Disclaimer: Fruits Basket and all characters within are NOT mine. T__T Dang…

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Aaaaand the glorious struggle to get Haru and Kyou hooked up continues... will they find a conclusion!? WAIT AND SEE! ^__^

Note: KYOU AND HARU IN TIGHT BLACK CLOTHING!!! YESSSS! (pumps fist into air and.... stops...) Er... *ahem* Excuse me...

Er... Read and Review? ^__^'

Geuna~

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Title: Red As Blood

Part Three of the "White As Snow, Black As Pitch" Series

Author: Lady Geuna

Rating: PG-13 - Pairings: -- Haru/Kyou, one-sided Shigure/Hatori!???? 0_o' Possibly others shown or hinted.

Genre: Drama/Humor/General

Full Summary: Clubbing? Dancing!? Haru drags Kyou into some places and situations he's never been before, and as the elders Sohma's rush in before he and Haru cause any more trouble then they have, they also get dragged down as well…

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Red As Blood: "A Friendly Game of 'Chicken'"

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The time…

Mid February…

Four weeks since the snowstorm hit…

Four weeks since Haru wandered to Shigure's house when Kyou was home alone.

Three weeks since the day he returned, and ever since Haru and Kyou could be seen together on school grounds, alone, though either in silence, speaking in light conversation, or batting insults at each other. No one could quite figure out what their relationship was based on. No one. Uotani suspected something and Hanajima got a strange and different vibe from them, though she wasn't sure it was a good wave or bad wave... for they both still had a strange darkness within them...

Now, don't be mistaken... sometime during the last three weeks Hatsuharu had made a decision. If he couldn't have a real relationship with Kyou, he would settle for friendship. So friendship is all he asked for, and all he received... yes, another part of him was less than willing at agree, but Black Haru hadn't come out recently to argue again a platonic relationship with Kyou.

Kyou didn't mind at all, though several other Sohmas were disappointed but with high hopes for the future... part of him was a little... something... not a good something at all, but he was confused as to what made Haru change his mind about him. But at least he was totally comfortable in Haru's presence.

They did what friends do... They talked, watched TV, throw empty insults. "Hanging out" as Haru put it.

Haru hadn't made any other moves on Kyou the whole time. As far as Kyou was concerned, Haru's "crush" on him was all in the past, and Kyou actually enjoyed spending time with someone he could talk to. Shigure, and several other house members, however, would catch Haru giving Kyou a longing look, or a quiet smile, though they were mostly certain that Haru did it unconsciously.

Shigure was not hindered in his efforts to get the two together... the efforts were usually in the form or proclaiming Kyou and Haru's passion for each other so everyone in the house could hear him.... He stopped doing this almost immediately, for the second time he tried getting Haru and Kyou to "confess" he mention some very... raunchy subjects for which Shigure received a nasty black eye. While Yuki agreed (shockingly) with Kyou on his actions, Tohru of course went into full panic and got the dog an icepack.

Haru came by every other day. The days in between he would spend at the main house with Momiji, Kisa, and Hiro, and so much the same thing that he did with Kyou.

Haru hadn't forgotten what Akito had said to him... though he hadn't told anyone but Momiji. He didn't want anyone else to know that Akito was threatening him. But as far as Akito knew, he went to Shigure's house only to study for his English class, which he was suddenly failing in miserably...

After a while Haru simply walked home with Kyou, Tohru and Yuki after school to save Hatori the drive from the main house (he'd practically become Haru's personal coffer in the recent weeks). Also as a result of having Haru around, Yuki made it a habit of watching them or being present in the room with them. Why? Kyou have no earthly idea, but luckily he wasn't that annoying, and usually left when Haru asked him to...

But who cared why the mouse was acting like that, Yuki was a freak after all. Besides, everything was good in the world! Kyou was always in a (relatively) good mood, and Haru had yet to Black Out on him.

But maybe it wasn't such a good idea for Kyou to block out Haru's interests, or for Haru to forget his own feelings for Kyou, or for either of them to forget the threat of Black Haru...

Because they were both about to be reminded of all of these in a really big way...

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Club Insomnia (1).

One of the top five high-intensity clubs here in the city, and Kyou didn't seem happy about being there at all. Haru was hoping he could change the neko's mind.

The sun had set, it was about eight p.m., and after standing in the line for over an hour they had finally reached the entrance. Two large, really ugly looking men were arguing over whether or not to let the group of three in front of them into the club. Fifteen minutes passed, and at last the three were sent away, though not before throwing a few punches and yelling a few profanities.

Haru smiled at Kyou, who had refused to look him in the face since they'd gotten in line. After he had become bored with staring at the neon sign that was set against the brick exterior of the club, Kyou's became to wonder, up the stone steps, and through the huge wooden double doors that lead into the club. Lights flashed to either side of a large hotel desk where a young woman sat handing out pamphlets to people coming in and out. The woman was dressed in a ridiculous tiny red outfit, considering how cold the weather still was... she actually made eye contact with him and winked.

Haru in turn also caught her eyes, sending the most threatening look he could manage, though Kyou reacted to her distance come-on with a snort and a shrug, turning his eyes away. Haru nodded in satisfaction, though Kyou didn't seem at all happy now.

"I hate you, baka-oushi," he muttered.

"Want to back out now, baka-neko," Haru asked rhetorically, grinning. Before Kyou had a chance to respond, Haru pushed him forward. They were next...

Haru watched as the bouncer eyed the next two boys in line warily:

Haru himself was wearing what he usually wore, perfect for this sort of occasion. Earrings, assorted necklaces, black plealther pants, biker boots, a sleeveless shirt (with a white cross sewn over the heart) and a white J-pop trench coat. He had, however, thought to wear the new addition of fishnets underneath. Something new, something cool.

Something Kyou had made a face at.

Kyou... Now, Kyou looked very different. And it had been quite a challenge getting him that way...

***Flashback***

Haru shifted through Kyou's drawers looking for just the right things... In other words, anything black. Kyou, however, didn't have many clothes at all, and fewer black items than he thought. Haru himself... well, everything he had was black...

He held up a pair of black cargo pants now. "I didn't know you had these in black..."

Kyou snorted from his position against the opposite wall, arms crossed. "So? It's black, so what?"

Haru shrugged, throwing the pants over. "It'll have to do if and when we find something better."

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?"

"Do you have to look for an insult in everything I say?"

"YES!"

Haru sighed. "Just put them on, ne?" He turned back around to look for a shirt, and soon came across one. It was long-sleeved, black. "Here." He threw that over to Kyou as well. He waited a minute without turning around to give Kyou some privacy, listening to the rustle of cloth as Kyou changed, then-

"I can't wear this!"

Blink. "Why not?" Haru glanced back to see Kyou had put on the cargoes, but was topless and scowling at the shirt be as refusing to put on. Haru couldn't help but smirk at the sight of the neko's bare chest...

"You look nice..."

He quickly corrected himself when Kyou gave him one of his "looks". "I mean, with the shirt on you'd look nice.." He liked Kyou without the shirt better...

Kyou scowled. "I'm not a GOTH!!! And this shirt's too small, it shrunk in the wash a long time ago."

"If you were never planning on wearing it ever again, why keep it?"

"I DON'T KNOW!"

"I think it'll fit just fine."

"On a ten-year-old! I won't be able to get it over my head!"

"I'll help you-"

"IYA (NO)!!!" He backed up against the wall farthest from Haru, eyes promising instantaneous, horrible death. "DON'T COME NEAR ME, KISAMA BAKA-OUSHI! Don't start that again!"

Haru rolled his eyes. Did he always have to overreact? "If it rips we can sew it." He smiled. "Or use duct tape."

"... Duct tape?"

"Actually, that would make a good look... You have to look right for a club like this, you know. The dress code is basically anything black. And I'll promise to pay you back if we have to ruin your shirt, even though it's too small and you never planned on wearing it again anyway..."

"I am not wearing duct tape."

"And your hair-"

"What about my hair!?" Kyou was now struggling to get into the shirt, cursing. "DAMMIT! I knew it!"

"Do you want me to-"

"IYA!"

"Hai..."

When at last Kyou got his head through the collar his face was bright red, hair mussed and pointed in every direction. "One of these days, Haru," he muttered darkly, "one of these days..."

Haru shook his head, closing the drawers one at a time, reorganizing things as best he could. "I didn't get you lost in a shirt, Kyou, you did that all by yourself." While Kyou cursed at him vehemently Haru walked over, taking in Kyou's outfit so far... Not half bad...

The cargo's were a nice touch, but the look was still "Kyou", and... and Kyou was right, that shirt was really, really tight... Even the sleeves barely reached his wrists.

"I don't think it matters if we wrap that in duct tape or not, Kyou, I think you're going to have to cut it off one way or another..." He tugged at the collar of Kyou's shirt to prove his point. If the shirt collar wasn't strangling him now, he would have breathing issues later on.. "Might have to cut a v-neck into this so you won't choke to death..."

Kyou glared at him in what looked like an attempt to burn a hole in his skull, slapping his hand away. "Kisama baka-oushi..."

"Come no, let's find some hairspray, baka-neko."

"IYAAAAAA!!!"

***End Flashback***

Ooooh, that memory made him cringe...

Kyou now stood in the final result of his outfit, a tight black long-sleeved shirt wrapped with duct tape, the collar of the shirt cut with a pair of scissors be become a v-neck.. His usually fiery orange hair has been spray painted jet black at the ends, giving a very... off effect. The only thing that seemed the same for him was the white and black Buddha bracelet on his right wrist. Kyou was looking hard at the ground, blushing madly with his hands crammed in his pockets. But still, Haru thought he looked great. Greater than great, even, but he could say a word, or Kyou would blow up at him per usual.

The bouncer scrutinized them for a bit longer than he needed to, until he couldn't take Haru's intense stare anymore and stepped aside, letting them through.

Perfect, they were in.

Haru smirked, gripped Kyou's arm, and pulled him past the velvet cord that had just been unlocked for him, up the stairs and past the desk without glancing at the girl sitting there. To either side of the desk were doors leading to the inside, so they went left door, stepping into the pulsating darkness of the club. Haru looked over the dance area, platforms where women and men were dancing above the crowd, and upward to the second and third floors before dragging a cursing and muttering Kyou along with him up the staircase.

With a glance back down at the entrance, Kyou scowled at Haru and shook his arm free. "What was that!? Don't we have to pay? Why were we let in and not those other guys? Don't they even need to GLANCE at some ID!? That's just irresponsible!"

Haru didn't take note that he'd been shook off as he was currently trying to find a good place to stand to watch. This level was the observation deck, where one would look down and see the whole dance floor, the DJ section, and the three large dance platforms; where random group, couples and individuals who were exceptionally good had come up to dance in front of everyone. The third floor was usually vacant, consisting of a TV area, and a few game systems, but that was it. In the back on the floor they stood on was an extra bar with a mini dance floor. Somewhere there was the "basement"... no one would go in there unless they wanted to get lost with no was out of the darkness.

Haru thought he remembered something of some "specialty" room on the first floor...

"Haru... Oi, HARU! Are you listening to me!?"

Haru finally looked up, smiling. "Iie (no), I stopped listening a while ago..."

Kyou growled and gripped the steel railing, but didn't make a comeback this time. Instead, he starred down into the crowd; the pulsing music and flashing strobe lights were dizzying, but hypnotic...

"Girls," Kyou hissed, "there're too many girls here, this was stupid. We'll run into one, and-"

"I thought that was the whole point, Kyou. The risk of it all?"

"Chi..." Kyou looked away... Man, he'd gotten himself into a load of mess this time...

***Flashback***

"What are you looking at, Haru?" Kyou had just walked into the TV room to find Haru there. Not an unnatural phenomenon in itself, as Hatsuharu had been coming by a lot more than usual. In the past few years Haru usually did stop by to hang around with Shigure and listen to him babble, or watch the television. But it was Saturday, and Shigure was up in his study writing some stupid hentai book for a deadline the next week

Of course, Kyou came walking into the room to find Haru smirking, so naturally Kyou asked him why. He had the perfect right to ask, anyway! White Haru doesn't smirk like that without a good reason! And those reasons were always evil one. Shigure brand evil... even Ayame brand!

Haru looked up at him from his magazine for a moment only to turn back again, his expression faltering but the smirk never fading.

Annoyed, Kyou asked again, a bit louder: "What are you looking at?!"

When again Haru gave him no answer, Kyou came closer and looked over his shoulder. There was a colorful add there, with the photograph of a few dance floor scenes... That looked like a... "A club? What are you looking at that for?"

Haru just shrugged. "Betsuni (nothing)."

Kyou gave him a look and flopped down on the floor, grabbed up the remote. But he didn't turn on the TV, just stared at the black screen for a few moments before looking back at Haru. "You're not planning on going, are you...?"

Haru didn't look up and responded, "So what if I am? It's couples night."

Kyou gapped. He couldn't be serious! "Ahou (moron)! Do you know how many girls would be there?"

"Couples night means very few will come for the sack of picking up a date, except for the average male looking for some lonely girl. After midnight you'd have to pay to get in."

Kyou blinked, wondering how the heck Haru knew something like, then yelled, "It's still too dangerous!"

Haru looked up now. "I got before."

"NANI!? Does anyone else know!?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment, saying, "Shigure-san..."

"Shigure..." 'That damn make-inu!'

Haru sighed and shook his head. "Kyou-kun, don't get worked up over this... besides, I don't want Hatori or anyone else finding out about this, so please? Keep it between us?"

Kyou took pause for a moment, considering this... then finally he sighed. "Yes, fine, whatever..." He felt a certain satisfaction when Haru gave a smile in thanks before looking back to his magazine, licking his thumb disdainfully before flipping a page.

Then Kyou heard Haru mutter, "I didn't realize you liked to follow rule so blindly. Didn't see you for a real goodie-goodie, after all. What sad and boring was to lives one's life."

TWITCH.

"Am not!"

"Oh, gomen," Haru said lightly, licking his thumb once more and flipping through the magazine again. "You don't care about following the rules... You're just a scardy cat."

TWITCH-TWITCH!

Kyou jumped to his feet and got into a fighting stance. "Say that again," he hissed, raising his clinched fists, eyes burning.

But for once, Haru didn't rise to the challenge in the usual sense. Instead, he looked up at Kyou in an almost devilish manner. "If you're not scared, then prove it."

Blink. "Nani...? How?"

Haru smiled in an unusually kind manner, despite the situation. "Come with me to the club, baka."

***End Flashback***

Proving a point, that's all he was doing, all he was doing.

Kyou had subjected himself to Haru's juvenile clothing style, his hairstyle, and now here he was in a club. A real CLUB!

And he'd sacrificed quiet a bit of money to pay for the cab fair from Shigure's house.

Sure, a part of him was really excited. Sure. Who wouldn't be? It's not like he did this sort of thing all the time (in fact, he never had and never planed on it). Going into large crowds... He hated large crowds, and for good reason. But this was surreal.

Kyou had seen this sort of thing on TV shows, movies; but this was the real thing. Everywhere there were all sorts of different people wearing different clothes. Some loose, some tight, some dark, some bright, and some just solid black. Goths, punks, boys and girls with piercings all over their faces. Tattoos, glow lights, skirts.

Lots of people who looked like idiots.

Of course, he at that moment also looked like an idiot in the getup Haru had forced him into, and the stupid black hairspray.

Haru didn't feel so out of place. In fact, it made him feel right at home.

Well, at least a cat could run out of there. It was dark, people would hardly notice. Now, a cow...

Kyou snickered at the image of a large cow suddenly appearing out of nowhere on the middle of the dance floor...

"What are you laughing at, Kyou?"

He looked up to find Haru starring at him. "What...? I was just wondering how you manage to come here without some girl clutching onto you." How did he...? Usually he attracted a lot of attention from the opposite sex. And the same sex... (shiver)

Haru just smiled. "I keep close to another guy. If the girls don't think I'm interested, then-"

"WHAT!?" Kyou yelped, slapping his hand to his forehead. "Urgh, if figures..."

"What does?"

Kyou sighed. "Nothing... So, aren't you gonna go find someone?" He would just stay here on the top floors, out of reach. ~_~ Yeah, that would work. There was hardly anyone up there. Only a few people with drinks or smoking. No wonder this place as a strange smell...

Haru's smile widened. "But you're my date, I don't have to find someone else."

"..... W-What...?"

"Why do you think we got in free? Couples get in, no charge before midnight," Haru explained with an evil smirk. "And it's about eleven now."

Kyou seethed. "You never told me about that, you bastard!!!"

"I thought you'd realize it. After all, the three in line in front of us weren't allowed in because they were trying to go as a threesome instead of a couple. Pay attention, Kyou."

"It's still rotten of you not to tell me!"

Haru shook his head, shrugging off his jacket and throwing it under a bench. "Yeah, well, it's not something to get all worked up about, and I didn't come here just to stand around and watch." He scanned the crowd again, nodding to himself. "That looks like a good spot." He pointed at a space in the crowd in the farthest corner from entrance, about twenty feet from the DJ. "Not many girls over there. Let's go." And he started walking.

Kyou just blinked after him. "Go? Go where? Haru, chotto matte (hold it)! Where are you going!?"

Haru stopped and looked back at him. "You mean, 'where are we going'. We're going to dance, that's what you do at a club like this."

He suddenly felt like someone had poured a glass of ice water down the back of his shirt (which was impossible since if was duct taped to him in the first place). "What do you mean? I can't dance!! I'm a guy!"

Haru rolled his eyes. "And? Kyou, don't tell me you're turning into a chicken again?"

TWITCH.

Haru always used that against him..."Stop calling me that..."

Haru idly played with the end of his fishnets (which went up past his wrists), no longer looking at Kyou. "If you don't want me to call you a chicken, than come dance with me." He smirked. "Or... I can start calling you a scary little kitten?"

Kyou clinched his fists, and if the music wasn't so loud, he would've heard his own knuckles crack. "FINE!!! Stop screwing around with the mind games," he screamed, stomping forward and lacking onto Haru's arm (to Haru's surprise) and started dragging him along. "Lead the way, jackass!!! CALL ME KITTEN AND DIE!!!"

"Hai, hai," Haru said, humor evident in his tone as he tried to get his footing. "Hang on, you have to be more careful, or you'll bump into someone."

He froze then at the bottom of the stairs, suddenly feeling more nervous. Of course Kyou had good vision, but with the strobes flashing like they were, it was still hard to see. He could bump into anyone by accident, and there were so many girls out there...

Why did this suddenly feel like a high stakes game of Russian roulette or something...?

But Haru seemed to know what he was doing. Seemed to... and moved instantly toward the crowd, but not before grasping hold of Kyou's hand. It was like some freaking sick parody of how Kyou had always taken Haru to the bathroom when they were little. Only now... Now Haru was going to wrong way! "Haru! You said the other side looked safe!"

"Too late now, then, ne?" His voice was muffled by the music/ Kyou was reading his lips more than actually hearing him.

Kyou on the other hand wanted to be heard, so he screamed out in response. "TOO LATE!? Are you insane!? DAMMIT!!! Even after all these years I STILL have to lead you around!?"

"No you don't..."

"The HELL I don't! Remember the lake!? (2) Now let's go to the OTHER side!" He tried to move away but Haru held him back.

Haru just smiled again ('Again with that SMILES!!! WHAT THE HELL HAS HIM IN SUCH A GOOD MOOD!?'). "Maybe I like to live it dangerous?" And he winked.

Yes, this was dangerous. Ridiculously dangerous! Unbelievably so! If anyone saw them or if they transformed in this crowd, Hatori would have a delightful time cleaning up the mess.

And then Haru started dancing, right there.

Okay, NO... He'd never seen Haru dance.

Kyou had always assumed that perhaps he didn't know how to dance. Much less like that... Not White Haru, anyway.

He danced like everyone else; moving his hips and shoulders, eyes closed, swaying to the music, his white hair glowing oddly every time the strobe flashed from behind him, turning it yellow, red, blue, violet, or gave it a fluorescent glow. As he danced, his head nodded to the beat of the music, or moved in one direction before his lower body would follow in suit.

A little but raunchy, actually... But.... actually really good...

And Kyou felt is face heating up at the sight of it, so he looked away. But there wasn't really anywhere for him to go, and it was so dark, and Haru was dancing like that and everyone else was and Kyou was just standing there feeling like an alien on a strange planet. He'd planned on watching, not participating!

Yet here he was, in the middle of the dance floor. Okay, maybe it wasn't as tightly packed there as it had seemed from above, but...

"Haru!" The other boy didn't seem to hear him over the music and kept dancing as Kyou stood there, glancing around nervously with rising panic. 'Crowds! HATE CROWDS!!!' He just couldn't shake it, he couldn't take it. He felt very alone even with all these people. He had to get out! Maybe he should find a girl, hug one from behind and then escape! Yeah, cat could get out of there easily! "HARU!"

Haru's head finally snapped towards him. He didn't stop moving, but he had slowed down considerably and moved closer so he could hear Kyou. "What?"

"I don't like this," Kyou said loudly, confident that only Haru could hear him. He jumped when a body, male, bumped into him from behind, and he couldn't help but squirm on his feet. "I can't even dance!"

"Of course you can, just do what I do."

Kyou scowled, staying as still as he dared, trying not to allow anyone to touch him, female or not. "It's not that easy, baka!" 'I don't want to dance like you do!'

Kyou's elbow bumped into someone. When he turned his head a few inches to see who it was this time he nearly jumped out of his skin.

'A girl! A GIRL!'

He turned away quickly, moving a bit closer to Haru (though not enough to touch), who now was moving with his back to Kyou. 'Oh nooo, Kami-sama, she smiled at me, I saw it! Like one of those psycho Yuki Club girls! Like Kagura!' Okay, time to go back on wanting to change to escape, bad idea! Too risky! "Haru! HARU!"

Haru stopped and turned to him. "What is it? Are you going to dance now?"

"I've got to get out of here," he said quickly, feeling suffocated, claustrophobic, can't take it. "Girls, everywhere." He gripping into Haru's thin fishnet sleeve, nodding his head backwards. "She's there..."

Haru looked over Kyou's shoulder, frowned, then looked away quickly. The girl must still be looking at him. "Hm, that is a problem, isn't it? What do you want me to do about it?"

Kyou growled and attempted to make a move to get out of there. 'Leave, and you don't have to deal with it, screw what Haru says!' But he didn't get very far before Haru gripped his shoulders and pulled him back. In fact, he was jerked back, but caught his footing easily, glaring for all he was worth. "What are you doing, baka-oushi!? I gotta-" Haru had narrowed his eyes, and for a moment he thought he'd brought out Black Haru.

But then he did something Kyou hadn't intended him to. Haru had his hands at Kyou's waist, pulling him close. Closer-what the...!?

"Dance."

"Urk," was the only sound he could make at the moment, and Kyou could feel his face heat up. "W-What the-H-Haru, what are-you stupid-"

Haru smiled knowingly, repeating something similar to what he'd said earlier... "She won't be interested if she thinks you can't be interested, ne?"

Logic...

Evil, stupid, STUPID logic!

But with a glance over his shoulder, Kyou was very relieved to see the girl was giving a disappointed frown ('Boohoo, how tragic...'), and then turned back to her own business (probably looking for another guy to hunt).

Heeh, what do you know, the cow'd been right...

When Kyou looked back to Haru he discovered the other boy to be smiling, again. "What? What now!?"

"Kyou... you move like you have steel poll up your-"

"URUSAI (SHUT-UP)! I don't dance, you idiot, what do you expect!? I'm moving, aren't I!?"

Haru smiled a little wider, and Kyou could feel his hands move along his back, arms snaking around his waist.

Haru leaned in. "Dancing is no different than martial arts, Kyou," he said, into Kyou ear so he didn't have to yell as loudly to be heard. "Fluid, elegant, spontaneous..."

Kyou could feel himself go even more ridged, hair standing on end. Did Haru realize what he sounded like!? Was Haru trying to sound like he was coming onto him!? 'I'm not YUKI!'

"Is this like that ballet for football players speech?" Haru was too close... Way too close. Kyou didn't like being this close to anyone. He felt his stomach tighten uncomfortably.

Sure, he could flip Haru over his shoulder, knock him unconscious, or choke him to death. But that was a good way to draw attention to himself. Kyou didn't want any attention drawn to them. At least their hair wasn't as much of an issue here. Usually they radical hair color drew attention, though here were a few people there with oddly dyed hair... Kyou and Haru blended right in with them.

Haru rolled his eyes. "No. I'm just saying that it can be fun if you try. Haven't you ever played "Dance-Dance Revolution"?"

Blink. "What the hell?"

Sweatdrop. "I guess you haven't... But it's not very different, you just move along with the beat." He had by now locked his arms around Kyou, almost forcibly making him move along with him. "Like this... good..."

"Wait, why do I have to be the girl!?" He tried squirmed out of Haru's grip, but the oushi didn't seem to want to let go.

Haru sighed, shaking his head. "Why do you have to complain so much?" No one ever said Kyou was easy to handle. Always so high-strung...

"You're asking for me to rip out your throat, aren't you, baka-oushi!?"

Haru frowned a little at that comment, but surprisingly, he didn't feel angry, really. But maybe a little hurt... "You're trying to draw attention to yourself, aren't you, baka-neko? And you're not the "girl", I'm just leading."

"Leading what?"

(Sigh) "You certainly don't know how to dance on your own-"

Kyou's eyes twitched. "THIS ISN'T DANCING, YOU ECHII!!! This is just your sick idea of messing with my head!"

Haru ignored that, continuing, "So come on, loosen up. I don't feel like fighting you today, and not in public."

Since Kyou didn't seem to be moving on his own, he raised his right hand up and started moving Kyou's arms (which had been stiff at his sides this whole time) so that they were positioned around Haru's neck before returning his own hand back to Kyou's waist. He was only semi-surprised that Kyou didn't try to punch him... yet...

"There. Now just hold on to me."

"As in strangle you? I can do that." He positioned his fingers so they were wrapped around Haru's throat in a threatening fashion.

Haru sighed, readjusting Kyou's hands again before saying, "Just dance, Kyou..." And with that, he went back to swaying to the music, moving Kyou along with him...

And even for Kyou... this was sorta of nice....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shigure looked up from his newspaper, blinking in surprise as Hatori entered the room. He hadn't heard the doorbell ring or the front door opening. "Ha-san! Kobannwa (good evening)!"

Hatori nodded to him, unbuttoning the front buttons of his suit coat after setting down his briefcase. "Shigure," he acknowledged curtly.

Shigure bounced up from his Kotatsu, grinning. "Good thing you came, I'm so bored I could just fall asleep right here..."

"Don't sleep under the kotatsu, you'll catch a cold."

"Ooooooh! So we can play DOCTOR!"

He shook his head. "Baka, I doubt you want another shot (3)."

The inu seemed to ignore that comment, babbling on while trying to usher Hatori forward. "Aren't you going to sit down? Can I get you some tea? Tohru-kun's asleep, but I can get it for you. My lovely wife needs a break after all. After aaall her hard work during the day! And you! It's not often that the wonderful, handsome, spectacular Ha-san comes to visit me-"

Hatori sighed, rolling his eyes, looking around. "Please stop babbling. I came to pick up Haru." Why else would Hatori have let himself in? After all the times he'd had to pick up Haru lately, there was no point of knocking anymore. "It's getting late," he continued. "Is he upstairs?"

Shigure blinked a few times, and suddenly became quiet as though he was pondering something. "Hatsuharu...? Haru-kun isn't here... He was a few hours ago, though. Haven't seen him since I went up to the study." He rubbed his chin. "Actually, I haven't really seen Kyou, either..."

Hatori frowned. "Not here? He didn't try going on his own, did he?"

Shigure shrugged. "He never told me he was leaving. We only spoke briefly. I told him stories of the old days! Remember when we managed to get you out clubbing-"

"It's not a smart idea to give Haru ideas like that," Hatori said darkly. "Haru shouldn't be doing that sort of thing... And you know him, he might actually do something like that, if he hasn't already."

"That's why I told him to go with a friend," Shigure offered helpfully, kneeling down to pick up his newspaper again, adjusting his reading glasses. "Turns out he does that sort of thing all the time. But you see? I talked to him! He won't go alone anymore! Safety in numbers!"

Hatori hadn't bothered to sit, but came to stand by Shigure, eyes narrowed. He was suddenly itching to a cigarette... "That's ridiculous. Who could he possibly ask? And he shouldn't be going at all. Those at the main house believe it's too dangerous. And you remember what happened with Ayame."

"Yeah, and that girl really could scream. Like a baby, you know? A strooong set of lungs. Though he did crawl up her-"

"Shigure," he interrupted with a sigh, "who would he ask. Tell me." Hatori was having an odd feeling of foreboding...

"Hmmm..." Shigure glanced over the newspaper, smiling to himself. "Me...?"

"Hardly, you're too old. Who else?"

"Ha-san, Hidoi (that's mean/you're horrible)," he sobbed, alligator tears springing. T_T "You're so cruel!"

"Where is Kyou, Shigure."

"Kyou-kun?"

He repeated again, "Where. is. Kyou?"

"Erm... I don't know, actually..." Shigure's eyes shifted around a bit before settling upon the ceiling. "I assume he's in bed."

"You assume...

Nod. "I know Kyou, Ha-san. He doesn't go anywhere on weekends, there's nowhere for someone like him to go this time of night. Nothing to do, ne? He doesn't like being around a lot of people. It's very boring. He only stays with his little friends at school, you know? Or Haru, who you know he's going to fall madly in love with."

"...."

"Ha-san...? You're very... quiet..."

Hatori sighed and began buttoning up his coat again, heading back the way he came. "Shigure, get your coat, we're going after them. And I assume you know the way..."

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1) A popular club in the Wash. D.C. area... and so you know, I based the appearance of this club after a club I've been to, Platinum. It's was SO awesome! With giant chandlers and the dress code was as black as you can get and no jeans, and-... okay, Geuna stop now. -^_^- (zips lips)

2) HAHAHA! It's TRUE! In the manga, Kyou, Haru, Tohru, Yuki and Momiji are swimming in a lake I think at the Sohma summerhouse. Kyou is seen leading a very dazed looking (hand half-naked, might I add (DROOLS)) Haru through the water by the hand, looking VERY pissed (ears and all!) while the others look on as though baffled. ^___^

3) Remember the shot? And Hatori made it hurt just so Shigure would shut his trap? _ Oooooow!

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To be continued...

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(cackles and cheers) YAY!! FUN!!! Clubbing is SO much fun. Is you're at least 18, you should try going in a group. I did that... though we didn't have any boys...~__~ GOD, and it was LADIES (Freakin') NIGHT! Guy hitting on you in the worst ways on the dance floors. That's why we have the "chain" system. See a guy coming on too strong, do the chain train and move to the other side of the room, or second or third dance floor to talk a break.

And girls... BRING A GUY!!! Can be a boyfriend, can be a guy-friend, just someone to scare them the heck OFF. (growls) And they can't even hear to turn them down since it's so damn loud...

Okay, enough of me ranting! ^_^ I'm gonna be start college again soon, so I'm moving back into the dorm with weekend. I'm dying to go back!

I presently have fanart done for this fic, including Kyou as he appears in his clubbing outfit. The pictures aren't in my own style, though in the style of the original Furuba animated series. I haven't honestly drawn "fanart" in years, so I can't bring myself to change another artist's style, you know? I'm a second-year college level artist, and I've been drawing since age three.... I know my sh*t. (crosses arms and nods to self)

I'll have the fanart up as soon as my bloody scanner bulb fixed.

Geuna~