"Yuki?" Hatsu-Haru Sohma looked up from his homework to his distant cousin Yuki. "You seem quiet."

"Yeah." Yuki sighed.

"Ayame's visiting?" Haru knew the answer before Yuki nodded.

"He's too much for me sometimes, I swear..." He stood up. "Thanks for helping me with my homework, Haru. I better go - Tohru's going to be worried if I'm not back soon."

"Yeah, that sounds like her." Haru smiled at Yuki. "See ya around, Yuki."

-------------------------

RIIINNGG!

Haru jumped at the sound of the phone - it was usually quiet at his house. He picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hello Haru," Yuki sighed. "Listen, I'm stuck in a rut here...Ayame and Shigure were in my room, and they..."

"They what!" Haru asked loudly.

"They had a pillow fight." Yuki sighed (Haru sweatdropped). "They got so out of control they tore my room apart...and I am not sleeping in the same room as Kyo. Do you think -,"

"You can stay here for a while, Yuki," Haru interrupted. Yuki sighed with relief.

"Thank you!" he said gratefully. "I'll be over in a minute, 'kay?"

"Okay." Haru hung up the phone and waited. Sure enough, after a few minutes Yuki was there.

"Hello Yuki." Haru smiled at him. "Nice to see you again."

"Thank you very much, Haru," Yuki said. He yawned.

"Go to sleep, you look exhausted," Haru commanded gently.

"Okay," Yuki whispered. Haru led him to his room, and Yuki collapsed on his bed.

"Are you cold?" Haru asked, seeing Yuki shiver.

"It's okay, don't worry about it -," Yuki started to say. Haru jumped in the bed next to him and wrapped his arms around him to keep him warm.

"I'm cold too," he said quietly. Yuki sighed and looked up at Haru, conflicting emotions tearing at him.

"Haru, I know you say I'm your 'first love', but shouldn't you only say that when you really loved someone? I mean, when you were in love with someone."

"I think you mean when I am in love with someone."

"That would mean you are in love right now."

"I am." Haru looked intently at Yuki, who blushed.

"Stop kidding around, Haru," he whispered. Haru leaned forward slightly.

"I am not kidding..." He closed his eyes and kissed Yuki on the mouth. Yuki was so surprised that he didn't react one bit.

"I mean it when I say you were my first love...and you still are," he said softly. "I care for you so much, Yuki. Don't you know that?"

"Of course I know that." Yuki touched his face gently. "I care for you too. I'm just...surprised." He sighed.

"Haru...I don't feel like that about you," he said. Haru's stomach dropped.

"You...you don't?" he whispered.

"I care for you very much, Haru, and you know I do," he said. "But...I just asked Tohru to be my girlfriend. She said yes."

-------------------------

"Kyo, I'm sorry," Tohru whispered. Kyo sighed.

"Nah, don't be. You can't help who you love, Tohru. So don't worry about it." He smiled at her, and she smiled back before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"You're very sweet, Kyo."

-------------------------

Kyo sat on the roof and sighed, trying not to cry. I love her so much...she's the only one who's ever truly accepted me for who I am, and yet she's in love with that stupid fucking rat! Tears slid from his eyes as he mourned his unrequited love for Tohru.

-------------------------

The next day at school Kyo barely spoke to anyone, even Tohru - when he did talk, she was the only person he was nice to. Everyone else was lashed out at, especially Yuki.

CRASH!

Loud banging noises were heard from down the hallway, and the students all jumped. "What on earth -?" the teacher began. Shouts were heard, and immediately everyone ran into the hallway to watch. Immediately Kyo, Yuki and Tohru recognized the source of destruction.

"Oh no," Yuki mumbled.

"Black Haru," Kyo sighed. Tohru blushed and stood behind Yuki.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ALL STARING AT!" Haru screamed. Kyo and Yuki shoved through the crowds to get to Haru.

"Haru, what are you doing?" Yuki asked, reaching out for him.

"Don't touch me!" Haru screeched, a hint of anguish in his voice as he ran into the torn classroom. Kyo sighed and followed him.

"Where are you going baka neko?" Yuki snapped. Kyo glared at him but said nothing.

"Who's there?" Haru growled as Kyo walked in.

"Alright Haru, what the hell's going on today?" Kyo asked.

"YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON!" he yelled. "I'VE BEEN LED ON FOR HALF OF MY LIFE BY SOMEONE I WAS FUCKING IN LOVE WITH! AND THEY JUST THREW IT BACK IN MY FUCKING FACE! HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK I FEEL RIGHT NOW!"

Kyo jumped. "What are you talking about?"

"How can you not know?" Haru cried, anguish and pain coming to his voice and face.

"Oh," Kyo said, understanding what he meant. "Yuki?"

Haru looked up. "Yuki..." He stopped and tried to wipe away fresh tears, but they came too fast.

"Why the hell did you even love that prissy boy anyway?" Kyo snorted. Immediately he knew he shouldn't have said that, because the look on Haru's face nearly made him fall to pieces. Then, without warning, Haru burst out crying.

"I loved him!" he wailed. "I still do...dammit Kyo, I don't know what to do! I've chased him for years and he just..." Haru looked down. "He just ignored me. Every time I tried to hold him he'd get mad. It's like I was always in his way..." He sighed.

"I am a fool."

Kyo walked over and (cursing himself silently) wiped his tears away. "Don't say that, Haru. That damn rat has no idea what he's lost. And I'm sorry for snapping. I'm just a little pissed..."

"Tohru?"

"Yeah." Kyo sighed. "I guess that makes two of us, huh?"

"I guess." Haru shrugged and sighed.

"Haru, do you have any idea of how much trouble you're in?"

"Shit," Haru swore. Kyo laughed, and Haru raised an eyebrow.

"I...oh man, I'm sorry, it was the way you said it..." Kyo choked between laughs. Haru smacked him gently on the side of the head.

"Weirdo."

Kyo glared sarcastically. "You should talk, cowboy."

"Now now, the kitten doesn't need to bring the claws out."

Kyo blushed. "Kitten?" he asked. "Kitten!"

"What?" Haru asked innocently. Kyo walked over to him.

"Haru?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you really love Yuki? Like, the way I was in love with Tohru?"

Haru nodded sadly. "I did. A part of me still does..." He felt tears fall down his face again, and again Kyo reached up and wiped them away.

"I'm sorry, Haru," he whispered. Haru smiled sadly and leaned into Kyo's chest.

"Thanks. And I'm sorry about Tohru." He felt happy again when Kyo wrapped his arms around him.

"Yeah, me too." He sighed and rested his hands on Haru's head, running his fingers through his silky hair. You were my only friend, Haru. You're the only one I can really turn to now. "But there was someone else too."

"Who's that?" Haru asked curiously. Kyo shook his head.

"Never mind. They'll never feel the same way either." He began to cry. "I hate it."

"Hate what, Kyo?"

"It's not fair!" Kyo yelled, breaking away from Haru in anger. "Just because I'm that stupid motherfucking cat I'm supposed to be alone! It's not my fault and nobody gets it..." His tears fell freely down his face and neck. "But I guess it's obvious that nobody would want to love a..." He choked on his last word.

"...monster..."

Haru stood and walked to where Kyo sat on his knees, lifting his chin. Unshed tears threated to spill from Kyo's crimson eyes.

"Kyo," he whispered, "you aren't a monster."

"Yes I am," Kyo sobbed, refusing to meet Haru's gaze. "I drove my mother insane. I killed her..."

"What happened to her wasn't your fault." Haru leaned forward and held Kyo's face in the palm of his hands. "When I look at you I don't see a monster."

"What do you see then?" Kyo snapped bitterly. Haru nudged their noses together gently.

"I see a beautiful person," he said softly. Kyo looked up at Haru with wide eyes.

"What?"

"You're beautiful, Kyo." Haru smiled and wiped the tears from Kyo's face. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Kyo only nodded, too shocked to do anything else. Haru sighed.

"Could you take me back?" he asked. Kyo smiled.

"Yes." He led Haru out of the classroom, and by now everyone had heard their conversation. Yuki and Tohru were bright red; she was on the verge of tears.

"Haru, Kyo," she whispered, "I...I'm so sorry!" She began to sob. "I had...no idea...you were hurt so badly..."

"Oh Tohru, don't cry," Kyo said, patting her back. "Everyone gets hurt in life. You can't help who you love and that's that." He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Come on, where's the sunny Tohru?"

She sighed in relief. "Okay, if you say so..."

Kyo turned back to Haru, who was staring longingly at Yuki. "Haru, you okay?"

"No," he whispered. He looked at Kyo with pain and heartbreak in his eyes. "I probably won't be for a long time. But thanks for caring anyway."

Kyo sighed. "I'll see ya later then, Haru." He started to walk away, but Haru latched onto his wrist.

"Wait..." He pulled Kyo into a warm embrace, feeling safe in the older boy's arms. At first Kyo was taken aback, but then he nuzzled his face into the younger boy's hair and relaxed; Haru's scent was light and subtle, and as Kyo inhaled it he felt tingles go up and down his spine.

"Kyo..." Haru whispered, his lips brushing Kyo's neck. "Thank you. You've made me feel so much better." Kyo wanted so badly kiss him right there, to show the world about his other crush; he lifted Haru's face and, for a fleeting instant, let his tongue catch the sweet taste of his breath.

"Can I come over after school, Kyo?" Haru whispered, his eyes shining. Kyo melted on the spot and gave Haru a nod.

"I'll be waiting for you."

Yay for fluffy, cheesy goodness! -ducks to avoid bombs- Hey, what the crap! I like a little bit of cheese, thank you very much!

Ah, well, hope you likey so far. I'll keep updating soon. For my YukiKyo fic, What Lurks Behind My Hatred, I've hit a minor bump in the road. Originally I planned to put in enough yaoi to last a lifetime. But I don't know if I can beat my tenth chapter. Heheh, I'll try, just because I love you guys.

Thanks for reading!

-sohma kitty-