Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Thank you moon-dragon91011, WhiteStarburst, LoudMouth0920 (), Luna-Starr, and Fan 101 for your reviews! It seems to be the general consensus - you all hate Akito. Well, so do I, and I was so mad when Tohru didn't do anything to him. I guess it's how she was, but I had Rayne tear into him like I wanted Tohru to.

Please read if you review! Ideas, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Slight suggestive themes in here with HaruXRayne, so be warned! No lemon, though.

Hatsuharu was probably the sweetest guy I had ever met, on par with Hatori and Yuki. For me, at least. He brought me home without another word, and helped Tohru put me in bed. After Tohru helped me change into pajamas, she left me alone with my thoughts.

"What a great way to spend New Years'," Rayne thought dismally, looking out the window, "Alone sulking."

She turned when she heard a knock on the door, and half-wished it was Haru. She blinked in surprise, however, when Momiji came in and slid the door shut.

"Shigure and Hatori told us what happened," he began hesitantly, "They're telling Haru now. Rayne…I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Momiji," she whispered, avoiding his gaze. Momiji sat on the bed beside, and began to tell her about his mother, and Hatori's lost love.

"Why did you tell me this?" Rayne asked softly, a lump in her throat. Momiji looked at her with tear-glazed eyes.

"So you know that you're not the only one that has pain," he said, "To let you know that we'll be here to help you when the pain gets bad. That's what a family is for."

"Oh, Momiji!" Rayne broke down, and grabbed him in a tight hug. He hugged her back right before he transformed, and remained in her arms in rabbit form as her tears fell onto his coat.

"Don't go up," Yuki told Haru, as the teen jumped up from the floor.

"Why not?"

"Because Momiji is up there with her, and I hear her crying," Shigure said, reminding them that he had extra-sensitive hearing. "They won't want to be disturbed, trust me. She needs someone to cry with, and Momiji's the best one for that right now."

Haru gritted his teeth, but sat back down, balled fists clenching his ankles.

"Rayne?" Tohru whispered the next morning, peering into the room. To her surprise, Rayne was asleep, her arm around Momiji's rabbit form so he wouldn't transform back while she was sleeping. Rayne stirred, and Tohru's eyes widened.

"Oh, Rayne, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you up – I was just checking on you and…"

"Calm down, Tohru," Rayne laughed softly, and glanced down at the rabbit, "I guess I fell asleep before Momiji could leave. I was already waking up."

"Oh, good," Tohru relaxed as Rayne held the rabbit up.

"Hey, Momiji – you've got to get up before you transform," Rayne shook him gently, but he remained limp.

"I'll take 'em," Kyo said, suddenly striding in and grabbing Momiji. Just as he had gotten Momiji out, there was a "poof", and smoke filled the room. Tohru giggled, as Rayne shook her head.

"Happy New Years'," Tohru remembered, and handed Rayne a bowl. "Some soba noodles I made for you last night. You can eat them now, if you want to."

"Sounds good – I'm starving," she nodded, her appetite coming back with a vengeance.

"How're you doing?" Haru asked her, as Tohru helped her down the stairs. He caught her elbow, and she sat down on the porch ledge.

"I'm okay," she nodded.

"Shigure's in there with Hatori looking up that ritual or whatever it is," Kyo told them, nodding his head toward Shigure's study. "They think there's something more to it, but they can't remember."

"How lucky – you guys know all about curses," Rayne said dryly.

"Well, we are under a curse," Yuki shrugged, "And Shigure is a novelist. He studied the many curses and similar things for years."

"Hatori said you can keep the wheelchair, so you're not stuck here all the time," Haru told, but Rayne shook her head.

"I'd much rather be stuck here than risk running into my mother," she reminded them, "Speaking of which, has anyone talked to her recently?"

"Just to say that you'll be staying here for a while," Tohru thought, "I think Shigure told her. And there's something else, but I can't remember…"

"Oh, shit," Rayne breathed, looking down the walk. Striding toward the house was her mother, looking determined as hell.

"I'll go get Shigure and Hatori!" Tohru jumped up, and ran inside the house. The remaining Sohma boys, including the recently-appeared Momiji, gathered around her protectively. Rayne leaned back, Haru's arm around her shoulders.

"Hi, mom," she said weakly, and her mother stopped several feet from her. She looked from Rayne to Kyo, to Yuki, to Haru, to Momiji, and back to Rayne.

"So, this is where you've been sleeping around, has it?" her mother asked nastily, and looked at Haru in particular, "I do hope my daughter's been to your satisfaction, Mr. Sohma."

Haru began to jump up, but Rayne held him back, while Yuki subdued quick-tempered Kyo.

"I take it this is Mrs. Helton that we have the pleasure to entertain," Shigure said primly, Hatori and Tohru behind him.

"That's right," she nodded sharply, "I've come to take my daughter back. And if not, to receive payment of the services she has rendered, I'm sure."

Rayne flushed a deep red, but Shigure stepped in smoothly.

"I assure you, your daughter is of the highest class, and has aided us greatly in her cooking and company," he told Mrs. Helton. Rayne stared at him for the blatant lie – she couldn't cook to save her life, and her mother said so, sniffing.

"Even so, it isn't proper for her to stay at a house full of men – even with another female," she continued, "No offense, Mr. Sohma."

"Oh, none taken," he said cheerily, "But I'm afraid that we can't let Rayne leave. You see, Dr. Sohma has just told me that she shouldn't be allowed to move more than a few feet at a time, due to her injuries."

"And if anyone should be demanded payment, it's us," Hatori added suddenly, "For medication, food, and lodging, you see."

Mrs. Helton stared at the group furiously, before turning back to Rayne again.

"Rayne, you get off your ass right now and come with me," she snapped.

"I can't, mom," Rayne replied, trying to stay calm, "I can't move my legs. So, can you just go away? I'm fine with the Sohmas – they've been taking good care of me."

"I would say it's the other way around," she sneered, before spinning around and beginning to stalk down the road. She stopped suddenly when a glop of mud hit her squarely on the back of the neck.

Looking around, the group saw Kyo sitting on the roof and cheering, another missile ready and waiting. Without another word, Mrs. Helton took off.

"Bitch," Haru muttered, as Rayne sighed. Kyo slid down, fully expecting another lecture from Shigure – or Hatori – or both, but to his surprise they started laughing.

"Um…did you guys take some of Hatori's meds, or what?" Kyo asked, as the teens stared at the two adults in amazement.

"Ah..that was priceless," Shigure said, wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes, "I will never forget that image."

"I won't either," Hatori agreed, calming down. Glancing at the nervous teenagers, he shook his head, resuming his usual manner. "Kyo, I hope you understand that you're not supposed to throw things at strangers."

"Yeah, kinda," he muttered, staring at the ground. He looked up when no further comment was made, and the two adults strode off.

"That was…bizarre," Yuki commented, and they nodded feverishly.

"Can you imagine if Ayame had been here?" Momiji grinned, "I can only picture what he would have done."

"Can we go for a walk, Haru?" Rayne asked quietly, as the others began to crack up again.

"Sure," he nodded, and helped her to the wheelchair.

"Where're you two heading off to?" Kyo asked, noticing them sneaking off.

"For some fresh air," Rayne replied, "We'll be back soon."

"We'll tell Shigure for you," Yuki offered, and Haru cast a grateful glance at his friend.

"So, what's up?" he asked, as he pushed her down a forest path.

"I just wanted some quiet, that's all," Rayne shrugged, "Hey, isn't there a pond nearby?"

"Yeah," Haru nodded, "But I can't get the chair though the forest. There isn't a path directly to, unfortunately."

"Oh," she fell silent, and Haru formed a plan with sudden determination.

"I'll carry you again," he announced, stopping his stride.

"Um…Haru? Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked, glancing at him as he prepared to pick her up. "What if you transform?"

"I won't. And besides, you could just ride me back," he said confidently, and Rayne giggled. Realizing what he had said, he flushed slightly, but swung her up. She grabbed his neck loosely, and then tightened her grip as he strode through the forest.

"Well, here it is," he announced, stopping at the bank. "It's not anywhere as big as the one in the hot springs, but it's still nice to look at."

"It's beautiful," Rayne sighed, gazing at the shining waters. Haru murmured his agreement, his gaze staring at something other than the water. After a few moments, Rayne shifted in his arms.

"Can you let me lean on you?" she asked, "I'd like to stand for a few minutes, if you don't mind."

"Of course not," Haru shook his head, and slid his arms out from underneath her body. Her arms still around his neck, Rayne leaned her head on his chest as she continued to look at the water.

Suddenly, Rayne's legs gave out, and she fell forward onto Haru. He landed heavily on his back, and she ended up squarely on top of him. Wincing, they waited for the transformation.

Rayne opened her eyes in surprise when she still felt Haru's human form beneath her, and looked at him, his eyes mirroring her own confusion.

"Well, I'm certainly not going to complain about not being a cow," he said dimly after a few more moments passed. She blinked in sudden realization where she was laying, and blushed in embarrassment.

"Sorry," she mumbled, rolling off him onto her back. Haru felt a sense of loss when he felt her warmth leave him, and decided to take a risk. As she lay on her back, waiting for him to help her up, he rolled onto his side.

Gazing at her, he traced her jawbone with a finger, propping himself up with his other arm.

"Hatsuharu…" she whispered, in excitement and nervousness. Leaning up slightly, she placed her hand just below his shoulder.

Feeling the pull of her weight on him, Haru quickly bent down, meeting her lips with his. Rayne froze in surprise, and then kissed him back slightly.

He responded hungrily, forcing her head back to the ground. His body was almost completely covering hers when he came to his senses, and pulled back abruptly.

"Rayne…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…" he began thickly, and trailed off when he saw her expression. Instead of one of disgust, or fear, as he had expected, her eyes were glassy, and she was panting heavily with excitement.

He avoided looking at her heaving chest, and placed a hand behind her back, helping her up.

"Haru…" she murmured, "That…you…"

"We better get going," he interrupted, suddenly uncomfortable. "That wasn't what I was planning on doing if I was ever able to touch a girl!" he yelled mentally at himself, "Well, not the first thing, anyway!"

"I can't believe he kissed me…" Rayne thought, still aware of the feeling of Hatsuharu against her. In her memory, their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly. "For a first kiss, that was a doozy," she added, and settled herself when he placed her in the wheelchair.

"It's getting dark," Haru said, as they started off, "Shigure and the others will probably be wondering where we are. If we're lucky, they didn't send Momiji to find us."

"Hey, guys!" Momiji called, running down the path. Haru groaned, and Rayne giggled at his expression.

"Hi, Momiji," she greeted him, as he walked beside her, slightly out of breath.

"Shigure and Hatori sent me to find you," he told them unnecessarily, "Did you show her the lake, Haru?"

"Yeah," he nodded abruptly, but didn't say anything else. Momiji cast curious glances at the pair, and shrugged. "Did you like it?"

"It was amazing," Rayne nodded, "The ocean seems to big to me. I like smaller ponds and lakes, for some reason."

Wow! I wonder what got into Hatsuharu…and into me as well. I wonder what's coming next. I'm learning to love the Sohmas, thought not all of the same as some.