Chapter 6
A New Horizon
Nami and Ayame had been waiting in the garden where they could watch Hatori's home for what seemed like eternity. Sooner than later, Ayame had turned back to his human form.
Eventually, the two got bored with waiting for Kana to leave, and Ayame decided that it was time for Nami to see her surprise. They walked inside and into Nami's room. Ayame dropped the bag on top of her bed and rummaged through it.
"Close your eyes!" He sang, and Nami obliged. "Ano, open them now!" She could feel the excitement in his voice. She opened her eyes to the sight of a beautiful evening gown in front of her, and Ayame peeking from behind it.
"Ayame-san, I love it!" She took it from him and admired it in the mirror. It must've been expensive as it was obviously made entirely of silk. It was a dark blue color, giving off the impression of a night sky. It was light and had a western style to it.
"Try it on," Ayame said, winking at her. She giggled and rushed him out of the room. Ayame stood behind the door, dancing in his spot, waiting to see her in his masterpiece.
"Ready!" Nami called from behind the door, and Ayame swung it open. She was standing in front of the mirror, and he thought that she looked so amazing that not even the angels could touch her. He beamed at his creation, and felt like a god himself for a moment.
"Perfect," he said and walked up behind her. "Mine-chan and I spent the entire night working on it, and I can't think of a more perfect purpose for it."
"Ayame-san, how can I ever thank you?" She smiled at him in the mirror.
"Just tell anyone that asks that I made you the dress. I can't imagine a better model to promote my shop," he grinned at her.
"Arigato, Ayame-san!"
"I really am a genius, aren't I?" He said, still a bit taken aback by his wonderful work of art.
"Hai!" Nami couldn't seem to stop smiling. "Although, I don't want to damage it before the party. I'll get changed and we can go check up on Hatori," Nami suggested and shooed him out of the room again.
Nami emerged from her room two minutes later, changed and back in solemn mood for speaking with Hatori. Ayame entwined their arms, and they walked out of Akito's house. Stopping in the place they had waited before, they watched Kana come out of Hatori's home and leave the range of view.
"Should we go?" Ayame asked flatly.
"I guess it couldn't hurt," Nami replied, and with that they both made their way towards Hatori's home. They stood in front of the door, neither with the courage to open it.
"Tori-san?" Ayame called to him. After a moment, the door slid open slightly and Hatori's figure stood in front of them, collected as ever. He motioned them in and began walking back inside.
"Sohma-san, how are you?" Nami walked over to him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't seem to react. His static expression made them worry.
"She's pregnant," Hatori replied, very quietly and turned his face away.
"Simply awful," Ayame said in his best theatrical voice. Nami let out a sort of nervous giggle to let him know that his attempt at comic relief was appreciated.
"I'm happy for her," Hatori said again, seemly quieter. "She has everything I knew I could never give her."
"Is there anything we can do?" Nami asked.
Hatori seemed to suddenly snap out of his daze. "I have to tell Akito," he declared.
"Iie, you don't have to do anything. He doesn't need to know," Nami reassured him.
"He'll know anyway. He'll find out somehow, he always does. It's better if I just tell him."
"Calm down," Ayame said and walked nearer to them. He seemed to have a knack for seeing the real Hatori, even past his collected state.
"I have to go," Hatori declared and headed towards the door. Ayame took his hand and stopped him on the way out. Hatori glared at him and everyone was silent.
"Akito won't help," Ayame stated impassively. Hatori hung his head and covered his eyes with his hands. He didn't cry, not a single tear; however, it was more than obvious to them both that tears would have been better in this case.
"I miss her," Hatori uttered. Both Ayame and Nami were sufficiently heartbroken at this point. Ayame wrapped his arms around his friend, but Nami could barely move.
She swallowed hard and said, "I'll tell him for you. You don't need to worry about it."
"Iie," Hatori abruptly pulled away from Ayame and stood in between Nami and the doorway.
"Hatori-san, it will be alright. I promise, I'll make sure of it. Let me do this for you," Nami said, knowing that as hard as it will be, talking to Akito would be a hundred times easier for her than it would be for Hatori. He didn't respond; didn't say or do a single thing.
"She's right, Tori-san," Ayame chimed in.
"Ayame," Nami said, placing a sweet smile on her face, "I have an idea. Why don't you two go see Gure-san? I'm sure the three geniuses together can think of a way to get through this."
"Brilliant plan, Nami-kun!" Ayame exclaimed, his attempt at a genuinely cheerful smile being more convincing than hers. "Gure-san will be thrilled to see us! Oh, just imagine the look on his face when his two most favorite people in the world show up at his doorstep!"
Nami giggled and smiled reassuringly at Hatori. "Go," she said.
Ayame was now taking affirmative action to drag Hatori to the car. Nami waved at them as they walked away. Hatori seemed to be speechless about the entire thing. He thought it was an incredibly kind deed for Nami to volunteer to tell Akito about this, but he was worried about it as well. He felt that he was abandoning his responsibility, Nami. His responsibility, on the other hand, couldn't think of a better way for this to work out. She would have plenty of time to speak with Akito, and she would prove to Hatori that she doesn't need him to protect her all the time.
Nami waited quite a while before she decided it was time to see Akito. She sat on Hatori's porch thinking of ways to tell him. She watched the sunset, and realized that Hatori might be back soon as it was getting dark. She quickly swallowed all doubt and approached Akito's home. He lay stretched out on the porch. She knelt down next to him and didn't say anything for a while. This was the first time they would speak since the incident the day before.
"What is it?" Akito asked eventually.
"I just have some news to tell you." Nami wasn't scared of him just then. Maybe a bit anxious about his reaction, but she was almost convinced he wouldn't hurt her. She began to have a feel for this sort of thing. She decided to just get it out and go from there. "Sohma Kana came to see Hatori-san today."
"I know." Akito's reply somewhat shocked Nami.
"How?"
"I know everything that happens in this family." That was his vague answer, as always.
"Are you angry?"
"I figured I'd save that for Hatori. Where has he gone to escape me?"
"Don't say that." Nami didn't like the comment.
Akito chuckled. "Where did he go?"
"To see Gure-san. I told him to leave. He was in too much of a distraught state to speak to you. I'm not surprised considering the way you treat your family."
"I love my family."
Nami let out a sort of sarcastic laugh. "Could have fooled me. What you did to Hatori-san, you call that love? What about Yuki-kun? That's not love."
"I love Hatori and Yuki most of all."
"I somehow doubt that. If it's true, then you need to find a new way to let them know. Causing them horrible pain doesn't seem to be very effective. Ever wonder why Yuki is desperately avoiding you?" After she said that, Nami thought she might've gone too far. There was no point in pushing him like that; however, his responses seemed rather calm.
Akito changed the subject back to Kana. "Why was she here?"
"She needed to see a doctor because she's pregnant."
"How ironic. Poor Hatori must be crushed," Akito replied with an obviously fake sincerity. "I'd like to speak with him. When will he return?"
"I don't know. Are you angry?" Nami asked again, making sure that when Hatori did return he wouldn't came back to a royally enraged Akito.
"Iie," he replied simply and stood up. He walked back inside and Nami followed him in.
"Are you lying?" She asked, sounding somewhat childish.
"I have an idea," Akito said, ignoring the question. "How would you like to visit Shigure tonight?" He raised his eyebrows and a malevolent smile appeared on his face.
"Don't you dare." Nami began thinking frantically of what to do to make him stay.
"Just kidding." Akito seemed to enjoy making her panic.
The sun had set completely by now and Nami wondered if Hatori might be spending the night there. She hoped that he would. He needed as much time away from Akito as possible. The sky was now dark and the stars were becoming more and more visible.
"That wasn't very funny," she announced and took a step out onto the porch. Akito followed her.
"What are you looking at?" He asked, somewhat confused as to what Nami's attention was so fixed upon. She was looking at the sky.
"The moon," she replied, simply.
"You're making a wish aren't you? You're so predictable it's pathetic... or maybe you're just so pathetic it's predictable." Akito said sarcastically, mocking her.
"You're supposed to wish upon stars, not the moon." Nami laughed, disarming his cynicism.
Akito sat down on the porch and rested his back against the door. Nami felt strange standing over him so she sat down, too.
"Like that one!" She pointed to a shooting star. "Hurry, make a wish before it's gone!" She felt a bit strange saying this to Akito out of all people, but it might be an interesting experiment to see what he wishes for. Even if it doesn't come true, as she had found to be the case, she would still like to know if there's anything at all he desires.
He looked at her as if she had completely lost her mind. "You think stars grant wishes?" He asked, demeaning her credibility.
"What did you wish for?" She countered, seemingly ignoring his mockery.
"I wished to die tonight," Akito replied bitterly.
"What a waste of a wish," Nami sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. She took his hand and thought of how cold it was.
"What makes you say that?" Akito asked, making it a bit difficult for her to believe that he really was disinterested.
"Well, " she replied, meeting his eyes, "I wished for a million more nights like this and I wished harder than you did."
Akito laughed, "We'll see about that. You are very strange."
A New Horizon
Nami and Ayame had been waiting in the garden where they could watch Hatori's home for what seemed like eternity. Sooner than later, Ayame had turned back to his human form.
Eventually, the two got bored with waiting for Kana to leave, and Ayame decided that it was time for Nami to see her surprise. They walked inside and into Nami's room. Ayame dropped the bag on top of her bed and rummaged through it.
"Close your eyes!" He sang, and Nami obliged. "Ano, open them now!" She could feel the excitement in his voice. She opened her eyes to the sight of a beautiful evening gown in front of her, and Ayame peeking from behind it.
"Ayame-san, I love it!" She took it from him and admired it in the mirror. It must've been expensive as it was obviously made entirely of silk. It was a dark blue color, giving off the impression of a night sky. It was light and had a western style to it.
"Try it on," Ayame said, winking at her. She giggled and rushed him out of the room. Ayame stood behind the door, dancing in his spot, waiting to see her in his masterpiece.
"Ready!" Nami called from behind the door, and Ayame swung it open. She was standing in front of the mirror, and he thought that she looked so amazing that not even the angels could touch her. He beamed at his creation, and felt like a god himself for a moment.
"Perfect," he said and walked up behind her. "Mine-chan and I spent the entire night working on it, and I can't think of a more perfect purpose for it."
"Ayame-san, how can I ever thank you?" She smiled at him in the mirror.
"Just tell anyone that asks that I made you the dress. I can't imagine a better model to promote my shop," he grinned at her.
"Arigato, Ayame-san!"
"I really am a genius, aren't I?" He said, still a bit taken aback by his wonderful work of art.
"Hai!" Nami couldn't seem to stop smiling. "Although, I don't want to damage it before the party. I'll get changed and we can go check up on Hatori," Nami suggested and shooed him out of the room again.
Nami emerged from her room two minutes later, changed and back in solemn mood for speaking with Hatori. Ayame entwined their arms, and they walked out of Akito's house. Stopping in the place they had waited before, they watched Kana come out of Hatori's home and leave the range of view.
"Should we go?" Ayame asked flatly.
"I guess it couldn't hurt," Nami replied, and with that they both made their way towards Hatori's home. They stood in front of the door, neither with the courage to open it.
"Tori-san?" Ayame called to him. After a moment, the door slid open slightly and Hatori's figure stood in front of them, collected as ever. He motioned them in and began walking back inside.
"Sohma-san, how are you?" Nami walked over to him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't seem to react. His static expression made them worry.
"She's pregnant," Hatori replied, very quietly and turned his face away.
"Simply awful," Ayame said in his best theatrical voice. Nami let out a sort of nervous giggle to let him know that his attempt at comic relief was appreciated.
"I'm happy for her," Hatori said again, seemly quieter. "She has everything I knew I could never give her."
"Is there anything we can do?" Nami asked.
Hatori seemed to suddenly snap out of his daze. "I have to tell Akito," he declared.
"Iie, you don't have to do anything. He doesn't need to know," Nami reassured him.
"He'll know anyway. He'll find out somehow, he always does. It's better if I just tell him."
"Calm down," Ayame said and walked nearer to them. He seemed to have a knack for seeing the real Hatori, even past his collected state.
"I have to go," Hatori declared and headed towards the door. Ayame took his hand and stopped him on the way out. Hatori glared at him and everyone was silent.
"Akito won't help," Ayame stated impassively. Hatori hung his head and covered his eyes with his hands. He didn't cry, not a single tear; however, it was more than obvious to them both that tears would have been better in this case.
"I miss her," Hatori uttered. Both Ayame and Nami were sufficiently heartbroken at this point. Ayame wrapped his arms around his friend, but Nami could barely move.
She swallowed hard and said, "I'll tell him for you. You don't need to worry about it."
"Iie," Hatori abruptly pulled away from Ayame and stood in between Nami and the doorway.
"Hatori-san, it will be alright. I promise, I'll make sure of it. Let me do this for you," Nami said, knowing that as hard as it will be, talking to Akito would be a hundred times easier for her than it would be for Hatori. He didn't respond; didn't say or do a single thing.
"She's right, Tori-san," Ayame chimed in.
"Ayame," Nami said, placing a sweet smile on her face, "I have an idea. Why don't you two go see Gure-san? I'm sure the three geniuses together can think of a way to get through this."
"Brilliant plan, Nami-kun!" Ayame exclaimed, his attempt at a genuinely cheerful smile being more convincing than hers. "Gure-san will be thrilled to see us! Oh, just imagine the look on his face when his two most favorite people in the world show up at his doorstep!"
Nami giggled and smiled reassuringly at Hatori. "Go," she said.
Ayame was now taking affirmative action to drag Hatori to the car. Nami waved at them as they walked away. Hatori seemed to be speechless about the entire thing. He thought it was an incredibly kind deed for Nami to volunteer to tell Akito about this, but he was worried about it as well. He felt that he was abandoning his responsibility, Nami. His responsibility, on the other hand, couldn't think of a better way for this to work out. She would have plenty of time to speak with Akito, and she would prove to Hatori that she doesn't need him to protect her all the time.
Nami waited quite a while before she decided it was time to see Akito. She sat on Hatori's porch thinking of ways to tell him. She watched the sunset, and realized that Hatori might be back soon as it was getting dark. She quickly swallowed all doubt and approached Akito's home. He lay stretched out on the porch. She knelt down next to him and didn't say anything for a while. This was the first time they would speak since the incident the day before.
"What is it?" Akito asked eventually.
"I just have some news to tell you." Nami wasn't scared of him just then. Maybe a bit anxious about his reaction, but she was almost convinced he wouldn't hurt her. She began to have a feel for this sort of thing. She decided to just get it out and go from there. "Sohma Kana came to see Hatori-san today."
"I know." Akito's reply somewhat shocked Nami.
"How?"
"I know everything that happens in this family." That was his vague answer, as always.
"Are you angry?"
"I figured I'd save that for Hatori. Where has he gone to escape me?"
"Don't say that." Nami didn't like the comment.
Akito chuckled. "Where did he go?"
"To see Gure-san. I told him to leave. He was in too much of a distraught state to speak to you. I'm not surprised considering the way you treat your family."
"I love my family."
Nami let out a sort of sarcastic laugh. "Could have fooled me. What you did to Hatori-san, you call that love? What about Yuki-kun? That's not love."
"I love Hatori and Yuki most of all."
"I somehow doubt that. If it's true, then you need to find a new way to let them know. Causing them horrible pain doesn't seem to be very effective. Ever wonder why Yuki is desperately avoiding you?" After she said that, Nami thought she might've gone too far. There was no point in pushing him like that; however, his responses seemed rather calm.
Akito changed the subject back to Kana. "Why was she here?"
"She needed to see a doctor because she's pregnant."
"How ironic. Poor Hatori must be crushed," Akito replied with an obviously fake sincerity. "I'd like to speak with him. When will he return?"
"I don't know. Are you angry?" Nami asked again, making sure that when Hatori did return he wouldn't came back to a royally enraged Akito.
"Iie," he replied simply and stood up. He walked back inside and Nami followed him in.
"Are you lying?" She asked, sounding somewhat childish.
"I have an idea," Akito said, ignoring the question. "How would you like to visit Shigure tonight?" He raised his eyebrows and a malevolent smile appeared on his face.
"Don't you dare." Nami began thinking frantically of what to do to make him stay.
"Just kidding." Akito seemed to enjoy making her panic.
The sun had set completely by now and Nami wondered if Hatori might be spending the night there. She hoped that he would. He needed as much time away from Akito as possible. The sky was now dark and the stars were becoming more and more visible.
"That wasn't very funny," she announced and took a step out onto the porch. Akito followed her.
"What are you looking at?" He asked, somewhat confused as to what Nami's attention was so fixed upon. She was looking at the sky.
"The moon," she replied, simply.
"You're making a wish aren't you? You're so predictable it's pathetic... or maybe you're just so pathetic it's predictable." Akito said sarcastically, mocking her.
"You're supposed to wish upon stars, not the moon." Nami laughed, disarming his cynicism.
Akito sat down on the porch and rested his back against the door. Nami felt strange standing over him so she sat down, too.
"Like that one!" She pointed to a shooting star. "Hurry, make a wish before it's gone!" She felt a bit strange saying this to Akito out of all people, but it might be an interesting experiment to see what he wishes for. Even if it doesn't come true, as she had found to be the case, she would still like to know if there's anything at all he desires.
He looked at her as if she had completely lost her mind. "You think stars grant wishes?" He asked, demeaning her credibility.
"What did you wish for?" She countered, seemingly ignoring his mockery.
"I wished to die tonight," Akito replied bitterly.
"What a waste of a wish," Nami sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. She took his hand and thought of how cold it was.
"What makes you say that?" Akito asked, making it a bit difficult for her to believe that he really was disinterested.
"Well, " she replied, meeting his eyes, "I wished for a million more nights like this and I wished harder than you did."
Akito laughed, "We'll see about that. You are very strange."