Yay! Hatsuharu x Rin chapter is here, FINALLYYY! *doeslamevictorydance* Gosh it was good to write about a new couple. Don't get me wrong I love writing for TohruxKyo, but it's nice to get a change of pace every once in a while And boy do I love the HaruxRin pairing 3. So I hope you guys enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it, we'll be back to Tohru and Kyo next chapter, so don't worry :D.

NOTE: Yes this is still keeping in line with the Once Upon a Time story, with Haru being a stable boy and Rin being a maid of the Kenshin castle. Just fyi :P

DOUBLE NOTE: Black Haru's speech/thinking part things are in italics, and White Haru's thoughts are in ' ' single quotes. Nyesss that's right we got some Black Haru coming to town in this chapter (he was part of why it was so fun to write haha) :) .

Enjoyyyy~

Chapter 25: *The Horse and the Cow*

Hatsuharu strode out of the stable in his usual lazy stupor, blinking at the sun as he hitched the bale of hay in his arms. He'd just woken up, in the stables again of course, so he suppressed a yawn as he stacked the hay bale on to the others. Rolling his shoulders with a sigh he took in the morning's surroundings. He could see the courtyard from here as well as the lilly pillies and roses that skirted its borders. The sun was making its way up the sky, bathing everything it touched in liquid gold. But the thing that shimmered the most under its glow was standing over the one of the rose bushes, watering the flowers. Or should I say the person that shimmered the most.

Haru smiled softly when he noticed the silky dark head of hair and usual maid uniform.

Rin.

**Flashback: A year and a half ago**

Hatsuharu woke to the sound of shrill screaming making him jolt upright with a start. Not letting his mind fully rise from his sleep, his legs pulled him from the hay of the stables and dragged him out into the sunlight. He ran swiftly towards the direction of the sound, which just so happened to be the paddock where he'd let the horses out to run early that morning. Which just served to concern him more.

The yelling continued as he neared the paddock, sounding a lot like the young prince now that he thought about it. Then quite suddenly it stopped. Haru's heart momentarily stopped when he thought the worst, but thankfully it restarted when he finally saw where the noise had been coming from and why it had stopped.

His feet also stopped as he spotted Momiji clinging desperately to the bare back of one of the black mares, tears in his eyes. Hatsuharu assumed that he was the source of the sound as the horse no doubt had not been pleased with him suddenly mounting her like that.

But Momiji wasn't what his attention was drawn to. One of the maid's with jet black, waist length hair, had her hand to the now calm mare and seemed to be whispering to it lowly. It was like her voice was a light sedative to the horse, seemingly causing it to it forget that the boy was still clinging to its mane.

Haru was amazed at how well the horse responded to her, especially that one. That horse had been a particularly hard horse to get along with, even for Haru who spent his whole life around the creatures. But this maid made it seem like child's play, the thought caused a tinge of jealousy in the stablehand but it was overpowered by awe.

"Heeyy, hellooo stable boy!"

Haru shook out of his stupor when he noticed that the woman was calling out to him. Damn what was her name again? Rem? Risa? Still trying to figure it out he gave her half his attention.

"So are you just going to just stand there or are you going to help me get Momiji off this horse?" The woman yelled back, slightly irate by the sound of it.

Hatsuharu's flashed in realisation but returned to his passive look as he made his way over to them. Rachel? Rose?

'Goddamnit why can't I think of it?'

Maybe because you've never bothered to remember people's names in the first place? Dumbass.

Haru frowned, ignoring the jives of his Black personality as he continued running names through his head. Remedy?

Ok now you're just making these up. That's not a name, moron.

Haru had jumped the fence and was now standing next to the sedated horse. Silently he lifted the trembling young prince from the beast and placed him on solid ground.

"T-thank you," he stammered, still a little shell-shocked by look of it.

Haru nodded, and then looked over at the horse-whispering maid behind him, finally getting a good look at her face. Rin! That was her name, Rin. He secretly rejoiced at remembering such a simple detail. Hey for Haru to remember a name, nonetheless TRY to remember a name was a pretty big deal.

During Haru's small victory thoughts, Rin had walked up closer behind Momiji and gave the boy a hard stare (and by the guilty look on the boy's face, Haru guessed he could feel it too), "Momiji, you know you're not supposed to touch the horses without an adult present. What am I going to tell your father if you come back with a broken arm?" Momiji bowed his head and scuffed his shoe on the ground as he let out a soft apology. "And you," the maid turned her dark eyes up to the stoic Hatsuharu, "Isn't it your job to watch over the horses, what exactly were you doing instead of your job?" Her face showed slight signs of irritation, but other than that and the accusing look in her eyes, she looked as deadpan as him.

Hatsuharu's couldn't control the automatic clenching of his fists. Apparently his other personality wasn't too fond of her accusations, though he hadn't taken full control as of yet. Haru hoped he could keep his emotions in check. It was never a good day when Haru got angry.

In truth, he knew she was kind of right to question him since he had been sleeping on the job, but it still irritated him. She wasn't his boss, so what authority did she have to go taking jabs at his work ethics. His fists clenched tighter still. Calm down Haru.

Momiji looked up from in between the two adults nervously. Eventually he decided it best for him to leave when he noticed the glares they were giving each other. Silently he slipped away from the two, not once seeing them take notice of his movements. He let out a breath when he had ducked through the wooden fence and raced back to the castle already thinking of new ways of entertaining himself.

Meanwhile Rin and Haru were still glaring at each other, when the monochrome-haired man finally spoke in reply his voice slightly more clipped than usual, "Look I don't know what problem you have with me, but I don't tell you how to do your job, so don't tell me how to do mine."

His reply seemed to surprise the maid but only for a split second, "Fine," she said stiffly before spinning around on her heels and walking out of the paddock. Leaving Haru to try calm the rage that was building up inside him as he watched her long hair sway against her back as she walked away.

Soon enough he too turned to exit the paddock, choosing to jump the fence instead of using the gate. He needed to move around when he got like this, it was the only thing that really stopped him from going Black. Though he hadn't changed as of yet, his Black personality was voicing its opinion loud and clear inside his head.

Who does she think she is?

'It's fine.'

Fine? Cheh, it's not fine! She doesn't even know you, and she's walking around thinking she can tell you what to do.

'She's not telling me what to do.'

Oh yeah? That's not what you said to her.

'That wasn't me, that was you.'

Newsflash, I am you. And the sooner you realise it the better. God I still can't believe that woman!

Haru was sprinting now, shaking his head and trying to silence the angered voice within it. He didn't have any destination in mind except for solitude. Solitude away from everyone... Including himself.

Though one image refused to leave his mind even as he panted and pushed his legs to move faster. The image of that woman calming the horse. It wouldn't leave his head, he didn't know why but he didn't really mind either.

Rin huffed causing her dark bangs to flutter up before cascading back into place as she walked into the castle. She was frustrated but she knew she shouldn't have taken it out on Haru.

Scolding the person who was given her favourite job wasn't going to fix anything. Rin sighed as she stopped to lean on a wall in the hallway. She couldn't help but miss helping out with the horses. Sure it was a lot of work to juggle maid duties as well as horse-tending duties but she really hadn't minded. Unfortunately her body betrayed her by collapsing from exhaustion one day, promptly causing Shigure to get a stablehand to help with the horses. Despite her denying the need for more help, Shigure refused to let her keep doing both jobs in concern for her health. It devastated her to say the least. She understood why he did it, she obviously needed the help. But that didn't mean she particularly wanted it.

Now Rin wasn't a childish person, stubborn yes, but not childish. Nevertheless she couldn't help harbour some jealousy for Haru whom was allowed to stay with and tend to the horses all day. Rin sighed again before pushing off the wall and walking to the maid chambers.

Though she knew she was going to have to apologise, stubbornness or not.

Hatsuharu woke up to the sound of soft whinnies and the rustle of hay. He had fallen asleep in one of the stable stalls again, lying dangerously close to a hoof or two; not that he had anything to be worried about- the horses loved him.

Yawning he used one of the horses sturdy legs to pull himself upright, shaking his head free of stray pieces of hay. His sleepy eyes scanned lazily across the room seeing horse after horse before coming to rest on a body that certainly was not a horse.

Rin stood a few stalls away stroking the mane of one of the black mares (on closer glance, Haru noticed it was the mare from Momiji's joy-ride yesterday). Her hair was hanging loose, not in its usual ponytail so the incredible length now reached her thighs. In a way it mimicked the mane she was stroking but in a much silkier manner.

Haru blinked at her, unsure if she knew he was there or not, before standing up and resting his elbows on the stall gate. The rustling of hay caught Rin's attention and she calmly turned her head to the man.

"You know you really shouldn't sleep in the horses' stalls. It's not safe and definitely not hygienic," she commented dully as she turned to continue patting the black mare.

Haru's Black personality twitched but he held it back with a deep breath. He didn't want to fight with Rin, and not just because he didn't want to spook the horses.

Though that didn't mean he was going to let her get the upper hand.

"Hmm sorry, didn't know you were my mother," the stablehand jested lazily as he bit back another yawn.

A sigh escaped Rin's lips and she turned around again, annoyance and what seemed like guilt or jealousy in her coal eyes. Odd.

"I'm doing it again, aren't I?" She assumed bleakly.

Hatsuharu cocked his head to the side, "Doing what, exactly?"

"This," she gestured loosely between them both, "picking a fight with you."

'Course you are, stupid woman!

Haru shrugged, ignoring the rude remarks of his twin personality, "Didn't notice."

Rin's thin eyebrows knitted together, "Well I did, and it's not right. I guess..." another sigh, "I guess I'm just a little bit ticked at you taking my job, is all."

One of Haru's eyebrows rose up his temple as he gave the woman a quizzical look. This was news to him. "So, you used to be the stablehand around here?" His voice sounded sceptical as he gave the maid a once over. She didn't seem the type to clean stables.

Rin noticed his gaze and tone of voice and frowned, "Yes, as well as my maid duties. Is that a problem?" She asked the question in a dangerous tone, as if daring Haru to say something condescending.

The stablehand leaned forward on the gate slightly, shaking his head, "Nah, not really. So what did you do, get fired?"

Rin gave him a sour look before flicking her hair over her shoulder, "No, Shigure thought I had too much to work with so he went out and got you to tend to the horses." There was slight venom present when she said 'you', probably the jealousy surfacing.

…Well she's feisty, I'll give her that.

Haru stared at the maid intently, trying, for once in his life, to figure someone out. "Why do I get the feeling you'd rather it the other way around?"

Rin looked at him in surprise before narrowing her eyes slightly, "I doubt you would make a very good maid, Hatusharu."

The comment made him smirk slightly, "Oh you never know, I could probably rock that maid outfit," he nodded to Rin's uniform, jokingly.

Holding back a laugh at the mental image, Rin pursed her slowly up turning lips to keep a straight face. Frankly it was a real effort, since the image was truly the most hilarious thing she'd thought of in a long time.

Haru rested his cheek in his hand as he continued to smirk at the girl trying so hard not to laugh. He entertained the idea to tease her further but thought better of it lest he received a punch in the face (a sure fire thing to bring out Black Haru). Besides he wanted to know more about her, "Why do you want to look after the horses so badly?"

Frankly he thought he was the only one who harboured such strong feelings for the elegant animals, but maybe he was wrong about that?

Rin instantly gained her composure at the utterance of the question "I love horses, always have, always will," she walked over to the horse standing beside Haru in his stall (a cream coloured mare), and let the animal nuzzle her hand. "They're beautiful creatures, solid but with all the grace of a swan. And besides they're the only things I have left to connect with my parents, so they're pretty special to me..." She trailed off at that moment, seemingly regretting saying something so personal.

Haru was resting his head in his hand, staring sideways at the woman as she took a small carrot from her pocket and fed it to the mare next to him. "What happened to your parents?" The monochrome-haired man wasn't one to understand what he should and shouldn't ask.

Rin kept her face passive as she replied simply and tonelessly, "They died when I was 12," though she couldn't hide the tinge of sadness in her voice.

Haru dropped his eyes to the fence he was resting on, "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

Rin shook her head and when she stopped her eyes had returned to normal, "It's fine, the late queen took me in and gave me a home at the castle, so I've been alright."

Hatsuharu looked up at her again with slight disturbance in his eyes, "What, as a servant?"

Again Rin shook her head, this time to deny his allegations, "No, I insisted on working for the castle when I was of age to do so. I don't like feeling like I owe people," though she really did owe everything to Kyoko and Shigure, especially her life.

Ha, stubborn one isn't she.

For once he could agree with that. "Hmm, so you're the stubborn type, huh?" Haru hummed innocently as he twisted his body so it was facing Rin but still with one elbow resting on the gate.

The maid turned an indignant gaze on the boy and she leaned in as if to lecture him, "What's that supposed to..."

"Tell you what," The stablehand interrupted, smirking slightly at her taken aback face so close to his, "I'll let you hang out with the horses as much as you like and I won't say a word to Shigure."

Rin backed up slightly but held his gaze, eyeing him suspiciously, "and the catch?"

Hmph well at least she's not stupid.

Haru's smirk widened for a second before he pushed away from the fence to stretch his arms above his head, yawning. "Hmm how about you bring me some food when you come around, I could always go for an apple every now and then," he yawned again.

Rin continued to scrutinise his face. That was a pretty lame thing to ask in exchange. Was he an idiot? She watched him reach behind him for a horse brush before moving to run it across the horse next to him, patiently waiting for her answer.

There had to be more to it than that, but she really didn't want to pass up the offer. "Fine, it's a deal," she said finally, extending her hand over the fence to him.

Haru grinned to himself before putting the brush down and wiping his hands on his breeches. He walked the few steps over to the gate and grasped Rin's feminine hand in his own, "Pleasure doing business with you, Miss Rin. I look forward to seeing you again."

There was a certain glint in his eyes when he said that, but Rin couldn't help but blush slightly at his words rather than worry about the secrets behind his eyes. Clearing her throat she pulled her hand from his and backed up, "Yeah well, so long as Shigure doesn't hear of this." She turned to walk out the stable doors but not without muttering a soft, "See you later," before disappearing into the morning sun.

Hatsuharu couldn't help the smirk on his face as he watched her go.

Aww man come on, you could have got her to be your slave or something. Jeez what a waste of a good opportunity.

'But I didn't want that.'

Hah, so what all you wanted was food, is that it? Dude you really should stop thinking with your stomach, it's really annoying.

'That's not it either.'

Then what is it then?!

Haru smirked, 'You should know, you're me after all.'

**End of Flashback**

Hatsuharu gave a small glance at the hay bale he'd just put down before wiping his hands on his pants and strolling casually over to the maid. Rin hadn't seemed to notice him as she tended the garden so he thought he would scare her.

Creeping up as silently as he could, Hatsuharu got closer until her back was mere inches from him. Then as quick as lightning Rin spun around and shoved an apple between Haru's teeth, surprising and knocking the man backwards. He saved himself from falling only barely, apple still lodged between his lips as he stared dumbfounded at the smiling woman in front of him.

"Your apple, sir," she said in a mock English accent as she curtsied and blew him a kiss.

Haru smirk was hidden by the apple but the dangerous flash in his eyes warned her that a certain Black personality was threatening to surface. Good thing she was a fast runner.

Rin laughed out loud as she sprinted full speed down the courtyard, her dark ponytail streaming behind her like a ribbon in the wind. Hatsuharu was not far behind, his half bitten apple in his hand as he ran to catch up to her, grinning all the way.

It wasn't long before he caught up with her, and it took little more than a hug from behind to slow her to a stop, laughing and wheezing all the while. Haru breathed heavily as he lent his face down to her ear, his forwardness proving that this was indeed Black Haru, "That hurt you know," he whispered trying to sound menacing. Though Rin knew better.

"But I thought you liked apples, Haru? And now you don't want it? God, talk about insatiable," she murmured back, trying to ignore the warm breath next to her ear.

"No I do like apples, preferably when they're not shoved down my throat. Though I can definitely name a few things I like more," he smirked as his breath ghosted the shell of her now red ear.

Quickly she pulled out of his embrace and turned around to face him with hands on her hips, "Alright, you've had your fun, now bring Haru back," she ordered, though still with a blush on her face. She liked Black Haru of course, but sometimes he was too much for her to handle. And besides it was White Haru that she fell in love with in the first place.

Black Haru grinned and feigned a painful grimace as he placed a hand to his chest, "Oh how you hurt me, Rin. And just when it was getting interesting too," his eyes flashed again.

Rin stood her ground, becoming more immune to his teasing, "Now, Haru."

The man sighed and waved a hand at her, "Alright alright, don't get your knickers in a twist," and with that his eyes changed from a sinister glow to the normal sleepy eyes she knew best.

Haru scratched his head awkwardly and looked to the side, "I er... Um sorry about that," he apologised in a mumble, obviously embarrassed by his counterpart's actions.

Rin just smiled and walked over to the stablehand, "Never mind, it was my fault for provoking him."

Hatusharu looked up in awe and slight bewilderment as he stared into her ebony eyes, "You're amazing you know that?"

Rin blinked confused at his sudden words, "Why's that?"

Haru chuckled as he raised his hand to tuck a strand of her midnight hair behind her ear, "Because you accept him, you accept me for who I am. Not many people have been able to do that. THAT'S why you're so amazing."

Rin stared at Haru for a long time, getting lost in his dark eyes. Finally she snapped out of it when Hatsuharu leaned in to kiss her lips softly. It surprised her but she welcomed it, wrapping her arms around his neck to reciprocate the kiss. It was gentle and caring, just like Haru, causing her to smile against him.

When she pulled away, she heard a small grunt of disappointment from the stablehand making her smirk and place a hand to her lips. "I better get back to work, as should you, Haru," she pointed a stern finger at him before smiling and giving him another peck before walking off.

Hatsuharu watched her leave, feeling a mixture of happiness and longing as he stood there. Sighing he ran a hand through his white bangs before slowly sauntering off towards the stables.

Geez, she's such tease that one. You're not really going to go back to work are you?

Haru mentally shook his head.

Heh, back to sleeping then?

Hatsuharu smirked, 'You know it.'

How'd you like it? I know Haru and Rin might have been a bit OOC toward the end there, but that's what love does to you (according to the things I've read lol ).

As I said before we're going back to the normal story next chapter, but of course if the opportunity arises I'll throw in some hints of Harin in there too but it'll mostly be KyoxTohru and lonely Yuki over there *pats*.

Let me know if you liked this chapter! I would love to know if the fruits of my labour are sweet or taste like dirt haha. Love you all! See you next chapter. ~