A/N: I love the relationship between Hatori and Momiji, so I just had to write a fic about it. Enjoy and please review!
Abandoned
Hatori sighed in exasperation as the young boy, who was his charge for the day, ran back and forth up the sidewalk. Momiji was everywhere at once. He was peeking with wide eyes into shop windows, waving at passing cars and narrowly avoiding colliding with other pedestrians. Hatori had brought him out here hoping that that the rabbit could blow off some steam, but it was to no avail. Momiji was as energetic as ever.
Hatori was looking after the boy while his father worked and his mother recovered. She was recovering from the emotional trauma that she had recently suffered upon discovering that her child, Momiji, was a member of the Zodiac. When her mental state had continued to decline, her husband had asked Hatori to erase her memory. Hatori had complied. He hadn't really had a choice, despite the hurt it would cause Momiji. It always seemed to turn out that way. Erase one person's memories and he ended up hurting someone else. But he could do nothing about it and so he bore the burden as best he could.
Now, as Hatori watched Momiji's carefree antics, he wondered how the child could remain so upbeat in the face of it all. It was amazing, really. His own mother had rejected his very existence and yet Momiji still laughed and smiled as though he were the luckiest boy in the world. The truth was that sometimes Hatori felt the smallest pangs of envy toward the rabbit. He wished he could be that spirited. It was futile, though, and Hatori was wise enough to know that, so he pushed those feelings away.
Tiring of these dark thoughts, Hatori tried to distract himself with the scenery. Keeping one eye on Momiji, he took in the city's details. Street names, license plates and shop signs. People's faces as well. Two in particular caught his eye. Across the street stood Momiji's parents. They were strolling, arm in arm, looking casually in shop windows. The younger boy spotted them at the same time that Hatori did.
"Mutti!" Momiji cried. He rushed towards the street, not realizing that the cars speeding by would not stop for him.
"Momiji, stop!" Hatori called after him. He ran forward and caught the child's hand, pulling him away from the street. Momiji struggled against Hatori's strong grip for a moment. Then he looked up at the dragon, his eyes full.
"Can't I ever see her again?" the child whispered pleadingly.
"You shouldn't interact with her, Momiji," Hatori answered softly, "It might bring back her memories." He felt so guilty for the pain all this was causing the child.
The young boy hung his head, looking down at the sidewalk. Silent tears darkened the cement and he trembled piteously. Hatori picked up the boy and Momiji buried his face in Hatori's shoulder. Hatori carried him home and set him down on the floor. Momiji rubbed his eyes and looked up at the doctor.
"What if I just watched her? Would that be okay?" he asked quietly.
"I don't see why not," Hatori said. Momiji smiled widely and jumped up.
"Thanks Hari!" he cried happily, giving the dragon a quick hug, "I'm going to play outside now!" The rabbit rushed to the door.
"Be careful," Hatori admonished.
"Yeah, I will!" the excitable child jumped outside.
"Hatori sat heavily at his desk, staring at the medical charts strewn across it without really seeing them. Guilt still gnawed at his insides, making him want to hit something. But it had been lessened by the way Momiji had bounced back so quickly. Maybe it would turn out okay. Hatori wasn't naive, but he was willing to hope that Momiji could move past these events and be happy.