This story is a collab between my dear Princess and I. We worked hard on this one and she posted it under her name a while ago, but since we just created a sequel and I'll be posting it under my account, I figured I should post the original story as well. ^^(We'll be taking down her version soon for protection issues from some people.) XD long story, don't ask.

THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE YOU CONTINUE:

-Yaoi; It's not called Fruits Basket for nothing. XD (Yeah, bad pun, sorry.)

-Akito is a man in this fiction, sorry for those manga fans, but we liked Akito better in the anime. XD

-Angst...Angst...Angst. XD

Well, that's about it. Enjoy. ^^

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The winter air was cold this evening outside of Shigure Sohma's house. Though the outside of the house looked quaint, the inside was always chaotic with the breaking of doors and the bickering of it's inhabitants. On this particular night, Momiji was visiting. He bounced off the walls as usual, annoying Kyo as if it was his job to do so.

"Would you stop it you stupid rabbit!" The orange-haired cat yelled at him before hitting him on his head.

"Wahhh! Yuki!" Momiji called out to the only other person in the room, "Kyo hit me!"

Yuki sighed, "Both of you need to stop." He said harshly before rubbing his head. Momiji's crying continued, not getting the response he wanted from him. Kyo growled when suddenly Momiji's crying stopped as he called out, "Tori-Kun!"

"Hello, Momiji." The tall dragon greeted calmly before he nodded to Yuki and Kyo, greeting them as well.

"Hatori!" Tohru greeted the doctor warmly as she entered the room. "You're just in time for dinner! Shigure told me that you were coming over today to visit." She said with a smile. Hatori nodded his head, "Yeah, the dog wouldn't stop harassing me, so I finally gave in." Tohru giggled at his response and made her way back into the kitchen to make sure the food didn't burn.

"Ha-Chan! You've finally come!" Came Shigure's overdramatic voice as he entered the main room. Hatori just shook his head, resisting the urge to tell the dog to shut up. However, before he could let out a cold remark, Tohru's voice rang out from the dinning area, "Dinner!"

"Ah! Time for some of Tohru's delicious home-cooking! What ever would we do without our precious flower?" Shigure sang out as he skipped off into the dinning area. Yuki followed quietly and Kyo followed them, mumbling angrily, still annoyed at the rabbit.

Momiji stayed beside Hatori, who rubbed his head; he was already thinking of the headache that he would get from being around Shigure's house. He really did love them, but wouldn't tell a soul as he started his walk to the dinning room. Momiji bounced along happily and sat as close as he could to Hatori when they reached the dinning area. Momiji always loved to see the doctor, but he seemed so busy this week that Momiji didn't get the chance to see him at all. Seeing him now made his heart fill with joy as he rambled to Hatori, who just nodded his head and listened to him. Hatori always was a great listener.

After an hour or so, the group at the table disbanded. It had been a relatively nice dinner without fist-fights or any doors being broken, which particularly pleased Shigure. Yuki had left first to finish some homework, then Kyo exited to sulk on the rooftop, Tohru gathered everyone's dishes and was busy washing them in the kitchen, and Shigure went to his office to 'work' on his new novel. That left Momiji and Hatori in the dinning room together. Hatori stood from his spot and walked into the main entranceway; Momiji followed close behind as he finished rambling on about his day.

Hatori turned to Momiji, "Well, if you'll excuse me, Momiji, I need to head out. Akito needs some looking after and I don't want to upset him by being late." He said.

Momiji's happy smile disappeared from his face as he sniffled, "Will you come back, Tori-Kun?" He questioned. It looked to Hatori as if Momiji was just playing around until Momiji looked up at him, seriousness in his big eyes. "I hate not being able to see you, and…and I hate that you have to tend to Akito. After all he did to you he still makes you care for him!" Momiji inhaled a little before continuing, "Kana too! She was selfish! You deserve so much more than her! You deserve someone who will love you so much more than she ever did! She wasn't good enough for you, Hatori." Tears started to form in the young rabbit's eyes; "You need someone who will make you happy! That is what I want for you." Momiji finished, as silent tears started to make their way down his round face.

Hatori's face held a shocked expression for a moment, until his eyes fell somber. "You may not understand now, Momiji…But I am grateful to have loved…and I would be selfish to ask for any more than I have already received. I was blessed, Momiji…And I would never wish for more."

"But Hatori," Momiji protested, "You deserve to be loved again! She didn't…I know she didn't deserve to get engaged! She didn't deserve all of the kindness you gave her! She didn't Hatori…she didn't…" Momiji shook his head as more tears fell down his face, "You deserve to be happy again, happier than she will ever be! I want you to be happy again Hatori; for you to smile like you used to…" He said softly.

Hatori smiled and kneeled down to touch Momiji's face gently, "I am happy." He said, "I have a beautiful family. I have the Sohmas…and I have you." The look on Hatori's face was gentle as he gazed at the crying boy.

Momiji smiled, his tears lightening up, he sniffled and met Hatori's gaze. "Do…do you really mean that, Hatori? My mother never wanted me, and…well, my father…he just isn't there. Are you really happy you're stuck with me?" He inquired, his eyes sad, but they held a small glimmer of hope.

Hatori smiled in a soft manner and held Momiji in his arms, "I've never thought of myself as stuck with you. Once again…you're another blessing that has been placed in my life."

Momiji hugged Hatori back, resting his face in the crook of his neck with a small smile, "Thank you, Hatori," He said and buried his face in the crook of his neck and cried small tears of happiness, "Thank you, you make me feel so accepted, Hatori, thank you so much…"

'You have no idea that you do the same for me. You, Shigure, Ayame…All of you make me able to live my life the way it is now.' Hatori thought before he spoke, "No. Momiji…Thank you."

Momiji looked up at Hatori and smiled as he wiped away his tears, "You don't need to thank me, Tori-Kun! I'd love you no matter what you did!" He said and gave a big grin.

Hatori let out a small chuckle and ruffled Momiji's hair, "Well, that's good to know in case I ever mess up in the future," He said

"You could never mess up Tori-Kun! You're too selfless! In my eyes, everything you do, you will do it right, no matter what happens."

Hatori let out another chuckle, "Well, let's hope your right. I've made enough mistakes in the past and I don't think I have any more room for error." Hatori looked down at his watch and continued, "Speaking of mistakes, I'm going to be late to check on Akito if I don't leave soon."

Momiji looked down and rubbed the back of his head nervously, "I'm sorry, Hatori…"

"It's all right, no harm done." Hatori stood up and straightened his jacket, "Are you going to have Shigure take you to the main estate or would you like me to take you since I'm headed there anyways?"

Momiji's eye's lit up in excitement, "Really?! You'll let me stay with you?!" Momiji smiled widely, "Of course I want to go with you! I'll be your protector!" Momiji puffed out his chest and giggled, though deep down, he was being extremely serious.

Hatori smiled for a moment, but them went back to his stern expression, "Well, I'll let you stay in my office, but you won't be able to come in the room with me when I visit Akito. He may become angry and I don't want him taking his anger out on you. So, for your safety I want you to stay in my office. If you become restless you can just head over to your house." Said Hatori. The Sohma estate used to house many of it's members, but the only two that remained there was Momiji and Hatori, besides Akito.

Momiji had stood up with Hatori, but he looked to the floor and put his hands behind his back while he kicked the floor, "I…I just don't want you to be hurt again. Tori-Kun…I don't want Akito to hurt you. I want to be able to protect you this time! Tori-Kun…" Momiji trailed off, heaving an almost inaudible sigh.

"I'll be fine Momiji," Hatori reassured, concealing his worried expression with a comforting smile, "Besides; Akito's been better with his anger lately. I believe we're making progress. That's why I want to keep doing these weekly check ups.

Momiji looked at Hatori with hope in his eyes, "Really? But still," His eyes seemed to sadden a little, "We're talking about Akito here, we don't know what he's gonna do next. But," Momiji smiled and hid his worry, "I believe you! And I'm sure that everything will be all right! If you say he's making progress than that's a good thing!"

"Yes, very good progress. So, if you want to come with me you better get your coat and be sure to hurry. We need to leave quickly."

"Okay!" And with that, Momiji ran off to get his coat and hat, bouncing back in very little time. "Ready!" He said and saluted Hatori playfully.

Hatori smiled softly at the boy before calling out to in the direction of Shigure's office, "I'm taking Momiji with me to the main house." He said loudly. Momiji and Hatori saw a hand wave out the shoji of Shigure's room, "All right Ha-Chan!" He sang out before returning to his previous task, not giving too much thought in letting Momiji leave with Hatori.

Hatori looked down at Momiji and placed his hand on Momiji's back and led him out the front door, "Let's go, Momiji," He said. 'Akito is waiting…'

After a silent drive to the Sohma house, Momiji began to watch Hatori's every move. Nothing was out of the ordinary with Hatori, but Momiji knew that Hatori never really showed any signs of real worry or pain. It just seemed like he didn't want to worry anyone.

The two of them walked into Hatori's office and Momiji made his way to Hatori's chair and spun in it a few times as Hatori grabbed his coat and a suitcase along with a stethoscope. "Now, you settle in for the moment and make yourself comfortable. I won't be gone long."

Momiji stopped spinning in his chair and looked at Hatori, "Okay!" He smiled happily and watched Hatori gather the rest of his things and start to walk out of the room. Hatori stopped in the middle of the shoji and glanced back at Momiji.

"Just make sure you stay here," He said sternly.

Momiji smiled and saluted Hatori playfully, "Of course!" He said cheerfully. Hatori gave Momiji one last look and smiled softly before walking out of the door. Momiji was having an inner battle once Hatori walked out of the room. He wanted to follow Hatori so badly; he wanted to make sure Hatori was safe but, if Hatori caught him, what would he say? How would he react after trusting Momiji to be on his own and then having him come after him? After a few more seconds of pondering in the fairly large office, and after he could no longer hear Hatori's footsteps, Momiji made his decision.

***

Hatori stopped in the middle of the room and saw Akito leaning against the doorway, gazing out into the backyard area. His typical hobby for his past time. He gazed up at the stars and still remained silent as Hatori took a few steps toward him until he was near the center of the room. Hatori laid his briefcase and other belongings next to him as he kneeled; a sign of respect to Akito.

"Forgive me for my tardiness. I had to bring Momiji back with me since Shigure got wrapped up with his work." He said. Hatori was silent a moment before speaking again, "How are you feeling today, Akito?" He asked.

Akito was silent a minute longer; letting the air get tense with unspoken words. Akito turned around, walking slowly over to Hatori and gazing down at him. "How am I feeling?" The question was said without any emotion, "How am I feeling?!" Rage appeared on his face and contorted his delicate features. "How does one feel when they think that their doctor has abandoned them?! When the person who is supposed to take care of them isn't there?! How do I feel?! Feh," Akito grabbed Hatori by his jaw and made him look him in the eye. "Do you want to know how I feel, Hatori, my very sacred Dragon?" Akito threw Hatori's face to the left. "Now, how should you be punished…" The words were said with such fire and anger as Akito raised his left hand high.

Momiji heard all of this while standing outside the door. Worry and fear for Hatori were etched onto his small face. As he heard Akito talk about punishment, he decided that there was only one thing he could do to help Hatori. Momiji slid the screen open quickly and looked at Akito who had his hand raised

"No! Wait!" Momiji shouted. He took a few steps into the his God's chamber and dropped to his knees; bowing as low as he could to Akito, "Don't punish Hatori. it was my fault that he was late."

Hatori's eyes wavered in fear, seeing Akito focus on the rabbit in anger. Momiji would regret asking for his God's wrath.