A/N: Ummmm. So I've updated finally. Um. I don't have any particular feelings toward this chapter. It took so long for me just to get up the motivation to actually write the thing, that I'm afraid it's not as, you know, good. But if you like it, then I like it.

Looking at the story stats, I see that Sympathy for the Devil is on a lot of people's favourites and story alerts. So it's only fair that I get a lot of reviews, ya know what I mean?

The first part of this chapter has a bit of closeness between Akito and Hatori. I can't help it. I'm a die-hard AkitoxHatori fan so whatever Furuba fic I write there will be inherent AkitoxHatori-ness. I love this couple. So yeah, some light implied AkitoxHatori…will this pairing become stronger throughout the story? Maybe, maybe not.

Another thank you to Sm-candy for providing ideas for content and even what the characters should wear.

And a special thank you to SunMoonAndSpoon for providing moral support, plot ideas, fangirling with me over AkitoxHatori-ness, and fangirling over Akito in general. XD It helped, it really did.

---

Akito lay outside the sliding door of his porch, watching as dusk deepened into amorous darkness. The wooden slates were cool underneath his legs and he pressed his cheek against them in pleasure. A spill of light from the room behind him lay across his back. Any minute now, he thought, Hatori would be along with his meal and medicine.

Sure enough, a few minutes later he felt his Dragon's cool collected aura behind him. Akito smiled into his sleeve: he knew his Dragon so well.

"I've brought you some soup."

"Yes."

"You shouldn't lie so exposed like that, if you don't mind me saying, Akito-san."

"Nonsense, Hatori." The boy stretched out a milky hand and caught a leaf that was gliding though the air. "It's summer – the air is balmy and holds no chill for me. Are you busy?"

Hatori wasn't fazed by the abrupt question. "No. Not for you."

"Then sit."

The Dragon did so and Akito positioned himself in his lap, his dark head against Hatori's shoulder. They sat in silence for a while. A cricket started to chirp, and was joined by another.

"May I ask something?" Hatori said slowly. Akito nodded. "You told me that Tohru Honda was coming to the onsen with us this weekend…"

"And you want to know why." Akito nestled his face against Hatori's neck and breathed in the Dragon's crisp smell. "Well, I'm not sure myself. I don't trust her. I don't know much about her. I want to bat her around a little bit with my paws." Akito narrowed his eyes.

Hatori felt a subtle change in the lithe body between his legs. The muscles had stiffened and he felt a dark coldness radiating from the god.

"I hate her," Akito said tonelessly, "I hate her, Hatori. Hated her from the first moment she looked at me. I hate her smiling face, her large eyes, her cheeriness, her voice. I hate how she touched me…held my hand…intruded herself into our lives."

Akito turned his head and regarded the doctor. The light from the room behind threw large shadows into the sockets of his eyes. Somewhere in that darkness Hatori could see Akito's pupils glinting.

"I hate how she ruins all of my carefully laid plans. How she insinuates herself into every little detail. How, somehow, she becomes the centre of all my Juunishi's hopes and fears. I hate how you and all of my animals look at her, Hatori. No. Don't speak. Don't lie to me. She reaches even the Cat. Even that abomination has some hope that he too will be saved." He paused.

"The question is: what shall I do about her?"

Hatori didn't answer.

"The answer is: nothing yet. I will watch, and wait, and watch some more. I will get what I want. There is no place for her at our banquet. There is nothing that can alter the plan that God had laid out..."

The boy shuddered suddenly and Hatori ran a hand over the fragile spine. "Akito-san. We should go inside now."

"All right." Akito slipped from his lap and crawled back into his warm room. The soup and tray lay on the floor so he eased onto his stomach and began to sip it. He nodded at the Dragon.

"Pack my clothes for the onsen, Hatori – I'm too tired now."

Glad that his god's dark mood had vanished, Hatori removed a small suitcase from the closet and surveyed the clothes that were hanging in there. Something light, he thought, for the days were getting hotter, so he removed two yukatas and surveyed them. One was black silk, with red silk underlining – it was Akito's favourite and he wore it mostly for occasions. Hatori carefully folded it.

Akito sucked some broth from his fingers and watched the doctor slowly and methodically pack. He had no doubts about his Dragon's loyalty, but sometimes…he caught a certain look, a certain feeling…and it was then he knew that there were some wounds inside Hatori that hadn't scarred, but still bled and rotted, and he could not touch them. And then there were the Dragon's eyes: serene, cold, and infinitely sad.

It didn't matter, the god told himself, even with all that it didn't matter one bit, the Dragon was bound to him, and could not leave him….he couldn't…

"Akito-san?"

He jerked, upending his spoon, to see Hatori kneeling in front of him. There was concern in the doctor's eyes.

"What?"

"You were…for a moment, I thought…" Hatori trailed off. Akito had been looking at him, in such fear and sadness that a leaden weight had settled in his heart. "Is something bothering you, Akito-san?"

The boy didn't answer, and instead reached out and lifted Hatori's chin slightly. Akito searched his Dragon's eyes.

"You wouldn't leave me for her, would you, Hatori?"

Her. "Never, Akito-san."

"Good." Akito withdrew.

Hatori stayed and helped the boy change into his sleepwear. The lamps had been turned down to fill the room with a soft, mellow light. Hatori gently unzipped and pulled down the black trousers, replaced them with creamy Egyptian cotton, hands innocently brushing across the boy's puerile hips. Hatori buttoned up the pyjama shirt, nails lightly glancing across Akito's milky skin. Throughout the whole solemn process not once did their gazes waver.

And when Akito crawled up him like some baby animal to plant a chaste kiss on the curve of his jaw, Hatori felt his arms wrap around the warm young body of their own accord, and he held his lord for a moment, their hearts beating between them. From the fleeting, throbbing glance Akito gave him, Hatori knew his devotion was sealed.

"My clothes are packed?" Akito murmured against Hatori's ear.

"Yes, Akito-sama."

"Then lie down with me."

The doctor removed his shoes, let Akito snuggle into the bed and drew the covers over him. He settled beside his lord, the blankets a chaste barrier between them and let Akito wind his fingers in his shirt.

Surprisingly, it was Hatori who drifted off first, Akito watched the bluegreen eyes glaze and glassen, and then shut. He smiled and closed his eyes, happy in the knowledge that there was at least one person Tohru would not take away from him.

---

THE NEXT DAY

1:00 p.m.

Tohru leaned her head against the bus and watched the scenery outside. Kyo had fallen asleep and Yuki was reading a paperback. Shigure, who was more restless, kept singing little ditties under his breath about young love or inviting Yuki to play idle little car games like I Spy to pass the time, all of which the Rat declined. Every now and then Shigure would turn his head and smile at Tohru, a mysterious little smile. It said We have a secret, don't we?

And she would flush when she saw it, and think of Akito-san, and her and Shigure talking on her bed.

She wondered what they would do at the onsen. Shigure, when she'd asked, had waxed poetic about sitting under green trees, bathing in the springs, padding about in kimonos and yukatas and eating simple but delicious dinners around a long low table under soft lamplight.

"You make it sound romantic," Kyo had grumbled, and Tohru agreed. It sounded nice. More then nice.

She leaned forward and nudged Shigure cautiously. "What does, um, what does Akito-san do? I know he invited us, but…"

"Do?" Shigure looked back and grinned his doggy grin. "Well, he kind of goes there for his health. The springs are supposed to have healing properties. Oh, and since we're his guests, all the Juunishi have to spend a little time with him at some point. Have a chat with him on what we've been up to, as if he didn't know already." He chuckled.

"Will I have to?"

He gave her a strange little glance. "Well, I don't know. That's up to him, isn't it?"

"What else happens?" Tohru said quickly, cringing at his knowing, almost mocking look. She felt guilty for no reason she could think of.

"We-ell…we just try and have a good time, generally, there's plenty to do. After our little chat sessions, he usually leaves us alone," Shigure went on, "You really only see him at dinner."

"Oh."

"And sometimes…oh, look, we're here!" Shigure squealed suddenly. And Tohru looked up, saw the pale wooden buildings through a grove of trees and felt her heart lighten.

She, Kyo, and Yuki stood blinking in the sunlight while some men removed their luggage from the bus. A pair of pale hands curled around the entrance doorway followed by pale, haggard face.

"Welcome...to…the…onsen…" a zombie-like woman intoned. Tohru bit back a squeak.

"Ah…n-nice to m-meet-"

"I HOPE YOU'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIIIIME! ANTHING I CAN GIVE YOU, YOU JUST ASK MEE! MY CLOTHES, MY FOOD, MY SOOUULL!"

"OK!" Tohru shrieked back, feeling like screaming in sympathy. "Whatever you want!"

"Oh yeah, she's still here…" Kyo mumbled. Yuki put a hand over his face.

"Honda-san, this is the onsen's okami. She's in charge of all the maids and servants here…"

"Oh?"

"Yes. Why don't you kiddies run along inside and meet everyone else?" Shigure drawled, pulling the woman lightly away from them. "I just need to have a quick word…"

Tohru looked back as Kyo took her hand and led her in, watching Shigure and the woman speak in grave tones.

The teens walked into a small living area, where the other Zodiac members were seated, including, to Yuki's distaste, Ayame. Tohru saw a few people she knew, and a lot she didn't. She saw all of their faces had that strange, radiant beauty that marked them as Sohmas, those cursed of the Zodiac. Next to them she felt dull and ordinary and she lowered her eyes, aware that they were looking at her with polite, cool curiosity.

"Is this that new girl everyone's been talking about –" began a long black-haired teenager, her voice full of bored arrogance, when a soft noise made them all look around.

Akito stood there, one hand resting lazily on the sliding door he'd pushed open. Everyone went quiet. The boy let his dark eyes drift languidly over each of them. When they rested on Tohru they barely flickered. He smiled.

"Welcome," he said softly. He was clad in a cream-coloured yukata that made his black hair and eyes stand out. "Welcome, my Juunishi. And…Tohru Honda, of course."

Everyone's eyes were on her again. Tohru felt like she was intruding. Suddenly, she didn't want to be here. She didn't belong. She was normal, and they resented her for it. She wasn't one of those cursed, beautiful people.

Akito's voice flowed back into her head like some dark and mysterious tide. "You are free to relax and use the afternoon as you wish to unwind from your journey. Then in the evening, I hope you'll join me for dinner. Tomorrow…" his inky eyes hooded slightly, "…I hope each one of you will come by my rooms and see me. Some of you I haven't seen for quite some time."

The Juunishi shifted slightly. Akito nodded. "Remember…I love you all."

A thin smile curled like charred paper on his lips. Then he turned and strode away. By some unspoken agreement, Ayame, Hatori, and Shigure rose and followed him.

"Tohruu!" Momiji almost knocked her over as soon as the adults left the room. "Tohruu! Let's go outside and I'll show you the grounds! They're so pretty and we can play games and stuff-"

"Down, Rabbit-boy." Haru put his elbow on Momiji's blond head. The other Juunishi were wandering off, some cast curious glances back at Tohru. Momijii grabbed her hand.

"Have you seen your room yet? Or what's in your closet? Some clothes have been bought for you to wear while you're here, if you want!"

"Clothes? For me?"

"Traditional clothing is given as a gift for anyone who visits the onsen," Haru explained. "Like, I've got some yukatas in my room. But you don't have to wear them." He gestured at himself. "I'm totally stylish as it is."

"Let's see what she can wear!" Momiji dragged Tohru off with Haru ambling after them. Kyo and Yuki looked at each other.

Kyo jerked his head toward a side room. "C'mere. I wanna talk to you for a minute."

"About what?" the Rat said shortly.

"Just c'mon, you arrogant bastard," Kyo spat. "This is important. It's about her. But we need more privacy 'cause these walls have ears."

The Cat led Yuki into a large pantry with various food items on the shelves. He closed the door lightly and looked into Yuki's large grey eyes.

"Let's get one thing straight," Kyo muttered, scuffing at the ground. "I don't like you and you don't like me. That's fine. But I'm talking about Tohru here. Akito invited her here for some reason and it can't be a good one. So…the plan is we both look out for her, alright? For her sake."

"Ok," Yuki said slowly. He was impressed that Kyo had actually thought about the situation. He himself had privately questioned Akito's motives. The Rat cleared his throat. "I don't like the little thing that's going on between them…if what Uo and Hana said was true."

"I don't like it either," Kyo said fervently. "Something happened when Akito called her out of school. She's been acting so strange! I wanna know what he's done, because…" He kicked a can on the floor, "…she's just being tricked by him, that's what! She doesn't know how cruel and mean he really is.

"It's like he's woven a spell around her."

They were silent.

"That's right," Yuki agreed bitterly, "if Honda-san knew…"

"'If Honda-san knew,'" Kyo mocked. "You can't even call her by her name, can you? What's with you?"

"Shut up," Yuki snapped. "I'm trying to think."

"Go on and think then," Kyo said softly, his feline eyes slit. "Because that's what you're good at, isn't it. The Rat is the smart one."

Yuki ignored the bright orange head to his left and focused his gaze on the light fixture overhead. He felt strange and shivery - like he was experiencing the beginnings of an unbelievable nightmare. His instincts told him they – him, Kyo, Tohru - were all standing on the edge of something dark and deep, a few more steps and it would be all over, they would all spiral down into that black abyss called Fate.

"We should tell her," he mumbled, "Tell her what he's done. Show her." He shifted uneasily, remembering the lash-marks on his legs, on his waist. Show her what he's capable of. Show her that no one can stop him.

Kyo nodded, face set. "And in the meantime…don't let her get near Akito."

They walked out of the pantry back into the brightly lit rooms of the onsen, towards the guest suites where Tohru's sunny voice floated downstairs.

---

3:00 p.m.

Tohru, Kyo, Yuki, Haru, and Momiji were playing on the lawns of the onsen. Tohru and Momijii were spinning each other about, letting to go to fall giggling to the grass. The older boys had found a Frisbee and were leaping in the air and shouting and laughing. The bright sun gave their limbs a downy, dusty, golden glow. The teens' voices wafted upwards to a window where a dark shadow was watching them.

Akito let his dark eyes hood slightly. Tohru was clad in a light purple kimono with trailing yellow flowers, matching the yellow ribbon in her hair. There were grass stains on her cheeks, bits of grass in her hair, while the sun on Kyo's head made it look like his head was aflame in orange. The boy-god caught the little glances the Cat and Rat gave Tohru at intervals. He was surprised at their looks of such naked wanting.

"How?" he asked himself. "How does she do it..?"

"Do what, Akito-san?"

Shigure's hands settled on Akito's thin shoulders. Akito didn't remove them. Instead he leaned his head back so it brushed Shigure's chest, staring directly into the man's chocolate eyes.

"You're all bees," he told the Dog, "Bees around a flower full of honey. Aren't you?"

The Dog smiled. "If you say so, Akito-san." He ran a hand through Akito's dark hair. "Won't you come and have some tea with us? You've been staring out that window for an hour."

Shigure, Ayame and Hatori were in the living area connected to Akito's room. All were dressed in dark blue yukatas, with dragons embroidered on the back. The Mabudachi Trio had been making small talk while their leader had gazed out the window, now Akito joined them again and settled against Shigure.

Hatori's mouth thinned slightly as Shigure leaned forward and whispered something into Akito's neck, making the boy squirm. And he bit his lip when Akito let the Dog slip a few sly fingers into the V of his yukata. The God and the Dog spirit had always been close, but Hatori had a prickly feeling there were certain intimacies he didn't know about that sometimes went on between them. The sly smiles, secret looks and covert touches that they gave each other…the thought of them together brought acid to his throat and a strange hollowness to his heart.

Shigure smiled into Akito's nape as he sensed the Dragon's accusing stare. The boy-god was so beautiful, he couldn't help but touch him, run his fingers over the snow-white skin, those lithe limbs, and sometimes, taste those pale pink lips…he chuckled. Akito seemed to have sensed his thoughts for he gave the Dog a mocking look before speaking.

"Tell me," he said, "tell me all you know about Tohru Honda."

"I don't know that much, Akito-san," Shigure answered. "She's only been with me for six months…"

"Just tell me what you know."

"Okay." The Dog paused. "She doesn't have any parents. Her mother was killed in a car accident, I think. I don't know about her father. She used to live with her grandfather."

"Is that it?" Akito swilled some tea around in his mouth.

"Ehh…sorry, Akito-san. She really doesn't talk about her background that much. Though she seems to have a strong attachment to her dead mother. She carries a little picture around with her…"

"Her mother?" Akito practically spat. "What's so special about her mother?"

The Mabudachi Trio shared glances. They had to tread carefully here. This was a sore subject for Akito, for Ren, his own mother, had made it perfectly known since Akito was a young boy that she hated her son. It was one of the many reasons for Akito's sullen, silent bitterness.

"We don't know, Akito-san," Aya said lightly. The Snake saw a dark look sink into Akito's eyes and he felt worried.

Shigure lightly massaged the boy's shoulders. "Let's talk about something else, eh?"

"No." Akito bent his head forward and rubbed his temples. He was starting to feel achy. "I'm going now. I'm going to spend some time in my private spring. I want to be left alone. Alone, you understand? No medicine, no interruptions, only get me if it's an emergency."

"Of course, Akito-san."

"And later, I'll see you all at dinner."

The three men all stood, and gave their lord a parting kiss on the cheek. Akito walked away without looking back, sleeves trailing behind him. Shigure grinned as the door closed.

"Isn't he a pretty thing? No wonder Tohru-kun fell for him…"

"What? What?" Aya cried at Hatori's warning noise, "This is gossip I haven't heard of! And you didn't tell me right away, Shii-san! Shame on you!"

"Don't worry, my love." Shigure giggled as he picked up his overnight bag from the floor. "I'll tell you all in a second…"

---

Akito shivered lightly as he turned off the shower, fully cleansed and ready to slip into the spring's healing waters. He caught his naked reflection in the mirror to his right and regarded himself. Shigure had left a faint suck-mark on the side of his neck and he hissed in annoyance. There was another just above his hip, from earlier in the day. The boy rubbed at his throat until the mark disappeared. Satisfied, he walked out of the shower room and around to the edge of the spring.

The god had two springs to call his own: an outside pool (rotenburo) and an inner one (onsenburo). The afternoon was warm and scented with blossoms, so he'd chosen the rotenburo as his place to relax; it was the largest natural spring in the onsen.

He slipped his body in by degrees to allow his skin to get used to the hot temperature. The water was dark, sheened in gold by the sun, like his hair and eyes. The heat suffused slowly up his body and the god shuddered in pleasure. The ache in his muscles went away.

After a few minutes of feeling the mineral-rich water soak into his skin, Akito felt his body grow strangely languid and relaxed. His mind followed suit. It seemed to flow out of his skull like water and hang suspended in a foggy mist around his head. He could feel his senses slipping away…

Akito's eyelids drooped and his head nodded forward. In no time it all he was asleep.

---

4:00 p.m.

"I'm just going for a quick soak before dinner, Kyo-kun. I'll be perfectly fine – I'll see if Kagura wants to go in with me."

"Yeah, I know." Kyo shuffled his feet. "It's just while we were all outside I got the feeling we were being watched. I just want you to, you know, be careful."

Tohru giggled. "Careful of what?"

"Anything." Kyo felt his mouth dry a little. "Anyone. Tohru-"

"Don't worry," came Haru's mellow voice suddenly from behind them, "I'll go in with Tohru into the spring to make sure no nasty stalkers or perverts come near her. That's ok, isn't it?" He a put a hand on Tohru's shoulder.

Kyo reddened. "Like hell!"

"Oh, I don't mind if Hatsuharu-kun wants to join me, if he wants to," Tohru replied, blushing.

"See?" the Ox drawled. "Everything's all peachy here, Kyo-kun."

"That's not the point! The onsens aren't mixed sex! And I know what you're doing, Haru, you stinking-"

"You're just jealous. You'd like to be naked in the hot spring with Tohru, wouldn't you, Kyo, you can't hide it from me I can read your dirty mind – OW!"

Tohru edged away as Kyo started pummelling every inch of Haru he could reach. "Eh…I'll just see if I can find Kagura…I'll see you two at dinner!"

She flitted back to her rooms and found a fluffy towel in her bathroom. She then wandered off to find Kagura but the Boar was engaged in an epic Nintendo battle with Hiro, so Tohru then asked a maid where the springs where and then tried her bumbling best to follow the directions. Needless to say, she got lost. Tohru wasn't sure if she was trying to get to the indoor or outdoor pools and stood helplessly between the buildings wondering where she was.

She decided to follow a little path that circled the outer edges of the onsen. It brought her to large pool nestled in the rock, vapours rolled off the surface to melt at her feet. Tohru stared into its dark, glistening surface.

"What are you doing?"

Tohru almost fell in. She whipped her head around and saw Akito staring at her from the spring's far edge. His arms were resting comfortably on the sides and he was looking at her in quiet anger.

"Akito-sama…" she breathed, "I…I was looking for the springs…and I got lost…um…" She tried hard not to look anywhere below his head. Thankfully the water was too dark to make out anything, but his glistening clavicle and shoulders were distraction enough.

"You can't come in here," he told her curtly. "This is my private spring. I was enjoying the privacy and silence until you came along."

"I'm sorry…I didn't know…"

The boy studied her for a moment. Then he smiled a secret, private smile that she didn't like.

"Come in with me."

"What?"

"Undress and come into the spring. After all, that's what you want to do, isn't it?"

"Ah. Um." Her mouth wasn't working. She furiously hoped it was the spring's heat that was making her face red.

"There's changing and bathing rooms over there," he went on, waving a hand. Then he laid his head back and closed his eyes, ignoring her completely.

Tohru crept over to the small wooden room and nervously undid her yukata. She saw there were grass stains on it and hoped Akito hadn't noticed she'd dirtied the pretty fabric. Wrapping a towel over herself, she shyly crept back out again.

Akito opened his eyes and gave her a once-over. "Idiot," he sneered, "you're supposed to take a shower beforehand. What did you think those taps were for, anyway?"

"I'm sor-"

"Go and cleanse yourself off thoroughly. There are soaps and sponges in the shower. Make sure you remove every last speck of dirt, because I don't want to sit here and wallow in your filth. Don't you know anything about proper onsen etiquette?"

"I've never been to an onsen before, Akito-sama," Tohru mewed, feeling shame rising in her chest.

"That's obvious."

"I'm very sor-"

"And stop apologising."

Tohru washed herself with the soaps as commanded, rinsing off twice very thoroughly. Wrapping a towel in her hair and around her waist, she slunk back out in greater humility then before.

The god watched as she shyly sat on the spring's edge and put her feet in. She was holding the towel to her tightly and was refusing to look him in the eye. Akito smirked at her maiden-like behaviour.

Tohru took a deep breath. Well, this wasn't too bad…as long as she ignored Akito's onyx gaze it was alright…

"And your towel," came his hoarse voice, "Remove that."

She looked at him wide-eyed. "But…"

"No one wears a towel into the springs. That's a gross breach of etiquette. There should be nothing between you and the water."

"I can't."

"You will." His voice was cool. "After all, I've just given you special permission to enter my private spring. Now you're telling me you refuse my offer, and it offends me greatly, Honda-san, that you would give me, the host, such arrant disrespect."

He smiled at her appalled look. "You forget that the reason you're living with Shigure rent-free is because I let you. Your life, comfortable as it is, is in my hands. Remove that towel."

And she did. She didn't know which was greater, the mortification at her nudity or humiliation at his words. Tohru began the process of easing herself into the water aware every second that Akito's eyes were on her bare body.

Although Akito didn't like Tohru in any way, he couldn't help feeling some warm stirrings when she'd shed her towel and sat squirming on the spring's edge six feet away from him. The sight of her small round breasts and blushing face was strangely arousing. Her teenage body was pale and slender, not full and rounded like a woman's. The warm sulphurous heat made their skins glisten. Akito bit his lip.

Tohru was now submerged in the spring, but she was still uncomfortable because her breasts were still visible and she covered them with her arms. She tried very, very hard not to think about the fact that she and Akito were both naked in a hot spring. It wasn't working.

Akito was annoyed. Annoyed at Tohru, because she was everything he hated, and at his own treacherous body for responding to her nubile loveliness. His frustration grew at the mixed glances she was giving him, both frightened and curious.

"Come here," he said softly.

She did. She slowly inched her way towards him until she was a foot away from his shoulders. Her eyes were tightly shut.

The god smiled dreamily. The heat of the springs managed to turn everything into a relaxing calm. With slow, sure certainty he placed one hand on the girl's nape and felt the skin. Tohru's eyes opened and she looked at him in confusion.

Akito smiled languidly at her. This is a test, Honda-san. For you and for me. Everything…a test.

"What do you think?" he asked her. "What do you think of the hot springs? Are enjoying them?"

"Yes," she managed. His dripping black bangs and flushed pale skin kept swimming into her vision. "Yes, they're very nice."

"Good." His hand slipped down her spine, fluttering over her vertebrae. "And what do you think of me, Honda-san?"

"I…what?"

"Don't think I never noticed," Akito went on, his voice melting and flowing into her ears, "I've seen the glances you give me. The look in your eyes. The way you react…" she was quivering under his fingertips, "…when I touch you."

"I think you're…" Tohru trailed off.

"Let me put it this way." The boy cocked his head. "Am I…attractive to you, Tohru Honda-san?"

"Yes," she whispered. Yes. Yes. More then attractive. You're beautiful, Akito-san, absolutely stunning. All the Juunishi are beautiful but you're their God, you shine above them all. Your touch burns, your voice is hoarse and low and lovely…oh, I want…

His hand had trickled around to her thigh, his finger was describing lazy slow spirals on her hipbone. She squirmed. And then he was so close she could feel his shoulders brushing her own, and then his mouth was on her neck, kissing it, sucking it, his tongue was hot and so was his breath…

She didn't know what to do. She was ignorant. All she could do was let it happen.

His lips trapped her own in a graceful kiss, his experience pressing into her utter lack of it. She let him in, trying to match his tongue and lips. He pulled away.

"No," he muttered, dangerous sparks in his black eyes, "No…don't you dare tempt me…I won't let you…" He looked angry at himself.

"Akito-san…I want…" she tried, glowing from sensation. She hadn't heard his words.

"I see." His mouth widened into a cruel smirk. "You want me."

Tohru gasped as he pulled her to him.

I'll make you want me so much you can't stand it.

Kissing again. This time she timidly trailed her hands down his unfamiliar male contours, rising up again to grip his wiry shoulders. His fingers moved from her hip to her inner thigh where he stroked her in soft fluid motions. She moaned into his mouth.

"Oh, don't…Akito-san…"

"Don't what?" he whispered, pulling back to look at her.

And he was shocked – shocked because of the stark wanting in her eyes, similar to the desire he'd seen in Kyo and Yuki's eyes. At first, he felt fear. Then arrogance. Then a realisation: he could use her. He could, if he was careful and subtle enough; pluck and grasp the strings of her heart.

This thought caused a rippling shudder.

Tohru blinked as Akito let go of her and stared into the distance with clouded eyes. A bead of sweat traced his cheek and she watched it cling to his jawline before falling. Akito brushed a hand across his damp forehead.

"I'm getting out," he muttered, turning away, "And you…leave."

"I…yes," the girl stammered. And suddenly, she felt as if a great, cold wall had been shoved between them. The torrid darkness in Akito's eyes had vanished, as if snuffed out.

Getting out was easier said then done. The nearly-scalding water had turned their limbs into jelly, left their heads empty and buzzing. The teens crawled out, shivering as the cooler air assaulted their tender soaked skins. They didn't even notice their nakedness.

Akito staggered to his feet, head whirling, and wrapped his towel around his waist. He looked down at Tohru, who clutched her towel to her as she looked up into his cool eyes.

The silence ticked by. Tohru waited for him to say something, anything. But Akito just kept on staring at her with that flat, emotionless gaze. At last he turned away and walked past her, without looking back, a rustle of bushes and he was gone.

Tohru slowly gathered herself up. The shaky fear she'd felt when their eyes connected was dwindling. She hadn't liked that look on his face. As if she was nothing more then an object, or an obstruction; his face betrayed no hate, it was simply terribly, terribly uncaring.

The lighted buildings of the onsen twinkled just ahead of her. Dusk had fallen quickly and stars were coming out. The lighted windows and lamps seemed cold and far away. She stood quickly and hurried toward them, her whole heart aching for light and laughter.

---

Akito leaned woozily on a doorway. Those hot springs were treacherous; they calmed his mind but also sapped him of strength. He was flushed and panting. His limbs were shaking. He wanted Hatori, right now.

"Hari," he mumbled, propelling himself onto a wall for support, "Hari."

A foot snagged in the rug and he fell forward but strong arms caught him and lifted him effortlessly. Akito found himself looking into his Dog's gleeful face.

"Why hello, Akito-san." Shigure was smiling.

"Let go of me." Akito strained half-heartedly. He didn't like that smile.

"Now now, Akito-san, I don't think that's a good idea. Those hot springs make you incredibly weak, especially someone of your health." Shigure relished the feeling of the smooth bare back in his hands. He nuzzled the boy's damp neck and felt him squirm slightly.

"Why don't I put you in your bedroom, Akito-san?"

"No." Akito curled his lip. He knew what the Dog wanted.

"Bur you should rest a little before dinner. And…" Shigure looked at his face, "Why, your lips, Akito-san…they look a bit…raw."

Akito met the perverted stare head-on. "It's none of your business."

"I think it is." They had reached his room now, Shigure closing the door behind him with one foot. Then he brushed his own lips against Akito's.

"I thought this mouth was mine alone, Akito-san."

"Nothing of mine is yours." Akito let himself be laid out on the bed. Shigure sat next to him, his eyes dark, and that same gleeful little smile on his lips.

The boy didn't object as the Dog leaned over him and trailed fingers down his damp chest, stopping to finger the towel knotted at his waist. Akito turned his head away. He was too tired and weak to fight it. It was easier to let Shigure get what he wanted and then send him away.

"You're lovely, Akito-san," the man said softly, reaching up to brush his bangs away, "Especially like this." He kissed the soft forehead.

"You really are a god. A body this beautiful should be worshipped."

"I know." Akito shifted as Shigure brought his elbows down on either side of him, so close their noses touched.

"I can't help it," the Dog sighed, running a hand down the slim waist, "I can't help but want to touch you, Akito-san…you tempt me." He looked remorseful.

"I know." I tempt everyone.

"I'll do whatever you want."

"I know," Akito repeated. He ran a hand down Shigure's face. "You're my faithful, loving Dog…" He sucked his breath in as Shigure loosened the towel around his hips.

"Yes. I am." Shigure kissed the pale abdomen.

Akito smiled and lazily tangled his fingers in his Dog's dark hair.

You're my faithful, perverted mutt.

---

A/N: Oooh. A bit of scandalous Akito/Shigure shounen-ai. I love it. Shigure's such a perv, and Akito's so pretty, it's pretty obvious he would be all over him. XD Mmm.

I hope this chapter was ok. I spent soo long on it that bits of it are like…nyeh. I'm having trouble writing about Tohru, I don't like her. Oh well…

If ya like this fic so far, then review, and go check out 'Everybody Wants Her' and its continuing sequel 'Burnt Rice', which contain some fabulous gritty Akito/Tohru and Akito/Hatori. Both are by SunMoonAndSpoon, And both are great. So go read 'em and review, ya hear?

I've various ideas for the next chapter of this fic, I'll see what fits best. See ya then. Loyal reviewers, I love you all.