Chapter 16: White Day
Erin looked over her outfit in the mirror. She decided on a red dress that flowed just past her knees.
She knew Hatori said to dress nice. He was probably taking her to a really fancy restaurant. She sighed. She never knew how to act in those kind of places. Hopefully she could get through the night without embarrassing herself, Although, that was highly unlikely.
She opened her closet to find shoes to wear with her dress. She pulled out a pair of silver heels and slipped them on. She never wears heels. She didn't even Know if she could walk in them. She just wanted to look more grown up and mature.
She sometimes looked like a dumb kid next to Hatori. She wanted people to take her seriously.
She practiced walking in the heels and only stumbled a few times. It wasn't as hard as it looked.
Proud of her progress she flipped open her phone to see if Hatori had texted or called her. She frowned at the screen, seeing no notifications.
Closing it she carefully walked down stairs. She knew everyone was out tonight. Which was good. She really couldn't make up an excuse as to why she was dressed like this.
"You look beautiful" a familiar voice said.
Erin jumped and turned to see Hatori leaning on the doorway smoking a cigarette. He smiled at her but Erin could see something was bothering him.
"What's wrong?" She asked grabbing his suit jacket.
Hatori stubbed out his cigarette and ran a hand through his hair exhaling. "Nothing, I'm sorry just been busy with work."
Hatori looked at her. He almost couldn't breathe. She was so beautiful. The events in the past 24 hours changed his perspective. He knew he would do anything to keep her safe.
He also knew he would never hurt her again. He made sure of that.
He pulled her head to his chest and kissed the top of her head.
"I love you." He whispered.
Erin looked up quickly. Her face red. He's never said that before. No ones ever really said that to her. Her eyes filled with tears and she started crying.
"Hey, don't cry" Hatori said with a smile brushing away a tear.
"Me...too" she said sniffling "I.. love you...too"
Hatori's cheeks warmed and he felt butterflies deep within him. He laughed slightly brushing away the stubborn piece of hair that always fell in her eyes
He moved his hand down her cheek and pulled her in for a kiss, reveling in the way her lips felt against his.
He pulled away and smiled. "Come on let's go."
Erin sighed "You made my mascara run."
Hatori laughed handing her a tissue. "Either way you still look beautiful"
As they got into the car Hatori felt a weight on his chest. He'd knew he'd need to tell Erin about what happened. He just wanted to her to enjoy herself without worrying about that asshole.
He grit his teeth. Nothing Hatori did to him would ever equate to what he did to Erin. His Erin.
"You okay? You seem stressed." Erin asked concerned.
Hatori smiled. "Don't forget your seatbelt." He said plainly.
Erin rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah I know doc" she sighed buckling in.
Satisfied, Hatori started the car and started towards the restaurant.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The Previous Night
Hatori rolled up to the dimly lit house. It was a nice house. Of course it didn't compare to the Sohma houses.
Hatori clenched his jaw as he confirmed the address was correct. This was the place where Erin endured all that pain. He gripped the steering wheel hard
He had to make this right. He had to make sure he knew, he would never hurt her ever again.
Hatori walked to the door unsure of what he was going to say or do.
He knocked and waited. A girl opened the door. She resembled Erin a bit. They had the same eyes. They had to be around the same age as well.
The girls eyes widened at the sight of him. "Um can I help you?" She asked.
"My name is Hatori Sohma. I'm here to speak with Erin's guardians." He stated flatly.
"Erin? Is she alright? Is she in trouble again?" The girl asked surprised.
Hatori tried to ignore the again in that statement, remembering the lady from her school.
"Her guardians?" He asked flatly. His tone darkening.
The girl bowed and excused herself running up the stairs.
"What's this about? What did she do now?" He heard a man say walking down the stairs. Then Hatori saw him. And it took every ounce of restraint he had in him not to punch him.
"Who are you what do you want?" He spat. He was a taller man, not as tall as Hatori but almost. He resembled Erin a lot. Pale with dark hair. Only difference was he had blue eyes, where Erin's are brown.
Hatori couldn't believe he was finally confronting him. All the things he could say right now.
Hatori threw on a fake smile and bowed. "My apologies sir. I have come to talk about your niece Erin."
"What'd she do? Are you the police? I'm not giving you any money." He stated
"I'm not the police, no." Hatori stated.
"Please come in." A women who Hatori had guessed was her aunt, said.
Hatori walked in and stood in the entry way, not wanting to remove his shoes.
"So what do you need?" Her uncle asked sitting in his chair.
"My name is Hatori Sohma. Your niece Erin is in my care now. I wanted to come here to see if I could grab her things." He said as polite as he could.
Her uncle laughed slightly. He stood up from his chair and lit a cigarette. "In your care now?" He laughed once more.
"Yes, my cousin found her back in December unconscious in the snow. She had significant injuries." He stated. He inwardly sighed remembering her body all frost burnt and cold.
"Well she shouldn't have run off." Her uncle stated. "I gave her everything. Took her in after my sister and her husbands untimely death. I didn't have to do that. She could've easily got sent into the system. Looking back on it I probably should have." He stated walking over to his shelf of photos, turning one to face Hatori.
It was Erin around age 6 or maybe 7. She was so tiny, with these big brown eyes. As her uncle walked past the shelf he turned more photos around. The last one seemed to be her 3rd year high school photo. She didn't look happy even though she was smiling.
"That girl gave my family nothing but trouble. I treated her like one of my own. Now I'm sure you have your own reasons about caring about her. She manipulated you into liking her, or you actually see something in her that's desirable. But all she did was rebel against us and get herself into trouble. And what did I get out of it? What has she ever done for my family? That little bitch got what she deserved." He stated flatly.
Hatori tried to bite back his rising anger. He didn't come here to start trouble. He just wanted to get her belongings and see for himself the man who hurt her. But how could he talk about her like that? Is that his sick logic for doing all that to her? She owed him for taking her in?
Hatori started to feel sick thinking about it. His anger still rising. He hurt her. Made her suffer for years all as some sick justification of how she owed him.
Hatori watched him rearrange the pictures back to there original places. Hatori then noticed how her uncle's eyes lingered too long on Erin's school photo and Hatori snapped.
In a matter of seconds Hatori went across the room and grabbed the man by the shirt collar and slammed him into the picture shelf, sending all the photos crashing to the floor and breaking.
He heard the women scream but he didn't let go. He had him in his grasp. Finally. He gripped his collar tighter. The dragon spirit inside of him roaring in anger.
He needs to pay
"What are you doing?!" He yelled trying to get out of Hatori's grip.
"I know what you did. I know what you did to her." Hatori said darkly.
"You're crazy!" Her uncle spat. Hatori could see the fear in his eyes. Good. He should be scared.
"Admit what you did to her." He said flatly gripping harder.
" I didn't do anyth-" he started before Hatori punched him across the face, knocking him to the ground.
The women screamed and gasped behind him. However Hatori didn't care. They were all guilty for letting her suffer. The dragon spirit within him was angry and screamed for revenge.
Then mans face was red and swollen and his nose was bleeding. Hatori felt pain radiating through his hand but ignored it.
"Admit it. Now." Hatori said threateningly. Grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him towards him.
Her uncle shielded his face with his hands. "Alright! Alright! I did it. I raped her."
Hearing him say it caused Hatori's anger to surge. He shoved him back down to the floor and stood up.
"You will never touch her again. And you will never ever see her again. I will make sure of it." Hatori said darkly standing over him.
Hatori turned to the women standing there shocked. Her Aunt was crying silently.
"Now, I came here for her things." He deadpanned.
Her aunt led him up the stairs to her old room. "I haven't touched anything since she left." She said quietly.
Hatori nodded and opened the door. He inwardly smiled at Erin's room. It was purple with some posters on the walls. It wasn't particularly clean. It looked like she had hastily left.
He frowned remembering what happened here. He grabbed a box and started packing important things. No need to get her clothes they were old anyway and Hatori could buy her more.
As he was almost done he glanced to her bed and noticed a small gray stuffed octopus. He sighed
"Henry." He stated with a small chuckle. Remembering Erin talking about the stuffy her parents gave her.
After putting him in the box Hatori noticed a picture under her pillow. He pulled it out to see a picture of a young Erin and her parents.
His heart broke looking at the picture. She looked so happy. Why did all this have to happen to her? Why did she have to go through so much pain? Tears threatened to fall stinging his eyes but he held them back.
He has to be strong for her. He placed the picture in the box and walked out her room.
"Sohma-san" her aunt called weakly as Hatori turned to face her.
"I wish I could say I didn't know what was going on. I knew but I always denied it. I never-." She sniffed trying to compose her thoughts as tears ran down her face.
"I never wanted to believe it. I treated her awful because I was angry. Angry at the situation. I should've helped her." She cried
"I don't expect her to ever forgive me. But I'm glad to know she's okay. So thank you for helping her. Please. Please take care of her."She stated wiping her tears.
Hatori was surprised at her statement. He nodded stiffly. "I will do my best." was all he said before going down the stairs and leaving without another word.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"There's no way I can go in here." Erin said nervously looking at the outside of the fancy restaurant.
"You'll be fine, what are you so afraid of?" Hatori asked with a small smile.
"Everyone is older and so important. I'm gonna look so stupid. So dumb. They're gonna look at me like I'm some dumb kid-" she started but Hatori cut her off by kissing her.
"Erin. You look so beautiful. No one will think you look like a kid." He said smiling
Erin grumbled slightly her face bright red. She didn't believe him but she wasn't gonna argue about it. He would never see her point.
They pulled up and Hatori got out and handed the keys to the vallet. He walked around the car and opened the door for her.
Erin got out and looked at all the fancy people around. She gulped. This was going to be a long night.
As they walked in Erin gaped at how beautiful the restaurant was. It had a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. And the restaurant was huge. Erin almost couldn't breathe from nerves.
She saw all the older people glance at her, and she tried to stand up straight. Why did she always feel so out of place? She inwardly sighed as Hatori talked to the hostess.
"I'm sorry sir but, there's no way we can seat you without a reservation. Usually people make reservations months in advance-" she started.
"Sohma-san! Welcome back. It's been a while." An older man said walking out to greet him. "I knew that was you. I apologize for my hostess." He said bowing low, as he shot her a look.
"Fujiwara-san, it's been a long time." Hatori smiled and bowed back.
The old man smiled "What can I help you with tonight?"
"Well I was hoping to get a table but it appears you're very busy." Hatori started.
"Sohma-san you never need a reservation here. You should know that. Is it just yourself?" He asked and Erin's heart sank.
Hatori shook his head. He stepped back and placed his hand on Erin's lower back.
"This is my girlfriend, Erin." Hatori said proudly, and Erin's face turned red, hearing him say it out loud sent butterflies racing through her stomach.
Mr. Fujiwara's eyes widened and he smiled. "Of course! My deepest apologies. Erin-san, you are beautiful. Sohma is so lucky to have you. Now follow me." He said leading them to a special table near a big set of windows over looking the city.
Erin was at a loss for words. Never had she ever seen anything so beautiful. The waitress came promptly and handed them their menus.
"Hatori, you didn't tell me you didn't have a reservation." Erin said raising a brow at him.
Hatori smirked slightly "I knew I wouldn't need one."
Erin rolled her eyes and laughed slightly. "Rich people."
Erin looked at the menu perplexed. "Hey Hatori?" She asked and he looked up at her.
"I think my menu is broken." She said frowning.
"Broken?" He asked raising a brow.
"There's no prices on it." She said studying it more to see if they were hidden.
Hatori laughed "No it's supposed to be like that. Besides, I'm the one taking you out to dinner so order whatever you like." He said smiling.
"But, what if it's really expensive?" She asked.
"Erin. It's fine. I promise." He said looking back to his menu.
Erin frowned. Oh well she didn't need to see the prices to know what was expensive and what wasn't.
The waitress came to order their drinks. Hatori ordered some wine. Erin ordered a water.
After the waitress left Hatori gave her a look.
"I know what you're doing." He said matter of factly.
Erin smirked. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Hatori closed his menu. "Do you know what you would like?" He asked politely. Erin nodded and he took her menu.
The waitress came back with the drinks. "How full would you like your glass?" She asked and Hatori pointed to the halfway point on his glass.
Erin noticed the way the waitress looked at him. She tried to start a conversation with him about the wine. Hatori was polite and answered her questions and comments.
Erin furrowed her brows slightly. The waitress was older than her and prettier than her. She had blond hair and big blue eyes.
What if Hatori wanted someone who looked like that? She started becoming self conscious and wanted to scratch her hand.
Than Erin started getting jealous. And it angered her. She reached across the table and grabbed his hand and held on to it. "Sorry I'm just so hungry. May we order please?" Erin said to the waitress.
"Oh of course, what would you like?" She asked looking at Hatori. Erin held back the want to roll her eyes.
"Yes I'll have the shrimp scampi, and she'll have the filet mignon." Hatori said smiling handed her the menus.
Erin's mouth gaped. She couldn't believe he just ordered for her. And she knew it was expensive.
The waitress finally left and Erin glared at Hatori. He smiled. "I don't want you ordering something cheap on purpose. I want you to enjoy yourself."
"Fine." Erin sighed taking her hand away.
Hatori leaned towards her. "You don't have to be jealous you know. All I want is you." He whispered.
Erin's face turned beet red. "I-I wasn't j-jealous!" She stammered and Hatori laughed.
Erin stared at her feet her face still red. Of course she was jealous, but she didn't want him to know that.
"I just don't know why you waste your time with me, when you could have someone like that." Erin sighed looking at her hands.
"Erin." He said softly. Erin glanced up at him quickly but looked back down.
"Erin, look at me please." He said and she slowly looked up at him.
"You shouldn't think things like that. You're beautiful." He stated matter of factly.
Erin frowned slightly. "Now you're just trying to make me blush."
He laughed and raised his hands up "I promise I'm not."
"Here. I was planning on giving this to you a little later but I want you to have it now. As an apology for making you blush." He said matter of factly, passing her a small box. "It's for white day." He said smiling.
Erin looked down surprised at the present. She really didn't get presents very often. Especially on holidays like White day.
She opened it up and gasped. It was the diamond necklace from the jewelry store she was looking at.
"Hatori I- this is amazing! I love it! I love it so much! Thank you! Thank you!" She beamed.
"I'm glad you like it. I saw you looking at it at the mall, I'm glad I picked the right one." He said.
Erin took it out of the fancy box and put it on. "How does it look?"
Hatori smiled. "Very nice."
Hatori tried to ignore the butterflies he got when he looked at her. She was so beautiful. And looking at her he forgot about everything that happened the previous night.
"Hatori-san!"
Erin looked to see a young man, likely in his early twenties. He too was wearing a suit like every other man in the restaurant, but his was more plain.
He ran a hand through his light brown hair and adjusted his glasses, as he bowed.
Hatori raised a brow at him
"Yanagi-san? I'm surprised to see you here." Hatori said flatly.
He laughed. "Hatori-san so formal, you can call me Kazu."
Hatori inwardly sighed. "No that's quite alright Yanagi-san. What can I help you with?"
"Oh! Right. I saw you over here and wanted to say hello. That and I was shocked to see you of all people on a date. Oh and that and I have those samples in you were asking about. I'll bring them by tomorrow. Oh but where are my manners?" He said turning to Erin and bowing.
"It's a pleasure to meet you miss. I'm Hirokazu. But you can call me Kazu." He said with a smile.
Erin felt her social anxiety creep up on her from being around someone she didn't know. She fought it and smiled at him. "I'm Erin. And you can just call me Erin I guess." She said awkwardly, her eyes falling to the floor.
Kazu laughed. "Erin, I see, I like that name. Well you guys have fun, I don't wanna overstay my welcome." He rested his hand on Hatori's shoulder and gave it a pat and then walked off with his hand raised. "See you tomorrow."
And just like that he was gone.
Erin's eyes fell back to the flood embarrassed. Could she ever just talk without making a fool of herself?
"Pay him no mind. Yanagi is just my pharmaceutical salesman." Hatori started sipping his wine.
"He seems nice." Erin states looking up slowly.
Hatori shrugged. "He's just a kid. Just finished college. He wants to be a doctor. Wants me to take him as an assistant."
Erin tried to ignore the fact he called someone 4 years older than her a kid.
"Are you going too?" Erin asked
Hatori shook his head. "No. I don't want another assistant." He said sternly, signaling the end of the conversation.
Another assistant? Did he already have one? Erin shrugged it off. "Oh, Alright."
With that their food was served. Erin was amazed at how delicious it all looked. It was so over whelming.
"Does it look alright?" Hatori asked.
Erin nodded her head still in shock. "It looks expensive."
Hatori laughed, shaking his head. "Just eat it. You'll like it."
They ate and made small talk. Erin could talk to him for hours. Everything about him was so interesting. She wanted to know more about him. She felt like she knew a lot yet nothing at all.
She was happy to spend time with him like this.
She was so lucky to have him.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Erin couldn't believe how good food could be. She had never eaten food like that. She was so glad she lived long enough to eat that.
Eventually the check came, which Hatori promptly reached across the table for.
Erin's eyes widened as she saw Hatori's hand. It was bruised and had cuts on it.
"Hatori?! What happened?" She exclaimed reaching for it.
Hatori cursed under his breath. How could he forget about his hand? He really didn't want to have this conversation right now.
"I'll tell you when we get to the car." He deadpanned signing the check and grabbing her hand to leave.
Erin was confused. Why was he upset now? What happened to his hand? She furrowed her brows as they walked outside to the car.
"Hatori, stop." Erin said barely keeping up with his fast pace in her heels.
He looked back at her as she tried to catch her breath. "Tell me what happened." She said exasperated.
Hatori sighed and leaned against his car, crossing his arms.
"Erin, before I tell you, you need to promise me you'll stay calm, okay?" He said looking at her wearily.
Erin's throat went dry. Was he leaving her? Erin inwardly freaked out. It felt like all the blood left her body and she couldn't breathe.
"Just tell me." She said quietly. Barely able to speak.
"I went to your aunt and uncle's house last night. To get your things." He said flatly, dropping her eye contact.
Erin's mouth went dry. It wasn't what she was expecting. Why would he go there? How'd he find out where they lived? A million thoughts raced through her head as she started to panic at the mention of them.
And what did that have to do with Hatori's hand- she froze. And covered her mouth with her hand. The fancy food threatening to make a reappearance.
"What happened?" She squeaked out trembling.
"Let's just say he will never bother you again." He said sternly.
"It's alright. Erin listen to me. It's over okay? I took care of it. You'll never see him again. You're safe now." He said calmly.
Was it really over? Was it all done? It couldn't be. Could it? Erin could feel her hands shaking.
Hatori went to his trunk and and grabbed a box. He set it down in front of her and pulled something out.
Erin blinked at the small grey stuffed octopus. The one her parents gave her all those years ago.
She gasped and looked up at him.
"It's all over. I promise." He said.
Tears filled her eyes as she grabbed the stuffed toy and held it to her chest. She cried and cried holding it close.
It's over. It's all over. She kept repeating in her mind over and over as she sobbed. Letting out all the years of stress and fear.
It's over.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"We're here." Hatori said gently rubbing her shoulder.
She had dozed off on the ride back, the box by her feet.
Erin woke and rubbed her eyes. She was surprised to see they were in front of Hatori's house. She got out of the car as Hatori grabbed the box.
"Why didn't you bring me back to Shigure's?" She asked rubbing her eyes.
"I don't want you to be alone. You can spend the night here." He deadpanned.
Erin blinked and nodded. She had only stayed at Hatori's house once on New Years.
She went inside and removed her shoes.
"I grabbed some of your clothes and items from your room. But if you need something to sleep in you can borrow something of mine." He said removing his suit jacket.
Erin nodded. "Can I use your room to get changed?" She asked quietly
Hatori nodded, lighting a cigarette And gesturing towards the room.
Erin walked in and quietly closed the door behind her.
She placed the box down and kneeled beside it. She grabbed the photo from the top. It was a picture of her and her parents on her 6th birthday.
She turned it over to see the date written on the back.
December 2nd, 1987
Tears fell down her face, plopping down onto the picture. Had it really been 12 years? This New Year's Eve it would be 13.
Why did they have to leave her?
The tears became steadier as she silently cried. She couldn't really explain the emotions she had.
She felt broken. Like it would never truly be over.
"I'm sorry." A familiar voice said behind her. She shook her head.
"No I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm broken." She said between cries.
He held her hand and kissed the back of her head.
"I promise I'll keep you safe." He whispered resting his head on her shoulder.
She turned to face him and rested a hand on his cheek.
"Promise?" She asked innocently. He nodded and mouthed 'promise'
It took courage but she leaned in and kissed him. He was surprised at the kiss but returned it full heartedly.
The kiss deepened and she tightened her grip on his shirt as a few tears fell.
She pulled away. "I love you" she whispered.
Hatori smiled gently and kissed her forehead "I love you too."
He went back to kissing her, completely enveloping the summer warmth to melt his frozen heart.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Okay here's a nice long chapter for everyone! I personally love this chapter. Lots of emotion!!! I love them together.
Sometimes I think I'm writing Hatori too soft but then I see how he was with kana in the anime and I'm like nah he secretly a softy.
I think the thing that sticks out about Hatori the most is his kindness. He just a kind person.
I hope I'm doing him justice
See you in the next one!