=================================================================

:: Rambles ::

Plot bunnies bounced into my head last night ... so here's chapter 2. Hopefully they will frequent their visits. It's a little Hatori-centric because he plays a major role in my plot. With Shigure later, then Akito and of course, Tohru. And yeah, the plot is already fully formed in my head. Just that I find it a little difficult to put them into words. Any hint of OOCness, please do bear with me as I have just reached manga vol 7.  Anyhow, thanks for reviewing and hopefully this chapter is good enough. Else, you can just flame me. :p

More Hatori for you peeps.

=================================================================

:: Wishing FireFlies ::

[ 2. Changing Paths ]

" … many had wandered off into the night hoping to catch a glimpse of them … "
" … many had often dreamt to be given the change to wish upon them … "
" … many had even disregarded them as just mere legends … "
" … and yet only a few knew the real story behind those red fireflies … "
" … the reason why only so few are able to stumble upon them … "

The sky was strangely dark that night, with the moon nowhere in sight. Honda Tohru crept out from her tiny tent, cringing with pain; her body was weak and weary. She had just returned from her part-time job, her workload was particularly heavy that day. She was so worn out that she nearly fell asleep while rummaging her school bag for her homework. There was school the very next morning. And the last thing she would do was to skip it. Not when she had promised her mother. Not when her mother had wished so much for her to complete high school. And so, she slowly walked towards the stream by the hillside to wash off her drowsiness.

She was living alone now. Her mother had just left her a month ago. Her grandfather's house was in the process of renovation. Yet, even if she was living with him now, it still would not be the same. It would still be someone else's family. Not her own. And she would still be considered as an outsider. And if there was one thing in the world she could wish for at that moment in time, it would be a family she can call upon to. Yes, that would be her only wish. To have a family of her own. Where she could belong in.

Halfway down the path that was thick with overgrown weeds, she tripped over a small withered twig and fell. The kerosene lamp that she was holding hit the ground and the glass that covered it broke, taking the light away with it. The darkness of the night soon engulfed her visions. She struggled to get up, only to fall back again for the umpteenth time before she was finally able to stand up with the support of the hovering branches around her. She then looked around her surrounding and found it utterly strange to her sight. Realization soon hit her. There was no way she could make it to the stream nor find her way back to the tent. She was as though trapped in the middle of nowhere.

Just as she was about to give up hope, a strange glimmering light caught her sight. And she started walking towards its direction, weaving between trees, occasionally pushing the branches out of the way. By the time she reached to the source of the light, she was completely taken in awe by the sight she saw. There, by the hillside where the small stream was flowing gently, were hundreds of sparkling red glows hovering above it.

***

The girl stared blankly back at the doctor, his words echoing through her mind. For a moment in time, she found herself unable to respond. She could not find the meaning to those words. She could not read the expression on his face. She could not understand at all.

There was only one thought that crossed her mind.

"Did … did I do something wrong?" her trembling voice found its way out of her lungs.

It was an expected answer. For Honda Tohru could never blame anyone, nor find fault in anyone. Even when someone else was hurting her. Whatever happened, she would take it all on herself. Take the blame. Bear the consequence. Feel the pain. Everything. There was practically no sense of hatred in her.

Hatori kept his silence as he watched the girl. There were hints of bitterness in her eyes. Of fear. Of sorry. As though she did something wrong and she was terribly sorry for it. But it was not. It could never be. If there was any wrongdoing, it was his. His and his alone.

How many times had he been wrong? Not once. Not twice. But much more than he could ever remember. First, for taking away the memories of Yuki's friends. Yes, those dear friends of the young Jyuunishi member. It didn't matter, did it? They were just children. And children tend to forget those parts of their lives when they grow up. Too young to remember. But Yuki did. Yuki remembered clearly the time he erased their memories. He remembered the times when his friends could not recognize him at all. Friends whom had once laughed and cried with him, now treating him as a total stranger. And then Yuki shied away from the rest of the world. From the normal children. From the other Sohmas. From everyone. Especially from him. And he even moved away. For a child to have a reason to hate, to fear and to remember so much, what kind of childhood was that?

Then it was the memory of Momiji's mother. This was an exception. It was not an order. It was a request from her. From her husband. And even from her child. So that she could forget the pain and live again. And she did. She was alive again. She even had another child after Momiji. The once saddened family was happy again. But where did it leave Momiji? What about the little child's feelings? Did it not matter too? To have a child living in bitter memories of the past? No, Momiji was the one who wanted his memories to be retained. So he could think of his mother. Because the memories were very dear.

And finally, he had to erase the memory of the one person he loved most. Was it an act of payback, reflecting back the pain of the ones he had hurt in the past on himself? Had Kana wished for her memories to be erased? Was there no other way to make both ends meet? Would things have worked out if Kana was still with him? These were the questions that he had avoided. Questions that he had forsaken just for an order. Without any hesitation. And thus these questions were never given the chance to be answered.

Therefore this time, he would make sure that the same mistakes were not to be repeated again. Maybe it would not help amend what he had done in the past. But at least, he could choose not to walk down that path of regrets anymore. At least this time, he could do something to protect the younger accursed ones. And not have them following his trail. At least this time he had found the courage to do so.

For he knew just how important Tohru was to them. And how they were to her. And those moments that they have shared were precious too. Especially to someone like Tohru.

Painful memories aside, he started walking towards the confused girl. He was willing to take the consequences to help retain her memories. Just as he was about to touch the girl's face, reassuring her that it was not about anything she had done, his hand was aggressively pushed away by another member of the Jyuunishi. Hatori staggered a few steps behind.

"Don't come any closer!" Yuki hissed.

Yuki was now standing in front of Tohru, with both of his hands raised, preventing Hatori from coming any closer than he already was. His eyes burnt with anger, a sign of warning that he would not hesitate to attack if Hatori dared to harm Tohru. Yes, he would not hesitate. He would not hesitate at all to protect Tohru. And not have the past repeating itself.

"Are you going to erase her memory now? I should have known. It's not likely for you to come all the way here for no apparent reason. This was your reason, wasn't it? All because of him, isn't it? Anything for him." Yuki yelled again.

"Nooo! Yuki-kun!" Tohru called out and grabbed Yuki by the arm. "Don't! Hatori-san surely has his reason."

"Yes. Ha-san has his reasons. It seems the bet has reached its dateline."

The three of them then turned to the source of the voice and found Shigure standing by the patio, smiling like always. Slowly, Shigure moved away from the doorway and walked to where they were.

"What bet?" Yuki inquired just as Shigure approached them.

"Ah. It's nothing. Just a little bet between the two of us." Shigure replied in his usual cheery voice.

Yuki and Tohru merely stared at the writer; both were now confused and at loss of words.

Shigure smiled as he watched their astounded displays and then swiftly shifted his gaze to Hatori. "Just that you're supposed to have her memory erased. Not have her leave. Why, Ha-san?" Shigure mused, furrowing his eyebrows, his hand on his jaw, imitating someone who was in deep thoughts.

There was a moment of silence between them before Hatori finally spoke again. "I … I won't do that anymore." His eyes remained unmoved; they were still on Tohru.

"Just what the hell you think you're doing? Betting on Honda-san? What do you think she is?" Yuki burst out again. He could no longer hold back his anger. His patience was wearing off. He needed to know what was going on. He needed to know why Tohru was involved in it. And yet, he couldn't stand the way Shigure was referring her as some sort of a deal. And so he thrust his fists towards the writer.

Shigure then did what no one would imagine the cheery writer would do. He evaded the younger Sohma's blow so easily and grabbed Yuki by the arm. One twist of his hand and he had Yuki falling onto the ground. He then tugged his kimono back in place and when he looked up again, the usual joyful shine of his eyes were replaced by icy cold ones. Tohru was shocked into silence by his stare while Yuki remained frozen onto the ground, unable to move.

Shigure then turned to Yuki and smirked. "Yuki-kun, it's just the same. Just the same as you are trying to protect Tohru-kun this moment, I was just merely trying to protect the one most dear to me."

"Akito …"

=================================================================