****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 sat on a hospital bed in a dark, silent room. Her head was bowed, her long locks forming a curtain around her face. Tears silently fell on her hands that rested on her lap.

"Why you say it is wrong Ha-chan?" Young Sara stared at Hatori's back with surprised eyes, her lower lip trembling lightly. She was trying her best not to break into tears right there. "Is it because of the curse? I don't care about it." They were standing next to the window wall in the solarium.

"It just isn't right for you to love me Sara." Hatori said not turning to look back at her. "It isn't fair for you."

"Fair?" Sara repeated getting angry out of the sudden. "Fair is the reason you are giving me? The curse is just not enough reason for you to reject me Hatori!"

"There's no reason for you to tie down yourself with someone cursed like me. You are free Sara-chan. You must fly away from this family, from this hell." Hatori said still not looking at her.

"Look at me." Sara muttered, and pulled his arm making him turn around. The second she saw his face, his eyes showing great pain, her tears couldn't be contained anymore. "I was born to this family and even if I am not a Jyunishi, I am part of you because I grew up with you, and pretend to always be next to you. Don't push me away please." She held his hand between hers but he pulled it back, shaking his head. "Curse or no curse, my feelings for you remain the same. Hatori, I love you and that will never change."

"That's a lie!" Twelve years old Akito yelled from the door and stomped towards her. "You can't love him!"

Sara stepped away from Hatori and tried to hold Akito but he kept slapping her hands away. "Aktio calm down!" She suddenly yelled, nervous over the whole situation. On one side she was being rejected by the man she loved, and on the other her little, ill brother was acting like a brat.

He stopped, looking down. "You've never yelled at me." He whispered, ignoring Sara's apologizing words, and glared at Hatori. "You're not taking her away from me." He declared and looked back at Sara with truly enraged eyes. "YOU CAN ONLY LOVE ME!"

Before Hatori, or Shigure and Ayame at the door, could react, Akito gathered all his strength and pushed her, and watched how Sara lost her balance and went crashing through the French like window panel.

Her screams filled the air accompanied by the sound of the heavy rain falling. Sara looked between tears Hatori's panic face, Shigure's pale face before he took an even paler Akito away, and only Ayame's long hair flowing as he ran out of the solarium. The searing pain on her back, wouldn't stop. "You'll be alright Sara!" She heard Hatori's voice say at the distance. "Stay with me! Stay with me!" She could feel his cold caress on her face while the rain continued to fall on them and her hot blood flowed out of her wounds to the ground.

Deceiving Bonds: Chapter 6

"It has been a two days already." Ayame sat in front of Shigure. Both of them looked as if they hadn't moved from there for days. On the table there were bottles of sake, two ash trays filled to the top, and a recently opened pack of cigarettes. The snake turned his head towards the garden doors where Hatori sat in silence, an ash tray sitting next to him. "He hasn't slept at all since then."

"No one really has." Shigure muttered. He was leaning on the table with his forehead resting against his hands, and a lit cigarette between his fingers slowly consuming itself. "I wonder if we'll ever know of her again."

There was a knock on the door, and it slid open slowly. Momiji peeked from behind it. "May I come in?"

"Come in Momiji-kun." Ayame forced himself to smile. "Did you hear anything at school?"

Momiji came in, looking tired himself. "Mayuko-sensei came today with news." He looked at Hatori to see if he was hearing but the man didn't move a centimeter. "She said that sensei is hospitalized and that she might not come for a good while. She wasn't told in which hospital she is because sensei's doctor forbid any visits and for this reason the hospital's name was disclosed by the person who called."

"Hospitalized." Shigure looked up, and took a draw from his cigarette. "That means what she has is serious."

"Not necessarily." Ayame tried to look for a less pessimist view. "Probably it is stress or something."

"Haru…" Momiji said softly, looking down. "He says he remembers her."

"That cannot be." Ayame pointed out, "He got his memories erased as well."

"We don't know how Hatori's power works." Shigure sighed, leaning back on his seat, crossing the arms over his chest. "Ha-san was very tired by the time he had to erase Haru's memory. He had almost no rest between the moment he erased Sa-chan's whole memories and yours. Probably it didn't work perfectly like it did with you or the others."

"I see…I wish…" Momiji whispered, tears forming in his eyes. "I wish I could remember her."

"She was…" Hatori spoke up for Momiji to hear. "She was there for you when I erased your mother's memories of you. You were barely five years old then and you needed of someone. You used to call her muttei."

"Ah yes…." Ayame smiled down at the rabbit patting his head. "You used to follow her around all the time like a baby chick to a mother hen."

"Mama huh?" Momiji whispered, smiling tenderly. "That explains why I felt like this every time I saw her."

"Excuse me sensei." A woman around her forties stood at the door holding a cordless phone. "You have a call."

"Who is it?" Hatori asked, standing up and walking back in to the room slowly.

"She only gave me her name." The woman said, extending the phone to the doctor. "Akima I believe."

Hatori's eyes widened and grabbed the phone from her hand, putting it to his ear. The bruise on his cheek was starting to disappear. "Akima! Where is she? How is she?" He listened carefully to her words, and brought his hand to his eyes, sighing. "Do you have any idea of where- I see. Please call me if you know anything." He pressed the off button on the phone and looked up to his cousins who were staring at him intently, waiting for an answer.

"Sara has disappeared this morning. They have no idea where she can be now."

"There aren't any clues of where Fujima-sensei could be right now?" Momiji asked worriedly.

"Sara Fujima you say?" The servant asked as she took the phone back from Hatori. She had stayed to wait for it. "I met a lady at the door just a while ago when I came back from groceries shopping. She asked me to take her to Akito-sama, and introduced herself with that name."

"She's with him." Shigure said with a fearfully tone as he stood up. Hatori was on his way out already, and he followed.

"Momiji, you stay here. Don't go anywhere close to that place understood?" Ayame said in a stern voice to the small boy and went after the other two.

"Please…" The rabbit whispered as he sank to the floor with tears in his eyes. "Don't let him harm her more."

°

Sara stood in the middle of the big, dark room. Her hair was lose and looked slightly disheveled. She had wanted to chosen a dress with the color of her mood, black, and had no purse on her. Her gray eyes were dull, almost lifeless, but they never wavered from the form at the other side of the room.

"How did you get here?" Akito asked curiously, standing up from the floor where he had been lying a seconds earlier. He was wearing his usual kimonos for indoors. "I must tell you I am surprised to see you here, onee-sama." He smiled at her as he stepped closer to her. "But I am glad you are here. That horrible man took you away and didn't let me take care of you like you did so many times before." He opened his arms as he neared her. "But that doesn't matter now. What is important is that you're here and I'll take care of you."

The door slid open forcefully, Hatori, Shigure and Ayame behind her. "Sara!" The doctor called out her name as he stepped closer.

"Stay where you are Hatori!" Akito glared at him and hugged Sara, resting his head on her shoulder, smirking at them. "You won't hurt her again because-"

Sara cut him short in his words as she pushed him lightly away from her. She saw the question in his eyes and before he could even pronounce it, she connected her fist forcefully against his face, sending him to the floor in a loud thud.

"You bitch!" Akito yelled , struggling to his feet immediately. He saw the other three nearing them but he ordered them to stay out of it. "And here was I being all kind to you! How foolish of me! I should have known better than trust a traitor like you!"

"Traitor, I?" Sara's eyes remained calm, but a grin curved her pale lips. "It was you who betrayed me. But it seems that loving you was always wrong. I created a selfish, egocentric bastard." Her grin widened as Akito's glare intensified. "Pity. That is what I should have felt for a cursed bastard like you. Pity is what I feel for you now."

"Shut up!" Akito roared and jumped on her, taking her down to the floor and keeping her there with his weight. His hands tightened around her neck as her grin became wider. "You pity me, you say? It is I who pity's you! You are only a shell! You are nothing! You are just another worthless bitch who thought that she could heal this family! But you aren't taking them away from me! They belong to me!"

Sara kicked him between the legs, sending him down on her and moaning in pain. Quickly she turned him down to the floor and sat on him, choking him now. "You are the worthless one here dear brother!" She hissed, grinning at the look of pain on his face. "I remember your smirking face back in the hospital. I remember your happy face while Hatori held me down on the bed to erase my memories!"

"Sara, control yourself please!" Hatori pleaded as he, Ayame and Shigure neared them. Ayame and Hatori pulled her off Akito and she offered no resistance. Meanwhile Shigure checked on Akito but the young leader just hit the dog's hands away from him as he sat up.

"Are you alright?" Ayame asked her while caressing her head and holding her hand tightly. "You've had us so worried Sa-chan…" Sara remained kneeling between the two men, her head bowed and not visible through her hair. Hatori tried taking her hand but she moved it away, totally rejecting him. He just watched her with sorrowful eyes.

"Get that woman out of here Shigure!" Akito yelled, struggling to get on his feet. "Get her out! I don't want to see her ever again!"

"It is useless Aki-chan." Sara muttered, bringing her head up smiling at the enraged man, and stood up, the butterfly at her chest glowing lightly with the few light rays that hit it. "We will meet soon again and this time, neither of us will be able to escape from the other."

Akito watched her step closer to him, frozen on his spot. "See you in hell my beloved little brother." She whispered to him as she kissed his forehead and then walked way waving back at him. "See you soon."

Shigure stared at her back bewildered, being the only one who had heard her last words to Akito. –What does she mean see you soon? He watched Hatori and Ayame follow her and began walking towards the door as well when he felt Akito's hand on his arm.

"Don't leave." Akito's tiny voice pleaded as he moved closer to the older man. "I don't want to be alone."

"You should have thought that first before telling her the truth." Shigure took Akito's hand off his arm and continued walking to the door. He slid the door closed behind him.

Akito walked to the open window and sat on the sill. "Aki-chan." Sara's younger voice ringed in his ears. He covered his eyes with his forearm as he rested his head back. "Damn that woman…"

°

"Sara wait up!" Hatori grabbed her arm making her stop before she could reach the main gates. "Could you please let me explain what really happened? What Akito told you-"

"I know it was him who gave you the order." Sara turned around, pulling her arm off his grip. "I remember well how things happened that summer. In fact, all I can remember of my past as a Sohma is that summer." Her face was unreadable, showing no emotions at all. "The fact that he gave you the order to erase my memories doesn't change the truth Hatori. You didn't hesitate and got rid of my memories so you could get rid of me!"

"You have it all wrong!" Hatori exclaimed, feeling her more distant with each passing second. "I refused so many times to do it! But in the end he convinced me that you'd hurt more if you stayed with us, seeing him become more ill with each passing day until he died, and the that the curse would-"

"I told you many times before I didn't care about the curse!" She yelled at him, and directed her words to Shigure and Ayame who were behind Hatori. "Nothing you tell me now can justify either of you abandoning me and following Akito's perverse game!" She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, looking away to calm down. "It doesn't really matter anymore." She began in a more even tone now. "I am no longer Sara Sohma. I'm no longer your cousin, nor anything to either of you. Today all our bonds die." She said the later as she took off the butterfly necklace and placed it in Hatori's hand.

"Stop speaking nonsense." Shigure stepped between Hatori and Sara. "What doesn't matter anymore is what happened back then." His eyes were soft while staring at her. "I won't make up excuses for either of us, because we are all guilty for what happened in a way or another, but I beg you Sa-chan," He reached out to touch her face but instead held her shoulders. "Don't leave us." –Me. "Even if legally you don't carry the same name as us," He took her hand and caressed her wrist where her veins were visible. "You carry Sohma blood, and you can't continue to deny it. You're no different from the Sara I remember. I know you are just putting a strong guard because you don't want to be hurt again, but I promise…"

The Jyunishi's dog could feel her hand tremble under his grip and his eyes softened even more as she bowed her head and brought her other hand to her face. He could hear her tiny sobs. "Promises are no good. But we still need you. It is killing me the idea of losing you again, and I'm sure that everybody else in this family is feeling the same." He smiled sadly, and pulled her closer until her head touched his chest. "Ayame is dieing to use you as his model for his clothes." He felt her more than saw her smirk at that. "I need you to talk and laugh till late hours and play jokes on people." He muttered, placing his hands on her head and caressed her soft locks. "Ha-san here needs you more than anyone."

With those last words she finally broke into tears, slowly falling to her knees. Shigure knelt with her and rested his forehead against her head, hiding his own tears behind his long bangs. "That's why…That's why Sa-chan, don't reject us. I know we deserve it, but please don't punish us with your hatred."

"Let us make up to you for our mistakes." Ayame whispered as he knelt to her right, taking her hand in his and kissed it. "Let us be your family again."

Sara's sobs slowly ceased. She felt Hatori kneel to her left and take her hand. This time she didn't reject his touch. Instead she held it back tightly. "It doesn't hurt that much anymore." She muttered against Shigure's chest, speaking her thoughts. "I've found what I've being searching for the longest time." –But… "I must go back. Akima and Ryo-kun must be going crazy with worry." She said as she brought up her head. Her eyes were clear and calm as well as her face features.

"I'll take you!" Shigure chirped wiping his face with the kimono's sleeves. "Ha-san drives."

Sara smiled softly and shook her head. "I don't hate either of you." She decided to make things clear. "But I need time alone, to calm down. The few memories I had of you suddenly became clear in my mind and I need time to make something of them." She said trying to convince them to let her be. She looked pleadingly at Shigure and Ayame. "Please, accept my conditions. I really need time on my own." –I can't let them know. I can't let them suffer for me again.

"You're not leaving." Hatori suddenly said, making her face him immediately. He just smiled and dried her tears with a handkerchief. "Unless you promise you will call soon. I still need you to forgive me."

"You are forgiven already." She smiled warmly at him, and leaned over, giving him a quick kiss on the lips, but Hatori took her face between his hands and deepened the kiss.

Shigure stood up immediately at that and Ayame followed him. "You'll have to get used to it" The snake whispered at the dog while leaning on his head on Shigure's shoulder.

"I will." Shigure muttered and forced a smile on his lips. "If she is happy, I'll be happy."

"Never understood why you never fought for her." Ayame muttered while looking at Hatori put the necklace around Sara's neck again and stand up.

Shigure looked up to the light blue sky, and smiled sadly. "It would be a sin to dare stain heaven with my hands."

"Shi-chan, A-chan. I'm leaving." Sara smiled at them, calling them by the nickname she used to have for them. –Smile. Smile. Smile. In a minute, I can stop pretending nothing is wrong.

"Do you really have to?" Ayame pouted at her and ran up to her, hugging her on purpose. Immediately he transformed to his snake form and wrapped around her neck, nuzzling at her cheek. "We have so much to talk about. So much time to make up for! And-" Sara kissed his small head making him sigh happily. "Ok. I'll let you go for now but remember you must call us. We're worried about you having to be in a hospital."

"That's right Sa-chan." Shigure walked up to her and took Ayame off her. "Why are you-"

"I will explain that later." Sara said quickly, and leaned over, giving the dog a quick peck on the cheek. She immediately turned to Hatori and smiled. "Please don't worry."

He opened the door for her, and they followed her out where a taxi cab awaited. The doctor took her hand and kissed it. "Please take care and don't take too long to call."

Sara just nodded and walked to the taxi cab, the door already open for her, and got in. She waved good bye at them as the driver pulled away from the Sohma state's gates. Once they couldn't be seen anymore, she brought out a cell phone from the purse she had left in the car. She dialed a number and waited for someone to answer.

"Sara where are you?" It was Akima's cell phone she called to.

"I am on my way back to the hospital." She said in an even tone, looking down to the butterfly pendant. "Tel the doctor that I will go through with the surgery plan no matter how risky it is in my present condition." She wrapped her fist around the pendant, closing her eyes. "While there's still 1% chance of living, there is still hope." –For him, for them, for me, I don't want to let go of this dream. I want to continue dreaming. I didn't care at all if I died or not, but now…I have the man I love and he loves me back. I've recovered the family I so much longed for. She could hear Akima cry on the other side and smiled. "Wait down for me. You've got to pay the fare." –I must continue to live, for those who love me.

°

"My last words are for you Hatori." Sara watched on the small plasma screen on the video camera where her image played. "My feelings for you will never change, and I'll take them with me if I am to die this day. I know I did wrong keeping my health's state a secret from you, but like I told you the day of my birthday, you'll have to forgive my selfishness. I love you can never express fully what I feel for you, but those three words will have to-" There was a knock on the door and she quickly stopped the recording, putting the hand size camera in the night table's drawer. "Come in."

Akima peeked from the door into the dark room and smiled softly at her. "I'm sorry to interrupt you."

"What is it Aki-chan?" Sara said with a warm smile.

"Ah…I don't know if you'll get mad with me. Ryota already is." She muttered, still not daring to come inside. "After what you told me of you and your family…well I…"

"Thank you Akima." Sara smiled softly, pulling the blanket over her legs. "Let them come in."

"How did you know?" Akima looked surprised at her.

"I didn't know, but with your babbling is easy to guess." Sara giggled at her friend's pouting face. "But I'm still surprised."

With those last words Akima beamed a smile at her. "You only have 15 minutes though. The nurse will come soon to get you ready."

"Alright." Sara watched Akima's head disappear and then the door was fully opened. "Hey." She smiled at the men at her door, two of them were wearing black suits, Hatori a blue tie, Shigure a red one, and Ayame dressed in a light green ankle long jacket and white pants.

"Oh my God Sa-chan!" Ayame practically yelled, as he ran to the windows. "How can you get any better with these curtains shut? You'll only get worse!" He immediately opened the curtains, and light flashed into the room leaving all of them momentarily blind.

"Ayame wanted to fill your room with roses, but Shigure and I convinced him that this would be enough for now." Hatori walked to her side, holding a bouquet of red roses which he gave to her, and asked in his usual collected tone but his eyes showed deep concern and happiness at seeing her again. "How are you doing?" He took her hand and kissed it.

"I'm not bad." Sara answered blushing lightly and smelled the roses for a bit to take her mind away from his hand around hers. She missed having contact with him. "They're lovely." She smiled up to them.

"No more than you." Shigure immediately sat at her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and kissed her head. "How long are you going to stay here Sa-chan? You've been a whole week locked up in this place."

"I really don't know." Sara muttered, caressing one of the roses.

"Then let's ask the doctor!" Ayame took the roses from her and grabbed the empty vase at the night table. "Tori-san, why don't you go look for the doctor?"

"What is his name?" Hatori asked Sara, wanting to know what everybody else wanted to know, when they'll have her among them again.

"That really isn't necessary." Sara's smile turned somewhat sad as she held tightly his hand. "Instead, why don't you tell me how's Akito?"

"Your visit affected him." Shigure said, bringing her attention back to him. "He hasn't let Hatori or me near since then."

"Won't that be dangerous for his health?" Sara asked, looking back at Hatori.

"If he hasn't called for me is because he is feeling alright for the moment." Hatori sat down at the chair next to the bed, holding her hand with both hands. "You really shouldn't worry about him right now."

Ayame came back from the bathroom with the roses in the vase and set them on the night table. Taking the brush next to it, he sat down on the bed at her side and began brushing her hair. "I missed doing this so much!"

Sara giggled while the snake brushed her long locks with gentle strokes. "Don't you have enough brushing to do with your own hair?"

"Mou…so mean." Ayame pouted, continuing to brush her hair. "I love beautiful hair, and yours is almost as beautiful as mine."

"Well enjoy it while you can." Sara muttered, closing her eyes. "In 15 minutes a nurse will come and take it down."

"Eh?" Shigure looked at her confused.

"What do you mean?" Ayame kept on with his task happily.

Hatori felt her hand grow cold out of the sudden, making him worry even more. "Explain yourself please."

Sara sighed, and closed her eyes before she explained herself trying to be as casual as she could be about the topic. "I found out in March that I had a tumor at the back of my head. Since then I've been taken medicines to shrink it so it can be removed. And today happens to be that day." She slowly opened her eyes. Hatori's shocked-pained expression the first one she saw, followed by Ayame's whose whole brightness had faded away, and finally Shigure's which was the least readable of all three. "I know it's a short notice for you to get used to the idea, but-"

"Hatori, what are the risks of that type of surgery?" Shigure interrupted her, looking immediately at the family's doctor.

"They are great." Sara spoke up again. "I only have 25% possibilities of coming out well, 35% to end up in coma or as a vegetable, and a 40% of not coming out at all of that surgery room." She sighed, trying to gather her strengths to keep high her hopes. "I'm sorry for dropping this on you out of the sudden, but the last time we met we were all very emotional and the agony would have been longer and painful."

"I can't believe this." Shigure muttered as he rested his head on his arm behind her head, and whispered, "Just when I get you back, I am soon to lose you again."

Sara smiled sadly as she brought her free hand to his head and caressed his raven mop. "Ne…please don't kill me yet my sweet puppy."

"I'm not a puppy." He muttered, shutting his eyes closed tightly to keep the tears from rolling out. "But the yours part is right."

She smiled sweetly and continued to pat his head while she spoke to the snake next to her who had left the brush aside and was now covering his eyes with a hand. "I won't make promises. I won't make wishes." Her eyes turned to Hatori who had rested his head against her hand. "All I have to say to the three of you, as my family, is that I will definitely try my best….do what is in my hands, to come back to you." Tears rolled from her almond shaped eyes to her cheeks, but a warm, bright smile remained on her lips as she said, "The three of you…I've been searching for the three of you since the day I woke up in that hospital room. My heart never let go of you, and I know yours didn't let go of me either. That is why we will always be together, so please don't be sad."

Ayame sighed and then took his hand off his face. "You are right. There is no reason to be sad." He forced a smile on his lips and wiped away the tears that dimmed his golden orbs. "When you leave this hospital, you'll model for me! You can't say no this time!" His smile became less strained while staring at her calm countenance. He leaned over and kissed her right cheek. "Well the two of you should have some time to yourselves."

Ayame moved off the bed and walked over to the other side and pulled Shigure's arm gently. "Come Gure-san, let's go watch the nurses in their pristine uniforms!" He tried to sound as natural as possible, but he was truly making a big effort to stay controlled.

Shigure's emotions were in a roller coaster. He wanted to tell her he loved her, at least this once, but his other side told him that it would be like saying good-bye and he didn't want to do so. He brought his head out from behind hers, and kissed her cheek, slightly touching the corner of her lips. "I won't say good bye so you better come back." He said in a gruff tone and slipped off the bed without looking back at her.

Sara watched them leave, and as soon as the door was closed she looked back at Hatori. "Hatori, come sit at my side please." Her voice was low and soft. When he looked up, she moved more to her left to give him more space.

Hatori felt heavy as he moved from the chair to the bed and couldn't bring himself to look at her. She gently moved his arm over her shoulders, and leaned her head against his chest, closing her eyes. "Are you angry because I didn't tell you before we began this relationship?"

He sighed, and caressed her head with his left hand while the right held her right gently. "Not at all. I just wish you wouldn't have kept this pain to yourself all this time."

"I wasn't in pain at all." She muttered, bringing her other hand to rest over his at his lap. "You made me really happy all this time and I truly didn't have much time to dwell on my situation when you were around me." She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Promise me something."

"What?" He muttered, keeping his voice low due to the knot at his throat.

"I want you to promise me you'll take me home this summer." She smiled while staring at his sorrowful, blue eyes. "We'll all go together to the beach villa this summer and make new, beautiful memories."

"We'll do as you wish my beautiful butterfly." He whispered and kissed her forehead, running his fingers through a lock of hair.

She giggled softly to hide the blush on her cheeks. "That's the first time you call me that."

"I've always seen you as one." He smiled softly, taking her pendant into his hand. "Beautiful and free." Slowly he lowered his face to hers, letting go of the pendant as he brought his hand to her neck, and kissed her tenderly, trying to express all his bottled feelings with it.

A knock at the door interrupted them. "One minute please" Sara called out so no one would come in just yet. She smiled warmly at him and caressed his face gently one more time. Hatori smiled, feeling the little snow left over his heart melt. "I love you." The three words he thought he'd never say again flowed out of his lips naturally and he knew his heart meant every single bit of it. He smiled as tears came out of her surprised eyes. "You are the most important person in my life so," He whispered as he kissed her eyes gently and wiped her tears. "Come back to me."

Sara just nodded, hiding her face at the crook of his neck while he hugged her head closer. "I love you too." She whispered against his neck. "With all my heart and soul, I love u." –I may die now, no regrets or complaints, for I am the happiest woman on Earth right now.


°

Shigure leaned back on the seat, setting the book he had been reading on his lap. He stared out through the crystal panels of the solarium. Outside it was a perfect summer day. He closed his eyes, leaning his chin on his hand and the elbow sat on the chair's arm. Images slowly flooded his mind.

He saw himself, walk into a hospital room, looking sleepless, his clothes wrinkled and his hair disheveled. A frown sat on his forehead as tears welled up in his eyes while he slowly dragged his feet towards the bed where her motionless body rested. Carefully he took her hand, an IV line connected to her pale form, and caressed her serene countenance as he knelt at the bed's side. No longer being able to hold his tears back, he hid his face on her shoulder. "I was never able to tell you how much you mean to me." He whispered looking back at her face. "I always feared you'd reject me if I only dared to caress your face with love. I've realized it too late." Slowly he stood up, bowing over her bringing his face closer to hers. "But it is not late, to tell you how much I love you my beloved heaven." He whispered and gently pressed his lips, warming her thin pale lips with his kiss.

"What are you thinking puppy?"

Shigure's eyes bolted open and turned his face over his shoulder. "I'm not a puppy." He muttered, staring into her lively gray eyes so close to his. She had her arms wrapped loosely around his neck, and her chin rested on her arm, their faces just separated by a pair of centimeters. "Why are you here? You're on your honeymoon and should be locked up in the bedroom with your husband."

Sara giggled, and let go of him, walking away from his chair towards the window panel. "The kids don't seem to agree with that."

"It's your own fault for insisting on making of your honeymoon a family thing." Shigure watched her profile surrounded by the soft golden rays of sunset.

"You looked very serious just a minute ago." She said while staring out to the garden. "What were you thinking?"

"I was just imagining the next scene for my novel." Shigure muttered as he placed the book on the coffee table and walked up to her side. "The sequel to Aoi Sora has proved to be more difficult than I thought."

"That's true." Sara smiled, placing her hand on a crystal square and began drawing circles on it. "Your first novel was such a great hit among your female readers that you've finally decided to write the sequel." She wrapped her arm around his and looked up to him pleadingly. "May I read it before you give it to your editor?"

"Of course." Shigure smiled down at her, his eyes drifting to her hair's short bob cut. –It has been two months since she had that surgery done. She came out well from it and it took her about a month to recover and go back to her normal activities.

"Anyways, I came to look for you and take you to the barbeque. You suddenly disappeared." Sara pulled his arm gently as she stepped towards the door to leave the solarium.

"I got an idea for the novel so I wanted to meditate on it for a while." He explained, giving in to her request, walking out of the solarium and into the garden.

"You were gone for three hours. That's not a while." Sara pouted, walking arm in arm with him.

Shigure laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "I thought no one would notice."

"I did." Sara smiled, as they walked into the woods that surrounded the main beach villa, on their way to the smaller one where the others were gathered.

Shigure watched her smile from the tail of his eye. –That day… An image of Hatori kneeling in front of Akito at the room where the clan's head received people, while Sara remained behind her boyfriend, came to his mind.

"We are going to get married." Hatori announced to the clan's leader, looking straight into his eyes.

"I will never consent to that." Akito glared at the doctor. "That bitch will never carry the Sohma name again! She doesn't belong here!"

"I am only informing you." Hatori said sternly, determined to go through with what he wanted this time, knowing that there was nothing Akito could do this time to separate them. He watched the younger man glare intensely at his sister, but didn't say or do anything to force his opinion on them. "We'll be leaving now." The doctor said as he stood up and turned to Sara.

In a quick movement, Akito tried to pass by Hatori to reach Sara. He wore an insane look on his face. Yet, he didn't get far since Hatori grabbed him immediately, stopping him from harming her. "You are the responsible of my disgrace!" He yelled, "I'll kill you before you can take them away from me! They are mine! Only mine!"

Shigure opened the door quickly as soon as he heard the man's yells. Worried Kana's story would repeat on them, he had stayed outside in case they needed him but his cousin seemed to be controlling Akito easily since the younger man had grown weaker. Then he turned to look at Sara and he saw her smiling, obviously enjoying Akito's pain and not trying to hide it.

-That day I realized we are more alike than I had believed till that moment. Shigure thought while walking next to her. The villa's roof was already visible. –I cannot think you accepted to marry him only to hurt the one who hurt you the most because I know you love Hatori more than your own life, but… it was you who insisted on talking to Akito for being the clan's leader. In the end, you've got the reaction you had wanted, right Sa-chan? Without warning, you've made Akito's worse fear come true.

He recalled a moment previous to coming to the villa. He watched from the door Akito's coiled form close to the window. –He has become lonelier than before.

"Shigure." Sara stopped before they reached the villa, interrupting his thoughts.

He turned back, wondering why she looked so serious out of the sudden. "What is it Sa-chan?"

"The other day, I remembered about one afternoon from back then. I had fallen asleep in the living room while reading Aoi Sora." She began, looking up to him. "Or so it seemed."

It had been long ago but he remembered quite well that afternoon. Shigure tried to control his emotions from showing on his face, but his mind wouldn't stop from recalling that moment she mentioned. An image of him in his 18's walking into the living room and sitting down next to her sleeping form, taking the set of papers tied with a thread of red wool at a corner from her hands. –I wasn't able to contain myself that moment. He remembered his younger self leaning over and kissing Sara's lips softly and suddenly-

"I woke up and found you in dog form next to me." She continued staring directly into his eyes.

Shigure laughed nervously, trying to hide his real emotions. "Yeah! You hugged me in your sleep! You took me by surprise!"

Sara looked softly at him and grabbed his kimono's sleeve. "Can you forgive me for my cruelty Shi-chan?"

"Wha-?" Shigure's surprised look slipped off his features to be replaced by the only one he showed to her, his true face. "So you knew."

"I was only resting my eyes." Sara admitted, a small frown taking over her forehead. "That moment I realized that the girl you had talked to me about was I. And when I finished reading Aoi Sora I went to talk to you at the solarium, -tried to get you to tell me your feelings but you insisted that I'd know when the book was published." She looked down. "I told you about my feelings for Hatori, knowing you loved me. I just couldn't wait for you to decide, because I- "

"You've always been straight forward with your feelings and thoughts." Shigure said as he reached out to her face and caressed her cheek gently. "That is the only thing so far we're not alike in." He smiled warmly at her outlining her face features with his fingers. "But why you bring that up now?"

"You mean now as in now after you've married Hatori, or now as in now in this moment?" She said teasingly, and she just smiled at his slight annoyed look "I have the feeling you are hiding things from me Shigure, and I want you to be sincere with me. That's why I am being sincere with you."

-Stain you with my unclean dreams and thoughts? "I'm not hiding anything from you." He lied boldly, "There are just many things that you don't need to know of these past ten years. Why stir past, unpleasant memories now when everything is going so well?" He smiled at her, putting his mask on again, putting an end to that conversation.

Sara half smiled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I guess you're right." She began walking towards the house where loud voices and laughter could be heard. "Come on, or the kids will eat our share."

Shigure walked behind her, but before they joined the rest of the Sohma's at the porch where the barbeque was taking place, he placed his hand on her shoulder stopping her but she didn't turn around. "I have a doubt though Sara." He guessed that her silence was to encourage him to continue. "If things wouldn't have gone like they did that night, if we hadn't left you here back then, and Hatori would have continued rejecting you, would I have stood any chance with you?" -Ok. Now I'm speaking like a stupid high school brat. He kicked himself for not controlling his emotions, but the question was already done.

Sara just turned around halfway, looking up to him. "The past cannot be changed Gure dear." She said giving him the same fake smile he gave her just a moment ago. "Why do you want to know now when everything is going so well?" She quoted him.

Shigure watched her turn away and walked directly to Hatori who was sitting at the picnic table close to the wood railing. He stared at them as they kissed and smiled at each other like every happily married couple would. Then Ayame joined them at the table babbling out loud over something he talked with Yuki. He sighed and chuckled to himself. –It is incredible how after so long and at this age, that single woman keeps us in the palm of her hand. "Kyou cook mine well!" He yelled at the cat who was in front of the barbeque, as he went to sit down with them.

"Don't come giving orders when you just arrived and didn't help at all!" Kyou bit back as his response.

"I'd like mine like that too." Tohru smiled sheepishly bringing a new plate with uncooked meat burgers, sausages, and vegetables in sticks.

Kyou smirked, turning the burgers on the grill. "Alright."

"Be careful with setting a fire baka neko." Yuki said as he walked out carrying with Haru the drinks and glasses.

"What are you saying you stupid, girly looking mouse!" Kyou hissed, pointing at Yuki with the metal spatula. "Wanna fight?"

His outburst was interrupted by Haru who stood in front of the barbeque hiding Yuki from Kyou's view. "Hmm…Cannibalism?" He said looking down at the sizzling burgers. "Make mine medium-rare."

Kyou gave him a disgusted look. "You could at least say please stupid cow."

Haru suddenly threw the barbeque lid's over the grill, smoke filtering from the sides. "What did you call me stupid cat?"

"Hatsu-kun!" Sara called out after him, taking the youngster's attention away from the cat, and keeping him from going black all the way. "Bring me a drink please!"

"Ok." The white and black haired teen turned around and went for the drink, forgetting Kyou's insult.

"It's good muttei is able to control black Haru." Momiji commented, hugging Sara's arm. He had gone sit next to her as soon as she had returned from the other house. "He could have thrown the hot grill on Kyou-kun if he had gone totally black."

Sara just smiled down at Momiji. "I'm too hungry to let them waste all that food."

"I'm hungry too!" He chirped, and jumped to his feet, turning towards Kyou. "Kyou! When will the first ones be ready? We're famished!"

Ayame and Shigure decided to leave the love doves alone at their corner at the table, and joined Momiji at the whining in front of the grill testing Kyou's patience levels. Yuki and Tohru were chatting at a safe distance from the grill in case Kyou exploded, and Haru went sit with them after giving Sara her drink.

"You're not regretting this honeymoon?" Hatori asked, leaning his elbow on the table while caressing the back of her tanned neck. A small smile playing on his lips while watching her.

Sara watched the group with a serene smile on her lips. "Not at all." She turned to look at him. "Let's take a walk." She said, standing up from her seat, leading the way.

Hatori followed her towards the beach out of everyone's view. Catching up with her, he grabbed her hand and walked to her side. "Shigure and Ayame told me earlier that all of them will leave tomorrow morning."

"Why?" Sara asked innocently, leaning on him while taking off her shoes before stepping into the water. Then she smiled and muttered, "Ah. I see. They're more worried for our honeymoon than we are."

"Well we'll have some peace and quiet for a pair of days before we have to go back." He sat down on the wet sand, watching her slightly kick the water, the soft breeze playing with her dress's hem. –I had been wrong all this time. We all have been. He thought as she turned to smile brightly at him. –The curse wasn't an obstacle to happiness.

Sara stepped towards him, and knelt between his legs, staring into his blue eyes intently. Her smile slowly grew as she read his emotions through his orbs. "What are you thinking?" She asked, wanting to hear it from him.

Hatori caressed her face lightly, and smiled as he answered. "How good it is to be free." He touched her lips with his fingers slowly. "How good it feels to be alive." –In her smile I find my freedom, and her presence brings bliss to my life.

She kissed his fingers and held his hand against her cheek. "It does feel good, doesn't it?" She closed her eyes, smiling warmly while caressing his hand at her face. "I don't want to wake up, ever."

"You don't need to." He whispered as he leaned over and kissed her lovingly while the waves wet their clothes and the soft sea breeze caressed their forms. –I will protect her dream, my dream, -our dream. Their lips parted, and he smiled at her slightly blushed cheeks. –And make it eternal.

The End.

***Hate it? Like it? Love it? Whichever is your pick, please review. :) This is the end for this fic. I'm sorry I took sooo long to post this chapter but school has been hell the last two months. I hope you liked it. And for those who didn't, oh well... not much I can do about that. =) But either way please review. Thank you for reading! I'm truly grateful from the bottom of my heart! Ja ne!