Kyo stretched sleepily as the train pulled to a stop. Beside him, Haru was still fast asleep. Kyo chuckled to himself softly. The boy looked so innocent asleep, it was almost enough to fool him. He pushed at Haru's shoulder gently, rousing him from his nap. "C'mon," he murmured. "Time to go home."
Haru rubbed at his eyes, sitting up and looking around himself. He followed Kyo out of the train station and into the now cooling night air. "I should probably go… back to the main house," he sighed.
"Yah," Kyo agreed quietly. "They'll be missing you." The pair stood in awkward silence for a moment before Kyo reached out, gingerly taking the younger boy's hand in his own. "Well, let's get going," he said gruffly, covering up his own shyness.
Haru glanced down to the hand holding his own and smiled. "Okay," he agreed, letting Kyo lead him through the empty streets. Neither spoke as the snow fell down around them in cottony tufts, blending in with Haru's hair.
About a block from the Sohma complex, Kyo stopped short. "I probably shouldn't go any nearer," he explained apologetically.
Haru nodded, letting his hand slip from Kyo's. "I'll find it from here."
"Will I… see you tomorrow?" Kyo asked hopefully, shifting his feet shyly.
Haru smiled, taking hold of the older boy's scarf and pulling him in close. "Yah," he promised. "I'll be at Shihan's after class." He leaned his forehead against Kyo's.
Kyo smiled. "Okay." He leaned in, giving Haru a light kiss before letting him go.
"Bye," Haru smiled, turning to leave.
"Hey," Kyo called after a moment.
Haru glanced over his shoulder.
"I do like you," the older boy admitted. "So… I guess we can go out."
Haru's grin widened. "Okay," he agreed. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tadai… ma?" Kyo glanced up from his shoes to see Hattori glaring down at him.
"Where's Haru?" Hattori demanded.
"Back at the main house," Kyo replied, a bit shaken by the sternness of the man's features.
"You're idiots, both of you," he scolded.
Kyo blinked. Had it been anyone else, he would have been severely ruffled by the comment, but even he seldom bore his fangs against Hattori.
"Haru never thinks before he acts," the older man continued, "And your going after him like that is only going to further lead him on. I appreciate that you did find him, as I won't have to, but I hope you had the decency to make the truth of your feelings known to him. The rest of you left the main house awhile ago, so maybe you don't remember, but Haru is very easy to suggestion and he tends to grow quickly attached. You don't see this day in and day out as I do. You won't be there when he finally lets it sink in that his feelings aren't returned. You won't have to pick up the pieces after Black-san smashes Haru's fragile ego, Kyo. I really wish you'd have thought of that."
"It's not going to be a problem," Kyo flushed, pushing past him and into the sitting room.
"And how do you figure that?" He demanded.
Kyo turned around to face the older man. "Because I like him too."
"O- Oh…" Hattori stammered, looking suddenly deflated.
"Told you," Shigure grinned from around the corner.
"And I told you not to tell anyone!"Kyo spat, tossing his shoe at the other man.
Shigure ducked. "That's not nice," he pouted. "I was the one standing up for you!"
"He has a point." Aaya chimed from the kitchen. "This whole time, Hattori was saying that you couldn't possibly have feelings for Haru-kun, but Gure-san, diligently, stood up for your love!"
Kyo turned to glare at Hattori who only shrugged.
"I'm wrong," he grumped. "So what?"
"So," Kyo hunched his shoulders defensively. "Aren't you going to give me some lecture about Akito?"
Hattori raised an eyebrow. "Don't let him control your life anymore than you have to," he said simply. "Love is beautiful. If it's true, even he can't destroy it."
Kyo blinked. That wasn't exactly what he'd been expecting. "Oh…" he said dully. "I'm… I'm going to my room!" With that, he made a hasty retreat. Too hasty, however.
"Ooph!"
Kyo stood up, rubbing his head. "Stupid rat, what are you doing just standing around?"
Yuki had his arms folded across his chest, a sneer on his face. "So you like to kiss younger boys," he smiled. "That explains so much…"
Kyo growled. "Say that again, rat boy! I dare you!"
Yuki rolled his eyes. "Why get so mad when it's the truth?"
Kyo thought a minute, then growled again. "It's none of your business either way! Geeze, did that pervert tell everyone?"
"Please," Yuki sighed. "You made so much noise when you came in, I heard it from your own mouth."
"Yah well…" Kyo paused. He wasn't entirely sure what he was going to threaten Yuki with.
Yuki brushed past him, heading downstairs. "Don't be stupid, Kyo…" he paused to look over his shoulder. "I think it's nice."
"What?" Kyo blinked.
Yuki shrugged. "Be nice to him." With that, he continued down the stairs.
Kyo continued to blink, confused. That was… the first nice thing he could ever remember Yuki saying to him. Had everyone suddenly gone gay?
Finally safe in his bed, away from the crowds and the noise and the light, Kyo sighed to himself, recounting the events of the day. How he'd felt, what he'd thought, what he'd tasted…
"I'll see you tomorrow."
He couldn't wait until after school…
Kyo kicked his shoes off, bowing as he entered the dojo. Suddenly, he was grabbed by the collar of his shirt and slammed against the wall. Before he could think, lips were on his, another body crushing him to the wall as a practiced tongue slipped between his shock-parted lips. A moment later, Haru was gazing into his eyes, slightly out of breath.
"You're not… black?" Kyo asked quietly.
Haru shook his head. "No. I just missed you."
Kyo raised an eyebrow, shoving the boy away from him. "Well miss me somewhere else, somebody could see us!"
Haru shoved his hands into his pockets. "I dreamed about you last night," he said nonchalantly.
"Did you?" Kyo asked, blushing slightly, straightening his tunic.
"Yah." Haru nodded. "We were having sex."
Kyo choked. "Goddamit! You can't say things like that!"
"Why not?" Haru asked. "Don't you want to?"
"What!" Kyo blanched. "Knock it off! Don't be stupid!"
"I want to," Haru told him.
"Shut-up!" Kyo was blushing furiously. "Just shut-up! I don't wanna hear that crap!"
"Kyo-kun!" Just then, Kagura jumped him, wrapping her arms in a death-grip around his neck. "Did you miss me? I was sick last week so I couldn't come!" she smiled.
"Get offa me!" he growled, prying at her arms.
"Ow!" She squealed suddenly.
Kyo glanced up to see that Haru had grabbed her by the wrist and was twisting. "Don't touch him," he warned.
"Haru!" Kyo scolded. "Let her go!"
Haru glared at him. "Kyo…"
"My, my!" Kazuma laughed from the doorway, commanding all of their attention. "My class seems to have a lot of energy today! That's always a welcome sight!"
Haru let go of Kagura, not taking his eyes from Kyo. She clambered to her feet, glaring at Haru, confused and hurt.
The class proceeded relatively uneventfully from there. They ran their katas and basic moves, finally moving on to sparring.
Haru grabbed Kyo's wrist suddenly. "You," he said firmly. "I'm sparring you."
Before Kagura had a chance to protest, Kazuma squared up against her. He bowed low. "Please, show me what you've learned," he smiled.
She pouted, but oblidged.
Kyo gave Haru a slight smile of gratitude and Haru blinked, taken by surprise.
Kyo lunged from his stance, grabbing the other boy quickly around the waist, brushing his lips over Haru's ear. "Gottcha," he purred, knocking the boy off of his feet.
Quickly regaining himself, Haru grabbed Kyo's wrists, flipping him over on the mats. "Not so fast," he warned. "I've been practicing."
"Oh?" Kyo grinned. "Well I'm up for the challenge." With that, he hooked his ankle behind the boy's knee, regaining the top position.
This continued for quite awhile, until both boys were out of breath. Neither had actually landed a punch the entire class for fear of hurting one another.
Kagura wandered over to where they were sitting and flopped down next to Kyo. "What's up with you today, Haru?" she asked, "You're being pushy."
Haru straightened a little. "You make Kyo upset. He doesn't like you, so why don't you go?"
"Haru!" Kyo glared at him.
Haru blinked, suddenly looking as if he'd been slapped. "Am I… wrong?"
Kyo glanced quickly between Haru and Kagura. This was the most precarious position he'd ever found himself in. If he said no, Kagura would kill him. If he said yes, Haru could go black, and then there was no telling what might happen.
Instead of replying, he stood swiftly. "I'm going to go talk with Shishou," he declared.
Kagura glared at Haru who glared at her in return.
"You're being a jerk!" she told him, jumping to her feet. "I'm going home!"
Haru sighed. He hadn't meant to be… It was just… seeing her hanging all over Kyo like that… it made him sick. He knew Kyo didn't like it, but he put up with it anyway. He didn't care what people thought about Kagura, but he didn't want them to know about him. He lay back on the floor, staring at the ceiling. It wouldn't do him any good to think about it now. All it would do was get him worked up, then he'd go black, and Kyo would be upset. He hated it. He hated caring so much what somebody else thought. He could do whatever he wanted to! If Kyo didn't like it, well tough!
That's what he wanted to be able to say… He stood quickly, exiting the dojo with a short bow. He needed to go outside before he got really upset.
Kazuma's garden was very nice, as it should be. He too was taken care of by the Sohma name. Haru took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, but he was finding it more difficult than he had imagined. He couldn't shake the image of Kagura clinging all over Kyo. What had happened to the night before? To the train and the snow and that kiss?
"I do like you… so I guess we can go out."
But since then, nothing had changed. Kyo hadn't even acknowledged him. Haru clenched his fists, feeling a familiar dizziness creeping into the back of his mind. He knew what it was. He knew he should stop thinking before it took him over, but it was so enticing.
It was a real temptation to go black, every single time. It felt good to completely lose control and do whatever he wanted to, regardless of the consequences…
Kyo would be upset… What did he care? Let Kyo get upset! Haru was upset! Why shouldn't he be allowed his emotions?
Kyo stepped gingerly outside. Had Haru left? He'd wanted to talk to him. He sighed, disappointed, shoving his hands in his pockets. He took a few steps and stopped.
"Oh, I thought you left." He said nonchalantly, noticing Haru standing nearby.
To that, Haru spun around, glaring daggers at him. Kyo froze. That look…
"Haru…" he began quietly. "Haru, are you…"
Taking the few strides necessary to close the distance between them, Haru grabbed the collar of Kyo's shirt, slamming him up against the wall. Why shouldn't he? He crushed his mouth to the older boy's, making the kiss deep and violent as quickly as possible.
Kyo coughed as his breath was slammed out of him, but he had very little time to regain it. He had expected Haru to be upset, but this was something he couldn't have prepared for!
Haru's hands were roaming his body, touching, bruising…
Haru slipped a hand gingerly between Kyo's legs, rubbing.
Kyo gasped, trying to pull away. "Haru…" he growled, "Don't push me!"
Haru pulled away, an expression that Kyo couldn't register etching his face. He was angry, furious, black, but something else… hurt?
Without hesitating, Kyo grabbed a fistful of Haru's hair, bringing the boy back to him roughly, plundering his mouth with a deep kiss of his own. If the boy needed the reassurance that badly, then there was no reason he shouldn't get it.
Kyo flipped their positions, pressing Haru to the wall, lacing his fingers with those of the younger boy.
It was passionate, hot, it felt good. When they broke for air, Kyo took the opportunity to attack Haru's throat with a barrage of kisses and kitten-nips.
He growled, hindered by the other boy's sheen of accessories. He grabbed the chains, yanking fearcely and dropping them to the ground.
Haru's eyes widened in shock, but before he could protest, Kyo captured his mouth with another kiss, his free hand fastening around the other boy's throat.
Haru blanched. He had never felt anything like it before! The anger, the rage, he wanted to knock the older boy down, show him how angry he was! But Kyo wasn't letting him… and for some reason… he was finding he liked that even better.
He writhed against the older boy, wanting more than he was being given. He wanted Kyo to touch him, but all the older boy would do was kiss.
Kyo broke away momentarily. "You turn white, and I'll think about it," he proposed, brushing the inside of Haru's thigh with the back of his hand.
Before Haru could respons, however, someone else did.
"Ehem…"
The boys looked up to see a very surprised looking Kazuma.
"Ah!" Kyo exclaimed, pushing himself away from the other boy. "Shishou! I can… I mean, this… it's…"
Kazuma laughed nervously. "Why don't you both come in side and we'll have some tea," he suggested.
