It's a Secret

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By: Ryoko

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Track 00:02:00

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"The resemblance is uncanny. She looks just like Kisa . . . but with different hair and eyes . . . she's so cute!" Momiji whispered, staring back at the sleeping child.

"Mmm. She does." Hatsuharu stretched out, lying on his side, on the floor.

"Listen you two." Hatori began. "It's YOUR responsibility to keep her a secret. I won't tell Akito about her just yet, but when the time comes . . . and he just may want to see her . . . I want you two both to keep her presence quiet."

"You won't tell him anything!" Hatsuharu barked, jumping to his feet. "Not as long as I LIVE will I let him NEAR her!"

"Haru . . . shh!" Momiji tried to calm him, but failed miserably.

"I'm sorry . . . just . . . you know how I get about him now . . . after what he did to Rin . . . " he sat back down. "I won't let him near her. Mark my words: He even LOOKS at her the wrong way, and I'll have his head."

Neither of the other two had seen Hatsuharu this angry or possessive before . . . even when he was Black . . . nobody could possibly get him as provoked as he was now.

"It's okay. I'm not going to tell him . . . but please understand . . . should he ask of her . . . I won't deny it." The doctor stood from his chair, moving quietly to the child.

"Should I . . . we . . . should we bring her to Shigure's?" he was calmer now . . . but not near as calm as he should have been.

"That would be wise. Even if you can't take care of her . . . I know that Yuki and Kyou will . . . if Tohru will let her go long enough . . . take her there first thing tomorrow morning." He scooped the child into his arms, coat and all, and walked toward the front of the office.

"Wait." Haru held out his arms to take her. "I'll bring her to my room . . . Momiji, you comin'?"

"Sure." He smiled, running after the taller teenager.

***

"Ashura . . . something about her's just not settling right with me . . . " Hatsuharu kneeled next to the bedside, pulling a blanket over the girl.

"Whattaya mean?"

"I think something happened to her . . . small children don't just fall asleep in the street in the middle of a big thunderstorm, every DAY you know . . . something must have happened to her . . . but what?"

"Do you think she's an orphan?" the blonde's expression saddened with worry and concern.

"I'm not sure. She looks like it . . . her clothes all trashed, underfed. It's awful. But . . . even if she isn't . . . part of me still wants to keep her with me."

"Yeah . . . I know what you mean . . . I feel that way too . . . part of me is kinda hoping that she isn't though . . . because then I wouldn't feel so sorry for her . . . like I do now . . . poor Ashura . . . "

She looked so peaceful as she slept: the little angel that had fallen into Hatsuharu's life.

Momiji smiled.

"Looks like you're gonna be a daddy for awhile . . . until we can find her parents."

"Me? A father? You're joking." He chuckled. "You ARE joking . . . right?"

"Nope. I think you'd make a great dad. Seriously."

"You do? Me? How? How the hell can you see that kind of trait in THIS mess?" he pointed to himself.

"It's easy. You're the best person for the job. Just look how good you are with Kisa, Hiro and even ME. C'mon. How can anyone NOT see it?"

"Maybe you're right . . . "

"Wanna bet money that I am? People just can't see their good qualities of themselves, because they're too worried about what others see in them. That's kinda what you do. So I can't really blame you." He tilted his head to the side. "That's right. You're the greatest person for the job. If she WERE an orphan . . . she'd probably choose to be with you as a papa. Trust me."

"Would YOU, Momiji?"

"Oh yeah." He nodded, pushing a clump of hair behind his ear.

They were quiet for several minutes, the blonde usagi finally interrupting the silence.

"I'm gonna go to bed. You should really do the same, you look kinda tired. Mind if I spend the night in here?"

"Go ahead. It's not like I could mind anyway."

"Huh?"

"I've got other things on my mind right now. Don't worry about it."

"Hmm . . . oyasumi, Haru." He sighed, grabbing a blanket from under the bed and wrapping himself in it.

"Oyasumi." Hatsuharu smiled, leaning against the side of the bed and staring blankly into the darkness of the night outside the window.

***

In the middle of the night, Momiji woke to a series of whimpers. They were soft, almost inaudible. He sat up from the floor, finding the oushi gone. He glanced over toward the girl in the bed, finding her being the source of the crying.

"Aww . . . poor thing . . . it's alright." He whispered, smiling sympathetically. Without thought, he rested a hand on her arm, quieting her almost immediately.

"Thank you Momiji." Hatsuharu's voice whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I was afraid, if I touched her, she'd wake up."

"Aww. Don't be. It's okay. She won't bite."

"I know . . . " he held back a laugh of embarrassment.

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