Disclaimer: I do not own Fruit Basket.

The favourite part of every New Year Reunion. Red packets! Loads of cash. Lovingly wrapped by our elders with wishes of health and success...

Er, we found the white rat. Don't tell the Matriarch she's sitting on it until AFTER she distributes the red packets.

8. Confession

Kagura's ankle was really swollen. On hearing his master was in the house, Kyo went to get him to take a look at Kagura's injury. Naturally, he left via the broken shoji to avoid being seen by the other relatives.

Hatori was still woozy from the vodka. He was taking a cup of hot tea to clear his head. He was angry at the two fools who set him up. He will be angrier when Shigure gets the photos of him in the new robes developed later.

"Rin, like I said, you can tell me…" Haru took her hand firmly as they returned with the towels. He could see she was nervous, and frightened. Since Akito's accident, she wanted to tell him but something held her back. Was she afraid of being discovered, overheard…

Earlier, she had spent an uneasy hour in the room with him without speaking, without daring to look him in the eye and always on the verge of running.

She went to clean the mess in the alcove room. Haru followed. "Rin, you shouldn't bend like that in your dress. Everything's showing…" Haru could see her shapely long legs in their black stockings. Her hair was black as was the dress she wore today. Only the silver choker she wore gave her some color. Haru sighed. They were both so alike.

He shut the door quietly behind him. "Rin, whatever happens… I'll be there for you…" Rin stood up to face him. She raised her hand as if to strike him. Then she let it fall to her side. She sighed. They were alone again.

"Yes, I think we better sort things out…" She sounded unsure. Haru saw a piece of card on the floor.

"Rin, please lend me your lipstick…"

Hiro was very surprised to see a hand reach out from behind the door to put a sign in front of the alcove room. The words were spelt out in Rin's black lipstick.

DO NOT DISTURB OR ELSE

--BLACK HARU

Hiro sweatdropped as both Haru and Rin's voices sounded from within the room. They sounded very emotional. His pre-teen boy's imagination went into hyper-drive. Ack! What am I thinking? He shook his head to clear it… Kisa giggled at his action.

"You ruined my lipstick!"

"I'll buy you a new one." Rin gasped as Haru actually hugged her. She didn't fight him. "Haru…" The Ox continued.

"Rin, why did you lie? Akito told me…" She was so warm in his arms.

"I don't want you to get hurt, Haru! You know Hatori's injury…" He was always so gentle and thoughtful. That was Haru…

"Dammit!" Haru cursed. "Akito can do what he wants to me… I just don't want you to go, Rin. You, leaving me. That's what really hurts… It kills me…" Oh Haru… Rin cried. It hurts me too. So much… Haru was kissing her tears away with his warm lips. She felt the brush of his hair, white and black. Soon they were kneeling on the still soiled tatami.

"Rin, say it… say it now…" She really shouldn't have let him get so far… His tone was insistent. A little like Black Haru… Dangerous… How could she deny him the truth?

"Haru, I love you," she returned his kisses with equal passion. If only we can leave here…

Having cleaned Akito's cushion, Kureno blissfully ignored the sign and pushed open the shoji at this point. He stepped inside. Carp! The young couple froze. "Haru!" Rin chided him. She was blushing. The Ox still had his head buried in her tresses. Kureno replaced the cushion in a corner of the room. Will Kureno report them to Akito?

"Rin, my earring's caught in your hair…" Haru sounded very embarrassed. Maybe he was blushing as fiercely as her. "Kureno…"

"I didn't see anything," the Rooster pulled up the stained mats. "The stain will soak through if you let them sit…" He left and shut the door behind him. They wouldn't be the first couple to put that room to creative use… Kureno smiled as he strolled off. Haru finally managed to disentangle his earring. Both he and Rin now looked at the closed door.

"Think he'll tell?" Rin was afraid. She gripped Haru's arm.

"Nah," Haru tried to reassure her. "He's not that sort of guy…" If he does, Black Haru will beat him up so bad, he'll be bedridden for two months… Maybe Black Haru should put in an appearance in front of Akito, too… They both emerged from the room.

"Kureno," Yuki asked as Kureno returned. "You wouldn't tattle on them, right?" Kureno nodded and replied. "I don't think Akito will care much now he's a little laid up… I just hoped they took the necessary precautions." Yuki almost dropped his chopsticks.

"Precautions?" Tohru was confused. Momiji giggled. He had transformed back.

Ayame caught the blank look on Tohru's face. "You don't know what precautions are, baby brother's girlfriend? Don't they teach that in school? Let me teach you! During intercourse..." Ayame's words were cut off in mid-speech as Yuki threw a plate of rice cakes into his face.

"Shut up, stupid snake!" So much for brotherly love...

Author's notes:

AnimeFreak13: Yeah, Ayame's OOC. For once, he's actually not irking Yuki that much. At least until that last part.

Kureno better watch his step. If Haru thinks he's gonna rat on them... Maybe Kureno isn't as straightlaced as he appears. BTW, nothing much happened between Rin & Haru. Guess Kureno's appearance short-circuited that.

Is there a doc in the house? The Matriarch's juz found out what the lump on her cushion is... Five? DON'T count the pathy and the med school students!