DISCLAIMER - see chapter one
Haru waited impatiently for the ambulance and was almost disappointed when Shigure appeared with Yuki and others, Damnit, where the hell is that damn ambulance? They should he here by now! He thought angrily. Hatori was still on the floor, but Haru had moved him onto his back and was holding his arms up to try and slow the blood loss, though he wasn't sure if it was actually working or not,
"What have you done you idiot!" Shigure hissed as he leaned down with tear filled eyes to look at his unconscious friend, moving beside Haru and touching Hatori's cold cheek. Tohru stood horrified with her hands over her mouth and nose, tears falling down her cheeks as Momiji clutched her arm comfortingly, needing comfort himself and Yuki laid a hand on her shoulder with sad eyes while Kyo just watched stunned. Tohru looked down at Momiji as he looked up with her, both wishing more than anything that they could embrace each other.
"Tori-san!" Ayame's voice cried from the doorway, his usual carefree attitude gone as he fell to his knees beside Hatori, the blood staining his expensive red velvet coat, his golden eyes wide in horror as he looked at his friend, the light sliver ends of his hair turning red as they dipped in the blood, why would he do such a thing? He's supposed to be the sensible serious one who keeps everything under control and takes care of people when they get sick or hurt! This isn't meant to happen! He thought tearfully,
"Alright, let us through." the paramedics said authoratively as they ran past Tohru, who gently pushed Momiji away as she almost fell into him. Yuki used his hand on her shoulder to steady her as he stepped back to give the medics room to get by, Kyo already standing at the opposite wall out of the way while Shigure gently pulled Ayame to his feet and guided him away from Hatori. The paramedics took Hatori's hands from Haru, congratulating him on his quick thinking as they checked the reddened bandages on his wrists, tying another tight layer over the top, wasting little time as they quickly move Hatori onto a stretcher to carry him out to the waiting ambulance.
"Why did you do this you fool?" Shigure hissed as Ayame followed to go to the hospital with Hatori, Shigure watching him go regretfully, I wish I could go myself, he thought, shifting his gaze to the children, Momiji and Tohru both in tears, Yuki trying his best to comfort Tohru without hugging her, Kyo was glaring at the floor, obviously not wanting to let his worry show and Haru, now that he was on his feet, went to Momiji and pulled him into his arms, knowing how much Hatori meant to the slightly younger boy.
"Come on, I'll…drive you all back to my house. Momiji, grab some clothes, you too Haru if you want to come with us." Shigure said as he walked over, giving a comforting smile to the small blonde boy, "I'm sure Kyo will help you get ready." He added as he shifted his gaze to the orange haired boy, who for once didn't snap or argue as he left the room, Momiji following after him. "Yuki, Tohru, go and wait in the car." Shigure added as he watched Haru leave to go to his house, handing the car keys to Yuki so that he could let himself in.
"Kyo…" Momiji said quietly as they entered his room, the room covered in pictures, bright colours and bunny toys. Kyo, who was in front of him, looked over his shoulder at the younger boy, who had calmed down but seemed like he could go off at any minute, come on Momiji, hold it together! You know I'm no good at this stuff! Kyo thought as he looked down at Momiji,
"What it is?" Kyo asked as Momiji looked at the wooden floor, his face hidden by his golden hair, but nothing could hide the shaking of the small boy's shoulders,
"What will happen if…Ha'ri dies?" he asked fearfully, Kyo finding himself speechless, it wasn't something he had had to think about, it wasn't something he had wanted to think about either. After a long pause Kyo sat down on the white bed,
"I guess Akito will find another member of the family who's a doctor and let them in on the family secret, if not he'll have to tell a normal doctor about us and have him sworn to secrecy…as for this house I guess they'll close it up or let another member of the family move to the inside, maybe Ayame." Kyo replied with a shrug, Momiji hopping onto the bed beside him and grabbing an old worn once white bunny, holding it tightly to his chest, one of the eyes hanging out, most of the fur missing and even a hole or two in the seams, it was his favourite toy, one that Hatori had given to him, he still remembered that day,
"Momiji!" Hatori shouted as the blonde six year old ran down the street laughing, Hatori sighing as the boy stopped ahead with a bright smile, "How man times do I have to tell you not to run off like that? You know you're not supposed to be out of the main complex so behave or I'll take you back." Hatori added as the boy looked at his feet sadly,
"Sorry Ha'ri…" he apologised, still a little awkward about living with the older man. Hatori was so serious all the time, but never unkind, his father would never have left him with Hatori if he wasn't kind.
"Just stay with me, I don't want you running off and getting yourself transformed." Hatori replied quietly, too quiet for the people walking by to hear,
"Don't worry Ha'ri, I'll be extra careful!" the blonde replied, the older man smiling with a sigh as the wind rustled his short dark hair. Momiji looked around at the shop, his face lighting up as he saw the row of toys in the window, looking up at Hatori with bright hazel eyes, "Ha'ri! Ha'ri! Can I look in here? Please pretty please?" Momiji asked pleadingly, Hatori looking at the toys with a sigh,
"Alright, but remember, stay at my side!" he emphasised as he opened the door, the young boy nodding before running into the shop, pausing in the centre of the small shop and looking around wide-eyed, his fingers tugging the long sleeves of his white cardigan, "Well? Where to?" Hatori asked as he walked to the boy's side. Momiji peered around until he saw a big white bunny on a shelf, the eyes a dark hazel like his own, the floppy ears hanging at its shoulders. He hurried to the shelf and reached up, but found the shelf out of his reach as he stood on tiptoe.
"It's too high…" he said to himself as he looked up, Hatori's arm reaching above his head to get the bunny down, handing it to Momiji, who looked at it wide-eyed and smiling,
"You like that?" Hatori asked as he looked down with a small smile, Momiji surprised at seeing it, it was the first time in the past few weeks that he had seen the usually stern family doctor smile. Momiji nodded with a cute smile as Hatori took the bunny from him and went to the counter, paying the young woman before handing the bunny back to Momiji,
"Ha'ri, thank you!" Momiji exclaimed as he followed the older man out of the shop and back into the streets. Hatori looked down at the small boy at his side,
"Consider it a welcome home present." Hatori replied, Momiji smiling as he looked at the bunny, happy that he now had a home, a home he knew he wouldn't be forced from, a home with someone who would look after and care for him, a stable home…
"I'm scared Kyo! What will I do if Ha'ri dies? I've lived with him for most of my life! He's more than just a guardian; he's like a father to me! I don't want to lose my family again!" Momiji cried as he held the bunny to his chest, his tears running down his cheeks, dripping off his chin onto the sleeves of his jacket, damn! I knew it was a bad idea for Shigure to make me do this! Kyo thought as he looked awkwardly at the boy,
"Listen Momiji, I know he looked pretty bad just now, but I'm sure Hatori will be fine, he's a tough guy…and if it does come to…you know, I'm sure Shigure will look after you. I can always move in with Shishou so you can have my room." Kyo replied awkwardly, the younger boy peering up at him with blood shot eyes,
"Really?" he asked as he sniffed, tear tracks tracing his cheeks. Kyo gave an assuring smile and nodded,
"Sure, don't worry, I'll make sure you're taken care of." He said confidently, Momiji shifting closer and leaning on Kyo tearfully, Kyo wrapping his arms around the boy with a slight smile, you know…this giving advice stuff it's…not so bad…he thought as Momiji cried on his chest, "Bet you never thought you'd need comfort from the cat." Kyo teased, Momiji looking up with a small smile,
"You're right, but thank you." Momiji replied as he wiped his eyes,
"Not a problem, now lets get your clothes, best take as much as possible, you could be staying for a while." Kyo added as he got to his feet, watching as Momiji opened his wardrobe and pulled out a large suitcase, flipping it open and packing his clothes as quickly as he could.
"Are you alright now?" Yuki asked as he and Tohru sat in the back of Shigure's car, Tohru pulling her coat across her chest in the cold. Yuki had leaned over the front seat and turned the key in the ignition to get the heater going, but the heat wasn't filling the car yet,
"I think so…I just can't believe it, Hatori was the last member of the zodiac I expected to…you know…" she trailed off sadly as she looked out of the window into the darkness, shifting a little closer to Yuki for warmth, the silver haired teen glancing at her, but unable to put his arm around her for obvious reasons, I really hate being like this! He thought as he sighed and leaned on the door,
"Hey." Haru's voice said, Tohru jerking in surprise as the passenger door opened and Haru appeared, reaching over beneath the steering wheel to pop the boot open before he disappeared around the back of the car and put a large backpack inside. Obviously he intended to stay close to Momiji, they were quite close after all, in fact most of the zodiac members were close. Tohru shivered again as the cold air hit her back as Haru closed the boot and went back to climb into the passenger seat, which made sense since he was the largest of the four off them.
"I'm glad it was you Momiji found." Yuki said as Haru strapped himself in, Haru blushing slightly at the compliment,
"Anyone would have been fine." Haru replied, both of them knowing it wasn't true, it would have been far worse if someone from the main house had found Momiji, it would have involved Akito then, and the less time Akito spent near Momiji the better. So far Momiji had been more or less over looked,
"I don't think anyone would have handled the situation better than you did Haru." Tohru said, Haru nodding his thanks as the driver door opened and Shigure popped the boot, putting a smaller backpack in the back before climbing in the front and closing the door,
"I grabbed some of Haa-san's clothes, he'll probably be in the hospital for a while…I'll stop by tomorrow." He decided as he looked in the rear-view mirror to see Kyo carrying a large case while Momiji walked along beside him, apparently a little calmer than he had been, well done Kyo, Shigure thought with a small smile as he popped the boot for Kyo, who heaved the case into the boot as Momiji climbed in beside Tohru, trying to shift over for Kyo,
"I guess I should walk, it's not that far." Kyo said as he looked in the back of the car, where Momiji, Tohru and Yuki looked across at him as if he were insane as he stood there in a T-shirt, having not bothered to grab a coat or jumper on the way out,
"Don't be silly Kyo! You'll catch a dea." Shigure began, stopping as soon as he began to say the word, "You'll make yourself ill." He amended, Momiji shifting further into Tohru as Kyo shook his head,
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." He assured as he went to close the door, Momiji's hand stopping him from pulling back and Shigure giving him a pleading look, something that didn't happen very often, in fact Kyo didn't remember ever seeing that look on Shigure's face,
"Get in the car stupid cat, you're letting the warm air out." Yuki said coldly, Kyo blushing and squeezing in beside Momiji, the smaller boy ending up on his lap so that he wasn't squashing Tohru, but Kyo didn't mind, Momiji was smaller than him and wasn't all that heavy. The drive home was a quiet one, Yuki looked out of the window, Tohru sat worrying silently, Momiji fidgeted a little as he thought about Hatori, Kyo dropped off to sleep, Shigure concentrated on the road and Haru looked around realising he had no idea where they were going until Shigure was actually pulling into his driveway. Once they had stopped Momiji pushed the door open and hopped off Kyo's lap as he got out of the car, Kyo slowly opening his eyes and rolling out after him, landing feet first as expected.
"Kyo, I was wondering if you might take Haru in your room night tonight, and Tohru, if you would take Momiji?" Shigure said questioningly as they climbed out of the car, both of them nodding as they headed to the house, Kyo carrying Momiji's heavy case for him. "Alright, tomorrow we'll all go to the hospital to visit, so I want all of you to get a good night's sleep, understood?" Shigure said as he walked inside, putting his backpack down by the door for the morning as the others filed in, Kyo heading up stairs with Momiji's case as Tohru headed to the kitchen,
"Would anyone like a cup of cocoa? Or tea? Coffee?" she asked as she looked over her shoulder, Momiji nodding silently as he followed her into the kitchen, Yuki opting to join them while Haru headed upstairs with his bag,
"I'll have a tea please Tohru." Shigure called as he slipped out of his coat and into his slippers, padding into the back room, where he sat and looked out of the glass window, pulling back the paper panel door to gaze into the snowy garden. What was he thinking? He knows how much the Sohma family depends on him! What drove him to this? He wondered as he looked outside gravely.
"Shigure, your tea." Yuki said as he entered the room and sat at the low table with two cups, raising on to his lips and sipping slowly, the hot liquid burning his tongue a little. Shigure lifted his cup from the table just as Momiji and Tohru walked in and sat at the table with two extra mugs,
"Tohru?" Kyo's voice called,
"In here." Shigure called as he sipped his tea, Kyo sitting down cross legged at the table, accepting the steaming mug that Momiji handed to him, Haru following and taking the other one, sitting at Yuuki's side.
"Your bunny looks like it could use a little repair work." Tohru said kindly as she smiled at Momiji, who clutched his bunny tightly, "Here, let me see." Tohru added as she took the toy and looked at it, finding three holes and the eye that needed sewing. She turned to Kyo to ask for her kit, but found it was already in his hand ready for her to take, Kyo…he reads me so well sometimes…she thought as she took the kit with thanks and opened it. It was only a small material folder with needles and some threads inside, luckily she knew she had some white, she had been sewing a button on one of Yuki's shirts just a couple of days ago. Momiji watched as she threaded the needle and went to work on his bunny, Kyo also watching over her shoulder, it always amazed him how deftly she worked with her hands, the sewing so neat and precise, but finished so quickly.
"Momiji, just to put your mind at rest, if anything does happen to Haa-san I'll make sure I find a place close by, don't worry." Shigure said as he sat down, Momiji looking over at Kyo, who cleared his throat for attention,
"Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of Momiji moving in here." Kyo said, Shigure looking a little troubled as he gazed at his tea, weighing all the options,
"We really…don't have the space." Shigure said as he thought,
"But I can move out, I'll go stay with Shishou, I'm sure you can work it out with Akito somehow, you always seem to get through to him!" Kyo pointed out, Shigure nodding in agreement, it is true, I do have a certain sway over him…but he specifically asked me to watch over Kyo, he doesn't trust Shishou…I guess I could convert my office and just work in the living room, this house is getting more full by the year, he thought with a sigh,
"Don't worry, I'll sort something out, that is if Momiji wants to stay here." Shigure decided, the blonde boy nodding with wide pleading eyes, Shigure unable to keep back the smile that graced his handsome features as he ran a hand through his short dark hair, "Well, that's settled then." He added, Tohru handing the bunny back to Momiji as she cut the loose ends off the string,
"Thank you Tohru!" Momiji said loudly, his old enthusiasm returning as he looked down at the newly repaired bunny, I just hope the doctors at the hospital are as good as Tohru, he thought as he hugged his bunny tightly, Ha'ri, please be alright!