"Tohru, who was that?" Akane asked as she saw Tohru holding up the phone with a confused face.
"A-Aka nee-chan!" Tohru squealed in surprise as she almost dropped the phone. Thankfully, she caught it and put it back to the phone holder.
"Tohru..." Akane squinted her eyes as she saw Tohru gulp and sweat. "Are you hiding something from me?"
"N-no!"
"Then... Who was that?" Akane took a step closer. She raised her eyebrow as Tohru took a step back in retaliatioin.
"It-it's... Um..." Tohru contemplated telling Akane. Akane just waited for an answer. Tohru gulped again and took a deep breath.
"It was H-Hatori-san..." She whispered as she trailed off.
"Hatori? What did he want?" Akane crossed her arms.
"Uh... He wanted for me to get to... The Sohma estate."
"Why?"
"Um... I don't know... H-he asked me to keep it confidential. He said it was something important..." Tohru tried to laugh it off.
"Hm... Okay, that doesn't sound fishy at all, Tohru."
"Hahaha..." Tohru went silent after her awkward laugh. Akane stayed silent, analyzing.
"When will you go?"
"He said when I'm available... Maybe soon?"
"Okay."
Tohru let out a relieved breath that she was holding.
"I'll go instead of you."
Akane stood in front of the big Sohma estate entrance. She was wearing a warm, beige coat jacket and a red scarf that Tohru bought for her. It was already winter and the weather was cold. Even if Akane loved winter... Her body can't handle cold weather.
"Damn, this place is big- Ah choo!" Akane sneezed.
"Bless you~!" Momiji appeared out of nowhere. Akane looked up to the voice while rubbing her now red nose. Momiji was up on the roof, waving at her.
"Akane! I missed you!" He smiled happily.
"Momiji, get down from there, it's dangerous!" Akane scolded worriedly. Momiji gave a laugh and went down. The door to the estate opened after.
"Welcome to the Sohma estate!" He held out his arm to the estate. "I thought Tohru was coming?" He asked curiously.
"Yeah, no... I went instead of her." Akane replied as she patted Momiji's head. Momiji gave a curious look.
"So, Hatori is a doctor right? I needed some medication for my flu- Ah choo!" In cue, she sneezed and rubbed her nose again. "-Which always comes every time the weather get's cold." Plus, I needed a few answers... She didn't tell him the last part.
"I see! Well, the house is this way!" Momiji then began to lead her to the estate, walking in front of her.
"Momiji, come here." Akane gave a little smile. Momiji complied. Akane held out her hand for him to take. Momiji curiously looked back and forth between her hand and her red face (and red nose) from the cold, then gave a blinding smile as he happily took her hand and swung it as they walked.
Cute!
Hatori Sohma wasn't expecting Akane Honda to come instead of her sister, Tohru Honda while holding Momiji's hand. Her face looked flushed, nose red probably from rubbing it from the cold.
"Thank you for coming. I thought I requested Tohru Honda's presence?" Hatori politely welcomed as Akane breathed after the long walk. A little fog came out of her mouth. She must be cold, considering she only wore a coat, a scarf, and boots for protection from the weather.
"Yeah, no... I needed something from you, that's why I volunteered instead." She huffed.
"Well, come in. Momiji, give her something to drink." Hatori turned around and walked.
Akane gave the hand that Momiji has been holding a squeeze, then patted his head. Momiji smiled.
Akane walked inside and took in Hatori's office. It looked like a mini hospital. It was tidy, and seems very formal. The natural lighting from outside lit the room naturally. The one thing that seems out of place was the picture of a woman on his desk...
Momiji came in not long after with tea and the three of them got talking.
Akane took a sip of her tea. It was warm... unlike the cold. She gave out a content sigh.
"Do you perhaps work here, Hatori-san?" Akane asked and took another sip of the warm tea. Momiji was opposite of her, hugging a pillow while Hatori was standing with his hands on his lab coat pockets.
"Yes. I'm the Sohma family physician, and I only tend to the family members. Actually, half of my work is looking after Akito." Hatori turned around and looked outside.
Akito. He's sick then. "Constantly getting sick is his specialty." What is he sick with?
"Also, all the Sohmas are busy today, so nobody's coming in for their check-up." Momiji explained further, "They're all preparing for New Year's! It's a big event! The outside people are helping us too, not just the inside ones."
Akane's deductions turned out to be correct as Momiji further explained the inside-outside Sohmas.
Why was Shigure and Yuki inside and Kyo outside though?
"In other words, the ones that know about the secret of the Zodiac are very few, even among the Sohmas. The fact that a complete stranger like you and your sister knows about it is outrageous." Hatori explained further as he went to sit at his desk that had the picture of the woman on.
"Ordinarily, I would've suppressed your memory at once," Akane's eyes widened at this. He had the power to do this? Did Tohru know? Was he going to erase Tohru's memories if she came here?
"...But Akito didn't give that order, and even allowed both of you to live with them." But why? What was Akito's reasoning and ulterior motive?
"Are you enjoying living in Shigure's house?" He asked.
"Yeah. It's not bad-" Akane smiled but got cut off by Hatori.
"I suggest that you leave right away."
"Excuse me?"
"Stop mingling with the Sohmas. Our possessed family is not as fun as you think it is." Who is he to-
"We're monstrous, insidious. And we're cursed. Leave now, before you both regret ever crossing roads with the Sohmas."
"Why?" She whispered, eyebrows scrunching. Momiji looked down with a sad look on his face. Akane's heart panged. It's just a curse!
"Akito's trying to use you both."
Akane was out of words. Just as she wanted to answer, the doorbell rang and Hatori got up and excused himself.
Just as Akane was about to ask Momiji, he talked first. "Hari... He's almost blind in his left eye." Akane's eyes widened.
"Hari had a girlfriend..."
Momiji's story was a lot on Akane's mind. How could Akito command Hatori to erase Kana's memories? Was she hypnotized? Didn't it hurt? Losing someone you love...? Akane thought back to her mother. She used to wish that she could erase the memory of the night her mother died. But there is no use to it... She had already passed on. What was left was only regret.
Akane took a deep breath and sat down next to Momiji on the porch. Akane put her arm around Momiji's shoulder and leaned him over to her shoulders. She leaned her head on his, comforting him.
"Hari doesn't want anyone else to share Kana's fate. He doesn't want you to get hurt like Kana did."
Akane sighed.
"Momiji... Is this a Sohma thing?" At that question, Momiji looked up to Akane.
"Do you all push away people because you don't want them to be hurt? To protect them?" Momiji didn't answer. "All because of this curse. Even erasing people's memories must hurt for Hatori-san." Akane looked out into the garden.
"You know, I regret pushing people away..." Her mom. "I regret it 'till this day. Doesn't it feel lonely for you, Momiji? When you push people away just because of this curse you all have?"
"It does..."
"Then why don't we break it?" Akane said with a declaring voice. "Akito's using me and Tohru anyways. Even though he said that, and we could be gone from your lives one day if he ever made the command to erase our memories..."
Akane turned to Momiji with a warm smile.
"I will try to break the Sohma curse that you all bear. I will make you all free from the chains of the curse, and then you all can fly free from the binding loneliness that you all have felt throughout your lives. You don't have to push your loved ones away. Don't push me away, Momiji. I haven't known you for so long, but I know you're a nice boy and you feel lonely sometimes. And when you do... You can come to me, and ask me anything, and I will still be here for you." Akane declared with a proud voice.
"B-but!" Momiji's eyes watered.
"And when you are all free... I will give you all the warmest, purest, loveliest hug that you all will ever experience!" Akane giggled and ruffled Momiji's hair lovingly.
"B-but as I would love that... Aka nee-chan! If you do that... Your memories would get erased... I don't want your memories to be erased!" Momiji's tears starts to go down his cheeks.
"Momiji, remember this... Even if your mind forgets..." Akane touched Momiji's forehead, then her hand went down to erase Momiji's tears. His breath hitched, and her hand went lower.
"The heart... The heart won't forget how it feels. How I feel when you Sohma's helped me and my sister's life and turned it around to the better. I'm grateful of all of you. I'm grateful to you too, Momiji. I'm glad I met you, Momiji. Let me stay by your side. I will help you all break the curse." Akane earnestly declared. Momiji wailed then went and hugged Akane. A cloud of smoke and a poof, Momiji turned into the yellow Rabbit. Akane held him in her arms and gave him a tight hug. She petted his fur as the little Rabbit trembled in her arms.
"Ah-Choo!" Akane sneezed.
"Bless you!" Shigure's playful voice replied.
"Shigure..." "Shi-chan!"
"Ugh... Why are you here?" Akane rubbed her now red nose. The weather was so cold...
"It's because of my intuition, Akane-chan!" Shigure did a cool pose, "We novelists must have a sharp sixth sense!"
Akane deadpanned. "Did you coerce Tohru in telling you?"
"He's lying. He's just here to check on the New Year preparations." Hatori countered.
"Oh my. Common folk always envy us geniuses, eh?" Shigure gloated.
"Hey, you stop that..." Hatori deadpanned.
Momiji turned back with another poof, and Akane helped him put his clothes back on.
"They are actually best friends, don't you know?" Momiji smiled.
"How could Hatori stand Shigure..." Akane mumbled as she tied Momiji's bow.
"Hatori. You're gonna get bald if you keep worrying to much. As I've often told you, Akito doesn't mean to harm Akane-chan and Tohru-kun, and still you won't believe me." Shigure gloated. "And now you've scared her. What if she actually moves out?"
"Stupid dog!" Akane karate chopped Shigure on the head.
"Ouch!" Shigure rubbed his aching head.
"Why are you berating him for telling me Akito's using me? I don't care. If you're using me to break your curse. I'll help." She crossed her arms, "And speaking of using, aren't you the one who's 'using' me and Tohru for labor!?" Her voice raised in the end part.
"Ahahahaha..."
"You- Ah Choo!" Akane bent down at the loud sneeze.
"Sorry, I don't get along with cold weather. Also, don't even think about pushing me away, you-"
"Oh right. I'll give this to you before I forget." Akane felt a thump on her head as she rubbed her nose. She looked up and took the thing. It was the camera Hatori used to take the sneaky picture of Kyo and Yuki.
"It's the camera I used at the Festival." He confirmed.
"I guess this was the original reason you wanted Tohru to come huh?" Akane chuckled. "I bet you didn't tell her that specifically and scared her into coming here instead."
This guy...
"Also, Shigure told me about your flu." Oh yeah, she totally forgot about that... "Here, take them twice a day after eating and wear warm clothes." Hatori explained as he gave a little medicine bag to Akane.
"Thank you. The weather's starting to get to me, and my goal in coming here was actually for this and ask about Akito."
"Come to think of it, you were actually going to meet Akito." Hatori said.
"It's okay, I can actually meet him next time." Akane brushed it off and looked at him up and down.
"Hm... Just what zodiac are you, Hatori-san?" She asked curiously.
"Good question! This is going to be hilarious!" Shigure laughed hard.
"I'll tell the publishers about every single embarrassing thing you've done since you were four." Hatori threatened.
"I'm sorry, I can't." Shigure gave out.
"Well... If I can guess it correctly, can you tell those 'every single embarrassing thing Shigure has done since he was four' to me instead?" Akane jokingly offered.
"Hahaha, you will not guess it, Akane-chan!" Shigure laughed at her.
"Is that a challenge?" She smirked.
"You won't win." Shigure challenged back.
"Bet?" Akane held out her hand for Shigure to shake.
"Bet." Shigure shook it.
"Yay. Are you the dragon?" She turned to Hatori as she still held Shigure's hand. She felt it twitch and her smirk got even wider. Hatori just stayed silent, amused.
"I'm right, aren't I?' She turned back to Shigure just as he was going to run away. She squeezed her hand harder and Shigure flinched.
She leaned closer to Shigure's ear. "Pay up, dog." She purred. Shigure fell down to the floor theatrically, chanting "Not 'every single embarrassing thing I have done since I was four'..." and "Evil Akane..."
Akane gave a laugh at her win. Having leverage on Shigure felt great!
"I'm sorry about today." Hatori apologized suddenly. Akane stopped laughing and tilted her head curiously.
"Seems like I always end up making others cry." His eyes darted to Momiji, and Akane's eyes followed. Momiji had tear strains on his cheeks. Akane softly smiled and wiped them again.
"It was me who made him cry, not you." Akane said softly. "I'm sorry, Momiji. I didn't meant to."
"It's fine, Aka nee-chan!" He said with a smile. Akane smiled back. A smile looked better on his face than his tears.
"And also..." Akane turned back to Hatori, dropping her hand.
"I can't cry." She whispered with a pained face.
The three Sohma's stayed silent at that.
"Okay, Akane-chan. I'll stay here and take a peek at the New Year's preparations." Shigure said.
"And I have my traditional dance practice!" Momiji smiled.
"You dance?" Akane asked curiously.
"It's sort of a family tradition for New Year's." Shigure explained. He then turned to Hatori, and with a serious voice, he said: "Hatori, please don't do anything naughty to Akane-chan, okay?"
"Stupid dog!" Akane bonked his head again with a karate chop. Shigure has tears on his face and tearfully said "Evil Akane..." again.
"Let's go." Hatori ignored Shigure and walked first.
"Yeah."
"Momiji." She stood in front of the boy and kissed his forehead, surprising him. "See you soon!" She ruffled his hair and catched up with Hatori.
"Bis bald!"
"See you!" Akane chuckled, seeing Momiji's flushed face.
Akane and Hatori walked quietly with Akane occasionally sniffing and rubbing her nose. She then eyed Hatori from the side curiously.
"So, since you're best friends with Shigure..."
"'Best friends'?" He deadpanned.
"You aren't?" Akane gasped. The two seemed close.
"We just happen to know each other well." Hatori simply replied.
"I see..." Akane droned off, thinking. "So what embarassing thing-"
"Hey, watch your step."
"Ah!"
"Be careful!"
Hatori caught Akane just before she fell, and Akane sneezed.
"Hatori-san! Are you okay- What? I thought he was going to change into a big dragon." Akane said disappointedly as she saw the little seahorse.
"But I guess, a little seahorse isn't so bad." She chuckled as she took seahorse Hatori and cradled him using his clothes.
"Plus, he looks cute in this form..." She rubbed the seahorse's cheek with her pointer finger softly. Then she flinched.
"...I forgot you all can still hear me in your zodiac forms. Sorry..." She retracted her finger.
"Now, let's get you to water... Salt? or Freshwater?" She contemplated.
Akane was strangely calm.
"I hope you're not cold..." she cradled seahorse Hatori closer to her chest, bringing him to her body heat. He kept listening to her rambling a few of her thoughts as she searched for water.
"This Sohma estate is so big. Ugh..." She complained.
"Must be hell having this curse, huh? I'll break it. I'll help you all break it..." Was the last voice he heard before he passed out.
Hatori wake up lying down on a bench when he felt his clothes move.
"Oh? You're awake." Akane smiled as she buttoned up his shirt.
"I'm cold."
"You transformed... Then when I went to look for water, you transformed back. Thankfully we were near the bench." Akane explained.
He then sat up, and he saw a scarf fell from near his feet. Seeing his eyes wander, Akane meekly said, "Uh... I forgot your shoes. I dressed you up so you won't get cold when you wake up, I can't put your pants on because... You know... And I don't want your legs to freeze up so... Ah choo!" Akane sneezed.
"So, did you see it?"
"Uh... Which one?" Akane asked unsurely.
"My Zodiac form."
"Oh..." Akane gave a relieved sigh, "Yes, I did."
Hatori gave a loud sigh. Akane chuckled.
"I never thought that the Dragon Zodiac would turn into a cute little seahorse."
Hatori turned and glared at her. Akane just gave a smile.
"I'll take your shoes. Wait here." She stood up and went back to the stairs where they both fell.
Akane gave out an occassional sneeze. She could just curse the weather. Did it just got colder? She sighed.
Akane found Hatori's shoes not long after and went back to the bench near the river. Her nose was almost red now from all of the nose-rubbing.
"Congratulations." She heard Hatori say to nothing.
"For what? Who are you talking to? Can you see ghosts or something?" She asked as she looked around. There was nobody there but the two of them.
"Oh, nothing really." He brushed it off.
Flecks of white fell from the sky and Akane looked up.
"Oh? It's snowing- Ah choo! No wonder it's so cold today. Damn weather." Akane sighed. She put her hands on her neck, trying to warm it up. She kept rubbing her hands back and forth.
"Hatori-san, thank you for taking the fall earlier. Oh, are you okay?" She noticed the faraway look on his face.
"I'm fine." He stood up, hands on his pockets. He walked to her side on the bridge porch.
"What do you think will happen when ice melts?" he asked suddenly.
"Hmm..." Akane put her hand on her chin and thought deeply.
"Logically, the answer would be 'it turns into water'. But since you were looking at the sky when you said that, I think what you meant was 'winter' in general. I think Tohru would answer it would turn into Spring. This shows how different we are in how we think, and we can't force anyone to think the same way as us... Spring would be another nice answer..." Akane trailed off, making Hatori look at her. She continued,
"If you want me to answer seriously... It will signify that the season will change. The animals that hibernate throughout the winter would come out and play in spring, enjoying their moments of freedom out of the cold. The changing season could mean that there's a new hope for the new season. How spring will bring them happiness, melting the ice and pain away." She smiled and held out her hand as snow fell on top.
"As much as I like the thought of of warm weather. I love winter. The white snow, magically falling down from the sky, piling up on the ground, melting when the season changes. I don't like the cold weather though. I'd rather be warm inside with my friends... and family instead. You know, hugging from the warmth of the body heat and affection, pulsing with happiness- Ah choo!" Akane sneezed.
She rubbed her nose again.
"Tsk. Damn weather." She rubbed her hands again, forgetting the tall figure next to her.
"Oh... Sorry. I tend to ramble when people ask me questions... Hehe." She scratched her head.
"Yeah... You're right." Hatori smiled knowingly.
"Huh, why are you smiling? And what am I right for- Ah choo!"
"I swear.. It's so cold today- Ah?" Akane stopped complaining as she felt Hatori wrapping her scarf on her neck.
"I told you to dress warmly." He explained plainly.
"...You weren't dressing warmly earlier too... Mr. Seahorse." She teased in retaliation.
"Hmph."
"Thanks, It feels warmer now." She tied her scarf closer, basking in the warmth.
"Thank you for accompanying me." Akane gave a bow.
"Sorry for troubling you."
"No, It's okay-"
"What? You're still here?" Shigure's voice was heard, cutting off Akane.
"Ugh, It's him again." Akane sighed.
"Hey Hatori, don't tell me you've been sexually harassing Akane-chan?" Shigure walked closer to them.
"Aren't you talking about yourself?" Akane deadpanned.
"See you." Hatori walked away.
"You still owe me Shigure's secrets!" She waved as he walked away.
"Akane!" Shigure whined.
Hatori gave a small wave back, not looking back at them.
"Ah choo!"
"Don't forget to drink the medicine that Hatori gave you, Akane-chan." Shigure teased.
"I know. I need to eat first then take it." She mumbled.
"Let's go~! I'm starving!" Shigure said happily as he started to walk.
"Me too."
A car engine was heard as Akane started to walk. She subconsciously turned to the car from curiosity. There was someone driving, and two people were on the back of the car. The one nearest to her was looking at her with sharp eyes. Why though?
"Akane-chan, what do you think we'll eat for dinner?" Shigure playfully asked.
"Shigure."
"Hm?"
"What's the 'curse'?" Akane asked straightforwardly.
Shigure's demeanor changed.
"I want to break it. Tell me, what is it? How can I break it?"
"I think it's to soon for you to know. Sorry." Shigure said with a soft voice.
"I hate those words. Why can't you just tell me now?" Akane angrily stepped closer to him.
"Don't you want to be free from the curse?"
Shigure stayed silent.
And with that, Akane proudly declared her resolve. Shigure smiled as he listened.
"Maybe she and Tohru will be the one to break our curse."
Night came, Shigure and Akane came home to see the three youngest occupants of the house sleeping in the kotatsu. She smiled at the sight. Tohru already prepared food and they were on the table, just waiting for them to be eaten. It seemed that the tree were waiting for them to come home so they could eat dinner together.
"Tohru, Yuki, Kyo... Wake up..." Akane shook them by the shoulder.
"Sorry for making you all wait for long. We're home now."
Home.
Currently, her home was the four occupants of Shigure's house.
Tohru, Shigure, Yuki, Kyo...
And after today, her home expanded for two more people...
Momiji...
Hatori.
The feel of her home expaning made her feel warm from the cold winter.
She thought back to her declaration to Shigure earlier...
"I will break the curse and free you all from those binds. Then I will give you all the hugs you haven't gotten all of your lives. You all don't need to push people away in fear of hurting them. You all deserve your own happiness. Just let me help. You all deserve to be happy."
Yes. She will break the curse.