Pairing: Hatori Sohma / Ayame Sohma
Theme: #18: "say ahh..." /「アーン？」
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or its characters.

Warnings: Angst, to be continued (I know, annoying xP). This is a continuation of 'Babysitter'.

Twist of the Wild Card

"Ayame, I hope you are not still inside this house when I enter." Hatori warned, albeit only to himself; he figured it was wishful thinking, not to mention that he was still standing outside while Ayame was probably waiting inside for him. He had just had a long day tending to Akito's every whim, and he was in no mood to have to mollycoddle Ayame in a similar fashion like the Hebi so often required from him, and from everyone else for that matter.

It appeared that the Snake had no intention of leaving his house anymore, even not after having made a full recovery as Hatori had assured him of four times, before he realised that Ayame was in his mansion to stay. He had settled in Hatori's bed, taken over Hatori's blankets, most of the pillows (Hatori did not care much for the fluffy things anyhow, but it was the principle of the matter) and Hatori's closet space, the doctor recounted from the top of his head. Ayame had even taken it on himself to coordinate his books on colour, instead of on the immaculate alphabetical order Hatori liked to keep them in.

Everyone else around the ever-patient Ryuu would be walking on eggshells now, but Ayame just kept pounding on the doctor's barrier of patience. Not that such behaviour was unusual to Ayame, but so much Ayame at once was a bit much for the poor doctor, even when he was supposed to be the only one that could control Ayame.

Every night he came home Ayame had prepared another surprise for him. First there had been salt water in his bathtub. The bathtub Ayame had ordered, and somehow managed to install in that very same day. But, Hatori decided, he had enjoyed the bath after Ayame had convinced the doctor that salt water was also very good for his human skin, and not (only) meant to make fun of his seahorse counterpart. Then, there had been a dinner especially cooked by Ayame. Ayame could cook very well; Hatori had to grant him that. However, the kitchen he left behind had been a complete mess.

But then, Ayame had cleaned it up with him.

Fine, Hatori decided after pondering the not-so-nasty surprises the Hebi had had in store for him, perhaps it is not such a bad thing that Ayame is staying here for a little while longer. Still, Hatori was apprehensive constantly. Ayame was such a wild card- you never knew when it would turn bad when the Hebi was involved.

As soon as the front door was pulled open before he could lift his hand to open said door himself, he knew that things had turned sour. Without wasting a second taking the other man's appearance in, he pushed him inside and closed the door as quickly as it had been opened.

"Ayame. What are you wearing?" He spoke threateningly through clutched teeth, worried what the neighbours might have seen.

"Why, it's a maid costume, 'Tori-san! Can't you see? Is it really that bad? Or have you never experienced the manly maid fantasy so many other clients of me have?" He tilted his head innocently, the maid bonnet on his head flopping a little to the side with the sudden movement.

"No." He spoke icily. He really just wanted his privacy back; surprises were one thing, nasty embarrassing surprises were a different thing entirely. Although he found himself strongly having to ignore the maid costume on Ayame's body, because it was still a nasty turn of events. Ayame's plan could not be ethical, not this time.

"Oh, well, that doesn't matter! You can have a fantasy after today!" Ayame went on, completely ignorant of Hatori's angered state. "But first, wait till you see the surprise I have in store for you!" Ayame clasped his hands together in excitement and seemed unperturbed by Hatori's lack of enthusiasm. This was possibly because it was usual for Hatori to lack enthusiasm in the face of great plans. Ayame took the doctor's hand, this time not being as shy as he usually was about touching Hatori's pale skin as he himself was wearing white silk gloves, and dragged him to an undeniably romantically dressed-up dining table.

For a few moments, Hatori did not quite know what to say or think and could only open and close his mouth in bewilderment and anxiety. Sure enough, there had been something going on between them that neither of them had dared to quite put under words yet, but this surely was too big a step for them. Or was it? Maybe it was only too soon for Hatori, as Ayame was not usually one to take things slowly. The red roses in the vase; the candlelight that accompanied them and washed them with shadows; the romantic music softly on the background… it was all too much. Too quick. Too sudden.

Ayame noticed the man's otherwise humorous impersonation of a fish, and put a reassuring hand on the doctor's shoulder.

"Don't worry, 'Tori-san. This doesn't have to mean anything... Just humour me, all right? And let me pay you back for your kindness of taking care of me by letting me take care of you?" He struck a pose, releasing Hatori's shoulder from his loose grasp, and twirled a little to show off the ridiculous costume, which Hatori found even harder to ignore after the spin. "See? Now, now, 'Tori-san, please sit down! I cooked extra special, and I even cleaned up the kitchen before you came home!"

Numbly Hatori sat down at one of the two chairs near the table; Ayame quickly sat down at the one opposite of Hatori.

As the silence between them dragged on, the two got more uncomfortable. Ayame squirmed in his seat. Usually their silences were friendly and peaceful, and, if Ayame could help it, far and inbetween. However, now that Ayame had gotten the doctor right where he had wanted him, he didn't want to mess things up by saying a foolish thing, like he was prone to do.

After having finally gathered enough courage to begin a sentence, Hatori scraped his throat. Ayame quickly closed his mouth, anxiously waiting for Hatori's comment.

"I think you have to leave."

They were words Ayame wasn't quite prepared for, and thus hurt even more as they were released in the candlelit room.

"But 'Tori-san, I told you it didn't have to mean anything!" Ayame desperation made him speak somewhat too loudly for the otherwise silent mood in the room.

"You know that is not true, Aya. I'm sorry, I don't want this… maybe you've gotten the wrong idea." The Ryuu got up a little too quickly for it to seem anything but rushed, frightened, like a mouse in a corner. Ayame noticed and quickly got up as well, literally trapping the doctor in a corner of the room. He kept walking towards the taller man, cornering him between a bookcase and a tall lamp.

"Did I really get the wrong idea, 'Tori-san?" He spoke very calmly and slowly, although he felt like he was about to have a nervous breakdown. He continued to walk closer to the man, feeling the body heat resonating from him.

"I…" The man hesitated, almost begging the smaller man with his eyes to stop him as he sent him a pleading look.

Instead of stopping, Ayame decided to take it one step further. All is lost now anyhow, and it can't go anything but up from here. I've gotten a 'no'. ButAyame had foreseen that answer. What gave him hope was the way the taller man almost looked terrified. And he knew it wasn't him he feared; the only person he feared was Akito.

"Say 'ahh', 'Tori-san." The Hebi murmured, grabbing one of the bowls of strawberries he had placed all around the room (who knows where in the room we could end up together, Ayame had figured whilst preparing the candlelit dinner), and nudged a strawberry against the doctor's unyielding lips.

Slowly Hatori parted his lips, closing his eyes in ecstasy when the sinfully sweet taste of sugared strawberries hit his taste buds. Damn Ayame for knowing that strawberries are my weakness, he thought as he slowly relaxed in Ayame's proximity. Hatori knew he shouldn't let his guard down around Ayame, especially not right now, but he could not help his draw to the man, Akito's possible actions be damned. For this moment. Surely he could have this moment?

"Ahh." He said simply, long after the strawberry had entered his mouth.

Then Ayame leaned up and kissed him briefly on his sugared lips, replying with the same 'ahh'. The sugar on his doctor's lips made the unspoken lie a little less bitter.

To be continued