Thanks for 50 reviews...and over! I never thought this would be so popular! thank you all!

Hello hello everyone! That chapter took a little longer than expected...blame it all on "The Half-Blood Prince"...I borrowed it from a friend a few days ago and I haven't been able to put it down! ha ha! Well...this chapter is interesting...Ayame really lives up to his role as "drama king" (if he was a girl, I'd say he has PMS...well...you never know with him.) I didn't mean for him to get so moody, but he kind-of took on a life of his own. Anyways, in this story so far I've had a little confusion, sometimes calling Ritsu "Monkey-chan" and sometimes "Monkey-kun"...to be honest, I don't really know the difference. Does anyone else know?

"I'm in love with you." Ignoring the astounded look on his companion's face, Ayame closed the gap between them, sighing as his lips brushed against the monkey's mouth. At the contact, his pulse quickened unexpectedly, his entire body delighting in the pleasurable sensation. Licking softly at the other man's flesh, he focused all his energy on wordlessly conveying the truth in his statement, wrapping his arm around Ritsu to confirm his sincerity. "Please believe me."

Feeling the other man's lips on his own, Ritsu gasped, falling limp as a deep blush spread across his features. "Ayame-san?" He managed to produce a feeble whisper. His body trembled in the snake's embrace, cold sweat gathering on his brow as he struggled to catch his breath. But, unlike the kiss in the restaurant, he did not pull away.

Regretfully releasing his hold on the redhead, the silver-haired man drew backwards slightly so as to meet Ritsu's bewildered stare. He watched the other man's eyes as they widened to become two orbs, glowing with both hope and embarrassment. 'Oh Ritchan, please believe me. I need to be near you. You are so perfect to me, and I long to get to know you better. Please let me.' Offering a reassuring smile, he smoothed a hand down Ritsu's cheek. "But surely you've known all along!"

Ritsu's face flushed as he hid his head in the blankets. "I, I, I, no, Ayame-san, I don't think, I mean, I'm so sorry!" He bit his lip, gasping as a new batch of tears brimmed under his eyelashes. "But, but, I just don't see why. You hardly know me, I mean, I, well, you must not know how dumb I am." His expression was that of turmoil as he appeared to be racking his brain for something to disprove Ayame's words. "I, well, I annoy you! I'm worthless, and I mess up everything! Why would you-?"

"Sweet Ritchan, don't criticize yourself like that!" Correcting his cousin, he brought a slender finger to Ritsu's lips in order to stop the cries. "I'm certain you already knew that I had fallen madly in love with you. Oh yes, it must be so obvious! Well, I've always believed that the best way to deal with emotions is to show them, and I know that I haven't hidden any of my feelings from you," he spoke loudly, trying to soothe Ritsu's apprehension with his emphatic tone. "Of course," exaggerating a frown, he dropped his voice to match his pout, "I will be simply heart-broken if you refuse me."

"W, w, why?" The redhead stammered, failing to mask his doubts as he chanced a curious glance in the snake's direction. "Why do you like me? I haven't done anything for you. I only make mistakes when I'm with you. You should hate me."

"No, no, no," as Ayame shook his head in objection, his silver locks flew from side to side. "You should never ask someone to explain their love. Love is spontaneous, and it is certainly not about what one person has done for the other. It's unexplainably automatic, but powerful nonetheless," reciting his reply as if it were a monologue in a play, he swept his arms towards the other man with a laugh. "That day you visited my shop I was instantly smitten with you. At first I longed only to gain your forgiveness, but soon I found myself wanting much more." He winked, taking the younger boy's hand in his own. "I believe that you are in love with me, as well. Won't you confirm my deepest desires?"

"Oh, I, um," Quivering, the monkey shut his eyes, chewing on his lip as he processed the other man's words. "I can't believe it, I mean, well, you deserve so much better, but I," stopping to take a breath, he turned away from the snake, "is it OK if I tell you the truth? It won't bother you?"

'The truth will bother me?' Ayame felt his stomach clench as he rested a hand on the other man's shoulder. 'No, no! Did I misread him? Impossible! I know I've glimpsed love in his eyes. I've noted all the times he's fallen limp into my caresses. I simply could not be wrong about such a thing! After all, romance is my specialty! But,' he sighed, offering a strained smile, 'even so, if I have made a mistake, I might lose him.' Forcing his voice to steady, he maintained his cheerful façade. "Oh, dear Ritchan! How many times do I have to tell you that I want you to be honest with me? I would never get angry at you for telling the truth!"

"I know, Ayame-san. I'm sorry!" The monkey continued, his voice growing increasingly meek. "I was just so scared and I, I just couldn't believe it, I mean, I wanted this, but," his body trembled with nervousness as he turned his gaze to the heap of blankets at his feet. "I've, well, you know, kind-of liked you for a long time." His hands flew to his face as his cheeks brightened. "I mean, I'm sorry for talking about it! I know you were probably just joking! I shouldn't have troubled you like this! I'm so sorry!" He collapsed in a teary heap, burying his head in the pillow. "I'm so sorry for everything!"

The snake's heart danced in his chest, excitement racing through his veins. "Ritsu, that's wonderful news! No need to apologize!" Nearly lunging onto the bed in his eagerness, Ayame pulled his cousin into a choking hug. "How fabulous! We will make the best couple, of course. I mean, with my charm and your kindness, we compliment each other perfectly! We couldn't help but fall in love!" His laughter rang through the silent room as his smile brightened. "And with you coming to live with me, everything will be just perfect!"

After giggling nervously, Ritsu's tone became increasingly serious. "Thank you, Ayame-san. I, I," he brushed a tear from his eyes, meeting the other man's stare with gratefulness. "I always imagined I would have to live alone. I thought, well, I thought that no one could ever care about me. I thought I, well, that I could die," his voice cracked as he struggled to find his words, "and no one would even notice. But now, I, I'm," his lips spread into a soft smile, "so happy. Thank you, Ayame-san."

"Oh, Ritchan!" Ayame's heart melted at the monkey's honesty. Ritsu trusted him now, he was seeing the truth about himself, and he was offering the older Sohma a part of his life. And he became even more beautiful with every passing second. Reaching for the redhead's hand, he sighed emphatically. "Ritsu, will you do me the honor of being my boyfriend?"

"Of course, I mean, if you want me to, Ayame-san," Ritsu bowed his head slightly, shielding his blushing face. "I would like that very much."

The older man brought a finger to his new boyfriend's chin, easing the cross dresser's face closer. He forced Ritsu to meet his gaze, smiling at his delicate features and trembling body. "Don't be nervous, my dearest Ritsu," he whispered silkily, smoothing his other hand through the monkey's tresses. "You know I love you." Winking, he brushed his lips against Ritsu's, reveling in the electricity of their kiss. Sucking on the younger man's bottom lip, he sensed adrenaline as it rushed through his veins, causing his mind to slip into dazed pleasure. "I love you." He sighed into the kiss, nearly exploding with glee as he felt the shy man starting to respond. "My Ritchan."

Behind Ayame, someone cleared his throat, bringing the two men back to reality. "I need to reassess Ritsu's condition," Hatori kept a business-like demeanor as he approached the bed. "I'll need you to step outside, Aaya."

Releasing his hold on the redhead, Ayame whirled around. "Oh, Ha'ri! Don't be silly! My little Monkey-chan doesn't care if I stay in the room!" He turned his attention back to the younger Sohma, flashing a sparkling grin. "Right, sweet Ritchan?"

"I, um, well," Ritsu breathing was jagged and frantic as he shivered under the doctor's stoic stare. "N, n, no, Ayame-san. Of course not, I-."

"You need to leave," the seahorse repeated himself, apparently frustrated by Ayame's failure to obey. "I'll speak with you when I am finished."

Heaving an annoyed groan, the snake strutted toward the door. "Lighten up, Hatori-san!" He insisted, rolling his eyes as he ignored the other man's disapproving stare. He cast his gaze on the bed once more, brightening swiftly as he remembered his new relationship. "Farewell, lovely Ritchan! I will miss you every second we are apart!" With a dramatic wave, he sashayed into the darkened hallway. "A tout à l'heure!"

Leaning against the stark wall of Hatori's office, Ayame heaved an impatient sigh. 'Oh, Ha'ri! Always so concerned with your business! What on earth could be taking so long?' He laughed slightly as he remembered the stone-like expression that his friend wore after breaking up the kiss. 'He didn't even look surprised! I guess it takes a lot to startle him!'

At the thought of the kiss, he brightened. Pacing, he exaggerated each step, swaying from side to side in a fancy display of footwork. 'Ah, finally, Ritchan is mine!' He touched a finger to his lips in remembrance of the joyful sensation. 'Finally we can be together! Finally I'll show him my love.'

"Aaya?" A knock at the door shook the snake from his daydreams. Sliding the screen sideways, the seahorse emerged from the shadows with a grim look in his eyes. Nodding to his cousin, he led the snake out onto the porch, extracting a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it at his lips. "How long have you been with Ritsu?" His voice remained emotionless.

"Oh!" Misunderstanding his friend's concern for innocent curiosity, the silver-haired man launched into a vivid tale. "Isn't it fabulous? Actually, he and I became 'official' tonight, but we've had a few dates before. Well, you remember the play, I trust? I also took him out to eat at the steakhouse, but that didn't go as well as intended. You know how Ritchan can be sometimes," winking, Ayame flipped his hair over his shoulder before continuing. "But tonight I finally had the chance to talk to him about it! I'm so excited! We're the perfect match! It's just perfect, isn't it, Ha'ri?"

"Aaya," meeting his friend's laughter with a frigid stare, the doctor shook his head, "I don't want you dating him."

'What?' Taken aback by Hatori's command, the snake's eyes narrowed suspiciously. 'Why would he care? Unless-?' He chuckled, touching the other man's shoulder in a teasing gesture. "Oh, Ha'ri! No need to be jealous!" He floated majestically to the edge of the wooden flooring, swinging his legs out over the gravel garden below. "You know you'll always hold a special place in my heart! But," sighing, he gave the other man a pointed smile, "when things don't work out, sometimes it's best to move on."

"Aaya," the doctor's face showed only a hint of his obvious frustration. "You know that's not what I mean. Ritsu is fragile. You should know that by now. Making him a part of your little game is a real threat to his safety."

"My little," Ayame sputtered, looking scandalized, "game?" He clamped one long-fingered hand over his chest, using the other to reach for the doctor's arm. "How could you ever say such a thing? Me, playing games with poor little Ritchan? I thought you knew me better than that!"

"I'm warning you because I know you, Aaya," Hatori subtly moved away from the other man's touch. "I know how you think. This might be a game for you, but to Ritsu, it certainly is not. You make a habit of using people for your own pleasure or glory, and when you're bored, you throw them away. You can't do that with him. It will damage his life more than you could ever understand."

Ayame felt anger flare up in his veins. He accepted that he had been selfish in the past, but to hear his friend jumping to conclusions about his feelings for the monkey infuriated him. "Who are you to tell me what I feel for Ritsu?" The snake even surprised himself with the accusations he hurled at his long-time idol. "You always ignored me, Ha'ri! I always tried to show you why I acted as I did, but you couldn't even give me the time of day. I wanted to share my heart with you, but you just brushed me aside as if I were just a nuisance to you." Stamping his foot like a spoiled child, he hurriedly brushed the tears from his eyes, overcome by a wave of long-suppressed grievances. "You were always so kind to those around you, but not to me. Why, Hatori? Was I really that terrible?"

"I couldn't let you use me. I knew what you wanted from me, and no amount of kindness was going to make me give it up to you," the seahorse remained calm, his emotionless words forming a sharp contrast to his companion's impassioned speech. "I'm not like you, Aaya."

"You could have at least told me!" Ayame collapsed in a dramatic sob. "Instead I spent years following you around, making a fool of myself and clinging to some false hope that you were only being coy with me. I admired you so much, Ha'ri. I didn't want to use you. I, I," he sniffed, trying to catch his breath. "I loved you. But you were not brave enough to tell me, so you led me on, fueling my hopes and making me feel like even more of a fool when Kana came and I finally figured it out. Why didn't you tell me the truth the first time I explained my love for you?" He shook his finger reproachfully at his cousin. "Why couldn't you tell me that the feelings weren't mutual?"

"I'm telling you now," Hatori responded simply. "I never loved you."

Pain stabbed at the silver-haired man's heart, but he brushed it away, nodding to the doctor in appreciation. "That's all I needed to know," he managed to regain some level of composure as he rose to his feet, although his voice remained slightly diminished. "But now I must return to my dearest little Ritchan." Sweeping his arm through the air, he caused the veil of cigarette smoke around Hatori's head to swirl. "Sorry I could not have stayed longer," he added in what seemed to be a tone of fabricated politeness, although it came off as being little better than sarcasm.

"Ayame," the black-haired man warned, stopping his cousin with his stern words. "I think that Ritsu has seen enough visitors tonight. It's best that you return home."

Whirling around with flaming eyes, the snake stared at the other man. "Who are you to decide who I should love now? You led me on for ten years, but you call me the deceptive one? I love Ritchan, though it seems you would never understand," heaving an exasperated sigh, he headed to the door. "Oh, by the way," he instantly shed his rage, replacing it with a sly smile. "My Monkey-chan will be joining my at my apartment starting this weekend. If you want to keep Akito happy, I suggest you talk to him about it, because I don't intend to ask anyone else for their opinions on our relationship."

Strutting down the hall with confidence, the snake did not wait to hear the doctor's response. He was still astounded by his encounter with the other man, incredulous at the seahorse's alien insensitivity as well as his own loss of veneration for the reserved man. 'He never cared about me? I must be the only person to whom he's ever showed such indifference,' sighing, he searched vaguely for his boyfriend's room. 'But I really don't care anymore. Who was he to accuse me of playing with Ritsu's heart? I know I've done some selfish things, but I'm trying to change! He doesn't even try to understand that! And I love Ritchan! I love him more than Hatori, or anyone else, for that matter. I-.'

His thoughts were interrupted as he took note of Ritsu's door in front of him. His heart quickened instantly, his fingers flying to the door handle in anticipation. Resisting his desire to burst into the room and make a histrionic entrance, he instead slipped through the door and towards the bed with a hopeful look in his eyes. 'He's asleep,' he realized at once, grateful that he had used some caution when crossing the threshold into the darkened space. Sighing, he approached the dozing form. 'He looks so peaceful. Perhaps he's dreaming of me?'

Lowering himself gracefully onto the nearby chair, he took one of the monkey's clammy hands in his own, feeling his chest warm as he used his free fingers to massage the man's red tresses. 'And so beautiful.' He leaned forward, planting a light kiss on his boyfriend's brow. 'It doesn't matter what Hatori thinks anymore. I'm changing, and I'm doing it for you, my sweet Ritchan. I'm starting over, just to show you how much I care about you.'

Looking to the window, Ayame smiled as he watched the sun's first rays creeping between the trees of the Sohma estate. Squeezing the redhead's fingers affectionately, he felt his heart lighten at the sight before him. Outside, on a nearby cherry tree, a single blossom was opening. The first sign of a new spring. 'I'm starting over, because I love you.'

Francais avec Ayame #9...or something

a tout a l'heure- bye bye or "toot-a-loo"

Next chapter...Ritsu moves to Ayame's apartment.

Oh, by the way, Slow Motion Runner, I totally agree with you on cutting as an overused method of suicide in fan fiction. I think people like it because it's such a romantic notion...it's painful, messy, and dramatic. But I knew that wasn't the thing for Ritsu, and I knew I didn't want to look like I was copying other authors. So I thought about it for a long time, and decided that overdose suited him best. Yep, it is a morbid thing to mull over while writing, isn't it?