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Tooru had promised herself to be adult and mature and really show Hatori that she was someone who could be trusted and relied on.
That flew out the window the moment they stepped into the aquarium. The archway of the building was two spiral cylinders filled with crystal blue water. A huge square tank joined them across the top with the words "Grand Spiral Aquarium" etched into it and lit in neon. Thousands of little fish darted up and around in riot of color and movement. She gasped and froze, causing the stream of people entering the aquarium to part around her.
"Hatori-san, look!" She said, breathing the words out. "There's so many!"
"I'm sure there is more to see inside." He said, the corners of his mouth turning upwards. Like most of the crowd he'd barely noticed the archway in anticipation of what would come next. He looked up at it with new eyes, the schools of fish almost looked like they were dancing as they moved through the columns. It was amazing. Leave it to Tooru to take a simple thing and make it into something extraordinary.
Tooru flushed at his sardonic tone. "I'm sorry, let me get the tickets out." Dummy, dummy, she thought to herself, don't be such a child. She wanted him to trust her and know she'd be okay to be on her own. She wasn't going to accomplish that by acting like a five year old.
It was hard to follow one fish all the way through the archway, Hatori discovered. He picked one at the bottom of the left hand column and tried to keep track of it as it moved up and across the arch. He lost it as it entered the rectangle.
"Hatori-san?"
He looked down at her. She was staring up at him in question a pair of tickets clutched in her hand. "Ready?" He asked and held out his hand for the tickets.
"Ready." She said handing them to him, and reminding herself again to be more mature. She didn't want to embarrass him; he was doing so much just by bringing her here.
They walked into the building, and, expecting it this time Hatori managed to guide her out of the path of people when she stopped to stare. It was an impressive building; he could see where the aquarium got its name. It was a five-story building, with a circular spiral staircase going up the center; portions were lined with tanks hiding it from view. There was a gigantic cylinder tank going up the center of the staircase.
"Where do you want to start?" Hatori prodded her; he looked at the guide they got when they'd turned in their tickets.
"Start?" Tooru couldn't tear her eyes of the middle spiral. There were turtles and manta rays swimming lazily around. "Hatori-san! There's a person in there!" A man in scuba gear waved at the crowd. A ray brushed up against him and he spun in slow motion to follow its movements. "Won't they eat him?" She looked up at Hatori.
"Turtles and rays aren't interested in such large things." A young man in a "Grand Spiral Aquarium" polo shirt said, his eyes dancing at her reaction. He gestured at the tanks. "We have four variety of turtles in the center tank, but their diet is carefully managed. In the wild they'd eat a combination of jellyfish, sponges, shrimp and squid. Some only eat seaweed and sea grasses. The manta rays eat plankton and crustaceans."
Tooru looked back at the tank. "Such big things eat such little things?"
"They're friendly too." The man said, completely ignoring Hatori to focus on Tooru. "In the wild manta have been known to seek out divers and play in the bubbles that come from the scuba gear. I know some people think they're scary looking, with the spine and wings and all, but I think they're cute." The man gave her a grin.
"They are cute!" Tooru agreed, looking back at them. "They look like sea fairies."
The man laughed. "That's the first time I've heard that! I'm Ken, I'm one of the guides here at Grand Spiral. I'm glad you like them, they're my favorites." He paused, and then said diffidently. "There are tours of the facility every 15 minutes. The tour I lead begins in a half hour if you'd like to join it."
"We'll think about it." Hatori said, staring at the young man. He was annoyed by how he kept inching closer to Tooru. Were young people really so forward these days? And she didn't even notice what he was doing.
Ken looked up at the taller man as if noticing he and Tooru were together for the first time. "Alright then." He looked back at Tooru, "Can I suggest you start here on the bottom floor and work your way up to the top? The displays get more elaborate as you go up, but you can get a closer view of individual fish here on the lower levels." He glanced at Hatori, but directed his next comment to her. "If you do decide to take one of the tours you can join at any time. Feel free to ask questions you like."
"Thank you Ken-san." Tooru smiled. "I'm sure the tours are very interesting." She looked up at Hatori and her smile dimmed. He looked distant. "Um, Hatori-san, why don't we start over there?" He'd been relaxed and comfortable just minutes ago. Now he was wearing the same mask she'd seen him wear in front of his nurses. Had she done something to upset him?
She reviewed her behavior and winced. She'd done exactly what she'd promised herself she wouldn't. She'd acted like a child and asked stupid questions. He had to be so embarrassed.
Hatori nodded and followed her to the first alcove display. He felt he should say something about the young man's obvious interest in Tooru. She should really be more aware of her surroundings. Friendly, naïve women like her attracted the worst kind of men. But how could something like that be brought up tactfully? Was it even his place? Perhaps he should bring it up with Shigure.
Tooru nervously walked up to the first display, a tank filled with sea sponges, anemones, and urchins. As she watched the colorful anemones fronds drift back and forth she wondered how an adult would act. She snuck a glance at some of the people around her. Most of the girls and women her age were hanging on the people they were with, obviously on dates. She couldn't very well do that! Younger girls were pointing and giggling and running from tank to tank. That was exactly how she didn't want to act.
Hatori looked at the tank and wondered what the draw of sea sponges were to her. She'd been standing in front of that tank for a good five minutes. He glanced at her and frowned. Her early exuberance was gone. What had he done now?
"Shall we continue on?" Hatori prodded.
Tooru nodded and walked over to the next tank. She wasn't sure what it was supposed to be displaying, it looked like a tank full of seaweed and coral. Adult, adult, adult, she thought to herself. No stupid questions. But why was there a tank full of seaweed?
She glanced up at Hatori. He was staring at the tank.
"Hatori-san?"
Hatori stepped up to the tank and placed his hand against the glass, spread fingered. The seaweed began to move and part. Tiny seahorses wandered towards the glass. She hadn't noticed them because they looked so much like their surroundings. There were little light-colored ones in patchwork pinks and white with spines that looked just like the rough coral behind them. There were larger green ones with frond like fins that looked like the leaves on the sea grass they'd been hiding in.
"There's so many..." Tooru breathed, walking stepping closer. "That's amazing Hatori-san!"
The seahorses swayed and swarmed around his hand, bumping up against the glass. He moved his fingers across smooth surface and they followed afterwards.
"Oh, look, look!" Tooru said. "That one looks just like Hatori-san!" A little greenish brown seahorse hung back and floated in the eddies of the tank.
Hatori gave a dry chuckle. "That one is a female."
"How can you tell?" Tooru asked, brushing up against his arm to get a closer look. She couldn't see any differences between that seahorse and any of the others.
He shrugged. "I just know. Ayame can do the same thing with snakes."
"They're so cute." Tooru said, her fingers dancing near his. "Tiny dragons."
"I find them very calming." Hatori admitted. "They're very content." He didn't know how it was with the other Junninshi members; he suspected they might share a closer connection with their animal. There wasn't much gray matter in a seahorse brain. All he got from them was calm, warm, full. Everything was good in a seahorse life if you had a full belly and a warm patch of calm seaweed. He rested his head against the glass and had a sudden urge to go swimming. Tooru watched him relax in front of her eyes.
"Please don't touch the glass, sir."
Tooru and Hatori started, stepping away from the glass. Ken was leading a few straggling aquarium goers through the display.
"I apologize." Hatori managed, shaking off the lure of the seahorses. He coughed into a fist and tried to collect himself. It was hard being dragged out of that connection so suddenly.
Ken smiled at Tooru. "You guys didn't make it very far, would you like to join the tour?"
Tooru glanced up at Hatori. He looked very uncomfortable and embarrassed, though she doubted anyone who knew him would be able to tell. "Thank you, but I wanted to go this way next. We'll get out of your way." She tugged on Hatori's sleeve and he followed her out of the alcove and up the stairs.
Tooru looked around, barely noticing the riotous displays of the colorful sea fish, looking for somewhere private for Hatori to collect himself. There was a door labeled "Step into the Sea – private viewing per half hour increments." It required a small deposit of money. She fed in enough to pay for an hour and opened it up. She stepped inside and Hatori stumbled in after her still in a daze.
"Are you alright Hatori-san?" Tooru asked turning to him and studying him. Her large eyes were filled with concern.
Hatori coughed again. "I'm fine, sorry for causing a disruption." He'd never been so embarrassed in his life. He hadn't ever had a reaction like that to seahorses, not even when he was a child visiting an aquarium with his grade school class. But he'd never allowed his guard to fall so far before either. Tooru didn't look like she believed him, looking up at him as if she stared long enough she'd find something she could fix. It was disconcerting. He looked around. "Where are we?"
Tooru looked around and gasped. The room was a cube, three walls and the roof were clear. It was like they'd stepped onto the floor of the ocean. Schools of fish swam around them. "It said 'Step into the Sea.' It's a private viewing room, I paid for an hour." She spun slowly in place. The back wall was mirrored giving the illusion that they were surrounded by sea life and water. "Oh, look, even the floor!" She lifted her skirt a little looking at the clear surface below them. A school of little silver fish darted below them and she stood on one foot to get a better look.
Hatori watched her dance in place, switching from foot to foot to get a better view. He chuckled.
She flushed, dropped her skirts and stood on both legs. "Sorry," she apologized, embarrassed but glad he seemed to be getting back to normal.
"It's nothing to apologize for." Hatori assured her; disappointed she'd stopped. She shared her delight with the innocence of a child.
Tooru ducked her head, feeling awkward under his murky green gaze. The whole situation felt unreal and she was suddenly aware she was in a very small, dim room with a very adult man. Her stomach gave a little flip she didn't recognize. He was acting so casual. Hatori was never casual.
"This is amazing." Hatori said, taking his gaze off of her. He paced the room, empty except for them a crystal bench across one side. The discomfort he'd felt melted away in this watery haven. He watched a turtle swim past. "I didn't know anything like this was possible." He sat on the bench and gazed up at the roof, his whole body felt detached. Was this a side effect of his prolonged contact with the seahorses or just the calming effect water always had on him? There was a small shark, about half the size of the large turtles flowing past, circling above them. He closed his eyes and called Tooru's hopping from foot to foot to mind. He opened his eyes and watched her follow the glass of the room, Tooru under the sea...
"It is..." Tooru walked to the opposite side of room, feeling the need for a little distance. "It's like really being underwater." She placed her hands against the cool glass watching a school of bright colored fish dart around the turtle. "Ah, so pretty!" She watched an angelfish swim in circles. "I never knew aquariums were like this, or that fish could be so pretty. I've never been to an aquarium before." She babbled to cover her embarrassment. "We voted once in grade school about going to an aquarium or a zoo and the zoo won. I voted for the aquarium. I thought that the zoo was fun. Penguin-san was especially cute. But-" She turned to Hatori and stopped. He sat relaxed on the bench his head leaning against the glass of the tank. He was sleeping.
She sat on the other side of the bench and looked at him. He looked so relaxed. He had a ghost of a smile on his lips. She'd seen both Yuki and Kyou after interacting with large groups of their animals and they'd been drained but calm and happy too. Perhaps it was tiring to be connected like that by the curse. Or perhaps it was just that he worked so hard, or probably both. He looked so peaceful she didn't want to wake him.
He probably wouldn't sleep long and they had an hour alone in this room. There was no reason not to let him rest. She paced it following a fish as it swam from one end to the other before passing out of view. She made a game of it, tracking their paths as they swam above and below her. She felt like a mermaid.
She sat back down on the bench and tucked her feet up underneath her. She glanced at Hatori and covered her mouth before a giggle could escape. There were seahorses gathering where his head rested against the glass. She curled up and watched them dance around the edge of his hair. Somewhere along the way she got a lot more interested in the way his hair fell against his cheek and how the lean planes of his face looked more relaxed then she'd ever seen them...
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Hatori slowly woke up, and then wondered if he was awake. He was looking up at what looked to be a turtle's belly. He turned his head and blinked. There was a swarm of seahorses, which probably explained why he was feeling so content and comfortable while sleeping on a hard bench. There was a low murmur of voices and he turned his head to seek the source of the voices out.
Tooru was a shadow against the blue of the tank wall, but Hatori had seen the look of concentration she was giving the figure next to her often enough to be able to picture it. She was focused on the person's face, hanging on every word. Those expressive eyes would be filled with admiration at the speaker's knowledge. The person gestured to something that swam by.
"That variety takes to captivity quite well, that's why you see it so much of it in the various tanks. It adds a great splash of color, if you're thinking of starting up your own tank at home it'd be a great starter fish."
"Isn't that expensive?" Tooru asked, "And I think it would be very hard to care for fish-san."
"You could set up a small tank of tetras or goldfish without setting you back too much. Or you could just start out with a beta, but make sure to keep it in a real tank not a vase and it'll live longer. If you're interested, I could help-"
Hatori coughed, and straightened his rumpled suit as he stood. Tooru and Ken turned to him, and Tooru broke into an immediate sunny smile. The dragon's face was stony, and he deliberately didn't look at her knowing she'd think he was displeased with her. Now that he was awake he was furious with himself. He'd fallen asleep, again, and this time in public.
"Hatori-san?" Tooru stepped towards him. "Are you alright? I explained to Ken-san that you weren't feeling well. He was very kind to let us continue to use the room after our time was up since there wasn't anyone else trying to use it."
"How long...?" Hatori asked. Hadn't she said they had the room for an hour? He'd slept past that?
"It hasn't been that long." Ken answered. "And there are two other viewing rooms, so it wasn't any problem. Tooru-chan seemed a little lonely, so I was just giving her a little information on the tanks to keep her entertained." He smiled at Tooru.
Hatori stared at the man. Tooru-chan? Obviously he'd been asleep long enough for the two of them to get familiar with each other. "Thank you for your consideration."
Ken looked between the two of them. "Would you like me to give you that tour now? My shift is over, but I can squeeze one more in."
Tooru looked at Hatori.
"We don't want to keep you," Hatori said. He looked at Tooru. "I think we should go by the café before it closes, and then see what other exhibits we can see."
"If I can make a suggestion..." Ken said, "There is a dolphin show starting in ten minutes, the last one of the evening. The café stays open later then most of the interactive exhibits, so it might be a good idea to take advantage of those before you get dinner."
"Oh, dolphins!" Tooru smiled, clapping her hands. "I've never seen Dolphin-san in person!"
Hatori sighed. "Thank you for your suggestion. We'll find our way there." He walked to the door and opened it.
"Thank you Ken-san." Tooru said and followed Hatori to the door.
Hatori impatiently waited for Tooru to exit, staring at Ken. He seemed oblivious to Hatori, watching Tooru bounce out of the room. Once she was out of the door he looked up at the older man.
"Your little sister is such fun to talk to, she's so interested in everything." Ken enthused. "I wish every guest we have would be like her. You should really think about getting her a tank of her own. I think she'd enjoy it. There are books in the gift shop on how to set one up."
"We are not related." Hatori said flatly.
The dragon wondered at the amount of enjoyment he got out of watching the young man's face pale and go slack. He suspected he was liking it much too much. He knew he was giving the boy the wrong impression. A man and woman alone together, not related, implied a date. He and Tooru were not on a date, so he should feel guilty for making Ken feel so awkward. However he felt a justified, the boy should have guessed that he and Tooru were not related. What sister calls her brother "san"? He tried not to let the corners of his mouth tug up as he left the room, leaving Ken at the bottom of the sea.
Tooru was looking at the map of the facility. "I think Dolphin-san is this way, " she said and pointed.
Hatori looked over her shoulder. "Honda-kun is holding the map upside down." He looked around and saw a sign labeled "Dolphin Show," not surprisingly, in the exact opposite direction. "This way."
Blushing Tooru followed his lead having to hurry up a little to match his pace. Thankfully Hatori seemed back to his normal self. As soon as they put the viewing room out of sight, he slowed his pace.
"It was very nice of Ken-san to let us use the viewing room." Tooru commented when the silence between them stretched for a little too long.
"Mmmm." Hatori grunted, feeling the need for a cigarette. He still couldn't believe that not only had he fallen asleep, but also that he'd apparently been asleep for... he checked his watch, a good hour and a half! He had to attribute it to a combination of the seahorses and Tooru's presence. His track record wasn't good when it came to her. The past two times they'd been together he'd managed to fall asleep, this made a third. What was it about her that made him relax so completely? He couldn't sleep that well when he was at home in bed! And that boy... "I'm sorry to have done that to Honda-kun, I'm sure you were very bored."
"Oh, no!" Tooru assured him. "There was so much to see just in that one place, I wasn't bored at all! I got to see Turtle-san, and Shark-san, and-"
She babbled about what she'd seen while he was asleep, and Hatori wished he could have been awake just to seen her reactions. She was so transparent and expressive, so very different then anyone he'd encountered in years. And she expected nothing out of him. Perhaps that's why he could relax so completely around her.
"And then a light above the door flashed and there was a beeping noise." Tooru said as they settled into their seats for the dolphin show, "I was worried it might wake you, but then the door opened and Ken-san came in. He said it was okay to stay in there as long as we kept the door open so if someone wanted to use it they could. Ken-san told me all about the fish! I didn't know they had such complicated names."
"Honda-kun should have woken me up." Hatori said, a little sharper that he should have. It bothered him that Tooru had essentially been alone with the aquarium guide in a small dark room. He didn't appear to be a threat, but if he had been...
Tooru started at his tone. "I'm sorry," she said quickly and fell silent.
Hatori sighed. "It's not Honda-kun's fault I fell asleep." He rubbed his temples. "But if something like that happens in the future, please wake me up. It's rude of me to sleep while entertaining a guest or in public."
"No."
Hatori sat up and stared at Tooru. He didn't think he'd ever heard her say that word before. "No?"
"If you're tired, you should sleep." Tooru said with a firm nod. "Of course, if Hatori-san was causing a problem for someone else I would have woken him. But today and last time, Hatori-san wasn't causing a problem for anyone."
"I was causing a problem for Honda-kun." He countered.
Tooru shook her head. "I was happy to stay in the viewing room! And Momiji and I were having fun chatting last time."
"And Ken-san was having fun chatting with you today." Hatori said, looking away from her. It kept coming back to that boy. Why was that bothering him so much?
Tooru looked at Hatori, utterly confused. Was he agreeing with her or disagreeing? His tone didn't sound like he was agreeing, but his words didn't make sense... Was it wrong of her to have enjoyed Ken's lectures about the exhibits?
Hatori turned to look at her when she didn't respond. She was clutching her hands together and had her fingers curled in distress. He fought the urge to fumble for his cigarettes.
"I'm sorry." Hatori apologized. "I'm...not at my best when I wake after sleeping deeply."
"I... I seem to have done something to upset Hatori-san." Tooru said diffidently. "But I don't know what that is." She looked up at him and Hatori stiffened. She had a very fake smile on. "I hope Hatori-san accept my apology."
"Honda-kun hasn't done anything to upset me." Hatori assured her. He sighed and pushed his hair out of his face. "I'm upset with myself. That boy...Ken...It seems his intentions are good. But it worries me that Honda-san trusts people so easily. If he had not been an honorable person, Honda-kun could have been in jeopardy."
Tooru made a little o of understanding. He wasn't mad at her, he was concerned for her. "Someday," she said, "I may get hurt for trusting in others. That's the risk I take for being the kind of person my mother wanted me to be." She looked up at him, but he could tell she was looking beyond him into some memory of the past. "Mother wanted me to be a person who believed and trusted in people. And I want to be that kind of person. It's how I got to know my dearest friends, and Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun." She blinked and she was looking at him again. "And Hatori-san, I never would have come to meet him that day otherwise. If someday I get hurt, I'll have no regrets. So Hatori-san shouldn't worry about me."
That only makes me worry more, he thought.
"Hatori-san! Dolphin-san!" Tooru cried, transforming into a child. She bounced in her seat and pointed at the tank. A trainer had come out and a released a trio of bottlenose dolphins into water. The leapt and danced over the water, tossing a ball back and forth. The clicked and chirped, and generally acting adorable.
There was some storyline the trainers had developed that let the dolphins show off their talents and training. But Hatori wouldn't have been able to say what it was. He spent as much time watching Tooru enjoy the dolphins as he did watching the show. For her part, Tooru tugged at his sleeve and pointed at every trick, thoroughly amazed.
All was going well up until the end of the act when the dolphins started leaping and skimming around the tank. Tooru had pulled his attention back to the tank just in time to see the wave the dolphins were aiming towards the audience. Too late Hatori realized they'd seated themselves in the splash zone.
He acted on instinct pushing her back and shielding her with his body. He felt her clutch tight to his shirtsleeves as the wave struck his back. They were almost nose-to-nose and only a thin space separated their chests. He'd nearly transformed himself. He could feel the icy water of the tank dripping down his back. Tooru blinked at him.
"Hatori-san are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Hatori said straightening. He looked around, there wasn't much of an audience, but they were mostly staring at him. He felt awkward and out of place in his sopping button down shirt. He had a light flush as he looked down at her. "Did you get wet?"
"Just a little on my feet." Tooru said standing up next to him. "But Hatori-san is soaking!" His shirt was plastered to him.
"Everyone all right out there?" The trainer said into the mike. His tone was amused.
Hatori waved a hand to show there were no hard feelings.
"Mari-san, Mika-chan and Kenta-kun apologize!" The three dolphins raised themselves out of the water and tossed their heads in mock apologies. The crowd laughed and the trainers took their bows, ending the show.
Tooru giggled and then looked up at Hatori in apology. "I'm sorry Hatori-san."
"It's fine." He said, amused himself. The small crowd filed out.
"We should go home." Tooru said, stroking at his wet sleeve. "Hatori-san can't afford to get sick."
Hatori shivered, his skin prickling. The Junninshi weren't used to such close contact from other people.
Tooru looked up at him in concern. "See! Hatori-san is already getting a chill."
"I'm fine." Hatori repeated. He wasn't feeling cold at all. If anything he felt like something inside him was melting. "Besides, I haven't taken Honda-kun to dinner yet."
"But Hatori-san is soaking!" Tooru protested. How could he even think of staying to eat when he was dripping on the floor?
A worker pushing a mop past them paused. "We've got sweatshirts in the gift shop." He offered.
"The gift shop is where?" Hatori asked, thankful for the distraction. Tooru's stare was too frank. He was all out of sorts today, especially in relation to her. Perhaps he was getting ill. There was only so much he could blame on the seahorses.
Tooru trailed slightly behind him, and he could feel her concerned gaze on his back. He quickly picked out a sweatshirt and borrowed the use of their bathroom to change. His hair was soaking and his pants had gotten damp from the drip off of his shirt, but taking off the sodden cloth worked wonders towards helping him get back under control. He put his wet shirt and undershirt into a bag, and smoothed back his sodden hair, titling his head so that he could see better out of his good eye. He thought he looked ridiculous with his hair slicked back, and the sweatshirt felt alien. He couldn't remember the last time he'd worn anything but a dress shirt out in public, but he supposed he looked presentable enough.
He felt unaccountably nervous as he stepped out of the bathroom. He tugged on the olive green sweatshirt, embroidered in the same shade with the words "Grand Spiral." Tooru wasn't waiting for him as he'd expected. He looked around, trying to spot her between the shelves crowded with merchandise. He caught sight her ribbons and walked around a shelving unit.
She was standing next to a bookrack, talking to Ken.
"I think it's perfect." Tooru said, hugging a "Grand Spiral" shopping bag to her chest. "Thank you for your help."
"What's perfect?" Hatori knew his voice was flat with suspicion. It had been at least 45 minutes since they'd seen him last, which meant it was 45 minutes past the end of his shift. What was he still doing here? And how did he just "happen" to be talking to Tooru again?
"I wanted to get a souvenir for Momiji-kun, since he couldn't come today." Tooru explained. "Ken-san showed me this." She pulled out a square box with what looked like an aquarium on the side. "It's a lamp! The background moves and it makes it look like fish swimming, and Ken-san says, that in the dark it kind of looks like the viewing room. Do you think he'll like it?"
"I'm sure Momiji will like it very much." There was something about her mannerisms that was off. Something he couldn't put a finger on.
Tooru looked him over. "Hatori-san looks very nice! This color suits him."
"Thank you." He felt uncomfortable in his casual wear, like he'd been caught with his zipper down. "Shall we start walking towards the cafe?"
"Yes," Tooru turned to Ken. "Thank you, Ken-san."
"It was no problem." Ken looked uncomfortable under Hatori's steady gaze. "You have my card if you have any questions?"
"Yes, thank you." Tooru fidgeted, glanced at Hatori but sent a quick beaming smile at Ken. She looked back at Hatori, but didn't meet his eyes.
She's hiding something. She was showing all the telltale signs; nervous, refusing to look at him, evasive. He gestured for her to walk ahead of him, wanting more distance between her and Ken. The young man was watching her as she left.
"Honda-kun." Hatori said, making her pause just before the threshold. "Why don't you take look at some of the tanks by the stairs. I want to get Ayame and Shigure something." It was a lame excuse, and one that no one but her would have believed. "I'll just be a moment."
"Okay!" Tooru nodded.
Hatori barely waited for her to get out of earshot before turning to Ken. "How old are you?"
Ken blinked. "Um, twenty. I'm in college."
"Honda-kun is in High School. " Hatori intoned, stepping a little closer to intimidate the smaller man. "I don't think your interest in her is appropriate."
"My interest? Um, I just thought she was fun too talk to, and it's part of my job." Ken answered. "She just had some questions about aquariums, so I gave her my card, that's all." As if suddenly realizing he should be insulted his tone grew heated, "I'm not the one who fell asleep! And how old are you? How appropriate is your interest?"
"Don't pretend to be uninterested." Hatori said, ignoring the insinuation, "Why else would you be here-"
"Ken-kun, I'm ready to go." A young woman walked out of the back room, settling a purse over her shoulder. "Thanks for waiting till the end of my shift."
Ken looked at Hatori in triumph. "No problem, Chisa-chan." He turned to look at her. "Enjoy the rest of your stay, sir."
Hatori waited till they'd left the shop before giving into his embarrassment and frustration. He scrubbed a hand through his hair and put his other hand on his hip. What was wrong with him today? He turned to walk out of the shop.
Tooru stood in the doorway watching him. "Is Hatori-san okay?"
"Fine." Hatori said, and wondered if it was true. He was seriously wondering if he'd somehow hit his head and forgotten the incident. What else could describe his bizarre behavior? "I don't see anything I think they'd like, and it's getting late. Let's go."
"Okay," Tooru smiled. "Hatori-san should see these amazing little fish by the stairs. They're called cuddlefish, they change color and shape!"
"Cuddlefish?" Hatori repeated amused.
"Hai! See-" Tooru pointed out the tank and the placard. "Oh." She said, blushing "I mean, Cuttlefish."
"I thought that might be it. I've seen these before." Hatori said, "If you play music their colors will pulse to the rhythm."
"Really?" She asked looking at them with new eyes. "Amazing!"
They wandered their way towards the cafe, stopping at any attraction that caught their, or rather Tooru's, eye. Hatori slowly calmed, putting his frustration with himself and Ken behind him. Tooru watched him melt into relaxation by degrees. She couldn't stop glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. She'd never seen Hatori dressed this casual before. The sweatshirt stripped five years off his age, the slicked back hair another three. (Though honestly, she preferred it how he usually wore it, tidy but longish.) It wasn't too hard to imagine him as a graduated sempai come back to spend time with a younger classmate.
Besides the casual clothes, he was acting different too and had been since they'd arrived. If she had to put one word to describe it, it would be protective. He'd obviously been worried about Ken, he'd admitted as much at the dolphin show. She though she thought his concern was misplaced, but it made her feel nice. When people jostled to see the displays they were watching he'd angle himself to shield her from the crowd. (That made her nervous. If someone bumped into her, she'd simply be bumped... he could transform and get stepped on!) And he'd definitely protected her at the dolphin show.
Yuki and Kyou were always protecting and coddling her too, and even Shigure did to an extent. But it was different with Hatori. When the others did it, it felt like they were trying to protect her from her own clumsiness or stupidity. Kyou often said as much. But with Hatori it was like it wasn't that she was doing something wrong, it was everyone else that was the problem.
The aquarium was more crowded now that it was later, which surprised Tooru since it was a weeknight. It seemed like it was a popular date spot. Hatori turned to walk to the next display, and Tooru had to hurry not to get separated. At one point the crowd flowed the wrong way and she almost lost him. He was harder to pick out in his sweatshirt; for all that he was taller then most. She reached out and clutched at his sleeve.
Hatori started at the touch, unused to any close contact. He turned and almost got pushed out of the way by a couple distracted by the scuba man in the center tank. If he wasn't careful he was going to lose her in this crowd! He turned and threaded his fingers through hers. The crowd surged and she was pushed up against his back. Hatori stumbled forward, but kept a tight grip on her hand.
He turned his head, not able to see her, but able to feel her still pressed up against him. "I'm going to head for the stairs, stay close, don't let go."
"Okay." Tooru said, her face flushed. She'd never been this close to a man before. She hadn't expected his back to be so hard and unyielding. He seemed so much bigger this close.
She was so tiny. He could feel her forehead pressed against his back. It didn't even reach his shoulder blades. "Let's go." He didn't want to admit that his body was reacting to her closeness. Her forehead wasn't the only thing he could feel pressing into this back. It made him feel like a dirty old man. Like Shigure.
They made it past the crowds and went up the stairs to the final floor. It was less crowded, having fewer exhibits and a large part of it being taken up by the café. Tooru hesitated, she'd thought the café here would be more casual. But it looked elegant and expensive. There were no booths, just small circular tables and chairs. There were tanks of different shapes separating them to give an intimate feel. The tanks were long squiggles, and curving half circles, all lit to give the café a very "art deco" feel.
"Two?" The hostess looked them over with a smile.
Tooru looked up at Hatori. "Maybe we should get something from a stand on the way home." She suggested. This was much too fine!
Hatori just gave her a look and turned back to the hostess. "Yes, two."
"This way, please." The hostess brought them to the back, seating them at a table protected by a large curving tank. The table was lit by the blue glow of it and once seated it felt like the table existed on it's own, separate from the rest of the café.
No wonder this place is popular for dates, Hatori mused as he took his seat. He nodded to the waitress as she left to get menus.
Tooru wondered if he realized he hadn't let go of her. Their linked hands rested on the table. She glanced at the tank beside them. "Seahorses!" She said.
Hatori looked at the tank beside him, there were only two but they'd come up to the glass. They were pretty blue-green, with understated fins and spikes.
"Look at the way they're moving." Tooru's hand squeezed his. "It's like they're dancing." They had their tails wrapped around each other and were maneuvering in lazy circles.
"They're courting." Hatori said, his mouth curving upwards. "See how he's posturing? He's trying to convince her to be his." His fingers gave hers a squeeze back.
"So it is like dancing." Tooru said watching them. "They're getting to know each other." She readjusted her hand, threading her fingers through his, not thinking about it but liking how it felt.
Hatori looked down at their joined hands and self-consciously pulled back. He took a sip of his water to cover for it.
Tooru put her hands in her lap, feeling awkward, like she's overstepped her bounds. Thankfully the waitress reappeared with menus and handed them to them with a polite smile.
Hatori opened his menu, happy to see there was "real food" and not just typical café fare. He'd been worried since Momiji had suggested it that it would be a hamburger and dessert place. It was a little pricey for what they offered, but that was to be expected in a place like that.
"Hatori-san." Tooru was frowning at her menu. "This menu is strange."
"What do you mean?" He glanced at her and then at his menu. Besides leaning strongly towards seafood, he didn't see anything odd about it.
"There aren't any prices." She looked up at him with her brow wrinkled.
Hatori almost laughed. They'd given her a "date" menu. That was fine by him, at least then she'd order something she liked instead of what was cheapest.
"Don't worry about it." He told her. "Just order what you'd like. Do you want an appetizer?"
"No, that's too expensive." She said immediately. "I can't ask-"
"You're not asking, I'm offering." Hatori interrupted. "Don't worry about expense."
"But I want to pay my share." Tooru said, "And I-"
"Don't be ridiculous." Hatori cut her off again. "I invited you here."
"Momiji-kun invited me here." Tooru corrected, "Hatori-san is just being nice and taking me here in his place. I can't expect him to buy me dinner too."
"If Honda-kun doesn't allow me to pay, I won't come over for dinner next week." Hatori said blandly, keeping his eyes on the menu.
"But Hatori-san promised!" Tooru protested.
Hatori didn't answer, pursing his lips slightly as he read over the menu options.
"If I let Hatori-san pay..." Her tone made him look up. She sounded positively sneaky. "Will he go grocery shopping with me? For healthy food?"
"I have food, and maids who will shop for me. That's completely unnecessary." He said dismissively.
"But what Hatori-san has isn't food." Tooru insisted. "And Hatori-san probably doesn't even know what to ask for."
"Are you saying I don't know how to keep a healthy diet?"
Tooru flushed under his amusement. "I think maybe Hatori-san has forgotten."
She was pouting. He'd never seen her get petulant or upset over anything before. And now here she was pouting because he wouldn't let her dictate his diet. "Let's compromise. If Honda-kun lets me buy her dinner," He said, "I'll come over to Shigure's on Thursday and Honda-kun and I will write up a grocery list together."
Tooru brightened. "Okay!" She looked back at the menu. There might not be any prices but she was sure she could figure out something that would be cheap.
"Does Honda-kun have any allergies to shellfish or anything else?" Hatori asked, not looking at her.
"No, I'm not allergic to anything." Kake Udon... Tempura flakes and seaweed on hot noodles with soup, there was no meat or fish in that, so it had to be cheap. Tooru decided that's what she'd have.
"If Honda-kun had to choose, which would she have, beef, chicken or fish?" Hatori watched her study her menu.
"I like all of them." Tooru said distractedly, deciding she'd have water with her meal and definitely no dessert.
The waitress came over and smiled. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," Hatori said quickly, before Tooru could speak. "I'll have the Shrimp and Avocado and she'll have Seafood Yakisoba."
Tooru stared at the menu. The seafood yakisoba had scallops, crab, shrimp and vegetables over broiled noodles. It had to be one of the more expensive items on the menu. "Hatori-san!"
He ignored her. "I'll have a glass of the house red wine, she'll have the virgin fruit cocktail."
"The shrimp and avocado has a spicy oyster sauce." The waitress said. "If the gentleman prefers it can be on the side or made milder."
"No, it's fine as is." Hatori assured her. "Thank you." He handed her his menu, and plucked Tooru's out of her hand. He raised an eyebrow at her and dared her to challenge him.
"Will that be all?" The waitress looked back and forth between them.
"Hatori-san promises he'll buy everything we put on the list?" Tooru asked.
"I promise." Hatori decided she was very bad at being devious. What she should have asked was "would he use everything on the list."
Tooru looked at the waitress. "Yes, thank you very much." The waitress smiled and left to giggle with her co-workers about the strange couple in the back.
Unnoticed by Hatori or Tooru, the pair of seahorses had twined themselves tightly together and twirled gently in the current of the tank.
:0:0:
Aquariums are fun. For those of you who've read Liquid Lunch (found on my hentai site), I'm thinking of adding a chapter to it based on this chapter, if I can figure out how to link them without having to rewrite chapters 2 through 6 of this fic to do it. Otherwise I might do it as a stand-alone. On the general fic front, up next is Spotted! - Merrow