Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Most of you seemed to enjoy the scene with Rin and the hint of conflicr, so I hope you'll all like this as well. I take it a step further, but I can see Rin doing this, ya know? Anyway, hope ya like!

Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.


"Ah…Sunday," Jenna sighed in relief, the events from two nights ago fading into the back of her mind. Walking around in her socks, her boot-cut jeans pooled slightly around her toes, and her dark-brown belt hung around her hips below her snug bright-pink T-shirt over a white long-sleeved shirt. Clipping her hair up as she headed toward the kitchen for a snack, she paused when she heard the doorbell ring, and heaved a sigh. "I thought I'd be able to get some alone time in before work," she said to herself, opening the door.

"You're the woman who was with Hatsuharu at the restaurant," Rin said curtly, before Jenna could even open her mouth.

"Yes…"

"Good. I wanted to talk to you. Come with me," the other young woman ordered. Grabbing Jenna's hand she dragged her out the door to a car parked outside.

"Hey! Let go!" Jenna cried, trying to pull free. Rin's hand only tightened around her wrist, threatening to break it. "She must've taken martial arts or something," Jenna thought, wincing at the pain. "She's incredibly strong…could it be because she's part of the Zodiac? But what does she want with me?"

"Just shut up and sit still," Rin told her, and Jenna decided to listen for the time being.


"I thought you broke up with Hatsuharu!" Jenna protested, having been pushed onto the ground in a forested area outside the city. "What do you care if I talk to him or not?"

"Haru's mine – he's the Sohmas'," Rin hissed, her eyes angrily flashing at what she perceived to be an intruder. "You stay away from him."

"Only if Haru tells me to," Jenna said boldly. "I have just a right as anyone to associate with them. Unless he tells me to, I won't ignore him."

"Bitch," Rin's eyes narrowed, and Jenna scooted backward until her back hit a tree as the woman advanced. Jenna's eyes widened in surprise as a cloud enveloped the enraged woman in front of her, and noticed her clothes crumpling to the floor.

"Ri-Rin…?" Jenna managed, as a huge horse stamped its hoof on the ground and whinnied loudly. "I'm going to die…I'm going to be killed by a horse-woman?" The horse – Rin – lowered its head and pawed the ground anxiously. "Rin…please…stop…" the terrified young woman pleaded, not really ready to die at the age of twenty-three.

"Shut up and die with dignity," the horse ordered, stopping its aggressive motions briefly. "No one interferes with me and Haru – much less a little tramp like you!" Finished with her speech, Rin lowered her head. Jenna could only hear the pounding of the hooves against the ground as the horse charged – and suddenly someone tossed her aside as easily as if she was a loaf of bread. Hitting the ground heavily, landing on her stomach, Jenna felt someone's hand on the small of her back, and the weight increased briefly as the person stood up.

"Who're you calling a tramp?" a voice demanded calmly, and Jenna's head shot up in surprise to see Hatsuharu standing over her, his eyes glittering in the sunlight.

"Haru!" Rin, transforming back into her human form, stared at him in surprise, heedless of her naked form. "Haru, what are you doing?"

"Keeping you from killing someone, apparently," he stated, apparently ignoring Jenna completely. "Rin…you told me you hated me that day, and every other day since then. So why?"

"Why?" Rin repeated, her tone dripping sarcasm. Jenna sat on her knees as the other woman continued. "She's an intruder, Haru! Look at what she did to Shigure – and now she's latched herself onto you! She doesn't belong with us."

"Like Tohru didn't?" Haru asked quietly, and Rin paused for a second before taking a step forward.

"Haru – just let me take care of her!" she said, her tone almost pleading. "Do just one more thing for me!"

"No."

"Bastard…" Rin hissed, and her gaze switched abruptly to Jenna, who shifted nervously. Her ankle had been twisted when Haru had picked her up and thrown her, and she stiffened defensively. "You little bitch…I'll teach you!"

"Rin!" Haru cried, as the woman lunged at Jenna.

The next few minutes seemed to go by in seconds – or it may have been the other way, when Jenna looked back on. Rin almost had her hands around Jenna's neck when something in Haru seemed to change, and he grabbed Rin's arm roughly. Clutching it, he held for a moment before literally throwing her away onto her back. Rin transformed again and began to rush forward. Without a word Haru whirled around and scooped Jenna up, flinging her over his shoulders as he took off. As they ran down the street, a white cloud enveloped them briefly before she realized she was riding on the back of a cow, being chased by a horse.

"This isn't happening…" she managed, clutching a horn to keep on his back.

"Not so hard, damn it!" Haru ordered, and she blinked. "Shut up and don't do anything," he continued, before making a sharp turn. She blinked at his tone, and realized he had gone Black.

"Haru! Jenna!" Hatori yelled, half-standing in a nearby car. Another 'poof' echoed in her ears before Jenna found herself being – once again – thrown, this time into the backseat before joined by a very-naked Haru. "Good," the Dragon said shortly, and sped off, leaving the snorting Horse in the dust.


"Um…was it necessary to keep throwing me around like a rock, or did you just enjoy it?" Jenna asked hesitantly, at Shigure's old house where Yuki, Tohru, and Kyo now lived.

"Actually, you were lighter than a rock – and really easy to throw," Haru shrugged, shrugging into a shirt. "Sorry about the ankle."

"It doesn't hurt that bad," she lied, and winced when Hatori finished wrapping the bandage around it.

"Just soak it in some ice and that should keep it from swelling," Hatori said curtly, handing her a bowl full of ice cubes. She blinked, and obediently stuck her bare foot in the ice, goosebumps going up her leg.

"Momiji saw Rin leaving the main house and thought she'd be up to no good," Haru continued calmly, now more White than Black. "So he called me up before letting Hatori know. And when I got there, I saw her getting ready to stamp you into the ground."

"Rin isn't usually that violent," Hatori told her. "But I think Akito's gotten to her – perhaps she was acting on his orders."

"Mmm…maybe," Haru allowed, and Jenna's gaze switched between the two men in confusion. "Akito is the head of the Sohma," Haru reminded her. "He's sick and dying, but still holds sway over most of the house."

"Most?" she repeated.

"Most of the Zodiac have freed ourselves from his rule, even if the curse is still active," Hatori informed her. "However, Kureno – the Rooster – is still under his thumb, and Rin isn't much better. She used to be extremely rebellious, so perhaps Akito has found a way to manipulate her."

"What a shock," Haru snorted, flopping into a chair with his arms draped in-between his legs and hanging off the edge of the cushion. "It was nice of them to let us come here," the Ox added, looking around. "We couldn't exactly go to the main house."

"No," Hatori agreed, and glanced at Jenna. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes – just a few scrapes and bruises, but that's all," she nodded. "Mostly when Haru threw me," she added, and he only shrugged again.

"Hey."

"You probably shouldn't go back home just yet," Hatori told her, as she tried to stand up.

"But I have work," she objected. "It's not like Rin is an assassin and I need bodyguards – right?" she asked hesitantly, seeing their faces. Haru sighed loudly and rose to his feet, crossing his arms.

"I'll take her home and stay there," he announced. "It's not far from my job either. It'll be fine, Hatori. Akito isn't an idiot to send Rin out again so soon, if that's what he did."

"Hey! Wait a sec – don't I get a say in this?" she demanded, but the two men's silence was obviously a no. "Fine, then do what you want," she muttered, crossing her arms stubbornly and shaking her head in frustration.


"I don't know what you're so pissed about," Haru commented, helping her into the house and shutting the door behind them.

"Did it ever occur to you that I don't want you spending the night here?" she asked testily, and he smirked at her.

"What? Scared I might do something?" he asked. She gaped in surprise at him and turned pink, and then whirled around at his next words. "Or scared you might like it if I do?"

"I should've asked Momiji," Jenna grumbled, hobbling to her couch and flopping down onto it. "You're going to drive me crazy – especially if you keep going Black. Calm down already!"

"I am!" he snapped, and they remained glaring at each other for a few minutes before she began to giggle, and soon exploded into full-blown laughter. "What's so funny?" he demanded, completely perplexed at her behavior.

"I just realized how ridiculous we're acting," she giggled, wiping her eyes dry as she calmed down. "I'm sorry – I wasn't laughing at you, exactly."

"Got anything to eat?" he asked suddenly, looking around as he returned to White mode. "I'm starving."

"Yeah – stuff's in the fridge, help yourself," she invited him, pushing herself up off the couch and beginning to pull cushions off. "This folds out – you can sleep on it for tonight."

"I would've done that," he commented, returning to the room with a soda in his hand. She shrugged as she pulled mattress open, and straightened with a grin on her face.

"I could care less," she shook her head. "If I minded, I would've told you to do it. Anyway, it's late and I have work tomorrow – if ya need anything feel free to help yourself to it. See ya in the morning."

"Night," he returned absently, as she headed down the hallway to her room. Flopping onto the bed, he shook his head and sighed. "But what if what I want…is you?" he asked under his breath, and smacked himself. "What's wrong with me?" he demanded, tossing the now-empty can across the room. Haru knew he enjoyed Jenna's company as a friend, but when Rin had attacked her that afternoon, he was acutely aware that he had been more than pissed off when he arrived – and the Ox was damned if he could figure out what it was.


"Ack!" Jenna yelped, coming out of her room half-awake – well, she was half-awake, anyway – only to find a snoring Hatsuharu on her floor. Apparently, he had rolled off sometime during the night. "Oh, yeah, that's right," she remembered with a sigh, and headed back down the hall. "Note to self – lock bathroom door," she muttered, closing the door behind her and leaving the Ox sprawled on the floor.


"Whazza…?" Haru mumbled, vaguely aware that something was poking him, but not sure why. Opening one eye, he jumped up when he saw Jenna peering down at him, poking his side with her index finger. "Don't do that!" he protested, scrambling to his feet as she took a few steps backward.

"Sorry, but I've got to get to work," she apologized, and he noticed she was already dressed and ready to go. "You can use the shower if you want – I put out towels for you. Just put them on the floor and I can wash them when I get home."

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" he asked, and she looked over her shoulder with a shrug.

"You just looked so cute!" she said, suddenly smiling at him and catching him off guard. He was left blinking in confusion as her laughter followed her out of the building, and he smacked himself again to make sure he was awake.

"Damn! Yeah, I'm awake," he groaned, and looked around. It took the Ox a while to wake up, but under the circumstances he was as awake as he usually got.


"So…you had a guy spend the night?" Natsuki asked teasingly during their working lunch break, and Jenna blinked in surprise.

"Where'd you come up with that?" she retorted, but Natsuki laughed at her face.

"Oh, come on – I knew I was right!" she crowed, "You're turning red!"

"I'm not!" Jenna gasped, and felt her warming cheeks. "I am…" she groaned.

"Who's the lucky guy?" her coworker demanded, suddenly acting serious. "Come on, give me the dirt already! How long has this been going on?"

"It hasn't!" Jenna informed her loudly. "He's just a friend, and –" She stopped when she realized she certainly couldn't tell Natsuki the truth, but her friend took the pause the wrong way.

"Oh, sure."

"He needed a place to crash – and he slept on the couch," she said tersely. "Quit bugging me about it – I don't have any guy in my life, thanks very much. How's Kenjiro doing, speaking of guys?"

"That guy? Oh, it's over with him," Natsuki waved her hand dismissively. "He wasn't Mr. Right after all."

"What a shock," Jenna remarked dryly. In the short time she had known Natsuki, the woman – only a few years older than her – had gone through no fewer than eight boyfriends, all of whom she swore when she met them that they were 'the one'.

"Hey now, none of that," Natsuki shook her finger playfully and Jenna, and grinned. "How about I hook you up with one of them? They're nice guys, after all."

"Thanks, but I'll pass," Jenna shook her head. "I'm not up for dating now. Works keeps me plenty busy."

"And we wouldn't want to make Mr. Couch-man jealous, would we?" Natsuki asked wickedly, earning a smack from Jenna. "Hey! Show some respect to your seniors!"

"Seniors my ass," she grinned.

"But seriously – at least meet one of them," Natsuki urged, as they began to put away their leftovers.

"No!"

"Aw, come on – I won't make it a date," she pleaded. "Just one guy, I promise! I'll never speak about it after it, no matter how it works out! Please?"

"Fine," Jenna agreed reluctantly, sighing heavily.

"Yes!"

"But just one!" she added warningly, and Natsuki smiled innocently.

"Of course!"


"Why'd you do that for?" Haru asked, after Jenna had finished unloading on him later that evening.

"To get her off my back," she shrugged. "Natsuki's a sweetheart most of the time, but she's like a bulldog once she gets an idea in her head – nothing will make her let go. I figure I can meet the guy, and that'll be the end of it. What's that face for?" she asked in surprise, and Haru blinked.

"What face?"

"You had a face – oh, never mind," she sighed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "You drive me crazy!"

"So do you," he informed her, crossing his legs casually. "Can you go five minutes without arguing with me?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded, and he shrugged.

"Nothing."

"Argh!" she groaned. "I thought you were only staying last night," she realized, noticing with suspicion a gym bag parked alongside the couch.

"Well…" he began, scratching the back of his head. "Rin still isn't back at the main house, so Hatori…"

"I didn't think any of the Sohma were assassins or murderers," Jenna said dryly, and Haru's eyes narrowed.

"Akito is god to us – and he's still powerful in the family," he told her firmly. "I know what he's capable, and he may just have Rin kill you for whatever twisted reason he –"

"I'll get it," she interrupted him, as the phone suddenly rang. Pressing it to her ear, she frowned a little as whoever it was began to talk. Haru watched as she tried to say something, but was apparently ignored. After a few minutes she placed the phone back in its cradle, looking both concerned and confused.

"What was that about?" he asked, and she blinked.

"Apparently, that was Kureno Sohma. Akito wants to see me two days from now at the main house."

"What?" Haru demanded, rising to his feet in surprise. "What the hell kind of game is he playing?"

"How should I know?" she stopped him, folding her arms over her chest. "You just finished telling me how dangerous Akito is – I can't refuse his order. I'm to show up there after lunch."

"He didn't say anything about you being alone, did he?" Haru asked darkly, and she shook her head. "Good – I'm going with you, then," he informed her, and his tone booked no arguments. She nodded, actually grateful the Ox would be accompanying her, and then rubbed her temples.

"Am I supposed to dress up, or what?"

"What is it about women and clothes?" he muttered, and she glared at him. "Hey, all right! I'll ask Hatori – I'm sure he knows about this by now."


"Scared?" he asked, as they drove to the main house on the appointed day. Jenna had been forced to take a day off from work, and Haru had decided to just play hooky. She nodded, wearing the same outfit she had worn last time she had met any of the Sohma, and he stared straight ahead. She jumped when his hand found hers on her lap, and glanced at him when he suddenly squeezed it. Feeling reassured somewhat, she resumed watching the scenery go by.


(laughs crazily) Ha! Now Akito's in the picture, and you have to wait for an update! Hope this chapter was up to par!