...Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket...
Haru
Chapter Six
Stand Up, Stand Down
Not that Akito wouldn't try of course. Since the very reason he'd abused Kyo in such a fashion was to warn them, and hope they'd stay apart. That didn't work though. So he decided a more direct approach. Invite them both, beat Kyo senseless while explaining to the ox what the problem happened to be.
Haru was incredible nervous, as he knocked on Akito's door, on the afternoon they were summoned, to inform him that they were there. He had this sinking feeling in his stomach, that they were both in some very deep shit, and he squeezed Kyo's hand lightly, as they waited to be let in.
The feline kissed his cheek quickly before Kureno appeared, grim faced at the door to let them in. He was probably going to need to go get Hatori soon... Akito had had his whip out...
Haru's eyes darkened, when he saw that whip, and he held Kyo's hand more tightly, taking a step in front of him, as though hoping to be able to shield him again.
"Ah, ah, ah." The head snickered. "Hatsuharu you know he's in trouble, best let him come take his punishment. Right kitty?"
Kyo just frowned at him.
"No." Haru shook his head urgently. He knew he was going to be in just as much trouble, but he didn't care. He WAS going to protect Kyo, this time. "He still hasn't done anything. D-don't hit him again...please?"
"No, no. The bad kitty needs to learn."
"He's not bad!" Haru repeated, backing up so that he literally WAS shielding him. "It…it's my fault. If you're going to hit someone, hit me, but leave him alone."
"It's no fun to hit you." Akito pouted and raised an eyebrow at Kyo, who by now was contemplating just pushing past Haru and getting this over with.
"Akito-san..." He was all but pleading, now. He just didn't want Kyo to be hurt anymore... "Please don't do this..." His powers were starting to go haywire, in his anxiety, and several things were wobbling, or just moving/exploding all together.
The red head frowned and laid a cool hand on the younger's shoulder.
"Haru, it'll be fine."
"No!" Haru snapped, a bit harsher than he actually needed to, glancing over his shoulder at him. "Not again." He shook his head. There was something weirder than usual going on with him, but he didn't really care.
Akii rolled his eyes. "Come here, cat." He finally just commanded.
"Kyo, no." Haru shook his head, and one of the wobbling objects flew across the room, and smashed into the wall.
"Haru---he---I have to!" The red head stared at him.
"No." Haru repeated, his pupils and irises dilating dramatically. Even more than when he went Black. You could barely see them anymore, and in a few more minutes, you couldn't at all. More objects continued to fly and smash on opposing walls, creating a sort of crossfire.
Akito sighed and got to his feet.
"You're even worse than Hatori... my Juunishi are so ornery..." He complained to himself as he advanced on them.
Haru turned that weird, empty, white stare onto Akito, and one of the items promptly changed direction, sailing past Akito, narrowly missing his face, by inches. The shards of whatever already had been broken rose up from the floor, and formed what appeared to be a giant protective wall, the pointy edges facing toward Akito, so he couldn't come very far.
"You wanted to talk," Haru reminded him, "we're listening. But, it will be over my dead body that you touch him again."
"Alright." Akito hissed. "You are MINE Hatsuharu. Meaning I can't very well share you with something as lowly as the cat."
Haru frowned at him, cocking his head to the side, and apparently watching him carefully. The floaty, patchy glass wall stayed strong and dangerous, as he did so.
"You're not." He replied finally. And, he really considered adding; "Sharing would imply you have some say in it." But, he managed to refrain.
"I own every last one of you. You do what I say." The head frowned deeply. His gaze went momentarily where Kureno was standing warily, trying to get to Akito and not be hit with pottery and such at the same time.
"That's not what I meant, Akito-SAN." Haru stated, turning a sharp, threatening look toward Kureno, as though just daring him to try and move to help Akito. "I never said a word about not belonging to you, I just said you weren't sharing me." He continued to speak, regardless.
"Oh, just shut up and hand the cat over."
"Or, not." Was the only response the head got, other than that wall speeding forward a few inches, before abruptly halting again.
"Oh really, Hatsuharu, just why are you protecting him?" Akito reached out an exploring hand to the little shield, just to see how strong it was.
"Because," The glass wall made another warning, jabbing movement. "I refuse to let you take another person I love away from me." It had happened with Rin, it had happened with Yuki, it WASN'T happening with Kyo, too.
"Oh, you love him? That's disgustingly naïve of you." Akii sneered. "You do seem to pick the most horrible people to fall in love with. First that insubordinate girl, then Yuki, and now this beast."
An odd little growling noise erupted from Haru's throat, and he completely pressed himself against Kyo, possessively, as a couple of the tiny pieces of glass shot forward, sticking precariously out of the wall, but still just warnings. None of them actually made contact.
"He'll still get locked up no matter what, just like the little demon he is." The head smiled. "I'm not the only one who wants it. There's no love for the cat from the rest of the family."
"Get out of here." Haru looked over his shoulder again, at Kyo, still with that same creepy white look, before turning back to Akito. "Not if I have anything to do with it." He finally replied to what Akito had said. He hadn't been able to protect Rin or Yuki...but he'd be damned if he just stood by and let Kyo be locked up for the rest of his life.
"Haru don't just---" the feline mumbled wide eyed. Haru was being scary! No body talked to Akito like this. Besides, he wasn't sure if he could get past Kureno to leave.
"Just. Go." Haru repeated, not bothering to look at him this time, and just continued to watch Akito. "Go now. He won't stop you." He jerked his thumb over at Kureno. This wasn't a question, or a request. He was just stating a fact. He had nothing against the rooster, personally, but if he wanted to get out of this unscathed, he WOULD let Kyo go.
The red head looked balefully at the ox before walking nervously past Kureno and heading out the door. Akito scowled at the ox and wished that shield was out of his way...
Once Kyo was actually out of the room, Haru did let most of it fall back down to the ground, and what he kept up was obviously more offence than defence.
"Now," He took a single step forward, toward Akito and the pretty much carpet of glass, but he didn't care if he cut his feet. Akito would, he was sure. "Leave Kyo alone."
"I'm not scared of you Hatsuharu." Akito stated flatly. "There is no reason I should."
"I'll make you regret teaching me what I'm doing, if you don't." Haru warned, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Do you know how many times Hatori has told me something like that?" Akii dryly. "If you Juunishi could do something, you would have done it already."
"I can actually hurt you, though." Haru pointed out. "Tori-nii can't."
"Well then. Best get to it then." The head's eyes narrowed.
One of the shards of glass floating in the air zoomed past Akito's cheek, and a moment later, a slow stream of blood started dripping down from it.
"Now, do you believe me?" He wondered coolly. "Or, do I have to demonstrate further?"
Akito smeared the blood as he wiped at it with the back of his hand.
"Just what do you think you'll get from him if I let him go? He's a useless creature."
"Liar!" Haru spat, and another splinter of glass shot forward.
Akii reeled slightly but he just returned his cool glare back to the boy. "Don't be stupid. You know I'm right. Unless of course you can name something?"
"He'll be with me!" The ox raged, his energy obvious rising, because his hair was going with it. "That's enough." Two pieces of glass rose up from the floor, to replace the two he'd already thrown.
"You think so?" the head snorted. "Fine then. We'll see. I get him if the two of your break up though."
"Fair enough." Haru agreed sardonically, and his hair lowered back down as he calmed slightly. Though, the glass still stayed in place. "But, I don't plan on that happening--ever."
"Most don't plan on it." Akito raised the sleeve of his robes up to the cuts he sported. "It still happens though."
Haru laughed harshly, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Just to be fair, though. You can't interfere, like you did with Yuki and Rin."
"I think the two of you can manage all on your own.'
"So, you'll stay out of it, and only bother him again if something goes wrong with our relationship?"
"Yes fine. Whatever you say, Hatsuharu." Akii rolled his eyes.
"Thank you for being so co-operative, Akito-san." He smirked, pleased, and with that, he silently turned on his heels, and left the room. The glass fell down to the floor, as soon as the door shut, and Haru set about trying to find Kyo. He still hadn't calmed down enough for his eyes to return to normal, but he didn't really care, or notice, at the moment. He just wanted to find Kyo, and tell him the good news.
The feline hadn't been sure where to go... So had wandered a ways away until he found one of those benches that Akito usually used if his crappy body got to tired while walking around.
Haru grinned at him, pleased to finally find him, and wandered over, sitting down next to him, wordlessly, still smiling.
"What did you do?" Kyo frowned worriedly.
"Not too much, beyond threatening," Haru shrugged, closing his still white eyes, and resting his head on Kyo's shoulder. "He did agree not to do anything else to you, unless something manages to fuck itself over, and we break up."
"He did?" The cat blinked at him in confusion.
"Mmhmm." He nodded, wrapping his arms around Kyo's waist, a small smile still curving his lips. "Promise me that won't happen?"
"I--uh---okay?" The older really hadn't expected that...
"Thank you." Haru turned his head, to kiss the side of Kyo's neck. "I love you." He added breathily, inhumanly pleased that he'd actually been able to do something to help this time.
THE END
Aubreys's crap: I can't say this was my favourite project...but, it was fun. I'm glad we did it. Once again, I would like to thank Ali for helping me write this, Tarja for writing She Is My Sin, and the creators of Carrie for all the wonderful inspiration. I sincerely hope you've enjoyed this, thank you.
Lovingly yours,
AubreysMaster
