when they both blinked as one.

"You are a worthy adversary," Hana concluded.

"Not many could have read me so well," Haru acknowledged her in turn.

Hana tilted her head, "You controlled your waves as soon as you realized what I was doing. I've never met anyone who could do that."

Haru shrugged.

"I see I will have to catch you off guard," Hana moved to Ou and Tohru.

Kyo joined Haru who seemed to be grinning a bit., well, for him.

"She's kind a cute."

"The psychic?" Kyo looked a bit traumatized.

"Mmm."

Kyo glared at him, suddenly as a thought occurred to him. If Haru was attracted to girls like Rin and Hanajima then what did that say about him? Nothing flattering, that was for sure.

"What?" Haru noticed the glare.

Kyo's glare darkened a bit more.

Haru was quiet for a moment when a more obvious smirk appeared, "Are you jealous?"

Kyo huffed and walked away.

"Kyo," Haru followed him, "Come back. Kyo!"

The cat refused to speak to him for the rest of the day. So it was Haru felt it was justified to appear at an ungodly in Kyo's room to inquire about the matter.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

The voice rang through Shigure's house and it's occupants rolled over and continued to sleep. Such random outbursts were not uncommon.

"Kyo, you need to be more subtle," Haru remarked blandly, "Now everyone knows I'm here."

Kyo glared, "Why are you here?"

"You're mad," he stated simply, "Why?"

Kyo just stared at him with disbelief. "You can't just barge in here at-" he glanced at his alarm clock, "- 3:00! It's 3:00 in the fucking morning!"

Haru sat down on the cat's bed, "Not now, Kyo, yesterday."

Kyo threw his blanket over his head and grumbled into the mattress.

Haru leaned over him, "I didn't hear you."

One red eye appeared, "It's too fucking early. I'm going back to sleep."

Haru tilted his head, "What am I supposed to do?"

"Go home," the eye disappeared.

"I don't want to," Haru smiled as Kyo growled at him.

"Then go to sleep."

Haru nodded and moved more onto the bed.

Kyo frowned as he felt his cousin stretch out beside him on the bed. "What are you doing?"

"Sleeping."

The cat pulled the blanket off his head to glare at the ox. "Go sleep on the couch."

Haru's eyes stayed closed as his breathing deepened.

"Haru," Kyo grumped, "I mean it."

No response.

He gritted his teeth together in a parody of a smile and shoved the ox off the bed.

Haru hit the ground with a surprised grunt. He sat up to protest when a pillow came flying at his head followed by a blanket.

"If you're going to sleep in here, then you sleep on the floor." Kyo snuggled triumphantly into his pillows.

Haru glared and determinedly climbed back onto the bed.

Kyo stiffened before turning to yell at the intruder.

Haru was faster as he yanked Kyo beneath him and settled his weight on top.

Kyo froze as Haru moved above him making himself comfortable. "Haru?"

"Shut up, Kyo," the ox laid his head down and closed his eyes, "Sleep."

Kyo wiggled trying to shift and roll the weight off him. "Get off, you're heavy."

"Hn."

The cat sighed, he really was too tired to deal with this right now and it wasn't like he was a wuss that he couldn't handle Haru's weight. Drowsiness made his eyes droop and his last thought was: He smells like sunshine.

Beep. Beep.

Kyo twitched and refused to open his eyes. He didn't want to get up yet.

Beep. Beep.

Damn clock. He needed to get up.

Bee- Silence.

Hope lighted in his breast. His alarm clock wasn't going off. He was dreaming it went off.

He slept.

Shigure waved Yuki and Tohru off before turning back to the stairs.

He hadn't seen Kyo that morning which wasn't unusual since Kyo was an early riser and he wasn't. There was also the fact that Kyo had taken up the recent habit of leaving earlier to pick up a certain ox.

All these things usually would have had Shigure returning to his bedroom to either write or sleep. Both worthy courses of action but this morning was different.

Kyo's shoes were still on shoe rack. He just happened to glance down and see them, what's more, Haru's boots were lined up neatly next to them.

Interest piqued, the writer made his way stealthily up the stairs to the cat's room. He had at least two teenagers in his house and hadn't seen hide nor hair of them at breakfast. He eased the bedroom door open and peeked in. He didn't gasp with surprise at the scene before him and was actually quite disappointed by the innocence of it.

Honestly, how was he going to get any research done if they didn't get a move on already. He tilted his head, of course this scene could easily be used for blackmail purposes . . . Of course the only thing that kept the scene innocent was the fact Haru was above the covers.

The two boys slept on oblivious to the attention.

During the course of the night, or early morning, Kyo had managed to dislodge the stubborn ox from his perch. However, Haru was not one to be denied even in his sleep and had grabbed the cat about the waist to spoon.

Kyo preserved his dignity by being fully wrapped up in the blanket with his tank top exposed.

Haru was fully clothed.

They were no fun at all. Shigure sighed with resignment, he couldn't even piss off Akito with this information. He left them in peace to return to his own bed. They were going to have to be more indiscreet or he was going to have to put up a camera in their room.

His gaze turned shrewd as he wondered if this new relationship would interfere with his plans. Hmmm. He would think on the matter later though it would not bode well for the teens to be in his path. He was already going to risk Tohru in his plot. His little cousins could easily be added to the list.

Kyo groaned drowsily as he tried to scoot out of his blanket. It was hot. His blanket protested and pulled him even more firmly against a solid wall of heat. He cracked one red eye open to glare at the oddly possessive piece of cloth. He would not be defeated by stupid blanket.

He pulled determinedly and then realized he wasn't making any progress because he was lying on it. He rolled a little to shift his weight and arched his body to put most off his weight on his upper back and toes. The blanket pulled free and then he was yanked right back into that warmth.

Blanket gone, Kyo snuggled into it comfortably when he realized there was a hand on his stomach. He opened his eyes to stare at it and dimly recognized the rings on the pale hand.

Oh, it's just Haru. His eyes drifted shut and then opened with alarm. He turned his head to find Haru's white head tucked into the space between his shoulder and neck. He jerked away only to be pulled back.

"Ahhhh! Get off me!"

Shigure glanced up from his computer and shook his head. It sounded more promising than it was. Kyo had the same reaction to Ayaa.

Haru opened his eyes to find a thrashing body in his arms.

"Damn it, Haru!" Kyo clawed uselessly at the uniform clad arms.

The ox released him and Kyo scrambled quickly across the bed. "You're noisy in the morning."

"What are you doing here?" He demanded.

Hatsuharu shrugged and laid his head back on the pillow. "You were mad."

A hazy memory of a conversation flitted through Kyo's head before it was gone. "It's over now. What are you doing in my bed?"

A black brow lifted, "I recall you telling me to go to sleep."

"On the couch," he remembered, "Why aren't you on the couch?"

The other brow joined the first, "Kyo, you agreed to date me, didn't you?"

Kyo's mouth snapped shut and then opened, "That doesn't mean I have to sleep with you."

Annoyance sparked in Haru's eyes and he folded his arms under his head. "Why not? We've slept together twice now," his eyes closed, "You overreact."

"You should react more," Kyo threw back and glanced at his clock, "Oh shit! We're going to be late!"

"You're avoiding the issue," Haru opened his eyes, "What's the big deal?"

"It's called personal space," Kyo whipped off his clothes to throw on his uniform.

Haru sat up and watched the dressing boy with silence. He decided not to mention the contradiction to Kyo, he wouldn't appreciate it.

Kyo turned critical red eyes on him, "Good, you're already dressed." The cat yanked the lazy ox off the bed and dragged him down stairs. "You turned off my alarm clock, didn't you?" He accused.

"Mmm hmm," Haru stumbled, "Kyo, stop pulling me."

The orange head shook, "We are going to school and I know you. You'll take your damn time and get to school when it's half over."

Haru sighed as they crossed the threshold of the house and had his shoes thrown at him. Kyo yanked his on and grabbed the reluctant teen again and pulled him onto the trail.

"We can barely make it if we run the whole way," Kyo glanced at him, "Ready?"

"I don't run," Haru pulled away from the now grabby Kyo. He moved to the side of the house and lifted his bike from a bush. "Get on," Haru straddled the bike.

Kyo eyed the bike with suspicion, "Where?"

Haru patted his handlebars.

"No way."

"Fine," Haru pedaled away, "See you at school, Kyo." He rang his bell twice in farewell.

Kyo ran after him, "Wait!"

End of Chapter Ten

AN: Again I would like to thank all the people who have reviewed! I am but a humble writer trying what has to be the biggest stretch for me in writing and trying to be believable. Thanks again. Michelle