THE MADHOUSE By Kondoru

Standard Disclaimers

Thanks to Ben for Betaing.

Part Eleven; The Surly Crow.

Next, Haruka went to find Karasu.

Her angsty hero was mooching around in the woods, a few hundred yards uphill from the house. Karasu generally stuck close to Haruka. Tobi had said `I see he's holding down the house again` when Karasu was perched upon the roof.

Being able to fly certainly altered your outlook on life.

But now Kosagi had joined the household, Karasu was more aloof. (Also, possibly because he was aware the Dragon Torc was becoming more active. None of the Dragon Knights liked that idea, even if they were friendly to her, Haruka noted.) He said he was checking out areas of instability. Uchida had confirmed this; also that destabilisation was indeed increasing.

But Haruka knew that was not the whole story.

"Karasu!" She called.

Karasu turned around. "It's you," he said, rather harshly.

"I was looking for you." Haruka pretended she had not heard his tone. "To speak with you in private. " She looked about. "Did the others take Atori up here?"

"I think they went to the beach today." Karasu shook his matted head, "Boy, is Atori thriving!"

Haruka gave a disapproving nod, "I hope you all are. Don't go jealous on me because there's others competing for my affection." She told him, "I wanted to say something about Kosagi."

Karasu sniffed disdainfully "she's mooning around after me like a lovesick teen."

"Oh, Karasu..."

"She says she wants to watch me disappear." He shook his head sadly, "I feel very stable at the minute, thank you. It's just an excuse to stalk me."

"I think I said the same about you once."

Karasu ignored that one. "You do realise she's found a way into your mothers coupboard? The one with the lewd prints in?"

"Tobi told me."

"Tobi. He ought to be reading your mothers puerile manga." Karasu gave his haughty look again, "Atoris in seventh heaven. When he's not charging around after your gang, he's loafing round reading small kids comics." Karasu paused "and eating sweets."

Haruka looked sad. "Perhaps your poor relationship with Atori stems from your attitude problems."

Karasu scuffled his feet. "Atoris always been barking mad."

"Atori can't help being mad." Haruka told him, "its you who are in the wrong by teasing him." She paused. "At least he's managed to achieve stability...And is happy." She shook her head, "Tobi said Atoris always had a horrible life. Perhaps now he can know a bit of happiness."

"I am happy with you." Karasu told her, he gave her an impulsive hug.

Haruka giggled. "Yes, I love you too, but I love Yu as well, I'm getting very fond of your fellow Knights, I can love you all." She pushed her head affectionately into Karasus black clad flank, "I'd like you to have a relationship with Kosagi...Its not like she's got much longer to live than you have."

Karasu was silent to that.

"Please, for me?"

"Ok, ok, I'll make my peace with Kosagi and see what she wants." He grumped. "But I expect all she wants is one piece of me."

"She can have it, then." Haruka told him. "You're always my hero, Karasu."

Karasu has nothing to say to that.