Disclaimer: I don't own Furuba! ^_^
Chapter 9: Confronting the Present
Hatori was momentarily loss for words to say. He wasn't expecting the person standing in front of him. It was like pouring over a bucket of cold water. The realization of what she said was overwhelming.
"Kana…?" Hatori managed to say the least. "What are you doing here? What are you talking about?"
What other things should he say in this moment? He was dumb-struck. There was no way that the memory-erasing would fail. Not even now. He was doing this longer enough to know that every time he does this, it would surely work. But now… Now that Kana is here, in front of me and claiming that her memories have returned, is just plainly absurd. There is absolutely no way she would remember.
Hatori looked at Kana. He saw her distraught expressions. He saw her lifeless eyes, like they were broken beyond repair. And there he knew: she wasn't lying. Her memories have really returned.
Suddenly, Kana's knees buckled and he knelt down, unable to support her weight. Years of vague memories assaulted her mind, her body, and her soul. She cannot breathe. She felt suffocated. She felt pain and sadness. She clutched her heart. She wanted to rip it open and take her heart out. It was too painful for her to bear. Tears flowed down her cheeks like a waterfall. She cannot make it stop. She cannot do something about it so she just let it flow through her. Then Kana let out a piercing scream, holding down her head.
A resounding silence has broken through. Hatori didn't know what to do as he stared at Kana. He wanted to hold her, but he doesn't know what will happen if he does.
"Kana… I - "
"Hatori. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so-"
He slowly walked towards her and knelt down. He took her hands and placed it to his. "look at me."
"I can't. I don't know how to face you anymore. Nor do I know how I feel for you." A sob escaped her throat.
"Right now, those things don't matter. Let's get you out of here first. We'll talk later." He took her arms and motioned her to stand up.
"Did you come here alone?" Kana inquired.
"No. I came with a friend," he replied.
"I see. Are you going to get him? Or call him?"
Now that he has thought about it, Tohru doesn't have a phone with her nor she owns one. He sighed in defeat.
"No. We shall look for her. She is just over there to see the view"
"Her?" Curiosity got the better of Kana.
"Yes. Honda Tohru. A friend of ours." His face was impassive but Kana knew more than that.
"Is that so? Well, I'm glad you found someone new. Hatori, I –"
"Save it, Kana. We'll talk later." Hatori looked at Kana, now able to stand on her own. "Can you walk?"
"Of course."
"Okay. Then let's go," he said. And with that, they both walked toward the direction where Tohru went…
…only to find her staring at them with Kyo behind her.
-oOo-
Tohru followed the trail toward the railings to see the magnificent view in front of her. Indeed, it was no mistake t come here and see the Pinwheels Hill. Everything here is beautiful. Every time the wind blows, all the pinwheels in the area would begin to move, along the direction of the wind. Tohru wanted this perfect moment to last. This blissful moment that she is now experiencing. To her, everything was perfect already. Her heartaches are way behind her now, and she was very much grateful for Hatori's company. Over the week, she has gotten to know who the real Hatori is and it surprised her to know that what she knew and assumed about him were all wrong.
She took in everything she is currently seeing. She was happy. And god knows how she deserved to be happy right now. Her past was something she didn't wish to forget for her past taught her to be strong.
"Okaasan, I hope that wherever you are, you are as happy as I am. You see, over the past few years, I have met many friends. Hana-chan and Uotani-chan are taking good care of me, so you don't have to worry." A tear started to form in the corner of her eyes. "And the Sohma family have been very good to me. So, om, wherever you are, please be happy for me." Tohru couldn't contain the tears anymore and she let it flow.
After what seemed like an eternity, she recomposed herself. "Hatori might be wondering where I am so I must go back," she told herself.
She turned on her heels only to find herself staring at the orange-haired guy looking back at her.
"Kyo-kun."
"Tohru."
Tohru wasn't expecting him to be here, let alone know where they are staying. How could he possible know where they are? Unless… Unless…
She didn't further entertain the thought.
Kyo started to walk towards Tohru. "Tohru. I… I don't even know where to begin…"
Words failed to form in Kyo's mind. He doesn't know how to begin nor how to tell Tohru how he really feels.
-oOo-
Flashback. Two days ago.
Kyo was pacing around his room, not knowing what to do next. Because of his selfishness, he had pushed people away again. But this time, he had gone overboard and he knew it too. He had pushed Tohru.. His only love. The only person who saw him as he truly is without being disgusted. He had pushed the only person who had accepted him, with or without the curse. He had pushed the only person whom he loves the most and probably felt the same too since she had just confessed to him.
It was all his fault. He broke Tohru's heart. And god knows he deserve all the punishment there is in the world. Uotani was right. He should've let her punched him.
He was selfish and he knows it. Rejecting Tohru probably was the most painful thing he did, but he needed to do it. He doesn't want Tohru to be tainted by his demons. Tohru deserves someone better than him. She is better off with someone without a curse.
But still, thoughts and images of Tohru flashed before him. He knows he doesn't deserve her but Tohru chose him. He mentally kicked himself. Why would things be this difficult?
Besides, Hanajima-san is right. He needed to fix this. He needed to be honest with himself first. He does love Tohru. He still loves her now despite what happened. He will never probably stop loving her. And he made the biggest mistake in his life.
He laughed at life's irony. He is determined to get Tohru back. But first, he needed to know where they were staying.
'Damn that Shigure. He planned all of these. I'm not comfortable with the idea of placing Tohru in Hatori's hands, but he is the doctor. I can't clearly do something about that. But still, going to the extent of letting them go to a 'vacation' as he would like to call, it isn't still appropriate. What if… What if Hatori tries to erase her memories? What if Akito finally realizes that Tohru should be gone? But then, Shigure and Ayame placed their trust on Hatori. It's hard to determine whether they are being sincere or not.' He shuddered in defeat.
Suddenly his phone rang.
"What now?"
Kyo grabbed his phone and checked who the caller was. It was a blocked number. Reluctantly, he put the phone in his ears. "Hello?"
"Kyo." The other end of the line replied.
Kyo was startled. He wasn't expecting him to be calling him at this moment. "Hatori?"
"Obviously."
"Why are you calling me?"
"Don't you want to know where Tohru is? I believe you still owe her some explanation here," replied Hatori, his voice curt but firm.
"I know. But I thought that Tohru is currently taking a break from everything that had happened."
"She can never take a break unless you explain everything to her, Kyo. I know that you know that. You're smart enough to figure that one out."
Kyo was beginning to feel irritated on their conversation. If he is just calling just to explain what Tohru's state is, he will never be happy about it nor to himself.
"Just answer the damn question Kyo. Do you love Tohru?"
Hatori's question took him off his musings. "What kind of question is that, Hatori?"
"A question that demands an answer, apparently." Hatori replied rather sarcastically. "You of all people should know how important Tohru to us. Yes, even to me. Tohru has changed us, even if you didn't notice that. Ever since Tohru came in our lives, it seemed as if we don't even carry a great deal of the curse. But we know for sure that that is just a fleeting moment and would be gone too soon. And so, as much as possible, we need to take care of her. She's giving us the strength to look forward to life again. I know this might sound a bit crazy coming from me but would you rather hear it from Shigure or Ayame?"
Kyo was quiet the entire time Hatori was talking. He wasn't expecting the 'lecture' that Hatori just gave him nor was he expecting Hatori admitting some of the things he rarely shares.
"So? What's your answer Kyo? Because I know that you know that you still love her."
Kyo held the phone tighter. "Yes. Yes I do."
"Well then, go and rectify the situation."
"I don't even know where -" Before Kyo could even finish his sentence, he was abruptly cut off by Hatori speaking.
"We are staying in the lake house owned by Ayame. The one near the Pinwheels Hills. Surely you are familiar with that, right?"
"Alright. But why are you telling me this Hatori?"
"Just take care of her."
And the line went dead.
'Just take care of her' Kyo was confused with Hatori's reply, but he just shrugged it off.
-oOo-
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of silence, Tohru spoke. "What are you doing here, Kyo?"
"I came to talk," Kyo couldn't look at Tohru in her eyes. He was too ashamed over what happened between them.
Tohru was just looking at him.
"I know what I did was dumb. And very inconsiderate of me. I'm sorry I pushed you away. I don't have any better excuse to come up at any moment other than that I really don't deserve your love, Tohru. Because up until the moment you showed up in Shigure's house, I never thought that someone will accept me for me."
He paused, only to stare at Tohru's eyes.
"I only thought you were just a nuisance. Like some girl Yuki or Shigure brought home. But as I have gotten to know you more, my feelings for you changed. I became more attached and concerned on your welfare. It doesn't matter if I was the one who got hurt. All I wanted was to know that you are safe. And then, there came the point wherein you got to know the real me. My cat form. But you have never shown any repugnance from me. You accepted me for who I am "
"I knew that I am not the one for you. You cannot be with me – a cursed human – forever. I couldn't get a single day pass by without reminding myself my other form. It's ironic, isn't it? How come you have accepted me for me yet I can't do the same to myself?"
"Then there came the time when you confessed to me that you love me and not just simply as friends. Hell, that was the happiest moment of my life. But I know that I'm not the one for you that's why I rejected you and turned you down. And that was the biggest mistake I ever did."
Listening to Kyo's confession wasn't what Tohru was expecting when he saw him here. She wasn't ready for his piece, let alone his presence here has startled her. Worst of all, she has finally concluded to herself that her chapter with Kyo has ended and that was it. But seeing Kyo here, her heart has become torn into two.
"Anyway, you might be wondering why all of a sudden, I'm here standing in front of you." Kyo continued, putting his hand at the back of his head. "I just wanted to tell you that I really, really regret pushing you away. I guess this is my way of asking if you'll have me back," He said, a color red creeping up to his face.
Tohru was too shocked to compose a reply. She simply stared at him, no coherent thought forming on her mind. She doesn't know what to say. This time it is the other way around. It's Kyo who's confessing to her now. And all her thoughts have drifted off to Hatori.
"Will.. Will you give me some time to consider my reply?" She finally managed to speak what's on her mind.
Kyo was not expecting Tohru's reply. He gave a minute before replying, "Sure. I respect your decision. I will be waiting for you."
"Shoel we go back" Tohru inquired. "Hatori might be looking for me at this point. I don't want him to worry about me,"
"Okay. Let's go."
Upon returning to where Tohru left Hatori, they were too stunned to see who Hatori was speaking to.
It was none other than Kana Sohma.
-oOo-
A/N: Sorry for the long update. Thank you for the love and support for this little fanfic of mine. Like I said in my other fanfics, I cannot regularly update due to my schedule since being a teacher is a 24/7 thing.
I know this is a crappy chapter. My intended ending will never happen cause of a big plot hole I accidentally included here. So I'm stuck. Yish. Any ideas out there? T_T
Anyway, happy reading and see you in the next chapter! J
