I smell hiatus for Vampires…uh-oh. ^^;; Just kidding. I'm going to find the time to work on that fic one of these days.
I think.
For people who want to be informed when the next chapter of my Furuba fics are up, check out Fruit Cocktale and sign up for the mailing list.
"What do you mean Yuki is alive?" Hatori's eyes were shocked. It can't be!
"He is," said Shigure, not blinking. "Well, anyway, I'll see you tomorrow-"
"Wait!" said the doctor. "Tell me what you know!"
The novelist grinned at him. "Tell me what you know." When the doctor didn't say anything, the inu waved at his cousin. "Oh well, Sohma Shigure always finds a way. I'll find out, even if that's the last thing I'll do."
The bus had long been gone, but Hatori was still frozen as a statue.
What else do Shigure knows?
And Yuki…I saw him in the bus. How did he survive the accident?
Hatori walked home, mind in turmoil. He didn't expect these to happen…what would happen if Tohru finds out about the truth?
He clenched his fists. I shouldn't have meddled anymore. Now I'm caught in this web of misfortunes too!
But he just couldn't let something bad happen to her. His conscience would haunt him.
Yes, and his heart too.
He finally arrived home, exhausted. But he felt his spirits lift when he saw Tohru on the front door, waiting for him.
"Good evening, Hatori-sensei," she greeted quickly as she took his coat. "Dinner is served."
"Thank you," he said quietly as he shut his eyes tight, savoring the warm feeling of knowing that he was really home. When had he last felt this way? He could remember no more.
He opened his eyes and found her looking at him curiously. "What is it?" he asked, not meaning to sound curt.
She shook her head. "N-Nothing." She went back into the kitchen as he followed her silently.
"Shigure-san is your cousin, right?" she began.
He stopped abruptly. "Yes."
"H-He told me about someone…"
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"I want to remember…"
He exhaled sharply. "Tohru, do not try my patience."
She sighed. "Very well." She looked at the dining table. "Would you like to eat already?"
He looked at the dish. Leek soup and deep-fried chicken. He loosened his tie. "I'm not hungry," he said curtly. These were Yuki's favorite dishes.
She bit her lip. "Even just a few bites."
"I'm full."
"OK." She began to clear the table.
He began to unbutton his shirt. "Don't take Shigure too seriously."
She turned to him. "But Shigure-san is not-" Her eyes widened as blush filled her cheeks. "Nyaaah!!"
He blinked then looked at himself. He then realized that he had undone his shirt already, and his chest was openly exposed to her. He felt his own face heat up. He had been so used to living alone that he forgot about what he should not do in front of her.
He hurried towards his room, muttering on his stupidity that Shigure could have contaminated him with the few hours that they were together.
What are you going to do in the amusement park, Yuki-kun?
I'm going to meet someone there.
You seem a little strange today.
Oh? You think so?
Ah, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said that.
Maybe you shouldn't have.
Tohru's eyes flapped open, sweating nervously. Her dream ended in crimson blood again.
She tried to breathe deeply to calm herself.
Yuki…it's him again.
Who is he?
Her shoulders shook as a sob escaped her throat.
I want to remember! I want to remember!
"Tohru?"
The sudden floods of light snapped her out of it. She quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile. "So sorry…did I wake you up?"
Hatori smiled sardonically. "I wasn't sleeping."
"Oh."
He sat by her bed and peered at her intently. Not satisfied, he tucked the stray strands of her brown hair behind her ears. "That dream again?"
"I-It's no use…I keep on remembering something that I cannot remember…may it be day or night," she whispered. "It's driving me crazy."
She saw pain flicker on his face as he leaned down and kissed her hair. "Ssh. I'm here."
That did it. She threw herself against his chest, sobbing. "Hatori!"
At the same moment, to his utter dismay, he poofed into a seahorse.
Tohru blinked. "H-Hatori?"
She giggled softly when Hatori finished explaining why he suddenly transformed into an animal.
"What?" asked the seahorse, torn between annoyance and despair.
"You're so cute," she said, eyes twinkling.
He looked away, muttering.
"I now remember!" Her eyes lit up. "Yes, I can recall a little more."
He blinked.
"Yuki-kun is a mouse, isn't he?"
A momentary pause before he spoke. "Yes."
Her eyes shook, but she said no more. Instead, she hugged the animal to her chest.
But a minute later, a scream echoed all throughout the house.
When the smoke disappeared, Tohru was burying her flaming face on her hands.
Hatori blinked when he saw their position. He was on top of her, his face just inches from hers. He looked down and nearly fainted, but fortunately he had the presence of mind to instead quickly reach for anything to cover his maleness, which suddenly came to life.
"I didn't see anything! I didn't see anything!" screamed the onigiri.
"I know, I know!" yelled the doctor back, busily looking for his clothes.
"I swear! It was too small for me to really see it!"
This made his face turn hot. Somehow that didn't comfort him. "Stop screaming!"
He didn't dare think anymore what his neighbors who surely had overheard her screams were thinking of right now.
Shigure opened the door of Akito's room and knelt in front of the young man who was sitting in the corner of the room, face buried on his knees.
"How are you feeling now?" asked the novelist.
No reply.
"I brought you some food." He took out the burgers and drinks.
The young man looked at him through his glassy purple eyes then looked down. "Thank you."
"Are you aware that everyone thinks you're dead?" began Shigure.
"M-Me? Dead?"
The novelist looked grim. "Yes. And Tohru thinks you don't even exist."
For a moment, he couldn't speak. Suddenly, he looked up. "Who is she?"
"Not good," muttered Shigure. He made up his mind to see Hatori again the next day. He had a lot of questions to ask.
But to his dismay, Hatori's house was closed. Even the backyard was closed too.
Shigure sighed. "Where did they go?"
He hated to jump to conclusions, but he couldn't erase the fear that Hatori took Tohru into another place again – somewhere he and his relatives wouldn't find easily.
"Thank you for taking me out, Hatori-sensei!" said Tohru cheerfully as she and her husband went to the shopping mall that afternoon to eat out.
He groaned. "You don't have to sound so grateful. I do have to take you out sometimes, don't I?"
"Y-Yes, but…" She grinned cheerfully at him. "I have this feeling that this is not your cup of tea, and yet you chose to take me out."
He looked away. "You and your overstatements."
Her eyes lit up when she saw a karaoke machine on the other side of the mall. "Hey, let's sing first, ok?"
"W-What?!" Hatori's eyes widened in horror. "Y-You're kidding!"
"No, I'm not!" she said excitedly, eyes laughing. "Come on, show me the hidden singing talent that you have, Hatori-sensei!"
"I will not sing! I will not sing!"
Minutes later, Hatori was seated in front of the karaoke machine as Tohru was excitedly leafing through the song collections.
"I want this!" Her finger pointed to one title on the left.
Hatori read it. "Unforgettable."
"It's a duet song, right?" asked Tohru.
"I will not sing, and that's final!" he bellowed. Good God, just don't make her smile, please.
But conspiracies of all conspiracies, she did. Her lovely warm eyes crinkled into her familiar tender smile. "Please?"
Who, in his right mind could defy such smiles?
So he grudgingly took the mike.
The title and initial scenes began to roll.
Unforgettable
(Irving Gordon)
Tohru grinned at him then began to sing.
Unforgettable
That's what you are,
Unforgettable
Tho' near or far.
Hatori was handed the mike.
Like a song of love that clings to me,
How the thought of you does things to me.
Never before
Has someone been more...
He glanced at Tohru, whose eyes were shining as she gazed at him lovingly. He could feel his heart spin. He could have cursed himself for acting like a teenager, but then Tohru nudged him. He sighed, then continued to sing with her.
Unforgettable
In every way,
And forever more
That's how you'll stay.
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am
Unforgettable, too.
The interlude came, and Hatori began to felt very, very conscious, especially since a crowd is building up behind them, watching. But when Tohru moved closer to him and offered the mike with that heartbreaking smile, he felt his fear dissolve into the smooth piano music.
Unforgettable
In every way,
And forever more
That's how you'll stay.
They were just sharing the mike, cheek-to-cheek as they belted out the song.
Soon, Hatori felt himself relax. As if it was the most ordinary thing in the world for him to sing his heart out in a public videoke machine, with an eighteen-year-old girl.
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am
Unforgettable, too.
Applause filled that little corner of the mall.
Tohru kissed him on the cheek and smiled.
He smiled back.
When God made happiness for someone like him, he must have had Honda Tohru on mind. Because right now, he was really, really happy.
tsuzuku