Hiya! SakuraBubbles here. Thank you all for the continued support. I appreciate it a lot. You guys rock!! As I present… I give you… LONGER CHAPTERS!! DUN DUN DAN DAAAAAAN!!! Woo. It helps me, too. Hehehe…
Warnings in this chapter, people. Boys kissing and Black Haru on the loose. And naked. You'll see what I mean later, my dears. By the way, just to warn you, I wrote this fic specifically for the Yuki/Haru pairing, so if you feel that I give out more of that than Kyo/Tohru, I apologize, but this is what I'm writing, kay? If you dislike this, by all means, skip the lovey gay boy scenes. But also, keep in mind that hey—you might just like it. ::winks::
Oh and YAY the story title is explained in this!! … Sort of. You hafta really look for it. I'll give you… a sticker if you see it.
Chapter Five: Never Gray
"I have good news and I have bad news," Shigure said as the group sat around the table for a quick lunch. He sipped from his tea cup and then continued, "The good news is we have a couch coming today. The bad news, not for me anyway, is that Aaya is the one delivering it."
Yuki jumped up and fled from the room, heading upstairs as soon as he heard the name of his older brother. Tohru freaked out. The gap!
"S-Souma-kun!"
"Why is that pervert coming to deliver the couch?" asked Kyo with a sigh.
"He said that the shop had an extra one and he had something to bring us anyway," Shigure answered. Haru blinked.
"Something else? Besides the couch?"
Shigure only looked up to the clock on the wall.
"He should be here soon…"
As if on cue, there was a loud knock on the door followed by, "Guuuure-san!" Yuki ran downstairs and put his back to the door, trying to keep Ayame out.
"Let's pretend we're not home…" he suggested as Ayame beat on the door ("Gure-san? Let me in! It's hot out here!"). Shigure chuckled.
"Come now, Yu-chan…" He thought a moment. "Haa-kun, hold him back."
When Haru refused to hold Yuki back against his will, Shigure pushed him toward Yuki so in instinct, Yuki went out to catch him from his fall. At that time, Ayame thrust the door open.
"Yuuuuuuuki-chan!!"
"Go away!"
"Kyonkichi-kun too!"
"Don't call me that!!!"
"Ahh, Haa-chan! Have you finally seduced my brother?"
"Who invited you?!!"
"Tohru-kun, you're looking lovely."
"Aha…"
"Aaya, where's the couch?" asked Shigure, sliding quickly over to the snake, deciding to preserve Yuki, Haru, and Kyo's sanities. Shigure knew that if Yuki tried to escape now, it'd only make things worse. "Oh, it's outside? Ah, you had help bringing it, that's good. Let's go out and get it…"
Haru escorted Yuki into the kitchen for safety and Kyo and Tohru joined them. Yuki poured himself a large glass of water.
"Gah… Shigure must've done this on purpose…" he muttered after taking a long sip. Kyo opened the fridge and pulled out the carton of milk that was inside.
"All we need is Kagura and Momiji and then all of us will have people who are obsessed with us over," he said bitterly and then offered Tohru and Haru a glass of milk as well. Haru politely declined and Tohru said, "Yes, please… and who is Momiji-kun obsessed with?"
They all looked at her blankly and none bothered answering. Kyo grinned suddenly and looked to Yuki.
"Though… then again, you already have two people here who are obsessed with you…"
He was referring to Haru. The ox tugged at his own ear.
"Come again?"
"Aahh! Here's where you all are hiding!" exclaimed Ayame, stopping what could have been a fight. "Tohru-kun, I brought you something. Come in here—"
"WHAT DID YOU BRING HER?!?" asked Yuki and Kyo, glaring menacingly at the snake. Ayame put a hand up.
"A dress."
"WHAT KIND OF DRESS?!?"
Haru wasn't surprised at their spooked tones. He knew just the types of dresses Ayame sold, and therefore, why the two were freaking out.
"You'll see… I just wanted to give Tohru-kun something pretty to wear while her arm is broken! It's horrible that it happened… however did it break?"
Tohru glanced quickly at Yuki and then looked away, smiling and patting her broken arm lightly.
"It doesn't matter. It's feeling much better now. It still hurts to move it, though."
"Ah, well that's good. Come on in here," Ayame beckoned, cautiously slinking a lanky arm around Tohru (but only putting his hand to her back to prevent from transforming) and leading her into the other room. The boys followed.
"Couch!!" exclaimed Haru, running over and petting the new piece of furniture admiringly. Shigure had already planted himself into the couch.
"It's comfy," he told Haru before the young man jumped over the back of it and landed sitting at ease on the cushion.
"Here, here, Tohru-kun," said Ayame, brushing his hair off of his shoulders. He asked about which room he could have Tohru change in and Shigure said that she should go up to her room to do so. However, before Ayame could get another foot up the stairs in following her, Yuki halted him.
"I think Honda-san can get dressed on her own," he said.
"But the dress is far too complicated for one to put on by herself," Ayame explained. Tohru looked to him.
"Can I see the dress?"
"Not yet—you will be just as surprised as everyone else!" the snake replied, pulling out a handkerchief. "You'll be blindfolded."
"THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GOING TO UNDRESS HER WHILE SHE'S BLINDFOLDED!!!" yelled Yuki and Kyo spookily. Haru tugged at his ear again.
"I'll do it."
They stared at him.
"I'll help her get dressed. I promise that I'm the most trustworthy guy in here," he informed them. With his gray eyes on Yuki, he added, "Plus, half-naked women don't interest me."
There was a sound like, "Ehehee…" from Tohru and Ayame's yellow eyes twinkled as he said, "Ah yes, that's right, Haa-chan… I forgot about that."
There was an awkward silence in which Shigure muttered something about Ayame under his breath, but Haru hardly heard him. Yuki slapped his own forehead.
"Anyway, Honda-san—and Haru—go change. The quicker you do this—"
"The quicker my precious little brother and I can have some time together to catch up!" Ayame squealed. Tohru smiled and headed upstairs, glad she wasn't able to see Yuki's twitching face. Haru slowly followed her with the dress (hidden in a garment bag) in his hands.
/-/
"I'm not very good with dresses…" Haru confessed as Tohru slipped out of her clothing. He wasn't looking to give her at least a bit of privacy. She giggled as she folded her shirt.
"It's okay… this is embarrassing for the both of us, I'm sure…"
"Yeah, just a bit… oh, there's something here to cover you with and to wear under the dress…" said Haru as he discovered the cream silk garment. He held it out behind him so she could take it from him without him looking. She was, for an instant, grateful to Ayame for giving her one as she plucked it from Haru's hand, putting it on. She felt a bit more at ease with something on besides her bra and panties, even if it was just a slip.
"Okay."
He sighed and folded the blindfold over her eyes, muttering about how stupid it was and then telling her, "It's a very nice dress." She blushed and smiled. He left her for a moment and fumbled with the dress a bit, trying to figure it out. Tohru stood awkwardly, blushing, and nervously tipping side to side.
"Ah… Hatsuharu-san… I'm wondering if you know… Souma-kun said something odd to me this morning," she said suddenly.
"Raise your chin," Haru commanded and Tohru obliged, feeling a loose, lacy fabric wrap around her neck. To her question, he asked in return, "What did he say?"
"He said… that he and Kyo-kun fight over me," she said in a hushed voice.
"Excuse me for saying this, but they are both head over heels for you," Haru answered coolly. If her face could have gotten any redder, Haru would have mistaken her for a blindfolded tomato.
"B-b-but why me?! There's absolutely nothing—"
She was interrupted as Haru told her to lift her broken arm. She did so carefully (having taken it out of the sling while undressing), and then continued as Haru dressed her up.
"There's nothing special about me… doesn't Souma-kun have a bunch of girls who like him? And… Kagura-san likes Kyo-kun… and wait, you like Souma-kun, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," said Haru as he buttoned a few things that needed buttoning. "But Tohru, you need to understand that Yuki chooses what Yuki wants and Kyo decides what Kyo wants, too. Kagura would like to, but she knows she can't, make Kyo do as she wants. Even I…" Haru tightened something around Tohru's waist. "Even I know that I may have to give up on Yuki if you choose him."
"Ch-choose? But… I don't like one more than the other! Ah… I… ahh…"
"I'm not telling you to choose now," Haru chuckled. Tohru only sighed in response—but it was broken sigh, the type of sigh you take when your throat is tight from crying. Haru looked up to her face and saw tears creeping out from underneath the blindfold. "T-Tohru?"
"I… I don't want to choose… I love them both… and if I choose one… the other will be sad… and Kagura-san will hate me if I choose Kyo-kun." She touched Haru's arm tenderly. "A-and…"
"If you choose Yuki, I won't mind one bit," Haru comforted her. "I only want Yuki to be happy."
Tohru was silent and choked back a sob.
"I… don't know how I feel about Souma-kun—"
Haru took off the blindfold and carefully wiped her eyes. She smiled weakly.
"Ayame-san will be mad…"
"It's barbaric to make you open your heart like this and keep you blinded. It seems to me that whether you wear a blindfold or not, you can't see what you want to do…"
"… After the day I broke my arm, I was… distant from Souma-kun. Well, I was distant from both of them." She giggled nervously. "I… I was so scared… when I saw Kyo-kun… in that other form of his."
Haru seemed surprised. He hadn't even seen it. But he stayed quiet.
"I wanted to see his face… his smiling face. I wanted to continue living together, happily. Kyo-kun… ahhh… Souma-kun helped me a bit… but afterwards, he seemed to dislike Kyo-kun more… He… he probably saw that I…"
Haru finished for her.
"That you might like Kyo more…"
She answered with a sob and a sad nod of her head.
"At first I thought… that I didn't belong here with them. But this is the only place I belong… I belong with you all… I'd like to think… that Kyo-kun needed me that day."
Haru just listened. Half of him wanted to leap for joy at the fact that Tohru seemed to like Kyo better than Yuki, while the other half wanted to shake her senseless and tell her that Yuki will be crushed and he'll never let her hurt him… though he doubted she would. His thought process more often than not went just like that. Always black and white, never meeting halfway. Never gray.
"Everyone says that I've made Souma-kun change a lot," Tohru went on. "B-but… is this 'changed' Souma-kun the real Souma-kun? Or is he something completely different? Have I made him change for me? … Has he made himself to be something he's not for my sake?"
"Well… he has changed quite a bit. But it's not exactly a bad thing… he smiles more. If anything, you haven't changed him, you've healed him. His dark days are over now that you're in his life. That's something… I could never achieve…"
He sighed and wiped at his own eyes, surprised by his tears.
"I envy you, Tohru. You have Yuki's affections and you have gotten them so easily. I'm jealous but I—"
"Hatsuharu-san!" Tohru choked out, hugging him without thinking. There was a pop and a puff of black and white smoke and Haru was his animal form. Tohru's arm was still around his neck and she was still crying into his coat—although now it was a different kind of coat. Haru was silent as it was very hard to cry as a cow.
Downstairs, Yuki heard the familiar "POOF!" of when one turns into an animal and he headed upstairs. As he entered Tohru's room, he was met with the site of a half-dressed Tohru with her unbroken arm wrapped around the neck of a cow. Both of them looked over at the door opening and Yuki saw the tears that had reddened Tohru's face.
"Honda-san…"
"What did that stupid cow do to you?!" yelled Kyo, who had obviously followed Yuki up.
"Hatsuharu-san did nothing… we…" Tohru tried to explain, but explaining would confess too much. She silenced herself and wiped her eyes.
Ayame pushed through Yuki and Kyo, halting as he saw Haru's form.
"… A cow?"
"… Yes," replied Haru. Ayame concealed his laughter and knelt down next to Tohru. "Ah, Tohru-kun, do you still want to wear that?"
"Ah… sure…"
"Well, Haa-chan, since you are, erm…"
"Shut up, I'll go," said the cow. He followed Yuki and Kyo out of the room as Ayame shooed them. Kyo rushed down the long hall and Yuki walked slowly in back of Haru. When Haru got to the top of the stairs, he stopped and gave a low, "Moo…"
Yuki looked at him and Kyo halted at the bottom of the staircase.
"What's wrong?" Yuki asked.
"I… can't get down the stairs…"
He heard laughter and saw that Shigure was also at the bottom of the stairs, his face bright with laughter.
"You can't get down?!" he asked through his laughter. The cow shook his head side to side. Yuki grinned.
"That's utterly terrible…"
Shigure and Kyo laughed harder and in anger, Haru whacked his head against Yuki's stomach with a loud, aggravated "Moooo!!!" Yuki fell over from the attack, which got Kyo laughing much, much harder. It was a good thing that Tohru's room was at the other end of the long hallway.
"Ow!" yelped Yuki. Haru snorted.
"I don't even have udders, you bastard."
"Well, Haru, I'd like to get downstairs, but I can't unless you moo-ve," the rat teased, holding his stomach. It was then when there was another "POOF!" and Haru was human once again. Naturally, he was naked. Shigure went to the living room to search through Haru's bags for an outfit to give him and Kyo left out of disgust. As they left the immediate area, Haru glared at Yuki.
"What the hell is your problem?" he spat, angry. Yuki sat up.
"I'm sorry, Haru. You… I was just kidding."
((warning for whatever: boy/boy action))
He saw that glint in Haru's eyes—he had gone black. And he was naked. Haru caught Yuki's chin in his fingers and knelt down between his spread legs. Yuki went to push him off but Haru caught his two hands, having to let go of his chin. He brought Yuki's hands together above his head and held them together by the wrists and pushed him down. Yes, it was definitely a good thing that Ayame and Tohru couldn't hear what was going on down the hall. A good thing for Haru, anyway.
"Now you've done it," Haru whispered, brushing his lips across Yuki's ear. Yuki held back something, be it a moan or not, as he felt a hard and hot object rub up against his thigh.
"S…" he began to say but he was silenced as Haru kissed the side of his mouth. Confusion spread across Yuki's face as he felt something warm and wet crash onto his face. Is… Is Haru crying?
Haru then made the mistake of letting Yuki's wrists go to try and feel up his shirt. For a moment, Yuki let him, but then came to his senses and pushed Haru off and to the side, shoving him into a wall.
They heard Shigure start up the stairs so Yuki jumped up and walked away, leaving Haru behind to wipe at his eyes and hide his arousal, pretending—or not—to look bashful. Shigure tossed him some clothes and he dressed himself.
/-/ ((scene is done…))
For a moment, after Haru came downstairs, only silence filled the room that he entered, even though Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure were sitting down inside of it. Finally, Kyo burst.
"Why was she crying?!" he asked. Haru sighed, leaning against a wall.
"Because of you two."
"Us?" asked Yuki, surprised. Haru nodded.
"She was wondering why you two have been fighting so much lately. So I told her that you both loved her."
"You WHAT?!" Kyo yelled, but Haru wasn't about to repeat himself.
"Do you two have any idea what you're doing to her? Do you know that you're tearing her in two? She loves you both and frankly, you're both being very selfish."
The cat and the rat were quiet. He was right. They had been selfish in only thinking about their own feelings and not hers. Neither of them once thought about how they affected her with their squabbling, fights, and competitions over her.
"One day she may end up like me. Two different people contained into one. It's not fun and it's uncontrollable," said Haru. He looked to Kyo. "Fighting over her will get you no where. I figured that you of all people would know very well that Tohru isn't some prize to be won at some martial arts tournament."
Kyo felt his face burning up. He was both embarrassed and ashamed. Haru looked to Yuki.
"And you… getting jealous is also not the way to win her affection. I've learned that from liking you. I'd like to think you would have known it as well. And you've also made her feel like she's changed you into something you're not and that she can't possibly match your standards."
"What? I—"
"Shh," Haru hushed him. He looked back to Kyo. "Kyo, you brighten her day each time you smile, you are, for the most part, considerate of her feelings. The other day when Hatori asked if she was right-handed, only you knew that she was, which tells me that you care enough to know so much about her. You see just how special she is and make sure that she knows it, too."
Kyo smiled lightly, thinking of when she told him that he had an plumin his back that he couldn't see. From that day on, he started to really like her, and made sure to tell her that she had an plum, too.
"You, Yuki," said Haru, "are her prince charming. You are sweet to her and you give her things to make her smile. You're always there to protect her, even if it's from me, Momiji, or Ayame. Or Shigure. You share little secrets and jokes with her… you open up to her and share your precious smile with her and only her. If only others could be so lucky."
He was referring to himself, of course. And oddly enough, Yuki felt his heart tighten. He tried to dismiss the feeling by looking back on the time at the hot springs when he gave her the ribbons to wear in her hair and made her feel like she was a princess. That she was his princess.
"As for Tohru… she's not sure what to think. She loves the way that you both care for her unconditionally. You have to know in your hearts what is best for her."
Silence again fell over the room. Haru said one more thing.
"There were a few other things that she told me, but I have a feeling she'd like to tell you herself."
And then, descending down the stairs, came Tohru, looking the prettiest she ever had in her new dress…
Not too bad, eh? I love Haru. He just seems like the type of guy to do that sort of thing. ::pets him:: And if you're wondering about Tohru's dress… I have NO idea what it looks like. I just sorta… made it… so that… stuff… could… happen. ::silences self::
::unsilences self:: Boysex in the next chapter. Hope you don't mind!!! HAHAHA! ::bows and runs away::
Warnings in this chapter, people. Boys kissing and Black Haru on the loose. And naked. You'll see what I mean later, my dears. By the way, just to warn you, I wrote this fic specifically for the Yuki/Haru pairing, so if you feel that I give out more of that than Kyo/Tohru, I apologize, but this is what I'm writing, kay? If you dislike this, by all means, skip the lovey gay boy scenes. But also, keep in mind that hey—you might just like it. ::winks::
Oh and YAY the story title is explained in this!! … Sort of. You hafta really look for it. I'll give you… a sticker if you see it.
"I have good news and I have bad news," Shigure said as the group sat around the table for a quick lunch. He sipped from his tea cup and then continued, "The good news is we have a couch coming today. The bad news, not for me anyway, is that Aaya is the one delivering it."
Yuki jumped up and fled from the room, heading upstairs as soon as he heard the name of his older brother. Tohru freaked out. The gap!
"S-Souma-kun!"
"Why is that pervert coming to deliver the couch?" asked Kyo with a sigh.
"He said that the shop had an extra one and he had something to bring us anyway," Shigure answered. Haru blinked.
"Something else? Besides the couch?"
Shigure only looked up to the clock on the wall.
"He should be here soon…"
As if on cue, there was a loud knock on the door followed by, "Guuuure-san!" Yuki ran downstairs and put his back to the door, trying to keep Ayame out.
"Let's pretend we're not home…" he suggested as Ayame beat on the door ("Gure-san? Let me in! It's hot out here!"). Shigure chuckled.
"Come now, Yu-chan…" He thought a moment. "Haa-kun, hold him back."
When Haru refused to hold Yuki back against his will, Shigure pushed him toward Yuki so in instinct, Yuki went out to catch him from his fall. At that time, Ayame thrust the door open.
"Yuuuuuuuki-chan!!"
"Go away!"
"Kyonkichi-kun too!"
"Don't call me that!!!"
"Ahh, Haa-chan! Have you finally seduced my brother?"
"Who invited you?!!"
"Tohru-kun, you're looking lovely."
"Aha…"
"Aaya, where's the couch?" asked Shigure, sliding quickly over to the snake, deciding to preserve Yuki, Haru, and Kyo's sanities. Shigure knew that if Yuki tried to escape now, it'd only make things worse. "Oh, it's outside? Ah, you had help bringing it, that's good. Let's go out and get it…"
Haru escorted Yuki into the kitchen for safety and Kyo and Tohru joined them. Yuki poured himself a large glass of water.
"Gah… Shigure must've done this on purpose…" he muttered after taking a long sip. Kyo opened the fridge and pulled out the carton of milk that was inside.
"All we need is Kagura and Momiji and then all of us will have people who are obsessed with us over," he said bitterly and then offered Tohru and Haru a glass of milk as well. Haru politely declined and Tohru said, "Yes, please… and who is Momiji-kun obsessed with?"
They all looked at her blankly and none bothered answering. Kyo grinned suddenly and looked to Yuki.
"Though… then again, you already have two people here who are obsessed with you…"
He was referring to Haru. The ox tugged at his own ear.
"Come again?"
"Aahh! Here's where you all are hiding!" exclaimed Ayame, stopping what could have been a fight. "Tohru-kun, I brought you something. Come in here—"
"WHAT DID YOU BRING HER?!?" asked Yuki and Kyo, glaring menacingly at the snake. Ayame put a hand up.
"A dress."
"WHAT KIND OF DRESS?!?"
Haru wasn't surprised at their spooked tones. He knew just the types of dresses Ayame sold, and therefore, why the two were freaking out.
"You'll see… I just wanted to give Tohru-kun something pretty to wear while her arm is broken! It's horrible that it happened… however did it break?"
Tohru glanced quickly at Yuki and then looked away, smiling and patting her broken arm lightly.
"It doesn't matter. It's feeling much better now. It still hurts to move it, though."
"Ah, well that's good. Come on in here," Ayame beckoned, cautiously slinking a lanky arm around Tohru (but only putting his hand to her back to prevent from transforming) and leading her into the other room. The boys followed.
"Couch!!" exclaimed Haru, running over and petting the new piece of furniture admiringly. Shigure had already planted himself into the couch.
"It's comfy," he told Haru before the young man jumped over the back of it and landed sitting at ease on the cushion.
"Here, here, Tohru-kun," said Ayame, brushing his hair off of his shoulders. He asked about which room he could have Tohru change in and Shigure said that she should go up to her room to do so. However, before Ayame could get another foot up the stairs in following her, Yuki halted him.
"I think Honda-san can get dressed on her own," he said.
"But the dress is far too complicated for one to put on by herself," Ayame explained. Tohru looked to him.
"Can I see the dress?"
"Not yet—you will be just as surprised as everyone else!" the snake replied, pulling out a handkerchief. "You'll be blindfolded."
"THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GOING TO UNDRESS HER WHILE SHE'S BLINDFOLDED!!!" yelled Yuki and Kyo spookily. Haru tugged at his ear again.
"I'll do it."
They stared at him.
"I'll help her get dressed. I promise that I'm the most trustworthy guy in here," he informed them. With his gray eyes on Yuki, he added, "Plus, half-naked women don't interest me."
There was a sound like, "Ehehee…" from Tohru and Ayame's yellow eyes twinkled as he said, "Ah yes, that's right, Haa-chan… I forgot about that."
There was an awkward silence in which Shigure muttered something about Ayame under his breath, but Haru hardly heard him. Yuki slapped his own forehead.
"Anyway, Honda-san—and Haru—go change. The quicker you do this—"
"The quicker my precious little brother and I can have some time together to catch up!" Ayame squealed. Tohru smiled and headed upstairs, glad she wasn't able to see Yuki's twitching face. Haru slowly followed her with the dress (hidden in a garment bag) in his hands.
/-/
"I'm not very good with dresses…" Haru confessed as Tohru slipped out of her clothing. He wasn't looking to give her at least a bit of privacy. She giggled as she folded her shirt.
"It's okay… this is embarrassing for the both of us, I'm sure…"
"Yeah, just a bit… oh, there's something here to cover you with and to wear under the dress…" said Haru as he discovered the cream silk garment. He held it out behind him so she could take it from him without him looking. She was, for an instant, grateful to Ayame for giving her one as she plucked it from Haru's hand, putting it on. She felt a bit more at ease with something on besides her bra and panties, even if it was just a slip.
"Okay."
He sighed and folded the blindfold over her eyes, muttering about how stupid it was and then telling her, "It's a very nice dress." She blushed and smiled. He left her for a moment and fumbled with the dress a bit, trying to figure it out. Tohru stood awkwardly, blushing, and nervously tipping side to side.
"Ah… Hatsuharu-san… I'm wondering if you know… Souma-kun said something odd to me this morning," she said suddenly.
"Raise your chin," Haru commanded and Tohru obliged, feeling a loose, lacy fabric wrap around her neck. To her question, he asked in return, "What did he say?"
"He said… that he and Kyo-kun fight over me," she said in a hushed voice.
"Excuse me for saying this, but they are both head over heels for you," Haru answered coolly. If her face could have gotten any redder, Haru would have mistaken her for a blindfolded tomato.
"B-b-but why me?! There's absolutely nothing—"
She was interrupted as Haru told her to lift her broken arm. She did so carefully (having taken it out of the sling while undressing), and then continued as Haru dressed her up.
"There's nothing special about me… doesn't Souma-kun have a bunch of girls who like him? And… Kagura-san likes Kyo-kun… and wait, you like Souma-kun, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," said Haru as he buttoned a few things that needed buttoning. "But Tohru, you need to understand that Yuki chooses what Yuki wants and Kyo decides what Kyo wants, too. Kagura would like to, but she knows she can't, make Kyo do as she wants. Even I…" Haru tightened something around Tohru's waist. "Even I know that I may have to give up on Yuki if you choose him."
"Ch-choose? But… I don't like one more than the other! Ah… I… ahh…"
"I'm not telling you to choose now," Haru chuckled. Tohru only sighed in response—but it was broken sigh, the type of sigh you take when your throat is tight from crying. Haru looked up to her face and saw tears creeping out from underneath the blindfold. "T-Tohru?"
"I… I don't want to choose… I love them both… and if I choose one… the other will be sad… and Kagura-san will hate me if I choose Kyo-kun." She touched Haru's arm tenderly. "A-and…"
"If you choose Yuki, I won't mind one bit," Haru comforted her. "I only want Yuki to be happy."
Tohru was silent and choked back a sob.
"I… don't know how I feel about Souma-kun—"
Haru took off the blindfold and carefully wiped her eyes. She smiled weakly.
"Ayame-san will be mad…"
"It's barbaric to make you open your heart like this and keep you blinded. It seems to me that whether you wear a blindfold or not, you can't see what you want to do…"
"… After the day I broke my arm, I was… distant from Souma-kun. Well, I was distant from both of them." She giggled nervously. "I… I was so scared… when I saw Kyo-kun… in that other form of his."
Haru seemed surprised. He hadn't even seen it. But he stayed quiet.
"I wanted to see his face… his smiling face. I wanted to continue living together, happily. Kyo-kun… ahhh… Souma-kun helped me a bit… but afterwards, he seemed to dislike Kyo-kun more… He… he probably saw that I…"
Haru finished for her.
"That you might like Kyo more…"
She answered with a sob and a sad nod of her head.
"At first I thought… that I didn't belong here with them. But this is the only place I belong… I belong with you all… I'd like to think… that Kyo-kun needed me that day."
Haru just listened. Half of him wanted to leap for joy at the fact that Tohru seemed to like Kyo better than Yuki, while the other half wanted to shake her senseless and tell her that Yuki will be crushed and he'll never let her hurt him… though he doubted she would. His thought process more often than not went just like that. Always black and white, never meeting halfway. Never gray.
"Everyone says that I've made Souma-kun change a lot," Tohru went on. "B-but… is this 'changed' Souma-kun the real Souma-kun? Or is he something completely different? Have I made him change for me? … Has he made himself to be something he's not for my sake?"
"Well… he has changed quite a bit. But it's not exactly a bad thing… he smiles more. If anything, you haven't changed him, you've healed him. His dark days are over now that you're in his life. That's something… I could never achieve…"
He sighed and wiped at his own eyes, surprised by his tears.
"I envy you, Tohru. You have Yuki's affections and you have gotten them so easily. I'm jealous but I—"
"Hatsuharu-san!" Tohru choked out, hugging him without thinking. There was a pop and a puff of black and white smoke and Haru was his animal form. Tohru's arm was still around his neck and she was still crying into his coat—although now it was a different kind of coat. Haru was silent as it was very hard to cry as a cow.
Downstairs, Yuki heard the familiar "POOF!" of when one turns into an animal and he headed upstairs. As he entered Tohru's room, he was met with the site of a half-dressed Tohru with her unbroken arm wrapped around the neck of a cow. Both of them looked over at the door opening and Yuki saw the tears that had reddened Tohru's face.
"Honda-san…"
"What did that stupid cow do to you?!" yelled Kyo, who had obviously followed Yuki up.
"Hatsuharu-san did nothing… we…" Tohru tried to explain, but explaining would confess too much. She silenced herself and wiped her eyes.
Ayame pushed through Yuki and Kyo, halting as he saw Haru's form.
"… A cow?"
"… Yes," replied Haru. Ayame concealed his laughter and knelt down next to Tohru. "Ah, Tohru-kun, do you still want to wear that?"
"Ah… sure…"
"Well, Haa-chan, since you are, erm…"
"Shut up, I'll go," said the cow. He followed Yuki and Kyo out of the room as Ayame shooed them. Kyo rushed down the long hall and Yuki walked slowly in back of Haru. When Haru got to the top of the stairs, he stopped and gave a low, "Moo…"
Yuki looked at him and Kyo halted at the bottom of the staircase.
"What's wrong?" Yuki asked.
"I… can't get down the stairs…"
He heard laughter and saw that Shigure was also at the bottom of the stairs, his face bright with laughter.
"You can't get down?!" he asked through his laughter. The cow shook his head side to side. Yuki grinned.
"That's utterly terrible…"
Shigure and Kyo laughed harder and in anger, Haru whacked his head against Yuki's stomach with a loud, aggravated "Moooo!!!" Yuki fell over from the attack, which got Kyo laughing much, much harder. It was a good thing that Tohru's room was at the other end of the long hallway.
"Ow!" yelped Yuki. Haru snorted.
"I don't even have udders, you bastard."
"Well, Haru, I'd like to get downstairs, but I can't unless you moo-ve," the rat teased, holding his stomach. It was then when there was another "POOF!" and Haru was human once again. Naturally, he was naked. Shigure went to the living room to search through Haru's bags for an outfit to give him and Kyo left out of disgust. As they left the immediate area, Haru glared at Yuki.
"What the hell is your problem?" he spat, angry. Yuki sat up.
"I'm sorry, Haru. You… I was just kidding."
((warning for whatever: boy/boy action))
He saw that glint in Haru's eyes—he had gone black. And he was naked. Haru caught Yuki's chin in his fingers and knelt down between his spread legs. Yuki went to push him off but Haru caught his two hands, having to let go of his chin. He brought Yuki's hands together above his head and held them together by the wrists and pushed him down. Yes, it was definitely a good thing that Ayame and Tohru couldn't hear what was going on down the hall. A good thing for Haru, anyway.
"Now you've done it," Haru whispered, brushing his lips across Yuki's ear. Yuki held back something, be it a moan or not, as he felt a hard and hot object rub up against his thigh.
"S…" he began to say but he was silenced as Haru kissed the side of his mouth. Confusion spread across Yuki's face as he felt something warm and wet crash onto his face. Is… Is Haru crying?
Haru then made the mistake of letting Yuki's wrists go to try and feel up his shirt. For a moment, Yuki let him, but then came to his senses and pushed Haru off and to the side, shoving him into a wall.
They heard Shigure start up the stairs so Yuki jumped up and walked away, leaving Haru behind to wipe at his eyes and hide his arousal, pretending—or not—to look bashful. Shigure tossed him some clothes and he dressed himself.
/-/ ((scene is done…))
For a moment, after Haru came downstairs, only silence filled the room that he entered, even though Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure were sitting down inside of it. Finally, Kyo burst.
"Why was she crying?!" he asked. Haru sighed, leaning against a wall.
"Because of you two."
"Us?" asked Yuki, surprised. Haru nodded.
"She was wondering why you two have been fighting so much lately. So I told her that you both loved her."
"You WHAT?!" Kyo yelled, but Haru wasn't about to repeat himself.
"Do you two have any idea what you're doing to her? Do you know that you're tearing her in two? She loves you both and frankly, you're both being very selfish."
The cat and the rat were quiet. He was right. They had been selfish in only thinking about their own feelings and not hers. Neither of them once thought about how they affected her with their squabbling, fights, and competitions over her.
"One day she may end up like me. Two different people contained into one. It's not fun and it's uncontrollable," said Haru. He looked to Kyo. "Fighting over her will get you no where. I figured that you of all people would know very well that Tohru isn't some prize to be won at some martial arts tournament."
Kyo felt his face burning up. He was both embarrassed and ashamed. Haru looked to Yuki.
"And you… getting jealous is also not the way to win her affection. I've learned that from liking you. I'd like to think you would have known it as well. And you've also made her feel like she's changed you into something you're not and that she can't possibly match your standards."
"What? I—"
"Shh," Haru hushed him. He looked back to Kyo. "Kyo, you brighten her day each time you smile, you are, for the most part, considerate of her feelings. The other day when Hatori asked if she was right-handed, only you knew that she was, which tells me that you care enough to know so much about her. You see just how special she is and make sure that she knows it, too."
Kyo smiled lightly, thinking of when she told him that he had an plumin his back that he couldn't see. From that day on, he started to really like her, and made sure to tell her that she had an plum, too.
"You, Yuki," said Haru, "are her prince charming. You are sweet to her and you give her things to make her smile. You're always there to protect her, even if it's from me, Momiji, or Ayame. Or Shigure. You share little secrets and jokes with her… you open up to her and share your precious smile with her and only her. If only others could be so lucky."
He was referring to himself, of course. And oddly enough, Yuki felt his heart tighten. He tried to dismiss the feeling by looking back on the time at the hot springs when he gave her the ribbons to wear in her hair and made her feel like she was a princess. That she was his princess.
"As for Tohru… she's not sure what to think. She loves the way that you both care for her unconditionally. You have to know in your hearts what is best for her."
Silence again fell over the room. Haru said one more thing.
"There were a few other things that she told me, but I have a feeling she'd like to tell you herself."
And then, descending down the stairs, came Tohru, looking the prettiest she ever had in her new dress…
Not too bad, eh? I love Haru. He just seems like the type of guy to do that sort of thing. ::pets him:: And if you're wondering about Tohru's dress… I have NO idea what it looks like. I just sorta… made it… so that… stuff… could… happen. ::silences self::
::unsilences self:: Boysex in the next chapter. Hope you don't mind!!! HAHAHA! ::bows and runs away::