****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.
~*~*~*~*~
"And when I saw her carrying him I thought 'this is Tori-san's love-love opportunity!" Ayame's loud voice came through the phone. Shigure kept it at safe distance from his ear. "So I decided to give them sometime before interrupting them! Don't take me wrong. I didn't want to interrupt them on purpose! I just wanted to check that he was alright. I mean, she found out of the curse and all and she having her memories gone I had no idea how she would react over the curse! She seemed to take it more than well because when I opened the door guess what?"
"What?" Shigure asked and then took the phone away from his ear again.
"They were kissing!" Ayame yelled, excited over the whole thing. "Not only that! Her clothes were wet and he had a towel around his neck!" Shigure's amused look vanished only to be replaced by a serious, somewhat sad look in his eyes. –So after all you couldn't resist her Ha-san. He smirked. –She spoiled us so much that it is impossible to step away from her again. We're such brats…wrapped around her finger.
"Of course when I appeared they immediately separated and they looked SO CUTE, looking embarrassed, blushing and all!" Ayame laughed. "They looked like a high school couple caught by their teacher just before they BEEP! Now that I think about it… it would have probably happened if I hadn't intruded! Damn my timing!" He laughed even louder. "It would have been much more fun to find them in a more compromising scene!"
"You really had fun didn't you?" Shigure said in a half amusing tone.
"Indeed I did!" Ayame laughed, but then yelled out. "You can put the phone to your ear again. I'll stop being loud."
Shigure did as he was asked. "I should have gone to that party. It seems it was very entertaining."
"Ah yes…you could have seen a pair of striptease, but that's not what I wanted to tell you." Ayame's tone was serious. "I know it is wrong of me to ask you this, since I helped in a way or another…"
"If she's happy, it is enough for me." Shigure answered before the snake could even ask.
"The truth is that I always thought she belonged more at your side than at Tori-san's." Ayame muttered, "You two always liked the same things, laughed at the same jokes. Heck! You two were partners in mischief!"
"We are too much alike." Shigure said smiling as memories flooded his mind, but sadness hinted on his tone. "That's why I was her confidant. Hatori was so different to her. That's why she was pulled to him like a magnet. And you….well… you were her right hand when it came to dressing up." Right then Yuki walked down the stairs and Shigure beamed at him. "Ah Yuki! Are you ready for your third double date?" He pulled the phone away from his ear on time.
Deceiving Bonds: Chapter 5"I'm so proud of you YUKI!" Ayame yelled. "Be a gentleman and don't do anything 'H' to Honda-san!"
Yuki glared at the phone as if he had his brother in front of him. "Don't mistake me with you nii-san!"
Ayame laughed, "Don't be embarrassed my little brother! Every healthy man has 'H' thoughts! It is part of men's roma-"
Yuki's hand rested over the receiver, which he had forcefully put back on the base. Shigure whined at him with tears overflowing his eyes. "You're so mean Yuki-kun! That was my phone call!"
"You really should choose better your acquaintances." Yuki snapped at him and walked towards the living room.
"Yuki-kun is so boring…" The dog continued to whine after him. "You could learn a few things of Aya."
"Only thing I could learn from him is how to be shameful." Yuki said annoyed and sighed as he sat on his cushion. "What time will Kagura be here?"
"Kyou-kun!" Kagura flew inside and caught the cat on time before he escaped her death embrace. "I'm so excited! This is our third date! We'll be officially a couple!"
"Where did you get that from?" Kyou hissed, still trying to escape.
"Oya oya…." Shigure chuckled from his seat. "Kyou-kun you must not run away from responsibilities as a man!"
"What responsibilities?" The cat squealed as Kagura's grip around his neck tightened.
"Eto…we should go Kagura-san. The movie will begin in an hour." Tohru said in a weak attempt to save Kyou from being choked to death.
"Ah that's right!" Kagura jumped to her feet and dragged a half dead Kyou-kun behind her. "See you later Shi-chan!" Yuki and Tohru followed. The girl obviously worried for Kyou's state.
"Go and come back safely!" The dog sing song-ed before taking a sip of his tea. His countenance changed the moment he heard the door close. He stared at the liquid in his cup with a deep look in his eyes. –The high, blue sky will always be unreachable for someone as dirty as me. He stared at his hand, a smirk taking over his lips. –With only thinking of reaching it, I stain its pureness.
°
"What movie are we watching anyways?" Kyou muttered in annoyance at Kagura who hung from his arm the whole time.
"Mogeta Comes Back!" Kagura and Tohru chirped at unison.
A gloomy aura fell over Kyou and Yuki. "Who'd want to see that stupid rat again?" Kyou hissed, trying to pull his arm away. "I'm not watching that again!"
"Mou….Kyou-kun…" Kagura said sweetly but then reverted to her scary mode. "YOU'RE WATCHING IT!"
-Damn this woman…Kyou thought angrily but not opposing more to his fate.
"Isn't that Hatori-san?" Tohru said, bringing everyone's attention.
Yuki watched at the older jyunishi walking on the sidewalk at the other side of the street. "It is Hatori."
"I thought he never had free days." Kyou commented. "Akito being ill all the time and all that."
"Even Hatori-nii needs to rest from time to time." Kagura said, joining the other three on their staring, but everyone's jaws dropped when they saw someone else speaking lively to him and- "He's holding hands with a woman!"
"Not any woman." Kyou muttered while watching Hatori smile. Although they were across the street he could see very well that the cool doctor was smiling warmly at someone.
"Where does he know Fujima-sensei from?" Yuki spoke the trio's question.
"Fujima-sensei? A teacher from your school?" Kagura asked innocently.
"Yes. She is Momiji-kun and Haru-san's homeroom teacher." Tohru explained the older girl.
"Should we follow them?" Yuki suggested. –Anything to not watch that movie.
"Eh? Yun-chan is the one to suggest that?" Kagura looked at the mouse as if he had just grown horns, but then grinned. "Let's follow!"
"Don't agree so easily!" Kyou hissed at the boar.
"Isn't that rude?" Tohru muttered, but Yuki grabbed her hand before she could complain any further and lead her to the safe crossing line while Kagura dragged Kyou. Soon they caught up with Hatori and Sara, following them closely but keeping distance enough not to be noticed.
"Are you sure it's alright for you to be here with me?" Sara asked, looking up a bit concerned. She was wearing a mid-thigh violet skirt, a light lilac, strapless top under a white cardigan, and white, Roman style, sandals. Her straight hair was pulled back in a loose braid with some bangs framing her face.
Hatori's grip around her hand tightened a little to reassure her that it was alright. "If there is any problem back home, they'll call me. Akito has been doing good lately so it is ok for me to take a day off." He dressed in blue pants, white, short-sleeved shirt with the neck buttons unbuttoned, and brown boot-like shoes.
"I'm glad." Sara smiled, her eyes drifting down to their clasped hands making her smile wider. –I want to live... I want to live this dream for as long as I can. "Momiji-kun and Hatsu-kun were very worried for me." She commented, "When I arrived to school they were waiting for me at the teacher's lounge door. They're so sweet."
"Haru told me Momiji insisted on doing the party yesterday." Hatori commented, half smiling down at her. "Also that you looked happier than usual."
Sara giggled and gave him a teasing look. "Of course I was happier than usual, but it has nothing to do with you at all."
"Oh really?" He smirked playfully, "And here I was feeling important." He watched her giggle knowing she wouldn't admit it a second time. The Sara he knew would only tell how she felt, whether it was good or bad, when she wasn't able to handle or keep those feelings to herself any longer. After that, she never discussed her feelings again. She had a habit he used to call 'critical moment blurt'. He chuckled at the memory. –She hated when I named her habits.
He watched her from the tail of his eye while she stared at the shop windows as the walked through the mall. This Sara wasn't that different in her habits. –But she's stronger, more confident in her steps, livelier than before if that is possible. She had grown up and bloomed on her own, far from our eyes and maybe it was the best that could have happened to her. If Akito and us would have stayed by her side, she would have withered slowly until summer died and winter took over her heart, like me.
"That's so cute!" She squealed out of the sudden, letting go of his hand and running to the shop window.
Hatori followed her looking down at what she was staring at. "You want one?"
She spun around smiling. "Yes, but it is for Akima. I've been kind of mean with her lately so this will make her forgive me. Wait here." She said as she walked into the shop.
Hatori walked into the toy store after her, finding her at the plush animals section. "Found it?"
Sara was crouching in front of a bunch of plush rabbits of all colors. "Found too many." She said in a whiny voice. "She has bunnies of all colors and sizes." She noticed one at the back and pulled it out carefully so the rest wouldn't come down with it. "But not a yellow one!" She smiled triumphantly while hugging the long eared bunny.
-Looks too much like Momiji. Hatori thought while staring at the stuffed animal.
"What do you think Momiji-kun and Hatsu-kun would like?" She asked absently while looking around.
"Candy or chocolates." Hatori answered noticing the racks with sweets.
"I want to thank them for worrying for me." Sara smiled, taking a pair of candy bags. "If it wasn't for them you would have never gone to my apartment." She spun around suddenly, making him almost run into her but he stopped on time. "Do you still regret it?"
Hatori frowned at her question. It was indeed troublesome that she had found out about the curse because she'd begin asking more about it anytime soon and he worried even more about the day Akito finds out about their relationship before he tells him. He brought his hand to a side of her head making her look up to his eyes immediately. "Not at all." He said with a smile on his lips. –It had been a long time since I was able to smile like this, to feel so free. Each time she smiles, the snow covering my heart melts. I can be who I used to be.
His smile was enough answer for her. She turned around and walked to the cashier, bringing out her purse from her pocket. Hatori quickly stopped her. "I will pay for this."
"But-" She began to complain with big eyes.
"No buts." Hatori smiled and ushered her towards the door while the cashier added the merchandise's prices.
Sara watched him while he paid for the bunny and the candies. –It had been a while since a special someone bought something for me. A smile played on her lips as he walked to her carrying the bag. "Thank you." She said with a sheepish look on her face.
"Anything you like or want, just ask for it." Hatori said as he took her hand again as they walked out of the shop and back to the mall full with people. "Fujima-san made it clear this morning that in this family everyone pampers you. I won't be the exception."
"This family?" Sara repeated with a light blush on her cheeks.
"Yes." He half smiled at her. "Am I not?"
Sara giggled to cover up her embarrassment. "Well if you've seen Akima's morning face, I guess you become part of the family immediately so her secret won't be disclosed."
Hatori chuckled recalling what he saw that morning when he went to pick her up. "What was she wearing anyways?"
Sara laughed, "One of Ayame-san's special designs for her." She looked up to him giggling. "And you haven't seen the bunny one."
"Bunny one?" Hatori gave her a quizzically look. "Something tells me I don't want to see that."
Sara laughed even more. "That's a wise decision, but if you'll keep picking me up early you'll see it sooner or later."
"I picked you up at 11:30." Hatori pointed out thinking that it wasn't an early hour.
"This is Akima we're talking about Hatori." Sara smiled, blushing suddenly realizing how easy his name rolled out of her lips, and she liked it. "1 in the afternoon is early for her. Her day begins at 3 p.m." She chuckled, "I don't know how Ryo-kun has been able to survive her life style."
"They seem to be very different." He commented, smiling as Sara let go of his hand to wrap her arm around his instead.
"They haven't married for that reason." Sara felt glad that he didn't pull back or tell her to be careful because he could transform. "Ryo-kun says that a marriage certificate and rings would only clip Akima's wings. That's why they aren't an official couple either." She noticed the question printed on his face. "They say their hearts belong together so why put a status or a condition to them. I can't really understand them, but Ryo-kun says that with each passing day he loves her more, and because he loves her that much he prefers to let her be free. Not to mention he enjoys very much watching her come back to him."
Hatori noticed something on a shop window and stopped walking. "Sara, could you wait a while for me please?"
Sara blinked and then nodded. "Alright." She looked around and found a bench area. "I'll be there." She said pointing at the bench close to the crepes shop.
"I'll be back soon." He promised and kissed her on the cheek as he gave her the bag with the bunny and candies.
"O-kay…" She muttered, touching her cheek and blushing lightly while watching him walk back on their tracks. –Should I follow him? She wondered. –No. It's not like he's going to leave me here. She decided to go sit down and wait like she had promised.
"He discovered us!" Kagura shrieked watching Hatori coming back. She and Kyou were hiding behind a product demonstration stand.
"Oi… you two. Go already will ya?" The guy in charge of it glared down at them.
"A jewelry store?" Yuki muttered from behind the bench where he and Tohru were hiding.
"What can he do in a jewelry store?" Tohru spoke up the question they were all thinking.
"He's going to buy rings!" Kagura suddenly yelled, flared up, getting everyone's attention. "This is so romantic!"
Kyou glared and hissed at her. "Shut up you idiot! We're supposed to be hiding!"
"Ah.. yes." Kagura smiled sheepishly and then dragged Kyou behind the bench next to Yuki's and Tohru's where they could have a front view of the store. "Ne…ne… do you think he'll ask her to marry him?"
"I don't think so." Yuki muttered, "But if he does…" –I'll really admire him if he can go forward with this relationship no matter Akito's orders.
A while later he came out with a small, velvet box in hand.
"It's too big to be a ring box." Kagura announced.
"How do you know tha- Where the hell you got that from?" Kyou shrieked since he didn't notice when she got a pair of toy binoculars.
"Onee-san…" whined a kid next to Kagura. "Give them back Onee-san…"
"Okay!" Kagura chirped giving them back to the kid and giving him a candy. "Thank you for lending them to me."
"Thank you onee-san!" The kid beamed at her and skipped away with his lollipop.
Kagura turned to the other three who were sweat dropping at her actions. "Shall we continue following him? I want to know what is in that box!"
"Let's go!" Tohru declared jumping to her feet.
"Why are you suddenly into it too?" Kyou looked at her curiously. "Just a while ago you were saying we were being rude with Hatori."
Tohru smiled sheepishly, "I still think so but….I really want to know what is in that box."
"Yosha!" Kagura exclaimed grabbing Kyou by his shirt's collar and dragging him behind again.
"Shall we go Honda-san?" Yuki smiled down at Tohru.
"Yes!" Tohru exclaimed with a determined look on her face.
Hatori walked to the bench where Sara was sitting at facing away from him. He opened the box and took out a gold necklace with a butterfly pendant that had blue and black stones imitating the patterns on a real butterfly's wings.
"Do you like it?" A very young Hatori, probably 13 years old, asked while staring at a butterfly with blue and black spotted wings sit at the bottom of a jar.
"It is pretty." Ten years old Sara smiled brightly. "But…"
"It looks sad." Akito, maybe six years old then, looked up at the jar. His head was resting on Sara's lap. "Why did you trap it Hatori-nii?"
"So you two could see it." Hatori smiled, "Why don't you let it go now that you've seen it?"
"You want to let it go Aki-chan?" Sara asked, looking down at Akito who only nodded, and gave the jar for him to carry.
Hatori watched them stand up and walk to the window. Sara slid the window open and sat on the sill, bringing Akito to her lap. She softened the lid so Akito could finish unscrewing it. The young head of the family watched in awe as the butterfly flew out of the jar and into freedom.
"It's so pretty…" Akito smiled pointing at the butterfly that immediately sat on a flower close by.
Sara hugged Akito to her chest, and rested her head on his. "It is."
Sara was startled when she felt something rest on her chest and looked up. "Hatori." She smiled brightly at him and then looked down to the necklace he has just put around neck. "It is…"
"You like it?" He asked, enjoying her surprised countenance.
"I love it!" She squealed, resting the pendant on her hand to take a closer look to it. "How did you know I love butterflies?"
Hatori half smiled as he sat next to her. "I didn't, but something told me you'd like it."
"I do." She said with teary eyes and kissed his cheek since she couldn't hug him. "I really do."
The doctor wiped the tear that escaped her eye gently and smiled. "It's supposed to make you smile, not make you cry."
"It's just that…" She whispered, trying to take control of herself. Again she smiled and whispered in a loving tone. "You make me really happy."
Hatori smiled and took her hand, standing up. "Let's go. That movie you wanted to watch will start soon."
"Okay." Sara took the bag at her side and they began walking towards the theater
The four youngsters followed them into the theater and took seat several rows behind them. None of them were really paying attention to the movie. "So bold Hatori-nii!" Kagura squealed when Hatori wrapped his arm around Sara's shoulder, bringing her a bit closer and she rested her head on his shoulder.
The persons sitting around them hushed them for the third time and Yuki apologized in her behalf again. He leaned back on his seat and muttered, "Somehow I'm exhausted."
"But it is so heart moving" Tohru whispered, refraining herself from squealing as well. "Seeing Hatori-san so happy."
"Who would have said that cool looking Hatori could be so bold and quick." Kyou muttered.
Kagura punched his arm and glared at him. "When you say it that way, you make him look like a big 'H'."
Kyou glared at her, refraining from yelling at her for hitting him or they'd get them all discovered. He guessed that the Sohma's doctor wouldn't be happy to know they followed him.
When the movie finished they followed them to a restaurant, which looked rather expensive. Neither of the two boys had that much money to take them to that restaurant and keep spying, so instead they bought some burgers, fries and soda, and ate outside of the restaurant always keeping an eye on the door for when they came out. An hour later they continued to follow them around the mall and kept an eye on them until they got into a quick photo booth.
"She acts like a teenager." Kyou pointed out after they came out of the booth and saw Sara giggling and almost bouncing around Hatori. "Reminds me of Momiji for some reason."
"I think they look cute." Tohru commented while hiding behind the wall as well as Kagura. Kyou and Yuki stood behind them, keeping safe distance from each other as well.
Sara noticed the frown on Hatori's face and stopped her high school girl attitude. "Am I bothering you?"
Hatori shook his head negatively. "Not at all. It's just that…" He looked around. "I've had this feeling like someone is following us."
Sara looked around and her eyes fell upon a certain spot. "I think you are right Hatori." She said walking in the direction of the youngsters.
"We're doomed!" Kagura shrieked as she pulled Tohru away from the wall's corner and they all awaited for Hatori to come around any moment, but that didn't happen.
Yuki was the one to take the first bold move, and peeked again from the corner, and began chuckling. "It seems we weren't the only ones following them."
Sara glared down at Akima who wore a Playboy bunny costume and had a video camera on her hand. "A-KU-MA." The taller woman growled at the petite one, changing the I for U on purpose to call Akima a devil. It had been easy to spot her since there was a group of males looking at her.
"And now taking a close up of Hatori-niisan's first present to Sa-chan." Akima said as she took a close up of the pendant, and squealed. "So beautiful!" She beamed brightly at Hatori, ignoring Sara's angry glares, and jumped to hug him. "My dear brother!"
"Hug him and you die." Sara said in a solemn, scary tone.
Akima froze in front of Hatori and smiled sheepishly up at him. "Ara…forgot she's the jealous, possessive type."
"You've trained her well." Hatori commented to Sara impressed at the effect her words had on the petite woman.
Sara smirked and pulled her a safe distance away from Hatori. "Now what in the world are you doing here and dressed like that?"
"Well I wanted to record your second date since I wasn't able to record the first one." Akima said innocently tapping at the video camera.
Sara looked around the place and called out. "Ryota!" She saw him stand up from the bench where he had been reading the newspapers and walk to her with a calm smile. "You had nothing to do with this, yet you're here, right?"
"I'll have to get a better excuse." Ryota smiled, and shrugged. "What can I say? Couldn't really say no."
Sara turned to Hatori and smiled at him. "You want to see a nice trick?" He looked at her curiously as she took out the plush bunny. "Akima! Look Akima!" She brought the woman's attention away from Hatori by waving the bunny in front of the camera. "It's cute, isn't it?"
"CUUTE!" Akima squealed and threw the camera away, which Ryota caught casually, and tried to take it from Sara's hands but she pulled back on time. "Give it to me please!" She whined. "You don't like those!"
Sara's eyes took a mischievous gleam as she swung the bunny in front of Akima again. "Fetch!" She yelled and threw the bunny away, which Akima jumped after. Grabbing his hand quickly, she turned around and they both ran away, losing all their stalkers.
"They run very fast." Kagura commented while staring at the way they disappeared.
"We should go back home. It's almost supper time and I promised Shigure-san I'd be back to cook." Tohru said staring at the big clock in the middle of the mall.
"I'll help you cook!" Kagura offered as they began walking the opposite way followed by the two boys.
Ryota sat down on the bench next to Akima who was hugging and nuzzling the plush rabbit. "You always fall for that trick."
Akima suddenly had a gloomy, scary look on her face. "That little devil."
"She bought you that bunny though." He pointed out, smiling.
"Isn't it cute?" She squealed, going back to her hyper mode, and hugging the rabbit. Ryota just watched her have her reverie with the toy with tender eyes.
In some place of the mall, Sara and Hatori sat on a bench recovering their breath. They looked at each other and began laughing. When their laughter subsided, Sara smiled softly at him. "This must have been the weirdest date you've ever had."
Hatori half smiled and placed his hand on her head. "Not going to deny it." Then he chuckled. "But it's been fun." He then looked at her accusingly. "You knew she was following us all the time."
Sara grinned and began giggling, making him smile. "That's why I bought the bunny." She leaned back on the bench and rested her head on his shoulder. "I think I haven't told you this yet."
He slightly frowned while looking down at her. "What?"
"I won't ask you about your curse, but I'll be glad if you trust me more about it whenever you're ready." She said in a serious tone. "I loved you before I knew about it, and I love you even more now even after learning about it." She moved away from him and smiled softly. "My feelings for you will never change Hatori. No matter what."
-I wonder if… Hatori thought as he leaned over, placing his hand at the back of her head to bring her face closer, and kissed her gently. –You'd feel the same if you knew the truth.
°
"Fujima-sensei and Harii." Momiji looked at Kagura with wide eyes. "I had no idea."
"Love rival." Haru muttered under his breath.
Yuki who was sitting closer to him sweat dropped. "Aren't you being a bit drastic?"
"But they looked so happy together!" Kagura squealed and hugged Kyou, making him choke on his food. "They make a perfect couple just like Kyou-kun and I!"
"How is THAT perfect?" Yuki pointed out, "He's half dead most of the time."
"Shut up damn mouse!" Kyou hissed, cat ears popping on his head.
"You don't seem surprised Shigure-san." Tohru looked at Shigure who was rather quiet tonight.
"I already knew." He said simply and set his chopsticks over the empty rice bowl. "Thank you for the meal."
"Are you sick Shi-chan?" Kagura asked worriedly.
Shigure smiled and shook his head. "Not at all." He wrapped an arm around his torso and leaned is other elbow on it while rubbing his chin. "Ha-san and Sara-chan. Interesting." He stood up from his cushion and made his way out of the room saying, "I have a 500 pages deadline to finish. Please don't disturb me."
"He's acting weird." Yuki commented, taking another bite of his rice.
Kyou stared at the door recalling a conversation he heard accidentally between Shigure and Hatori a pair of weeks ago, while laying on the roof like every other night.
"You said you'd do anything to keep your oath." Hatori muttered, "Do you really think it is the best to pull Sara back into this? If you keep her close, no matter what, she'll find out sooner or later about the curse, and if you keep on with your plans, she'll find out like everybody else your true face. Can you handle her rejection?"
"That is a big price to pay, but I will afford it." Shigure spoke up. "I will make our dream, my dream eternal, no matter what. Back then, you told me that you wouldn't be by my side when the moment came, that as an enemy, you'd turn your back on it as well…" A pause. "Even if you say it, you can't step away from Sara, because I've noticed the way you were looking at her earlier. And I can't blame you. Even I would fall for someone like her." Sounds of steps. "Hatori…if you hurt her again, it will be I who becomes your enemy."
-Pull Fujima-san back into what? The cat wondered once again since he heard that conversation. –What is Shigure planning that is so terrible that even Hatori would turn his back on him? I can't ask either of them directly because they wouldn't give me a straight answer. I'll have to wait and see… "This is so frustrating!" He yelled out of the sudden startling everyone. He blushed and sat down again.
"Stupid cat." Yuki muttered.
"Say that again you damn mouse!" Kyou hissed at his cousin.
"Stupid cat." Yuki repeated staring with a bored look on his eyes at the orange haired youngster.
Kyou gritted his teeth but refrained from starting a fight. He took a deep sigh and then muttered, "Anyways…what we saw today, shouldn't reach Akito's ears."
"For once you say something with sense stupid cat." Yuki agreed in his own way with the cat. "Things could be worse this time."
"Kana's story would repeat all over again." Momiji said sadly. "We must keep it a secret!"
"But sensei," Haru said in his usual calm tone. "Sensei knows of it now. Even if we ask him not to say anything to Akito, he might do it all the same."
Silence fell upon the group of youngsters. They all knew there wasn't much they could do.
In the meantime, Shigure sat in silence in his studio, in front of the desk rubbing the bridge of his nose carelessly while staring down at an open book with saddened eyes. The title was 'Aoi Sora' and under it was Shigure's name typed in bold black letters. Next to his name there was something hand written, a dedication that read: To my unreachable sky, my eternal muse. Aside the book there was a picture with four youngsters in uniform sitting under a tree, Hatori, Sara with her head resting on Hatori's shoulder, Shigure holding hands with Sara, and Ayame sitting behind them with his head between Sara's and Shigure's.
°
May came to an end and June began with the summer's rainy part. They had been together for a month already and everything seemed to run smoothly. Except for…
"NE! Sara! Open up!" Akima whined from outside the door. "I just want to take a picture of you and onii-san!"
"Do you think she'll get tired someday?" Hatori asked, looking up from his book. He was lying on a thin, long cushion that rested over a low bookshelf. His head rested on Sara's lap while she leaned on the window, reading a book as well.
"Not likely." Sara answered, not looking away from her book, but her hand continued to run through his hair slowly, caressing it gently. "Ryo-kun will arrive anytime."
"Hmmn…" Hatori nodded lightly, unconsciously closing his eyes.
Sara laid down her book after a while and stared at him. "Rough week huh?" She said softly but got no response from him, and noticed his breath had become shallow. –You letting me watch you sleep…it means that you've finally grown comfortable with me. She thought as her fingers made aside the bangs covering his left eye. –The pain in your eyes has become a barely noticeable shadow. Could it be that I've healed you just like you have healed me?
"YOU CAN ONLY LOVE ME!"
Sara brought her hand away from his face to cover her left eye, gritting her teeth as pain washed through her head. Slowly she leaned on the cool window, the skies pouring outside, trying not to wake up Hatori. –This dream… She thought as she slowly closed her eyes and her hand fell to her side. –I want to live…
"Sara." Hatori shook her gently. "Wake up Sara."
She opened her eyes slowly and searched for the source of the voice. "Hatori." She whispered.
"You fell asleep in such uncomfortable position. You should have waked me up." He said softly, caressing her face.
The room was dark and the only light coming in came from outside the window. It was still raining, even harder than earlier. "I didn't want to wake you up." She smiled softly, moving off the bookshelf.
"Your neck doesn't hurt?" He asked as he rubbed the back of her neck gently.
She smiled and half closed her eyes. "Just a little bit." Suddenly there was a loud thundering accompanied by lighting. Sara saw behind Hatori the shadow of a kid. The words she heard before passing out ringed in her ears: you can only love me, followed by the sound of crystal breaking. She screamed, reaching to her back where the scar lays, as a tearing pain snaked under her skin, and fell against Hatori, making him transform.
Before she could fall on his clothes, where he had to be underneath, she tilted her body to aside and coiled into fetal position, crying and holding a side of his head. Hatori, in his sea horse shape, could only hear her cry and moan tearing his heart apart. Two minutes later the transformation wore off, and he immediately reached over for her, not minding his nakedness. "Sara!" He grabbed her arm. "Sara speak to me!"
She had stopped screaming and moaning, but tears continued to flow out of her eyes. "It hurts." She stuttered, "My back hurts."
He quickly lifted her blouse and saw the curvy scar that began under her shoulder to end on her side. "You don't have anything Sara." She didn't answer. Instead she moved her hands from her head to her face as fresh tears flowed out of her eyes, a small cry escaping her lips.
Hatori got dressed quickly and then helped her to her feet. "Come. I'll help you lie down." He said as he slid the door to the bedroom open and helped her into the futon and covered her with the thick quilt. "I'll go get Akima and Ryota-san." He said as he stood up.
"Wait!" Sara reached out for him. "Don't leave me alone."
"Alright." He knelt next to the futon and took her left hand between his. "Has this happened before?"
Sara shook her head, her eyes closed. "No…" She whispered, "But for some reason…I got very scared."
"You scared me too." He admitted, turning her palm up and rubbed her hand with a little pressure but careful not to cause her pain. –This used to make her sleep. He thought, smiling softly seeing that she was calming down and her breath became shallow slowly.
He put her arm back under the blanket and left the room silently, leaving her chambers in search for Akima or Ryota. He found them in the kitchen making supper.
"Ryota-san." He said as he walked into the black and white tiled area.
"You look pale. Is there something wrong?" Akima immediately noticed, setting down the knife on the cutting board. Then fear hit her. "Is there something wrong with Sara?"
"That is what I'd like to know." Hatori said with a serious countenance. "She is sleeping right now, but just a moment ago she began screaming and crying, saying her back hurt, and kept holding her head tightly." He noticed Akima's face slowly become pale as well. "Your reaction tells me there is something wrong with her."
Akima looked down and muttered, "Well.. you see…"
Ryota wrapped his arm around her neck, bringing him against him, but his eyes looked sternly at Hatori. "It is Sara who has to tell you Hatori-san. We have no right to tell you about it. You'll have to wait till she wakes up to ask her." He bowed his head and his upper body slightly. "Please forgive us, but we must keep our word to her."
-There is something truly bad going on. Hatori nodded. "I understand. She asked me not to leave and I hope you don't mind me staying with her."
"Not at all." Ryota shook his head and let go of Akima. "I'll take you something to eat to her room in a while."
"Thank you." Hatori said before walking out of the kitchen and back to her room.
Akima turned around and hugged Ryota, crying against his chest. He caressed her head and whispered, "It will be alright. We can't lose hopes. She will be alright."
Meanwhile at the Sohma main house, Akito's lone figure sat in front of a wide window. On his lap rested a picture of young Sara with him when a child, and both of them smiling. His finger traced circles on the window, a half grin curving his lips. "You don't seem to understand…" He said to no one in particular. "That if she's not for me, she won't be for either of you." Lighting lit the dark skies, lighting his dark looking face, followed by a loud thunder.
°
"Please don't ask me anything Hatori." Sara said as she combed her hair in front of the mirror. She had dressed in a dark violet, skirt and long jacket, with a white strapless top inside. The butterfly pendant dangling on her chest as she moved.
Hatori stood behind her looking displeased with her attitude. "The least I deserve is an explanation Sara. You really scared me last night and Ryota-san and Akima made realize there is something wrong with you." He stepped closer to her and rested his hands on her shoulders. She set the brush on the bureau and leaned on it "You are making me worry. I need to know what is it Sara."
"It isn't something to worry about." She lied big time, but she wasn't ready to tell him the truth. She moved away from him to get a pair of half-calf high black boots since it was still raining. Grabbing her purse and portfolio case, she walked out of her chambers followed by Hatori.
Akima was waiting for her already at the door. For once she was wearing a normal red baby doll under a robe of the same color and her shoulder length hair was loose. "How are you feeling?" She asked immediately, looking worried at Sara.
Sara tried to control the anger that built up in her the moment she saw the petite woman.
-You can never keep your mouth shut can you? "I'm fine. Ryota and you are picking me up at school?" She asked as she put on the boots and grabbed an umbrella from the metal tin at a corner.
"Yes. We'll be there at 2 exactly." Akima watched Hatori put on his shoes as well. "Hatori-nii-"
"See you later." Sara said as she opened the door and walked out, leaving the door open knowing Hatori would follow.
"Thank you for everything." Hatori said quickly at the woman and left after Sara.
Fifteen minutes later they arrived to the school. Silence and a heavy air reigned in the car. It was broken by the sound of knocking on the window. Hatori turned his face and saw a brightly smiling Momiji waving at him and Haru standing at the gates.
Sara suddenly opened the door and stepped out, opening the umbrella immediately while closing the car's door with the one that carried the portfolio case. Hatori stepped out of the car not caring about getting wet and caught up with her at the gates.
"Why are you acting like this?" He demanded, looking sternly at her. "Is it so wrong to be worried about you?"
"What is going on?" Momiji asked Haru who only shrugged, while they watched with great concern the scene.
Sara sighed and shook her head lightly. "It is not, but right now is not the moment to talk about this." She looked up to him and forced herself to smile. –I will end this…before it is too late. Before I can hurt you more than I already have. "We'll talk tonight okay?" She saw her about to insist, but she leaned over and kissed his lips softly not minding the gasps of the few students who saw it. "Please. Tonight." She didn't wait for his answer and walked past him.
"Harii will catch a cold." Momiji said with great concerned eyes.
Haru covered the older jyunishi with his umbrella. "Did you have your first lovers quarrel?"
Hatori looked at the rebellious looking cow. "How did you know?"
"We've known for a long while now." Momiji smiled brightly at him. "I'm glad Harii decided to be happy."
"I don't mind losing Fujima-sensei to you." Haru commented in a bold, but calm manner.
Hatori decided to dismiss the youngster's words since there were greater things to worry about. "Who else knows? Have you commented it in the main house?"
"Kyou, Yuki, Kagura, Tohru." Haru answered the first question.
"We have a pair of times." Momiji confessed, looking a bit guilty, but he smiled brightly right after. "But no one heard us!"
Hatori sighed and patted the rabbit's head. "We'll talk later." He said and walked back to the car, and was gone in a matter of seconds.
Haru looked up to the cloudy skies. "This weather..."
"It feels strange." Momiji finished his cousin's words.
Back in the teacher's room, Sara sat at her cubicle staring sadly at the butterfly. –I should be grateful to have met him again, to have my dream come true. I really shouldn't ask more of this life. I am ready…. Tears welled up in her eyes. –I am ready to let go of this dream.
°
Hatori walked out of the barber's shop and stepped into his car. Putting on the eyeglasses before starting the car, he looked at his eyes' reflection on the rearview mirror. He had cut his hair as well as the bangs that covered the left side of his face and now they reached just under the eye. –It is time to leave the past behind. He thought and turned on the car's engine, pulling into the street on his way to Kaiwabara High School.
At the same time, Akima and Ryota walked out of the apartment. "Hurry Ryota! She'll be mad if we arrive there at 2:01!"
"You are more nervous than she is." Ryota pointed out as they waited for the elevator.
"Even if she doesn't say it," Akima said with great pain in her eyes. "I know this is killing her inside. Having found happiness, and knowing she'll lose it soon."
"I think you're the only one being a pessimist." Ryota said in a annoyed tone. "Stop burying her already Akima." The woman seemed to shrink even more at those words and he hugged her. "I'm sorry."
°
Kyou, Tohru, Yuki, Momiji and Haru walked out of the lockers room. A bright afternoon welcoming them as they stepped out of the school building.
"She's been down all day." Momiji commented while they watched Sara walk among the students heading out of the high school's grounds.
"Is she sick?" Tohru asked becoming concerned for someone she didn't know all too well, but she liked her.
Momiji shook his head and grabbed Tohru's hand. "She seems to have argued with her prince."
"Hatori you mean." Kyou muttered, swinging his books case over his shoulder.
"Akito." Haru muttered suddenly coming to a halt.
The others stared the direction the cow was staring at and indeed there was Akito dressed in his usual black clothes, standing in the middle of the way.
"What is he doing here?" Yuki muttered everyone's question.
"Fujima-sensei." Haru muttered seeing that Akito stopped Sara and was smiling pleasantly at her. He began towards her, but Yuki stopped him. "Let go. He'll hurt her."
"We don't know what is he doing here." Yuki pointed out, "If we interrupt him now-" He stopped and sighed at the determined look on Haru. "Alright, but please don't turn black." He turned to Tohru. "Honda-san, please stay away from him."
Yuki, Haru and Kyou walked closer to Akito and Sara. Yuki called out Akito's name but the clan's head smiled at him and then ignored him, going back to the person he had come to see.
"Sir, I'm sorry but right now I don't have time." Sara said politely, "If you want to talk about your-"
"Fujima-san, I haven't come for what you may think." Akito said, his voice smooth as silk and his smile was gentle while his eyes seemed warm towards the woman. "Let me introduce myself first. My name is Akito. Sohma Akito, head of the Sohma clan."
-The man Hatori takes care of. Sara's eyes didn't hide the surprise. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sohma-san, but I still don't understand what business you can have with me." She said looking at Akito at the same eye level.
"They've been so mean." He said in a soft voice, looking sad at her. "Really mean to have hidden from me that you were here."
"Sohma-san I-" Sara began but was surprised by the sudden hug the ill Sohma gave her.
"I've missed you so much onee-sama!" He exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "You have no idea how much I've missed you!"
"Onee-sama?" The three jyunishi repeated in confusion.
Sara dropped her portfolio and purse, and used both hands to push Akito away. "I have no brother." -But I know.. I know….I am a Sohma.
"How are you this morning Fujima-san?" asked a nurse as she pulled the curtains open.
"Stop calling me that." Sara said from the bed, her hair covering her face.
"That is your name, Fujima-san." The nurse insisted.
"It is not!" Sara yelled, glaring at the nurse with the eyes of someone who is about to go mad. "It is not my name! My name is-"
"Sara Sohma." Akito reached out and caressed her face. "You are Sara Sohma, not Sara Fujima. You are my older sister. The one who those three took away from me!"
Sara continued to look at him with mistrust. "Can you prove it?"
He smiled and brought out a photo wallet, handing it to her. "I knew you'd ask for some kind of proof."
Sara stared at the picture of her, much younger, but definitely her, hugging a kid that looked a lot like the man in front of her. On the other side of it, there was an ID card with Sara's previous stats and a picture of her when she was 16. "It is I." She whispered, and looked up to Akito. "But why I can't remember this?"
"Akito, what are you planning now?" Yuki asked, concerned about Sara's sudden paleness.
Akito smiled warmly at his favorite Jyunishi. "I am not planning anything. I just want to recover my sister. Unlike you, I love my sister."
"Sohma-san." Sara tried to keep her voice even. She didn't notice the group of students that had stopped to watch the whole scene. "Answer me. Why I can't remember you? Why I can't remember this?" She held out the pictures at him.
Akito stepped closer to her so only her and the other jyunishi would hear him. "Do you remember Hatori's special ability?" He guessed that by the way her eyes widened, she knew what he meant. "Ten years ago, you told him you loved him, but he didn't accept your feelings. You two got into a fight and accidentally he threw you through the solarium's window panel. You got badly hurt." He pointed at the left side of her torso. "You must have a scar from that incident."
"That can't be." She whispered, taking two steps back, her lower lip trembling.
"He felt very sorry for what he did to you, so he decided to erase your memory not only of that moment but of all your life as a Sohma so you wouldn't have to live close to our cursed lives." He took her hand between his. "I never agreed to this. I was too young then to oppose." Then he turned to the cursed youngsters who were looking at them confusedly. Even Tohru and Momiji had come closer and could hear him. "Hatori erased the memories of all those who knew you onee-san. Except Hiro and Kisa who were only babies then."
"That's not true!" Sara yelled pulling her hand away from his and holding her head, shutting her eyes tightly closed. Images flashed through her mind, too fast for her to make anything of them, but making her very scared and in pain. The voices in her head were making her dizzy and confused.
"Akito!" Hatori yelled out the younger man's name as he ran to them. Akima and Ryota behind him. He gave a brief glance to the clan's leader who was smirking at him, before holding Sara by the shoulders. "Sara!"
Sara brought her head up, her eyes wide in fear and disoriented. She slapped Hatori's hands away from her. Right then the flashes stopped on a particular image: her hand reaching out to Hatori's face and a white ceiling as background. Her face features froze for half a second and then she passed out.
Ryota caught her in time, and crouched while looking at her. "Sara… wake up!" He pleaded while patting her cheeks.
Hatori seemed frozen on the spot. –Her eyes…. He thought, despair taking over him. –They were just like Kana's back then.
"Leave her." Akito said, walking up to Ryota, looking down at her with a stern face. "Her family will take care of her from now on."
Ryota stood up, carrying her carefully in his arms. Akima was next to him, caressing Sara's hair and face, crying and muttering at her. "Her family," He said, glaring at the smaller man. "are we. Don't you dare come near her again." His eyes moved to Hatori. "You nor anyone of your cursed Sohma family!" With that he marched away with her unconscious in his arms, and Akima to his side.
"Why did you do this?" Hatori asked Akito in a somber tone.
Akito turned around and grinned at him, reaching out to caress the doctor's face. "I told you, Shigure, and Ayame long time ago…She is only mine, and I don't share her with anyone."
Hatori grabbed his hand by the wrist and glared down at him. "If anything happens to her…"
"She hates you." Akito's grin became even more twisted. "You really think I would let you be happy? You really think you deserve to be happy with her of all people?" He laughed, pulling his hand away from Hatori's grip and turned to the younger ones. "All of you belong to me, and if I can't be happy, neither of you have any right to be!" The frail looking man began walking away. "Don't forget it again."
-I wasn't able to protect you once again. Hatori closed his fists tightly, trying to control all the rage and pain he felt inside. He was so submerged in his own feelings that he didn't notice the fist flying to his face and was sent roughly to the ground.
"Stand up you damn coward!" Haru growled, stepping towards Hatori.
"Black Haru!" Momiji gasped as well as Tohru.
Yuki and Kyou grabbed Haru, trying to restrain him from hitting Hatori again. "Let go of me you idiots!" He yelled, "I'm not black at all! I've got full conscious of what I'm doing!"
"Whoever says you're an idiot Hatsu-kun, is the real idiot, so don't cry anymore." Haru looked up to a smiling Sara as she wiped his tear stained cheeks. "Don't hear to the words of stupid people. Just listen to us, who love the real you…the one only us can see."
"Damn you!" Haru yelled, tears escaping his angered eyes, as Hatori got to his feet. "You had no right to tamper with our memories! You had no right to take her away from me!"
***Hate it? Like it? Love it? Whichever is your pick, please review. :) Only one more chapter to go, but won't post it if I don't get more reviews. :) Just kidding....but it would be good to receive a few reviews. I've seen other fics out there that are worse than mine and have 20 reviews up. So please be a responsible reader and review. :) -Shihori.