Sorry for the long wait, but after some time off, I've finally continued "Falling Leaves!" Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: Just a reminder (since I haven't written in awhile) I don't own Fruits Basket.

It would be any second now. Any second the bell could ring and Hatsuharu would be free. The school day had passed far too slowly in his opinion, but it was almost time for him to get out of his seat, out of the school, and stop thinking for a while. Haru hated thinking too much. It made his brain hurt and often put him in a foul mood, especially when he was thinking about Akito.

His thoughts had wandered in that direction ever since he had convinced Momiji to see Akito tonight. He had no doubt Momiji would follow through after putting it off till the last possible moment. Until this morning, his opposition to Momiji's actions had been mostly based on his aversion to the family leader. Now, some of Haru's fears were deeper than that. If Momiji started to trust Akito, then could Haru ever again trust Momiji? Some of the actions of Akito's other lackeys in the zodiac didn't bode well as an example. But Momiji would never become a lackey…would he?

"Hatsuharu." The cow startled awake. "The bell rang a good two minutes ago, you are free to leave." Miss Koruko looked at him over her paperwork.

"Oh, sorry."

Hatsuharu gathered his things and walked into the crowded hallway. He took a random turn, lost in his thoughts once again. He would tell Momiji about Kyo. He placed full trust in his friend and wanted to be truthful about everything. And hadn't Momiji been the one to put him up to capturing the cat? Yes, Haru was confident in the rabbit's loyalty. As soon as he returned from his visit with Akito (hopefully bursting with details of the evening), Haru would divulge that he and Kyo were a couple. Perfect.

Something else nagged at his mind, however. It had been exactly one week since Kyo had kissed him for the first time, and Haru should get his Kytten a present. He stopped his aimless wandering to take a look at his surroundings. It looked like he was in a good shopping section of town, and he had the perfect idea.

Momiji sat under one of the trees that lined the path to the Main House. The day had gone by far to quickly in his opinion. He assumed it was about six o'clock. He had to guess the time because he had been sitting there for quite a while, unable to make a decision. For half an hour, Momiji pondered the different ways to approach Akito, make conversation with Akito, and have fun with Akito…

And all of it seemed ridiculous. How was this possible? It just wasn't. Momiji would never be able to make his idiotic plan to befriend Akito work. Yet he couldn't stop trying. The burden of knowing the family secret made it his responsibility to help the cursed family leader, and making friends was the only way he could come up with to contribute something. He wasn't a doctor or a liaison to the outside world…

There had to be something more under the leader's hard exterior. The very fact that he had agreed to go to a movie meant he had some sort of feeling. Unless, Momiji thought, Akito had some sort of ulterior motive. The rabbit was no dummy when it came to the cold hand, which often played the Sohma family violin to a forced tune.

Something was poking Momiji in the side so he reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. Hatsuharu's map! Momiji had made him another this afternoon but hadn't given it to him yet. Haru couldn't last too long without a guide to the city; he would probably get lost. Momiji played with the map as he contemplated his options, folding the paper into shapes until it started to tear. Yeah, he should give Haru his new map. That was much more important than making friends with Akito.

He hopped off his perch and headed to Haru's residence. Like Momiji, Hatsuharu lived on the Sohma family property. Momiji trotted in that direction, hopping over shadows cast by the setting sun. His mood had brightened a great deal after deciding to ditch Akito, yet he couldn't seem to keep that good feeling. Momiji's pace slowed to a walk and his guilt caught up with him. It was his duty to deal with Akito. 'Get over yourself' Haru had said.

Momiji turned around; the map was too torn to give to Haru, anyway.

Off to befriend the devil.

It took Momiji ten minutes to make his way to Hatori's office. He took a deep breath and stepped lightly onto the office porch. After taking off his shoes, he crept into the dark room. Hatori was reading something at his desk. With a cat-like stealth that would have made Kyo jealous, Momiji tip-toed silently behind the doctor, inching closer and closer to his back. Finally…

"BOO!" Momiji yelled encircling the doctor in a hug. Momiji loved hugging; he simply couldn't help it. Perhaps being denied something leaves it all the more desirable, he thought to himself.

"Yes, Momiji?" Hatori didn't even look up from his book.

"AWWW! How'd you know it was me?" Momiji let go and put on his cute face, but inside his thoughts were racing.

"I heard you." How could Hatori ever deal with Akito?

"But I could have been a burglar!" Hatori must have so much more resentment and fear of their family head.

"Yes, I did take my chances. What brings you here today?" Yet Hatori had managed to deal with his hate.

"Well," the rabbit shuffled his feet and dropped his childlike charade. He could be like Hatori. He could take on responsibility. "I told Akito I'd take him to a movie. They're showing Lord of the Rings at the movie theatre. So..."

The look of surprise was gone in a split second, quickly concealed as one of Hatori's slender hands reached to comb some hair away from his eye. "I'm afraid Akito won't be able to go anywhere today, Momiji," he said, focusing on a persistent strand.

A wave of relief spread over Momiji. It wasn't his fault if Akito was sick… "Why not?" he asked hopefully, pushing down more guilt at his relief.

Hatori looked down at his book and turned a finished page. "Akito is suffering from symptoms, which are too serious for him to be outside."

Hatori glanced up quickly to gage Momiji's reaction. Large blue eyes stared down dolefully at fidgeting hands. Then Momiji shifted his gaze to look outside. "Well I told him I'd go to a movie with him…but if he can't…"

"Well, he is well enough to have visitors." Hatori continued to read his book. Lack of eye contact frustrated Momiji. Why was Hatori acting so frigid! Maybe he had to figure this out on his own. The path was before him, and Momiji had to take the first step. Obviously, he decided, the doctor wanted him to stay. Momiji sighed.

"I guess I could go rent something…" He felt like he was drowning.

The book slammed shut. "That sounds like a very good idea, Momiji." Hatori looked up approvingly at the young boy. Momiji let his anxiety go as he smiled at the attention. "Perhaps I'll watch some too."

"You mean you aren't going be there?"

"Why should I be?"

Momiji flustered. "Oh, no reason…I guess." He slowly turned around. "I'll be back in a bit."

Kyo had been waiting for an hour under the large oak in front of Shigure's house. He was still in the dark as to why Haru had arranged such a strange meeting place, and now so much time had passed that it was literally getting dark outside. He shuffled his feet and sighed. What had led him to believe that Haru would be able to get here on time?

After glancing around, he decided Haru could find his own fucking way to the house and find him there. This whole thing was ridiculous. Kyo was waiting for Haru in the dark, outside, for some secret rendezvous. When had Kyo lost his mind?

But still he stood under the tree. Maybe it was mere curiosity that kept him there, or perhaps there was something deeper involved. The cat didn't want to think that way. The rest of the family was just rubbing of on him. He was a teenager after all, and teenagers hadneeds. Kyo snorted as he thought this. It sounded like something Shigure would say.

Now it was starting to get chilly. Kyo had left his black hoody at the house, because, when he had first come out to this god-forsaken meeting spot, the sun had still been out. He rubbed his arms together for the friction. This wasn't worth it.

Suddenly Kyo heard a twig snap and twirled around. Hatsuharu caught him in a kiss.

"Sorry I'm late," he said and kissed Kyo's cheek for emphasis.

"Well, I should have suspected you'd be too stupid to find your way here by yourself," Kyo muttered, turning red.

"Hmmmm, probably. I am notoriously bad with directions."

"Wait! Are you saying it's my fault!"

"You're the one who said it," Haru smiled. Kyo crossed his arms and glared.

"Why am I out here? You could have just come to the house."

"…It seems to me you wouldn't want me to come to the house."

Kyo startled. He hadn't even realized that everyone was home. Tohru, Yuki, Shigure. What would they think if Haru suddenly came over for no reason? Sure, it happened a lot; Haru would get lost and stumble in, but this was…what, the third time in the last two weeks he had come over?

"I guess you're right," he muttered.

"It's easy to be right when I'm around you."

"What's that supposed to mean!"

With a crunch of leaves, Haru sat down, and Kyo followed suit. The taller boy leaned in and whispered, "You just let your emotions show too much."

Kyo grimaced. "I guess so."

After a moment of silence, Hatsuharu took out a small white paper bag from his pocket. "Here, I got you something today."

"Why?" Kyo asked in suspicious surprise. Haru supposed Kyo would never get used to people being nice to him.

"Because," he started slowly, "it's been a week since we…got together."

"So you bought me something as some sort of anniversary present?"

"Yeah." This was ridiculous. "Just take it." Haru offered the small package and Kyo grasped it dubiously.

"You know, I got kinda lost, and I just found myself in the downtown shopping district and well…" It wasn't Haru's style to get nervous, but he couldn't help rambling. Besides, Kyo probably wouldn't be very appreciative of the gift…

Kyo opened the bag, took out its contents and stared at what was in his hand.

A black cat collar complete with a little silver bell. It jangled as Kyo turned it over.

A smirk lit Hatsuharu's face as he saw his purchase again.

"Is this a joke?" Kyo sat on the border between rage and…appreciation?

"I thought it would look good on you, Kytten."

To prove his statement, Haru took the necklace out of Kyo's hands and put it around his neck. The cow sat back to admire.

"Seems I was right."

The bell jangled again as Kyo shook his head. He still couldn't react.

"Oh, come on. At least pretend you like it."

"No, I like it," Kyo said looking at the ground.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Soooo, what's the problem?"

"I can't wear it."

"Uh, okay." Haru sat back and looked up at the tree canopy. Sometimes he just couldn't make sense of Kyo.

"It's just…I just…don't want anyone to know."

Haru glanced over, "What do you mean?"

"Ummm…I know this is weird. This whole goddamn situation is weird and that's why I don't want anyone to know. I know half this family is perverted, but no matter what Shigure does on his free time with Ayame and Hatori, I can't handle him or them knowing about us. Not to mention Tohru. What would she think? And Yuki would have a fucking field day…

"…You think I'm…perverted?"

"No, no!" Kyo paused. "Well maybe a little…It's real hard to talk about this…but I'm just not used to…it."

"Okay," Haru put up his hands. "I think I understand."

"I'm really sorry," Kyo said lamely.

"Don't worry about it," Haru replied, a bit morosely. This was going to be harder than he thought.

"Okay, I'm being an idiot. I'm going to wear this. I don't care what people say."

"No, really. If it makes you uncomfortable…"

"No!" Kyo said, getting up and striking a dynamic pose with an uplifted fist. "This is fucking awesome. All of it!" He sat down, again and put his head on Haru's shoulder. "I just don't want anyone to know…outright…they can guess all they want."

"Fair enough." Haru smiled and rested his head on Kyo's.

"…Not even Momiji."

"What?" he shifted and Kyo sat up by himself.

"I know you guys talk about everything, but I think…he's a blabber mouth."

"Momiji would never…"

"Please."

"Fine," Hatsuharu muttered. This bothered him most of all, but he liked Kyo…a lot. Besides, hadn't he been the one wary of Momiji earlier today?

Haru let all of his worries slide away as Kyo sat close to him again.

"I have to go back soon. Tohru's making a late dinner."

A brief "Hmmmm" was Haru's only response besides slipping his arm around Kyo. The cat was shivering.

"Keep me company for awhile," Haru finally said and they leaned against the oak's trunk.

"Do you…want to have dinner with us? I'm sure Tohru made plenty. We always have leftovers…"

"Yeah, that would be great."