Brotherly Bonds
Ch 14
Welcome back everyone! Suprised to see me again so soon? Awww... hugs and kisses!
Anyways... enjoy!
Samantha waved away the grey smoke that had suddenly appeared in front of her and looked around for Shigure. However, the first sight that met her eyes was a smirking and amused-looking Akito watching someone, or something, next to Sam.
She followed his gaze and came eye-to-eye with a large black dog with deep brown eyes, one that she had seen somewhere very recently…
"You're the dog from that day at my office!" Sam declared loudly, pointing at the animal. Akito frowned and took a few steps towards the pair, alternating between glaring at the dog and studying Sam for a response. After no one spoke for a few minutes Akito declared, "Either you tell me exactly what happened Shigure or I will go wake Hatori and she will have her memories erased right this minute."
The dog whined pitifully, stood up and walked over to stand next to Akito who glared down at him. "Well?" He asked angrily and impatiently.
Sam, who had been watching doubtfully- after all, dogs couldn't speak- was amazed when she heard Shigure's voice, however low, coming from the dog's mouth. Akito responded heatedly and then, after glaring with disgust, stomped away further into the Sohma compound.
When Akito disappeared through what Sam remembered Shigure had called the 'inner gate,' the dog turned partially back towards her then said, "I'm sorry about this Sam, but we have to return to Hatori's house," then started walking back down the path and Sam followed him after a few hesitant seconds.
They arrived on the steps of the dragon's house after a quiet, awkward walk. The dog, Shigure, walked up and through a small dog-door within the door, and Sam turned the doorknob and let herself in, closing the door behind her. She walked blindly down the hall in the dark and made her way into the only lit room within the hall.
Inside was Shigure, lying on the couch looking dejected, while Momiji sat cross-legged on a chair near a desk reading a book that he seemed very interested in. Only Momiji looked up as she entered, and then looked at her with a sad smile, as if he knew exactly what had happened.
The boy waited until she had sat down on a chair before he spoke. "We didn't expect this to happen Samantha, and I apologize for what might happen after this."
Sam started, surprised at how sober he sounded, but managed to smile. "Is it really that horrible a thing Momiji?" The boy just shook his head hopelessly and didn't continue the conversation. On the couch the dog sighed noisily and leaped off of the furniture, and walked across the room explaining, "I'm going to go wake Hari, he needs to know." Then left the room and the two could hear his claws clicking on the wooden floor.
They sat in silence, Sam staring at the opposite wall wondering what on earth was happening, and Momiji alternating between reading the book and feeling very tense and worried.
A few minutes later Shigure, now back in human form wearing his yukata again, and Hatori sleepily rubbing his eyes and yawning re-entered the room both looking worried. Their eyes first fell on Samantha who smiled calmly back and Shigure walked over to sit next to her, while Hatori shushed a curious, energetic Momiji, speaking to the boy in a quiet whisper.
Finally, the dragon straightened again and glanced, then nodded, at Momiji. The rabbit walked over to the door then paused uncertainly. Hatori jerked his head at Shigure towards Momiji, the dog pouted but when Hari continued looking at him sternly he finally gave in and stood up, then walked over to Momiji and followed him out.
Once they were gone, Hatori sat in the chair the rabbit had vacated and turned towards Samantha, who raised her eyebrows expectantly, then yawned.
"You have horrible timing." He commented, stretching. Sam shook her head, "if you mean Shigure turning into a dog that was Akito's fault. He pushed Shigure."
Hatori opened his mouth, closed it a few seconds later, then shook his head. "I should have guessed that, Shigure wouldn't have been so careless." Sam remained quiet, choosing not to comment. "Alright then, the reason Shigure turned into a dog is that thirteen members of the Sohma family are cursed to turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac when 'embraced' by a member of the opposite sex. Shigure, obviously, is the dog, I am the dragon, Momiji is the rabbit and basically every other Sohma you've met is one of the cursed."
Sam stared at him awestruck. "C-cursed? But that's only in the old fairy tales…" She stopped, looking away and silently finishing her thoughts.
The dragon smiled sadly, "I wish that was true, then none of us would have to suffer so much." Sam looked surprised, but managed to say, "I'm sorry that you have to suffer, no one should."
"That's what we hope for." Hatori commented, but then there was a loud knock on the door and he stood up and left the room to answer.
A few minutes later he came back in, looking even more worried then before. "Akito wants to see me Sam, I have to leave. Please don't let Shigure or Momiji come after me." Hatori yawned again, then left once more, this time closing the door behind him.
Sam was left alone in the room, sitting on the couch while staring at the opposite wall. After an hour or so when still no one came back, she finally stood up and began pacing back and forth on the Oriental rug lining the floor, thinking over about what had happened in the past hours.
It took another hour until the pleasing sound of the front door opening came to her ears. Sam waited with bated breath until the door to the room she was in opened, and Hatori walked in looking sad, angry and worried all at one time.
Curious, and worried for his welfare, she went up to him and asked, "Hatori what's wrong? Why did Akito want to see you?"
He sighed and ran his hand through his long hair, "Tonight everything is going wrong." Hari looked up at her, "I'm sorry about this Sam, but," he shook his head and muttered something under his breath then continued.
"Akito doesn't wish for you to know about our curse Sam or the Sohmas in general. I'm sorry, but,"
His voice caught and Sam realized that something was going to happen, other then her not working with Ayame or Yuki any more. "Hatori?" She questioned quietly.
"I'm sorry Sam, but after this, you won't remember us." The dragon leaned towards her and put a hand against Sam's forehead…
"Hari, no!" Shigure shouted from the door.
… and erased Samantha's memories.
He caught the woman as she fell to the floor unconscious, holding her in his arms but not close enough to cause a transformation. The dragon continued to hold her as Shigure rushed up to them, and together they carried Sam to the couch and laid her on it.
"Hari, how could you!" Shigure demanded from his place at the foot of the couch. "You know how important Sam is- uh, was to Yuki and Aya!"
Hatori hung his head, "Akito told me to Shigure, he ordered me to."
"You could said no, he needs to hear it once in a while." Shigure scolded, glancing at Sam.
"I couldn't Shigure," the dragons voice broke and tears threatened to fall, "he, Akito threatened Kana."
Shigure's mouth formed an 'o' and he quietly stood up, walked over to his cousin and wrapped an arm around his cousins shoulders. "I'm sorry Hari."
"What will we do about Samantha?" Hatori asked worriedly, sighing. The dog shook his head, "The usual I suppose, but what about Aya and Yuki?"
Hari smiled wickedly, "There's always Yinari."
A little less then an hour later Sam woke up to find herself in a strange room. She slowly sat up to see that the room was actually an office, and a man wearing a suit was sitting at a desk on the other side of the room.
The man suddenly tensed then turned in the chair, and Sam found herself staring into olive-green eyes. "I-I'm sorry, but who are you?" She asked stuttering.
He smiled reassuringly at her and wheeled his chair over next to her. "I'm a doctor, you collapsed outside the grounds and I wanted to make sure that you were alright."
Sam blushed, "Oh, well thank you very much." There was an awkward pause, "I'm sorry, I should introduce myself. Samantha Dalton." She said, extending a hand.
The man took it and gripped her smaller hand firmly, "Hatori," he paused, "Sohma." She blushed again, "It's nice to meet you. Listen Ms. Dalton, do you know someone who can pick you up and take you home?"
She frowned, "Well yes, but I can get home on my own, I assure you."
"I'm sure you can, but it would be safer if someone went with you. In case you collapse again or something along those lines." Hatori suggested.
"Ah, well yes I do actually. A friend of mine, her name's Yinari. She should be able to come by." Sam told him enthusiastically, biting her lip nervously. Hatori nodded, that made him worry, of course it had to be Yinari. Hopefully this wouldn't cause any more problems, but knowing Yinari…it would.
A hour later Yinari had been called and agreed to pick Sam up outside the Sohma compound. Hatori quietly led Sam out of the house and down the sidewalks. Out on the grounds it was as if life had stopped because of this one event; there was no one walking or standing and no lights were on in any of the houses they passed.
The odd pair came out of the gate just as a car pulled up to their side if the street. When the car had come to a stop the passenger window let out a sharp 'buzz' and slowly rolled down; then suddenly a head appeared in the darkness beyond the window.
"Hari! How've you been? And Sam, I didn't know you knew the Sohmas." The woman clucked her tongue, "you should have told me."
Sam looked puzzled. "'Nari, you know Hatori-san?" She asked while looking between the two. Her friend's eyes widened suddenly and looked meaningfully at Hatori who nodded solemnly. Yinari's mouth formed into an 'oh' and she quickly backtracked. "Yes, but only because he's Haru's cousin." At Sam's confused look she added, "You remember Haru, one of my clients? The one with black and white hair?"
She said this in such a rush that Sam could only nod in reply. Hatori gently walked with her up to the car and helped her into the front seat. When the door was closed the dragon leaned on the side of the car and instructed Yinari through the window, "Take care of her Yinari, make sure she's okay." He glanced at Sam who was sitting staring off at space, her eyes vacant. "Call me if something happens."
Yinari grinned, glancing at her friend. "Sure thing Hari, but can I call you just to bother you?" She laughed when Hatori scowled at her. "No," he growled.
"Fine." She waved, rolled up the window and pulled back out into the street. As she drove, Yinari tried to think positively about the situation.
"Samantha will be alright, she's always been strong." But when she glanced at her friend her thoughts changed. "Right?"
Yinari is cortesy of Yanikei, who is also my beta-reader! Arigatou!
So, you like it? Yes she got her memories erased of the Sohma's. I was contemplating her not being able to have them erased, but then decided it would be more fun to write if she had. So please no flames about it... I'm sorry!
As for reviews... Only three? C'mon! I used to be so popular (goes into corner and sulks) If you don't mind, would you please review?
(Thanks to DesirePassion, Yanikei and Tuki for reviewing! THANKS SO MUCH!)
I know I said I'd do an omake theater, but I've been sick and my brains on hold... so next time. Promise.
Ja ne
miji-chan