Chapter 1: When the snow melts...
"You haven't told him yet?" Momiji asked, swinging his feet off of the porch.
Hatori lit another cigarette. "No."
"Are you going to?"
"If things escalate."
Momiji beamed. "I don't think you will."
Hatori inhaled on his cigarette.
"I don't think you want to erase her memory."
"Of course I don't. But if it comes down to it I hardly have a choice."
"No, I didn't mean it like that,"
"Huh?"
"What I mean is that I don't think you want her to forget about you."
Hatori breathed smoke into the air.
"She accepted you. She accepted the curse." Momiji looked wistful. "And she seems to accept you most of all. I think she likes you."
"Don't be ridiculous- she's sixteen. And at high school."
"Ah," Said Momiji, grinning. "I didn't say anything about that. I meant she likes you as a friend- but you're the one who jumped to the conclusion!"
Hatori ignored him.
"I think Kaori-chan's pretty, don't you?"
Hatori shrugged. "I didn't really notice,"
"She has nice eyes, doesn't she?"
"Like I said-"
"And she saw you naked."
Hatori was not normally the kind of person that blushes, but he couldn't completely hide his embarrassment there. "She...I'm sure she was gone before the mist cleared."
"Didn't I hear her yell something about fantasizing?"
"I'm sure she was joking," Hatori went over to the door and lifted his jacket off of the coat rack.
"Where are you going?" Asked Momiji.
"I'm going to pick her up from school."
"Oh, Hari, that's so sweet!"
Hatori sighed irritably and threw his cigarette away, crushing it underfoot on the porch- a habit that he couldn't shake.
"It's not an endearing gesture. Firstly, I need to talk to her about the consequences of her knowing about the curse and secondly, I am still her doctor until I assign her to another clinic. I really need to inspect her lungs and make sure she's fit enough before I discharge her completely."
"Doesn't Kaori-chan get chauffeured everywhere?" Momiji blinked.
"I'll just have to get to her first."
xxx
"Ha!" Kaori grunted, almost lifting her opponent off the mat with her strike.
Her breath bit sharply through her lungs.
Ouch...maybe she'd overdone it...
"That was great, Kaori!" Enthused Aoi Sarashima, head of the kendo club. He ran over to her as she went to take a puff of her inhaler. "Have you thought about trying out for the Kendo Championships this year?"
Kaori shrugged and coughed behind her arm. "I'll have to see. I don't think dad will let me. I've been kinda ill recently."
"Hikari-san told me you were seeing a new doctor,"
"Yeah well...that kinda didn't go as planned."
He turned into a seahorse and tried to erase my memory and last night I had a dream about him where he was shirtless and-
And you're a sick girl, Kaori Kunisada. Said the righteous voice inside her head. He is much too old for you. Maybe something like twenty-five, which made him a whole nine years older than her!
Damn it, damn it, damn it...
"Ooh, he's cute!" Observed Megumi Toyama, the daughter of a wealthy sports centre businessman. She was with a few of her friends, leaning over the school gates to get a closer look.
"Yeah, but he looks like he's in his twenties," Murmured Harumi Oda, a girl who had just transferred in and who Kaori didn't really know.
"So? He doesn't look so much older. Maybe a university student...?"
Kaori's heart was pounding.
Could it be?
Was it possible?
She peered over the heads of the milling crowd of girls and gaped.
There was Hatori Sohma leaning against a slick blue car, oblivious to all the stares his appearance was attracting, idly spinning his keys effortlessly on his finger.
"Who's that hottie?" Hikari bounded up next to Kaori. Hikari was definitely the kind of girl who appreciated beauty, having expressed a wish to start up a jewellery company when she was older and now her analytical, assessing gaze roved over Hatori. She finally nodded, giving him her seal of approval. "Fifty carat diamond."
Kaori flushed at her friend's ability to use her passion for jewellery as a rather suggestive innuendo.
She wondered when the right moment to explain that he was her doctor would come.
Then Takuma joined them, his bag balanced on his shoulder. "What are we up to, children?"
"Hot guy." Said Hikari shortly. "Ogling. Don't interrupt."
Takuma rolled his eyes as he looked at Hatori. "Yeesh, with guys like that I guess I don't stand a chance. Hey, Kaori, don't tell me you like him too."
"Uh...he's...my doctor actually."
"Huh?" Hikari turned to her. "You know him?! Oh, introduce me!"
"Your doctor?" Takuma narrowed his eyes.
"Hot and a doctor! I think I'm in love!" Swayed Hikari.
"So," Said Takuma. "He's...here for you, Kaori?"
Kaori flushed at the sudden intimacy those words implied.
He's here for you.
It was stupid and much too jumping-to-conclusions for Kaori's liking.
"I think so," She offered finally. "I guess I'll go see what he wants."
As she jogged off, Takuma stared after her.
Hikari looked up and sighed. "You're going to have to tell her how you feel about her sometime, you know, Takuma."
Takuma looked away and shrugged.
"Oh, Takuma-san, Hikari-san," Harumi Oda approached them bashfully, ducking her head and looking up at Takuma from under her thick black eyelashes. "Good afternoon. I haven't seen you two all day."
"Yes," Hikari smiled, watching Harumi's gaze intently. "Quite."
"Ah," Said Harumi, looking down the street. "There's my car. Sayonara!"
As she sped off Hikari pounced on Takuma again. "And she has SO got the hots for you that it's crazy!"
"But I don't care," Said Takuma in a voice that was colder than his normal one. "I love Kaori. I've loved her for nine years. You know that Hikari. I'll never be able to get over her with some idiot who just transferred in."
"Then tell her," Said Hikari. "Stop torturing yourself, ya masochist!"
Takuma laughed. "Yeah. Easy for you to dole out advice. But just seeing her every day is enough. What if I complicated everything between us? Ruined our friendship? Being in love with your best friend is so cliché and it's never easy. Watching her have all these dreams and knowing none contain me, hearing her talk of moving to distant places where I'll never see her and knowing that she doesn't care about me enough to have me by her side always."
Hikari watched him placidly. "Mmm, I know what it's like."
"Why?"
"Because I love you."
His head snapped back, but he retained his composure, sure she was joking. "Oh?"
"Yes. I would have brought it up earlier actually, but I was scared for all the reasons you just pointed out." Hikari sighed and turned on her heel. "Now I've said it, I feel much better actually. Hurry it up, Takuma; you can take the train with me today."
He followed her in silence for a while before saying. "But I love Kaori,"
"Yes," Said Hikari. "I have gathered."
"Doesn't that bother you?"
"Yes. But I can't undo your feelings as if they are loosely sewn stitches. No. You're just going to have to find a way to love me back."
"I see," Takuma said.
And he did- to some extent.
Hikari looked over her shoulder at Kaori. "She really does know that doctor guy, it seems,"
"Hmm, yeah whatever," Takuma brushed past her. "Let's go."
"Alright," Said Hikari and then she turned and followed him down the pathway.
xxx
Kaori pushed past the girls by the side of the road and ran out towards the car.
Hatori caught sight of her and then turned to face her. "Kaori-san,"
"Hari," Said Kaori (much to Hatori's annoyance at her lack of professional informality). She skidded to a halt by the car. "Um, what're you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you."
"Huh?"
"About...your treatment."
"My...? Oh!" Kaori clapped her hands. "You mean you'll take me on as a patient! Like Akito-san?"
"...Until I find another clinic to refer you to," Hatori said. "And there is the matter of the curse."
"Oh don't worry about that, my lips are se-al-ed!" To emphasis this she made a zipping motion across her lips.
Hatori didn't look terribly convinced. "It's not my decision and...there are just things we need to sort out. I'll drive you home before six."
"Okay!" Kaori whipped out her mobile and began jabbing the pad.
Dear Takeya,
Going out with Hari. He'll drive me home b4 6. Tell dad I'm with a friend PLEASE.
I am anyway.
Kaori
xxx
As Kaori pressed 'Send' Hatori said: "And, Kaori-san,"
"Yes?"
"Do you...know those girls?"
Kaori looked round to see a crowd of girls outside her school, cooing over Hatori and whispering suspiciously over why sixteen-year-old Kaori was getting into a twenty-something-year-old's car.
"Uh, let's go," Said Kaori, jumping into the car.
Hatori got in beside her and started up the engine.
"So," Kaori began after around five very awkward minutes sitting in silence. "Do you have any hobbies?"
No reply.
"What do you like to do in your spare time?"
Silence.
"What's your favourite colour?"
Nada.
"What's two times two?"
Zilch.
"You've got seven seconds to name all of the emperors of Japan since the Feudal Era...GO!"
"Kaori-san," He snapped finally. "Could you please settle down?"
Well that sure put her in her place. She was only trying to make conversation.
Kaori made the mature decision to sulk like a two-year-old until he apologised to her.
Then, realising that Hatori didn't really seem like the 'I'm sorry, let's be friends forever' type of guy- she gave up and looked out of the window, trying to interest herself in the pavements.
Finally, Hatori spoke up. "You're not very careful, are you?"
"Huh?"
"Getting into a car with a stranger?"
"Well I did try to find out about you, but you completely ignored me so I figure, oh well, I tried."
Hatori sighed. "Yes, I...I'm sorry about that."
"Your forgiven!"
"But, you see, these aren't exactly nice matters I need to discuss with you," He glanced to the right and turned the car. "Did you...want to take a walk? People like walks, don't they? Maybe it'll make things easier."
"Sure! Love to!" Kaori beamed out of the window as she regarded the quiet little local shopping district that lay casually sprawled in front of them. To the far left of the road there was a distinct pathway that led into a maze of dark, golden trees high, thin grass and the bejewelled dappling of shadows that shone like an alternating mosaic on the soft, moist earth.
Kaori sighed. What lovely scenery. Poetic. Romantic, even.
The thought unwillingly brought her back to the vision of Hatori shirtless.
It wasn't that it wasn't an extremely attractive, enticing, male-model vision, but Kaori was desperately trying to grab her ankles to pull herself back to Earth.
Hatori would never be interested in a sixteen-year-old that he obviously thought was annoying.
...But what if he was?
They had their differences, sure, but couldn't love overcome all obstacles?
Couldn't it conquer all or whatever?
But what about the whole seahorse thing?
If Hatori could never embrace a member of the opposite sex like Momiji had said then...
Hugging would be impossible, putting his arm round her...
And obviously sex would-
OH MY GOD! I am SO not having these thoughts about him! No! No! No! NO!
How pathetic, Kaori thought, getting out of the car. She was sure as hell glad that he couldn't read minds or anything creepy like that (at least she hoped not). If he could hear some of her dizzying, hormonal teenage thoughts...
Still, Kaori pondered. I still do have a right to be a bit off-hand with him, after all, I did find out about the seahorse thing. And that's pretty bizarre.
Strangely though, she didn't care.
Not at all.
The thought of him knowing her occasionally less-than-pure thoughts about him was a much more horrifying prospect than a seahorse.
And anyway, Kaori again went deep into consideration. Aren't I getting a bit ahead of myself here? I mean I've only just met the guy.
Dum dum de dum, dum dum de dum, dum dum de dum dum...
No! NO- STOP IT!
"Kaori-san," Said Hatori. "You've been standing there for fifteen minutes."
"Ah, sorry," Kaori swung round, trying to look casual and cool. "I was thinking."
"Why were you humming a wedding theme?"
"Uh...was I?"
Hatori let the matter drop and reached in his pocket, pulling out a cigarette and a lighter.
"Ah, ah, ah!" Said Kaori, putting her hand in front of his mouth. "I have asthma, remember?"
Hatori blinked. He was always attentive and focused on who he was with...could it be that he was so comfortable around this idiot that he had completely forgotten her illness?
"Uh, sorry. Of course," He said, his mind still confused. "And anyway, let's make it quick," He headed for the town.
"No!" Kaori bounded over and snatched his sleeve. "Let's go on that path by all the trees!"
"You like trees?"
Kaori laughed at his question. He was so weird.
"Yes," She giggled. "Adore them."
Hatori didn't see what was so funny and said so.
"It's because you seem serious and then you come out with this ditzy little question! Aww, you're too cute!"
Hatori didn't particularly like this comment, but he said: "Then here's a question for you,"
They were walking towards the autumn path, crackly brown and auburn leaves crunched under their shoes and the air was fresh with the promise of an icy winter. There were barely any people around and they were all buzzing about the town.
It seemed like there was just Kaori and Hatori and the glowing, fiery autumn forest.
"Ask away!" Smiled Kaori.
Hatori looked away, not meeting her eye.
"When the snow melts- what does it become?"
Kaori stared at him. For some reason, she didn't feel like laughing anymore.
His voice was etched with sadness and curiosity.
She sighed. "Let's see," She said.
Kaori thought about it. "It's an ending,"
Hatori looked at her sharply. "What?"
"When the snow melts, something ends. It's an ending and a beginning of something. It's the beginning of spring, but spring has to end too. Snow is like the ending to another cycle. You can't hold onto the promise of spring forever, you have to love all the seasons. The snow of winter is so beautiful and when it fades away I miss it."
Hatori didn't reply.
Kaori flushed at the silence. "Aw, damn, I bet the answer was 'water', right? That was my second guess."
"An ending," Said Hatori quietly. "And needing...to begin again."
There was a very long pause as they entered the woods and Kaori was startled when Hatori spoke again, considering and quiet.
"Yes," He said. "Yes, that's it exactly."
xxx
Takeya rang Kaori's phone for a third time.
Still turned off.
Goddamn it! That girl was going to get him fired!
He loved her like a daughter but damn it all, she could sometimes be such a stupid little child.
Nothing for it.
He'd just have to call her father and inform him of this 'Hari' person.
Takeya hated snitching on Kaori; it was like what his cousins had done to him in his much younger days- getting him in serious trouble.
But honestly, what else could he do when her father had instructed him specifically to keep him informed of all her friends for safety reasons.
What if this Hari was part of some rival gang?
The thought twisted his gut.
Right. That was it. He was calling Kaori's dad.
xxx
Kaori had listened attentively and now she sat on the bridge, swinging her legs in the air. "God," She said, wincing. "Poor cat."
"That's not really my point," Sighed Hatori.
"Can I meet the cat?"
"I...suppose, but-"
"Okay, when?!"
"Kaori-san! Please!"
"Sorry, Hari."
Again with the intimate nickname, Hatori felt slightly unsettled.
He'd just have to get used to it.
"So," Said Kaori, her head thrown back. "This Akito person is like your leader or something?"
"Yes,"
"And he's a controlling, evil psycho manic with a split personality and something against sunlight?"
"...I...suppose you could put it that way..."
"Maybe he should take up a hobby like Sudoku. Get his mind of running people's lives and whatnot."
Hatori made a mental note never to let Akito come within fifty metres of Kaori otherwise fireworks would fly on both sides.
"Has he done anything mean to you?" Asked Kaori.
Hatori shrugged the question off evasively. "We've all had to deal with Akito in separate ways."
There was silence and Kaori admired the glittering blue-clear water below as it chattered over the pebbles.
"Hari," She said. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
There was only the smallest pause before Hatori said: "No."
"So you're single?"
"Isn't that a variation of what I just-?"
"I see," Said Kaori, her breezy, off-hand and UTTERLY casual voice brushed over the next point so lightly and gracefully, she was surprised when her cheeks went scarlet. "I mean, with you being so handsome and all, you must have had a girlfriend at one..."
She trailed off and then howled with laughter, almost doubling over, putting out one hand to steady herself on the bridge.
"What is it?" Asked Hatori, feeling tense.
"That means that...you're still a virgin!" Kaori cackled.
Hatori took a step back, amazed and infuriated at her crudeness. "Excuse me?"
"Oh come ON, Hari- if you turn into marine life everytime you hug a girl then that must mean you're a virgin unless you..." Kaori considered for a minute. "Well I suppose you could rest on your hands and-"
"Please, Kaori, I don't think this is a suitable topic for us to be discussing."
"I know, I know, I'm very sorry," Sighed Kaori, but her heart was hammering.
Still a virgin- how utterly adorable was that?
Especially with him being so serious, stoic and world-weary.
"Now," Said Hatori. "It's my turn to ask the questions."
Kaori threw a hand over her heart. "Oh baby, I love it when you take charge."
Hatori took a step away as Kaori began laughing again.
This girl, he thought. Is so hormonal. Not to mention completely immature. It's like nothing goes in that little air-head of hers, and also that these innuendos are getting annoying.
"I know," Kaori caught his gaze. "I'm a naughty girl."
Hatori and Kaori felt their faces go hot this time and they both looked away.
"I'm sorry!" Choked Kaori. "I SO didn't mean it to come out that way! I'm sorry!"
Hatori bit his lip. "It's fine,"
There was an extremely awkward silence as Kaori slipped off the rails of the bridge.
"Uh, I-" She began.
"Kaori-sama!"
Kaori's head shot up to see five armed Kunisada soldiers kitted out to the teeth with artillery, each holding guns.
Oh God, dad, She thought. You didn't...
"You!" Shouted the lead guard, pointing his gun directly at Hatori. "Don't move!"
Hatori glanced at Kaori who looked mortified.
He sighed.
Being with her was definitely more trouble than it was worth.
Next instalment: Chapter 2: Don't you dare change!
