Chapter 17: Scared
As Hatori woke he noticed the dark blurriness of his bedroom. He sighed and sat up letting his good eye adjust to the now bright and clear room. He checked his watch and to his surprise, saw it was already 8:30.
He swore under his breathe and looked back to the other side of the bed.
Erin was still sleeping soundly snuggled into his blankets. He smiled at the sight. He had never slept with anyone before. It was nice.
Although he was lucky she didn't roll over in his sleep and cause him to transform. That would've been awkward.
He carefully got out of bed and went to his office. Even though it was a Saturday the clinic was still open and he would still have work to do. He flipped through his calendar to see if he was missing any appointments.
There was none but he still felt like he was missing something. He shrugged it off and went to go make some tea.
He hoped Erin wasn't hungry when she woke up. He really didn't have food at his house. It wasn't like Shigure's house where Tohru cooked every meal. He supposed he could order from the kitchens.
He walked over to the phone and just as he was about to call he heard his front door open.
"Hey-o!" Yanagi's voice rang out. Hatori froze as he remembered what he was forgetting.
"Woah Hatori-san, still in your sleeping yukata? If I knew you were gonna wear that I wouldn't have worn a tie. Oh well we're going casual I guess." He laughed loosening his tie.
"Yanagi-san, don't you knock?" Hatori sighed pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I've never knocked before? How was I supposed to know you weren't dressed yet. I always come at this time!" He exclaimed pouring himself some tea.
"Give me a minute." Hatori grumbled going back to his room. He glanced at Erin still sleeping, but she had moved to take up the entire bed, her long legs sticking out of the blankets. She was only wearing his shirt and her underwear.
Hatori thought of the previous night. He thought of kissing her and the way she grabbed his shirt. He thought of the way she fell asleep cuddling his arm. Butterflies raced through him. He wished he could lay down and join her without a care in the world.
He mentally kicked himself he had to focus. Erin would probably sleep through Yangi's visit. So he wouldn't have to worry about that.
Hatori cleaned up and got dressed in a blue button down shirt and slacks and went back out.
Yanagi was examining Hatori's collection of medical books with interest. His green eyes bright.
"Are we going to do this?" Hatori asked sitting down at his table.
Yanagi pulled out Hatori's usual delivery of medicines for his clinic as long as samples of new medications on the market.
"The lab just came out with these. They're smaller then the previous kind and are easier to swallow because they're coated. Yanagi said pulling out the samples.
"So how was your date last night?" Yanagi said smiling
Hatori smirked and shook his head. "It was fine." He said hopefully ending the conversation.
"How old is she? She looks kinda young. Is she still in high school?" He pried.
Hatori nodded writing his notes. "She graduates next month." He deadpanned not looking up from his notes.
"Well she must be special. You seem happy." Yanagi said smiling.
Hatori looked at him surprised and then smiled slightly. "Yeah. I am."
"Hatori, I'm starving do you have any-" Erin started walking out of his room. She froze, her eyes widening seeing the other man present at the table.
Her face turned beet red as she pulled her shirt to cover herself and turned back around swiftly, closing the door behind her.
Yunagi looked at Hatori and smiled devishly. Hatori shot him a look and got up from the table.
"Not one word." He said sternly.
Yunagi pretended to zip his lips and gave him a thumbs up, while organizing the samples in the table.
Hatori sighed as he walked into his room shutting the door behind him. Erin was in the bathroom trying to wash the redness from her face.
"You could've told me you had company." She grumbled, drying her face.
"I'm sorry. I completely forgot Yunagi-san came today to bring me my orders. I thought you would've slept through it." He deadpanned.
Erin rolled her eyes and began to put on a pair of his sweatpants. He watched her tie them tightly to fit her smaller frame and his mind wandered once more to the previous night.
It's not like he did anything improper. He just kissed her. He could feel his cheeks warming at the thought of her grabbing his shirt and his hands entangled in her hair.
He tried to shake the thoughts. He sounded like Shigure. He had to stop spending so much time with him.
As he watched her he grew wary of how she felt about last night. He remembered the night at the beach, where she felt so guilty from kissing him.
He frowned slightly. He never wanted her to feel like that again. He took a deep and walked over to her. He placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head up gently. He noticed her cheeks turn pink as she looked up in surprise.
"Are you okay? After last night I mean. I know it was a lot for you." He said his eyes full of worry.
Erin dropped his gaze shortly before looking back at him. "I'm alright. I'm um.. sorry.. for getting upset." She said staring at her feet. She still had questions as to why Hatori went to her uncle's house in the first place.
"Why did you go?" She asked fiddling with the bottom of his shirt.
Hatori sighed. "I wanted to get your things. And I just... needed to make sure he would never hurt you again. I wanted to make sure it was over for you." He said quietly holding her hands.
"Thank you." She said softly.
He smiled down at her. He knew it would take a while for her to truly heal from this. She just needed time. But this was a good start.
"Now I just need to finish a few things up with Yunagi-san, then I will find you something to eat. Sound good?" He asked and she nodded.
The three of them ended up eating breakfast together. Erin laughed at Kazu's antics. He was really funny. Erin enjoyed his stories and the way he teased Hatori.
"And there I was top of the Empire State Building and then this girl comes up to me and we really hit it off. My friend said I had no chance with her. But I knew she was in to me. So, we made a bet that I could get her to go out on a date with me. So I go and ask her out, and it turns out she's a prostitute and she tells me she'd charge me 100 to take her out. Needless to say I lost that bet." Kazu laughs sipping his tea.
Hatori gave him a look and sighed. "You're insufferable."
"Ah, you just don't know a good story when you hear one. Erin I don't know how you hang out with this guy. He's such a stick in the mud." Kazu laughed.
"I don't know about that. Hatori is very fun." Erin said smiling. "He's taken me lots of fun places, like boating and shopping."
"Oh has he now?" Kazu said grinning.
"Yanagi-san, don't you have other doctors on your route you need to visit today?" Hatori asked standing from the table.
Kazu raised his hands and laughed. "Alright, Alright. I can tell when I'm not wanted." He said as he gathered his things.
"I will see you soon, and Erin, nice seeing you again. Take care of her Hatori." Kazu said walking out the door.
Hatori pinches the bridge of his nose. "I apologize for him."
"Don't. I like him. He's funny." Erin said smiling. She sat down on the floor and pulled out one of Hatori's big medical books. She laid on her stomach and flipped through all the charts and texts.
Hatori watched her for a few moments and smiled. He sat down next to her and glanced at what she was reading.
He glanced down at the illustration of the heart and its chambers. He was familiar with the illustration. His father made him review this book cover to cover, hundreds of times. By the time he went to med school he basically could site it verbatim without even looking.
"Ah the four chambers of the heart." He said pointing to the different chambers.
Erin's eyes widened at the drawings and the fancy medical terms. "I don't know how you understand this. It's all so complicated." She frowned.
"No it's actually really simple. The chambers of the heart work together by alternately contracting and relaxing to pump blood throughout the heart. To accomplish this, the heart uses an electrical system to trigger a heartbeat. Essentially, the electrical system is the power source that makes all the heart's functions possible. Blood vessels lead in and out of the chambers, which receive and distribute blood throughout the body. The four chambers are connected by four valves — the tricuspid, pulmonic, mitral and aortic valves. These valves work like one-way doors, allowing blood to flow in only one direction."
Hatori paused. He just word vomited medical knowledge. He hadn't done that in a long time. He used to when he was younger, and Shigure and Aya would tease him about it all the time.
Erin laughed a little. "Yeah 'simple'."
"I'm sorry that probably wasn't the best explanation." He said curtly.
Erin shrugged. "No, you're just really smart and I'm kind of stupid. I mean I almost didn't pass a basic math class."
Hatori tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I don't think you're stupid. Don't say that."
Erin smiled and closed the book, glancing over at the samples and orders Kazu left. "Are you just gonna keep those here?"
Hatori smiled slightly. "Of course not. I'll need to take them to the clinic."
"You're clinic?"
"Well the families clinic. It's not mine. It was my fathers and my grandfathers before him. You could imagine why it would be hard for zodiac members to visit a doctor on the outside." Hatori said putting away the book.
"So everyone in your family was a doctor?" Erin asked and Hatori nodded.
"And they all worked at that clinic?"
Hatori nodded again.
"Well haven't you ever wanted to move away? Open your own clinic and have your own life?" Erin asked.
Hatori blinked. Move away? Have his own life? The words were foreign to him as a zodiac member.
He imagined living away from all this. In quiet house far away from the Sohmas. His own life. He imagines him and Erin cuddled up and him reading a book to her while a fire keeps them warm. No curse to worry about, No pain, No Akito...
Hatori was pulled back to his senses. He couldn't think like that. It was forbidden. How could he think of a life so frivolous.
"No Erin. Why would I think something like that? This is my life. It's how it's always been. And how it always will be." He said maybe too harshly.
Her face fell, but she walked up to him and hugged his arm. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked."
He sighed. He knew it was the curse talking. Of course he wanted that life. A life with her sounded like a dream.
He rubbed his head in an attempt to alleviate the headache forming from the inner conflict.
He kissed the top of her head "I'm sorry."
"It's okay I forgive you." She said smiling up at him.
He rested his forehead on hers and looked into her brown eyes. He smiled and kissed her nose which caused her to giggle and cover her nose with her hands.
"Go and get dressed, I'll take you home" Hatori said gesturing to his room. Erin nodded and scurried back to his room to get changed.
As she got dressed she could help but think about the previous night. The way he kissed her..
Erin put her hands to her lips. She was surprised he didn't try to do anything more. She had thought that's all men cared about.
She paused very conflicted. A part of her didn't want want to be touched ever again. But Hatori loves her. It would be okay if they were ever intimate.. right? She did want that, eventually. What if he didn't want that? That's why he didn't try anything last night. I mean it would be possible right? You don't actually have to embrace.
What if she wasn't good enough? I mean Hatori was well Hatori, and obviously looked a certain way. So he obviously had women throwing themselves at him for years. He's had to have been with people before. Probably really attractive people.
A stinging pain pulled her from her thoughts. She looked down at her hand to see bright red scratch marks. "Shit" she swore.
She was so distracted by her thoughts she didn't even realize she was scratching it. Great. Now she was gonna get a lecture.
She grabbed her things quickly and left the room. Her thoughts still eating away at her.
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"No, Tohru that sucks." Kyo said smiling correcting her stance. "Don't lower your hands. You need to guard. Then hit me." He said holding out his hands.
"I don't want to hurt you Kyo-kun." She said worried.
He laughed. "Trust me. You won't."
With that Tohru threw an energetic punch completely missing Kyo's hand.
Erin laughed from her spot on the porch. She was leaning on the post with her arms crossed, watching Kyo's "martial arts" lesson with Tohru.
"Don't worry Honda-san, its not you're fault. Kyo is just a bad teacher." Yuki said looking up from his book.
"Stay out of this you damn rat!" Kyo yelled.
"Kyo. Quit yelling." Hatori said sternly, sipping his tea.
Erin looked over at Hatori and Shigure sitting on the porch as well. When Hatori dropped her off Tohru invited Hatori for dinner. Of course he said yes. And after they ate since it was quite warm for late March everyone sat outside. Which is when Kyo started trying to teach Tohru a move he had learned that day at the dojo.
Needless to say teaching Tohru to fight was easier said than done.
Tohru laughed "I guess I'm pretty bad at this stuff."
Kyo rolled his eyes. "You think? Girls suck at this kind of stuff."
Erin raised a brow. "Woah, Kyo that sounds like a challenge."
Kyo's competitive spirit turned on and he clenched his fists. "There's no challenge in beating a girl." He grinned.
"Oh you think? I'll have to show you then." Erin said tying her hair into a ponytail. "Unless of course you're scared." Erin said grinning.
"Oh you're so on." Kyo said raising his fists.
"Erin, don't. I don't feel like repairing any broken wrists tonight." Hatori said warily from the porch.
"I'm sure she'll be fine." Shigure said giddily. This was quality entertainment.
Shigure reveled at the sight of Hatori getting all tense and worried over Erin. Shigure knew they were together. Why didn't Hatori just admit it?
"I'll be fine." Erin said confidently, stretching her arms.
Erin never took any formal fighting training. But she had been in some pretty sketchy situations with Kai. Not that she'd like to admit it but she had done some pretty dumb things. Steal things and pick fights. Well Kai usually picked the fights. But whoever was coming after Kai usually came after her as well.
She could handle herself. Of course it wasn't like she was a pro. But definitely better than Tohru.
She held her hands up and took a deep breath. "I'm ready." She said staring at him.
Kyo laughed. "Just remember you asked for this."
Erin knew she couldn't punch hard. She'd have to rely on evasiveness. She noticed him step forward to punch. As he threw the punch she threw her arms up, but she was too slow. The punch knocked her straight to the ground.
"Erin!" Hatori exclaimed but Erin held up her hand. "I'm fine. He just got lucky. I'm not done." She said getting back up.
"You can do it Erin-chan!" Tohru cheered from the sidelines.
"Ready?" Kyo asked and Erin nodded. Now that she knew how fast he went she could figure out her timing.
He stepped forward and threw the first punch and Erin ducked quickly.
As he was off balance from the punch Erin rose and kicked him in the chest, knocking him back, causing him to fall into the fish pond.
The splash was large and scared the hell out of the fish.
Shigure was dying of laughter. And yuki chuckled as well. Hatori looked completely shocked. Erin laughed and mockingly bowed.
"Erin-chan that was so impressive!" Tohru said clapping.
Kyo emerged from the pond, pouring water from his shoes. "Yeah yeah, it wasn't that impressive." He grumbled.
"You're right Kyo, your fall was much more impressive." Erin laughed brushing off her clothes and walking back to her spot on the porch.
"Now where did you learn to do that?" Hatori asked looking her over for injuries.
"Um.. I don't think you wanna know." She said laughing slightly.
Hatori noticed the scratch marks on her hand while he checked for injuries. He knew it wasn't from the spar with Kyo. He gave her a look but didn't say anything.
Erin hid her hand from his view. She didn't need a lecture right now.
"I should go wash up." Erin said excusing herself.
Shigure watched Hatori watch her go. He had an odd expression on his face.
"If you're going to hide your relationship, at least try to not make it obvious." Shigure smirked.
Hatori raised a brow at him, and sighed. "You could just learn to mind your own business."
Shigure chuckled. "That's not really in my nature. So, you and Erin huh? I knew it was going to happen."
"It shouldn't have happened. I'm putting her at risk and you know that." Hatori deadpanned.
"And yet you're with her anyway. I assume because you tried to stay away from her but you can't. You love her." Shigure said resting his head on his hands.
Hatori looked down. He knew he loved her, but admitting it made him feel guilty.
"You don't have to answer that. I already know you do." Shigure said going back to his book he was reading.
"But after seeing that little show, I'd be careful if you ever want to break up with her." Shigure laughed. "She's an interesting girl."
Hatori looked in the house to see Erin laughing with Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru.
"Yeah, she is." He said.
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"Alright class, please remember graduation practice is this Saturday. Which is tomorrow. Attendance is mandatory." Erin's teacher said to the class.
Not that Erin was actually paying attention. She stared down at her phone reading the text from Hatori.
'I'll pick you up after school. Have a good day. I love you.'
Butterflies raced through her stomach. She felt silly getting butterflies over something so trivial. Besides him texting her was routine. Everyday she went to school she would get a similar text. Like clockwork. And everyday he would pick her up.
Erin loved it. She lived for these texts everyday, and the car ride home with him. She needed them to get her through the day.
She used to dread the day of school day ending. The thought of the school day ending used to give her so much anxiety. The end of the day meant she would have to go to her uncle's house. But now, she could look forward to school ending. Because it meant she got to be with Hatori. And his texts everyday reminded her that she was safe now and would be with him soon.
Erin bit her lip in thought. She should talk to Hatori about her feelings from the other night. About her not being good enough and all. She furrowed her brows. That couldn't be the reason Hatori didn't try anything more. He was probably just being polite. But that only made Erin feel worse. And even if he did try anything, would she had even allowed it?
Her anxiety started to creep up on her. If she did do anything she'd probably feel extremely guilty and crappy. How would being with Hatori feel any different than-
"Erin. Put the phone away. You know the policy. Just because it's the end of the year doesn't mean the rules disappear." Her teacher said harshly placing a warning slip on her desk and pulling her from her thoughts. "Get your parent to sign that and bring it back to me Monday."
Erin inwardly swore. Why couldn't she have a nice home room teacher like Mayu-sensei. What was this guys problem? Most teachers are relaxed at this time.
And even bigger question, who was gonna sign this for her?
Erin put her head down on the desk and stared out the window on the rainy day.
After class Kai came up to Erin. "Dude what's his problem? Am I right?" She said as Erin packed up her bag.
"Who knows." Erin said quietly. She didn't want to be in trouble at school. Even though it was for something stupid. Hatori was probably gonna be mad at her now.
"Hey you okay? You look like crap. Are you sick?" Kai asked.
Erin shook her head. Although all the stress was making her feel sick.
"Since when do you care if you get in trouble at school?" Kai laughed, but Erin shrugged her off and walked out.
She was almost to her next class when her phone buzzed. She looked at it and even more dread filled her.
'Something came up at the clinic, I won't be able to pick you up. I'm sorry.'
Great. Now she wouldn't even see him today. Maybe it was for the best. He would just be disappointed in her anyway.
She had no energy left and felt like crap. She got to her next class and put her head down to sleep.
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Hatori swore under his breathe. He didn't want to cancel on picking Erin up. It was the highlight of his day. But of course Akito had requested his presence this afternoon.
He looked out the window to see the rain falling down. He sighed. He hoped she would be alright walking home.
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Erin threw down her soaking wet bag down by the door. She had been stressing the whole way home. She didn't even say a word to Tohru, Yuki, or Kyo.
She was freezing and she was soaked. And she still had to find someone to sign the stupid paper.
"Oh, you guys are back! Oh Erin, Hatori didn't give you a ride? I'm surprised with it raining and all." Shigure said walking out to greet them.
Erin didn't say anything, she was to busy peeling off her wet socks.
"Erin-chan, are you alright? You look pale." Tohru said collecting everyone's wet clothes.
Erin nodded than headed upstairs. "Just tired."
She heard Shigure saying something but she didn't care enough to listen. She was cold and miserable. And scared of what Hatori will say after he finds out she got in trouble.
Erin laid down in her wet uniform and closed her eyes. She hadn't been this anxious in a while. She thought it was finally getting better.
The sun started to set and Erin dozed off. Her sleep wasn't peaceful though. She felt dizzy, like she was spinning and falling. The stress was overwhelming.
She felt something cool against her forehead. What was it? It felt good against her skin. She opened her eyes slowly. They felt like they weighed a ton.
As she finally got them open she saw someone sitting on her bed looking down at her. Erin whined slightly and tried to move away from the unknown visitor.
"Hey, it's just me." Hatori said gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.
He turned on the light and Erin squinted at the brightness. She saw Hatori above her. He looked worried, as he usually did. Wait why was he here?
Erin's brain felt foggy and she couldn't think. She tried to get up, but Hatori gently laid her back down. "No need to strain yourself."
Erin could feel her cheeks become flushed. "Hatori. You're. You're here." She said quietly.
"Yeah, Shigure called me. He said you didn't look so good when you came home. I'm sorry I couldn't come get you." He said sadly.
Erin shook her head and rubbed her eyes "It's okay." She said quietly. She would have to tell him what happened.
Hatori moved his hand to rub her back and gasped in surprise. "Erin, your clothes are wet. You can't sleep in wet clothes." He said sternly, sitting her up.
"It's okay." She said rubbing her eyes once more
"It's not okay. You're going to make yourself sick." He said unbuttoning her cold damp uniform top.
After he got her in dry clothes he laid her back down in bed.
She felt much better in the warm dry clothes. But Hatori could tell there was something eating at her.
He picked up her stuffed octopus off the floor and gently tapped her nose with it. He really didn't know how to cheer her up. He didn't even know why she was so upset.
"Can you talk to me?" He asked softly.
Erin closed her eyes and grabbed the stuffed toy. It seemed like she had so much to worry about. She still had unresolved feelings about the other day. And now she was in trouble.
"I'm fine" She said rolling over away from him.
"I think we both know that's a lie." He deadpanned.
Tears fell and she wiped them away. "It's a bunch of stuff okay?!" She cried, sitting up and wiping her eyes once more.
Hatori handed her a handkerchief.
"Did something happen at school?" He asked trying to get it out of her.
She got up from the bed quickly and paced the room. She ran her hands through her hair in frustration.
"It's not just school. Well besides the warning slip for being on my phone. But that's just cause my teacher's an ass. And you!" She said pointing at him.
He looked surprised and Erin lost her nerve. She still felt dizzy. She couldn't bring herself to tell him about her inner conflict from the other night.
"Whatever." She said frustrated. He wouldn't get it. And she probably wouldn't be able to tell him anyway.
What was she supposed to say? 'I know I'm used and ugly, unlike the girls you're probably used to getting but will you consider being intimate with me even though I'm mentally damaged and will probably regret it?'
Yeah that sounded great.
She covered her face with her hands. Her mind was racing. She started scratching her face to try and focus when Hatori gently grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away.
"No need to get worked up. Calm down. Explain one thing at a time." He said sternly getting her to focus.
She stared at her feet. Then went to her still damp backpack and pulled out the crinkled warning slip.
She handed it to him and he read it over. "Using your phone in class?" Hatori asked raising a brow at her.
She nodded and braved herself for a lecture.
"You're right." He said plainly refolding the piece of paper.
"Huh?!" Erin asked shocked. "Right about what?"
Hatori shrugged. "Your teacher. That was an ass move. I mean the year is almost over."
Erin didn't know what to say. She was expecting a lecture.
"You're not mad?" She asked still shocked.
Hatori laughed slightly and held her hands. "No I'm not mad. I wouldn't want this to happen again, but I'm not mad. Is this why you were so stressed? Because you thought I was going to be mad?"
Erin stared at her feet. "There is one more thing. But, I don't think I should say it."
Hatori looked at her questioningly. "And that is?"
Erin nervously shifted her weight. "About the other night. After we went to dinner."
Hatori didn't say anything he just gave her hands a squeeze encouraging her to continue.
Erin felt the words getting stuck in her throat. There's no way she could say it. She could feel her cheeks getting hot and she still felt dizzy. The words kept building up and building up with no where to go. She grew frustrated and didn't know what to do. Then she couldn't hold them back anymore and all the words came out.
"I know you didn't try anything that night because I'm not pretty like the girls you're used to having. And you also don't want me cause I'm broken and stuff. And I also have mixed feelings and I'm confused." She word vomited.
Hatori looked blank. As if he was trying to figure out what she had said. Finally he stood up swiftly and sat her on the bed. He kneeled down in front of her so she could look at him in the eye.
"First I want to say one thing." He said sternly and Erin could feel the lecture she was spared from coming to bite her in the ass.
"I think you're beautiful. That's a fact. Second, I'm not used to having any girls. I've only ever been in one other relationship before you. And thirdly, the other night you were upset. I wasn't going to take advantage of you like that. That's why I didn't 'try' anything." He said sternly.
Erin nodded and dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry." She said quietly.
He rested a hand on her cheek. "Don't be."
Hatori couldn't believe she got this stressed from this. Why would she think he didn't want to be intimate with her? Of course he wanted too. He was human after all
"You could've talked to me about this sooner. That way you wouldn't have given yourself a fever from the stress." He said with a ghost of a smile.
She nodded. She felt her face and it was hot. Hatori took out his thermometer and took her temperature. After it read he looked at it and showed her. 100.3.
"You should rest." He said laying her down, and getting up to leave.
"Please don't go." She said sadly. Maybe it was the fever making her brave, or delusional. She got up from her bed and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She was careful not to bump into him.
He returned the kiss full heartedly and rested his hands on her waist.
He pulled away slightly and raised a brow at her. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
She bit her lip and looked down to feet. "I don't know. Maybe."
He placed his hands under her arms and lifted her up effortlessly, to sit her on the bed. He leaned over her, his hands on the bed on either side of her.
Erin felt so small under him. Why was he so tall? And why were his arms so long? Erin could feel her already flushed red face turn more red. Was it the fever or the situation? She couldn't tell.
"You know as a doctor, I strongly suggest you rest." He said matter of factly.
Erin looked up at him. "Well you could not be a doctor right now."
He smiled and kissed her passionately. The kiss deepened quickly as she grabbed his shirt tightly.
Before he knew it he was completely lost in her. His hands were in her hair and he was kissing her neck.
He never felt like this before. He only wished the curse was broken so he could hold her close. He pulled away and looked at her. In the moonlight she looked so beautiful. She took his breathe away.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" He asked worried.
Erin took a deep breathe and nodded. "Yeah I'll be okay. I want this. I really want this." She said looking up at him.
He nodded and carefully hovered over her "If you want me to stop, just tell me. I'll stop, okay?" He said looking at her.
She looked down at his unbuttoned shirt and his chest. Butterflies raced through her and she nodded. She moved his hair out of his eye and smiled at him. "I love you." She said happily.
"I love you too." He said before going back to kissing her passionately, getting lost in her once more.
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Hatori woke as the sun was barely rising. He was surprised he didn't think he'd fall asleep here. God Shigure would never let him live this down if he found out.
He sat up and looked at his watch. 5:13am. He looked down at Erin fast asleep. She was laying on her stomach. Her shirt somewhere on the floor.
He leaned down and kissed her shoulder. He smiled as she rolled over on to her back.
He felt her forehead and was happy to see she cooled down.
Was it possible he could be this happy? This content with life? He hadn't ever been this happy.
He got up and got dressed quickly. He should leave before everyone wakes up. He didn't feel like explaining himself to Shigure.
He walked over to the bed and covered Erin up. He sat down on the bed and kissed her forehead. She stirred and looked up at him.
"Hey I have to go. Are you feeling better?" He whispered.
She furrowed her brows and looked at her alarm clock. She nodded.
"Good, you go back to sleep. I'll see you later." He said giving her a kiss.
Erin looked up him and smiled. "Love you." She said quietly dozing back off to sleep.
"I love you too." He said. He stared at her sleeping for a few moments and smiled as he left.
As he sat in his car he laughed slightly and ran a hand through his hair. He really couldn't believe how happy he was. He'd never felt like this before. There was hope in him. Something that seemed to be taken from him long ago. He thought he'd never get it back.
Maybe there was a chance he could be happy. Maybe he could live a good life. Maybe one day he wouldn't have to worry about the curse anymore and him and Erin could have a future.
His own life.
Little did he know, that his hope would be taken from him. As hope was a dangerous thing to have in the Sohma family.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Okay! Here's another long chapter!! I love it! I again apologize for fluff. I like fluff. And as we are coming to an end the chapters are going to get more serious so let me enjoy my fluff. Haha.
This chapter marks the beginning of the end. We will now be starting our road to the end of the story!
Thank you for making it this far and going on this journey with me!!
See you in the next chapter!!!