DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to Fruits Basket. It all belongs to Natsuki Takaya.

The Ultimate Sohma Fan Club

Doggone Antics

Judging by the frenzied way Akito tapped her fingers on the table, someone was clearly desperate; not only her, but also the person who had been calling almost five times in a row asking for the pesky dog sleeping upstairs. "No, he's not available at the moment", she repeated through clenched teeth while Shigure snored happily and loudly, without a care in the world and turning in his bed, glasses askew. He even wiggled his toes.

Downstairs, Akito kept a sly eye on the phone while reading a magazine. A brisk ring-ring reached her ears and echoed maddeningly inside her head. She was tired of this. "Yes?" she intoned with a measured calmness. "But Shigure had another meeting yesterday with the editors at Okama, so why…?" Akito breathed slowly, flipping absentmindedly through random pages, pondering about the voice at the other end of the line. "If this meeting is so important for his career—" she grabbed a pen and jotted down an address on a Dog Chow advertisement. "If you stop calling, he will be there in an hour." Hanging up, Akito looked at the ceiling and hollered, "Shi-gu-reeee! SHIGURE!"

Heavy footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. Shigure then stopped to yawn and adjust his robe. "Akito, sweetheart, I'd love to hear you scream at another time, you know… you sound so stressed out."

Akito blushed a faint pink and lowered her eyes, smiling awkwardly. "You silly, you're late for another meeting again" she simpered, handing the address to Shigure. "I'm not your secretary" she pouted as Shigure embraced her. She snuggled, resting her head on his shoulder, he ruffled her hair.

"I'm sorry, Akito. I dragged you into the very middle of an important comeback I'm trying to make after a year-long hiatus. Once it's published, I'll just go on a little tour and it'll be over." Akito sighed and hugged him tighter, Shigure smiled more warmly. "Honey, you know this is what I do for a living… fans are desperate for Papa Shigure." He imagined Hatori shrugging at these words and let go of Akito, smiling. He held her hand and kissed her forehead sweetly. "I better get ready, Hatori surely had the day off."

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"Shigure, if you keep interrupting me while I diagnose a patient, I'll charge you. Double fee", Hatori muttered softly, a hint of threat in his voice. Shigure used the side mirror to check if he had tied his tie properly.

"I'll remind you, that's my suit you're wearing. I want it laundered by the time I claim it back" Hatori pinpointed, even more softly.

"Which will be… next year! Shigure added with mirth. "Oh, Ha-san! What would I do, where would I be without you?" he said in a sing-song voice to Hatori, who was focused on the road and stopped at a red light. "You'd probably be in jail or in a mental institution. Both maximum security" Hatori replied dryly.

"How are you and Mayu doing?" Shigure prompted, as if all Hatori had said had absolutely nothing to do with him. "Mayuko and I are doing well", Hatori said rather stiffly, but with an unmistakable, happy gleam in his eyes as he drove on.

"Ha'ri, imagine if the four of us had children! Honestly, it's a bit hard to picture since you're a bit of a grouch sometimes, but that doesn't matter. Most important, I have the perfect babysitter for them!" Hatori gulped, speeding up a little. "Awwww, you're excited by the idea, aren't you?" Hatori didn't reply, looking at the directions Akito wrote. Shigure pressed on, "Don't play fool, Ha'ri. Of course we all know it will be our dear Tohru! She's so motherly, in a cute sort of way, don't you think?"

Hatori sighed and made a U-turn. He noticed a huge skyscraper ahead, with a fancy-looking sign, Ink-Link Publishers was embossed on it in shiny coppery letters. He parked the car beside the sign and Shigure grabbed a black leather briefcase, which also happened to belong to Hatori.

Shigure unbuckled his seat belt, got out of the car and closed the door. "Sadly, I must depart, work awaits me. Thanks, Ha-san!" Shigure turned and began to walk away.

Finally. Yes. Go on and work like a responsible adult; Hatori thought as he saw Shigure's form even further away.

He reached into his pocket and fished out a cigarette. Lighting it, he lowered his side windows and smoked, enjoying valuable seconds of peace and quiet. Minutes later, someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was Shigure. "Ha'ri?" Hatori looked up at him, eyes narrowed. "What now, Shigure?" he asked, holding the cigarette between his fingers. "Ha'ri" Shigure almost pleaded "I… I don't wanna go in there alone…"

Hatori gave Shigure a piercing look and nodded curtly, waving his hand to tell Shigure to back away from the door. Hatori lighted out the cigarette and threw it in the trash can. After securing the car, he began walking towards the skyscraper, with Shigure buzzing in his wake. "Ha'ri… and after the meeting, can we order some Takoyaki for take-out?"