~~~~~~Haru~~~~~~

"Yes Yuki? I'm here, hang in there," I said, gripping his hand. He felt so cold. The blood, oh the blood. That scene would forever haunt me. I had been sitting at the end of the hall, waiting for Yuki to exit. It had been an hour, the longest hour I had lived. My worry mounted every minute, and I knew it was most likely dragging even worse for Yuki. I had heard a scream of pure pain. I jumped to my feet and ran down the hall into Akito's room, Hatori walking quickly behind me.

Yuki was lying facedown in a pool of blood, long thin lines on his back were trickling out blood, and one large jagged tear was pouring blood. Akito had been standing over him, clasping a letter opener in his hand. The letter opener was dripping, and his hand was splattered with blood.

"Oh my… Yuki!" I yelled in shock, and I ran to him. I gently lifted him out of the blood, and realized how badly hurt he was.

"GET OUT YOU FILTHY COW!" Akito boomed out, furious I entered his domain. I held onto Yuki, Akito would harm him no more.

I heard Hatori enter the room before me and calmly say, "Akito, I must tend to Yuki, he's lost a lot of blood it seems. I need to attend to his injuries or he may die." I thought it was insane how calm he could be at a time like this; and how could he speak of Yuki's death so monotonously?

I looked up and saw Akito's eyes were wide and he looked concerned, "die? Hatori, fix him now, he dies and you will pay for killing him."

I wanted to take that letter opener and slice that bastard wide open. "You will pay for killing him?" I thought to myself. Could Akito really think it would be Hatori's fault, not his own? My rage was mounting, I tried to calm down. Getting beat up and going black would not help Yuki right now I reminded myself. Hatori carefully scooped Yuki up and carried him to the doctor office he had set up in the main house. I followed. Hatori laid him down on the bed and went to rummage in medical supplies.

I kneeled next to Yuki, held his hand and brushed some hair out of his face, "Hang in there Yuki, you can't leave me, you can't." Tears were threatening to fall, I was terrified of losing him, I would die if he died, I couldn't live without him. If he died, Akito would be mine. I would kill him, and then turn the weapon I used on myself.

"Haru" Yuki called out, his voice was so very weak, it was barely a whisper.

"Yes Yuki? I'm here, hang in there."

His was squinting though he couldn't see me, and trying to talk, but he was weak, it had to be hard. "I never… he… god…. Haru…. own me…"

I stared at him in confusion, god? Own me? Was he trying to say he was leaving? Going to god or what not? No… that couldn't be…. Haru own me? Was he trying to say-?

I noticed his eyes shut, and he wasn't alert anymore, I panicked, no he couldn't do this, he couldn't die.

"Yuki? Yuki! Wake up!" I shouted with the tears again threatening to rain down from my eyes. "YUKI!!!!"

Hatori grabbed me, "Haru, I'm going to have to ask you to leave now, I'm sorry, you'll only be in my way."

I started to protest but realized by the look in Hari's eye that time was short, and the longer I argued, the longer it would be before he could care for Yuki.  I left the room without an argument, and Hatori went to work on Yuki.

I sat outside Hatori's door, crying and hoping for Yuki to be ok. I needed him. I kept seeing the image of Yuki lying in that pool of blood; I couldn't shake it from my head. If I had known that Akito was going to do this, I would've taken his place, not let him go. I would've taken the punishment.

 I leaned against the wall, and felt myself starting to drift off to sleep. I was exhausted, but needed to stay awake, I needed to wait for Yuki. I felt my eyes close though, and my head nod off, before I knew it, I was sunk in dreamland.

His arm was around me, and I was crying, "I'm so stupid… I can't believe I lost Checker… the class is going to hate me." I had done it this time. I had been left care of the 5th grade class hamster Checker for the weekend. I had decided to let him run around, and he had run away. I had been crying, knowing doom awaited me when I returned to school Monday. Yuki came in, and had asked me what was wrong. I told him my story. He sat next to me and hugged me, "no Haru, you aren't stupid, you were being kind and an accident happened."

"NO! I am stupid, I'm the cow, and the cow is an idiot that's easily tricked and I am dumb dumb dumb!" I bawled out burying my head on my knees.

I felt Yuki gently lift my head up, "Haru, do you really think the cow was tricked into carrying the mouse on his back?"

I stared at him and part of me wondered if this mouse… this mouse who had told me I wasn't stupid, was about to trick me now. "Yes… of course the cow was tricked, because the cow is brainless. That's the legend."

Yuki nodded and smiled, "that's the legend… but the legend is wrong. The cow wasn't tricked, the cow let the mouse ride on his back."

"Well then the cow was stupid anyway, allowing himself to be used like that, offering someone a ride like that knowing he'd be made a fool for no reason." I said defensively.

Yuki looked into my eyes, "he had a reason. The cow let the mouse ride on his back, even though he knew it may cause him trouble. He let the mouse because he loved the mouse… and the mouse loved him. He thought it was worth it. They knew the true story, but everyone else was stupid, and thought the cow was an idiot. They were wrong."

I stared at Yuki in awe. This story did make sense, I didn't know if it was true or not, but I liked it. It amazed me how Yuki could always make me feel better. I realized I really liked him, he was my best friend in my mind, though sometimes thoughts nagged at me that I liked him more than the title friend deserved. Brother maybe? I wasn't sure. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight, burying my face in his shoulder. "Arigato, arigato Yuki…. Arigato" I told him, and I felt him return my hug. He had reminded me again, that I was not stupid.

"Haru, Haru wake up, Haru," the dream faded away as I was shaken and my name was called. I opened my eyes and there was Hatori, gently shaking me and calling my name.

I jolted up and asked, "where's Yuki, is he ok? He's ok right I mean-"

"shush, he's fine, you can go in and see him now, but try not to wake him up, he needs lots of rest." Hatori said quietly.

I was already on my feet and heading in the door by the time he had finished his sentence. I sat on the edge of Yuki's bed, and saw his back was completely bandaged, a small bandage was on his shoulder as well. He was sleeping, though a look of unease was on his face.

"Those bandages will work?" I asked in a whisper.

"For the small ones. I had to stitch the large gash." Hatori answered, "You may sleep in here tonight if you wish Haru, just don't move him around too much, or keep him awake. I'm going to see Akito now… goodnight." He walked out the door silently, shutting it behind him.

I pulled off my socks and shirt and climbed into bed next to Yuki. I tried to be quiet and careful, and not wake him, but it didn't work.

"Haru," he whispered.

"Shh Yuki, you need to sleep, you need rest." I told him, gently wrapping my arms around him.

He laid his head on my chest and put his arm over my stomach. "Yes… but I need to tell you something… I…" he stopped for a moment, still weak and having a hard time talking much. "I never broke…. I said I was yours…. Not… Akito's…."

I stared at him, "that's why Akito did this to you? Because you said you were mine, not his?"

He nodded and I felt tears well up in my eyes.

"Why….," I whispered, "Why didn't you just say it to make him happy… He wouldn't have hurt you…"

Yuki looked up at me and said, "I couldn't lie… I belong to Haru, and I couldn't lie, it would've hurt me worse than Akito could have ever done."

I felt a tear run down my cheek and I held onto him a little tighter. I kissed the top of his head and whispered, "Arigato, arigato Yuki…. Arigato" I looked down at him, and he already drifted into sleep, the look of unease he had before was replaced with a look of peace. I smiled at him, and shut my eyes, ready to sleep.

~~~~~~~2 years earlier, Haru~~~~~~~~

It was a spring day, and I was sitting in a tree thinking. "No… he was my friend… my friend…not more, I like him as my friend." I had tried to convince myself this. Ever since I had first seen Yuki that first time in the window, I had felt a strange want to be near him. I hadn't felt this before with Momiji, or any of my other friends. I had been passing it off as just a thought of him being my best friend. Till the day last week that I saw a girl I liked, and felt the same thing, only weaker. I was so confused, I was in 7th grade, I barely liked girls, so how the heck could I like boys? Well… a boy. It was weird how little things that happened with him made me feel. If I made him smile, I felt incredibly joyful. If I made him feel bad, I would be depressed for days, till he told me with a smile it was ok, it didn't matter.

I remembered in art class, I worked for days on a little clay cow, complete with a little mouse on its back. I gave it to Yuki, with a note that read, "For the times you've made me happy, and for when Checker got loose. Thanks for being my friend." I remember going into his room once, certain my cow would be in there. I had looked around, and felt like crying, I found it in his sock drawer, wrapped up in a sock, and buried under many other clothes. I was convinced he hated me. I moped for a week. Yuki had started to get concerned and asked what was wrong. I told him while my eyes teared over. He smiled, gently took my hand, and led me to his room, where the little cow and mouse sat on a table next to his bed. He told me how last week, Ayame had come to visit. Not wanting it broken by his thoughtless brother, he packed it away. Seeing the present I gave him next to his bed made giddy, and I ran around happily for weeks.

If that wasn't love, what was? I thought to myself. I did… I liked him…. What else would explain…"No, stop it" I mumbled to myself. I was wrong, I was…

I saw movement below me, breaking my thoughts. Yuki passed by the tree, oblivious to me above him. He looked around, and then sat at the base of the tree. My heart thumped in my chest, it was either jump down now, let him know I was there, or stay and watch. I knew the right thing to do was to jump down, but I couldn't. I wanted to watch him. He pulled out a notebook and started to write in it. I couldn't see what he was writing, it looked like a poem. What I wouldn't have given to read it. I strained my eyes trying to get a closer look. Was that my name right there in that writing? If I could just get a little closer… I heard the branch snap, and I was in the air, the ground flying up at me. I landed with a thump and groaned. I heard Yuki give out a little shout when I fell.

"Haru?! What the hell?!" He exclaimed, and then I remembered, I had been spying, he didn't know I was up there.

"Oh… crap" I thought to myself. I mumbled out, "Oh I was sitting in the tree and saw you come out and I uh uh uh…"

Yuki's eyes widened, "you were watching me? Why didn't you say you were there?!"

I started to stutter trying to think of a reply, and spotted Yuki's notebook, now lying on the ground. That was my name, and what did that other thing say?..

Yuki saw where my eyes were and quickly snatched up the notebook, his face beet red, "get away from me! I can't believe you did that! And don't try and read my stuff!"

Before I could apologize he was on his feet, running off to the main house.

I felt like I had been slapped… No, like I had been stabbed. And it wasn't from the fall. I stood up, and tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to fall. "Baka" I whispered to myself and then slammed my fists against the tree, "I'M SO STUPID!" Tears over flowed from my eyes. I knew it then, I loved him, there was no question. I stood up, I knew what I needed to know, and I knew what I needed to do. I wiped the tears from my eyes and headed to the main house. When I walked in, I went straight up to Yuki's room, and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" I heard Yuki's voice from inside.

"It's me… Haru"

"Go away!" I heard Yuki say, though a part of his voice sounded like he didn't mean it.

Inside something nagged me to leave, not push my luck, but it was now or never I decided, I had to tell him. It was eating me alive, I had to tell him.

"Yuki… I need to talk to you… its important." I hoped my voice sounded sincere.

There was a pause for a moment, then Yuki said softly, "Ok... come in"

I opened the door and walked in, Yuki was sitting on his bed, his notebook was set to the side closed. I shut the door behind me and glanced around. The little cow and mouse still sat on the table next to his bed. Inside I smiled; I could've laughed out loud, but decided it might be a bad idea. I stood in the middle of the room, as he had no chairs. Yuki looked up at me, his face was expressionless.

"You can sit down if you want," he said, nodding at an open spot on his bed.

"Oh… thank you," I sat down, thinking of exactly what I was going to say.

"Yuki I-" "Haru I-" we both started at the same time.

"Oh... you go first Haru."

"Nope, you first I insist," I told him.

"Oookay…. I wanted to say sorry for freaking out earlier… It wasn't that big of deal." Yuki said, looking at the floor.

"Eh, I should have said I was there. So I'm sorry too. I know why I did it though. I realized something today, something that's bothered me for a long time.

Yuki looked at me curiously, "oh?... what did you realize?"

My mind was racing, what would he do when I told him that I loved him? Would he be grossed out? Tell me to never see him again? Maybe he would beat the crap out of me. I knew that he most likely wouldn't be happy, but what could I do? I had to tell him, so when I acted strangely around him, he would know why. That and if I didn't tell him it would drive me crazy and consume me, like it had for the past week. I glanced at the little cow and mouse sitting on Yuki's bedside and remembered the story. The cow loved the mouse… the cow still loves the mouse. Didn't Yuki say the mouse also loved the cow? Maybe that was sill true, one could hope.

I stared at the floor, and was about to start talking when I realized I needed to look at him when I told him this. I took all the courage left in me and looked him directly in the eyes, "I realized I love someone, someone that will never accept me back."

Yuki looked at me confused for a moment, "Haru why are you telling me th-" he cut his sentence off and his eyes widened slightly. "Wait you don't mean me do you?!" Yuki yelped out.

I felt a lump form in my throat and my eyes tear up. "GODAMNIT DON'T CRY" I thought to myself. I was going to beat the hell out of myself when I was done with this. I didn't dare speak; I knew my voice would crack, so instead I nodded... I stole a glance at Yuki; he was staring at me, his face showed shock. I couldn't take this, I had to get out now before he recovered and started to get mad. I stood up and turned to the door when I felt Yuki grab my arm and pull me back.

"Wait…." He said, his indigo eyes pleading with me.

I sat back down, wondering what he could possibly want with me after I had dropped this bomb…

"Yuki, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm so sorry, I don't know why I- I mean I… I" my voice was cracking and it was getting harder to talk without letting tears spill.

I felt him grab me and pull me into a tight embrace. I felt my eyes widen and I made a squeak sound out of instinct.  "What the he-" escaped my mouth, but once again I was cut off.

"You don't know how long I've wished you'd say those words," Yuki whispered still hugging me tight.

I pulled back and stared at him, "WHAT?!"

He giggled a little.

"What's so funny?!" I yelped.

"Gomen… it's just how surprised you looked. I wanted to tell you for the longest time…. I just couldn't find the words."

He hugged me again and this time I let him hold onto me, and I silently laughed, finally feeling happy, truly happy.

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            woot, another chapter! Review please! I will try and get the next chapter up soon, who might show up in the next chapter? Stay tuned to find out!