Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, BUT I DID FINISH THE SERIES!
A/N: I think I'm going to love this fic, mostly because I love this pairing.
The car ride was filled with a tense silence, Mayuko looking pointedly out the window—away from him, and Hatori driving in silence. The only sound between them was the radio playing low on some news station.
If this is what a car ride is like, imagine what LIVING with him will be like! Mayuko thought nervously, heart hammering.
"Are you okay getting to work from my house or do you need me to drive you?" Hatori broke the silence suddenly, causing Mayuko to nearly jump.
"N-no it's fine, I can take the subway is walking distance!" Mayuko replied frantically, thinking about all the questions she would get if Hatori drove her to work everyday. No doubt word would get out that she was living with a guy. She'd never live it down.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive!" Mayuko snuck a glance at him, and he was looking calmly at the road a head, no sense of awkwardness or discomfort evident on his face.
How can he be so okay with this? Am I the only one who thinks about these things? God, he probably doesn't even see me as a woman! The last thought stabbed a sensitive spot in her, and she quickly turned back to look out the window.
When they finally reached his house, Mayuko took her time leaving the car. They walked to the door in all awkwardness, Hatori fishing into his pocket for the key and unlocking the door with a click.
When they walked in, it was pretty much what she had expected from a member of the Sohma family. It was a luxurious apartment, with a fine kitchen and spacious living room. There was just one problem—as wealthy as the Sohma family was, there was no need to provide more than one bedroom for a bachelor living alone. This exercised a bit of a dilemma.
Hatori. Mayuko. One bed. Awkward silence.
"I guess I'll sleep on the couch then." Hatori said, taking her bag to put it in his room.
She grabbed his hand causing him to pause and look at her in surprise. She blushed and released it quickly. "Um… it's okay, I'll sleep on the couch. You keep your bed. Really, I insist!"
Hatori blinked and continued to his room as if she hadn't said anything.
"Hey, didn't you hear me? I'll sleep on the couch!" Mayuko followed with an exasperated noise, hurrying to catch up with him.
The bedroom was just as luxurious as the rest of the house, equipped with a queen-sized bed, and of course, a walk-in closet. Hatori placed her bag on the bed and turned to her with a smile. "And I'm telling you that this is my house, and you have to follow my rules. You're taking the bed and that's final. Now, what do you want for dinner?"
"Well, anything's fine—HEY!" Mayuko caught herself before being carried off topic, but soon realized that Hatori wasn't going to take no for an answer. She sighed. Men are so stubborn.
Dinner came and went numbly, Mayuko still not being able to grip the fact that she was living alone with Hatori—a guy she had been in love with for years—for god knows how long—maybe even a month!
When it came time for bed, Mayuko was increasingly nervous as she crept into Hatori's bed. The sheets were clean and smelled of some sort of "Springtime Fresh" laundry detergent and a light hint of Hatori's cologne. Her heart beat a little faster. Hatori sleeps here every night… She thought as she lay rigidly, inhaling his scent. She didn't know how much time passed sleeplessly, probably an hour, before she got up. Her throat was feeling dry, and she had given up on the prospect of ever sleeping.
She creaked the door open and quietly padded into the kitchen for a glass of water. After draining down a glass in three gulps, she washed the cup and put it back. As she was heading back to the bedroom she couldn't help but peek into the living room.
Hatori lay asleep on the couch on his back, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt (Mayuko was disappointed that he wasn't in boxers or shirtless, but then again he would probably mind himself since she was there), one elbow slipping off the edge, and the pillow crooked under his head. He was positively angelic in his sleep (at least in her mind) and he didn't snore, drool, or talk in his sleep. She noticed his blanket had fallen to the ground next to the couch. It was a cold night, and even she was shivering slightly in her thin pajamas. She tiptoed into the living room and knelt next to him, fixing the blanket to cover him.
She watched him, transfixed, as he inhaled and exhaled peacefully, completely unaware of her observant eyes. She leaned her elbows on the couch next to his head, just watching him contentedly. A wave of calm washed over her as she looked onto his sleeping face. I'll just watch him a little longer… she thought faintly as she drifted off and fell asleep.
She awoke slowly the next morning. At first she didn't open her eyes. Her body felt slightly still and sore, and she was wondering how she had fallen asleep sitting up. It was then that she felt someone lightly stroke the top of her head. Am I awake yet, or am I still dreaming and I'm going to open my eyes and have Hatori greet me with a 'Good morning, Mayu-chan'?
She blinked her eyes open into the early morning light to see Hatori propped up on an elbow stroking her head with a smile. "Good morning, Mayu-chan." He said quietly.
OH GOD I AM STILL DREAMING! She blinked repeatedly, before suddenly remembering the events of the previous day.
"H-HATORI! Um… this… you see, last night, I was thirsty, and then the blanket—it had fallen! So I came and…" She frantically tried to explain, blushing the deepest shade of red.
Hatori laughed. "It's okay, I understand… I think..." He laughed again, scratching the back of his head.
Both of them got up to get ready for work, and Mayuko continued to curse her clumsiness. What have I gotten myself into??
Yay, end of second chapter. I really like this fic, and if you have any requests of awkward/romantic situations to get this pairing into, feel free to let me know in a review/PM/email!