"Haru, I'm sorry.'
The cow looked up from the grain of Momiji's kitchen table to see the rabbit standing in the door once again.
"I shouldn't have gotten so angry about your mistrust of Akito," Momiji continued. "It's just that we haven't talked in awhile, and when you finally show up at my house, it's like you don't trust me anymore. But I've thought about it, and I know it's tough to have a relationship in this family. That's why you've been away so much. You must have a lot on your mind."
Haru smiled as Momiji sat across from him. His friend was so forgiving; it amazed him every time. "It looks like we're always apologizing, doesn't it Momiji? Look, I have had a lot on my plate, but that's no excuse for ignoring you. I should be able to balance you and Kyo…What are you smiling at?"
Momiji covered up his grin. "Oh, nothing. I just couldn't help but wonder what you two have been up to. I mean, you've never really gotten along…what do you talk about…if you talk at all."
The cow put up his hand. "First of all, I am not one to kiss and tell…"
"Yes, you are!"
"Anyway, Kyo and I get along very well, thanks. Weren't you scheming to get us together in the first place?"
"Not really. I just call it as I see it. You were so obviously pining after him."
"Hmmm."
"Yup. I love it when I'm right." Momiji paused and got up to fetch two sodas from the fridge. "Well, since I know about you two now, I can start giving you advice."
Haru rolled his eyes dramatically, but Momiji knew he was only kidding. They relied on each other's opinions.
"You should probably go see him, because my guess is, if you reacted to Shigure's plan by punching him, then Kyo probably isn't in a good mood either. What did he want to do exactly?"
"Actually, he said he wouldn't interfere as long as we kept it a secret."
"And you punched him!"
"…He just reminded me of how he took Rin away…"
"Rin? I thought you were over her. Seriously, move on Haru. Deep resentments like that are what turn you Black."
"Obviously." After taking a sip of his drink, the cow got up from his seat. "Can I use your phone? I want to call Kyo to make sure everything is clear before I come over. He's still really sensitive about people knowing…although now I guess we really should be more guarded about this."
"I promise I won't tell," Momiji smiled.
"I know."
Haru moved into the other room and picked up the telephone. After two rings, Tohru answered.
"Hello?"
The cow let silence fall for a minute, not sure whether to respond.
"Hello?" Tohru asked again on the other line.
"Umm…hello, is Kyo there?"
"Sure! Hold on." There was a light tapping as Tohru put the receiver down, and Haru waited impatiently for it to be picked up again. Momiji popped his head out of the kitchen.
"Everything okay in here?" the rabbit asked.
"I'm sorry," Tohru said into the phone, and Haru waved Momiji away, which the rabbit ignored as he stayed to listen. "Kyo can't come to the phone right now. May I take a message?"
"Is that Tohru? Do you want me to talk to her?" Momiji whispered.
Haru nodded as he realized he couldn't leave a message without blowing his cover and handed the phone over to Momiji.
"Heeey Tooohhhrruu!"
"Oh, Momiji? How nice to hear from you!"
"Yeah, I was just wondering if maybe I could come for a visit, you know?"
"Oh sure, that would be great. I love seeing you."
"Is it okay if I bring Haru? I promise he'll behave!"
"Of course! Did he want to talk to Kyo? Because he's a cat right now, and I didn't think it would be good for him to talk to just anyone when he's like that…although I guess you really can't tell if someone is a cat over the telephone!"
Momiji hesitated, and Haru looked at him in surprise. "Why would Haru want to talk to Kyo? I mean, it's not like he doesn't want to talk to Kyo or anything but…"
Suddenly Tohru got quiet. "…you mean you don't know?"
"…know what?" Momiji asked.
"Oh nothing, nothing! How soon will you be over? You just missed dinner, but I could have some desert ready."
"What do you know about Haru and Kyo?"
Haru and Momiji both had their ears pressed against the one receiver at this point.
"How about I see you in half an hour? That should give you plenty of time to ask Haru about anything." Immediately, the boys were left with the dial tone ringing in their ears.
They looked at each other.
"What was that about?" Haru said and Momiji shrugged.
"Maybe Tohru knows."
"But Kyo didn't want anyone to find out."
"Well, I think that plan didn't work very well. Just go there and find out."
"Aren't you coming too?"
"No. I kinda ditched Akito…just make up an excuse for me."
"…alright."
The rabbit sighed and the two of them walked outside. They parted ways at the main gate, after Momiji made sure Haru had his map. Then Momiji headed towards Akito's porch, where he found the family leader asleep outside. He became slightly worried because the sun was going down and it was getting cool. After a brief check to make sure Akito was actually alive (he looked so deathly pale sometimes), Momiji popped inside to get a blanket from a linen closet he was sure he had seen at some point. It took some searching, but he eventually found an extra quilt and lugged it outside. Momiji gingerly tucked it around Akito.
Now, the rabbit couldn't decide whether it would be considered thoughtful or creepy to stay and watch over Akito as he slept. Akito stirred, nearly causing Momiji to bolt, but he just curled up, pulling the blanket around him.
Momiji thought he might as well stay, since he had nothing better to do anyway. He tip-toed over to where he had left his Harry Potter book and opened it to a random page. Whenever the story became boring, he would look over to where Akito slept and smile to himself. Momiji realized he felt protective, and, once again, he wasn't sure if this was good or bad.
Haru arrived at Shigure's house exactly half an hour later and gave himself a solid pat on the back. Kyo was waiting for him on the porch, and Haru snuck over, glancing around him in to make sure neither Tohru nor Yuki were there.
As soon as Kyo spotted him, he got up but didn't walk to greet him. Haru made it to the porch, and the two just stared at each other for a while, unsure of what to do. Finally, Haru put his arms around Kyo, resting his chin on orange hair.
"I punched Shigure," he said with a joking drawl.
"You're braver than me. I stayed here and punched a tree."
The cow let his Kytten go and looked him in the eye.
"You okay?"
Kyo faked nonchalance and smirked at the sky. "Hell yeah."
When Kyo realized he wasn't fooling Haru, he looked up at him. "We really dodged a bullet, huh?"
"Yup, " the cow said frankly. "I don't know why we're so lucky, but we are, and we should enjoy it."
Kyo put a hand up. "I have to tell you something first. Sit down."
"Is it that bad?"
"…I don't think so, but you'll have to tell me what you think."
"I think I'll stand."
"Fine." Kyo rolled his eyes. "Anyway, Yuki and Tohru know about us..."
"It seemed that way when she answered the phone."
"…and they're dating," Kyo muttered.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"They're dating," the cat repeated more clearly and glanced up to gauge the other boy's reaction. Haru's face remained impassive and Kyo frowned. Then, Haru broke into his best smirk.
"How nice for them. Jealous of us, were they?"
Kyo smiled as he realized Haru didn't care. "I guess so."
"Well, they should be."
"Jealous?"
Haru moved closer to Kyo and whispered, " I know I would be jealous if Yuki or Tohru had you."
The shoji door slid open behind them, and Haru moved away from Kyo out of habit, but the cat quickly grabbed his wrist.
"Hello, Tohru," he said, without looking away from Haru.
"Hi, Kyo, Haru, am I interrupting?"
"Never," Kyo smirked and maintained eye contact with Haru, who looked at him quizzically. "I was just talking to my boyfriend."
"Okay. Ummm, desert is ready if you want some. Oh, where is Momiji?"
Haru broke away from Kyo's gaze to look at Tohru. "He had some homework to finish."
"All right."
"We'll come inside in a second," Kyo said. Tohru closed the door.
"What was that?" Haru asked.
Kyo moved forward and kissed him lightly. "I decided I'm not going to be afraid anymore."
"Oh, so now that Tohru is out of the romantic picture, you've settled on me?" Haru asked lightheartedly.
"More or less," Kyo answered with a grin. "Don't go looking a gift horse in the mouth."
"Oh, is Rin around here somewhere?"
"Wow, that's effing hilarious. You want me to go get your ex?"
Haru took Kyo's hand. "I'm over her, Kytten."
"I know. I was only joking…"
"Excellent. Well, I have one more question for you." Haru looked wickedly down at Kyo and whispered, "What's for dessert?"
Akito woke up, and he was surrounded by warmth. Groggily, he pulled the blanket closer around him as he sat up, slowly trying to remember if he had fallen asleep with a blanket in the first place. Akito wracked his brain, fairly sure he hadn't had one before falling asleep. Then he decided the good doctor must have come by, but that didn't seem right. Akito frowned to himself. Hatori would have just moved him inside. Akito shook his head to try and wake himself up. Thinking was not easy after such a deep sleep. He stretched and turned and finally spotted the visitor sitting on his porch. His rabbit was there.
"Hello." Momiji smiled uncomfortably. Akito now felt on the spot, but his mind still hadn't shifted entirely into first gear. He realized he was pleased Momiji was there. He didn't quite know what reaction to show to the rabbit, and being on top of things was so important to Akito. So, instead, Akito absently brushed some disheveled hair out of his eyes.
"You might want to smooth down the top," Momiji laughed lightly, and Akito tilted his head in puzzlement.
"Here, let me." Momiji reached over and began combing Akito's hair down with his fingers. "I've seen some pretty bad cases of bed-head, but this is terrible!"
Akito stared at the pink, ruffled collar of Momiji's shirt as the boy leaned over him. "Momiji?"
The rabbit jumped as he realized what he was doing and turned beet red.
"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have invaded your personal space like that! I know Haru hates it when I touch his hair. It's just one of his…"
Momiji stopped talking and quickly slid away from Akito to a more respectable distance. He was mortified with embarrassment. He probably wouldn't even have done that to Tohru!
Akito watched the rabbit evenly and mused at the fact that the rabbit felt comfortable enough to amiably touch the leader of the Sohma family. This was a good step indeed.
Slowly, Akito began to chuckle. "I must look very ridiculous, Momiji," he said.
"Oh no, you don't at all!" Momiji, still flushed, said earnestly. "I mean, you did just wake up… "
"Did you bring this out for me?" Akito began to unwrap the blanket from around him.
"Yeah…You should be more careful, sleeping outside like that."
Akito continued to fold the quilt and looked up as Momiji paused, realizing he had just told the clan leader what to do. Akito took it in stride, deciding the rabbit loved giving advice. That would be something to deal with later…
"Yes, I suppose I should be more careful. Hatori has told me so many times." Akito squared off the folds of his blanket and looked up again when he finished his task. He smiled at Momiji. "Now, where did you get this from?"
"I'll put it back!" Momiji grabbed the blanket and stood up unsteadily. "I really have to get home, anyway."
"Momiji, wait." Akito remained where he sat and stared out into the darkness. "You kept an eye on me while I slept, but now you're in such a rush to leave. Am I so frightening awake?"
Momiji sighed and leaned against the doorframe. Akito quickly glanced at the rabbit's back and smirked inwardly.
"Ignore that, Momiji," he continued quietly. "That was a statement you should not have heard. I shouldn't keep you."
"Akito," Momiji said without turning around. "I'm frightened of how I'm not afraid of you when you're awake." The rabbit walked inside.
Akito stared at the spot where Momiji had stood. He slightly regretted trying to play a mind-game, but it had made the rabbit reveal something. Akito loved inner turmoil, especially when it was to his advantage.