Summary: Tohru gathered up the courage to confess to Kyo but he turned her down. Seeking for some comfort, she found it in the least person she expects: Hatori Sohma.

Disclaimer: Yeah. I don't own this. Jeeeez.

Chapter 2: Of Reminiscing and Finding the Missing Person

-oOo-

Hatori Sohma was quite feeling a bit melancholic that day. He wasn't expecting to feel a bit emotional, but he most certainly felt it. In retrospect, he regarded tat it might has something to do with the weather, seeing how the rain is falling hard. Flashes of memories came hunting him – memories of him together with Kana. He wasn't prepared for the mental images assault he was having. It only means that up until now, he hasn't moved on yet with that hd transpired between them. He remembered vividly the conversation that he, Ayame and Shigure had back at the lake house.

Ayame had blatantly suggested to snatch Kana away during her wedding ceremony, a thought he has unconsciously would have wanted. But being a civil man himself, he chose to stand at the back and let her go. After all, he was already contented with the memories of her. He no longer would've wanted to cause her another pain. He's okay with the fact that he's the only one who remembers. He already had a shot of how wonderful life could be.

And a vision of Tohru suddenly came to his mind. A small smile tugged on his lips.

Tohru's appearance in his life is like opening a window to a dark, shuttered room. Maybe not only in his life but she also managed to free the others with her kind-hearted nature. Her ability to accept everyone is what drew the Sohmas toward her. 'Even Akito admitted defeat,' he mused. 'It's not everyday that you get to meet a person like her. That's why her two best friends re very protective of her,'

Then a sudden realization hit him.

He no longer cared for Hana. Well, first love will never die and she will forever have a place I his heart. But Tohru… The Spring in their lives… Would always have a certain place in their hearts as well as in his. And because of this, he came to a conclusion that what he is feeling towards Kana is not love, but guilt. The guilt of not being able to protect her from the curse that loomed I his life. The curse that Tohru is trying to break.

And that is when he came to a point to understand what truly he is feeling.

He loves Tohru.

And he vowed to protect the smile that takes their sadness away.

Deep in his thoughts, he didn't hear the door burst open and in entered Ayame.

"Ha'ri! There's trouble!" Ayame exclaimed, having his usual 'girlish' tone.

"Quit having that kind of tone, Ayame and tell me what's the problem," Hatori snapped.

"Sheesh. You're so serious, Ha'ri. Sometimes, you need to get out of this office and have a life," Ayame commented. "Anyway, Tohru is missing," he immediately continued as Hatori glared at him.

Hatori became alert. 'Tohru is missing? What possibly could have happened?'

"She's missing? For how long?" he asked.

Ayame looked at his watch and made a mental computation.

"About two hours now. She was last seen with Kyo, though. It seemed that they had an argument or something,:

"Have they began searching for her?" he queried. Worry began to surge in his mind. At this kind of weather, it wuld be difficult to look for her. Given the circumstances, she would probably be bathing in the rain. They have to move fast, or else she will get sick. Tohru's body is so fragile she could easily catch flu or two.

Hatori donned his coat, took his car keys and brought out his umbrella.

"Who are the people looking for her?" he paused as he was positioning himself in front of the door.

"Hmm. Let me see… Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, Hana-san and Uo-san," Ayame counted in his fingers. "A total of seven people if you add the both of us. They have already looked for her in her usual place. In the school; the library; the cemetery but nothing. They couldn't find her,"

Hatori's eyes became somewhat more concerned. Unbeknownst to him, his actions were not left unnoticed by Ayame.

"Seemed like our Ha'ri has found someone," Ayame commented. "You're beginning to grow fond of her, aren't you?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I care for her as much as you care for her, Aya. Don't mix it with your nonsensical antics," he replied dryly. "Let's go. The sooner we start looking for her, the better,"

The door closed with a snap.

-oOo-

A/N: Yaaay! I'm slowly developing the plot. I have already made the ending of this and it's really hard to write the main plot of the story. See you in the next chapter! And thank you for the people who reviewed this story!^_^

Quotes mark in ' are thoughts while " are spoken.:)