A/N: This fic is dedicated to Moroi Mikomi, Tora-chan. This chapter is dedicated to Cassandra, who was my first reviewer! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or the song "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough"; I'm not making any money off this either.

Ratings: PG-13 for language and mild violence…

Genre: Songfic-Romance/Angst

Warnings: Shounen-ai

Main Characters: Ayame, Hatori, Shigure, and Yuki

Additional Notes: Heh…takes place before Tohru comes to live with Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure cuz I forgot all about Tohru and Kyo…and I'm too lazy to change the whole thing now. -

Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough

Chapter Two: Horrors And Discoveries

He was walking, running down an endless road, dead trees flashing by, his golden eyes only catching a glimpse of gnarled branches twisted and distorted into hands reaching out for him. He ran faster. What he was running from was a mystery, even to him, though he knew it was a Horror he was not prepared, or willing, to confront…

The path was becoming more rocky, more uneven and cracked beneath him. Roots shot up between the hard granite and they seemed, like their counterparts on the roadside, to reach for him. Suddenly his foot connected with a small broken log and his face hit the ground, the dirt invading his open mouth and attacking his sensitive nose.

He coughed, spitting out the foul taste and struggling to prop himself up on his elbows.

No… No! I have…to keep running! I can't let it catch me! No!

A sudden inhuman shriek rent the dark air, the sky above seeming to crack with the sound, as tears of long dead stars seemed to rain down on the platinum tresses of his hair. His wide golden eyes looked upward, begging for a release, crying out silently for an end to the madness, the pain.

But this is only the beginning…there is more to come…whispered a rasping voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. A low preternatural growl came from behind him and he twisted, scrambling back as his eyes locked with the Horror.

The beast was the size of a tiger, though it looked only vaguely reminiscent of some quadruped. Its long fangs curved sharply over its lower jaw, the canines like sabers in its gaping mouth. Its forelegs ended in talons, much like that of a falcon or eagle, and were obviously retractable; it stepped forward, its chest rippling with taut muscles as it growled again, the sound coming from deep in its throat. Its tail, some horrid cross between reptilian and mammalian, lashed and whipped back and forth, mirroring a cat preparing to strike.

But, despite its body, the Horror's head seemed…beautiful. Its eyes were slitted and almost feline but distinctly different somehow, more shrouded. They were a deep emerald-jade that flashed in the darkness surrounding the pair, glowing eerily against the backdrop of dead trees and twisted roots. Its head seemed somewhat like a snake's, its dimensions redolent of a wolf's snout and nose, its rust-red scales fading smoothly to the ragged fur that its body possessed.

The Horror advanced and as he watched, two more creatures, one with silver and one with amber eyes, came from the darkness, flanking it on either side. His eyes widened; pure terror surged through his limbs, urging him to move, to flee from the abomination before him. The Horror let out a deep, guttural rumble, almost as though it was…

"Fool!" The Horror's voice sent him reeling as though the creature had physically struck him. "Thy dare to call me the abomination? Look at thyself before thy accuse me of such a word!" The creatures clawed the ground, leaving long, jagged ruts in the hard granite rocks.

"I…dear gods… Stop this!" he cried, scrambling to his feet again. He only made it a few feet before he felt sharp claws imbed themselves deep in the flesh of his legs; he hit the hard rocks again. He cried out as the talons were ripped brutally from his skin, the hot blood flowing out of the holes left behind and pooling under him.

"Thy cringe at thine own face, and yet thy dare to call me an abomination?" demanded the Horror, his voice mercilessly scathing and condemning. "Who are thee to make such assumptions!"

He squeezed his golden eyes shut, his nails digging into the frozen ground. "Onegai… Onegai! Let me go!" The creatures roared in laughter as he lay, shivering, on the ground, circling him now. They passed only close enough to let him taste the living heat of their bodies before darting away; it was torment for his icy skin.

"Thy dare to call us 'abomination'," mocked the Horror, "And yet thy plead for it to end? Weak!" The others roared in agreement. Without warning, the silver-eyed creature rushed on him, its claws tearing at his skin, before returning to its place. He was left bleeding in the center of the triangle they had formed around him, a gaping wound on his left shoulder.

He gasped for breath, pain shooting through his weary limbs as he tried desperately to escape. The golden-eyed creature darted forward next, ripping at his underbelly, gouging a long lesion on his tender stomach, eliciting a scream of pain from his throat. They howled in the pure ecstasy of the torment as they circled him again, taunting him with warmth he could never know.

Finally, he lay there, too exhausted and wretched to even react or scream as the two smaller creatures shredded his body slowly. He closed his eyes against the hell of it all, the agony. "Finish it!" he screamed above their constant howls.

The air was suddenly, terrifyingly empty of sound. He could hear the heavy paws of the Horror as it came to stand inches from where he lay on his back, like a porcelain doll that had been carelessly tossed aside, broken. He could smell the Horror's putrid stench and its breath's thick scent of camellia mingling in the air near his face.

"Do thy truly wish for it to end?" it asked softly.

He shuddered, his breath shallow. "Ha…hai…"

The creature shifted. "Then so be it," the Horror whispered, its breath caressing his cheek like a lover's hand. He revealed in those words that he had so longed to hear, drowning in their finality, and the end of the uncertainty. "I shall give thee thy release…"

Then pain, the torment so complete even his screams could not penetrate it. The creatures converged on his body, ripping at the soft flesh, tearing and slashing it. Blood covered everything as the Horror took his throat in its powerful jaws, breaking his fragile neck with ease. The anguish throbbed unendingly in his mind, pain so intense, he could know nothing else.

No… No! Someone…help me! Onegai! Help…me…

Cold light gleamed cruelly off the Horror's sabers as it pierced his heart. He caught sight of a familiar and comforting face standing just at the edge of the slaughter, midnight-black hair covering one coldly calculating emerald eye. He screamed somehow, through the pain of his broken neck, his crushed throat, pleading for the midnight-haired man to save him, to help him.

The man closed his eyes and turned, disappearing into the eternal darkness surrounding him; his heart shattered as he watched his last, his only, hope vanish.

No…help me…Tori-san…

/\\\

Yuki burst through the door, eyes quickly scanning the room for his silver-haired brother and finding him thrashing, tangled in the sheets, on Shigure's futon. The nezumi went to Ayame's side, frowning as he realized the hebi was still sleeping, caught in the throes of a nightmare.

Sweat beaded on Ayame's pale brow, his mouth twisted in a pain-filled grimace, golden eyes darting beneath their thin eyelids. Yuki watched worriedly as the hebi writhed, twisting the sheets more tightly into a makeshift straightjacket. The nezumi bit his lip, debating whether or not to wake his silver-haired brother, before tentatively reaching out to shake the hebi's shoulder.

Ayame's misted golden eyes snapped open as he jerked violently away from Yuki's hand, startling the nezumi, whose violet eyes widened. The hebi whimpered, curling into himself, his thin frame shaking, silver hair falling across his face. Yuki frowned worriedly. "Nii-san?"

Ayame flinched, a low, soft moan coming from him. Yuki sighed. "Nii-san…it's alright… You're awake, the nightmare's over." The hebi burrowed into the covers, twining them between his thin fingers.

Light played on the hebi's silver hair as Yuki brushed it gently away from his brother's face. Ayame looked up slowly into the nezumi's face. "Yu…ki…?" he whispered, his trembling voice barely audible. Yuki smiled slightly.

Before the nezumi could prepare himself, Ayame had latched onto him, clinging to him, his face buried in the front of Yuki's school uniform, as he sobbed. Yuki blinked dazedly before carefully enveloping the hebi in a loose embrace. He reassuringly stroked his brother's platinum hair, whispering comforting words to soothe the hebi as best he could.

Ayame took a shuddering breath and went still in Yuki's arms. The nezumi sighed. "Better?" The hebi nodded almost imperceptibly.

"A…arigatou…otouto," whispered Ayame softly. "Gomen…ne…"

Yuki smiled sympathetically. "It's alright Nii-san," he said. "I understand; Shigure told me what happened. I'm sure everything will turn out right in the end…"

The hebi shivered. "G-Gure…san told you?" he asked quietly.

"It's all right," said Yuki. "I don't care that you feel that way about Hatori. In fact, I think you two would be good together…"

Ayame blinked, looking up at his brother. "Masaka?" he asked. "That's what I thought too…but it seems…it seems…h-he doesn't feel the same…"

Yuki didn't comment, his eyes taking in the sight of his older brother, the one who was never there for him when he had needed him. The nezumi realized he could do the same now but he shook the thought away; he couldn't do that…not after what the hebi had been through… Instead he held his brother closer, hoping he could comfort him.

Thin fingers went lax and Ayame gave himself up to the exhaustion and simply lay in Yuki's arms. His golden eyes closed, tears occasionally slipping past the barrier of his lashes to slide down his cheeks. "It hurts," he whispered softly. "It hurts so much otouto…"

"I'm sure it'll get better Nii-san," reassured Yuki, though he had no idea if this was true. It has to…

The hebi dragged in a ragged breath. "But what…what if it doesn't?" he asked, his voice no more that a wavering whisper, frightened and resigned at the same time.

Yuki opened his mouth to answer but was saved the trouble. "Then you'll get through it Aaya." Ayame opened his eyes half-wide to see Shigure standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb, his arms crossed over his chest, his chocolate eyes soft.

"Gure…san…"

"You're stronger than this Aaya," muttered the inu, coming to crouch next to the brothers. "C'mon now," he said coaxingly. "You have to get up Aaya." Ayame buried his face in the nezumi's shirtfront, shaking his head.

Yuki sighed. "Shigure," he whispered, "does he have to? Can't we let him rest a little longer?"

The inu shook his head, eyes serious. "Iie, he has to get up now," he said. "If not, he'll brood all day and it'll only get worse for him…like Kisa."

Yuki blinked, stroking his brother's long hair absently. He sighed. "Of course; you're right. C'mon Nii-san."

Ayame whimpered as Yuki gently pushed him away, disentangling himself from the hebi's grip. Shigure calmly took hold of Ayame's upper arm and carefully made the silver-haired man get to his feet before taking in Ayame's disheveled appearance.

The silver hair was ragged and dirty, his cheeks stained from crying for twelve hours straight, his golden eyes were puffy and bloodshot. The hebi's kimono was unkempt and wrinkled, hanging limply from his thin frame, one sleeve slipping down to reveal a pale white shoulder trembling in spite of the warmth in the house. Shigure shook his head again.

"C'mon Aaya, I'll heat the bath for you; you can borrow some of my clothes for now," he said as the hebi looked away, another tear slipping down his cheek. "Yuki, you help him…and you wouldn't mind staying home from school for today, would you?"

"Iie, it's alright," reassured the nezumi, getting to his feet. "I'd rather stay home today anyway…"

Ayame shook his head, brushing his tangled hair out of his eyes. "Otouto…"

Yuki glanced at the hebi, silencing his weak objection with his determined look. "He's right Nii-san," he said. "Now let's find you something of Shigure's that's not too offending…"

Ayame somehow managed a weak ghost-smile and nodded tiredly, following Yuki to the inu's large walk-in closet. Shigure sighed quietly to himself, leaving to make his way to the furo at the end of the hall. As he filled the tub, his mind was on autopilot.

Damn this… I hate to do this to Aaya…he thought with a heavy sigh. I love the guy, but I know if he just stays there and does nothing, it'll be worse for him in the long run… Shigure wiped his hands off on a hand towel and closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the bath take the edge off the chill of the outside. He can't wallow or he'll make himself sick and then we'd have no choice but to force him to see Hatori and that…that would just kill him…

/\\\

Hatori closed his eyes; he moved his arm, flinging it across the back of the couch he was laying on haphazardly, its rough corduroy-like texture digging into his back, his cheek, leaving red marks in testament to the fact that he'd been there for hours, staring at space. Ayame…why didn't I see it before? He only listened to me…gods, was I really that blind? Oh Ayame…forgive me…

A frustrated groan boiled out of the ryuu's mouth and he rolled off the couch and to his feet, his legs wobbling slightly from disuse. Once he had his balance well enough to walk with some semblance, Hatori crossed the room to the little end table by the wall that held the black phone. He picked up the phone in his hand, staring at it as though it would bite him if he put it to his ear. He shook his head and dialed Shigure's number in record time.

The phone rang five times before someone picked up.

"Moshi-moshi, this is Sohma Yuki," said the voice, obviously the nezumi. "Who is this?"

Hatori took a breath. "Yuki," he said, trying to keep his voice from cracking after not having used it since Shigure's visit that morning. "Onegai, I need to talk to Ayame; onegai."

There was a pause in which the ryuu waited anxiously. "Iie," hissed the nezumi heatedly, ice in his voice; Hatori had never heard the boy sound so cold. "Stay the hell away from my brother Hatori; gods, I can't believe you even had the audacity to call asking for him."

"Yuki, onegai," repeated Hatori pathetically; he already knew it was futile but was too stubborn to give up yet.

"Iie, you bastard, you're the one that decided to toss him aside," snarled Yuki. "Now you want him back just so you can break him? Like hell! Go shove the stethoscope that's up you ass down your throat and choke on it. Do us all a favor. And I hope you rot in hell afterwards."

There was a click and a dial tone; Hatori was left staring at the phone in shock. Even Yuki was defending Ayame… How badly did I hurt him, wondered the ryuu dazedly, putting the phone back on the cradle and shaking his head, eyes still wide from Yuki's caustic accusation. He shook his head; he had to talk to the hebi somehow, he had to make this right again…

"…I want you to be two thousand times happier…than you would be with Kana-kun!"

Why didn't I see it before? I owe him so much…at least a chance…

He went to the door, grabbing his coat as he did, and left, slamming the door behind him. Snow still covered the cold ground from yesterday's snowfall and Hatori worried immediately about Ayame's health, the hebi having walked to Shigure's in the storm.

"Ha'ri?" Hatori turned and saw Momiji's face gazing steadily down at him from the wall, intelligent mahogany eyes curious. "Where are you going?"

The ryuu looked carefully away from the blonde. "To Shigure's; I need to talk to Ayame…"

"You hurt him, didn't you?" The ryuu looked back, surprise clear on his face, emerald eyes wide. Momiji snorted. "What? Didn't you know he loved you? Gods, Akito really did blind you, didn't he? Du torttel!"

"You…you knew Momiji?" asked Hatori, ignoring the usagi's insult.

Momiji rolled his eyes, swinging his legs back and forth on the high wall of the Sohma estate. "Of course; almost everyone does. Poor Aya, I can't believe you didn't know."

Hatori sighed. "Aa…neither can I. I have to make it up to him…somehow…"

The usagi snorted, putting a hand behind his head and the obnoxiously bright blue sailor cap perched atop it. "You'd better; after all, Aya'd do anything for you…"

Emerald eyes looked away, shame and pain boded in their yawning depths, as Hatori walked away without a word, pulling his coat tighter around his body as he left the estate. Momiji watched the ryuu leave, a sense that something would change, for better or worse; nothing would be the same when the ryuu returned…either Ayame's life would be in shambles, the venerated and notorious friendship truncated, or it would be a new kind of bliss…only time would tell… Only time would tell…

/\\\

A/N: Hmm... I think this one's shorter... But to tell the truth, when I started this, it was supposed to be a one-shot... Guess that's a bit off now, huh? Oh well. As long as you guys like it!

To my reviewers:

Cassandra- Uh...Thank you so much! My first reveiwer! Yay! Keep reading...and I know you'll like the next chappie!

Shigure Sohma- Ah! Don't kick my butt! I like my butt! My butt does not like to be kicked! But yeah, I hope you liked this chapter! And keep reading...please?

Black Angel of Desturction- Nice name. And thanks for the review! Hope you like this chapter!

Moroi Mikomi- Hey! Thaks for beta-ing this for me! I hope you enjoy it! Even though you know how it ends!

Glossary:

Camellia- a type of flower that grows in Asia

Hai- yes

Arigatou- it means "thank you". The more formal version is "arigatou gozaimasu"; the most formal is "domo arigatou gozaimasu".

Masaka- normally translated as "really!". In this case it would be a more subdued "really?"

Iie- is a more formal version of "no".

Furo- traditional Japanese bath (it's in a separate room from the toilet)

Moshi-moshi- means "hello", but only on the telephone

Sohma Yuki- I should probably mention name order; in English/America, this name would be said "Yuki Sohma". In Japan, the surname comes before the first name.

Du torttel- All right; yes, this is German. But there's a good reason for it! Sohma Momiji is half German and half Japanese in the manga (Japanese comic book) and randomly talks in German sometimes. "Du torttel", if I remember correctly, means, "you jerk" in German.

Usagi- rabbit, hare