Disclaimer: I'm running out of things to say here. You get the idea.

Watch Your Back

Dinner was a somber affair. Yuki and Kyo ate in silence, looking up from their plates only to shoot death glares at each other, as if they expected laser rays to fly from their eyes and bzzt the other one into a pile of ashes.

As amusing as that would be, it didn't happen, and it wasn't going to.

Shigure sat silently reading his book, cheek setting on his fist, tearing his eyes away from the smut only to make crude comments about Kyo and Tohru, which didn't seem to help with the death defying glares Yuki and Kyo were sending towards each other.

The only people acting normal at the table were Tohru and Haru, who seemed to be able to hold intelligent conversation (or lack thereof) because of their complete oblivion to the actions of those around them.

Actually, Tohru noticed their angry glares, but she dismissed it as another petty fight. She wasn't really aware that it was about her. And, as long as they weren't throwing punches or people through doors, she could deal with their anger management issues.

Haru was explaining very animatedly (or as animatedly as Haru gets, anyway) about a part-time job that he had taken over recently at a day care just a few blocks away from Shigure's house. It was called Sunny Smiles, and Haru was in charge of watching the kids from 4-6p.m. every Sunday.

"Wait, wait wait. Hold on a second here. HARU is working in a DAY CARE?" Kyo's large, obnoxious voice interrupted the quiet murmurs of Tohru and Haru, and caused several birds to fly out of the tree outside.

Haru's reply was a short, "Mmm," With a nod of his head.

"But isn't that kinda dangerous?" Questioned the cat, narrowing his eyes, "What if he went black? and can you see Haru with little kids?"

"For once, I agree with the cat." Yuki's voice broke in, soft and slightly befuddled, his own violet eyes wide with curiosity, and head tilted to the side. "In fact, I agree on both accounts. What if you transformed, Haru? And… since when do you like children?"

Everyone was now so taken in by Haru's motive(s?) for his job, that they had forgotten their evil staring contest, as well as the food growing cold on the table.

"Haru… This isn't another of your schemes to impress Yuki is it?" Shigure's ringing voice brought back to mind the reason for the evil staring contest that they had all participated in earlier. Yuki gritted his teeth and concentrated very hard on the bowl of soup that sat before him. At this moment, his thoughts were something like this:

I will not kill Shigure. I will not kill Shigure. Miss Honda wouldn't like cleaning blood off of the carpet, therefore I will not kill Shigure.

But he was so tempted to.

Tohru, once again, nervously tried to change the subject – but she never had the chance. Because, in a flash of light, with some fireworks, and a little bit of angelic singing, Ayame Sohma was pictured in the doorframe, hair blowing in the wind, hands on his hips.

"Oh…Ah… Um…" Tohru stuttered, trying to think of what exactly to say. She was quite overwhelmed, what with all this excitement and confusion, and her body really couldn't take it anymore. "Oh…" She mumbled, before falling backwards, a hand on her forehead.

"AHHHH!" Both Kyo and Yuki jumped to their feet, reaching out to catch Tohru as she fell, (stupidly) forgetting that they wouldn't be able to catch her even if they wanted to. In a flash of multi-colored smoke, Yuki and Kyo had been transformed into a grey rat, and orange cat, each hissing and spitting each other, hackles raised in indignation. (Haru ended up catching Tohru. Cows can be very useful.)

Aya and Shigure were too busy glaring at each other. "May I speak with you, in the confines of your office, completely and utterly alone for a few simple moments of your time?" As Aya through gritted teeth.

"It would be my pleasure." Spat back Shigure, clutching his book very tightly, eyes narrowed.

LINEBREAK

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU ARE INTERFERING WITH DESTINY!" Screamed out the snake as soon as they were in the "confines of Shigure's office, completely and utterly alone." "THAT'S AGAINST THE RULES!"

"WHAT RULES?" Screamed back Shigure, slamming his book down on the table, "I DON"T RECALL ANY RULES! AND WHAT ABOUT YOU! YOU PLAY AS DIRTY AS I DO!"

"IN RETALIATION TO YOUR CHEATING!" Cried Aya indignantly, crossing his arms. "And really," He added, calming down, "You don't have to be so immature about it."

The dog glared, hands bracing himself on the desk as the two of them glowered at one another for a few moments. Then, finally,

"Fine." Growled Shigure,

"Fine." Agreed Ayame.

"Play how you want."

"I will."

"I just hope you know-"

"Be assured I do-"

"That this-"

"Means-"

"WAR."

A/N: That chapter… had nothing to do with anything. But it was kinda funny to write, all the same. Well, Shigure and Aya fight like a married couple, don't they? But they really do mean it. Prepare for World War III! –evil grin-