A/N: Sorry for such a late update, life has taken me away from writing, but I'm back! Okay, so I'm putting Hatori into this chapter, I see him like a father figure, and I hope I've gotten his personality down. If not let me know and I apologize beforehand. I hope you enjoy!

The Pill

"You're stupid, do you know that?" Akito stood up from behind the table in his room, making his way to the other side standing in front of Etsuko. "Thinking you could make friends with the rest of the family. They hate you because they hate me." His hand swooped down and gently rested on her check. "I'm the only one who likes you; I'm the only one you can talk to."

The smell of grilled fish woke Etsuko from her sleep, sitting up she rubbed her eyes. "…I'm starving…" She looked to the side of her where Tohru's bed was, only to see it neatly made. Getting up; she slid the door open and made her way down the stairs, the wonderful smell getting stronger.

"Oh Etsuko, you're up." Tohru smiled as she walked towards the table placing the last of the food down. "I hope you slept well."

"Yep." Etsuko kneeled at the table and began to eat.

I know it's not any of my business, but I can't help feel that I did something wrong to make Etsuko…angry at me." Tohru continued to look at Etsuko, who had seemed less lively today.

"You all better get a move on, or you'll be late for school." Shigure chimed, breaking Tohru's train of thought.

"Oh your right! I completely forgot about school!" She stood up and scurried around looking for her bag.

Kyo noticed her bag up against the wall just by the door, sighing he picked it up and held it out for her. "Here"

Tohru stopped and looked at Kyo. "Thank you Kyo"

"Yea…well keep better track of your stuff...Kay?"

"Y-yes." The three of them all headed for the door. Tohru stopped; turned around to look at Etsuko still sitting at the table. "Um aren't you coming to school to?"

Etsuko only shook her head slowly poking the untouched food in front of her.

"I hope you're feeling all right, you don't have a fever do you? I could stay home and-"

Shigure popped up beside her and turned Tohru around and gently pushed her out the door. "There's no need for you to miss a day of school. Etsuko goes to an all-girls school; it's a bit far so I'll just drive her there."

As she was being pushed out, Tohru kept looking behind her worryingly. "I-if you're sure…"

"Positive, now go on don't want to keep Yuki and Kyo waiting do you?"

Tohru looked to Kyo and Yuki, both a few feet ahead of her waiting, Kyo looking annoyed and Yuki looking patiently. "N-no of course not. All right well be safe." She ran off to catch up with the other two.

"Well it's about time!" Kyo stomped off once Tohru was close enough.

"I'm sorry…"

"No need to apologize especially to the stupid cat." Yuki smiled as he walked next to her.

"Who're you calling stupid?" Kyo snapped back around.

"I didn't stutter, or maybe you're deaf and dumb."

"That's it I'm going to kick your girly little ass!"

"I'd like to see you try." Yuki walked passed him poised as Tohru continued to freak out about them fighting,

Shigure watched them from the door until they were out of his sight. He let out a small sigh and slid the door shut.

"I'm not going." A gloomy voice filled the room.

Shigure came back to the table. "Hmm what do you mean?"

Etsuko never looked up from her plate. "School…I'm not going to school."

"Not like that you're not…we don't have any of your medicine here I'll just have to call up Hatori and see if can't swing by"

Normally Etsuko would have protested but instead she let out a sigh and stood up. "Whatever." She walked out of the room and walked back up stairs.

Shigure picked up the phone and called the main house. "Oh Hatori, you picked up I'm so glad! I need you to come by the house immediately; I've got some juicy secrets to tell you!"

On the other end, Hatori leaned back in his swivel chair. "If you're not going to be serious stop calling here…I'm hanging up now."

"No wait! Hari, I was just joking, but I do need you here. It's Etsuko…it's started." Shigures joyful tone quickly became serious.

"I see, so she's been hiding out at your house. It's only been a day has she already relapsed? I see I'll be there as soon as I'm giving the others their flu shots." He hung up the phone and grabbed the little orange bottle with Etsuko's name on it.

*With Kyo, Yuki, Tohru.*

They had made it to school early and had some time to spare before classes started, Kyo went to sit in class, fed up with Yuki, while Tohru and Yuki stood by a cherry blossom tree.

"Miss. Honda, are you feeling well? You've been quiet this morning." Yuki placed the back of his hand on her forehead.

"What….oh no I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you worry like that. I'm fine." Her face turned a light shade of red from embarrassment. "It's just…well I know it's not any of my business but today Etsuko didn't seem like herself today."

Yuki removed his hand from her forehead. He knew she would ask that sooner or later. "Well you see Miss. Honda, what you saw this morning was more like Etsuko than what you saw last night."

Tohru looked up at Yuki confused. "But she seemed…lonely."

"Ever since we were children Etsuko has always seemed that way. I don't know too much about why she's like that I just know if she doesn't take her medicine that she slowly becomes more and more depressed."

Tohru looked down at the ground. "That's…so sad."

Yuki noticed how this conversation was getting darker and he didn't want to make Tohru feel bad. "But as long as she takes her medicine her sadness seems to disappear and a happier Etsuko comes out."

"Not being able to feel happy on your own, needing a pill to make you feel happy. I wonder just how much she is hurting, how much she's bottling up inside."

The bell rang notifying the students it was time to head in for class. Yuki didn't mean to make Tohru feel sad and as they both walked into the building he began to think how Etsuko really must feel.

*Shigure's house*

Hatori drove up to Shigure's house, holding his brief case and wearing his white lab coat. Opening the unlocked door he took his shoes off and stepped inside.

"Oh Hari you're just in time! Etsuko is starting to get me all depressed, talking about killing herself and things." Shigure tugged on the sleeve of Hatori's lab coat.

Finding this little piece of information alarming, he shot a glare at Shigure. "Where is she?"

"She said something about taking a bath…drowning in her sorrow…I think."

Hatori pushed Shigure off of him. "Do you really have no understanding on clinically depressed people?" He made his way up stairs and tried to open the bathroom door only to find it locked. "Etsuko open this door right now."

There was no answer, Hatori pressed his ear against the door and heard nothing as well. He jiggled the door knob, trying to break the lock. "Etsuko I said open this door." His voice became louder.

"I can't…" Etsuko said hiding behind the door to Tohru's room. "I tried but I think Shigure locked it."

So he does know what to do…Hatori thought to himself, feeling a bit exhausted he let go of the door knob and made his way into Tohru's room.

Etsuko glumly sat on the bed as Hatori moved the chair from the desk to the bed side. He sat down in front of her and opened his bag pulling out the orange container, a needle, and a tiny glass bottle filled with clear liquid.

"What would you like first, the flu vaccine or your medicine?"

Etsuko pointed to the vaccine. Hatori nodded and pulled up one of her sleeves and warped a rubber band tightly around her bicep. He placed his forefinger and middle finger on her arm, where her elbow bent and felt for a pulse. Once he found one he filled the needle with the liquid and gently poked her skin and injected the vaccine into her, quickly placing a bandage on it once he had finished.

"Now that's done…" He picked the orange bottle and took the cap off pouring out one little white pill onto his hand and brought it up to Etsuko. "Here take this."

Etsuko only looked at the pill, she shook her head.

They went through this every time, Hatori pulled his hand back and looked at Etsuko with a slightly annoyed look on his face. "You know what I'm going to say don't you? We can do this the easy way or we can do this my way Etsuko, it makes no difference to me."

Etsuko flopped down on Tohru's bed ignoring Hatori's little threat.

"I see…" He stood up and loomed over her body, his knee between her legs, while the other leg was against the bed. A hand came down and pinched the sides of her nose together gentle enough not to hurt her by tightly enough to stop the air flow. If she wanted to breathe she would have to open her mouth.

Etsuko was able to keep her breath held longer this time, but after only a few seconds she started to feel her face turn red from the lack of oxygen. Her head felt lighter and her vision became somewhat blurry to her. She had no choice but to open her mouth and as she did Hatori's other hand quickly popped the pill in her mouth.

Making sure she wouldn't spit it out He kept his hold on her nose and placed his other hand across her mouth. "All you have to do it swallow and I'll lift my hands." He watched Etsuko swallow the pill regretfully, and as he promised he let go and allowed her to breathe once more.

Shigure walked by and noticed Hatori's position and snickered. "I didn't know you were so kinky Hari."

Hatori pushed himself off the bed and picked up his briefcase. "It's your turn, pull up your sleeve."

Not knowing what he was talking about Shigure obliged happily. The rubber band was wrapped around his arm and once the needle was ready Hatori stuck the needle in without warning. He slapped on a band aid. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to elsewhere." Before he left he looked back at Etsuko, who was still lying on the bed.

"You're so mean Hatori; you don't just stab the others with needles." Shigure rubbed his arm while tears ran down his face.

"I'll be back as soon as possible for Kyo and Yuki's shot. Also I left a bottle of Etsuko's pills make sure she takes one every morning." With that he walked past the crying Shigure and put his shoes back on and left the house.

"So, how was she? Is she still alive?" A mocking voice came from the back.

Hatori looked into his mirror, and stared at Akito. "Yes, she's still alive."

"Shame" Akito turned and looked out the window as they drove back to the main house.

*Later that day*

As Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru walked through the door of the house they were greeted by an enthusiastic Etsuko.

"Welcome home everyone! I'm so glad you made it before the food got cold." She grabbed everyone's book bag and neatly placed them against the wall. "I hope you're hungry, since I didn't know what everyone liked I just made a little bit of everything."

"Well at least she's back to normal" Kyo muttered as he walked into the eating area. His mouth fell opened as he saw the table covered with open-handed food.

"Oh wow you made all of this?" Tohru asked while she kneelt by the table and marveled at how pretty the food was.

"Yep, I hope you all like it."

Yuki stared at the table before joining Tohru. "Etsuko you really didn't have to do this."

"I know but I felt so bad for treating Tohru so rudely last night that I had to find a way to apologize."

"So you thought food was the answer, why not just say you're sorry? There's no way in hell we can eat all of this! It's a waste of food." Kyo flopped down and picked up chopsticks and began shoving food in his mouth.

Etsuko nodded. "You're right Kyo…I'm sorry I wasn't thinking very clearly. Tohru I'm sorry I didn't mean to waste all this food like this."

"Oh no, no, no you don't have to apologize. This food will keep and we'll just have lots of left overs." Tohru reinsured her. "I'm just happy to see you more energetic."

Etsuko let out a laugh and nodded. "Yea well sometimes I get into moods like that. I hope I didn't worry you."

The five of them all sat down for dinner, sharing stories, yelling, and laughter. Once the dishes were done, Kyo, Yuki and Tohru went upstairs to study. Etsuko stayed down stairs looking for Shigure.

Walking up to the door where he writes, Etsuko slid it open to find him fiddling with a pencil. "Sorry to bother you Shigure, I'll come back later."

Craving any kind of attention Shigure waved her in. "No, no you're not bother me at all. I was just taking a break. What is it?"

"Well, I was wondering if you would do me a favor."

Shigure tilted his head to the side. "I'll see what I can do."

"I wanted to go to the same school as the others…Kyo and Yuki oh and Tohru that is." Etsuko blushed slightly as she looked away from Shigure.

"You don't enjoy you're other school?"

"It's not that…I just really want to be friends with Tohru, and maybe if we go to the same school I'd get to know her better that way." Etsuko suddenly slammed her hands on his desk and looked at him determined.

Shigure just smiled and nodded. "I'll call the school, I think they're still open, and inform the main house. Okay?"

Smiling she nodded. "Thank you, oh but I don't have a uniform…"

"Well if you don't mind walking into school with an old man, I'll take you in and get your uniform and classes all settled tomorrow."

"Thanks' Shigure, you're the best I don't know what I would do without you." Etsuko giggled and walked out.

I can't wait until tomorrow; this is going to be so much fun.

Etsuko opened the door to Tohru's room and saw the mat she had slept on was occupied by a sleeping Tohru. She smiled and picked up the books that were on the ground and placed them on her desk. Not wanting to wake up Tohru, she gently made her way into the bed and turned the lights off drifting off to sleep.