Thanks for all the reviews of my last chapter! It was my first time writing something like that obligatory blush. I really need to credit my beta-reading sister for adding some great touches. Hope you like this chapter too!
Momiji clutched Akito's robes tighter as the leader held him. Nothing had been said since…since he had kissed Akito. The rabbit grimaced to himself. Everything about this was wrong. He felt like he was betraying everyone he knew. Akito was practically the closest thing most of the members of the Sohma family had to an enemy, but whenever Momiji was around him, he was so different from the evil the rabbit usually imagined. Sometimes the darker side showed through, but for the most part…
Akito sneezed lightly, and Momiji let out a despondent, "Gesundheit."
The leader hugged the rabbit closer to his chest and muttered, "Danke."
After several more minutes of awkward silence, Momiji finally pushed himself away. He knelt a respectable distance away and looked at his hands.
Akito sighed. "What is the matter, Momiji?"
"I…I can't do this, Akito. I like you a lot, but all I ever wanted to be was your friend."
Akito crawled closer to Momiji, cupping the rabbit's chin with his hand. "I don't believe you."
Momiji blushed but looked Akito straight in the eye. "This was not my intent."
"What wasn't your intent?" Akito moved away and leaned against the shoji door. "Kissing me?"
At this reminder, the rabbit's resolve faltered. He stayed silent until he thought of a good answer. "I'm not going to lie to you, Akito. I already told you how much I've actually started liking you, and I couldn't help kissing you. But I don't trust you, and I'm not going to let you play a game with me, no matter how…attracted I am to you or how guilty I feel about the curse."
Akito felt himself begin to get angry. "Strong words from such a tiny creature," he spat. "What kind of game am I playing exactly? Why can't this," he demanded, waving a hand between them, "be sincere? Why don't you think my intentions towards you are genuine?"
"Because…because you stopped."
"Excuse me?"
Instead of blushing, Momiji glared. "You started coughing, and then you just decided to leave."
Akito was taken aback, but he hid it with a glare to match the rabbit's. "I'm sorry if you would have preferred me prove my weakness to you up close. Or perhaps cough in your face? That idea didn't seem very romantic to me, Momiji."
"You…you left because you thought you…ruined the moment?"
"Yes. Does that make you happy?"
Akito closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall. Dealing with Momiji was more frustrating than dealing with anyone else in the Sohma family. When Akito finally calmed down and opened his eyes, Momiji was standing in front of him.
"Yes, that does make me happy." The rabbit swooped down and kissed Akito on the cheek. Then he blushed and looked away.
"I have to go," Momiji muttered.
"So, you're the one leaving now. But what is it you are leaving?"
Momiji responded with a grim look on his face as he got up. "I don't know, Akito. I still don't know." He jumped off the porch, picking up his shoes after he landed.
"It wasn't my intent at first, either, Momiji."
The rabbit turned around and looked at Akito.
"But I couldn't help myself." The Sohma leader shrugged candidly.
Momiji nodded as he put his shoes on, grateful the clan leader was letting him go so easily. Then he left Akito alone and headed through the gardens. Momiji desperately wanted to talk to someone about this. But his options were limited. He couldn't fathom talking to Hatori or Shigure about this situation. Either would probably die of horror. Haru was out of the question because he would think Akito had taken advantage of Momiji, and that might spark a Black outburst.
Momiji half considered Kyo, then laughed to himself for even thinking about it. Tohru would never understand a romantic entanglement like this, especially since she barely knew Akito, and then only his frightening side. Talking to Yuki was out of the question.
Momiji sat on an ornamental bench next to a maple tree. Where could he go? Who might even have an ounce of understanding but wouldn't treat him like a pariah for kissing Akito? Who wouldn't care?
Momiji stood outside the dress shop for several minutes looking at the decorative rose insignia which marked it as Ayame's. The rabbit didn't even know if the snake would be there, but he didn't have any other options. He swallowed and stepped inside. A bell chimed softly, and a woman in glasses stumbled out from behind the counter carrying several rolls of fabric.
"Hello, may I help you?" She put her load down next to the cash register and looked at Momiji. "Oh, you're so cute! What are you here for?"
Mine rushed over and ran her hands over the sleeve of Momiji's blouse. "This will never do. You shouldn't be in yellow; pink is definitely your color. It compliments your eyes." She walked away and scanned the selection of different fabrics on the opposite wall. Mine pulled one out to show Momiji. "Now, wouldn't you like a shirt made out of this? Or maybe something else? You would look adorable in a little musketeer uniform!"
"Um, I was just wondering if I could talk to Ayame," Momiji muttered.
"He's very busy in the back right now. But if you have a special request, I'm sure he'd be happy to hear it." Mine smiled.
"No, no…that's okay." As Momiji began to move towards the front of the store again, a door at the back opened, and Ayame walked through. Several pins stuck out of his mouth, and he carried an ornamental kimono over his arm, which he seemed to be fussing over.
"Mine, could you help me decide which thread to use for the dragonfly stitching? The violet works wonderfully, but the gold sparkles so." Some of the pins fell out of his mouth as he spoke. He looked at them as they hit the floor and rolled his eyes.
"Ayame, you have a visitor."
"A visitor! Why didn't you say so before!" Ayame looked past Mine and recognized the rabbit immediately.
"Momiji! What are you doing here? Not that I'm not elated to see you. Have you been to my shop before? Isn't it divine? You definitely came to the right place! What do you have in mind?" He placed the kimono in Mine's waiting arms and glided over to the rabbit, looking him up and down with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Mine, have you told him yellow isn't his color?"
"Yes, I did suggest the tinted rose on rack five, but he didn't seem interested."
"Really? Well that was a marvelous recommendation." Ayame turned back to Momiji. "You should trust her with these matters. She can work wonders that amaze even me sometimes."
"Thank you, sir!"
Momiji coughed into his hand. "I wasn't really here for fashion advice."
"Oh?" Ayame looked confused. He moved his face closer to Momiji's to examine him. "You look terrible. You need some color in those cheeks."
"Ayame, can we talk?"
"Talk? To me? About what?"
Momiji whispered. "Akito."
"Akito! Are you sure you don't want to talk to Hatori or Shigure about such a strange matter?" Ayame laughed, and Mine pretended to do some work to get out of the way.
"No…I'd really like to talk to you."
Ayame sobered instantly. "Oh my. What has happened? Did something awful happen? You look like you need some tea. Mine!"
She popped up from behind the counter. "I'm on it!"
"Excellent. Now, come in here." Ayame ushered Momiji into the back room, and they sat across from each other on opposite couches. "Momiji, I can't say I'm not surprised to see you here. I'm not exactly your confidant."
"I know. I just needed to talk to someone."
"About Akito."
The rabbit nodded.
Ayame clasped his hands and put them on his lap. "Well, what happened?"
"I…I kissed him."
"Where?"
"On the mouth!" Momiji's face burned as Ayame laughed.
"You make it sound as if you did something terrible…although I can't say that Akito is the nicest person I know…pretty as the dickens though. But he looks a little too much like Yuki for my taste, and that's just vulgar!" Ayame laughed loudly once again. When he noticed Momiji didn't share his humorous mood, the snake became serious once more.
"He didn't hurt you, did he? He didn't…force himself on you?"
"No!"
"Why are you getting so defensive? Is what happened bad or good?"
The rabbit sighed just as Mine came in with the tea platter.
"Thank you, Mine," Ayame cooed as he picked up his tea, taking in the aroma.
As she walked out, she saluted to Ayame and winked at Momiji. Momiji picked up his tea and breathed it in, trying to mask his discomfort.
"Momiji, you must be very confused right now."
The rabbit nodded.
"It's not easy liking boys…"
"Oh, it's not that," Momiji muttered.
"It's not? Oh, okay. It's not easy liking Akito?"
"That's right."
"Alright." Ayame thought for a second. "Well, I'll give you the same advice I was about to give you anyway. When I was eleven, my parents told me to do whatever makes me happy. I certainly did, and years later I had a laugh at the double entendre."
Momiji choked on a drink of his tea, but Ayame just blithely continued.
"Sometimes what you choose to make you happy will make other people angry. Or they just may not like it. Or they just may not like the person. In your case, that would be Akito. But if you like him, does it matter?"
"But he's a terrible person."
"I think you're a good judge of character, and not everyone can be so easily described. Take Hatori for example. Some people only see the cold, rational side of him. I can see the caring, compassionate side…and the cold side when he's angry at me, or doesn't want me to drive or…you get the point."
"I think so."
"Excellent. I'm not the best at this." Ayame sipped his tea slowly. "I do try to help when I can, though."
"What do I do now?"
"How do you mean?"
"…I've never done anything like this before."
"Well, speaking from experience, it would be best to talk to Akito about it. Not sure if you should tell anyone else yet. Not until you get things settled at least. Definitely don't tell Yuki. I don't think I could stop him from using his martial arts skills to beat you to a pulp!" The room once again filled with Ayame's laughter. Once he settled down, he took another sip of tea before speaking again.
"I will be telling Shigure and Hatori about this, however," he said nonchalantly. "I can't keep it from them. Sorry. Plus they'd be dying to know. Especially 'Gure."
"Um…okay?"
"Oh! Guess I went a little too far and let the cat out of the bag! Ahahahaha!"
"Huh?"
Ayame winked. "I'm just saying that we might have been hoping for something like this to happen. So don't be afraid to ask them for any advice too."
"You were?" Momiji put his cup down.
The snake nodded happily. "Yes! I think you should know a fair amount of the family's hopes are riding on you. We think you could help Akito a lot." Ayame leaned in, whispering, "He's got some issues."
"I know."
"Well then. Happy for everyone!"
"Yes, I suppose it is." Momiji got up to leave and bowed. "Thank you. You really helped me out."
"Oh, no problem, sweetheart. If you do see Yuki, send him my love!"
"I will. Could you tell Mine thank you for the tea?"
"I'm sure she heard already."
Momiji opened the door, and Mine, who had had her ear pressed against it, fell into the room.
"Mine, what did I tell you about spying?" Ayame reprimanded.
"Get better at it, sir!"
"That's right."
Momiji bowed to Mine. "Thank you."
"It was very nice to meet you. Are you sure I can't interest you in that…"
"No, that's really okay."
Mine pouted for a second but then let Momiji pass. A bell tinkled when the rabbit left.
"So, do you think he'll be alright?" Mine asked worriedly.
"Oh, he'll be fine. Just needs to get used to it. Now I really need to call Hatori. Where is the phone?"
"Last time I saw it, it was under that pile of satin." Mine pointed to the storage room, which was filled with piles of loose cloth.
"Oh, fabulous." Ayame rolled his eyes again and smoothed his outfit as he stood up. "Well, I might as well take this as a sign that I need to visit Hatori!"
Mine bowed and turned to go back into the other room, where she stopped short. "Oh, here's the phone! I forgot I moved it over on this table."
Ayame glided past her and away. "What was that, Mine? I'm already out the door!"
"Momiji, I waited for you to come back. I'm glad you did." Akito opened his arms to the boy who stood before him.
"I'm…I'm glad I did too," Momiji said as he moved into Akito's embrace.
"Stay here for awhile and keep me company," Akito whispered, nuzzling Momiji's soft hair with his cheek.
Akito didn't have to say anything; Momiji didn't want to leave.
"Hatori, I'm so sorry for just barging in on you like this without a call, but I couldn't find my phone and I've got neeeeews!" Ayame caroled as he walked into the doctor's office, only to find an empty chair in front of messy desk.
"Oh, my. Where could he have gone?" After checking the hallway and every nook and cranny of the office, Ayame moved his search onto the porch. Soon the temperature proved to be too warm for Ayame, however, and he was forced to go back inside to cool off. He pulled his cell phone out of a pocket and dialed Hatori's number, which was intended for emergencies only. Ayame didn't even think he could have used that phone at his shop in the first place.
Ayame heard another cell phone ring as soon as he finished dialing Hatori's number. He jumped and followed the noise outside into the gardens. A short distance down the path, Ayame saw Hatori leaning against a tree and smoking a cigarette. The dragon reached into his pocket to turn off his cell phone and looked towards where Ayame was walking in his direction. Ayame shuddered as the dragon looked away again.
"I said this was for emergencies only. You promised not to call for every little thing."
"You were missing without a trace. So I wanted to find you. You can't be angry at me for being worried." Ayame wanted to go closer, but he sensed the tension Hatori exuded and stayed slightly farther back.
Hatori took a deep breath of smoke. "Why are you here?"
"Why are you acting like that?"
"Like what?"
"Hari, I can tell when something is the matter with you."
Hatori smiled sadly, dropping his cigarette onto the grass and crunching it out. "They're together."
"Who?" Ayame asked instead of commenting on Hatori's blatant littering.
"Momiji and Akito," Hatori answered as he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh, I know. Momiji came to talk to me about it. Little guy seemed very confused, but I think I helped him out! Aren't you proud of me?"
Ayame snuck closer, but Hatori remained silent. "Hatori?"
"I saw them."
"You never struck me as the peeping tom, Hatori!"
"It wasn't on purpose," Hatori growled more angrily than he intended. He kept his stare fixed on the ground.
"Why are you bothered by this? Isn't it what we wanted?"
"It's what you wanted. Shigure should be happy."
Ayame gasped. "Hatori! We come to decisions together. This is good for everyone."
Hatori finally looked into Ayame's eyes, and all the snake saw was sadness and foreboding. "I don't think it's good for Momiji."
"Now, now." Ayame put his hands on Hatori's shoulders. "We can't always be pessimists, hmmm? We have to look on the bright side. Come on Hari, you're worrying me."
Ayame pulled back and waited as Hatori took another cigarette out and lit it. Eventually, he left the doctor to brood by himself.