Three Days Later:
"Sorry if I woke you. But good morning." Hatori calmly told Kohana, noticing that she was slowly waking up.
"D-D-Daddy?" Kohana stuttered, looking around, stretching a little.
"Last I knew, he went to get something to eat. Kyo and the others are all in school right now. Tohru was nice enough to pick up all your schoolwork you've missed. *Sigh…* You still have a fever." Hatori replied, feeling her forehead.
"Could you please lean forward a little?" Hatori asked after checking her pulse, blood pressure, and heart rate; it was now time to check her lungs.
Kohana did what Hatori asked, watching him the entire time.
"Give me a few deep breaths." Hatori calmly instructed, waiting for her.
Again, Kohana did what she was told to do.
Five Terrible Breaths Later:
"When was the last time a nurse checked on your breathing?" Hatori asked, watching Kohana.
"I d-d-don't n-n-n-know." Kohana honestly answered.
"When's the last time a nurse was in?" Hatori asked, watching Kohana.
"T-t-th-that I re-remember—l-l-last t-t-time I w-w-was uh-uh-uh-awake." Kohana managed to answer.
"*Sigh…* Ok… I'm going to have someone from radiology come get you for a chest X-ray. I'm thinking—with how bad your breathing is—now; you have pneumonia or something along those lines. I have other patients to see, so I will be by in a few hours to check up on you again. If I see your dad, I'll let him know. If you see him before I do, try to let him know what I told you." Hatori calmly but firmly told Kohana.
"H-H-Hatori?" Kohana softly asked before he could leave.
"Yes?" Hatori asked, turning back to look at her.
"H-h-h-how uh-uh-uh-are m-m-my k-k-kitties? Uh-uh-uh-are th-th-they ok?" Kohana asked, become upset.
Hatori didn't want to upset Kohana anymore than she already was, but he wasn't going to lie to her.
"Honestly, I don't know how the seven remaining cats are doing: your brother, Kyo, is taking care of them. From what I understand, two cats were dead upon arrival the night that man attacked. And two were later put to sleep to avoid any more suffering; they were severely hurt. I'm sorry: I do not know which cats are which." Hatori honestly explained, watching Kohana.
"D-d-d-do y-y-y-you th-th-th-think K-K-Kyo w-w-w-will b-b-b-bring p-p-p-pic-pictures?" Kohana horribly stuttered, struggling to breathe with tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Kohana, please calm down; you're going to hurt yourself. I will figure out how to get a message to Kyo to let him know you want to know. Besides, I'm sure he and Tohru will want to know their names because I think he's sick of calling them "Cats 1-7." And Tohru knows the cats' names, but she doesn't know who's who. You just rest. Everything will be ok. I have the other four wrapped up and in boxes, in a spare freezer. When you're ready to make a decision, I can have them cremated—or once you get out, we can bury them." Hatori calmly told Kohana, slowly and carefully taking her hand in his.
"I d-d-don't h-h-h-have eh-eh-eh-any m-m-m-money t-t-to d-d-do eh-eh-eh-any uh-uh-uh-of th-th-th-that." Kohana cried.
"Don't worry about any of that. I will take care of any cost for cremation. And if you'd prefer to bury them, that won't cost anything." Hatori told Kohana.
"W-w-w-where?" Kohana asked, confused.
"We can bury them in my garden or under a window of whatever room you decide you want. By the look in your eyes, you probably don't remember that you're going to be moving in with me. Yeah—don't ask me. Your dad feels you'd be safer with me than with him." Hatori replied, trying to get her to calm down.
"B-b-be-because yo-you-you're uh-uh-a d-d-doctor? B-b-be-because uh-uh-of uh-uh-all th-th-that's wr-wr-wrong w-w-with m-m-me?" Kohana softly asked, already knowing the answer.
'At least she's trying to calm down.' Hatori thought to himself, watching Kohana, looking into her eyes.
"Yes, it's most likely because I'm a doctor—and he doesn't know how to deal with all your medical issues. But just because you have medical issues, doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you: there's nothing wrong with you, other than you got a shit deal. Now, I really have to get going, but I'll be back in a few hours. I'm sure your dad will be back soon, so you won't be alone for too long. And someone from radiology should be by in just a little while. I will figure out how to get a hold of Kyo to let him know you want to know about your cats. Rest. The remote's right here if you want to watch something on TV, and if you need anything: press this call button. I will see you later." Hatori calmly told Kohana, standing up before leaving.
"S-s-s-see y-you l-later." Kohana softly replied, stuttering less that time.
With Hatori & Kazuma:
"Is everything ok? I thought you were just checking up on her. A nurse told me you were just going to check on her half an hour ago. How did altering her memories go?" Kazuma asked when he saw Hatori walk out of Kohana's room.
"I am on my way to see other patients before I'm late. So, if you want information, please keep up." Hatori calmly told Kazuma, waiting for an elevator.
"How is she?" Kazuma asked once the elevator doors closed.
"I was unable to alter her memories; she woke up as soon as I walk in to start everything. I can do it—just not when she's awake and looking at me with those eyes." Hatori replied, folding his arms across his chest.
"Tami had that same problem. I apologize for putting this pressure on you." Kazuma replied.
"Don't apologize; I understand. If I had a daughter like Kohana, I don't think I'd want her remembering these things either. I'll alter her memories as soon as I can get around her while she's asleep. As for how she's doing otherwise: I think she has pneumonia, so I'm having a radiologist come for her to get that checked. She wanted to know about her cats, so I told her what I could—which wasn't much because I don't know which cat is which. I told her I'd figure out how to get that information to Kyo so he could tell her." Hatori explained as they waited.
"Ah. Ok. I'll let her know what I can as well. Anything else?" Kazuma replied before asking.
"Just that she still has a fever. That's part of the reason I checked for pneumonia. I explained to her that she was moving in with me—again. I got her calmed down a little. Other than all of that, no; there's nothing different." Hatori answered.
"Ok. Thanks for letting me know. I'll go see her no and let you get on your way." Kazuma calmly insisted.
"Yep. See you around." Hatori replied before the two went their separate ways.
Five Minutes Later:
"It's good to see you awake." Kazuma greeted Kohana with a smile when he saw her watching something on TV.
"M-m-morning." Kohana softly greeted.
"So, Hatori tells me he thinks you have pneumonia now. I'm guessing someone hasn't come by yet?" Kazuma informed before asking.
"N-n-not y-y-yet." Kohana answered.
"You're stuttering less today. That's always good." Kazuma noted with a smile.
"So—Hatori also tells me you were asking about your cats. I'm sorry about your loss of your cats as well as your grandparents. I'm not sure I remember which of your cats are which—and I don't know any of your grandparents' cats. But I do remember your mother's cats: Chibi, Mika, and Hari. The smallest and youngest one: Chibi; that's the only one of your mother's cat's that survived. Mika had cancer and was in a lot of pain, so I asked that she be put down. Hari was one of the ones, that man killed. But I suppose—in a horrible twist of fate, that may be a good thing. Now, let me explain. I'm not saying it's good or even fair, but now Mika and Hari are with your mother on the other side; none of them are alone. And a bunch of the Sohma family call Hatori "Hari." There won't be any confusion if you're talking to Hatori or the cat. And at least you still have your other cats yet. I know it's not the same—and I'm probably not helping a whole lot right now, am I?" Kazuma started telling Kohana before realizing that he was messing up or something.
Kohana was unmistakably far different than Kyo.
"I-i-it's ok." Kohana quietly spoke.
"God, you remind me so much of your mother." Kazuma stated, watching Kohana, making her blush a little.
"Th-th-thank y-y-you." Kohana stuttered, embarrassed.
Kazuma just smiled gently at her before thoughts last night ran through his head.
Flashback:
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A maid was knocking at Akito's door.
"What is it?" Akito asked, annoyed, snapping a little.
"A Mr. Kazuma Sohma is here to see you. He says is of the utmost importance of he speaks with you now. He's not leaving and won't take "no" for an answer." The maid nervously spoke.
"That's when you come to me. Do not disrupt Akito when she's busy. And you: you should know better than to come here unannounced and demand a conference with Akito.
"And you need to back off. I need to speak to Akito—NOW. I never come to or go to her unless it's of the utmost importance. You of all people know this. So, just back off for now. This has to do with Kohana." Kazuma snapped at the head maid, shocking EVERYONE; he was never like that.
"That stuttering little nobody? What does she have to do with anything? Hasn't she already done enough? She's already using enough of the Sohma Family's resources." The head maid snapped back at Kazuma.
"That's enough, Nora; we will talk now. Though her last name may be different, Kohana is a Sohma as well; she is Kazuma's daughter. And she is very important to our family; we need her. So, go. Kazuma, come in." Akito firmly told his maid, Nora, before welcoming Kazuma in.
Meanwhile, Nora was too shocked to move; she just stood, staring at nothing.
"Kazuma: who knew you had that in you?" Shigure asked, smirking.
"Oh, good; you're here as well." Kazuma spoke to Shigure.
"What brings you by? Is something wrong with Kohana—aside from the obvious?" Akito asked, looking at Kazuma, concerned.
"She's the same. Tami came to me in a dream or whatever last night. Both she and I understand what has to happen in order keep Kohana safe. However, what she wants you to know is that you can't overdo it before or after everything. Akito: you can't become physically abusive toward her or any of the family members. If you do, Kohana can leave—and Hatori will go with her. You may yell and scream at them how you please, but you may not lay hands on any of them." Kazuma started explaining.
"I know all this already." Akito interrupted Kazuma.
"I know you do. But does he? She doesn't know what it is, but Tami tells me, Shigure gains some weird obsession with tormenting Kohana. Tami is worried about him pushing her too far. And if he pushes her too far, it'll push Hatori even further away. Yes, Hatori will do anything and everything for Kohana—and for the most part, without even realizing it, she will have him wrapped around her fingers. But even at some point, Hatori won't be able to take it anymore and will put his foot down with her and he will take and leave with her. It doesn't matter whether it's before or after everything: if Shigure pushes Kohana too far, Hatori will take immediate action—and we don't know if he'll say anything to anyone or not. And keep in mind that if he takes her after everything's complete, only they and who they specifically choose will be immortal. Not only that, but if they leave, Hatori and whoever else goes with him will no longer be cursed by the Zodiac Curse. Their spirits will transfer to any new Sohma family member born to anyone who doesn't go with them—and the curse will be how it was before Tohru ever showed up. Do you understand me?" Kazuma strictly explained to Akito and Shigure—who were both beyond shocked.
"Damnit. I was hoping to have fun with her." Shigure mumbled.
"You can have some fun with her; you just can't overdo it." Kazuma explained.
"You had better listen to him, Shigure. We need this—I need this. I'm not losing Hatori or this girl to your stupidness." Akito growled at Shigure.
"Of course." Shigure mumbled.
"Isn't there a way to keep them from leaving after this ritual thing of yours is over? Can't you just threaten Hatori or the girl?" Nora just walked in without permission and injected herself into the conversation. She had been eavesdropping this entire time; she desperately wanted to know what was going on.
"Hatori doesn't know what's going on. If anyone says anything to him before anything is done with, he will take Kohana and leave with her. That, or he'll take her somewhere far away from the Sohma family in order to keep her away from any of it—even if it means hurting himself in the process by him coming back without her. Kohana also knows nothing of what's going on; she'll just be confused and possibly try to commit suicide—again. If she successfully commits suicide, that's it: no one gets immortality, and the curse comes back with a vengeance." Kazuma explained, sighing a little.
"You say anything or threaten either of them, you'll be out of a job." Akito strictly warned Nora.
"Isn't there any way to keep them here permanently after everything—even if they'd want to go?" Nora asked, watching Kazuma, getting Akito's attention.
"If there is, Tami hasn't told me." Kazuma replied.
"You'd better call her up or something and tell her to give you that information." Nora demanded, watching Kazuma.
"Kind of hard to do." Kazuma replied.
"Why is that? Why are you being so ungrateful to your family head?" Nora questioned, becoming frustrated.
"She's dead. Now, if you'll excuse me; I have to get back to Kohana. Have a good night. You can always ask the oracle if you don't believe me." Kazuma answered before walking away.
"What oracle?" Nora demanded, but Kazuma didn't answer; he just kept walking away.
"The oracle is something only Kazuma and I possess. No, it's not Tami—I don't think. Either way, I've known about this for years. No, I didn't know of Tohru, but I've known of Kohana for years. Now, please let Shigure and me be." Akito told Nora, dismissing her.
End Flashback:
"That was a lie on my part. I know precisely how to get them from leaving the family after the immortality ritual is complete. It's a whole nother ritual that can happen before or after the main ritual. I know what needs to be done, but I cannot say. Some things I just cannot disclose—with anyone." Kazuma spoke out loud to himself, looking at the ceiling.
The radiologist showed up a few minutes ago and took Kohana to get her chest X-rays, so Kazuma was just sitting there…