A big thanks to everyone who is still reading (and reviewing) this story even after it's brief hiatus! It's definitely back and rocketing towards a conclusion.
And, just a reminder, I don't own Fruits Basket, just in case you forgot.
Kyo noticed Hatsuharu's glum attitude as they sparred in the yard. Haru's heart didn't seem to be in the fight. This was usually the case when he was White, but this current pacifism stemmed more from being preoccupied than from the pure coolness Haru usually demonstrated. And Haru's moodiness wasn't new to today. He had been out of it for a couple days, but Kyo hadn't begun to worry until now, since Hatsuharu was often slightly spacey.
Haru failed to block a punch aimed at his face, an easy hit to avoid if he had been concentrating even a little. Kyo heard a crack and realized he had been trying too hard. Fighting rules were different when the cow was White. And now his boyfriend's nose was gently spurting blood.
"Oh, shit, Haru. I told you we didn't have to fight!"
Tohru, who had been watching from the porch while knitting a violet scarf for Yuki, ran inside to get ice and an arsenal of other first aid items. Kyo watched her go, slightly relieved that he could be alone with Haru for a second to figure out what was wrong with him.
"I knew you wanted to. Besides, I don't mind it when you're rough with me." Haru managed to smirk while he pinched his nose and tilted his head back.
"Idiot," Kyo muttered.
Tohru came back before Kyo could broach the subject of Haru's depression. She gently moved Haru's hand away from his nose and put a bag of ice on it. Having dropped her large case of bandages on the grass, she stooped down to grab it and then handed it to Kyo.
"I wasn't sure what else you would need," she explained tentatively.
Kyo laughed. "Well I hope we never need to use all of this."
While Haru was preoccupied with switching his now frozen hand for the other to hold the ice against his nose, Kyo leaned in to Tohru and whispered to her.
"I need to talk to Haru for a second. Could you…"
"Haru, would you like something to drink?" she asked abruptly with a quick nod at Kyo before turning to face the cow. "I'm going to get something for myself. It's so hot out!"
Tohru smiled warmheartedly at them both before walking towards the kitchen.
"So, why'd you ask Tohru to leave?" Haru asked, heading to the porch and sitting down. "We need a little alone time?" Haru's smirk looked a little ridiculous with a bag of ice over half his face.
Tact wasn't one of Kyo's better-learned traits, and so he went right to the point.
"Why are you so sad all of a sudden?"
"I'm not sad, Kytten."
"Is it something I did?" Kyo stuttered uncertainly.
"Don't worry about me. I just have to get over something," Haru sighed and took the cold compress off his nose. It had stopped bleeding.
"What's bothering you? You can tell me. I mean, I doubt I'll be able to help or anything, but still."
Haru glanced over at Kyo, who looked truly worried about him. Finally, he sighed.
"Well," Haru began, "It's about Momiji."
"You mean the thing with him and Akito being together? How fucked up is that," Kyo said casually.
Suddenly, Haru turned to him and nearly shouted, "You knew? How long have you known?"
Holding up his hands, Kyo answered steadily, "I heard about it from Master yesterday. He said it was the latest rumor in the Sohma gossip mill. No one's really sure if it's true. So don't worry about it!"
Haru desperately ran his hands through his hair. "How come I didn't hear about it from anyone?"
"Maybe you live under a rock?" Kyo noticed Haru didn't appreciate humor at the moment. "Seriously, it's not a big deal. Some new hired help probably saw Momiji visiting Akito and took it the wrong way. You guys have to see him all the time, right?"
"…not really." Kyo was being very understanding, Haru thought, considering the rumor was true. But his Kytten hadn't heard the truth from the horse's (or in this case rabbit's) mouth.
After thinking for a moment, Kyo asked another question. "If you didn't hear about it from anyone…how did you know?"
"Let's forget about it," Haru whispered and leaned toward Kyo. "I'm sick of talking and I don't think Tohru's coming back for awhile." At least other people still weren't sure about Akito and Momiji's relationship. To his surprise, Haru suddenly felt protective of his friend, even though he hated what Momiji was doing. No matter what Momiji did, Haru didn't want his reputation destroyed.
The cat wasn't too eager to let the issue slide until Haru interlaced his hands on the back of the Kyo's neck and pulled him into a deep kiss. Kyo forgot everything as Haru's tongue explored his mouth. It was still such a new sensation, and Kyo thoroughly enjoyed it.
"Your hands are freezing," Kyo murmured when Haru moved away from him. He pulled his head down out of Haru's hold, then grasped Haru's hands and placed them against his cheek, trying to warm them.
They only sat that way for a minute before Kyo suddenly noticed that it had begun drizzling. But that was clearly impossible, since they were sitting on the porch. Kyo's shirt started to become damp against his back, and he looked at Haru, who also seemed confused as to the sudden change in weather. Then Hatsuharu looked past Kyo and pointed.
"How long do I need to spray you two with the hose before you get the point?" Shigure asked from the yard. "Maybe I'm not aiming well enough." He turned the hose squarely on the boys, and before they could react, they were soaked through. Mission accomplished, Shigure then very casually twisted the hose to spray the bushes on the side of the house. Kyo was livid; he hated being wet. Hatsuharu didn't seem too phased by his sudden sogginess.
"Mmmmm, refreshing," he chuckled.
"You bastard," Kyo hissed to Shigure, who couldn't seem to hear him over the water.
"Now, before I hear your little complaints, can you boys tell me what my one rule was? Hmmmm?" Shigure bent down and turned the hose off, dropping it in the grass before he walked over to the wet pair.
"If you'll remember," he said coolly, "I told you to keep your little fling a secret. This doesn't seem very secretive to me."
"Where else do you want us to go?" Kyo growled. Haru took the opportunity to examine his bracelets. "We can't exactly be out in the middle of the street. That's more dangerous than being here."
"You've got to be kidding. The Sohma family owns this place. Akito knows everything that goes on, mostly because I tell him. I'm risking my own neck for you two." Shigure folded his arms. "And I don't appreciate your attitude. You don't want to end up front page tabloid material like Akito and Momiji, do you?"
Haru startled and finally said something. "What do you know about it?"
"I know what I hear," Shigure said, lying through his teeth. "Now could you please leave before someone shows up to get me in trouble? In my day, we were much more creative…"
"Come on, Kyo. I know a place where we can go."
Kyo looked up at Haru and then to Shigure.
"Don't tell me," Shigure said, waving a hand. "The less I know about this the better."
Shigure watched with worry as the boys left. Sometimes even he wondered if his plans were too dangerous. Then he looked at the soggy porch. Tohru came back at just that minute with a lemonade platter and the unfinished scarf wrapped around her neck.
"Oh, what happened to Haru and Kyo?"
"I told them it was best to be more secretive about their relationship." Shigure looked at Tohru for a long moment, and she seemed to catch the hint because she flushed brightly.
"I…I see. Oh, look at the porch. It must have rained while I was inside. I'll get the mop." Tohru scampered back inside, leaving Shigure to roll his eyes at the complexity of teenage romance in the Sohma family.
As Momiji came home from school that day, he began to notice something strange. He was following his usual route, which consisted of walking through the main gate and across the outer grounds. Normally, Momiji was used to traveling unnoticed by the few people who lived on the estate. Now, however, he could feel eyes follow him as he headed to the inner grounds.
Momiji was only just inside the main gate, and already he saw two women stop and whisper. He continued on his way at his usual pace, trying to ignore the open gawking by distant relatives he couldn't even name if he tried. Finally, he simply couldn't stand it anymore and sped up his pace. He trotted past onlookers who seemed to be crowding the sides of the main path and finally entered the inner grounds and sat down.
Momiji sighed and looked around. He hoped he wouldn't see any more people. News of his relationship with Akito must have gotten out, and the Sohmas couldn't wait to see Akito's new plaything. He even felt like there were more people outside than usual. With a drop of his stomach, Momiji realized he couldn't be sure whether Akito had played a role in the spreading of gossip or not. When he finally got the energy to move after the shock of being studied by everyone who saw him, Momiji went to Hatori's porch. Hatori seemed to be waiting for him, and Momiji felt uncomfortable once again. He definitely didn't like people noticing him so much. It just brought back too many memories of feeling different.
"Hello, Momiji. How was your trip today?" Hatori sat down next to Momiji and watched him take off his shoes after dropping his backpack with a thud.
"Do I have a sign on my back or something? I hope you know about the sudden surge of interest in me."
"I do…it seems news spreads very quickly in the Sohma family when it concerns Akito. I heard about it from one of the maids, who heard from a cook on the outer grounds."
Momiji couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I've never been at the center of a rumor before. It makes me feel kind of special."
Hatori shrugged, then said comfortingly, "You should have seen the crowd when I was appointed Akito's primary doctor. You'll get used to the attention, and soon the interest will fade away."
"Well, I've never been one to turn attention down! I'll just have to make sure to impress them." Momiji struck a thoughtful pose. "Whatever shall I wear?" he asked dramatically.
"I'll have to warn you," Hatori added with a flinch while Momiji pondered his various outfit choices, "more people may be coming in and out of the estate over the next few days. Even though the rumor is unfounded at the moment, the many people who haven't seen you..."
"So you mean Akito didn't say anything about it?"
"He's just as angry about this as you are. None of us knows how the news broke out. Akito hasn't validated it yet, at least, but just the rumor is enough."
"That's good," Momiji sighed to himself. "I don't know why, but I was afraid he had told everyone because I had mentioned I was embarrassed…"
Momiji let Hatori put an arm around him.
"I promise, they'll be bored soon enough."
Momiji stood up suddenly and began strutting up and down Hatori's porch in his best catwalk imitation. "Well, they can be interested if they want. I'm used to people looking at me, considering how gorgeous I am." Momiji laughed.
"Be careful, Momiji," Hatori whispered.
"I better get going then," Momiji smiled, not hearing Hatori's quiet warning.
The doctor nodded solemnly, letting Momiji pass through his office to get to Akito's rooms. He didn't think Momiji fully grasped the gravity of the situation, and he didn't know how to make him understand…except by seeing Akito.
"Please be careful," he said to himself, watching the door to his office slide shut.
"Where are we going?" Kyo asked as Haru tugged him down the street.
"It's a surprise" was his only answer.
"Do you even know where you're going?"
Haru stopped and looked around. "I always know where I'm going. The question is how to get there."
Kyo sighed and pulled his hand away from Haru. "Tell me where we're going so I can get us there."
"Sohma Estate," Haru answered evenly.
"Sohma Estate! Are you fucking serious!"
"Well," Haru said slowly, "The southern wall of Sohma Estate."
"How does that make a difference?" Kyo looked at Haru inquisitively. "Were you even listening to Shigure? I hate to say it, but he is right."
"Of course I was listening. I didn't even have to listen; I know more about this kind of thing than you." Haru began walking again.
"It's not that way!" Kyo quickly grabbed Haru's hand and pulled him in the opposite direction. "Come on. I swear to god, you better know what you're talking about."
It took Kyo a few turns and a couple of dead ends before he set them on the right path to Sohma Estate. He avoided the road to the main gate, and instead headed in a roundabout circle to end up at the southern wall. Treetops reached out above the structure, contrasting with the city buildings and houses that sat outside.
The two boys looked at the barrier in front of them.
"You can jump this right?" Haru asked.
Kyo only glared at the cow, and he took that as a yes. A few feet away from them, a bench sat under the shade of the trees. After checking that no one was around, they climbed up on the seat and leaped onto the wall, jumping down into the forest as quickly as possible.
Kyo looked around at the dense trees and bushes in front of him.
"I've never been back here before," he said.
"Not a lot of people have," Haru said, starting to walk in a certain direction. He glanced back at Kyo, who was busy taking in his surroundings.
Kyo could practically swear he was walking through the forest by Shigure's house. It was such a strange idea to him that he was actually right in the middle of the city.
"It's not that great," Haru said when he noticed Kyo gawking at everything in sight. But to Kyo, it was magnificent. He had finally snuck inside the place he was only supposed to be in if Akito invited him. And he never would have done it without Haru, who hadn't given the gravity of their action a second thought.
"Okay," Haru stopped and pointed to a stone bench covered in ivy, "You go straight from the wall until you hit this bench. Then you make a right."
Kyo nodded his head in understanding, still a little overwhelmed with the idea of where he was. Then he began to think again.
"Hey, are you sure you know where you're going?"
"Yup, I made sure to remember. This is my secret spot. Now pay attention; this is where it gets tricky. See the tree that looks like it's smiling at you?"
Kyo turned his attention to a huge oak, which bore a knot, resembling a face.
"Just follow where he's looking until you hit a copse of maples. And then, we're there."
Before them stood a mass of Japanese maples. Their branches wove into one another, making it nearly impossible to see what was beyond them.
"You just go through here." Haru held one of the branches back for Kyo to crawl under. The cat stood up in an open grove. The entire area, about the size of his bedroom, was surrounded by the red-leaved trees.
"He we are," Haru said. "Sit down. I'm going to head back and go through the main gate to get here again." He winked down at Kyo. "That way, anyone who cares will think I'm on the grounds by myself."
Kyo nodded, seemingly in a trance, while he watched Haru leave. Then he lay down on the soft grass, looking at the cloudless sky. This place was too perfect.
Momiji thought Akito was acting strange as soon as he entered the room to find him sitting in the dark with no doors or windows open. Momiji could see just enough to make his way over to Akito and sit down, but Akito didn't even greet him.
Finally, after along silence, Akito murmured harshly, "It seems the entire family is guessing about us, Momiji."
"Yeah, I noticed," Momiji said as lightly as he could. Something didn't feel right today.
Akito looked over at Momiji, only able to see him slightly in the dark. He had been preoccupied with this problem since yesterday, and he saw only one way to solve it. "I can't have my authority questioned, Momiji."
"…what do you mean?"
"Having a relationship with a child makes me seem weak."
Momiji sucked in his breath. "Are you…breaking up with me?"
"No." Akito moved toward Momiji and put a hand on his cheek, relishing the softness of his skin. "I need to let this rumor die down."
Momiji let this statement sink in as Akito touched his face.
"I can't see you anymore, Momiji," Akito clarified after a few moments.
The light turned on, so to speak, and, because it was so dark, Momiji let himself roll his eyes in annoyance.
"Can I ask why that's the decision you came to?" he questioned lightly as Akito pulled away.
"No."
"Why can't I just keep seeing you? I mean, the rumors are totally unfounded if you don't want anyone to know. Plus I live on the inner grounds too."
"Don't make me explain myself to you," Akito lowered his voice.
With another eye roll to the ceiling, Momiji thought quickly. He wasn't going to let Akito push him away so easily, but it was hard to figure out how to handle the situation. Akito was still the leader of the family, with a temper to match Black Haru in the worst of his fits.
"Please leave, Momiji."
"Huh?" Momiji totally missed Akito's words, being too preoccupied with his own thoughts.
"I'm asking you to leave." Akito whispered.
"What? No." Momiji said incredulously. Then, more firmly, "I don't want to go."
"I don't care what you want," Akito hissed.
Rather than feeling afraid, Momiji was getting annoyed. Annoyed that Akito was acting so rashly for no real reason.
"I still don't understand why you're doing this. Don't you want me to stay?" Momiji doubted Akito would answer at this point. He could tell the leader was quickly entering into one of his…less friendly moods. With a sub-vocal sigh, Momiji glanced over and tried to pick out Akito's expression. His eyes widened as he realized it was too late for reason. Akito had snapped.
"You think you're special to me just because I kissed you, you little shit! Get out of my sight," Akito yelled, standing up to his full height to loom over the kneeling rabbit.
"Actually…I kissed you, remember?" Momiji regretted his words as soon as they came out of his mouth. Joking was not a good option anymore.
"Don't make me tell you again! I'm ordering you to GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
Momiji looked at Akito's raised hand, ready to swing down on him, and suddenly leaving seemed like a very good idea. But he had to come up with something to save this situation. He had worked too hard to become this close to Akito, and he hadn't even had enough time to help him at all!
"NOW!"
Momiji was relieved when Akito only grasped his shoulders, pushing him to the floor. He looked up at the man standing above him. Akito didn't really want this. Some strange motivation Momiji didn't understand was making him act this way.
I can't have my authority questioned.
Momiji curled into a ball in case Akito decided to kick him and kept thinking as quickly as he could. Makes me seem weak…
And as the seconds crept by, Momiji slowly opened his eyes and looked to where Akito was standing. He was still there, silent, ominous, waiting. Looking at the person whom he didn't want to abandon, Momiji realized there was only thing he could do. He would have to make Akito come to him and learn that that didn't make him weak.
Wanting something only made him human.
The rabbit sighed as he sat up. "I'm leaving, Akito."
"Good," Akito spat, but the vehemence was gone. He sounded oddly defeated, and Momiji couldn't help but smile to himself that his theories were proven correct. Akito did want him there.
"I won't come back if you don't want me to, because I know that's not my place."
Momiji could only see Akito nod. The darkness hid his face.
When he finally got up and walked to the door, Momiji opened it wide to let the light burst into the room. The rabbit smiled sadly as Akito covered his face from the sudden brightness as if the light burned him.
"You know where to find me. Don't wait up." Momiji smiled fondly at Akito once the leader's eyes had adjusted.
He slid the door shut after leaving and managed not to collapse against it.
Then, once his legs had gotten steady again, he walked past Hatori's office and went straight home, deciding he would be the one to wait this time.