Minami felt useless, yes that was one way to look at her current… feelings. She had hoped that she'd be able to do something either than just have a mental breakdown looking at Rin but she didn't.

Whether it was embarrassment of having to call Hatori for help, although she was very grateful for his appearance, or just being not enough. She had hoped she'd be able to ignore Rin, no matter how selfish of a request… or a hope it was.

Rin and Akito were some of the hardest for her to associate with, Akito was strange to say the least and Rin… well… she was Rin. Her mind raced as she thought about the plot, how Rin was important, the friendship that she knew she needed. It wasn't until she heard yelling upstairs… did she act.

"NO WAY."

Minami felt her feet carry her before she even thought about what she was doing and immediately wrapped her arms around Rin's body as she tripped to jump out the window. Rin entire body froze and there was silence.

She looked back at Minami, who hadn't even noticed how tall her actually was. Her long black hair flowing beautifully behind her face, she looked like a princess.

They stared at each other and Hatori, whose hand was wrapped around Minami's waist tightly in case she fell out of the window, placed a hand on Rin's stiff shoulder and pulled gently away. Rin kept her dark eyes locked on Minami, she felt the tension in the room rise almost suffocating her.

"Rin.. Don't you think it's time you were able to at least take care of your own physical wellbeing?" Shigure said, making them snap out of their trace, Minami looked over at him, his face still calm and unbothered; he didn't even bother to stop Rin from jumping. "If you don't want to have anything to do with other people that much. It's pretty essential. That way, we wouldn't end up getting caught up in things either."

Rin looked away from all of them and took a seat on the bed.

Distant but calm.

Minami was led out of the room and downstairs, feeling conflicted.

"I'll come back again.. Tomorrow. If we make a big deal of things, she very well might jump out the window." Hatori said, his hand still wrapped around her waist, increasing in pressure. She noticed his eyes flicker toward her but didn't have the emotional stability to say anything.

"True.. If we try to force her to go to the hospital now, it may actually make things worse. Well, if she has that much energy, she's probably alright for now?"

Shigure bent down suddenly and was eye level with Minami. She stared into his eyes blankly.

"Hmm…" Shigure said, he looked like he was trying to solve a puzzle, Minami wished he would so she could know the answers too. He sighed and plastered a big smile on his face so suddenly that it startled her. "You two look like quite a pretty picture." His voice was almost sickly sweet as he went back to normal height. "Since Rin's in your bed, you should go stay with Hari~"

Minami felt her face go bright red and she immediately stepped back. "W-Wh-Wh—"

"Shigure.." Hatori said and fidgeted uncomfortably.

"I'm serious." Shigure said and his usual smile returned. "Unless, you want us to sleep together?" He let out a surprised gasp and hugged his body. "It's been so long, I'm out of practice—"

"We're leaving." Hatori said immediately and placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her out the door before he could continue.

But Shigure wasn't finished.

"Is Akito alright?" Shigure asked and Minami looked up at his cold face. "Will he be angry that you took the liberty to come out here?"

"... I still have an excuse." Hatori said and the atmosphere shifted, calm. Hatori tried to place a cigarette in his mouth but Minami took it away, he was unbothered.

"Sweeting him up is quite the ordeal." Shigure said as he looked forward, his face looking somewhere.

"She came.. To see you didn't she? Isuzu…" Hatori said and they walked down the stairs, Minami still in front.

"... That's right. For some reason she's really desperate. She's trying to find a way to break the curse by herself."

Hatori froze and Minami would've laughed if it wasn't for the situation, the surprised look on his face was priceless. "... Seriously?"

"So it seems, she suspects that I know how and comes here from time to time." Shigure glanced at her for a split second.

"That's … ridiculous…" Hatori said, his eyes distance, somewhere far away

"That's right… It's 'ridiculous', but is it really?" Shigure said, his voice mysterious. "Hatori… Can you not hear it?"

"What?"

Shigure smiled and Minami felt her heart freeze at his expression. "The sound of something breaking."

"What're you doing?" A familiar voice asked and Minami looked up.

"Oya? Kyo, welcome back." Shigure said his face was normal.

"Why're Hatori.. Is someone sick? And where's Minami going?" Kyo asked, his eyes flickered suspiciously at the trio.

"No no Rin's just staying over for a bit is all." Shigure said and quickly pushed Minami and Hatori away as Kyo began to ask more questions and started to yell at Shigure.

Hatori seemed lost in thought as they walked along the road. It wasn't until she felt a weight on her head did she pause. Minami paused, turned around, and suddenly his forehead was on her's. She looked at him confused until he cupped her cheeks.

He leaned in for a moment and she felt panic on all sides until he pulled her cheeks.

"Ow!" She yelled and smacked his hands away. She rubbed her cheeks in pain and was about to yell at him again until his fingers locked with her right hand and pulled her towards the side of his chest and walked forward. Minami placed a hand on her head and looked down as he looked at her.

"I…" Hatori started and she looked at him, his eyes softened and she felt her heart skip a beat as she noticed his expression, but this time it was much different than Shigure's. It made her feel as though she was in a deep. "I… wonder if it's alright for me to hope… that one day… It will break…"

"What would you do if it did?" Minami asked in a quiet voice, barely above a whisper.

He glanced down at her and then away. A soft smile on his face. "Something…." he trailed off and he whispered something that she couldn't hear and looked back at her and pulled her closer.

Minami did feel like she was in a dream sometimes.

Because she didn't think someone would look at her in such a way.

A look of pure adoration.

"Hatori.." Minami said and they paused.

"What?"

"Um… where am I staying?"

He blinked once.

Then twice.

Then one more time.

"Isn't it obvious?" He asked and she felt as her heartbeat in her ear she held her breath.

"N-No." She said.

He hummed and kept walking, dragging her along.

Minami was sure she was going to go into cardiac arrest as they continued walking along the streets.

Into the Sohma Estate.

In front of a door.

Yep this was a dream.

"You k-know, I th-think I-I'll just g-go to my grandfathers—" Minami started and was about to turn away when pulled her in front of him, eye-to-ey

"Don't be nervous." He said.

"W-What?"

"It's your first time right?"

"W—"

He opened the door.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She heard a snarky, familiar voice ask.

Minami immediately did a one-eighty and noticed that Hiro was standing in front of the door.

"She needs a place to stay for the night." Hatori said easily and she felt her jaw drop. "I already told your mother a few hours ago."

"W—"

"Mom! Hatori's here!" Hiro yelled and ran into the house.

It was quiet again.

"Wh-Why are we at Hiro's?" Minami asked quickly and he looked down at her confused.

"Where else would we go?" He asked.

"I thought— this isn't — but you—" Minami started to say but couldn't get the words right. "Why did you say 'it's your first time right?' "

"It's your first time being over Hiro's." Hatori said easily. "What else would I have meant?" Suddenly his eyes drifted off and he covered his hand with his face.

"Hatori—" Minami went to say but he waved his hand and she didn't speak.

It took her a moment to notice how red his neck and face had turned.

"Minami-chan nice to meet you!" A happy voice said making both of them jump and Minami looked back to see a woman of average build and height but with a very youthful face. Her eyes were light-green and round with long, wavy light colored hair which reached down to her upper back. She wore a simple long dress with frills, a tiny baby bump could be seen. She gave her a big hug and grabbed her back. "Come in! Come in! Tori-kun, are you coming in too?"

Hatori took a deep breath. "I have to go see Akito but I still have a few words left to say to Minami." He said calmly without missing a beat though his face was noticeably red.

"Sure thing, take your time, I'll leave the door unlocked!" She skipped into the house and closed the door.

S.I.L.E.N.C.E.

Minami looked hesitantly over at Hatori, who was currently patting down his head, looking away from her.

"Er… Sorry…" Minami said, embarrassed.

"You don't have anything to apologize for." He said evenly, his face back to normal, though he did glance away for a moment. "I apologize."

"No no!" Minami said quickly. "It was just a misunderstanding!"

"I just…" Hatori said and looked at her, scratching his nose. "We're not…. Officially…" He trailed off. They stared at each other expectantly.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Dot

Dot

Dot

"...d-dating?" Minami asked and he looked embarrassed and nodded.

"..."

"Just get married already." Hiro said making both of them flinch in shock.

"Hiro!" Minami yelled and chased him into the house but paused and looked back at Hatori, a peaceful smile on his face.

"Not yet." He said and she blushed.

"When?" Minami asked.

"..." Hatori paused and walked forward and placed a present in her hand. "Happy Birthday." He then walked away.

She didn't even tell him… How did he… Hana.

Minami blinked as she stared at the box and closed the door.

She opened up the present.

It was a small square box, with a message on the front of it.

'Ask me in 4 years.'

Minami opened the box and saw earrings in the shape of roses made out of rose quartz.

"What a romantic." Satsuki Sohma, Hiro's mother, said amused.

"Yes… He is isn't he?"

A/N: We miss our favorite couple, there hasn't been enough moments for them, our slow burner they're so cute together.

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