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Chapter 26: Losing Control
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Hatori sighs. Akito had just called an impromptu meeting in her living room. She pulled out a small plastic bag with some "evidence" that someone on the property was using illegal drugs. To him, it looked like an ordinary cigarette butt. But Akito said it was the unbearable smell of burning rubber that caused her to find it. She was hell-bent of breaking one of them, but no one admitted to being the disgraceful owner. Hatsuharu suggested that maybe it had gotten stuck under someone's shoe or blew over from the city, but Akito shook her head in agitation. She did not like people suggesting that she was paranoid. The coldness of her green-blue eyes shut everyone up.
The result – that everyone held their breath waiting for – was that Akito was keeping an eye out on the estate until further notice. No one was leaving or coming in without her permission. Lock-down. She said she'd been too lenient with rules and they'd been abused. She said she'd granted unworthy guests access to the estate and that she was taking away this privilege.
Prison was something Hatori was used to.
Hatori crawled into bed with his cell phone which he had become quite reliant on in recent times. He rolled to his side and texted a quick message to Tohru.
Sorry, A put us on lock down after she found 'evidence of drugs.' Dunno when we'll be able to see each other this week.
[np. You'd only distract me if we met. Hehe. 'sides I have an 8 am class tomorrow and two quizzes at the end of the wk.]
Haha.
[question game?]
I don't want to distract u...
[I promise you're not.]
Go. U answer 2.
[Favorite childhood mem?]
Hang out w S. He was such an entertaining troublemaker. Good times.
[Finding the cove one of them?]
Of course. u?
[Hehe. Me... baking adventures with my mum.]
I'm sorry I never got to meet her.
[Same from my end. I'm sorry for your loss.]
Except my parents weren't like yours.
[...]
neglectful. Ashamed.
[Of u? How could they? u = perfect]
Haha, thanks for the flattery. They didn't think so.
[:(]
don't be. UR here now
[my pleasure]
Literally
[-blush- Food u crave?]
u
[No, really. :)]
Tohru's strawberry candy, cake, grilled cuttlefish, fried rice, everything
[-blush- Dream house?]
Doesn't matter, as long as you're in it.
[really, even a metal shack?]
yes. U?
[mee too anywhere w u is heaven]
what's one thing u want to do before u die?
[fall in love. check. u?]
do something out of my comfort zone. semi-check
[first kiss?]
K in my office.
[uhhhh, not really romantic, eh?]
ha, yeah. u?
[u]
really, i took that from u too?!
[u didn't. i gave it to u.]
what about yuki?
[doesn't even enter my mind anymore]
good
[jealous much? :)]
nah
[k are u good w kids?]
no
[do u want kids?]
the truth is…
[what?]
it's too scary
[why?]
i might do something wrong
[but that's what life's all about. learning from your mistakes]
but my mistake may have a lasting impact
[u'll have someone to guide you through it all]
Hmm
[what's your sin?]
Huh
[seven deadly sins]
Guess
[Wrath]
No what made you think that?
[I've been at the receiving end…]
Only because u made me worried
[-rolls eyes-]
What about u?
[what do u think?]
Oh of course lust
[but if I wasn't cursed. Probably gluttony. I like to eat]
Doesn't look like it
[haha.]
[earliest mem?]
get yelled at for getting crumbs all over myself at zoo
u?
[awww poor h. me... lemme think]
[running about under water sprinklers in a polka dot bathing suit]
haha fun i'm jealous
[u had fun too. s and ayame]
Yeah Deepest regret?
[not saving my mum. I don't need to ask u tho. I already know.]
Favorite food?
[purple yam, tonkotsu, oden]
yum
[I can't imagine u ever using that word]
huh
[doctors don't say yum]
your influence
[haha o.O omg, S is complaining about wanting night ramen. i have to prepare it. luv u. good night h]
night t
/
"Hatori? Can you get these dry cleaned? And pick up a weeks worth of groceries for the cooks. Jiro is ill." Akito had requested him in her room early the next morning.
"Yes."
Yes, an opportunity to get off the estate! Fresh air! The hustle and bustle of the city! But alas, Tohru would be in classes all day. No chance of meeting her in this given time.
He drove to the dry cleaners and dropped off her basket filled to the brim with clothing. Despite rarely going out, Akito had a massive wardrobe in shades of black, grey, and red. And it was going to take a long time. He might as well make the most of his time outdoors. He would go to the grocery store after picking up her clothes, because otherwise the food would be sitting in his car for way to long.
He decides to walk over to the bookstore.
"Hey stranger."
He twists his body to the voice over his shoulder. Before him stands Kana. Her hair is up in a low ponytail today, and the sun is shining down on her hair, making it seem slightly auburn. She's wearing a gauzy white blouse paired with black trousers. Around her neck is autumn ochre yellow scarf. She's beautiful. Ageless.
"Hi," he replies breathlessly, stunned that this character in many of his sleepless imaginings is here before him. Real. Tangible. As clear as the blue sky. And it makes his heart pound an erratic beat. If she was close enough, she would probably hear it. More reason to back away.
But his feet are rooted to the ground.
Kami help me.
"What are-are you doing out of work?"
"It's my lunch break. May I ask you the same?" She says with a cheerful twinkle in her eyes.
"Errands."
"Oh, I see. Husbandly duties."
"I'm not married," he replied swiftly. Fuck. Why had he felt that burning need to tell her? Immediately, he wanted to slap himself in the forehead. What am I doing?
Unbeknownst to him, her face brightened a little. "Last time I was so busy talking about myself, I didn't get to ask you what you do for a living." Kana asked eagerly.
"I'm a - - family doctor."
"Great. We need more people like you."
"How are things?" The question is simple, but the meaning is much deeper, after the pain she shared with him last time. He needs to know that she is alright.
"Okay. He's staying with his brother for the time being. Until I sort things out."
"And are you doing that alright?"
"I suppose so. I'm done some things for myself in my free time. I've taken up watercolor again."
He remembered. That was one of her passions. And she was great at it. He still had one of her beautiful works stashed somewhere in his cabinets. He couldn't stand to look at that reminder of her. It was a painting of stormy waves crashing against a solitary rock. That rock was what he was. Is.
"That reminds me -" Her body quivers with the slightest tremble. She chews on her bottom lip, unsure of whether or not to tell him. It seems so silly. So surreal. Maybe he'll think she's improbable, but it caught her breath when she saw it. She discovered it in the bottom of her bedside trunk, under a flurry of dust. Hell with it. Let him know. Let her get it off her chest. He's been on her mind constantly since she found that picture. It's sitting on nightstand. "I- I found an unfinished sketch that looked an awful lot like you."
Is this what he's been waiting for all this time? For Kana to remember some trace? He could help her slowly reclaim the memories of their life together…
Stop.
One-time deal. He's literally felt Tohru's hurt after she saw that tree carving.
I can't do this to her.
I've promised myself I wouldn't.
But this is what could have been. A little voice tells him. It's that same niggling little voice that's telling him he can't cut this line with Kana.
He's digging himself deeper. There is almost no more light. He's trapped hook, line and sinker.
He can't believe that after all this time it would blow up in his face. Why now? Why fucking now?
He lowered his head so that she would not see his severe bobble of his Adam's apple.
Because he hated photos, they had very few of them together, much to her chagrin at the time. All candid. All were in his possession.
But how was he supposed to confiscate a sketch of himself? How was he supposed to know? He hadn't thought it all the way through. And now he was going to pay.
With someone's heart.
/
He gave Kana a casual, crooked smile. "That's weird."
"It was just a pencil outline, but I swear it resembles you."
Fuck.
/
A/N: 3.18.2013 - The questions are really fun. Same thing in WIWU. It's a good way to explore background/ past. Hope you enjoyed!
Hatori never mentioned his sin… will become important later on. If anyone can point it out when it comes up… WOOT! I bow down to you. :)
Will Hatori be able to let her go now that there's a chance of a future with her...?
I live for your reviews! Feed me please!
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Mcangel11976: Agree with you completely. Why come back now Kana?!
Tsukiakage: Thanks, hope u enjoyed this one too. Much planned ahead! Just have to get the ideas in text, haha.
Kouga's older woman: I'm sorry but wish for Kana to be gone is unfortunately not my command. It's the evil plot bunny, I swear! Love you!
Mackenziejen: Ooo, didn't think about that… hehe maybe he shall now that you've mentioned it. :p
Phenylephrine: Hehe, I totally agree. It's good that they are bickering now. If it was like this storybook romance, who knows what would bite them in the future… eh? You are the best, dear!
Traceless-Poison: Hehe, great enthusiasm hon! Warning: more torture coming your way. Bahahaha. :)