Disclaimer: I don't know FB or the characters.
A/N - Thank you for the reviews, I really appreciate them. I hope everyone is enjoying my story. Please read and if you have a chance, review. I like all reviews both good and bad.
Chapter 4 – First Date Nerves
The next day Hatori woke in a good mood and excited for the day to begin. Tonight he would be taking Tohru out on their first day and he was praying it wouldn't be the last with her. He planned on taking her ice skating, then out to dinner, and if there was time and interest maybe a carriage ride. He couldn't wait for tonight.
As he got up and started getting ready to go into the clinic, his thoughts turned to last night. He had never had so much fun with one person and he knew it was because it was her. She brought out something in him and made him feel alive. He could spend the time just talking about their day, cleaning, or having a water fight and it would not matter. As long as he was with her, he was happy.
He arrived at the clinic before anyone else did and started looking at the files of the patients that were scheduled today. He heard the clinic door open and assumed that it was one of his nurses. He ignored the person that was in the front until his heard his office door open and heard the screech of the dog's voice, "Hari, I knew I would find you here."
"Shigure, what do you want?" Hatori asked and then looked at the time. He was shocked that Shigure was even there since it was just coming up on 7:00am. He never got up and was out of the house this early, at least not since all of the kids had graduated high school, "What are you doing up so early? It is only 7 and you look like you have been up for a while."
"Oh Hari, can't you just appreciate an early morning visit from one of your best friends?" Shigure pouted.
"I am busy, so what do you want? Is Akito ok?"
"Yes, she is fine. She is still sleeping. I came because I wanted to ask what you were going to do about Tohru."
"What do you mean?" Hatori wondered what the dog knew. He had never spoken of his feelings for her, so he wasn't sure what Shigure was talking about. True they were best friends (along with Ayame), but it could be that he wasn't aware, so he decided to play dumb.
"Hatori," Shigure started. Hatori knew he was being serious and looked right at him, "I know that you love her. I have known for a long time. I think she has feelings for you also, but I am not sure what they are. Now I ask you again, what are you going to do about it?"
Hatori looked at him and was a little surprised. He thought he had hid his feelings better than that, but when it comes to Shigure, he saw more than anyone ever gave him credit for. He guesses that is why he was able to write the romantic dribble he did and be successful. He decided to be honest with him, "I am taking her out tonight for a date."
"Hari, when did you ask her? Why did I not know about this? Do you need help?"
"I asked her last night after everyone left and I haven't seen you or talked to you since you left the house last night. And finally no, and I mean NO, I do not need help for tonight."
Shigure was proud of his friend. He wasn't sure what happened last night that had convinced the former dragon to ask her, but he couldn't be happier about this turn of events, "Hari, don't be mean. I just want to be sure that you make this night special for her. So what are your plans?"
"None of your business Shigure," Hatori replied. He didn't want him showing up to any of the locations.
"Hari, I want to help. Don't you want to make this memorable? Do something that no one else has done for her?" Shigure prodded. Of course when he said no one else, he meant Kyo since he has been the only other person she has dated.
He had a point. Taking a deep calming breath, he spoke, "Fine Shigure. I planned on taking her ice skating and then to a nice dinner. After that if there is time, a carriage ride through the park. What do you think?" He actually felt a little relieved that Shigure pressured him. The dog knew all about her and Kyo's dates and what they did on the first few of them. He didn't want to repeat what the cat had done and he wanted to make it special, memorable.
"Not ice skating. Although I am sure she would have fun, Kyo and she went ice skating on their second date. Do that with her sometime in the future. Why not do the butterfly gardens instead. It just opened up last year and I think she would love it. Everything else is perfect," Shigure said thoughtfully.
"That is a good idea. I will do that instead. Thank you Shigure."
"You're welcome. Just make sure you give me the scoop tomorrow, and I want all of the juicy details," he said as he got up to quickly leave. He had to dodge a pen, but he made it out of there unscathed.
"That damn dog never changes," Hatori muttered under his breath. He was smiling so he wasn't too upset with his friend. He was actually very grateful to him for his suggestion of the butterfly gardens. He had never been there himself, so this was going to be new and special for both of them.
He made it through the rest of the day without being bothered by Shigure anymore. He was a little surprised that Ayame hadn't called him and started prying information from him. Shigure must have not passed on the information to the snake. He owed Shigure for that. He left the clinic at 3:00 in order to go home and get ready for tonight. It was his normal time to leave, but today he was even more aware of the time than he had been other days. He also didn't always leave on time in the past and made sure his nurse knew he had to be out of there promptly today.
He went home, took a shower, and got ready. He was about to take out his dream girl on what he hoped was a dream date for her. He grabbed the flowers that he picked up on his way home and got in the car to drive over to her house. He had enough butterflies in his stomach; they may not need to see the butterfly gardens. He told himself that this was Tohru and everything was going to be ok. He felt like a school boy that had never been out on a date before.
He quickly arrived at the house and walked up to the door carrying the flowers. He knocked and she answered after only a minute or two. She took his breath away. She was stunning. She was in a pink dress and had her hair curled. She only wore the lightest of make-up and she was the most stunning he had ever seen her. Then he noticed her earrings. She was wearing studs that were seahorses. She had always been the one that accepted the curse without question and had wanted to help regardless of what happened to her, but seeing those earrings made him feel cared for by her. It was something small, but it meant so much. She probably didn't even realize what earrings she put on or what they could possibly mean to him, but that was ok. He loved her that much more for it anyway.
When she answered the door to Hatori, she gasped. He always looked good in his suites, but tonight he looked better than usual in his dark blue suite and black tie. She wanted to make sure she looked her best for their first date, so she wore one of her favorite dresses and put on the seahorse earrings that Shigure had given her for Christmas one year. They had become one of her favorite pairs and tended to wear them a lot after she and Kyo broke up. She was starting to get a little self-conscious with the way he was looking at her, but did admit that she liked the look on his face when she answered the door.
Hatori handed her the flowers and told her that she looked beautiful. She stepped aside to let him in and told him to make himself comfortable. He declined the tea she offered and told him she would be right back. She just wanted to put the flowers in water. She was giddy and excited about the date. She didn't know what he had planned, but she knew that it would be a good night.
She came back into the living room to Hatori flipping through a photo book she had out on the table. She was working on organizing some of her pictures today and putting them in albums. The one he was looking at was the first year she was with the Sohmas. He was smiling at a lot of the pictures. He stopped when he saw a picture of Yuki in a dress and Kyo standing next to him. He remembered the day well. It was the day of the school festival. The first day he had met Tohru Honda in person. He was the one that took that picture and wondered how she had gotten her hands on a copy. All he could think was "Why did I ever think she was plain?" Out loud he asked the question, "How did you get a copy of this picture? I took it for Akito."
She had sat down next to him and knew what picture he was talking about, "She gave me a copy before Kyo and I left. That was an interesting day. Momiji was always up to something and didn't care about what happened, but I was so happy when I got to see his zodiac form. It did freak me out though and I panicked because we were in the middle of school and only a curtain separated us from the others in the class," She laughed at the memory.
"That was also the day I first met you and asked you to come to Sohma house," Hatori said sharing in the memory.
"Yes, it was and the day I went to Sohma house and met with you, was a day that changed a lot of things for me," she said with what looked like a secret smile on her face.
He wondered about that smile, "What do you mean by that?"
"Huh, oh it is nothing. I will tell you another day," She smiled and flipped the page in the book telling him the discussion was over with.
He took the hint and smiled at her, she had changed a lot, but not so much that she wasn't Tohru any longer. He liked the changes in her and was happy that she agreed to go out with him tonight, "Are you ready to go?" She nodded at her question and the book was closed. They walked out of the house and to his car where he opened her door for her and waiting until she got in and then closed it. He got in on his side and said, "Thank you for agreeing to go out with me tonight."
"I wanted to go out with you and was happy when you asked. Where are we going?" She said in response.
"It's a surprise," he said with a knowing smile.
She smiled back and said, "Well let's go then."
With that, he started the car and they drove off to the first destination on their date. When they got to the butterfly gardens she was excited. She had heard about it, but had not been yet. He said that he had not been himself, but wanted to see it.
They walked through the gardens holding hands and looking at all of the flowers and butterflies that were there. She was amazed and laughed when she saw a couple of butterflies land on Hatori's head. He laughed to when they seemed to swarm around her at one point in time. He looked down at her during the swarming and there was a moment where electricity sparked between them. He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the mouth and smiled down at her. She was surprised but happy about the kiss, but could not control the blush that swept across her cheeks. After that, they seemed to walk a little more closely together through the rest of the exhibit.
After they left the butterfly gardens, they went to dinner. It was a restaurant that Ayame had mentioned to him on more than one occasion. He wanted to try it and thought that his first date with Tohru may be the best time to do that. It was another something new to try together. This is what this date was about, new beginnings.
They got to the restaurant and Hatori gave his name to the hostess. She showed them to their table and gave them their menus. She was trying to get Hatori's attention, but he couldn't take his eyes off Tohru. Tohru noticed what happened and just smiled. She was happy that she could keep his attention even when other girls were trying to take it away from her. Dinner passed very much the same way lunch had the other day. They sat there for a couple hours talking and eating. When there was a lull in the conversation, the silence was not awkward. It was comfortable, like as long as they were together, it was ok because they were together and they didn't need to fill the silence with drabble.
When they got done with dinner, Hatori looked at the time. It was only 8:30 and there was a park with carriage rides across the street. He looked down at her and she was smiling at him. He couldn't help himself; he leaned down and gave her another kiss. Then he asked if she wanted to join him in a carriage ride, or if she was ready to go home. She decided on the carriage ride with a big smile on her face.
Tohru was having the time of her life on this date. She loved everything about the date and she wasn't ready for the night to end, so when Hatori suggested the carriage ride, she jumped at the chance to have a romantic carriage ride with him.
They walked across the street arm in arm and Hatori talked to the driver of the carriage. After that, they both got in and Hatori wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She did not object and snuggled into the embrace. Nothing was said during the ride. They were just happy being there with each other. All too soon the ride was over though and it was time to go home.
On the drive home, Tohru not wanting the intimacy to end grabbed Hatori's hand and held it the duration of the ride and when he opened her car door to let her out, she grabbed his hand again. He walked her up to the door and was about to say good night and give her a kiss when she asked if he would like to come in for tea. He could not say no to her.
She went in the kitchen to make the tea and he sat down at the table in the dining room. He opened the photo album once again to where they left off earlier today. As he was looking through the album, he noticed several of him that he did not know had been taken. One of which was a picture of him looking down at the rice ball and laughing at something that was said. She was looking up at him and laughing also. If someone didn't know better, it looked as if they were a couple. He liked the idea that in that picture they were a couple, even when he knew they had not been at that time. He flipped the page.
Tohru came out of the kitchen with a tea pot and two cups for the tea, "Still looking at the photo album? I think all of those pictures were my first and second year of high school."
"I can see that," he said laughing. "I didn't know that I had my photo taken so many times though."
"Yah, you did. If it wasn't me, it was Uo, Saki, or Yuki. I think even Shigure took a few of them. I will show you my favorite picture of you in this album." She flipped back a page and pointed to the picture that caught his attention earlier, "You looked so happy and carefree in this picture. It was taken one night when you came over for dinner. You had looked so serious that night that we all took turns trying to make you laugh. It was the first time I had seen you laugh. I loved the sound of it." She sounded so wistful and happy; he looked at her and saw a different kind of smile for him. It was a smile that he can't remember seeing before on her face.
"I remember that day. It had been a hard day with Akito and then Shigure and Ayame decided to start bugging me. It was a long day. I almost didn't come for dinner, but I figured if I missed it, Shigure would give me a guilt trip and annoy me more. I didn't want to have to deal with him," then softer he said, "And I didn't want to miss seeing you."
She blushed at that and looked into the eye that was not covered by his hair or damaged from an accident when Akito lost her temper, "I was glad you came that night. I think I would have missed you had you not come when I was expecting you to show up." She was just as quiet in her response, but like her, he heard what she said. She moved her hand to brush the hair out of his face. Then leaned up and kissed the injured eye. When she pulled back and looked at him again, she saw such love shining through, she leaned forward when he did and they kissed. It was passionate and held everything they wanted and dreamed, but most importantly it was filled with love.
