Wow! I'm sooo sorry this took so long! My laptop died and had to be sent back to the manufacturer for FIVE WEEKS! And then, my lovely sister's back up laptop couldn't connect to the internet from my dorm. So, I spent five weeks without my fanfiction files or the internet. Believe me, I suffered as much as you!
Please forgive me and enjoy!
Watching movies with Akito was very different now. Momiji remembered a few weeks ago when he hadn't been sure how close to sit to Akito without offending him. Now Momiji sat curled up right against Akito as they watched Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Momiji snuggled a bit closer to leaned his head against Akito's shoulder as he resolutely tried to forget the worries that constantly gnawed at him since he had taken a huge step in this new relationship. Everything was different now.
Momiji had actually started to doze when he heard the familiar sound of the door sliding open. He bolted upright in a daze, trying to disentangle himself from Akito. But it was too late. Hatori came into the room, stone faced as ever, and Akito gave Momiji a quizzical look that bordered on amusement.
"Sorry to interrupt your movie, but I haven't seen you all day, Akito, and I really need to make sure everything is alright," Hatori said evenly as he knelt in front of Akito. Momiji jumped up to stop the movie, even though he could have easily grabbed the remote next to him.
"I'm sure Momiji won't mind a brief pause in our movie marathon," Akito remarked quietly, barely able to keep the smirk off his face.
Momiji froze as he stood in front of the TV. "No, that's really fine," he agreed without looking at Hatori.
Hatori unwound the stethoscope from his neck and began to check Akito's breathing, and the rabbit decided to sit down a short distance away and wait for Hatori to leave. Momiji didn't want to have to see Hatori now that the doctor knew he and Akito were together. He felt awkward whenever he saw Hatori, both because he felt embarrassed for being romantically involved with the person who had hurt Hatori so much and also because he was simply uncomfortable with the role the members of the Mabudachi trio had played in this new relationship in the first place. The rabbit sensed strings trying to move him like a puppet, and he didn't appreciate it any more than if Akito were trying to play him. And yet Hatori seemed to remain impassive about the whole situation, which Momiji wasn't sure he wanted either. Momiji could only come to the conclusion Hatori was angry at him, and that didn't ease the tension he felt.
Finally Hatori finished his exam and, with a brief nod to Akito, left. Momiji pressed the play button and tried to nonchalantly ease himself next to Akito once again. But he couldn't keep a frown off his face as Akito started to chuckle.
"Find something funny in the movie, Akito?" Momiji pouted.
"No, real life is usually far more entertaining."
"Oh?" Momiji glared up at a smiling Akito. "What's so entertaining?"
"Just that you would be embarrassed to be seen with me. I should have thought it would be the other way around."
Momiji flushed. "I'm not embarrassed to be seen with you! I just…Hey, why should it be the other way around?"
"Come now, Momiji. If I can stand to have my confidantes know I'm cavorting with one of my cursed juunishi, then you should be able to bare the fact you are with the family leader."
Even if Akito's delivery was a little off, Momiji had to agree with the underlying message: 'Get over yourself,' as Hatsuharu would say.
"Besides, it hurts my feelings to see you act so self-conscious," Akito said as he moved in to kiss Momiji lightly.
With effort, Momiji bit back a sharp retort and instead opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. Akito turned his body to face Momiji better and soon Momiji was gently being pushed backward. Silk robes enshrouded Momiji as Akito hovered over him, kissing him intensely.
"You're missing the movie," Momiji whispered when Akito started kissing his neck.
"Don't worry. I know how it ends," he replied and smirked.
Hatori returned to his office, only to find Shigure looking very cozy in his desk chair. The doctor immediately frowned.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Ayame told me the good news," Shigure replied cheerfully before sobering quickly. "He also told me how you reacted to it," he added in a serious tone.
"You're a little late to try and console me. How long has it been? Almost two weeks?"
"Yes, well, I know you like to try and stuff your emotions away for a little while before bringing them to me."
"How considerate."
Shigure raised his eyebrow at Hatori. "I tried to call your cell phone, but you turned it off. I tried to call the house, and, mysteriously, you were never around. Surprisingly, I couldn't get away from my work until now. Deadlines and all."
"Could you get out of my chair?" Hatori asked.
"Why don't you join me?" Shigure begged with a sad puppy look and open arms. "We can talk about why you're so blue."
"You don't take anything seriously. Even this."
"I'm your opposite. That's why we work so well together. Now come over here."
"I'll be outside." Hatori turned around walked away. Shigure caught up to Hatori when he sat down and lit a cigarette.
"Come on, Hari. Don't mope so often. No wonder your face is stuck that way."
After a few more moments of silence, Hatori relented. "I'm worried for Momiji."
"Of course you are. Who wouldn't be? We've thrown him into the proverbial lion's den." Shigure leaned closer to Hatori. "But I think the rabbit can handle himself."
Hatori grunted noncommittally.
"Don't you think Momiji would have come to you if he had a problem?"
"I've been trying not to influence him anymore."
Shigure checked his watch. "Well that's ridiculous. We're adults. It's our job to make children do what we want."
By the way Hatori's lips tightened, Shigure could see that this answer did not please him, so he continued quickly. "If you don't want to influence, just try listening. It'll make you feel better," Shigure sang. Hatori finally nodded, but Shigure could tell that he remained indecisive. The desire to stop interfering in Momiji's life was a strong one.
"Now," Shigure sobered once again, "Mit-chan doesn't know I'm here. Can you hide me for a while? Work is killing me."
Hatori sincerely doubted this, but he didn't ask Shigure to leave.
"Hello?" It was nearly ten o'clock when Momiji picked up his telephone.
"It's Haru. You busy tonight?"
"…No. Why?" Momiji asked warily and rolled out of bed.
Haru tried to answer in his usual relaxed tone. "Just hanging out with some friends, and I wanted you to come."
Momiji remained silent.
"Is this another lame attempt to get me a date!" he finally blurted out.
Hatsuharu, still unaware of Momiji's new love interest, had kept true to his word about trying to find him a boyfriend. The rabbit had been surprised several times by Hatsuharu casually bringing along an attractive friend (mostly male) on some of their infrequent outings. Hatsuharu would then wink conspiratorially and make some lame excuse to leave the two alone. Momiji always had to try and excuse himself politely without making Haru suspicious when the cow's accomplice would tell him about the outing's events. Hatsuharu became convinced that Momiji thought he was too good for anyone he knew. Then he decided Momiji was too shy. Hatsuharu even tried to take Momiji clothes shopping, saying a change in style was 'sure to attract the fellas.'
Momiji refused to wear any leather.
At first, Momiji had appreciated Haru's efforts. But, he still couldn't bear to tell him about Akito. Momiji wanted to get used to Akito himself and felt that if Haru could keep Kyo a secret for two weeks, then he only deserved the same time. Those two weeks soon became filled with resentment, however, as all of Haru and Momiji's time together became a quest for romance. Momiji would have preferred them to hang out like they had done before Kyo and Haru's sudden guilty effort to try and find happiness for the cow's slighted friend. The rabbit didn't resent Kyo. It was just that he suddenly realized that things were just different before and couldn't really ever be the same again…without Haru becoming very unhappy.
"…No. It's not a blind date," Haru said lamely.
"Haru, can't we just hang out? Why does there always have to be someone else along? Plus you always leave! I never see you anymore."
"But I thought you wanted…"
"Haru come over and I'll tell you why I don't need your help." Momiji gulped. His two weeks were almost over, and he had to tell Haru about Akito soon. Otherwise, Haru's feelings of betrayal would be doubled by Momiji's lies.
"Okay, I'll be there in a minute."
"I'll see you soon," Momiji said.
"Okay, I'm on your steps," Haru said, and Momiji blinked in surprise.
"You're here already?" Momiji trotted to his front door and opened it. Haru stuffed his cell phone into a pocket as Momiji ushered him inside.
"I wanted to get out of the house, so I went on a walk," was Haru's response to Momiji's questioning look.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Haru headed to the table and sat down. He glanced at Momiji and then did a double take and stood up again. Haru marched closer to Momiji, eyeing his neck.
"Is that a hickie?" Haru asked, pointing to the dark spot just above Momiji's shirt collar. Momiji slapped a hand over it with a deep blush.
"It's a hickie! Who did you pick? Was it one of the guys or girls? I bet it was Ryu. He's a little weird at first but once you get to know him…"
"It wasn't any of them!" Momiji sat down, still with his hand on his neck. "That's what I need to tell you, Haru."
"You found someone by yourself?" Haru asked slowly. "Is it a him? Do I know him?"
"Yes…and yes." Momiji began to sweat.
"Weeelll?" Haru knew Momiji loved keeping up suspense, but this was killing him. As Momiji stalled, Haru ran over the list of guesses in his head. It hadn't been anyone he set Momiji up with, so that left very few guys who went to their school and were willing to be set up with another guy. Haru supposed it could be someone who went to another school or even someone who had already graduated.
But Momiji was acting like this was a big deal. So why would he keep a secret?
Haru's smile slowly faded as a new possibility dawned on him. It hadn't even dawned. Akito's name had been in the back of Haru's mind for quite a while.
As Momiji started stuttering, Haru just blurted out his suspicion. "It's Akito, isn't it?" he asked.
Momiji looked shocked for a second, then nodded. "Akito did that to you?" Haru pointed to the mark on Momiji's neck, causing the rabbit to blush and nod again.
Haru bit a nail off his finger and watched Momiji squirm. He realized that he had known all along, ever since Momiji started to act angry every time he was set up with someone.
"How long have you two…" Haru couldn't finish the question and tried to stay as calm as possible.
"Two weeks," Momiji answered, finally becoming braver in front of his friend.
"Same amount of time I kept Kyo from you, huh?"
Momiji nodded.
"Well, I can't be a hypocrite and blame you for keeping this a secret." Haru got up. "But unless you want a Black Haru on your hands, I can't talk about it anymore."
"Haru," Momiji muttered.
"Leave it," Haru commanded and walked towards Momiji's door. Before he left, he turned around. "I can tell you this; Akito's not good enough for you, no matter how much you try and change him."
Haru left before he became even angrier, and Momiji marveled that things went as well as they did.
Momiji decided to visit Hatori the next morning. They hadn't really spoken since Momiji had gotten together with Akito. Momiji wasn't sure whether that was due to Hatori's supposed anger or his own embarrassment. Either way, two weeks of silence was too much for the rabbit, and since he had started to clear things up with Haru, Momiji thought he might as well do the same with Hatori. But he was determined not to get emotional. Momiji wanted to talk to Hatori, but he also wanted answers.
At the sound of a visitor, Hatori turned around from his busy writing. A wave of relief washed over him as he saw Momiji absentmindedly sit down in front of him. Hatori had been preoccupied with remaining impassive for Momiji's well-being. He had been waiting for Momiji to come, so he could use Shigure's advice.
"Hello, Momiji. It's a nice surprise to see you today."
Momiji glanced up from his childlike study of every object in the room. "I thought it was time for a visit, and I wanted to ask you something."
"You usually have some question when you come to see me," Hatori agreed and smiled.
"Were you planning on me getting together with Akito?" Momiji asked as he continued to look at the few knick-knacks sitting on Hatori's shelves between the massive collection of books.
The doctor was only taken aback for a moment. He knew about Ayame's casual comment about the Mabudachi Trio's plans. "Do you want the truth, Momiji?"
"I always expect you to tell me the truth, Hatori. I didn't know I had to ask for that too," Momiji said sadly at the same moment his eyes fell on the picture of Kana that still sat on Hatori's desk.
"I always do tell you the truth, but this time a lie might make you less angry with me." Hatori followed Momiji's gaze and also looked at his picture of Kana. "Yes, we were hoping for that outcome."
Momiji flinched, but nodded.
"What you don't realize is how much trust we put into you, Momiji."
When Hatori said this, Momiji looked at him. "The first time you asked about Akito, I only wanted to shield you from him as much as possible. But as you became more interested in befriending him, we saw the potential you had to stabilize him. You know how dangerous Akito's whims can be, and though many people don't realize it, you are the exact opposite of him. You are totally uncorrupted."
Hatori reached for a handkerchief in his pocket as Momiji started to lose his cool composure. "We hoped…knew you would remain incorruptible, even so close to the strongest position in the family. Please don't be angry, Momiji. I'm sorry for what we did."
Momiji shook his head quickly. "I just wish you had told me before."
"That we wanted you to use your friendship with Akito to reform him?"
"Well, that was kind of the original point."
"Then yes, we should have trusted you. Shigure has tried to reform Akito in his own ways but often ends up scheming instead to get the same ends. I tend to do nothing and neither of us wants to involve Ayame in problems that could make his life more difficult."
It was at that moment that Momiji suddenly felt like he was finally an adult in this family. He realized the older Zodiac members tried to make everyone as happy as possible in the difficult situation that they all shared. Each of them could only do their best, and Momiji swore to do his own part. He left Hatori's office after emphatically hugging the other man, holding the Mabudachi Trio's secret close to his heart.