****DISCLAMER: I don't own Fruit Basket nor any of its characters. Sara Fujima and other characters not original from furuba, are obviously mine.
This fic centers mostly around Hatori, Shigure, Haru, and Momiji, -exactly in that level of importance. The rest of the Sohma and Tohru make small appearances. If you feel it is rushed all I can say to that is "Sorry. I'm busy with university classes, so I try to keep my fics as short as possible." If there are any mistakes with the names, I was typing too fast. Mistakes with the nicknames: they are so many that I sometimes get confused. Anyways…I hope you like the story. Thank you for reading and please review. I'd like to know your opinions whether they are constructive or destructive. In other words, flames are accepted, so fire away.
Shihori.
~*~*~*~*~
Sara walked up to the spot where she had left her bag and towel. She gave a quick look to her waterproof watch: 9:00 a.m. She was wearing a red tank top bikini with yellow flower prints, and didn't have any snorkeling gear with her. She smiled up to Hatori who sat next to her stuff, his hair wet and a towel draped around his shoulders. "There's nothing better than a good swim early in the morning."
"You do this frequently?" He asked focusing on her face, framed by shorter locks of hair plastered on it to the sides. Reaching out for her towel over the bag, he handed it out to her.
"Every morning when it's summer." Sara took the blue towel from him, and wrapped it around herself before sitting down next to him but keeping her distance. She gathered her waist long hair and wrung the excess of water from it to a side. "The rest of the year I run on the beach. It's the best way to stay fit and I can never get tired of the scenery."
"You are lucky to live here." Hatori said, looking into the vast sea in front of them.
"Yes, but one day I'll leave." Sara said staring the same direction as him. "I'll capture this view in my heart, and I'll leave."
Hatori looked at her profile. "Why would you want to leave such wonderful place?"
"Because I belong somewhere else." Sara said softly, with a serious countenance.
Her words took him by surprise, and pried more, which was unlike to his usual self, but there was something about her, something he had seen last night, that made him want to know more about her. –Probably Shigure and Ayame feel the same when they met her again. He thought, trying to reason his cousin's actions. "Belong somewhere else?"
Sara turned to face him with a bright smile. "Of course. Life is full of wonders, this world even more. I want to know that world." Her head turned back to the wide sea laying in front of them. "That's why, even as scary as it may seem to a town girl like me, I'll spread my wings and fly till I find the place where I belong, where I am meant to stay till the day I die."
"What makes you think you're not already there?" Hatori asked, curiosity about the younger woman's thoughts filling his mind.
"I can feel it in my heart." Sara giggled softly, looking at him again with a very light blush on her cheeks. "I sound like some high school brat to you, don't I?"
Hatori gave her a warm smile and shook his head. "Not at all. I think it is a very encouraging way of thinking." –People like me have no choice but to stay where we are, even if our hearts say that it is the wrong place to be at. Us, the Jyunishi, don't have that option. His eyes softened while watching her sun kissed countenance. –Seeing you like this makes me feel less guilty. I'm glad you are able to dream, dear Sara.
Deceiving Bonds: Chapter 2"I'm curious to know what life has in store for me." She chuckled at her own anxiousness. "But if I were able to know it all right now, my life would become very boring." She decided they were talking too much about her and she wanted to know more about him. "Being a doctor, it must be very stressful, am I wrong?"
"Not at all." Hatori answered, his cool mask returning to his face.
Sara brought her knees up to her chest and leaned her head on them while hugging her calves. "But it must be wonderful to be able to give others a chance of living. It's like carrying hope in your hands, I think." She said while staring at him. –He is very handsome, but there is something in his eyes that clouds his heart. She thought becoming curious of the secrets he could have in his heart. –I'll probably never find out what is it that holds him back from being happy.
"I really wouldn't know." Hatori's tone was somewhat somber. "I usually take care of small illnesses, nothing that can't be cured with medicine and proper care, but my main patient, he is someone I will never be able to safe even if I tried my best."
"Why do you say so?" Sara's face became serious at his words.
"His illness can't be cured." Hatori spoke the truth but kept the details to himself. "I can only expand his life span as long as his body can resist."
"That is sad." Sara muttered, feeling compassion for that person. "Does he know?"
Hatori nodded, "Since very young."
"It must be truly hard on him and his family." Sara whispered while staring into Hatori's blue eyes.
"It is. With time he has become more reluctant to live, but it seems that it is not his moment yet to leave." Hatori assented with his head lightly, taking his eyes away from hers. Her eyes were making him nervous, as if they were trying to find a meaning in his eyes that she couldn't find in his words.
Sara smiled softly, and reached out for his right hand, taking it between hers. He didn't expect that at all and it showed clearly on his face. "Stay strong." She said vehemently. "That person needs you. Even if your greatest efforts can't save him, your caring for him will give him strength to live his life to the fullest. Your efforts to keep him alive won't go unnoticed to him I'm sure. " Suddenly she realized where her outburst had made her do, and released his hand immediately, and smiled sheepishly, hoping she wasn't blushing too much. "Or at least that's what I think."
-Some things don't change I guess. Hatori smiled gently, engraving in his mind the way she looked right then. –But sadly, not even you would have been able to change him.
Sara grew nervous at his stare and decided to avoid it. –Why am I feeling so warm and fuzzy out of the sudden? I've got Sano-kun. She wondered as she grabbed her bag and brought out a blue blouse and a short, white skirt. "I should get going." She muttered, standing up letting the towel slip off her body to fall around her ankles. "Today is the only free day I have this week and I really should catch up with the house's cleaning." She slipped her arms through the blouse's armholes, leaving it unbuttoned. Then she wrapped the skirt around her hips, tying the laces at the right side.
Hatori smiled, "If it is your only day off work why don't you relax and rest instead of working more?"
"Because I like to do the house cleaning." Sara tied her hair with a rubber band. "Besides, if I don't do it no one will." She grabbed her bag off the sand, and slipped her feet into the sandals that were under it. Grabbing the towel from the sand, she rolled it and pushed it into the bag. "It was very entertaining to chat with you Hatori-san." She said smiling down at him. "Thank you."
"No. Thanks to you for keeping me company. It had been a while since I had a chat like this one." Hatori smiled up at her.
"Me too." She chirped, and said as she brushed past him. "See you around."
Hatori watched her walk away over his shoulder, and turned back to the front once she was out of view. For a moment, he allowed himself to go back to a moment of his life when things didn't seem that bad.
He, looking younger, stood over the wet sand, his hand extended towards a girl, younger than him. "You know how to swim. Don't worry, there's nothing to fear."
"But I'm scared of the sea!" She answered, shaking her head lightly as she wrapped her arms around herself. "What if something bites my feet? Shigure told me there are crabs under the sand and that they can cut your toes off with their pincers."
Hatori chuckled at her innocence. "He's just trying to scare you." He walked to her and grabbed her hand. "You were dieing to come here. Why are you so reluctant to go in now?"
"I'm scared!" She whined, while looking up at him with teary eyes. "Can't you understand that?"
"I'm with you." He said smiling warmly at her. "There's nothing to fear." He placed his other hand on her head and chuckled. "Just don't hug me in the water. I don't know where I'd end up if I transformed there."
That earned a smile from her. "Alright." Her grip on his hand tightened. "But don't let go of me!"
"I would never let go of you Sara." He said reassuringly as they walked into the water. "Trust me."
"I really wish…" He whispered with saddened eyes. "I could have kept my word."
°
"Hello?" Shigure chirped into the phone, which had ringed several times before he got to it. His happy face slipped off. "We'll be there soon." He said and hung up. He walked out of the small villa towards the beach where everyone was gathered, playing in the water, except for Kyo who was sitting far enough from the shore. "Everyone!" He said with a smile on his face. "We have an unexpected guest." He announced bringing everyone's attention on him. "Akito wishes to see us all. Of course, except Kyo and Tohru-kun."
Happiness vanished from the faces of the younger ones. Ayame laughed in his typical non-worried way. "Don't worry little brother!" He said as he wrapped his arm around Yuki's shoulder. "Your big brother is here to protect you!" And with that an argument began between the siblings, lightening up the mood.
Hatori walked up to Shigure. "I'll tell her to leave." He said as he passed by him.
Shigure reached out and grabbed Hatori's sleeve, stopping him. "You should head first to the main house and check on Akito's health." He smiled back at the doctor, fanning himself with a hand fan shaped like a heart of spades. Then he walked past him saying, "I'll go tell her."
Hatori stared at Shigure's back for a while before turning the opposite direction, heading to the main house. –I hope Akito doesn't get nostalgic out of the sudden and request her presence. And if he does, I hope she'll be gone by then.
Shigure reached the small house's front and could hear loud music coming from it. He walked up to the door and knocked, but no one came to answer the door. He decided to go in. "Sara-san?" He called out looking around the living room and the kitchen but didn't find her, and considered going into the bedroom from which the loud music was coming from, but decided that she couldn't in there otherwise she'd have to be deaf to stand that volume.
Going through the kitchen he reached the laundry room, noticing the washing machine was on, and the door to the patio was open. He stepped closer to it, and saw her extending a blanket along the clotheslines. The music seemed to come out there as well through a window. The song ended, and soon began another, this one less upbeat than the previous one. He leaned against the doorframe staring at her back while she sang along.
"Why, oh why do I love you so much? My tears overflow this much" Sara sang as she grabbed another blanket from the wicker basket sitting on the grass. She hummed the next lines and then continued, "Why do I love you so much? Your voice rings inside me so much it makes me sad. Just what it was that supported me so much from afar. I realize it now. Like a lost child, crying and searching, but there was no such thing as forever."
"It's okay if you don't believe in anyone, you whispered. Were the two of us really alike?" All the blankets were on the lines now, and she picked up the basket, turning around. She gasped and dropped the basket when she saw Shigure standing at the doorway. "Shi-shigure-san! What are you doing here?"
He chuckled lightly, fanning himself slightly. "I'm sorry. I knocked and called out, but no one came. I guessed for the music you were home so decided to come look for u."
"Ah! I'm sorry!" She quickly apologized, walking hurriedly to the door. "I'll go turn it down."
"No. That's not why I came." Shigure said, his smile disappearing from his lips. "I know we said that you could stay, but-"
"Did I do something wrong?" She asked innocently.
Shigure smiled, shaking his head. "I don't think that's possible." He said more to himself than to her. "Someone arrived earlier this morning it seems, and I fear you'll have to leave due to his arrival. He doesn't like strangers around the family."
"The guest at the main house." She said softly as if remembering something.
"How do you know?" Shigure asked, worried that Akito had come here first.
"Grandpa has been there since 8 a.m. He left a note saying he'd be there and not to look for him since he'd be very busy." She explained herself and then asked, "How long do I have to be gone?"
"I can't tell you for certain, but preferably a week." Shigure watched her as she walked past him, back into the laundry room. He watched her while she unloaded the washing machine, throwing the clothes into the basket. "I'm truly sorry. If it depended of me, you wouldn't have to leave." –Lucky! He thought while staring at her slender legs going up to the curve of her hips. She was wearing jean shorts and a small purple flannel pulled back by a knot at the middle of her back. Then he noticed a scar line snaking out of the flannel, curving to her side. "That scar…" He spoke his thoughts out loud, startling her.
"Ah!" Sara smiled, pulling down the flannel to cover it. "An accident."
"How did it happen?" Shigure asked before thinking, and then noticed the look on her face telling him she didn't like him to be prying. "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Sara decided to let her guard down. "It was a car accident when I was 16. Fortunately nothing serious happened to me. Just got that scar." She bent over to pick the basket when the cell phone attached to the short's waistline began beeping. "Excuse me." She said giving him a brief look before bringing the cell phone to her ear. "Yes?" A pause, and a big smile on her face. "Hi Yoshi. Just the person I was thinking of." She giggled. "Always, but right now I need to come for me. Can I stay at your place for a week?"
Shigure remembered the guy with her at the bar after they finished performing, the one that kissed her. –Her boyfriend. He thought, smiling trying to keep his face from showing the feelings running wild in him by now.
"Okay. I'll be ready in an hour. Later hon." She said sweetly before hanging up. "Is that ok? I still need to finish the laundry before leaving. Grandpa isn't exactly fond of these kind of chores."
"It is alright." Shigure nodded. –Akito will be busy for the next couple of hours so there's no risk of him seeing her. I doubt he'll come look for her, but then, he is very volatile and unpredictable. He stepped closer to her, grabbing her hands, ignoring the surprised look on her face. He had to say good-bye, at least this time, properly.
"I'm glad that I was able to meet you again." He said softly, smiling warmly at her. He allowed himself a daring move, knowing she could react negatively. Reaching out to her face, he caressed her cheek gently, enjoying the light blush that crept to her cheeks immediately. "Please take care of yourself." He whispered as he leaned over and kissed her other cheek lightly. "Good-bye."
Sara stared at him as he stepped away from her and walked out of the laundry room. She brought her hand to the cheek he kissed, looking somewhat confused for a moment. Her eyes were then clouded with something that looked like sadness, dropping to the floor. "Good-bye." She whispered, caressing her cheek.
°
Shigure adjusted the frame of his eyeglasses on the bridge of the nose as he continued to read a book. He was sitting on the tatami under a window. Next to him sat Akito, looking out the window with a lost look in his eyes. Outside the sun was bright and every thing seemed full of life, so unlike him.
"That woman." Akito muttered, breaking the silence that had reigned in the room for a good while. "Have you seen that woman?"
"Who?" Shigure asked impassive as he flipped a page and continued reading.
"THAT woman." The young clan leader hissed. "Don't play fool with me Shigure."
"Ah…" Shigure smiled, setting his book on his lap. "No. She wasn't here when we arrived." –It had been three days already since he arrived. I was starting to wonder when he'd ask for her. He heard him do a low approving sound, and he guessed that the matter was closed.
"I'm tired. Leave me alone." Akito muttered, as he stood up walking to a pair of doors half open.
"Alright." Shigure stood up and went to another set of doors. He slid one open, and slid it close behind him.
Akito looked at the doors through which Shigure left from the corner of his eye, anger glowing in them. "Liar." He said between gritted teeth.
Shigure walked down the dark oak hallways until he reached a solarium. There was a long wicker sofa along with a pair of chairs made of the same material, and in the middle a table with a vase with purple flowers. He sat down on a corner of the sofa. Suddenly he was transported to a moment of his past, the sun replaced by rain. He looked up to the door and there was young Sara, -her light blue dress' hem swaying as she sauntered towards the couch bare foot.
"You're done?" Young Shigure asked with an expectant look on his face, -his book forgotten on his lap the moment she appeared. He watched her step on to the couch, forcing him to look up. "What's with the silly grin?"
"Nothing." She chirped as she took two short steps on the soft blue cushion and knelt down next to him. "I simply loved it." She smiled warmly. "Your novel totally moved me. I declare myself your #1 fan and you must give me the first book signed as soon as you publish it."
"Eh?" An amused smile twitched on his lips. "So you don't agree with Hatori about it being just a trashy novel?"
"I really don't think you're trying to reach the type of reader Hatori is." Sara tittered, leaning on the sofa's back, making herself more comfortable. "I felt really identified with Sora-chan, and I think girls my age, even older, will feel identified with her as well. I truly believe it will be very popular Shi-chan!"
"I'm glad you liked it. I had a very good model for Sora-chan." Shigure said softly, staring into her eyes.
"Oh really? And who might that be?" She asked genuinely oblivious to the hint behind his words.
He laughed and patted her head. "You'll find out when you receive your signed copy." His eyes fell for a moment on the small, red mole over her right collarbone. –She's so dense. I couldn't have given a clearer hint with Sora.
She pouted cutely and pulled at his shirt's sleeve like a kid. "Mou…come on! Please tell me!" She looked at him suspiciously. "Is she your secret girlfriend who you won't introduce me to?"
"Ma, ma!" He chuckled. "Don't be so curious Sa-chan!"
She frowned, pouting even more. "Mean…" Then she grinned, quickly reaching out to his torso and began tickling him. "I'll tickle you till you tell me!" She threatened him giggling while he laughed out loud.
"Tickle fight!" Ayame yelled as he jumped to the couch and began tickling Sara as well.
Hatori stood at the doorway smirking. "Kids." Soon there were clouds of smoke on the couch. Once it cleared, there as a white snake wrapped around Sara's neck, and a black dog sitting next to her, and pieces of clothing laying around.
"You can't keep secrets from me Shi-chan!" Sara declared between giggles as she pressed her forefinger to Shigure's nose. "I'll find out for sure no matter how!"
The room was filled with sun again as Sara's smiling image next to him vanished. –It was never a secret. He thought as he saw Hatori walk into the solarium, bringing a cigarette to his lips. He watched Hatori sit down on chair in front of him. –You just didn't want to see it.
"What?" Hatori asked wondering what the dog was smiling at as he lit his cigarette.
"Nothing." Shigure said as he opened once again his book and continued his reading.
°
Haru stared at the map board intently. –I shouldn't have crossed those gates. He thought regretfully, turning around to meet three girls giggling and whispering nearby while looking at him. –Probably if I go back on my steps I might find my way. He decided, the thought of asking the girls for help never crossed his mind.
He turned to his left and walked down the sidewalk, looking at the store signs and looking for familiar signs that he had seen on his way there. He sighed deeply. "I don't recognize anything. I must have gone the other way." He guessed, turning around abruptly, and bumped into someone. –Damn it! He cursed mentally ready to transform in the middle of the town's busiest street, but it didn't happen. He looked down and noticed a paper bag and food scattered around the place as well as the woman kneeling, picking them up. "I'm truly sorry." He muttered as he knelt down to help.
"Oh no!" Sara smiled up at the young man, grabbing a pair of green apples from the floor and putting them back into the brown bag. "It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention where I was going."
"I'll pay for your spoiled food." He offered, picking up the oranges.
"Nothing was spoiled I think." She grabbed the noodles packs, which were the last thing on the floor. "Don't worry about it." She stood up, hugging the bag to her chest. "I'm truly sorry for troubling you." –I really should stop looking at the shop windows while moving. She reprimanded herself.
Haru still had an orange in his hand and reached out to put it in the bag. "I'm the one who wasn't paying attention." Setting the orange in the bag, his eyes traveled unconsciously to her neck, falling on her collarbone.
"Why are you crying?" A gentle feminine voice asked.
Little Haru, looked up from the crook formed by his arms over his knees, tears staining his innocent face.
Haru frowned at the image that came up to his mind so suddenly, -a woman smiling, whose face he couldn't see but her lips, and a red dot on her right collarbone.
"Are you alright?" Sara cocked her head to a side.
He was brought back from his reverie with the sound of her voice, and he shook his head. "I'm lost. Could you help me?"
Sara nodded. "Sure. Where do you want to go?"
"Sohma state." He said, sliding his hands into his gray pants' pockets.
Sara smiled, knowing the way there better than anyone. "Well you have to go down this street and turn-"
"I'll get lost." Haru pointed out, reaching out with his left hand to his head to scratch it. "Got bad sense of direction."
"Ah-" Sara blinked, not knowing how to answer to that, but then smiled. "Then come with me. I'll leave this home and then take you there."
Haru simply nodded and followed her down the sidewalk, keeping a safe distance from her but close enough to keep from losing her. Soon they arrived to a small house, and she invited him in.
"Wait here please." She said, as she set the bag on the counter, and walked out of the kitchen.
"Hon, I need to go to the state. I'll be back in a jiff." He heard her say before coming back into the kitchen holding a set of keys. "Your husband won't get upset?" He suddenly asked.
Sara froze on her steps, and then laughed. "I'm not married yet, and no he wouldn't even if he knew I was taking a boy with me." She grabbed his hand and led him to the back door. "Come."
Haru blinked, staring down at their hands together. –She's pretty bold. He thought as he was brought into the garage. There he saw a red motorcycle. –Not good.
Sara gave him a blue helmet. "I hope you don't mind riding with me."
"Ah…" Haru didn't know what to say. He just couldn't tell her that if he got too close he would transform into a big cow.
Sara put on her green helmet as she sat on the black leather seat, turning the ignition key. "It's getting dark. Come on." She called out for him. "Don't worry. I know how to ride it."
-That's not what I'm scared of. He thought as he walked up to the bike and straddled it behind her, putting on the helmet.
She grabbed his hands that were resting on his lap, chuckling lightly as she set them on her waist. "Hold on tightly." Haru blushed, something rare on him, as he held on to her waist. He was thankful that she couldn't look back at him. "You can hug me if you want. It's safer that way."
-Not so safe. He thought, shaking his head. "I'm alright." His grip tightening around her waist, fingers hooked on the side loops of her jeans.
Without further notice, she pulled out of the door-less garage and into the street, zooming off towards the Sohma state. Ten minutes later they were in front of the gate. Haru was about to thank her and hop off when she brought out a small remote control and opened the gates. –What the-? He thought taken totally by surprise.
She drove up till the villa, stopping at the entrance. "Well you're home." She said after sliding up the helmet's transparent visor.
The white and black haired teen hopped off the bike, taking off the helmet and giving it back to her. "Why do you have a remote control?"
"Haru!" Yuki called out the cow's name as he walked closer, coming from the beach area. "We had been looking for you everywhere."
"Got lost." Haru said simply.
"We guessed that much." Yuki muttered with a little humor in his tone.
"Well Haru-kun, I've got to jet." Sara chirped, interrupting them. "Bye." She turned the bike around and zoomed off again before he could say anything.
"Who is she?" Yuki asked staring after her just like Haru.
Haru raised his eyebrows, blinking once. "Didn't ask her name." He didn't notice Yuki's sweat drop face. "But I think I'm in love."
Yuki face faulted, holding on to the other's arm to keep his balance. "Weren't you sulking not long ago for Rin?"
"Ah." Haru nodded, turning towards the house, putting his hands in his pockets "That's right."
°
Sara felt nervous over going against the rules set by the Sohma family, and for coming to the state when she was expressly ordered to stay away from there until she was called back. She had left the bike away from the main villa and walked into the gardens taking care that no one saw her. –Grandpa is always finishing the gardening around this hours. He must be somewhere around here.
She found Fujima-san soon enough as he came towards her pushing a wheel cart. His eyes turned into saucers the minute he saw her. "I know. I know." She said as he opened his mouth to reprimand her. "But you've forced me to come."
"What are you saying child? You shouldn't be here! Leave immediately before the young master sees you here." He kept his tone low but there was anger in it.
"Didn't I tell you to go buy your medicine today? You should have run out of it with this morning's dosage. " She began following him as he hurried towards the front of the house. It was obvious to her that he wanted to get her out of there quickly but she didn't complain. Instead, she continued to reproach him for his irresponsible actions. "I checked with Yarima-sensei if you had gone to get them and he said you hadn't even called to have them delivered." Sara said angrily, putting her hands on her hips. "Why do you have to be so stubborn and always ignore my orders?"
"Why do you always have to be such a brat and go against MY orders?" Fujima shot back, letting go of the cart forcefully. "Don't you understand that you just can't do whatever you please in this place!"?
"What's going on here?"
Both of them jerked their heads the direction that voice came from. Luckily for them, it was only Shigure, wearing his usual kimono, and walking towards them. "Sara-san, you really shouldn't be here." He said in a stressed tone, his eyes looking for someone in the surroundings as he spoke. "You should leave."
Sara didn't say anything to him. Instead she turned her face to her grandfather again, retaking their argument. "I wouldn't have come if you would have done as I told you!" She brought a small rectangular box out of her jeans' right pocket, taking Fujima's hand and placing the box on it. "I don't care about this damned house's rules if it comes to your health. And yeah, I'll keep being a brat if that's what is necessary to make you understand that you are my family and I still need you, so please take care of yourself for God's sake!"
She turned around and bowed deeply towards Shigure. "I apologize for making this scene in front of your house Shigure-san." Then she straightened, staring directly into the dog's eyes. "But I won't apologize for ignoring your orders."
"It didn't come from but the from the clan's head." He said, silently apologizing to her for the situation, knowing that she had the right to be there as well, no matter what Akito said. "But for your own good Sara-san, leave now."
Sara just nodded and glanced back at Fujima. "I'll call you tomorrow night." Then she headed towards the place where she left the bike, disappearing of their view.
Shigure's eyes turned to the older man, not looking pleased. "Is that how you've been treating her?"
Fujima shot back a nasty glare at him, closing his fist around the pill's box. "She is MY granddaughter." A smirk curved his lips. "Our relationship Sohma-san, is really none of your business."
"You've got some nerve." Shigure hissed, glaring at him but smirking as well.
"No more than any of you. " Fujima bit back before turning around walking towards the cart. "Now if you'll excuse me, I still have things to do."
Shigure took a deep breath to calm down, and then his face had changed from dark to calm. He muttered to himself as he walked back into the solarium. "Yare yare…some people just don't know the place where they belong."
Unknown to him, Akito had been watching the whole scene from afar. He wasn't able to see well the woman's face but he was certain of that person's identity. "It seems, that you are the one stone I can never get out of my shoe." He hissed, closing his fist so tight that his knuckles were ghost white.
Summer comes to an end.
Summer memories were planted
In the younger one's hearts.
Bonds become stronger than before.
Summer memories were stirred
In the elder's minds.
No regrets.
Nothing can go back to be what it used to be.
You can only move forward.
Move forward to an unknown future.
And dream, and hope for the best.
And dream, and hope,
That summer shall come again.
° March 2003 °
Sara looked to her side with a apprehensive look. "I get scared when you're so hyper."
The smaller woman walking next to her laughed out loud, covering her mouth with her hand, but still attracted the attention of other pedestrians. "I'm happy! What can I say? I'll finally get what I've been waiting for so long!"
Both of them wore black overcoats due to the cold weather. Even though winter was soon to be gone, it was still very cold. They stopped in front of a small shop with a sign that had a big pink rose and the name of the store written over it.
"Come, come!" The brown haired woman grabbed Sara's hand and pulled her into the shop when the sliding doors opened. "Good morning!" She called out into the store where no one was around.
"A textile shop?" Sara muttered looking at the rolls of different types of textiles.
"Welcome to-" A woman, dressed in a light green nurse like uniform popped from behind the shelves. "Ah! Akima-san!"
"Yo!" Akima chirped as she pranced towards the woman of eyeglasses. "Is it ready Mine-chan?"
Before Mine could answer, Ayame appeared from behind the curtain wearing a blue, turtle neck robe under a dark purple coat with black and gray fur neck and cuffs. "Aki-chan!" He exclaimed and grinned at her. "I take it you come for that thing."
Akima nodded vehemently. "Is it ready?"
"Of course it is!" Ayame grinned wider as he slid his arm over her shoulders. "Mine, why don't you lead Aki-chan to the dressing room so she can try it on before taking it?"
Akima shook her head lightly. "That's not necessary Ayame-kun! I trust your gifted ability. I'm sure it fits me perfectly."
Ayame pushed her lightly towards Mine. "Oh but I insist."
"Well, I guess I won't lose anything." Aki wrapped her arm around Mine's arm, looking back at Sara who was standing still close to the door. "What are you doing back there Sara!"
"Wondering what kind of shop this is." Sara said staring at three mannequins, dressed in very skimpy uniforms, -police woman, maid, and waitress.
"It is a shop of dreams!" Ayame began as he neared her with open arms. "It is a shop to help men's romance and fantasies come true!"
"A-Ayame-san!" Sara looked at him bewildered. –The shop is named after HIM. Never thought such coincidence could happen.
"I'll be right back Sara!" I want to know your opinion." Akima announced before leaving with Mine.
"How wonderful to see you here Sara-chan!" Ayame wrapped his arm around her shoulders snugly, guiding her towards the waiting area where there were two couches and a coffee table. "Come! Let's have some tea and chat while Aki-chan changes."
"Thank you…" Sara muttered, not sure if she should stay or run away.
Ayame pulled the sash knot of her overcoat undone, and slipped the heavy piece of clothing off her shoulders before she could even complain. "Have a seat please." He said as he turned to hang the coat on a coat hanger. "Not even in my wildest dreams I would have thought that you'd crossed those doors and visit my shop."
"It is a real coincidence." Sara smiled, watching him bring a tray with a teapot and a pair of cups. "I had no idea you had a shop and much less in this city."
"Of course you wouldn't know." Ayame muttered as he set the tray on the coffee table in front of her and poured some of the aromatic liquid into a cup. "Sugar?"
"No thank you." She said, and received the cup from his hands.
"So tell me, what brings you into this beautiful place? What made you leave paradise?" Ayame kept his questions subtle. "Vacations?"
"I moved here." Sara answered while looking around, waiting for her tea to cool down a bit more.
Ayame had the cup to his lips when she said that but didn't drink from it. –Not good. He set the cup back on the saucer. "Is that a good idea? I mean, your grandfather being ill and also such a dramatic change of surroundings."
Sara faced him smiling softly, but there was sadness in her eyes. "He died in November."
Ayame's face lost its gleaming aura for a moment. "I am truly sorry. I had no idea."
"There's no way you could have known Ayame-san." Sara smiled, taking a sip of her chamomile tea. "Besides it is not a loss, it is a gain." She muttered, setting the cup on the saucer. "I like to see it that way. He was in too much pain his last days that I prayed for death to come for him."
"You were heard loud and clear." Ayame said sympathetically. "At least he is resting now in a better place than this earthly world." She only nodded, not wanting to speak more about it and he noticed this, but he needed to question her more.
"Tencho," Mine stepped out from behind the curtains. "She's ready."
"Oh! Please come out here Aki-chan!" Ayame chirped, going back to his cheerful mode.
"Tada!" Aki jumped out wearing blue, high heeled shoes, white stockings till half her thighs held there by pins that came out from under her tight, very short mini skirt, probably attached to a garter belt. Also a blouse tight at her middle, with very deep cleavage, which left most of her breasts, exposed. The blouse had a pocket in which a label was sewn into.
"It fits you perfectly Aki-chan!" Ayame exclaimed proudly, "Of course it was made by this magnificent tailor! Don't you think so Sara-chan?"
Sara recognized the label immediately and knew her friend's intentions. "Don't tell me you're going to his office wearing THAT!" She said, pointing at her outfit with a stupefied countenance.
"You don't like?" Akima looked at her innocently, giving a turn, making her big chest bounce lightly.
"Ah…" Sara felt shivers go down her spine, and shook her head lightly.
Right then, Hatori walked in with his usual stoic face, -the first person he saw was Akima. He noticed the outfit and looked back to Ayame, not looking affected by it. "Are you ready?"
"Ah! Tori-san! What do you think of my creation?" Ayame said showing Akima to him. "Is it perfect? And Aki-chan looks so…tempting, doesn't she?"
"You'll catch a cold." Hatori pointed out, unfazed by it.
"That's so mean." Akima sighed and turned back to Sara pouting. "Ne Sara! Really need your opinion."
Sara walked up to her. "If I give you my sincere opinion, will leave that idea of going to his office dressed like that?" Akima seemed to consider it for a moment and shook her head negatively. "Well all I can say it is…so you."
"Thanks!" Akima chirped, and grinned at Ayame. "You heard Ayame-san? She said it is sublime!"
"Never said that." Sara pointed out.
Ayame laughed in his usual confident way. "It is, it is! I designed and made it after all."
"I'm surprised to see you here." Hatori admitted, looking down at Sara, his eyes softened.
"I'm even more. Didn't think I'd meet you here of all places." Sara referred to Ayame's special shop.
"He insisted that I picked him up for lunch." Hatori said explaining his presence in such a place.
"Eh… he's unaffected by my beautiful clothes," Akima exclaimed, and jumped to Sara, grabbing her arm and looking very possessive. "But seems very happy to see my dear dear Sara. What's the meaning of this?"
Sara blushed lightly, pulling her arm away from Akima but it was to no avail since she held on tighter. "Akima, could you let go please?"
"Don't take it so personal Aki-chan!" Ayame's arm snaked around Hatori's. "Tori-san here is more the nurse-assistant type, not secretary type."
"Ah… I see!" Akima seemed satisfied with the explanation.
"Stop the nonsense." Hatori bit back in his usual cool manner.
"Hai!" Ayame sing song-ed looking up cutely at him, then pranced to Sara's side, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "So where are you taking us for lunch?"
"Eh?" Sara and Hatori reacted at the same time.
"You're coming with us of course Sara-chan!" Ayame declared, "It would be really rude of us if we didn't take our dear friend with us!"
"Since when you are my friend?" Sara pointed out looking suspiciously at him.
"I think it is a great idea!" Akima butted in, nodding vehemently, her eyes gleaming. "My dear dear Sara needs to enjoy herself more, and what better company than two handsome men!"
"Here you go Akima-san. " Mine, who had disappeared, came back with Akima's coat and a bag with the clothes she had been wearing.
"Thank you Mine-chan! You're an angel!" Akima chirped, getting into the overcoat, wrapping it snugly around her, and then took the bag. "I'll come by next week so you start designing a new model I have in mind."
"Sounds perfect to me." Ayame smiled brightly. "It's so good to have customer's like you."
"Don't you have to pay for it still?" Sara asked, noticing that Akima was already heading out.
"Eh? I always pay in advance when he designs it for me." Akima said as if it was something obvious.
"Without even seeing the outcome?" Sara couldn't understand her friend at all.
"I have full confidence in Ayame-san's mastery!" Akima chirped. "Have fun the three of you." She said with a sly grin. "I won't come home tonight for sure, so you have all the apartment for yourself." She totally ignored Sara's dagger filled glare and gave a half serious look to Ayame and Hatori. " You better be gentle with her. She's my precious unspoiled flower."
Sara paled bringing her hand to her stomach, looking down. "Why are you doing this to me?" She muttered to herself.
"Oh so pure as snow!" Ayame exclaimed, "Don't worry, we'll take care of her. Tori-san and I will be more than glad to-"
"Could you stop it?" Hatori sighed rubbing the upper part of his nose's bridge. "I'm sorry Sara-san."
Sara shook her head lightly looking down still. "I apologize as well."
"Anyways," Akima kept her finger on the subject. "The apartment is all yours, just don't use my bedroom or the kitchen."
Ayame pouted at her. "But the kitchen can be so fun!"
Akima laughed, "I know! I know! But I want to use it first! You see, I just moved into that apartment and we've BEEP in every corner of it except for the kitchen. So many things that you can have fun with in there, like BEEP BEEP BEEP on the counter or-"
"Yes, yes!" Ayame nodded vehemently. "Or BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP on-"
"Ayame it's enough." Hatori ordered.
"Hai!" Ayame and Akima sing song-ed.
Akima peeked from Ayame's side to look at Sara. "Well see you tomorrow Sa-"
Sara looked all gloomy, holding her hands to her ears protectively. "Why oh why of all places in the world did I decide to come here?" She said in a monotone voice as if reciting a mantra. "I knew it. I've always known. Stupid me. Stupid me. Why did I have to come here of all places of the world?" She continued to mutter. "My energy…my energy… it's being drained. I can feel it."
Akima sighed tenderly and hopped to Sara's side, hugging her tightly. "Isn't she sweet?" She asked looking at Ayame who smiled, nodding. "She adores me even if it doesn't look like it, just like I adore her." She then hopped in front of Hatori and bowed deeply. "Please take good care of her."
"Earth, please open wide and engulf me for I can't handle any more embarrassment." Sara continued to mutter.
"Weren't you going somewhere?" The doctor said, upset with the whole moment. He couldn't believe there was actually an Ayame counterpart out there and that by wrong decisions of life, they had encounter each other, seemingly unstoppable, as well as unbearable, when together.
"I'm a woman in a mission!" Akima chirped as she rushed to the door.
"Have fun!" Ayame said as she crossed the doors, and they closed after them.
Mine bowed at the doors. "Thank you for your preference."
Sara came out of her reverie automatically, and bowed deeply towards Hatori. "I am deeply sorry for Akima's attitude. Please excuse her." Then she straightened up and muttered under her breath. "She was born with a brain defect." She heard Hatori smirk more than saw him, and turned her face immediately to him. He was smiling, which made her smile as well.
"I couldn't express it better." Hatori pointed out at Ayame who was yapping with Mine close by. "But I think it is a acquired disease for this one suffers of the same."
Sara giggled softly, nodding in agreement with him. "I'm glad I've met you again Hatori-san." She said warmly. "I'm sorry I couldn't say good-bye back at the beach, but I was requested to leave."
"Yes, I know." Hatori nodded, his smile disappearing. "I'm sorry about that."
She shook her headlight and smiled, "Those were the rules and I knew them well."
"They look so nice together!" Mine sighed dreamily while staring at the other two talk. "They're like a couple brought out of a romance novel."
"You're so right Mine." Ayame smiled, sighing inwardly. –It is a pity that a 'them' will never happen, and 'us' will never be part of 'their' vocabulary. He brought out his cheerful mode instantly, overcoming the distance between him and them in a big step, hugging Sara's shoulders. "Tori-san let's take this beautiful maiden to a fine restaurant! She deserves only the best!" And before Sara could try to refuse once again, she had her coat on and Ayame was leading her out of the shop with Hatori following closely.
***Hate it? Like it? Love it? Whichever is your pick, please review. :) -Shihori.
Answers to reviewers:
K-chan: I'm glad you liked it! Hope you continue to like it. It's already finished so don't worry about not getting to read its ending. And I don't exactly explain it where they know her from but the story itself gives the answer. Thank you for reviewing!