****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 stepped out of the car's back seat thanking Ayame for opening the door for her. She turned to them, Hatori having walked around the car and stood next to Ayame. "Thank you for the lovely afternoon. I had a lot of fun in your company."
Ayame grabbed her hand and said in a silky voice. "No… I thank you for bringing some sunshine to this wintry heart of mine." Then he laughed at her completely lost face. "Or so Tori-san should say since he rarely smiles in winter time."
"Ayame." Hatori's voice carried a tone of disapproval.
"Eh….why's that?" Sara asked Ayame in a sudden outburst of curiosity.
Ayame blinked, and then grinned as his arm snaked around her shoulders. "I'll tell all about it if you invite me into your apartment."
Hatori stared angrily at him. "I think she has had more than enough of you for today Ayame. Let's go."
"Mou… you're no fun Tori-san!" Ayame pouted cutely, making the young woman next to him giggle. Suddenly he felt something pushing him at the leg, and he stepped aside. He blinked, looking down at a kid probably 6 years old, hugging Sara's leg protectively. "And who are you?" He asked with a demanding tone, looking upset for being pushed away from Sara.
"She's my girlfriend so keep your hands off her cross-dresser!" The boy gave him a nasty glare.
"Gashi-kun, don't be rude with my friend." Sara looked disapprovingly at him.
"Ah!" Ayame squealed, jumping to Hatori's side. "She's already taken!" He patted the doctor's shoulder. "I'm so sorry for you Hatori…but I promise I'll find you someone soon! In the meantime, you have me!" Hatori only sighed tiredly.
"Let's go Sa-chan!" Gashi grabbed her hand and pulled at it. "Shaman King is about to start."
"Hai hai…." Sara smiled and waved good-bye to Hatori and Ayame as she allowed Gashi to pull her away. "See you around."
"Bai!" Ayame waved back and looked up to Hatori, looking worriedly. "What are we going to do? You'll tell Akito?"
"Can you keep a secret?" Hatori stared after Sara who was laughing at something the kid said as they walked into the apartment building. Ayame nodded affirmatively. "Then we'll keep it a secret, from Akito…" Then he added. "And Shigure."
Ayame frowned, "I don't like keeping it from him, but he's too close to Akito."
Deceiving Bonds: Chapter 2"Why you asked her that question?" Hatori asked while keeping an eye on the road. It was snowing lightly.
Ayame smiled, "Curiosity."
Hatori's eyes seemed distant and his face remained serious. "We really should keep our distance from her. We'll only harm her."
"Are you saying we shouldn't be selfish?" Ayame looked at him, and guessed for his cousin's silence that it was a 'yes' to his question. "Weren't we selfish back then? Staying close to her now, wouldn't it be like making up for our lack of guts back then?"
"Things are worse now than back then." Hatori pointed out, his grip tightening around the steering wheel. "Akito couldn't forgive her ten years ago. What makes you think he'll accept her around again?"
"She's probably the only person he loved sincerely." Ayame shrugged, gathering his hair over his shoulder and braiding it. "Or so it seemed to me." He looked at him from the corner of his eyes. "He was too scared to lose her to someone else that he preferred to take her away from his life, and ours."
Hatori muttered. "It was for the best."
"Keep repeating that." Ayame leaned his elbow on the door, resting his chin on his palm. "Maybe someday you'll believe it."
Hatori's grip tightened once again on the wheel. When snow melts, what will it become?
"Ne ne…Sara-chan?" Ayame took another scoop of his vanilla ice cream parfait. Only someone like him would think of having ice cream in winter. "When snow melts, what will it become?"
"Eh?" Sara stopped from getting another scoop of melted ice cream and apple pie. "What kind of question is that?"
"Don't pay attention to him." Hatori took another sip of his coffee. –How did he know?
"I'm just curious of which your answer could be." Ayame insisted with a small grin on his face.
Sara blinked twice and looked out the window. They were sitting at a round table close to the ceiling high window panels, in an elegant looking restaurant. "If you want me to answer with common sense, I'd say water." Hatori looked up to her, knowing that was the same answer he gave long time ago, but his eyes couldn't divert from the smile slowly growing on her lips. "But my heart says hope."
"Hope?" Ayame looked at her quizzically. "Care to explain?"
"When snow melts, it becomes water." She began, noticing the light snowfall going out there. "Water wakes up the seeds buried under the ground, bringing life. And when life is born, so is hope."
"Ah! So poetic!" Ayame squealed, "I wouldn't expect less of a literature teacher like you."
Sara smiled sheepishly. "I'm not that good at poetry though. My strength is the novel genre." Then she noticed Hatori's warm stare on her, and she felt her face burn suddenly. "Ah-umm...anyways…" She turned her face away from him again. "That's what I think. What's the answer?"
Ayame shrugged, "Hatori is the one who knows it." He chuckled, knowing the doctor was glaring at him without even turning to see him. "But I guess he won't tell us." He looked out the window as well. "I hope spring comes soon. I don't like winter. It's bad for my health."
"I like winter." Sara smiled, "It's serene beauty." Her smile widened. "But I love summer. I hope to see another summer."
"Of course you will! You'll see this one and many more." Ayame exclaimed with great conviction.
"You seem more a summer person than a winter one." Hatori commented, setting down his cup on the saucer. "Winter is not for someone like you, Sara-san."
Sara smiled gently, but her eyes had a soft sad glow. "Just like nature, our hearts have four seasons and throughout our lives we experience them over and over. Every time we laugh it is summer. When we hope or dream, it is spring. Autumn takes over when indecision overcomes our thoughts and feelings. And winter lives permanently in our hearts if we lose someone and can't let go of them. Yet, our nature is to live with those three seasons, and to learn to accept them."
Ayame looked at her with gleaming eyes. "You say such beautiful things Sara-chan! You're the second perfect being over this world. The first one being me of course."
Sara giggled at his self-confidence. "You really are special Ayame-san."
Ayame laughed attracting the other customer's attention. "You have no idea!"
A smile spread over Hatori's lips after remembering their lunch conversation. -Four seasons huh?
°
Sara slipped her arms out of the coat and hung it on the rack along with her purse. Sitting down on the floor, she took off her black, knee high boots. She was wearing black stockings under the dark red velvet, mid-thigh skirt and a white, wide turtle neck sweater. "Gashi-kun took so long to fall asleep." She muttered to herself as she dragged her feet on the polished wood floor, freeing her hair from the tight constraint bun at the nape. Her hair unwrapped on her back when she pulled out the pins holding it together, reaching her waist.
She didn't turn on the lights, knowing her way through the dark apartment, and went directly to her bedroom. Streetlight came in through the veil curtain in front of the French window and lit the floor with a soft pale blue like color. She sat down on the bed, which ended where the window began. Reaching out behind her, she grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly as she slipped to the floor.
"This feeling…" She whispered resting her chin on the pillow, a smile spread on her thin lips.
Flashbacks of Hatori when she first saw him at the beach and then at the villa where she found out who he was, came to her mind followed by some more of that same night when he went to the live house with the other two.
"My heart was singing already for him." Her eyes gleamed with cheer happiness. "It was singing before I realized it."
Memories of the next day when they swam together and chatted afterwards made her smile even more, like a silly high school girl. Then she remembered his intense gaze on her that afternoon while they were having dessert and his cool demeanor with Ayame and Akima, making her blush brightly and hug the pillow tighter as she hid her face against it.
"Is this, what they call love at first sight?" She muttered bringing her face out of the pillow and stared out the window. It snowed outside. "It feels like much more, a lot more than that."
She stood up, making the curtains aside and opened the windows letting in the cold air into the warm room. Bringing out her hand, she caught a few snowflakes, which melted, immediately with her body heat. "It feels as if my heart was melting. As if my summer and winter were blending."
She closed the window again, and leaned her back against it. "God.. I feel like a school girl having her first crush." She giggled covering her face with both hands. –I know him from before, I'm certain. She thought suddenly, her happiness slipping off her countenance as she brought her hands to her chest. –But what role did he play in my past?
Sounds of waves crashing against rocks followed by breaking glass echoed in her ears. She frowned, bringing her hand to cover her left eye. "It hurts…" She moaned as she crawled into the bed pressing her hand harder over her eye. "It hurts!"
°
"We're home Sara-chan!" Akima called out as she walked in with a tall man behind her. "If you're naked you better run and hide! Ryota is here too!"
"Gosh…you really can't stop teasing her, can you?" He chuckled as he hung their coats and followed her in after leaving his shoes at the entrance. He was dressed in a dark green suit, white shirt and his black hair was gelled back.
Akima was back to her normal clothes too. She walked to the living room that links to the kitchen. She saw Sara leaning on the counter with both hands and her head bowed. "Hey there!" She chirped and pranced into the kitchen.
"Good morning Fujima-san." Ryota greeted her from afar.
"Cat bit your tongue?" Akima asked looking curiously at her.
"Sorry…" Sara whispered with a strained voice. "Haven't felt well. My head hurts a lot"
This made Akima worried immediately and brought Sara's face to her. "God.. you're pale." She turned to Ryota as she held Sara by the arm, leading her away from the counter. "Ryota, help us out here honey." But before he got to them, Sara collapsed on her. "Oh God Sara!" Akima cried, being forced to her knees as she tried to hold the taller and heavier woman. "Ryota!"
I feel as if my head is going to explode. The sea… I want to see the sea again. Sara thought as she slowly closed her eyes, Akima's and Ryota's voices grew farther, and the sound of the waves arriving to the shore echoed in her ears. Home…where is my home?
She woke up with a bitter taste in her mouth and slightly dizzy. She lolled her head to her left, finding Akima sitting on a chair next to her bed and her head resting over her hands which were covering her own. "Aki-" Her throat was dry and it hurt to speak.
Akima threw her head back as soon as she heard her name and she smiled widely, tears coming to her eyes. "You had us so worried!" She cried out and jumped to hug her. "You slept for two days." She caressed Sara's forehead. "Well you woke up in the middle of the night but you were moaning some words I didn't understand at all. You had a very strong fever when we found you and it stopped a few hours ago."
"Water." Sara winced at the pain on her throat.
"Ah! Yes!" Akima slid off the bed and grabbed the water jar and poured some into the glass. She brought her hand behind Sara's neck and placing the cool glass against her lips, which had chapped slightly with the fever. "You must be dizzy." She commented, "The doctor said that you would be when you woke up."
Sara pushed the petite's hand away gently, meaning she had enough. She cleared her throat a bit before speaking. "What happened to me? What's wrong with me?" She noticed Akima's face turn ghost white as she sat down. "Akima, speak to me."
"Well you see…" Akima began explaining her what the doctor had told her and Ryota that afternoon when he received Sara's exams. After a few minutes, all was said.
Sara stared blankly at her friend, but got herself together and spoke her thoughts out. "So that could be the reason why I have no recollection of my past memories."
"I mentioned that to him, but he said that wasn't possible since you lost your memories 10 years ago, and this is relatively recent." Akima explained, "In any case it is bringing your memories back."
Sara sighed and closed her eyes. "If so, blessed it be."
"What are you saying?" Akima cried out suddenly angry. "This is serious stuff Sara!"
"You know how much I've hated having no memories of my parents, of anything that happened to me before I became 16." Her hands balled into fists grabbing the white sheets under them. "It is so frustrating not knowing who you are."
"You ARE Sara Fujima." Akima pointed out, laying her hands over her arm careful not to pull of the IV line. "You are that girl who walked into my life 10 years ago and became my best friend. You are the granddaughter of that cranky old man we all feared, but only you loved."
Sara smiled sadly at her words. "I thought so. I really believed so during all these years, but his daughter, his real daughter, proved me wrong."
"She just made up those stories to stay with your inheritance!" Akima yelled, exasperated. "That old hag!"
"I know deep down she didn't make up anything she said. She isn't my aunt and her children aren't my cousins, nor Grandpa was my grandfather." Sara brought her hands to her face to cover her tears. "If this allows me to know who I am, I don't care! I welcome it!"
"Don't say that." Akima fought back tears and shook her head lightly. "You're being selfish."
"I deserve to be at least once in my life." Sara pointed out between sniffles. "It doesn't really matter while I get to know who I am and where I belong." She brought her hands down and smiled at Akima with tears on her cheeks. "I want to find my home, that home my heart keeps calling out for."
Akima sighed, shaking her head lightly, and leaned over to hug her friend. "Dumb girl."
°
Sara stood in front of the sliding door through which could be heard the student's yapping and rattle from inside. She straightened her pink, waist long blazer, checked that her white blouse under it had no stains and the pink skirt had no wrinkles, and finally that her red high heeled shoes shined. Then she took a deep breath and exhaled. Lastly, she grabbed hold of the door and slid it open with great confidence emanating from her.
The classroom became as silent as a cemetery, and they had probably sat back in their seats with the speed of lighting, or so she guessed. It always made her nervous, the first day, but she stepped into the classroom keeping her calm aura. They were after all only teens, and she had always been able to keep a good relationship with her students. This isn't supposed to be the exception, or so she hoped.
She slid the door close behind her and walked up to the desk. Setting her purse on it next to her portfolio case, she faced her assigned group, and smiled warmly at them. "Good afternoon. My name is Sara Fujima and I'll be your homeroom teacher." She kept herself from giggling at the hearty sighs coming from all over the place. –If I had wrinkles and a skirt to my ankles they wouldn't be sighing like that. "I'll also be your literature teacher, but we'll talk about the class' dynamics later on." She walked to the front of the desk, and leaned on it. "Since the new semester opening ceremony took pretty much all morning, we'll chat and get to know a bit more about each other. Any questions?"
A boy from the back jumped on his feet raising his hand as well. "Are you married?"
The class erupted in laughter but the boy remained in his firm stance, his face a dark shade of crimson. Sara just giggled and shook her head. "I'm not." She moved away from the desk and walked a bit closer to the windows. "Feel free to ask anything about me. I know it takes time but I want you to see in me a friend." Pointing at the chalkboard she said, "That is when I'm not up there giving a class. Literature is my heart's love and I am very passionate about my class. I hope you respect that just like I will respect your opinions."
"I'm so glad to hear that Fujima-sensei!" chirped one of the female students, "Our previous teacher was an old hag who didn't even like literature and much less liked teaching. Her classes were so boring! I'm really looking forward to your class!"
"Not to mention you're way cuter than that old hag!" A male student pointed out and the rest of the boys nodded saying they agreed.
"Thank you.." Sara said with a smile, and looked at the student sitting at the first row, first seat. "I'm sure you all know each other from the previous year, but I want to get to know you as well so could you please stand up in order and tell me your name, your hobbies, and anything you wish to share with us."
One by one they stood up, said their names and hobbies as she had requested and she repeated their names to herself to memorizing them. It was something she liked to do to make her students feel important to her. Among them she recognized someone. –I keep meeting them one by one. "Hatsuharu Sohma." She whispered to herself and smiled, knowing that he had recognized her as well for the tiny smile that curved his lips. Then there was Momiji Sohma who sat right behind him, and she guessed they were family due to their surname.
–Cute. She thought after Momiji's cheerful presentation, not to mention his "special" uniform.
When the last one sat down, she thanked them with a smile. "Well then, I think it is fair to share more about me with you since you did so kindly with me." She clasped her hands behind her as she walked to the other side of the classroom. "As you can guess, one of my favorite things to do is read, -otherwise I wouldn't be teaching literature. I also love to sing. Back in my hometown I used to sing in a live house with old high school friends. Another thing I love to do is snorkeling, gardening. My main hobby is collecting old books, and I also write short stories from time to time."
"Awesome…" Some of them whispered.
"Could you sing something for us sensei?" One of the girls asked.
"Some other day." Sara promised, looking up at the clock at the back of the room. "It is almost time for the chime to ring, so I'll tell you quickly about the literature class dynamics."
In five minutes she had explained what she expected of them and the way the will work, which everyone seemed to agree with. Just in time, the school bell rang. "Thank you for today, and have a good afternoon. Dismissed." She said with a slight authoritative tone, and went to sit down behind the desk. She bid her students good-bye as they passed by and did so as well.
Soon the classroom was empty and she stared at the empty seats. "A new start." She whispered to herself. "The beginning of a new life." The smile never wavered from her lips although she felt nostalgic, missing her old high school where she had studied and later on had taught at. –I can't sing yet. My heart hurts too much. She thought as she stood up grabbing her purse and portfolio case, and walked out of the room, sliding the door closed behind her.
°
"I'll be waiting next to phone booth in front of the crepes wagon." Haru hung up the public phone and walked out of the booth. He had got lost again and had been too stubborn to call for help earlier. So know Hatori was upset because he went missing two days. He shrugged. "Can't be helped." He muttered to himself putting his hands in his black jeans' pockets.
He stared at the passersby and noticed someone in special among them. Before he knew it he was already walking away from the phone booth and following that person deeper into the park. When she stepped out of the cobblestone walk, he continued to follow her to a secluded spot between trees and in front of a small pond. He watched from behind a tree as she settled down under a willow tree, bringing a small radio from her bag and an old looking book.
Haru couldn't understand what he felt whenever he saw her. The first time they met he felt he knew her from before but no matter how hard he tried to remember, he couldn't. When he saw her walk into the classroom for first time, just like every guy in the classroom, he had been impressed by her looks. Back at the beach she seemed the type of woman who could beat any guy, probably due to her driving a motorcycle, but in the classroom she presented herself as a lady-like woman.
It had been a month since he saw her again and the nagging feeling of knowing her only became stronger with each day. He had hated having got lost Friday and Saturday since he wasn't able to see her for two days, but for chances of fate he had encountered her here. Obviously by now he had totally forgotten about Hatori coming to pick him up.
Sara continued to read her book, keeping a hand on her blue dress' skirt so it wouldn't be blown suddenly by the breeze. Her raven hair was lose, pulled to the sides by a pair of silver crescent moon pins, and a few bangs over her forehead. She had taken off her white sandals to feel the soft grass under her feet. In her mind, she was in heaven, reading a book in a spot far from the rest of the world and listening to low instrumental music.
"Haru!" Momiji chirped as he hopped towards the hiding cow.
Haru immediately snapped around grabbing Momiji by the head and covering his mouth. He hushed him. "Don't want to disturb her." He released the smaller boy and they both peeked from behind the tree.
"Eh…Fujima-sensei." Momiji muttered smiling brightly in his usual manner. "You like her!" He said as if he just discovered a great secret or the most ancient treasure of the world.
"It isn't polite to spy on others." Hatori said in a low tone, standing behind them, not quite behind the tree as well, but definitely hiding behind the two youngsters.
Momiji looked up at Hatori , blinked twice, and then his face lit up even more. "Hari likes her too!"
Hatori almost dropped the unlit cigarette on his lips at those words. "Enough. Let's go you two." He said turning around.
Haru was about follow when he saw Momiji hop away from them, grabbing three yellow flowers on his way. "Sensei!" -Too late. The cow thought as he saw her take her attention away from the book to the rabbit hoping towards her.
"Momiji-kun?" Sara blinked her gray eyes surprised to have been found there. –It's just a coincidence. She thought, a smile spreading on her lips when the boy held out a hand with a tiny, yellow flowers, but flowers nevertheless. Women loved flowers and she wasn't an exception. "For me?"
Momiji nodded beaming brightly. "Yes! One is from me." He said as she took them from his hand. "One is from Haru and the other from Hari."
"Eh?" Sara looked the way he was staring, noticing the other two's presence for first time. She sighed almost dreamily when she saw him. "Hatori-san."
Momiji stopped waving at them to come closer when he heard her say the doctor's name. "You know him?"
"Ah?" Sara blushed lightly, realizing she had said it out loud. –God! What am I? A high school girl or a 25 yrs old woman? She scolded herself silently. "Yeah…I do."
"Sensei." Haru said with a casual nod. In his white mode he was too shy to say much to someone like her.
"Hello Hatsuharu-kun." Sara smiled up at him, and tried her best to keep herself from blushing when Hatori neared as well. "Hatori-san, how are you?"
"Fine, thank you." He saw the open book resting on her lap. "I'm sorry these two interrupted your reading."
"It's alright." Sara shook her head slightly, smiling warmly at him. "Are you three related?"
"We're cousins!" Momiji chirped, sitting down in front of her. Haru followed suit and Hatori sighed. –These two are making themselves comfortable now. This will take time.
"What are you reading sensei?" Momiji looked curiously at the yellow-paged book. "It looks old."
"It is!" Sara said excitedly, showing him the cover. "It's one of the first copies of Pride and Prejudice. A friend bought it from an auction and gave it to me as an early birthday present."
Momiji got excited at the word birthday. "When's your birthday sensei?"
Sara smiled at the cute, foreign looking boy. "It's the 25th."
"That's a Friday." Haru pointed out, paying attention to every single word she said.
Momiji smiled, planning already something for that day. "I see."
-Even her birthday date was changed. It's amazing what people can do when they want to disappear someone from their lives. Hatori thought. "Well let's go you two so Sara-san can continue with her reading."
"But Hari!" Momiji whined, pouting cutely at him. "I want to stay a bit longer with Fujima-sensei!"
"Me too." Haru added with a cool face, leaning against the tree trunk.
"I remind you that we came here to pick you up so you don't get lost again. I must go back to check on Akito." Hatori brought out a lighter and lit his cigarette.
"Akito?" Sara asked, remembering their conversation at the beach. "Is that the person you told me about?"
Hatori took a draw of the cigarette, and then answered, not letting any of the smoke out as he did. "Yes." Then he exhaled the smoke away from them.
"How is he doing?" Sara seemed curious about that person. –His name sounds familiar.
"Same as always." Hatori's face seemed to harden each time he spoke of the clan's head.
Sara looked gently at him. "I'm sorry to hear that." Then she smiled. "But keep giving it your best. Hope is the last thing to lose."
A small smile curved his lips. "I will." –She'd say the same if she could remember, I'm sure.
"Hari and Haru like you sensei!" Momiji chirped, bringing all the attention to him again. Hatori looked away, Haru shot him daggered glares, Sara blushed, and Momiji giggled at their reactions. "But that is cause sensei is a very beautiful lady!"
Sara blushed sever shades of crimson as she managed to utter some words. "Than you Momiji-kun, but I think you exaggerate."
"I've found you."
Sara shrieked, jumping closer to Haru. The cow had his eyes wide in panic because for a moment he thought she'd jump on him. "Akima!" Sara yelled, holding a hand to her chest. "Don't scare me like that!"
Akima gave her a dark stare. Behind her stood Ryota who only shrugged at Sara saying he had nothing to do with this, yet he was there. "You promised." The petite woman pointed at Sara with an accusing finger.
Sara frowned, "I don't want to!" She forgot for the moment of her company.
Akima's eyes raised and noticed the Sohmas, recognizing Hatori immediately. "That's the man." She moved her accusing finger to Hatori who only sighed. "That's the man who didn't like the beautiful outfit Ayame-san put so much effort in."
"That outfit is only for me dear." Ryota chuckled, patting her head, not jealous at all. "Focus honey."
"Sara Fujima, gather your things right now, we're going to the beauty parlor!" Akima said in a commanding voice, her eyes scary. "We have an appointment at 5 with Ayame-san so we can't be late!"
Hatori, Haru, and Momiji sweat dropped. –She's being so dramatic for that?
Sara pointed at Momiji. "Look Aki-chan, isn't he cute? He's the boy I've told you about." Momiji just gave her the cutest face he had, rabbit ears included.
Akima's eyes turned into hearts. "Ah! He is! So cute!" She chirped and jumped to him, scaring the hell out of Haru and Hatori, while Momiji just smiled brightly at her. Suddenly she snapped out of it, kneeling between Momiji and Sara, looking even scarier. "You almost tricked me but it won't work twice Sara, you little devil!"
Sara smiled sheepishly, bringing her hands forward as shield. "Really Akima, I don't want to go to that party."
Akima stood up in a super determined stance with tears in her eyes. "I always keep my promises!" She declared, "And I promised I'd get you married by the end of this month!"
"I don't want to get married!" Sara exclaimed, starting to feel embarrassed.
"I also promised you'd get some F-U-N tonight!" Akima grinned down at her, "If you know what I mean." Then broke into a hysteric laugh.
Sara sighed and turned to the boys and Hatori. "I apologize for my friend's existence. She just doesn't know what is proper to say and what is not."
"It is quite normal for us." Hatori smirked, "Ayame is no different after all."
Sara smiled nervously remembering the day she met him at Ayame's shop. "I have noticed." She sighed, and then smiled at them. "Well I'll see you tomorrow at school Momiji-kun, Hatsuharu-kun." She stood up and smiled at Hatori.
"At last she has come to her senses!" Akima exclaimed, picking up Sara's things quickly and handing them to Ryota. "Tonight will be a special night for our dear Sa-chan!" She said almost in tears. "I'll make sure of it."
Sara just sweat dropped, not looking at her. "Hopefully," She said softly, looking at Hatori, blushing lightly. "I'll see you again."
"Most likely we'll meet again." Hatori half smiled at her. "I am these two's tutor."
"Bye-bye." Sara smiled, a little bit disappointed since she didn't mean it that way, but it didn't matter. Grabbing her sandals and hugging the book, the three flowers as bookmark, a playful smile curved her lips. Without previous warning, she began running away. "Not going to that party!" She yelled, taunting Akima, and seriously trying to escape.
Akima flared up and broke into a mad chase after her. "Come back here! You're going to the party and getting BEEP tonight! I swear!"
Ryota chuckled and bowed in front of the Sohmas. "I apologize for those kids' behavior." He then walked the way they had gone.
"I don't like that woman." Haru declared with a solemn face.
"Let's go you two." Hatori ordered walking back the way they had come.
Momiji chuckled and dared to taunt him a bit. "Is it because she'll get sensei married no matter what?" And ran away from him, using Hatori as a shield from Haru's daggers.
°
Shigure waltzed into the bookshop, and beamed a sexy smile to the woman sitting at a desk. "Hello Mayuko."
Mayuko gave him a disgusted look. "You again? I though you'd forgotten the way here by now."
"So mean…" He whined moving to her side. "I've come to see how you're doing."
"I'm fine." Mayuko muttered as she grabbed a list on the desk and began reading it. "You can go back now."
"Ara…why are you so upset?" Shigure asked curiously, leaning on the desk while looking down at her. "Any progress with Hatori? I heard he came around the other day."
"He told you?" She asked in an uninterested manner.
Shigure shook his head. "Aya mentioned it."
"He came for a birthday present, before you ask." Mayuko set the list back on the desk and signed it at the bottom.
"A present?" Shigure thought about it for a moment. "I don't know anyone whose birthday is close."
Mayuko's eyes were shadowed for a moment. "He said it was for a very special person."
"Eh…." Shigure grinned and poked her arm. "Now I see why you're so upset. Hatori's found a new girlfriend. Your fault for being a slowpoke!"
"Shut up!" Mayuko looked angrily at him but then sighed. "I don't really care, while he's happy again."
"How noble of you." Shigure said in a mocking tone and walked towards the bookshelves. His eyes skimmed through the book titles as he walked by them. From the tail of his eye he saw locks of long, black hair disappear behind the bookshelf. Curiosity got the best of him so he turned around the shelf's corner and saw her trying to reach a book while holding one to her chest. "Let me help you." He offered, reaching his hand out for the book and grabbed it, giving it to her.
"Thank you Shigure-san." Sara smiled brightly at him. "I was wondering when I'd meet you."
Shigure didn't understand her words. "Why you say so?"
"Because I've met Hatori-san and Ayame-san several times since I moved here and it made me wonder if I'd meet you anytime soon." Sara said as she pulled the ponytail to rest over her shoulder. His surprised look made her guess they hadn't commented anything to him. "Ah…I'm sorry. I didn't know they hadn't told you."
"We haven't talked much lately." Shigure said hiding his surprise. "But why did you move here?"
"Grandpa died last winter and I was ordered to leave the beach house before the new caretaker arrived. So I came here and moved in with an old friend." Sara explained while looking for another book that could strike her interest.
"What about your job back there?" Shigure pried, "And your boyfriend."
Sara was taken by surprise at that. "How do you know I had a boyfriend?"
"Had. So you broke up." Shigure tried hiding the happy tone from his words. "Wasn't he the one who kissed you back at the live house?"
Sara thought back to that night the trio went to the live house and nodded lightly. "Yes." She noticed a small, hard cover book at the bottom and crouched to grab it. "We broke up." She said in a tone that implied that she didn't want to be questioned more about that subject.
Shigure looked down at her, a small smile playing on his face. "I'm sorry." He decided to change the subject before he scared her away. When she stood up he followed her. "Where are you working now?" He noticed that her white blouse was very thin allowing him to see her bra line, and that the blue jeans fitted her shape nicely, showing off her curves.
"Kaiwabara High." She said smiling. "I'm teaching 2nd grade."
"Kaiwabara?" Shigure repeated. –I can't believe she's been so close. "I have four cousins studying there. Maybe you know them. They don't pass by unnoticed."
Sara nodded and smiled proudly. "I'm Hatsuharu-kun and Momiji's homeroom teacher. They are very nice kids." Then she seemed to think back. "I also met Yuki-san the other day. I was asked to help out the student council. That makes three."
"The other one is Kyou. He has orange hair and is always fighting around with Yuki. He can't have gone by unnoticed." Shigure chuckled lightly. "He's also around a girl, Honda Tohru. Yuki, Kyou, and Tohru live with me, so if they cause any trouble just call me."
Sara blinked. "I had no idea." She smiled and put back the book she was first holding on the shelf keeping the one Shigure got for her and the small one. "It must be really fun to live with so many people."
"It is fun to live with those three." Shigure nodded, grabbing a book without looking at it just to say he had been looking for a book. "Are you happy in your new job?"
Sara nodded, her face brightening. "At first I wanted to go back home badly. Even though I'm almost 26 I still have this feeling like I've been stuck in the 16 years old stage. But my students have made me feel welcome. Not to mention that the friend I live with gives me no time to get depressed about things." Then she caught her tongue and giggled. "Sorry. I'm babbling too much."
"That's alright. I want to know you better Sara-san. Probably we could become friends." Shigure decided he wasn't going to lose time at all. If she had moved there he might as well try to recover some crumbs of what they used to be. "That is if you don't mind."
Sara shook her head, always keeping a smile on her lips. "I wouldn't mind having a new friend."
"Great!" He eyed the titles of the books she carried. "I have the first volume to that one."
"Oh really?" Sara stared at him. "I've been looking for it everywhere in this place thinking it could have been misplaced."
"If you want, we can go fetch it from my house so you can read it before reading the second volume." Shigure offered, hoping she'd accept since he wanted to spend more time with her.
"I wouldn't like to bother you Shigure-san." Sara wasn't too sure about taking advantage of her new friend as she saw it.
"Not at all!" Shigure exclaimed, "We could exchange. I've read the first volume so you can lend me your volume and I'll lend you mine."
"Probably I should let you buy this one so you won't ruin your collection." Sara offered him the thick book.
"The one who finds it, keeps it." Shigure shook his head, pushing the book back to her chest. "Besides sharing is a friendship trait. Let's say it's a good beginning for ours."
Sara giggled at his excitement and decided not to insist. "Alright." She turned around and walked out of the shelves area towards Mayuko's desk where the teacher sat at. "Mayuko-sensei, I've found a pair I had been desperately looking for. Thank you for telling me about your father's shop."
"It's always good business to spread the word." Mayuko half smiled, taking the books from her. "Give me a minute to register them. Will you pay with cash or credit card?"
"Credit card." Sara answered as she brought out her wallet from the back pocket on her jeans.
"I'll take this one Mayu-chan." Shigure chirped, placing the book next to Sara's on the desk.
Mayuko noticed the change in his attitude. "You're awfully cheerful out of the sudden."
"That is cause I have a new friend!" Shigure announced as if he was a preschooler who had made his first friend, and hugged Sara's shoulders. The younger woman just smiled.
Mayuko looked at them with wide, surprised eyes. "Fujima-sensei, I'd recommend you to stay away from that guy. He's a declared pervert and a handful."
"Mou….you're so mean Mayu-chan!" Shigure whined, pouting at Mayuko.
Sara giggled at the scene. "I'll keep that in mind sensei."
After they had paid their books, Shigure led Sara towards his house, chatting lively all the way there. Sara couldn't help but see him like a kid trapped in an adult's body and that made him a refreshing person to be around. They arrived to the empty house and he immediately lead her to his office-personal library.
"There's a little problem though." He said looking at the piles of books around the place since there was no space for them on the bookshelf. "I have no idea where it is exactly. If you don't mind helping me-"
"Incredible!" Sara whispered in awe. "So many books!" She looked like a child in a candy store. "May I look around?" She asked with pleading eyes.
Shigure chuckled glad to see that she remained basically the same girl he remembered. "Of course. Make yourself comfortable. I'll go for some tea and snacks." He smiled when she chirped her thanks and jumped to the first pile, taking one of the books and skimming through it with great interest.
The phone rang and he went to answer it. It was Hatori calling Yuki. "When he comes back I'll tell him you'll come to do the check up." Shigure's smiling face vanished as it turned somber. "How long did you intend keeping Sa-chan from me?"
There was a long pause at the other side. "Where did you meet her?"
"At Mayuko's book shop." Shigure didn't seem too happy over them keeping her as a secret from him. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Akito." Hatori gave him a simple answer.
Shigure sighed, realizing that he had earned it. After all he told Akito pretty much what happened and he guessed Hatori and Ayame thought he would tell the clan's head about Sara. "I understand." Then he added. "But I won't tell him about her. It is useless to bring him any extra pain, not to mention putting her in a difficult situation."
"Shigure-san!" Sara called out excitedly. "Found the book!"
"Good!" Shigure smiled, cursing inwardly the timing. He could hear Hatori asking if she was there on the other side of the line. "Yes she is here. I'll try to get her to stay for dinner." He hung up after Hatori told him he'd be there by that time. He couldn't blame them for not telling him, but it still bothered him. Deciding to leave that for later, he went to the kitchen and got the tea and snacks he promised. When he returned he saw the book Sara was holding and paled.
"Shigure-san," Sara brought up the book with the title of 'A sigh in summer color'. "I had no idea you liked this type of reading."
Shigure sweat dropped as he knelt to set the tray down on the desk on the only spot not covered by books or papers. "Actually I wrote it."
"Eh? You write this type of books?" Sara looked down at a pile of books of the same kind. "There's even a whole volume collection."
Shigure laughed and brought out a book titled 'Season of Heart'. "Actually I wrote that one for fun. This is what I really write."
"Eh!" Sara took it from him. "I haven't read this one!"
"You read my novels?" Shigure asked not believing what seemed obvious.
"Yes I do." Sara nodded, "I'm a fan of your novels." She brought up the one she found. "Akima, my friend is madly in love with this kind of books and you're her favorite author. She'd be here in a jiff, hugging you to death if I told her I met you."
Shigure chuckled nervously at the thought of being hugged to death. "Then it's probably better to keep it a secret from her."
Sara giggled agreeing with him. "Yes. Akima can very effusive when excited. Knowing her, she'd forget all about her boyfriend and convince you to go to bed with her just cause you're her favorite author."
Shigure cat smiled. "I don't see the problem with that."
Sara laughed, "I see Mayuko-sensei was telling the truth."
Shigure chuckled sheepishly. "I hope I'm not scaring you away."
"Not at all." Sara smiled warmly at him. "I usually feel uncomfortable when Akima goes into her perverted mode, but I don't seem to get uncomfortable at all with you or Hatori-san. The only one I feel dizzy with is Ayame-san."
Shigure nodded knowing what she meant. "Only Hatori and I seem to be able to stand him. We've been together since childhood so we kind of got used to him."
They continued to chat and Shigure told her some high school tales, from the least perverted ones till the really perverted ones, which had her laughing the whole time. She also shared a few tales from her high school days with Akima and the guys who played at the live house with her. Before they realized it, night had fallen and the house's youngsters arrived. They were surprised to see Sara there and alone with Shigure, both looking quite entertained.
"Ah! Yuki-kun! Kyou-kun! Tohru-kun!" Shigure chirped, "You know Sara Fujima right?"
"Yes. Fujima-sensei, are you alright?" Yuki asked concerned about them being alone. "He didn't try anything perverted on you?" Behind him stood a surprised Tohru and a suspicious looking Kyou.
Sara just giggled at Shigure's feigned offended look and shook her head negatively. "No Sohma-kun. We were just chatting." Then she looked at her watch. "Oh my God! Didn't realize the time!" She looked at Shigure. "I've abused too much of your time!"
Shigure grabbed her hands and leaning closer to her, changing into seductive mode making Sara giggle. "Your company has brought sunshine to my day. Would you care to be the moon in this dark night of mine? Would you stay with me tonight?" Then a book hit him hard on the side of his head sending him down to the floor and Sara looked worried at him.
"Pervert!" Yuki yelled, and then apologized to Sara. "I'm sorry Fujima-san. That old man's head is too twisted."
"He must have spiked her tea for her to stay close to someone like him." Kyou pointed out noticing the tray on the desk with the empty cups.
"Mou…" Shigure pouted as he sat up. "I was only inviting her to have dinner with us."
Sara giggled softly, reaching out to his head before she could think twice what she was doing, and rubbed gently the spot where the book had hit him. "Are you alright? Does it hurt?"
Shigure blinked, taken aback by her sudden action, and then gave her a teary eyed look. "It hurts a lot!" He whined. "Yuki-kun is so mean! You have no idea what I have to endure with those two monsters, Sa-chan!"
"Sa-chan?" The three youngsters chorused bewilderedly.
"Yup!" Shigure chirped, taking Sara's hands and holding them between his. "She's my friend and new partner in mischief!"
Sara laughed, "Don't exaggerate Gure-kun! What will they think?"
He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them, back in his seductive mode. "That I've found my soul's lost half." Then he reverted back to his cheerful mode. "Or something perverted because believe it or not, those two have very dirty minds!"
"Don't put us in the same category as you!" Yuki and Kyou yelled and Shigure hid behind Sara.
"I'll go start dinner then." Tohru announced smiling at the whole scene. "You will stay right Fujima-san?"
"Yes Honda-san, if I'm not a bother." Sara smiled warmly.
"You'd never be a bother Sa-chan!" Shigure chirped from behind her.
Kyou just gave him a disgusted look. "Dirty old man." He muttered as he walked away.
Yuki noticed that Shigure was unusually happy and for what he had seen of Fujima-sensei before he believed she was the type of person who knew who to trust. –Probably he is behaving after all. "I'll call you two when dinner is ready then." Then he left the room sliding the shoji closed behind him.
"They look like nice kids." Sara watched Shigure walked from behind her to the chair and sit behind the desk. "You're so lucky to live with your family"
Shigure guessed by the small gleam of sadness in her eyes that the family subject was a hurtful one to her so decided to take her away from it. "Ne ne…" He waved at her asking her to come closer. "Can you help me out with this part?"
Sara was surprised at his request but was immediately at his side and read quickly the lines written in black ink. "Well I have an idea but don't laugh at me if you don't like it."
Shigure promised not to and watched her intently while she explained her idea. –You are back…my blue sky and sunshine.
***Hate it? Like it? Love it? Whichever is your pick, please review. :) -Shihori.
Answers to reviewers:
K-chan: Glad you still like it! :) Yeah...the time is a bit confusing on the coming chapters as well. Basically it all happens between March and August 2003 from now on. Thank you for reading!
hopeless romantic: Thank you. :)