At a Loss for Words

Dear sweet Tohru. You have brought so much light into all of our lives. Everyone loves you with all of their hearts. You are so very wonderful in every possible way. I know that you are the one to break the curse. You are that one person who can save us all. And save us all you shall, in time. For now, you can only fill our hearts with joy when ever you're around. Especially me. You have shown me that I still have something to live for outside of this hell I'm living. You have shown me the path to true happiness, and for that, I love you. More that you will ever know...

Hatori was tired of walking. It wasn't a long treck to Shigure's but it was long enough. He had decided not to drive, he would never know why, but he did. He didn't really know why he was going to the dog's house either, but he was. For all he knew, no one was home, but maybe not, someone could have been there. Like, Tohru maybe...

The dragon smirked at himself. 'Of course, she will be there alone...' he thought. 'Waiting for you. She knew that you were on your way, so she made a wonderful candle-light meal, got dressed up, and is now awaiting your presence.'

"Idiot," he said to himself and began fumbling in his pocket for a cigarette, finding nothing. He groaned loudly and tightened his coat around himself. 'Ah, this has been a terrible day all around...and now, I'm rediculously walking down a dirt path in the freezing cold, wishing for the heat of my car. And I have cigarettes in there too...'

Hatori thought for a long moment about going back, but by the time he turned his attention back to the task at hand, he realized that he was already over half-way there, so he pushed on; soon finding a little bundled up onigiri walking in front of him, carrying far more than she could handle.

Hatori jogged to catch up to her, earning a squeak of surprise when he finally got to her side. "Let me help you," he said, taking two of her bags.

"Oh, thank you very much Hatori. I wasn't aware of you visiting today," she said, grateful to have someone helping her. "No one knew, I decided that it was time for a visit, so I just came," he replied, looking down at her.

"It's pleasent," Tohru said after a long, happy silence.

"Pardon?"

"You not smoking, it's a good sign...maybe Ayame's constant badgering about it is finally getting to you deep down..." She smiled at him and he looked quickly to the ground below him.

"I, um, forgot to bring them. I thought they were in my jacket, but-"

"Maybe your cousin paid a visit to your jacket and took them..."

Hatori looked back to Tohru. 'No, he wouldn't have done that without paying me a visit as well, but I'd never say that something you say is wrong...at least, not something as cute as that.' Hatori mentally kicked himself...

"Maybe," he smiled back, lost in her beautiful face. She was looking back at him still, with that adorable little Tohru smile of hers, making his very soul giggle with excitement.

Then, the worst possible thing happened, Hatori tripped over his own feet and fell flat on his face.

"OH HATORI, ARE YOU OK?" Tohru frantically knelt beside him.

Hatori released the bags he was still holding and rolled onto his back. "Ow," he groaned, putting his hands to his stinging forehead.

"AH! Hatori, you're bleeding!"

He looked at her sluggishly, wondering how stupid he must look to her. "No," he said slowly. "I'll be alright..." He looked at the dirt around him and got up painfully.

"We have to get you back to Shigure's right away," Tohru said taking the bags Hatori had before, then taking his arm and pulling him away.

"I think you're getting the wrong idea about all of this, I'm alright," Hatori mumbled.

"No no no! This is very serious, we need to clean you up right away!"

Tohru and Hatori made it to Shigure's in record time, Tohru telling Hatori that it would be ok the entire way.

Once they were inside, shoes were removed, groceries were thrown, and Hatori was drug around to the upstairs bathroom.

"I can do this myself, I am a doctor," he said as Tohru wet a cloth and cleaned the scapes on Hatori's forehead.

"I know, but, I...want to do it, for you," she replied.

'That was a bit nerve wracking...' Tohru thought.

'But why," Hatori finished.

"If you wish to see Shigure, he's not here. He, Yuki and Kyo had some family business to attend to," Tohru said as she worked on tucking Hatori's bangs behind his ear, but failing miserably.

"I don't really want to see anyone, I just, decided that I should come and make sure you are doing well," Hatori said as Tohru stood before him.

"I'll be right back," she said, rushing into the hall, coming back a few seconds later with something pink and shiny in her hand.

"What is that," Hatori asked.

"A hair clip," Tohru replied, pinning the dark hair out of Hatori's face. "There, now isn't that better," she asked with a giggle.

"If it makes the job easier for you..."

"You look so h...nice with your hair back," Tohru said. Hatori almost winced, wondering what she almost said. "Especially with the pink, it brings out your features..." Tohru added.

"Thank you-"

"Oh, I wish I had a camera, you look so wonderful..."

Hatori sighed and Tohru calmed down. She ended her duty with a nice band-aid just below Hatori's hairline with a quick nod, followed by a smile.

"Finished," she said happily, admiring her work.

"Are you going to put the groceries away," Hatori asked nervously as he realized Tohru was almost sitting in his lap.

"YEP! Just as soon as I'm done with you."

'Did that sound suggestive,' Tohru wondered with wide eyes.

"What do you have left to do," Hatori asked, confused.

"Well, I have to...um..."

'Why is the air so thick? Breathe, breathe, I CAN'T BREATHE," Tohru said to herself.

'Oh...please no, this won't end well, will it? WILL IT?'

"You have to..."

Tohru quickly kissed Hatori's lips, "get better soon..." And rushed out the door.

Hatori stood, trying to imagion Tohru's reasonings for kissing him. It would have been different if it was on the cheek or something, but never on the lips...

'Maybe,' Hatori said to himself. 'No, don't even think that, for one thing, she's too young, and, well, just no...'

Hatori turned and looked at his image in the mirror, then chuckled lightly. "I look...nice," he said, then shook his head. "No, I don't look nice at all, but if she says I do, then I'm not one to argue..." And with that, he walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.