Hello! I finished this chapter fairly quickly! Yay! That's because I'm really working to have this entirely finished before I go off to college next week. ;) But I doubt it will happen. So, anyways, I hear that I'm not allowed to address specific reviewers when answering questions...so, I guess I'll have to keep this general. Some of you seemed to be concerned about Hatori's actions last chapter. I didn't really intend for him to be mean, I just think that because he and Aaya are so different they have trouble understanding each other. I relate better to Ayame, so perhaps I was a little harder on Ha'ri than I should be?

By the way, one of my wonderful reviewers (sorry I can't name you!) explained to me the difference between "chan" and "kun", and I realized it fits perfectly! In my story I had Aaya calling Ritsu "chan" when he dressed as a girl, and "kun" when he dressed as a boy! Ha ha! What a coincidence!

Enjoy and review!

'He should be here soon,' Ayame glanced at the clock, fingering his silk curtains with greedy anticipation. The street below was obscured by rain, and he had to squint to identify each passing figure, hoping to find his new boyfriend among them. Tick. Tick. Tick. The minute hand seemed to be moving impossibly slow, for each time the snake took to watching its movements, he found it in nearly the exact place in which he had seen it before. Tick. Tick. Tick. 'Oh! I simply cannot wait any longer!'

Flying through the kitchen and into his vibrant living room, the silver-haired man began another detailed inspection of his handiwork. Everything was in order; Each piece of furniture seemed to sparkle with the time he had put into polishing it. Moving to the bedroom, he reached to arrange a vase of fresh-cut lilies on his bedside table, delighting in their fragrant aroma. 'I hope my Ritchan likes purple!' He sighed as he fingered the lavender petals. 'He always seems to be wearing it, of course. It compliments his hair perfectly!'

A fire seemed to spark in his veins as a picture of the monkey arose in his mind. 'Oh, Ritsu!' He gasped lightly, brushing an imaginary speck of dust from his pillow as he basked in excitement. 'I can't believe you will be living with me from now on! This is so fabulous! I never dreamed that this would happen between us, but, naturally, I can understand why we were drawn to one another!' Jumping to his feet, he combed a stray lock of hair into his shining braid. 'After all,' he giggled, 'we always were the two most stunning members of the family, not to mention the best-dressed!'

Flouncing down the hall and back to his place at the kitchen table, Ayame smoothed his hands over his velvet coat. 'I want everything to be perfect for you, Monkey-chan!' He slid into his seat, letting the noise of falling raindrops guide his thoughts. Plop. Plop. Plop. The sound of water hitting the roof seemed to coincide with the hammering of his heart, causing his mind to fall into the pulsing rhythm. Sighing dazedly, he barely noticed the clock until it struck seven o'clock.

Slam. 'What was that?' The metallic thud of a car door closing brought the snake back to reality. He rushed to the window, smiling brightly as he made out the shape of a black vehicle parked on the curb outside his building. 'Ritchan?' His stomach leaped in his chest as he saw a familiar woman extracting a box from the open trunk. An older man joined her, producing two bulging suitcases from somewhere behind his seat. Finally, another man emerged, this one clad in a tiny green dress with a matching ribbon laced through his tresses. 'Dear Monkey-chan!'

Grabbing his umbrella and bolting down the stairs and through his shop, Ayame wrenched open the door, hurrying to meet his cousin. "Mon petit ami!" He caught the other man in his arms, enveloping him in a joyful embrace. "I've missed you so dearly!" In his eagerness, he captured the redhead's lips with his own, melting against Ritsu's body as his chest warmed with passion. "It's so wonderful to see you!" He whispered into the kiss.

"Y, y, yes, Ayame-san," the cross dresser offered a blushing grin, shyly responding to his boyfriend's touch. "T, t, thank you so much for letting me come here."

"Oh, it's my pleasure!" He waved his arm majestically, finally remembering the two onlookers standing behind him. "But, of course," he bowed to Ritsu's mother, kissing her lightly on the hand, "thank you for allowing me this time with your son."

Her gaunt eyes widened with fear. "Are you sure it's not a problem, I mean, you don't have to do this. I, I know he can be difficult sometimes. I hope he hasn't imposed himself on you!" The color drained from her cheeks as her breath quickened unexpectedly. "I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I apologize for my son's rudeness!" Panic flashed across her features as she dropped to her knees before the silver-haired man. "I'M SO SORRY!"

Ayame smiled slightly, helping the groveling woman to her feet. "Now, now, look what you're doing to your pretty dress," he dried the muddy water from her garment, pulling her under his umbrella and motioning for Ritsu to join them. "Let's get out of this wretched rain, shall we?" Linking hands with the redhead, he led both mother and son into the doorway of his store. He glanced over his shoulder, focusing on the single person left behind. "And you, sir, must be Ritsu's father?"

"Yes," he replied, casting the snake a cold, appraising stare.

"Oh, fantastic!" The silver-haired man flashed a charming grin, ignoring the other man's unpleasant demeanor. "So pleased to meet you! Why haven't we met before?" Falling forward into another bow, he paused, but continued when the man offered no response. "Well, come, come! Let's not keep them waiting!" He took one of the suitcases from the father, joining up with the others inside his warm apartment.

"Chez Ayame!" The snake threw open his arms, gesturing to the enticing kitchen around them. "Does it please you, sweet Ritchan?"

The redhead looked startled by the question, his mouth falling slightly agape with surprise. "Of course, Ayame-san!" He hurried to compliment his boyfriend. "It's, it's, it's beautiful!" Scanning the room, a content smile played on his features, casting any embarrassment or fear from his voice. "Thank you so much!"

"A beautiful house for a beautiful man!" The snake teased in response, disregarding Ritsu's parents as he draped an arm around the younger man's shoulders. "You certainly will fit in here, mon cher!" Whispering into his companion's ear, he turned to address the others in a louder tone. "Please, please, come in! Make yourselves at home! You can just leave Ritsu's belongings in the corner. Yes, that's right!" Taking the older woman's hand, he guided her and her husband towards the table. "Let me get you something to drink. I make the most splendid tea! But," he winked as she hesitated to take a seat, "I won't make it for just anyone."

"Shitsurei shimasu!" Ritsu's mother shook her head frantically, her sallow face contorting into a look of anxiety. "I'm so sorry, please excuse me, but my husband and I have to be get back to the onsen. I'm so sorry!"

Watching her, Ayame had to suppress his disbelief at the changing appearance of her face. Just like the night in the hospital, her skin appeared pale and etched with worry. Her eyes seemed lifeless as they sunk into their darkened sockets, making her look almost like a rotting skeleton. It seemed as if she had aged a hundred years in an instant. 'I've heard she's been sick. Oh, poor Ritchan will be so distressed if something happens to her,' the silver-haired man realized as he concealed his astonishment with a friendly chuckle. Continuing his bright façade, he pushed the troubling thoughts out of his mind. "Oh, I'm sure you could spare a few minutes! I know that Ritsu would simply cherish the time with you!"

Reaching across the table, Ritsu's father gave the woman's hand a comforting squeeze. "If my wife says we need to go, we will go," he shot his son an accusatory stare, as if he had been the cause of her outburst rather than Ayame. He turned to the snake, faking politeness with a begrudging sigh. "Thank you for your hospitality, and for taking my son into your house."

"Oh," he giggled, "it really is no trouble at all! I'm sure he'll be a magnificent assistant to me in my business," he found the redhead's hand under the table, capturing the clammy fingers with his own, "as well as offering me outstanding companionship."

Ritsu's face lit up with a blush as he studied the floor, attempting to avoid the eyes of the people surrounding him. "I, I, I hope so, Ayame-san."

"Oh, I know so!" The dress designer brushed his braid over his shoulder, rising to his feet dramatically as he eased the mother's chair out from under the table. "Well, if you really must be going, please promise that you will make time to visit us for dinner sometime soon." He led the parents to the door, bowing with a sincere grin. "We would both be so pleased if you would grace us with your company."

Nodding shyly, the onsen woman attempted to accept. "That would be very nice, if it wouldn't be intruding, of course! I wouldn't want to trouble you like that! I think I've already infringed on your hospitality! I'm so sorry!" Returning the bow, she rushed to her son, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. "Please don't bother Ayame-san! Don't forget you manners, and please try to do better at things than you usually do!" Her gaze flew back to the snake. "I'm sorry! I apologize for my son!"

"No need to apologize at all! I love your son!" He gave her an encouraging pat, directing her outside. "I promise to take very good care of him! Don't you worry at all!"

"I, I," looking away, she fell into her husband's comforting embrace.

Ritsu watched them as they left, his eyes filling with obvious worry. "Good-bye, mother! Good-bye, father! I, I, I love you!"

Staring over his shoulder, the older man responded carelessly. "Good-bye," he shrugged, ignoring his son as he helped his wife into the car.

Ayame winced internally as he saw the hurt creep onto his boyfriend's face. He longed to chase after the couple and demand that they give the monkey a more affectionate 'farewell', but he knew inside that forced tenderness would not ease any of the his companion's pain. 'How horrible! No wonder he's so insecure!' Slipping his arm around the other man's waist, he silently consoled his cousin. 'How could they not love such a wonderful person?'

"Well!" The silver-haired man smiled weakly as he tried to break the silence. "How about some of that tea?" Not waiting for any kind of response, he guided the redhead back towards his apartment. "Oh, I'm so excited, sweet Ritchan! I spent all day preparing for your arrival! I hope everything is just perfect for you! Now," he grinned mischievously, sliding his hand up the monkey's back, "I must warn you that the spare room is still being used for my studio, so we will have to share a bed until I finish converting it for you."

"Oh, ah!" The redhead flushed a deep shade of crimson. "That's OK, I mean, don't trouble yourself! I could, I could, well, sleep on the floor. I'm so sorry for imposing on you like this!"

"Nonsense, I will very much love sharing a bedroom with you!" He enjoyed seeing the monkey's blush deepen at his words. "Don't you dare listen to a single thing your mom said to you! You know that I want you here!" Opening his apartment door, he leaned forward, capturing his boyfriend in his arms and purring in his ear. "Now we're finally alone," Ayame giggled, pressing his hungry lips against Ritsu's, catching him in a passionate kiss. "And I'm so happy."

"A, A, Ayame-san?" A little voice squeaked from the other side of the snake's wall. "Are you sure this is all right?"

Relaxing against his pillow, Ayame looked up as he heard his boyfriend's footsteps drawing closer. 'Ah, sweet Ritchan!' He focused on the doorway in which the redhead stood, feeling his pulse quicken in anticipation. Studying the lines of the monkey's robe as they clung to his petite body, the older man sensed a jolt of desire pulsing through his veins. "Oh no, of course not!" He threw open his arms, gesturing for the cross dresser to join him in bed. "It's my pleasure!"

"I, I, thank you," Ritsu's face shone scarlet as he shifted uneasily under the snake's watch. "But if you don't want me to, I don't mind sleeping on the floor at all! It's OK! I don't mind! Don't try to be nice to me!"

The silver-haired man chuckled, offering his cousin a flirtatious wink. "Now, now, my Ritchan. If you sleep on the floor, I will miss your presence far too much to make it through the night! I could never pass up an opportunity to be with you!" He took the other man's hand, helping him into the luxurious bed and between the silky sheets. "Oh, come on, dear Monkey-chan!" Wrapping his arms around the redhead's waist, he giggled with satisfaction as he felt the other body tense beneath him. "Don't be such a tease!"

Trying the return the carefree laugh, Ritsu only managed a nervous titter. "I'm sorry!" He responded automatically, staring wide-eyed at the other man. "What should I-." He bit his lip, breaking out in a cold sweat. "I mean, are we going to-?"

Ayame felt something jump in his stomach as fire ignited between his legs. He realized what Ritsu expected him to do, but, judging by the terrified expression on the other man's face, he knew that he could not accept the unsure offer. "Oh, you don't need to do anything!" He ran a long finger through his boyfriend's ginger locks. "Just holding you like this is wonderful enough!" He slipped his other hand under the monkey's chin, sighing emphatically as he caressed the smooth flesh. "We really must take things slow, I suppose. If that suits you, dearest lover."

Ritsu shivered under the snake's touch. "Yes, I mean, if that's what you want, Ayame-san." He moved one trembling hand up the other man's back, desperately searching his companion's eyes for signs of approval.

'I want you,' Ayame bit back his temptation to speak his wishes aloud, instead reassuring his cousin with a gentle kiss. 'Oh God! I want you so much!' As their lips met, the heat of the contact seemed to elicit a flood of emotions from within the silver-haired man's heart. He had Ritsu in his arms at last, finally they were together. 'And it's everything I expected, and more.'

Opening his mouth, Ayame let his tongue dance across the other man's heated skin. His half-lidded gaze swarmed with the colors of a dazed fantasy, and he clasped Ritsu's body against his own, losing control over his mind with every jagged breath. Inadvertently, his hands slid up the thin fabric of the monkey's robe, pausing only when he noted the erratic rhythm of his boyfriend's heart against his chest.

"W, w, what?" The redhead stammered, looking away from Ayame in his embarrassment. "It's OK, I'm fine, really, I-."

'He's truly frightened,' the older man's heart nearly exploded as he watched his cousin fumble for words. 'Oh, Ritchan, I don't want to scare you!' He reached out to the younger Sohma, affectionately caressing his shoulder. A strange emotion welled in the pit of the dress designer's stomach at the contact. Selflessness. He wanted Ritsu to be happy, more than he wished to gratify himself. Seeing his boyfriend smile brought more satisfaction to him than any self-centered choice he might make. 'Because I love Ritsu. I love him! He's worth more to me than anything I could ever achieve in my life.'

Ayame regained control of his body as he held the redhead in a warm embrace. "I love you. Je t'aime," he moaned into the other man's ear. "I care about you. I don't want you to be scared anymore, or worry about offending me. I just want to make you happy."

"Oh!" Ritsu gasped, taken aback by the other man's request. "I'm happy as long as you're happy, I mean, whatever you think is best is fine for me!" He struggled to be honest, dropping his voice to a hushed whisper as he relaxed against the snake's body. "I'm really trying to be better, Ayame-san. I promise that I'll be more confident for you, if you want me to."

"Oh, Ritchan!" He grinned in response, nuzzling his face into the other man's hair. "I love you exactly how you are. I hope that you will be more confident, of course, but only change when you feel ready."

"Thank you, Ayame-san," Ritsu closed his eyes, spreading his lips into a content smile. "I, I, I, well," he smiled, "I love you, too."

"I know, sweet Monkey-chan," nodding in agreement, Ayame studied the other man's face with enchanted intent. He watched the moonlight as it illuminated his delicate features, making him glow like an angel in the darkness. 'My little angel!' He shivered at the idea, pulling the other man's body even closer to his own. 'My lovely Ritchan.' Shutting his eyes, he let the sound of raindrops on his roof lull him into serenity. "Good night, my love."

Francais Avec Ayame #10 (with a little Japanese thrown in, as well. Would you believe this is the first time I've ever used Japanese in a fanfic!)

Mon petit ami- my boyfriend

Mon cher- my dear

Chez Ayame- Ayame's house

Shitsurei shimasu- literally, "I'm being rude" used by Japanese to excuse themselves when leaving a conversation, as well as when entering someone else's house. It seemed to suit Ritsu's mom perfectly, and I couldn't translate it into English, so I just had to give in and write a little Japanese! ;)

Je t'aime- I love you

ha ha, never fear...that wasn't the lime I promised to write! It's coming, I swear :) Next chapter...another Ayame and Yuki "bonding moment"! lol!