Author's Notes:

I actually had this done around a week and a half ago but i was too busy and tired the past weeks that I always forget to update.

Chapter 10

The plate almost slipped from his hand as Hatori stared at Momiji thinking if he heard right. ". . . What did you say?" he asked, bewildered as the words sunk in.

Momiji didn't seem to be surprised at his reaction and instead repeated what he said "I said, if I asked you to erase mother's memories, would you do it?"

"Momiji-"

"Would you?"

Hatori was lost for words. He was expecting Momiji to say something about his mother, yes. But not something like this. He didn't know why the boy would say such a thing; he thought Momiji would be happy once Maiko's memories returned.

He didn't understand what made Momiji think like this or even ask him to do such a thing. He didn't even know if he could answer the question.

He didn't know why Momiji would say something like that. He thought Momiji wanted his mother to remember him, he knew it. But now that she did, he wanted to do the opposite? It just didn't make any sense to him.

Did Mizuki tell him something that made him this way? But surely he wouldn't do such a thing. Even if he was the one who approved of erasing Maiko's memories in the first place. and he hasn't gotten a call from Mizuki about any drastic changes from Maiko, aside from Mizuki telling him that she neeed some time to sort out her thoughts and memories.

So what was it?

Seconds turned to minutes before Momiji decided to save Hatori from his inner thoughts. "It's just a hypothetical question Hatori." His voice came out quietly, almost apologetically at having said something like that and Hatori, realizing that the faucet was still on, turned it off before drying his hands and completely facing Momiji.

"You know what my answer is."

He quietly said and a Momiji blinked before a look of realization and guilt passed his face "Sorry. I knew you never wanted to erase people's memories ever again after . . . Kana." He apologized as he lowered his head.

Hatori let out a sigh. He definitely didn't expect this conversation to turn in that direction. It wasn't even about him erasing memories, it was about Momiji. Although he did want to keep his word that he would never use that ability ever again. But that wasn't important right now.

"Why are you suddenly saying this? What's wrong?" he asked before adding softly "Aren't you happy that your mother remembers you?" Momiji lowered his head even more so that his bangs covered his eyes.

"I'm . . . not sure."

Hatori blinked; perplexed at the quiet, almost barely audible response he got from Momiji. "What do you mean?" he asked, concern lacing his words "I thought you never wanted your mother to forget you. It was your wish, wasn't it?" he asked as he came closer to the boy.

". . . it is. It still is." Momiji said, his voice slightly louder than before.

"Then why?" Hatori asked. He couldn't understand what was going through Momiji's head. If he truly wished that he wasn't forgotten by his mother, then why would he ask him to erase her memories; albeit hypothetically?

"I don't know. . . I just. . ." his hand curled into a fist "I feel so confused Hatori. . ." he lifted his head up towards him and confused, unseeing eyes bore into him. "I don't know what to do. . ." his voice was barely a whisper.

A short, tense filled silence fell on the room. "You know," Momiji started quietly "before any of this had happened, I told Tohru my wish." His voice was more steady now "I told her that deep inside I never really wanted mother to forget me. Because I didn't believe that there's a memory that's okay to forget" he said the last part softly.

"I still believe that, even now." A small smile came to his face as he remembered the warm comforting feeling he felt when Tohru cried and embraced him, eeling the same thing. "And I'm happy that mom actually remembers me. I'm happy, really, but. . ." his smile disappeared as his voice drifted off.

"I just. . . I can't help but think that when mom remembers me, she would turn back into how she was. That she'll become angry or depressed or even sick. . ." His voice was staring to tremble and Hatori was starting to understand the reason why Momiji asked him that question.

"Momiji. . ." Hatori wanted to say something, anything, just to comfort Momiji and tell him that won't happen again. But he couldn't. He wasn't sure how Maiko would react now that her memories have returned.

Another moment of silent passed as Momiji swallowed hard and spoke "What if she rejects me Hatori? What if she and dad end up fighting again? What if Momo gets involved? I wouldn't know what to do!" Momiji rambled on and his voice was rising with each word he said.

"What if she gets hurt again? Just like last time. What if she gets hurt because of me? I-I don't know what I'll do if that happens again Hatori, I. . ." his voice cracked as he spoke those last words and Hatori didn't understand what he was saying. "Momiji calm down. I don't understand what you mean. Why would Maiko get hurt because of you?"

He tried to figure out what Momiji was saying. Maiko getting hurt? He didn't understand. Sure, Maiko was depressed to the point of sickness, but getting hurt . . . like last time? Hatori's eyes widened as he suddenly understood what Momiji meant. There was that one time that Maiko got her hand injured during one of her arguments with Mizuki. . . and Momiji was there to see it.

Oh.

Hatori mentally slapped himself. How could he forget about that? He was the one who treated Maiko after Mizuki had called him over and told him what happened. He even remembered how Mizuki had to constantly reassure Momiji that everything will be fine and that no one was at fault.

"Momiji , that wasn't your fault." He placed both of his hands on Momiji's shoulders, gaining the boy's attention. "Was that the reason why you asked me if I would erase her memories? Maiko accidentally broke the vase. It wasn't your fault." He said once more but Momiji shook his head.

"That's not true."

"Yes it is." Hatori told him "Mizuki told you what happened didn't he? You know you had nothing to do with what happened. You didn't hurt her. " He reasoned. "She refused Mizuki's attempts to help her with the injury. That was why she collapsed. Why do you still keep blaming yourself?" he asked and Momiji looked up towards him, his eyes meeting his.

"They were fighting because of me."

Hatori fell silent as he heard Momiji's words. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't deny that. It was true. He had, after all, seen Momiji's parents arguing several times and it sometimes even scared him at how much hatred a mother could have.

He knew that such events were hard to forget, especially when experienced at a young age. He had seen similar cases with Yuki and Kyo. Although their own experiences were different in their own way, they had all experienced a traumatizing and painful event at such a young age.

He had been foolish to think that Momiji had moved on as the years passed. He had become accustomed to Momiji's bubbly, carefree attitude that he would often forget that Momiji was also suffering just like him and the other jyuunishi.

Silently berating himself, he thought of how he could make Momiji realize that despite what he said, it wasn't his fault. After all, when that happened, Momiji was still too young and had little control over the whole situation. He had to make Momiji see that. He had to make Momiji realize that he shouldn't blame everything that was happening to his family on himself.

Hatori stared back at Momiji and he couldn't help but feel bad for the boy. Momiji looked downright miserable. He lightly placed his hands on Momiji's shoulders, making Momiji look back up at him.

"Momiji" he began quietly "It may be true that your parents fought because of you, I can't deny that; and you may think it's your fault that they were fighting. But you have to believe me when I say that it's not your fault." He softly said.

"Hatori. . ."

"You don't have control over these things Momiji. There are just some things in life that you can't control. You didn't want your parents to fight, and although you do whatever you can to avoid it from happening, you can't always have control of the whole situation, especially back then since you were still too young." Hatori explained to him.

Momiji remained silent and hatori took that chance to continue. "You shouldn't take blame for everything that's happened between your parents. Don't take all the blame."

A moment of silence passed between them and Momiji looked uncertain as he let Hatori's words sink in. He still blames himself for what happened to his mother; that was something he didn't think he would be able to change. But . . . Hatori's words also made sense.

He had no control over what his parents would do in that kind of situation. In fact, all he could do back then was stay away from his mother as much as possible when she was in a bad mood just to avoid getting into trouble and even then he still had problems.

But . . . they wouldn't have fought in the first place if it wasn't for him. Then again, Hatori said that he couldn't have done anything about it. Besides, he's done all he could to prevent them from arguing . . . right? He did his best. That was enough, right?

Momiji blinked as he suddenly felt his eyes starting to water. He kept his head down so as to prevent Hatori from seeing his eyes. He already knew the answer to that question.

"Momiji?"

He tilted his head in Hatori's direction as he heard his name being called "Are you okay?" Hatori asked, concerned. He thought about the question. "Yeah, I'm okay now, Hatori." He said. "Are you sure?" Hatori asked and he gave a small nod "Yeah, I. . ." he paused "I understand what you mean Hatori, and I know you're worried. Sorry, and thanks." A small genuine smile crept up his face as he said the last words.

Hatori smiled in return, relieved that Momiji was better. "You know I'm always here to listen." He said as he ruffled Momiji's hair then took a glance on his watch "It's getting late. You should go up and rest, your arm's still healing." He said.

"Okay. Goodnight Hatori." Momiji said as he stood up and headed towards the doorway that led to the hallway.

"Goodnight." He said in return and waited until Momiji had gone into his room before he let out a sigh as he returned to washing the plates left on the sink. His mind was still running through Momiji's words.

He had managed to pull Momiji out of his depressed state, but he knew the boy was still troubled about the whole situation. He was still worried for him and he was willing to do anything to help. But he can only do so much.

He finally turned the faucet off as he finished washing the plates and grabbed the wash cloth to dry the plates. After finishing that, he returned everything in the cupboard and cabinets and he tidied up the kitchen before he headed to his clinic where the telephone was.

He needed to talk to Mizuki.

Author's Notes:

The first thing that popped into my mind when i finished writing this was '. . .i think I made Hatori give a father-speech XD' Seriously.

This one's a bit short (5 pages). There was supposed to be another scene after this but I thought it would be better to put it in the next chapter.

I also want to ask you guys if Momiji and, especially Hatori, are in character. I don't really know if I'm writing them right when it's in such a serois, angsty scene and I want to keep them in character as much as I can. i'm actually having more problems in keeping Hatori in character since his character never really sunk in to me, sans his scene in chapter 2, and I wanna know what you think.

Once again, I don't know when i'll be able to update again. Preliminary exams are in a couple of days and i still have so much to do I feel so drained everyday. -.-'

Anyway, review and tell me what you think!