Sorry it took so long!! But here it is, a new chapter! Thanks again for the reviews, I really appreciate them. I got some Fruits Basket manga….the only problem is they're in French. So, I have a bunch of things that happen later in the series and I'll try to use it to make my story more true to theme. Point is, I have to translate these things for that to happen, and French Fruits Basket is very annoying. So, enjoy your chapter in English!

***

Golden light cascaded from the open porch door onto the floor of Akito's room. It filled half the space with light, leaving the rest in shadow. Momiji knelt respectfully in the darkness, head down but with his eyes darting up to where the leader of the Sohma family lounged on the porch. He had arrived nearly twenty minutes ago, and Akito had stayed where he was outside the room. Momiji would have feared Akito was dead if not for the fact that he could see his side moving slowly up and down. Perhaps he was asleep. If this was so, there was no way *Momiji* was going to wake him up. But the rabbit didn't want to leave, either. His strong sense of moral justice had forced him to come here after his conversation with Haru. Momiji meant to prove Haru wrong. He would somehow become friends with Akito. Nothing more. The idea of friendship even slightly repulsed him, even now. How could anyone ever like, not to mention trust, a vengeful, disgusting, dark person? But the fact that Momiji's life as he lived it was owed to Akito's sacrifice still gnawed at the young boy. //It's my job to help people.// Momiji thought to himself over and over.

***

Akito basked in the warm light that seemed to penetrate his very being. He was in a peculiar mood today. One, which the leader couldn't describe if he tried, since it had never happened before…or had it? It felt like the verge of happiness as he lay in the sun. Akito sometimes experienced short bursts of happiness before sleep, when he didn't think of the shadow of his life. But he wasn't asleep now, and his feelings where tinged with annoyance. Annoyance at the vermin sitting in his room, waiting to be spoken to. Akito had let Momiji sit there for nearly half an hour, and the leader felt another thrill at the control he kept over his family. It was *his* family after all. No one else could take control of it while he was alive… He took his job rather seriously. Some might say overzealously. Akito, however, felt that his judgment was the only one that should be listened to. Hadn't he kept his family's secret safe? //High prices must be paid// Akito told himself.

A soft sneeze broke the silence. Akito finally decided to pay some attention to the person sitting in his room. He had secretly hoped Momiji would have left by now. Yet it seemed the rabbit would stay until acknowledged. Of course, the insipid rabbit only wanted to complain about something…they only ever complained…complained…and cried. Akito decided to feign interest in the rabbit's problems. It was good to keep everyone on their toes by acting nice sometimes. One could also get more…interesting…information through gentler tactics.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Akito rolled over and got up from his resting position. "I didn't realize someone was here. You should have said something, Momiji." The leader walked slowly to the center of the room, adjusting his kimono and pulling the heavier robe over his shoulder. He sat next to the blonde. "What is the matter?"

Momiji spoke while facing the front of the room. He couldn't even look at Akito. "I…just wanted to apologize for the way I acted on Sunday. It was rude of me to…to…say something that might make it seem like I was making fun of you." He finished and kept his gaze, steadily forward.

"Apologize?" Akito whispered. So few apologized to him. It was nearly arrogant. When something was done to anger Akito, most just avoided him until they believed the storm was over. Or in the case of the good doctor and his faithful dog, extra allegiance was paid to him. Apology made it seem like the two, rabbit and *clan leader*, were somehow on the same level.

"Apologize?" Akito repeated again. "My dear Momiji," he leaned on Momiji and put his head on the boy's shoulder. "Apologies are never needed between *family*."

"Apologies are always needed. Apologies… and thanks. It's like lying if you feel you should do either and you don't. They're expressions of respect for your fellow person."

Akito was astounded at this, the very mention of being a 'fellow person' with him. To Akito, it seemed as if the rabbit was trying to elevate his position in life, be seen as more. The zodiac remained a lot of *animals* to Akito. But maybe…maybe the rabbit was trying to express true feelings to him. This thought was swiftly shoved away. No one ever let true emotions show to Akito. He had a tendency to use them to his advantage, especially if he didn't like those feelings. Akito still tended to hate the bearing of emotions…particularly since *she* had tried to mourn for him. He didn't need mourning; he wasn't dead…yet. It also didn't help the fact that Akito would never be able to show any emotions other than hate and anger…weakness could not be seen…

"Akito?"

Akito shook awake from his reverie.

"Yes Momiji?"

"I was wondering…" For some reason Momiji felt his face go warm while trying to talk. He paused and tried to make the blush go away. "I was wondering…"

"Don't be afraid to speak to me, Momiji," Akito said and ran a soothing hand through the boy's hair. This had the opposite effect on the rabbit and made him more nervous.

"I was wondering…"

"Come on…out with it." Akito's patience was wearing thin with this stupid creature.

"Iwaswonderingifyouwanttogotoamovie."

"Excuse me?" Akito got up and faced Momiji, who was bright red at this point.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go to a movie…you know hang out?"

Akito gaped at the blonde. What was going on?

"If you don't want to, then that's okay!" Momiji waved his hands.

"…….what movie?" Akito asked skeptically. This was *very*strange.

"They're showing the first Lord of the Rings movie again…it's really good." //What am I doing?? // Momiji thought to himself.

"…alright…" Akito got up and went back outside to lie on the porch. "I suppose I *will* join you to see this…movie."

"Oh that's…great…"Momiji tried to force some enthusiasm for his…//Oh my god…is this…like…a…date?// He withheld a shudder of revulsion.

Akito was once again comfortably lounging in the sunlight.

"Um, Akito?"

All Akito could think to answer was a questioning "Hmmm?"

"…I need to get home."

"You are free to come and go as you please, little rabbit." Akito said and waved his hand.

"Thank you, Akito," he said, bowing. Then he left the room again.

//It's interesting being thanked for something. One is never sure how to feel or what to say…especially when it's never happened before.// The doctor's stupid words ran through Akito's mind as he watched Momiji leave. Not only was this rabbit apologizing to him…he was trying to …hang out with him. What was happening to Akito's world?

***

Kyo sat on the bench in the small park, a few days later. He was happy. It practically radiated off of him in waves. He had someone…someone who cared about him. This feeling was strange, because Tohru cared for him plenty…maybe it was the fact the Haru was actually *attracted* to him that carried this happiness the extra mile. Not to mention Kyo could not deny his attraction to the white haired punk.

Suddenly, emphatic kisses began making their way up the side of Kyo's neck. He tilted his head sideways, allowing easier access for Haru, who was now very interested in Kyo's ear.

"You're late," Kyo muttered as Haru continued to suck at his ear.

"Just makin' up for lost time," Haru finally detached himself and hopped over the back of the bench. (He had snuck up behind Kyo.)

"So what're we gonna do now?" Kyo asked.

"Well…we could find a nice place in those bushes over there…"

Kyo glared at Haru, who smiled endearingly back. "You're so…what is the word I'm looking for?" Haru asked.

"Decent?"

"No…I was going for innocent…we'll have to fix that sometime." Haru smirked, setting a fine blush on Kyo's face.

Kyo coughed. "I'll see what I can do about that."

"That's better, Kytten."

"Kitten?"

"My new nickname for you," Haru beamed. "It's spelled with a 'y' instead of an 'i'…get it?"

Kyo looked away. "I guess not," Haru continued. "I'll explain it to you. You're name is Kyo…"

"I GET IT, OKAY?!"

"Woah, Kytten." Haru placed his arm around Kyo and made Kyo face him with the other. "What's the matter?"

"Don't call me Kitten."

"…It's Kytten…with a 'y'."

"I know it's with a 'y'!"

"Do you like Kyo-Kyo better?"

"NO!"

"Well, then I guess I'll just have to call you plain Kyo from now on…but it's not as fun."

"I don't give a shit if it's fun."

"Okay, you know how I told you I would help you with your anger issues?"

"…yes."

"Anger issue number one…misplaced anger."

"It's NOT misplaced!"

Haru snorted. "Something is obviously bothering you."

Kyo got up from the bench. "If you're going to start talking down to me, maybe you should just go fuck Yuki! You can just join him and all the other people that hate me…because…"

Haru pulled Kyo back onto the bench. "Keep going."

"Let go of me!"

"Are you going to hurt me, now? Punch me? Because that's what the cat does, right?"

Kyo's struggles paused, and he looked at Haru horrified. "…no…please," Kyo whispered.

Haru grabbed Kyo in a solid embrace. Kyo was fervently mumbling into Haru's shoulder, "Please don't leave me."

Haru held him for a bit as he realized Kyo had more issues than just anger related ones. He was sympathetic; no one in the Sohma family completely got away with a clean psychological plate. Kyo was frightened of being scorned for being the cat. Haru had never done that before, though…so, why would he start now?

"I'm sorry," Kyo muttered into Haru's shirt.

"That's okay." Haru released the cat, who tried to shrug off the event.

"So, where to?"

"Kyo, I would never leave you because you're the cat."

"I…uhhh."

"Talk."

Kyo looked out into the park. "I know everyone has held some sort of…hate toward me because of the fact I'm the cat," he began. "I don't belong anywhere. No one ever liked me for who I was (except for Kagura and god, she doesn't count)…my mother…even Tohru had to fight her feelings of horror."

"And?"

"And…I guess, you calling me Kytten somehow made it seem like you were going to constantly remind me that *I* was the cat and was lesser than you. Stupid, huh."

"I would rather be a cat than a cow. Think about it. Cats are sexy. Lithe and agile." Haru moved again towards Kyo's ear and nipped it. "Much better than a big, dumb cow. Who cares if you're part of the *zodiac*? I sure don't."

"Thanks, Haru."

"No, problem, Kytten. Let's go eat…I'm starving."

***

Haru could see Momiji waiting for him a few blocks off. The two always walked to school together, even though the cow had a tendency to be late and the rabbit was compulsively early. Today was no different, and Haru soon saw the blonde spastically waving for him to hurry up. Momiji finally took the matter into his own hands and met Haru halfway.

"I have to talk to you!"

"Huh?" Haru adjusted one of his bracelets nonchalantly.

"It's an emergency!!"

"…Okay…" The two started walking again, and Momiji related his problem.

"Ummm…so a couple days ago…I told Akito…that I wanted to go to a movie with him…"

Momiji looked next to him and noticed Haru had stopped a couple paces behind him and was looking at the ground. Soon, he heard Haru's chuckles, which quickly broke out into full-blown laughter.

"Shut up, Haru! It's not that funny!"

Laughter subsiding, Haru wiped a tear of mirth from his eye. "So, when's the date?"

"It's not a date!"

"Date of the event, genius."

"…I haven't really decided."

"Why are you going to a movie with Akito?"

"I want to be his…friend."

"Oh, this again. Hey, why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I was hoping the situation would go away…but if I ignore Akito, he might think I was making fun of him or something!"

"Jeez, you're wound too tight."

"Yeah, well, someone has to be."

Haru stuck his tongue out at Momiji, and the two boys continued to school. Truth be told, the cow had been more worried than usual. His new relationship with Kyo was starting to bring up issues he'd rather not think about. First was the fact that Haru trying to help Kyo deal with *his* issues was like the blind leading the deaf. Haru hadn't turned black for some time (or at least he didn't think he had), but that always meant it would be worse the next time. If something happened, he wasn't sure what he would do. Not to mention if Akito found out… Haru looked down at his short friend. Maybe that's why he hadn't told Momiji about Kyo yet…was he scared Momiji might say something?

"Momiji, you should go tonight"

"WHAT?!"

"You've gotten yourself into this, so get yourself out. Besides, Hatori will be there. Akito can't really go anywhere without him."

"I guess."

"You can't be friends with someone you're scared of, anyway. Get over yourself."

Momiji sighed and accepted his friend's harsh advice. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. Momiji did want to try and help Akito…But was it worth it?

***

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