Lilies

A/N: Yay! Chapter 9 is here! So much happiness inside! And if any of you think Hatori is OOC, well, I think he can be way different when he loves someone. And Shigure isn't OOC either. He can be sensitive. Maybe not on the outside. Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not nor have I ever owned Fruits Basket or any of its characters and I sadly never will. That happiness belongs to Natsuki Takaya. However, I do own my lovely Maddy Wilde.

Maddy's point of view

Chapter 9: Found

Hari picks me up from college every day. He's so sweet! I'm so lucky that he's with me. I feel like a lovesick puppy.

It was Friday and I walked out the school doors with my crutches. Hari says he'll let me stop using them in a week. I look around and finally spot Hari leaning against the front gates. I wave. He sees me and smiles the most gorgeous smile-I love his smile- and waves back. I feel so awesome around all my school peers when I walk up to the hottest and sweetest guy ever. I mean, seriously girls stare at him longingly and give me dirty looks. I take these looks with pride because Hari is mine and they're just jealous.

He took my hand in his and walked me to his black car. He opened my door for me. Such a gentleman. I smiled and thanked him and sat down in the passenger seat. He closed the door and walked around the front of the car to his seat. He got in the car and closed his door before leaning over to me to plant a kiss quickly on my lips. I still blush when he does. I still can't believe he would actually go for a girl like me. You know, shorty, freak, quiet, mean, crybaby me. What did he see in me? I'd have to remind myself to ask him that. But not now.

We drove smoothly back to Shigure's house. Hari was such a good driver. Also, I really don't mind Shigure anymore. In fact, it felt like I was his little sister the way he took care of me. Actually, he had asked me to call him Nii-san a few times. I'm considering it. Yuki told me that Shigure comes in my room whenever I scream from my nightmares and doesn't leave until I fall asleep again. I never remember waking up from my nightmares. But I supposedly do. I can only imagine what a mess I must be after I wake up.

My night terrors are horrifying. I feel like I'm living my days with Adam every night. Sometimes, I swear I can feel the pain in my dreams. I hate them. I hate him.

But I could never say that to him. He'd just hit me. He had the power. I was too small to defend myself. Even if I was bigger, taller, I know I'd be too scared of him to do anything.

He had me trapped in his iron fist and there was no escape.

In fact, I knew he'd find me, but there was nothing I could do about it. My only comfort was that Hari was with me, but there was no guarantee that he would be there when Adam found me.

Once we pulled up to Shigure's house, I turned to Hari and asked, "Can you pretty please stay for dinner, Hari?" I gave him puppy dog eyes and pouted my lower lip. I knew he wouldn't be able to resist.

He stared at me for a minute, struggling not to give in. But he lost.

"Oh, alright, Maddy. I'll stay. But I have to leave right afterwards, okay?" he reasoned.

"Okay!" I chirped, bouncing out of the car and skipping to the house. I heard Hari chuckle behind me. I turned quickly and grinned at him and waved for him to hurry up.

"You're so slow, Hari. Come on!" I said. He laughed at my impatience. I stood on the front porch with my arms crossed while he took his sweet time approaching the house. I knew he was doing it on purpose.

"Hatori Sohma, get your slow-ass self in this house right this instant!" I yelled at him, but he knew I was playing.

He walked up to me, lifted me up, and sat me on his shoulders. I giggled. He ducked through the doorway so I wouldn't hit my head. I shouted through the house.

"Hari's staying for dinner, Shigure! Hopefully, you don't mind. But if you do, it doesn't matter!"

Shigure walked out of his study and chuckled when he saw us.

"How's the weather up there, Maddy?" he said, craning his neck to look up at me and, for once in my life, I got to look down.

"It's great. I feel so tall. Hey, look! I can touch the ceiling!" I squealed. I touched the ceiling and giggled. I didn't care how ridiculous I sounded. Up on Hari's shoulders, I felt so big and powerful and I never got to feel like that.

"You guys are just in time. Tohru has just about finished making dinner," he said, gesturing to the kitchen, where I knew Tohru must be bustling around hurriedly.

"Hey, Hari, let me down. I want to go help Tohru. She works so hard all by herself," I said, resting my chin on his soft head. He nodded.

"That sounds like a good idea, Maddy," he said and lifted me up and off his shoulders and set me gently on the ground. I felt strangely smaller than before I got on Hari's shoulders. Oh, well.

I walked through the kitchen door, and sure enough, I swear Tohru was only a blur buzzing around the kitchen. I called out, "Hey, Tohru! Need any help?" She suddenly stopped bustling around and looked at me. Then she shook her head furiously and waved her arms. I had been expecting this. But Tohru was to be Tohru.

"Oh! Hello Maddy! But I couldn't possibly ask you to help me! Really, I can do it!"

"Please, I insist."

"Oh… well…okay, if you really want to, you can set the table for me, please?"

"Of course!" I replied and grabbed all the silverware and plates and headed out to the table.

And I swear, as soon as I was a millimeter out the kitchen door, a pair of hands swiped my plates and silverware from me.

I pouted my lip. "Give them back, Hari," I whined. We were always trying to do more for each other than the other. Kind of like how he wouldn't let me help with the tea that one time. It's kind of like a game.

"Nope," he said and I saw a grin flash across his beautiful face. He started setting the table. I tried to steal back the stuff several times, but he always held it out of my reach. Finally I gave up and plopped down in front of the table and crossed my arms. I glared at Hari.

Once he finished, he looked over at my sulking figure and laughed.

"You better stop pouting or else, Maddy."

"Or else what?"

"I'll tickle you."

My eyes widened. He knew I hated being tickled. "You wouldn't."

"Maddy, you know I would."

I did know he would, so I put on a smile.

"Great, I like your smile a whole lot better than your frown."

"Whatever."

He grinned and walked back into the kitchen to help Tohru more. I didn't even bother going in there too. Hari would never let me help with anything if he could help it. So I just sat there and waited for the food to come.

It only took a few minutes for all the food to be on the table and for all six of us to be seated around it.

As we were eating, Shigure made a face as if he were remembering something and spoke to me, "Oh, yes. Maddy, from around eight to midnight tonight you'll be here by yourself. I feel really bad that you'll be alone, but I've got publishers to meet with, Kyo staying at the dojo tonight, Yuki is meeting with some people from the student council, Tohru is sleeping over at her friend's house, and Akito has requested Hari around that time. Will you be okay?"

I cringed at Akito's name but responded, "Yes, I'll be fine. I'll watch movies all night!" I laughed. I actually did think it might be fun to be alone for a little while.

"Alright, if you're sure," Shigure said. I could tell he was still worrying.

"Don't forget to lock all the doors and close all the windows. Don't answer the door for anyone because everyone here has a key," Hari instructed, talking to me like I was a little kid.

"Oh, hush, Hari. I'm not five. I know that you don't take candy from strange men in vans," I joked.

"Just be careful, okay?"

"Okay. I promise, Hari."

Dinner continued on after that conversation. Everything seemed so peaceful and happy. It kind of scared me actually. It reminded me of the calm before a storm. But maybe I'm just weird for thinking that.

When dinner was over, everyone got ready to leave. Except for me, of course. I lounged on the couch, watching everyone bustling around. Hari sat on the couch next to me. He refused to leave until he absolutely had to.

Not until everyone had gone did Hari rise, peck me on the forehead, and walk towards the door. Before walking out, he turned back and looked at me.

"Good night, Maddy. Be safe," he said to me.

"I will," I said and then added with a bit of consideration, "I love you."

He didn't even hesitate before responding with, "I love you, too."

Then he left. I got up and locked the front door. Then I sat down and picked a cool anime to watch.

I hadn't even gotten through half the episode before there was a hard, demanding knock on the door. I froze. I paused the anime and listened carefully for another knock. Another came, this time more insistent. I was terrified. Hundreds of scenarios raced through my mind. It was a murderer. It was a robber. It was a rapist. Maybe it was all of them put together!

While thinking all of these terrible plots, I almost didn't notice that whoever had been knocking had kicked open the front door. I was utterly terrified. I looked over the couch to see the intruder.

It was none other than Adam.

A/N: Oh, no! Adam found her! And she's all alone! Nice cliffy, right? Anyway, keep watch for Chapter 10.