Chapter 21: Always
"So would you like to tell me about Hatori now?" Erin's therapist asked politely.
"No not really." She mumbled. Why did she ask this question everyday?
"Why do you want to know about him?" Erin asked exasperated.
"Because I know he was important to you. And him leaving is a cause of a lot of your pain. Talking about will help you." She said.
"If I tell you, you'll think I'm crazy." Erin said crossing her arms.
"Of course I wouldn't. Why don't you tell me how you met." She asked.
Erin frowned thinking of that night. It wasn't even a year ago but it felt like a lifetime ago. Like a hundred years had gone by since then.
"It hurts to talk about him." She said staring at the floor.
"I know, but you need to talk about it. You need to allow yourself to move on." The therapist said.
"Just tell me something about him."
Erin paused and tried to organize her thoughts. Something about him. There was so much. She couldn't pick one thing.
"He was bossy." She said quietly bringing her knees to her chest.
"Bossy?"
"Yeah. He was always telling me what to do. And lecturing me. Always telling me to wear sunscreen or eat better or take vitamins." She said trying to hold back the tears.
Her therapist wrote a few notes down. "Okay. I see, go on."
"He always thinks he knows what's best for me. It sucks. He's always deciding for me. It's annoying." Erin said. She was surprised at the anger in her voice. She clenched her fists as her brain tried to interpret her flying thoughts.
"Are you angry at him?" The therapist asked looking up at her.
Erin dug her nails into her hand and stood up. "Yeah!" She said in frustration. She laughed slightly. "Great! We solved it. Almost 4 months of fucking therapy and we finally got to the root of all my problems. I'm fucking angry. Pissed. Livid. Annoyed. Write down all those things." She yelled pacing.
"He left me when I needed him the most. Because he thought he was protecting me. He thought I was better off without him. Well who gave him the right to decide for me?!" She yelled sitting back down. Her head started to ache.
"I see. That sounds frustrating." She said writing more down.
Erin could here the summer rain pounding the windows as a storm blew over.
Erin sat scratching her hand. Forcing her mind to focus.
"Just don't make me talk about it anymore. It hurts." She whispered resting her head on her knees.
"It's okay. I think that's enough for today. We'll talk more tomorrow. Okay?" Her therapist said patting her shoulder.
Erin nodded and grabbed her bag. She inwardly cursed at not bringing an umbrella. She hoped Jirou had brought one. She ran down the stairs at out the front door into the warm rain, expecting to see Jirou waiting for her.
But it wasn't Jirou waiting for her. She saw the car first and then the man leaning against it under a black umbrella.
Her heart stopped and leaned into her throat.
Hatori.
He was here, right in front of her.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
About an hour earlier
Hatori sped down the streets in his car as dark clouds rolled in and hid the sun.
He needed to see her. He loved her.
He was amazed at how he could think that and not feel conflicted or guilty.
As he pulled up to her aunts house he got nervous. He hadn't been in contact with Erin in months. What would he say? What if she found someone else. He shook the thought from his head as he walked up and knocked on the door.
"Can I-" Jirou started opening the door and frowning when he saw him standing there.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't slam this door in your face, after what you've done." He said flatly.
Hatori sighed. "I know. I messed up. I just need to see her."
"Yeah well she needed to see you to. Three months ago." Jirou said angrily
"I know-" Hatori started but Jirou cut him off.
"No. No you don't know. Do you have any idea what you put her through? No what am I saying of course you don't. Do you know she cries herself to sleep every night? She has to go therapy almost everyday, and she pretty much refuses to eat anything. You broke her. And you think you can just show up-" he stopped and sighed.
Hatori felt his chest tighten as Jirou explained about what had been going on. He knew it was all his fault. He bowed his head.
"Jirou, I know. I'm sorry. Just please. Let me see her. I promise I will never hurt her ever again. You have my word."
"Well I don't want your word. And if it were up to me I would tell you to leave. But it's not up to me. It's up to Erin." He said leaning on the door frame.
"May I speak with her?" Hatori asked.
Jirou shrugged. She's not here right now. She's at therapy. Where she is everyday at 4" Jirou paused and looked at Hatori and sighed.
"She's done at 5. It's in the middle of town. Across from the park. Right next to a tea shop. But, you didn't hear that from me." He said going back inside and shutting the door.
Hatori looked at his watch. 4:45. He had time. He jogged back to his car and drove off.
When he got there the rain started coming down from a summer storm. He got out of the car, opened his umbrella, and waited anxiously.
When she finally came out and he saw her, it was like being punched. Or struck by lightning. Had she always been that beautiful? It was like he was finally seeing her. Nothing could make him think differently. No spirit to second guess his feelings. No guilt. No pain. All that was left was his undeniable love for her.
Her eyes widened and face paled as she saw him.
She rubbed her eyes. As if she didn't believe he was standing in front of her. She hadn't moved and was getting quite wet from the rain.
"Erin." Was all he said as he walked toward her.
Before he could reach her he saw tears drop down her cheeks. He didn't want her to cry. He wanted to hold her and make everything better. He wanted to hold her and never let go.
But before he could she took off sprinting away from him across the street into the big grassy park.
"Shit." He swore dropping his umbrella and running after her.
Erin had no idea where she was running too. But her feet just started running.
She didn't want to see Hatori. She was angry at him. He left her. She had nothing to say to him.
She was soaked and the grass was muddy and hard to run on. She stumbled a couple times as the rain fell down on her.
"Erin!" Hatori called running after her. His shoes and clothes in general was not made for running.
"Erin you shouldn't be running in this weather, you'll get sick!" He said almost catching up to her.
"Erin stop!" He said exasperated finally grabbing her wrist.
"Let me go! Let me go!" She shouted pulling away from him.
"Erin please listen to me for a second." He pleaded through the rain.
"No! Leave me alone! I hate you! You left me!" She said hitting him over and over.
"I know. I know." He said softly trying to stop her hands.
"No you don't! Leave me alone! I hate you! I hate you!" She shouted continuing to swat at him.
He finally grabbed her wrists and pulled her straight towards him and pulled her into a hug and held her tightly.
He felt a wave of pure joy and relief washed over him as he finally held her. Felt her body against his. Finally.
Erin's eyes widened as she realized what had happened. He was holding her. And nothing happened. She pulled away from him.
"H-Hatori..." she gasped.
He moved his wet hair out of his face. "I know. It's gone. The curse is gone." He said.
She covered her mouth as she started crying.
"Erin. I know I hurt you. I didn't want to leave you. I really didn't. But I thought it was the only way to keep you safe. You got hurt and it was all my fault. I know you've been through a lot. And it's all my fault. And I am so sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me." He said.
Erin blinked. Waiting for everything he said to process. She made a choking noise as she started to sob and threw herself into him.
He welcomed her with open arms and held her close while she cried. "Shhh, it's okay I'm here, I'm here." He said holding her tight as tears flowed down his own cheeks.
He held her close and rubbed her back as she sobbed. "You left me! I-I-I tr-tried to and you still and you still!" She cried not able to form a full sentence.
"I know, I know" He said kissing the top of her head. He squeezed her tight. He didn't think he would ever be able to let her go.
She said something but it was all mumbled and muffled against him.
"What was that?" He asked giving her some space so she could talk.
"I j-just I- just I didn't want you to leave!" She sobbed rubbing her eyes.
Hatori bent down slightly so he was eye level her and wiped a tear away with his thumb.
His heart broke to see her like this. She was just getting happy again. And now she was more broken than when he met her. He had to make this right. He had to.
He stood up and looking at her. She was still crying. but the rain was making her cold. She was shaking. He needed to get her out of the rain. She'd get sick if she stayed out any longer.
He picked her up effortlessly and began walking back to his car.
"I promise Erin, I'll make this better. I'll never leave you again." He said holding her close as he walked.
Tears still rolled silently from her eyes as she nodded.
When he finally got back to the car, he placed her in the passenger seat and buckled her up. By the time he got back to his house the rain was slowing down.
Once inside Erin didn't know what to do with herself. She still couldn't believe she was at Hatori's house. Or that she even saw him again at all. She kept watching him. Like if she looked away he would disappear.
She really hoped she wasn't dreaming... or hallucinating. Erin watched Hatori clean up his desk and leave the room to draw a bath.
Erin rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet and whined slightly when he left the room. Why'd she feel like this? Since when was she so pathetic and weak? Hatori wouldn't want her if she kept acting like this.
He already doesn't want you that's why he left
Erin could hear Akito's words still. Screaming how Hatori didn't love her. He didn't need her. She wasn't wanted.
"Erin?"
She opened her eyes to see Hatori standing over her. When did she get on the floor? She noticed her knees were to her chest and she had her ears covered. He knelt down in front of her.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
Erin almost laughed. Of course she wasn't okay.
She shook her head.
"Well I drew a bath for you. You need to get out of these wet clothes. I don't want you to get sick." He said extending his hand.
Erin looked at his hand and then back at him. She nodded and let him help her up.
She sat in the warm bath with her knees to her chest staring at the drain. Hatori gathered her wet clothes and left. She watched him go. She sighed and sinked down under the water. Maybe if she just stayed under here all her problems would be solved. And she wouldn't be a huge burden on everyone.
When she came back up she noticed Hatori never came back into the bathroom. She twirled a strand of wet hair with her fingers.
She felt conflicted. She was angry at Hatori for leaving her. But on the other hand she was so thankful she had him back she didn't want to be away from him.
She rung out her hair and stepped out of the bath. She wrapped herself in a towel and walked out.
"Hatori?" She asked quietly looking around. She noticed he had laid dry clothes out on the bed for her.
After getting changed she walked out and heard Hatori in the kitchen cooking.
She walked quietly so he wouldn't hear her and peered into the kitchen. He was wearing dry clothes now. Just his usual white buttoned up shirt.
He was so handsome. How does someone like that actually find interest in her? She wanted to be good enough for him and not a burden. She sighed and walked into the kitchen.
He looked over at her and smiled. "I figured you might be hungry." He said. "Do you want some tea?" He questioned.
"I can get it." She said grabbing the cups. She wasn't that useless.
She set the tea on the table and walked back in the kitchen. She hovered closely behind him, not wanting to be too far from him. She stared at him cooking food.
He looked back at her "What's wrong?" He asked looking at her up and down.
"Nothing." She said staring at her feet.
Hatori plated the soba noodles he made then led her over to the table to eat.
"Eat." He said sternly pointing at the food.
Erin scrunched her nose at the food. She had been having trouble with eating.
"Erin. You need to eat." He said matter of factly.
Erin rolled her eyes. "Hatori-san is bossy." she grumbled, adding emphasis on the san.
Hatori raised his brows in surprise. Hatori-san? She hadn't used san with his name since they were on vacation. And he wasn't bossy. Was he?
He sighed. "I'm just worried about you is all. I am a doctor. You're looking thin." He said looking over her. If he had to guess he'd say she'd dropped about 6 kilograms. And she was already thin to begin with.
"Yeah, well I never asked you to worry! And if you were so worried than you shouldn't have left!" She yelled suddenly angry.
Hatori frowned slightly unsure of how to answer her.
"Erin I know. But what was supposed to do? You were hurt because of me. I thought it was the best option." He tried to explain.
"Best option for who, Hatori? Cause it sure as hell wasn't the best option for me!" She yelled.
She knew she was being irrational. But she had so many mixed emotions. She wanted to be near him. She wanted to be away. She had just been through so much. How could she just forgive him?
She sure as hell didn't trust him after all that.
"Erin I didn't have a choice!" Hatori said his voice escalating.
"Do you think leaving you was easy? Do you really think that that's what I wanted? Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life!" He yelled.
He saw her eyes widen and he sighed. "I'm sorry." He said going back to his food.
Erin paused feeling guilty now. She should've known Hatori didn't want to leave her.
"No. I'm sorry. It's me. Or from the concussion. I get irritable. Or at least that's what the doctors said." She said eating the soba.
After taking the first few bites she realized how hungry she actually was.
Hatori reached his hand across the table and gave hers a squeeze, before taking his bowl to the sink.
She could hear him washing the dishes. Now that he was gone she wanted to follow him. She sighed and rested her head on the table.
She was crazy. That's it. She was just crazy. She could keep her head straight at all.
A thought occurred to her.
Something she could do now.
She got up silently, so he wouldn't hear her. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly from behind.
Hatori flinched at the sudden touch, but then realized what was happening. Butterflies raced through him and his cheeks warmed.
He turned around and held her close trying to ignore his pounding heart.
"How did it break?" Erin asked looking up at him and Hatori shrugged.
"I don't know. All of the sudden it just was gone. And it hurt at first. I felt lonely and empty without it. But now looking back... I don't know." He said running his hand through his hair.
"What don't you know?" She asked.
"I feel so stupid." He said blatantly.
Erin laughed slightly. It probably wasn't funny but, to hear Hatori use simple words like stupid was hilarious.
Hatori looked down at her. "I'm sorry, is that funny?" He said with a smile.
"No. It really isn't, but the word choice was kinda funny." She snickered.
"Oh the word choice was funny. That makes sense. You're really something." He laughed.
"Well yeah cause if you're stupid than I'm a moron." Erin said going to get her soba bowl to finish it.
Hatori watched her finish her food happily while drying the dishes.
He walked over and grabbed her empty bowl.
"Now was that so hard?" He smirked.
"Maybe it was." She mumbled, but he pretended not to hear her.
He smiled as he finished cleaning up. They would be okay.
oooooooooooo
"So. I know we talked a lot yesterday. How are you doing?" The therapist asked.
"Um.. good I uh saw Hatori yesterday." She said playing with her hair nervously.
"Oh, and how was that." She asked.
"Well, not good at first. But we ate dinner together and it was nice. Although we did argue a bit. But I just don't know." She said staring at her feet.
"Don't know what?"
"I don't know. I just feel conflicted I guess. It's just frustrating. I can't seem to make up my mind and it's annoying. " Erin said frowning slightly.
"Well that's understandable. You've been through a lot." The therapist said writing more notes.
"Is it?" She asked.
Her therapist looked at her and smiled. "Erin. You have been through so much. You need to give yourself time. You're trying to rush your recovery time. You need to let yourself heal. It's going to be hard at first, but you'll get there."
Erin nodded thinking about what she had said. "You're right." Erin said nodding looking out the window.
"Did you walk here today?" Her therapist asked.
Erin looked at her questioningly. "No? Hatori drove me."
She nodded writing that down. "Just wondering."
Erin raised a brow confused. "Why?" She asked
Her therapist looked up from her notes. "Because when you came in you had a smile on your face. I've never seen you smile before. You love him don't you?" She asked.
Erin's face warmed. She thought about it. Of course she loved him. She never stopped loving him. But why was she conflicted? Why didn't she tell him she loved him? Has she just been afraid that Akito was right? And that if she told him, he would leave again?
A tear slipped from her eye. "Of course I do. I'm just scared." She said covering her face. "I'm afraid if I tell him that, he'll leave again." She said wiping her eyes.
Her therapist patted her hand. "That is scary. But I think you need to understand life is scary. There are a lot of uncertainties in the world. Sometimes we have to do the things that scare us. I think you should tell him how you feel. At least no matter what happens, he knows." She said.
Erin nodded. She knew what she had to do.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Hatori stood nervously outside the fancy room inside the main house.
He sighed remembering all the horrible memories he had within this opulent room. The main house was a beautiful prison. A prison he had been chained to his entire life.
However, he was free now. Free to make his own decisions. Free to have his own life.
He knew what he had to do.
He gathered all courage and walked in.
"Akito." Hatori said flatly bowing his head curtly.
She stood at the window and turned to look at him. "Hatori, you're here." She said in a quiet voice.
Hatori walked up to her. Was she always this small and frail? When he was cursed she seemed so big and powerful. Every word she said would give him chills. And she seemed like an outer worldly being that he would do anything for. He would've died for her if he had too.
However, now that he wasn't cursed he realized how strange that was. Looking at her now he realized there wasn't anything special about her. She was small and had dark circles under her eyes. What did he find so intimidating about her before?
Anger flickered within him. She was the one who blinded him and hurt Erin. It wasn't his fault. Years had gone by since his injury and he didn't know who to blame. He blamed himself for all those years.
With the shackles gone and his mind clear he knew exactly who to blame, and it wasn't himself.
It was all Akito's fault.
He inhaled and bit back his anger. He wasn't here to fight.
"Akito. I need to talk with you." He said sternly.
Her face fell slightly. "I'm sure you do." She said looking back out the window.
"I have been thinking a lot about forgiveness. Some people would probably think after what happened, I shouldn't ever forgive you." He said matter of factly. "But, forgiveness Is a gift someone gives to themselves. And that's what I want. I have lived so long within the dark world of the Sohma's. I don't want to continue to live in that darkness as I go forward. So, I forgive you Akito. For everything." He said.
Akito looked at him surprised. "You really mean that?" She asked.
He nodded. Akito looked into Hatori's eyes and noticed that sickeningly familiar distant look. The same look Kureno had after his curse broke, and she knew his heart was somewhere else.
"My whole life I have been caged here. It's suffocating. It's time for me to leave. I can't stay here anymore. I need to go out and have my own life." He deadpanned.
Akito furrowed her brows. "Where will you go?" She said still not looking at him.
"I don't know." He said simply.
"You're taking Erin with you." She said plainly. It wasn't a question. It wasn't really an accusation either.
Hatori looked at her and they finally made eye contact.
"If that is what she wants." He said curtly.
Akito thought about that and clenched her fists. Hatori could feel the tension between them.
Akito unclenched her fists and nodded. "Fine. Do as you please." She said walking away from the window.
He bowed his head and started to leave.
"Hatori." She said.
He stopped but didn't look back.
"I'm sorry. For everything." She said quietly.
Hatori nodded and walked out.
"Hatori! Hold me!"
Akito's small voice ripped through his memories, as a single tear fell down his face.
He wiped it away and went back to his home. He knew what he had to do.
He picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number. It rang twice and then was finally answered.
"Hello?" Yanagi's cheerful voice answered.
"Yanagi-san, it's Hatori Sohma." He said sitting at his desk.
"Hatori! What's up? It's been a while, but I'm not scheduled to do your run for another week or so." He started but Hatori interjected.
"I'm not calling about that. I wanted to ask you something." Hatori started tapping his fingers on the desk. "I'm leaving the Sohma house. I won't be the family doctor any longer. I'm traveling for a bit but when I come back, I want to open my own practice. I don't know where or when or even how I will do it, but I will. And when I do I'll need to work with someone I trust." He said.
"You want to take me on as your assistant?" Yanagi asked. Hatori could hear the surprise in his voice.
"Yes. I do. If you're up for it when the time comes." Hatori said.
"Of course! Of course I'll be here when you need me!" He exclaimed happily.
Hatori smirked. "Don't make me regret this." He chuckled. "I'll talk to you in a few weeks." He said hanging up the phone.
Hatori leaned back on his chair and smiled. "Possibilities." Was all he said before grabbing his keys and walking out to get Erin.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Erin gathered her things quickly and ran out of the therapist's office. She had to tell Hatori how she felt. Before he thought she didn't love him.
She ran out and saw him as he always was. Leaning against his car waiting for her patiently.
He looked at her and smiled as she ran to him. She collided with him so hard it almost knocked him over.
"Careful." He laughed hugging her back.
"I love you! Okay?!" She exclaimed as she held him tight. "I'm sorry. I'm so stupid. I was afraid to tell you because I believed what Akito said. That you didn't love me. And I was afraid if I told you that I loved you, you would leave me again. And I don't want you to leave me!" She cried.
Hatori's heart ached at the sound of her crying. He never wanted her to cry.
"You shouldn't make assumptions like that, and believe those lies." He said tilting her head up with his thumb. "I love you. And I swear I will never leave you again." He said staring into her eyes.
He suddenly couldn't take the distance between them any more and pulled her into a kiss. He reveled in the way her soft lips moved with his.
He pulled away to see her pink cheeks and the familiar freckles dusted across her cheeks from the summer sun.
"I have something I want to talk to you about. Would you like to come to dinner with me?" He asked.
Erin smiled and nodded. Hatori extended his hand. "There's a nice place up the block. It's a nice evening. Would you like to walk?" He asked smiling
She grabbed his hand and they started to walk.
"So what do you wanna talk about?" Erin asked swinging their arms back and forth.
"Well that's the thing. It's complicated." He said.
He felt her grip tighten on his hand. "A good kind of complicated." He placated her.
She nodded trying to figure out what complicated discussion could be good.
They got to the restaurant and sat outside.
"Are you gonna let me order for myself this time?" Erin questioned. And Hatori laughed.
As they waited for their food Erin grew more curious about what he wanted to talk about.
"Soooo, what's so complicated?" She asked.
Hatori took a sip of his saki he ordered and thought for a moment.
"I'm leaving the Sohma house." He said matter of factly.
Erin looked at him confused. "Where are you going?"
He shrugged. "I want to leave here I want to travel. See the world. I've been trapped in the cage of the Sohma house my whole life. I've never been anywhere." He started. "I also want to open my own clinic one day. Help more people. And now I'm no longer cursed, so I'm free to make my own choices."
Erin thought about what he said. She thought about him leaving. She could see him traveling. And she could understand him wanting to go somewhere else to live. But what about-
"But wait! What about me? You said you weren't gonna leave me!" She exclaimed suddenly.
Hatori smiled. "I know. I wasn't planning on leaving you behind. That's why I need to talk to you." He chuckled.
Erin paused. "Wait you want to take me with you?"
He nodded. "Of course. I wanted to talk to you about it. I know you just got rekindled with your family again." He said. "But, I would like for you to come with me."
"I don't know..." Erin said. Moving far away from one of the only homes she's ever known? Even if it wasn't a good home, she was still familiar with it.
"Well think about it and let me know okay?" He said smiling.
Erin paused. "No, I wanna go. It's a little scary, going far away. But I wanna be with you. Besides it'll be fun!" She said smiling.
"Are you sure? I don't want you to regret it." He said concerned.
"I could never regret being with you." She said seriously, holding his hand.
Hatori tried to control the amount of butterflies that fluttered through his chest.
"Well than it's settled." He said smiling. It was such an amazing feeling to be planning for the future and having possibilities.
He couldn't wait for his life to finally begin.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
2 weeks later
Erin sat on the suitcase trying to compress it enough to zipper it shut.
"Ugh this dumb thing." She grumbled finally getting it to shut.
Her and Hatori were leaving tomorrow morning. Tonight she was going over there. So, she would never return to her aunt's house. She stared at her old room all packed up. She wouldn't miss it. Too many bad memories, but the empty room filled her with a tiny bit of sadness.
She started trying to lift her heavy suitcase down the stairs but was having difficulties.
"Erin, let me get that." Jirou said helping her carry the heavy case down the stairs. "Look. If you need anything or anything happens just call me or Mitsuki." He said seriously.
"Jirou I'll be fine. You worry too much." Erin said laughing.
"No, I worry just enough." He said plopping the bag down.
Erin rolled her eyes and smiled. "Just like an older brother would. Oh, I forgot something upstairs. Be right back." She went back up stairs and Jirou could feel his face warm. She said he acted like an older brother.
He smiled. Even though his happiness was short lived as he heard a knock on the door. He sighed he knew who is was.
Jirou opened it up and frowned at the sight of the tall doctor. "Hatori." Jirou said curtly.
Hatori smiled and greeted him politely walking in.
"She said she forgot something. She's upstairs." Jirou said matter of factly crossing his arms.
"Before she comes back down I need to tell you something." Hatori said looking over at Jirou.
"And what could that be?" He asked looking at Hatori.
"I wanted to thank you for doing what I couldn't. You watched over her while I was gone. Thank you. I promise you won't have to worry about her going forward. I'll take good care of her." Hatori said bowing his head.
Jirou was surprised at him thanking him. He sighed and rested and hand on Hatori's shoulder.
"Well, you have plenty of time to make up for it." Jirou said with a small smile, that Hatori returned.
"I got it! Sorry, I think that's the last thing I need-" Erin started until she noticed Hatori standing in the room. "Oh, hey. I didn't see you there." She said tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.
"Erin! You better not be leaving without saying goodbye!" Mitsuki yelled from upstairs.
"I'm not!" Erin yelled back smiling.
Mitsuki ran down and gave her a big hug. "I'll miss you! So much!"
Erin smiled and hugged her back. "I'll miss you too. But don't worry I'll be back." She placated.
Hatori watched Erin talk to her aunt and cousins. He smiled. He was so happy she rekindled her relationship with her family. He remembered how she always used to get so scared to talk about them.
"Hatori, you better take good care of her. I will be checking up on her." Mitsuki said sternly.
Hatori smiled. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of her. I promise."
As Erin gave them her last hugs and goodbyes, she suddenly seemed to remember something.
"My bag! I forgot it up stairs!" She said running back up the stairs. He heard rummaging from upstairs as she looked.
He looked at the floor and noticed the small bag she was looking for already down here. She must've forgot she brought it down. He frowned slightly. He would have to check her paper work from the hospital about her concussion.
He walked towards the stairs. "Erin, it's already down here." He called.
"Really?" She asked running back down the stairs and spotting the bag. She sighed. "I'm such an idiot."
After Hatori made sure she had everything, he put her things in his trunk.
She waved one last goodbye and they drove off.
"I know you think I'm stupid and forgetful." Erin sighed straightening out the wrinkles in her dress.
"I have never thought you were stupid. Ever. Don't say that. I'm just a little worried about you is all." He said sternly.
"You're always worried. You worry like it's your job." Erin sighed.
"It is my job." He said looking over at her.
She smiled. "I guess it is. Anyway, we heading to your house?" She asked.
"Actually we're going to Shigure's. They miss you." He said with a smile.
Erin smiled. She hadn't seen them in so long. When they arrived Erin raced up the stairs outside Shigure's house.
When she got there she saw everyone outside. "Erin!" Momiji yelled excitedly running towards her. He hugged her tight and Erin hugged him back. "I missed you so much!" Momiji said happily.
Erin felt someone pat her head. She looked up to see Shigure. "Glad to see you're alright." He said with a smile.
Tohru ran up to her excitedly and gave her a hug as well. Yuki smiled at her and even Kyo looked happy to see her.
"I'm cooking a really big dinner in celebration!" Tohru said happily.
"Celebration of what?" She asked.
"You and Tori's love of course!" Ayame said coming outside. He grabbed her hands. "Don't worry Erin! When you and Tori get married I will make you the most beautiful wedding dress ever!" He exclaimed.
Erin's face turned beet red. "Oh... I...uh.." she stuttered.
"Ayame, don't overwhelm her." Hatori sighed trying to reign in his erratic cousin.
"Oh Tori, but wouldn't she look just breathtaking?" Ayame said. He glanced at Erin and smiled, while he sat down on the porch.
"Food's ready!" Tohru said happily.
Everyone ate happily and engaged in conversation. Erin laughed and smiled and realized how much she had missed all of them. She was reminded of the day she first got here not too long ago. That cold night where she thought all hope was lost. Little did she know she would find it here, with Hatori.
She remembered waking up in Tohru's room with Shigure and Hatori staring at her and how freaked out she was. She chuckled at the memory.
She looked over at Hatori talking with Ayame and Shigure. She smiled. He looked so carefree. He didn't look in pain anymore. He glanced over at her and they made eye contact. He smiled at her and mouthed 'I love you'. She smiled and mouthed it back, as Tohru sat next to her.
"They're free." Erin said and Tohru smiled and patted her hand. "Yes. They are."
"I got sparklers!" Momiji yelled happily as the sun set and the stars came out. Erin watched everyone excitedly light them and wave them around. She smiled.
"Here. Don't want to miss out on the fun." A familiar voice said. She looked up to see Hatori holding a sparkler.
She grabbed it and smiled. "I've never done a sparkler before."
"I've only done it once or twice as a child. They're easy you just light it and watch." Hatori said taking out his lighter and lighting the tip of of it.
Erin gasped when the gold sparkly light bursted form the top.
She looked up at Hatori. Her beautiful face illuminated by the golden glow of the sparkler. He knelt down beside her and held her hand.
"Thank you Erin. For everything." He said softly. She blushed and smiled at him. "I didn't do anything that requires thanks." She laughed.
He shook his head. "Yes you did. You saved me."
Butterflies raced through Erin as he kissed her hand.
Erin looked up at the stars then back to Hatori's face. She reveled in how perfect he was and how the sparkler light shone against his blue violet eyes.
She leaned in and kissed him. When she pulled away he smiled and she smiled back. "Hey Hatori?" She asked looking back at the stars.
"Yes?" He answered.
She squeezed his hand. "We'll always be together right?" She asked looking back to him.
He smiled at the innocent question and squeezed her hand back. He leaned in close to her as the sparkler light faded. Just as it went out he whispered,
"Always."
The End
O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O
Okay! That's it! The final chapter! I told you it would be long lol. I could've broken it up into two chapters but I didn't want to break it up.
I will post eventually little one shots I have wrote about them in the future for an epilogue. But this is the last chapter of the main story.
I hope everyone enjoyed! It seems surreal that it's complete. I've been working on this idea for years lol
Thank you to everyone who has been following this story and supported me with all your comments. It means the world to me. And thank you to everyone who reads this.
I love you guys and thanks for coming on this journey with me!!