Chapter 10

Uo got out of the shower and was towel drying her hair when she heard a knock from the front door of her dad's apartment. "Dad, open the door!" When she got no response she yelled louder. "Hey, old man! Get the freakin' door!" Still, she got no response.

Quickly putting on a burgundy bathrobe, Uo stepped out of the bathroom and into the kitchen/living room area of the house to locate her dad. She found him on the couch sleeping with a beer bottle in his hand and the TV on. Sighing in disappointment, she went over, turned off the TV and threw away the bottle. Another knock made her aware that her visitor was still at the front door.

"Wait a second! I'm coming," Uo called to the door as she set the glass bottle gently into the thrash can.

She quickly turned and hurried to the door. Her home slippers were noisily sliding on the floor with each step she took. The young woman opened the door and was about to utter a hello when she froze in shock.

Unexpectedly, the tall frame of Dr. Hatori Sohma stood in the door way. His eyes were flaming with irritation. Even through the bangs that covered his one eye she could see the hot anger burning in his orbs. The intensity of his gaze paralyzed the blonde's lungs.

The next thing he did took Uo aback. The doctor dug in his pocket and drew out the money that she had given him, with a little extra. Then his hand flew straight out towards her as if demanding her to take the money.

When her lungs were finally able to take in air again, she slowly lifted up her hand to lay it on top of his. Then she added a small amount of force to lower the doctor's hand. Next she cupped her other hand under his, so her hands formed a warm sandwich around his cold one.

Finally she spoke softly but with her usual strength. "What is this?"

"It is money I owe you," Hatori answered straight forwardly, as he brought his hand up, back to the way it was. "Take it," he said softly.

"No."

"I can't accept this."

"Why?"

"I owe it to you."

This made Uo draw her hands back and she stared straight into his eyes. Her blue eyes were glowing like the sea with confusion and displeasure. "You keep saying that. You owe it to me?"

Surprisingly, he blushed a charming pink. It was then she released she was still in her robe and she blushed so hard she felt the heat radiate from her face. Uo quickly closed her robe as tight as it could go and looked up to his face. Even though he'd probably seen a lot more than her cleavage, it was still embarrassing to expose that much of her body to the doctor.

However, the doctor was not blushing for the same reason Uo thought he was. He really had not wanted to tell her. But he couldn't feel right until he paid her back, and she was so stubborn that she won't accept the money without a good explanation. So he told her.

"I borrowed money from your wallet when you were sick and I never paid you back so take the money," he replied as if it wasn't a big deal.

Uo blinked at this and started to laugh. Her giggles made her body bend over. Hatori just stared at her in surprise, he didn't find anything funny.

"Ha! You know you could have just told me that in the first place. It would have saved us a lot of nonsense," she giggled as she took the money from his hand. "I was wondering where that money went! And I thought I used all of it in my sick stupider."

She moved aside and gestured inside the apartment. "Come on in, doc."

This made Hatori's eyes grow wide and he brought up his hands in a 'no' gesture. "No, thank you but-"

"Aw, come on don't be shy," Uo said as she walked behind the man and pushed him into the living room. "I know it isn't as nice as your house and it definitely isn't up to your standards, but I call it home," the young woman teased.

Hatori surveyed the room as Uo left to put her money away. It really wasn't much. A sofa, recliner, TV, and then the living room connected with the kitchen which was separated by a row of counter tops. The kitchen was small, enough room for the essentials, cabinets on the top and bottom, and a small table. The doctor felt kind of bad for the girl, but she seemed happy and though it was small, the apartment had a sort of homey atmosphere. But for some reason, Hatori felt like the homeliness was created only by the young blonde woman.

She appeared from a room down the little hall dressed in long stripped pajama pants and a large black t-shirt. He saw her stretch just as she was walking into the kitchen, unconsciously exposing her flat stomach. Uo gave him a smile as she opened the refrigerator.

"Do you want something to eat?"

"No, thank you," Hatori answered just as he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye, near the sofa.

"How about a drink?" she asked.

"Sure," he said without thinking as he caught a glimpse of hair over the top of the couch.

"- kind!" shouted Uo.

"What?" Hatori asked as he was brought out of his 'investigation."

"What kind of drink would you like?" she asked slowly as if she was talking to a very young child.

"Oh, no, I don't want a drink," he said as he walked over to her. "Really, thank you, but I must get back to the Sohma estates. I just wanted to deliver the money."

"Oh, my bad! Thanks for paying me back. You're a good man. Usually people wouldn't pay the other person back, but-"

A weird gurgling noise made Uo stop talking. They both stood frozen until they heard the noise again, this time more urgent. "Oh shit!" Uo cried as she got ready to run.

However, Hatori got to the trash can first and quickly ran it over to the man on the couch. As soon as he arrived with the can the man in the chair launched forward and threw up in it. Once he was done he set the trash can down near the edge of the sofa, and with the help of Uo they set the man down on his side incase he should throw up again.

"Thank you," the blonde sighed gratefully. "Sorry you had to see that. Shit, how much did my dad drink?"

"He's your father?" the doctor asked, sounding completely surprised.

"No he's my boyfriend. Of course he's my father. He's old," Uo cried as she stepped back looking horrified.

"Sorry, I didn't know," Hatori answered quickly, thinking he'd really offended her.

She just smiled and punched him lightly in the arm. "It's ok. I was just kidding. But he really is old. I wouldn't date a guy that old."

"But you would date an older man?" The doctor asked with curiosity and some amusement.

"Yes," Uo blushed lightly. "But only ten years, that is my limit."

"Of course, there is always a limit."

"Of course," Uo smiled.

A comfortable silence passed between them, until Hatori broke it. "I've got to leave."

"Ok," Uo answered in her usual cheerful voice. "Take care and thanks for your help with my dad. That would have been a mess to clean up."

"Yes, you are welcome," Hatori responded. "You take care of yourself as well."

"Yup," Uo said as she followed him to the door and waved to him as he walked out and down the stairs.

Once she closed the door, she leaned against it and let out a content sigh. She even smiled when she realized she was happy he came in. Then she had another realization, that she didn't want him to go. What was wrong with her? She liked Kureno… right?

Uo shook her head, making her wet tendrils twirl. Boy, Uo, are you fickle? She thought as she got up from the door and walked towards her room to go to bed, but not before stopping to put a blanket over her father. She kissed his forehead and quietly went to her room to get a good night's sleep.