Momiji felt a sudden chill, and goosebumps made their way up his arms. He got up from his bed after memorizing what page he was on in A Spell for Chameleon and shut the window to his bedroom with a thud. Then he looked around, wondering why something still felt wrong. After a moment, he just shrugged and buried himself under his blankets. He had skipped school that day in an attempt to be as reclusive as possible so Akito wouldn't even be able to get a glimpse of him if he tried. He had even unplugged his home phone, thinking that someone could reach him through his cell in an emergency. Of course, Momiji had to convince Haru he was sick enough to stay home but not sick enough to need Hatori's help or for Haru to check up on him. Eventually, Haru had accepted Momiji's lies and just gone about his usual business. Momiji hoped things with Haru and Kyo were going better than his relationship with Akito.
Just when Momiji had settled himself into his blanket cocoon again, he heard a light knock from the front door. His heart practically leaped out of his chest, and he quickly tried to look as presentable as possible, abandoning the warmth of his bed and changing out of his pajamas in record time. Of course, he had prepared the outfit he would wear in this situation a few hours before. Heart racing faster, Momiji scampered to the front door, paused to run quick fingers through his hair, and opened it, only to find Kagura on the other side.
Momiji was just able to keep the look of disappointment off his face.
"Kagura!" he chirped. "I haven't seen you in such a long time! Do you want to come in?"
Momiji opened the door and gestured her inside, looking past her and glancing around as if Akito might be hiding in the bushes. He wasn't. The rabbit sighed and looked at Kagura, who still stood firmly on his stoop. He finally noticed how terrible Kagura looked with puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks. And the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Are you okay?" Momiji asked kindly, shuffling outside to give her a hug she desperately looked like she needed. Momiji didn't ask Kagura more questions as she just stood there silently in his embrace. He guessed she had probably found out about Haru.
Suddenly, Kagura snapped out of her daze.
"Momiji!" she yelled, pushing him away gently. "I know you're sick, but you have to do something!"
"About what?" Momiji asked, tilting his head, but Kagura continued talking without pause.
"You have to go see Akito! I don't know if what they're saying is true, and I don't really care if it is. Honest! Especially if it is true, and then maybe you can help Kyo! I just couldn't sit around the house and wait, no matter what Mama says. I know you can help! Come on, let's go!"
Kagura tugged harshly on Momiji's arm, and he was forced to follow her in the direction of the main house. He tried to get some more information out of her, but Kagura remained silent. She was focused on her task of dragging Momiji along, slightly against his will. Momiji supposed she did this a lot with Kyo.
Oh. Kyo. Momiji had to go see Akito because of Kyo…oh no.
Momiji finally started to run with Kagura.
"You mean he knows about Kyo and Hatsuharu!"
"So, you knew about it too," Kagura whispered sadly as she kept running.
"I'm sorry, Kagura," Momiji said kindly. "It wasn't my place to tell you, and I'm sure they only kept it a secret to keep from hurting your feelings."
"I know!" Kagura sobbed. "I wasn't mad! I didn't tell Akito to get them in trouble, I swear!"
Momiji frowned. He hadn't actually thought Kagura had told him. He sighed internally. Well at least she was trying to help now. Soon the main house loomed in front of them, and they slowed down, nearly tiptoeing the rest of the way. Momiji looked up at Kagura and nodded.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Momiji stepped onto the porch by himself and quietly slid open the door. He discovered an empty room. Momiji wrinkled his brows in confusion and glanced back to Kagura.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Why would I make this up!" She jumped next to him and looked into the room.
"Where could they be?" Momiji walked inside, forgetting to take his shoes off.
"I don't know. I mean…I didn't get you exactly when things started happening." Kagura followed him and began peering in every direction.
"What do you mean?" Momiji turned around with a skeptical look. Kagura sighed.
"Mama told me to wait in the house, and I did for a while…" Kagura gazed at Momiji as if she needed some sort of redemption. "I couldn't stay there, though! I snuck out to find you…maybe we're too late," she whispered with a horrified expression.
Momiji's heart dropped. They were too late? That couldn't be possible. He dropped to the floor, face in his hands. He had failed Hatsuharu. He had failed everyone by failing to help Akito.
Kagura crouched next to him.
"Please don't do that Momiji. It's not your fault! It's mine! Come on, we can go look for them! I was wrong, it's not too…" Kagura suddenly quieted.
"Momiji?"
The rabbit pulled his hands away from his face, hastily scrubbing his eyes. That hadn't been Kagura who had spoken. He looked up from the floor and saw Shigure standing in the doorway to the hall, wearing a look of utter surprise. Immediately, relief washed over the dog's face, and he quietly started chuckling and then burst into laughter that was on the edge of sobbing. Momiji stood up, and Kagura gasped.
"I've been trying to find you," Shigure finally whispered. "I…" Shigure rolled his eyes and whispered. "…need your help. Things have gotten a little more out of hand than expected."
XXX
The world was a blur, and Akito couldn't identify any of the forms that moved in and out of his vision. He knew he was in a bed, and that small knowledge comforted Akito a little as he heard quiet voices around him. At least he wasn't in a hospital room. He would have been able to smell it.
Slowly his awareness came back, and he was able to see the ceiling. The voices around him became louder. He distinctly heard Hatori, as the doctor's deep voice was forever engrained in his mind. When everything became focused once again, Akito finally set to remembering how he had gotten here in the first place. And he nearly screamed. Instead, he breathed uneasily and felt someone lift a bag of ice from his left eye. That side of his face was numb.
"Akito?" Hatori questioned uncertainly, coming into Akito's field of vision as he leaned over. "You passed out for a moment."
Akito silently sat up and glanced around his room. Kyo and Yuki leaned against the opposite wall and both startled when Akito's gaze landed on them. They quickly looked next to them, to Hatsuharu. Haru looked boldly back at Akito for a moment and then flicked his eyes to the floor. Akito sneered at them and spoke.
"What happened here?"
"Hatsuharu had a breakdown into his alternate personality. It was my fault for not catching it in time, but, as you know, White Haru has no control over the actions of Black Haru…"
"Stop your rambling, Hatori," Akito snapped. "Kureno, tell me."
"I came in with Yuki, Shigure, and Kyo and found you on the floor. Hatori was restraining Hatsuharu. I believe Hatsuharu hit you."
"Brilliant deduction. Where is Shigure?"
Kureno bowed his head and mumbled, "He said he had quick business to attend to."
"Kureno, you idiot. Go find him." Akito sighed. Things weren't quite going as he had planned. He didn't know what Shigure was up to, but Akito guessed the dog knew he was in trouble. After deciding to think about Shigure's punishment at another time, Akito looked at the boys and settled on Kyo.
"Your lover tried to defend you, but his little stunt isn't going to work. I have made my decision. You are to be locked away as soon as possible."
Kyo nodded, and Haru mimicked the movement after a slight hesitation. Yuki looked at them standing on either side of him and sighed heavily. Akito waited a moment, expecting Yuki to speak, but just as he seemed ready to say something, he simply sighed again and looked away. Akito smiled quietly to himself, realizing the rat wanted to try and save them but couldn't bring himself to do it. At least someone knew his place.
Hatori gently placed a hand on Akito's shoulder.
"Don't touch me," Akito muttered and swatted the hand away. He glared at the doctor. "If I ever find out you've lied to me, I don't think I'll ever forgive you."
Hatori winced and pulled his hand back. The room became silent save for another sigh from Yuki, and Akito idly wondered what was taking Kureno so long to fetch Shigure. Perhaps the dog had actually tried to run away. What a coward, Akito thought contemptuously. He passed another few seconds glaring evenly at everyone in the room until the door opened, and Akito turned toward the noise.
Momiji ran into the room straight for Akito's bed and wrapped his arms around the surprised clan leader.
"Akito, I was so worried when Shigure told me what happened! I can't believe Haru did that to you. He's so stupid sometimes. He took a swing at me once!" Momiji settled himself next to Akito on the bed, just managing to sit on the edge without falling off. He brushed some hair away from Akito's face and whistled. "Wow, that'll be a nice shiner."
No one else spoke, including Akito, who was too surprised to think coherently once again. He had missed Momiji, but at the same time this seemed too planned. Akito wasn't used to people being kind to him for no reason, and he instantly looked past Momiji at Shigure, who had tried to silently slide into the room next to Hatori.
"Why did you bring him here?"
Shigure pointed to himself with a look of utter innocence. "Me? I thought it would be a good idea. What do you say Hatori? Isn't it easier to recover with one's loved ones around?"
Not a muscle on Hatori's face moved as he kept his eyes steadily on the floor. Momiji hopped off of the bed.
"I'm sorry I disobeyed you. I know you don't want to see me anymore." Momiji said seriously. "But even though I was worried about Hatsuharu first, as soon as I heard he had turned Black, all I could think was 'God, I hope he didn't hurt Akito.' I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I'll go." He smiled sadly.
Akito watched as Momiji turned away and Shigure patted him on the shoulder kindly. He remembered how much he had wanted Momiji to stay before. More people were here now, however, and he would not call the rabbit back. He shouldn't have to ask for a zodiac member's love.
"Akito," Yuki said abruptly, causing Momiji to pause at the door. "There is something I need to tell you."
Akito looked at Yuki with disinterest. He was growing tired of all the zodiac members crowded into the small room. He only wanted to be alone. He didn't want these people here. They only had problems. They only wanted to use him. They only made his head hurt.
"What do you want, Yuki?" he managed to say calmly.
"I…I," Yuki stuttered and stopped when he realized everyone was looking at him. "I'm with Tohru. I just thought..."
"Yuki, what the hell are you doing?" Haru interjected quietly.
"Shut the hell up, you god damn rat," Kyo hissed under his breath at nearly the same time.
"I just thought you should know," Yuki finished and looked around as if even he wasn't sure about what he had just done.
Akito allowed himself to look as shocked as he felt. Yuki, Hatsuharu, Kyo: all of them were trying to lead normal lives, and Akito was stuck in a bed with a bruised face, confronted by people who hated him. He could see how Haru and Yuki were looking at him now, expecting him to snap any moment. Akito didn't want to let them down. He would get his way. Akito turned to Shigure.
"Did you know about this? Did you know about all of this! All of the younger zodiac members are running around finding love. But they are mine. You are mine!" he yelled at the boys.
Shigure coughed into his hand. "You're forgetting where one of them found it," he said nonchalantly, and to make sure his point wasn't missed, he gestured at Momiji. Momiji truly resembled a trapped rabbit at that moment, with Akito facing him with rage and his friends looking shocked at the mention of him finding love with Akito. He choked out a laugh, then tried to sober himself.
"Akito," he started and sucked in a haggard breath. "I…"
Akito slid out of the bed, trying to ignore Momiji as he pulled on the robe that had been used to cover him. "Don't speak, Momiji. I'm terribly tired of lies today."
"Why don't you just listen to what he has to say?" Haru said quietly.
"Why don't you shut your filthy mouth?" Akito snapped. He walked over and grabbed Haru's shirt collar. "You think you can just hit me and think nothing will happen to you? This is all your fault. It's your fault for…"
"Why do you care?" Haru said simply and put his hand over Akito's before he could pull it away. "Why do you care whom we love? I find it hard to believe you enjoy ruining people's lives. Maybe," Haru looked over at Kyo. "Maybe you're just frightened that no one loves you."
"Leave," Akito whispered, whipping his hand back and clutching it as if touching Haru had hurt him. "I'm finished with you all."
"You can't make people love you," Haru finished, changing his stare to look at Momiji. "And you can't stop it either. It just happens."
Akito opened his mouth to say something, but Yuki saw the effect Haru's words were having on the family leader, and he interjected.
"Tohru wanted me to tell you about us," he started cautiously when Akito turned to glare at him. "She said it wasn't right to hide that we loved each other. She thinks that adding more love to the world is one of the best things two people can do, and that never means you love someone else less." Yuki slyly glanced at Kyo, who shook his head because he had no idea what was going on. Yuki jabbed the cat with an elbow.
"Ummm. I don't know about all of this love stuff. I can't say I love Haru because…" Kyo flushed and looked at the door. "because I haven't had much experience dealing with it. I know I don't deserve to be loved, but Haru doesn't care about that, and that's nice I guess." He shrugged and managed to turn to Akito. "It's nice to be around someone for once who doesn't hate me." Yuki gave the cat a small smile, and Kyo returned it with a look of utter confusion. Haru sighed and rolled his eyes.
Akito didn't notice any of this. He had turned his attention to the wall in between Haru and Yuki. He had been staring at it since they began speaking, unable to interrupt them. He felt strange, the same way he had felt when Tohru cried for him. Or perhaps it was how he had felt when Momiji had cried for him. Except no one was crying now. They were simply talking to him, as if he were one of them. Instead of being angry, Akito was once again confused.
"Akito," Momiji placed a hand on his shoulder, and Akito looked at him blankly before slowly recognizing the rabbit's face. "Is it okay if I talk to you alone?"
Akito nodded once and the other zodiac members quickly and quietly filed out of the room. Haru slipped his hand into Kyo's, and Shigure slung an arm around Hatori, which was quickly thrown off. Akito had nearly forgotten the older juunishi were there. As soon as they turned down the hall, Momiji sat on the floor briskly, and Akito slowly followed his example.
"I really missed you," Momiji said, pushing his two index fingers together and staring at them. "I was trying to play hard to get, but it didn't really work, did it?"
"What do you want, Momiji?" Akito sighed.
"Remember when you asked me why I thought your actions couldn't be genuine?" Momiji questioned slowly. "It was right after the first time we kissed. And I can't help wondering now why you don't think my feelings could be real too?"
Akito remained silent.
"It hurt me when you sent me away."
"Momiji," Akito murmured with a wry shake of his head. "You think this is easy. You think being family leader is a simple job? I am the head of everyone. I have to be in control."
"Do you think it's easy knowing that my existence is killing you?" Momiji timidly leaned his head forward and rested it on Akito's shoulder. "And all I can think is how much I'm going to miss you when you're gone and how you're not letting me get to know you. I don't want to lose someone else. Not yet." He clutched Akito's robes.
Akito wrapped his arms hesitantly around Momiji. "I'm sorry," he whispered uncertainly into Momiji's hair, but the rabbit pulled back.
"Don't say you're sorry!" Momiji said, looking Akito in the eye. "Say you'll stay!"
When Akito didn't respond, Momiji continued.
"We should stay together, and not because we have to, but because we want to. I can't make you stay with me Akito. That's your decision."
Akito considered for a moment. He thought about what everyone had said. He realized they had played their game well. All of their words had penetrated him, and even now Akito could feel his resolve melting as he looked at Momiji. He sighed and brushed some hair away from his eyes after looking away.
"I suppose you want me to spare your little friends."
"They're not just my friends." Momiji smiled.
Akito snorted contemptuously, and Momiji laughed.
"Okay, maybe not yet. But why don't you try?" Momiji hopped up and reached a hand down to Akito. "It might be fun."
Akito pulled Momiji down to him.
"I'll think about it." were Akito's last words before Momiji stopped all conversation with a kiss.