ménage à fruits

[a fruits basket romance]

written by matt j. greco

Disclaimer:

Fruits Basket/Furuba is © Takaya Natasuki/HAKUSENSHA, TV TOKYO, Nas, Fruba Project. All names used herein were used without permission. All originally created names and characters are not relative to the afore-mentioned.  None of these may be used without personal consent of the author.

Author's Notes:

Phew. Alright, this is the third chapter. I'm not sure if I'll have as many snapshots going on in this one because I really want to focus in on Hatori. We'll see though. Once again, thank you all for the helpful comments and support, I really appreciate it. Also, for those of you still commenting on perspective changes, just read carefully, I do in fact note when someone in particular is thinking or it's the author's narrative. And don't worry, I will be developing the relationship between Hiro and Kisa further, but you'll just have to wait a bit longer for that.

Other than that, enjoy.

[chapter 2]

and the snow melts

"Aww. . .c'mon Hatori-san!" wailed Momiji, clinging onto the man's sleeve.

Hatori had been up all last night and late into this morning, working, as usual. The little blonde haired boy intruding into his office, for the seventh time this week, was not something he needed right now. Turning slowly in his chair, he placed his hand upon Momiji's and removed it firmly. Turning back towards his desk, Hatori picked up a pen, clicked it once, and resumed writing.

"You're no fun. It'd only be for a half hour or something. . ." Momiji sniffed, let down, spun on his heel and walked out into the hallway.

Hatori saw to it that he did indeed leave. That one had a habit of hanging around the entranceway for a few minutes, hoping he'd come out and apologize to him or something of the sort. The man had never done that, and did not intend to today, for he had much to finish before his younger cousin arrived. Thinking of how much Ayame tended to expand on whatever story he happened to have for the day—no matter how insignificant—he imagined not being able to get away and finishing his papers in time. It would all have to be done soon.

Ayame Sohma emerged from the back room of his clothing shop, parting the curtains dramatically. His assistant, Mine Kurame, clapped appropriately upon his appearance. The grown man was dressed in a lavender bridal dress of the finest quality. Silk sheets made up most of the piece, adorned by silver lace along the carefully sewn trim. His matching hair hung down to the small of his back as usual, but was tied up in neatly done braids. To the girl, her boss looked undeniably beautiful. No suitor who managed to buy this would ever live up to the gorgeous display she looked at now.

"Yes yes, Mine-chan, there's no need for that. Though I must admit, it does look good on me. Or is it I who looks good in it?" he remarked with a sly chuckle. "Oh well, either way, I love it. Don't you think?"

"Oh yes, Ayame-san, I agree!" she nodded feverishly.

"Very good. I'll need you to prepare its dressings and fit it into a box by noon today, I'm going out."

"Oh, where to?"

"To see my cousin, Hatori-kun."

"Oh, I understand." Mine said, bowing her head deeply. "Leave it to me, Ayame-san."

"I knew I could count on you." He replied, patting her head as he walked back into the dressing room to change.

Rolling back his sleeves for the third time, Hatori arranged the finished stack of papers so that they were all facing the same way, tapped them twice on his desk, and set them down neatly on a corner of it. Sitting back in his chair, he closed his eyes, only for a moment, and thought about Kana, his ex-wife. He thought about her short mane of chestnut brown hair, how there was always one lock gently resting on her eyelashes. He thought about her eyes, how innocent they were, and how they shone so beautifully under the heavy lights the two used to work under. He thought about her smile, always full and glimmering, especially when she would arrive for work every morning and how he would greet her the same way every time.

"Good morning, Miss Kana."

"Good morning, Hatori-san. I brought you some coffee and a muffin, because I know you don't eat."

"I—"

"Don't deny it, you work too hard around here." Then she'd tilt her head and smile, walking over to her desk in the corner and sit down.

Hatori would smile too. For a brief second every day, he would smile.

It wasn't until months later when the mutual feelings between the two became more prominent. One day, he wasn't sure how it happened, they both just opened up to each other. He told Kana everything. The way she warmed his soul each and every day when she'd come in. How he adored the sound of her typing away pleasantly on the computer behind him. How she always managed to bring something different for him to eat, but always picked out something he liked. He loved her, and she knew now.

Of course Hatori was always well aware of his place in the Sohma house. It was his duty to tell Akito about the two of them. Kana came with him to see the head of the family. It was the darkest day of all he had seen.

"Kana-chan and I are in love, Akito-san. We told each other. It won't affect our work though, you needn't worry about that." All the while his eyes remained still, staring at the ground he kneeled on.

The pain was searing when Akito responded.

Getting up, he threw aside a table, crashing it against the wall. For an instant Hatori caught a glimpse of his eyes, they were wide and full of an anger not merely mad, but disappointed as well. That was what had hurt him the most. He had let Akito down, the one whom he was responsible for most.

Shards of the wooden table flew at the doctor, and before he knew it the floor he had been keeping his eyes on now was marked with dark drops of blood. His blood. Placing a hand on his face and drawing it back, he saw it was soaked with scarlet. Within seconds Hatori was no longer able to see out of that eye, but could still feel it dripping. Pools of it forming right below him. Reflecting in them, the cold, forbidding eyes of Akito.

His arm was thrust forward, pointing a manic, trembling finger at Kana. She was crying, Hatori could hear that clear enough. Were her tears from fear, or for him?

"You did this! You did this! This is your fault!"

He was going numb with pain, feeling himself swaying on the edge of consciousness.

"It's *your* fault!"

Just before passing out on the cold ground beneath him, all he could hear were the sobbing gasps of Kana.

"It's all your fault!"

The following day, his eye crudely patched by his own fumbling hands, Akito ordered to erase Kana's memory. He was ashamed to admit that where he stood, his duty came above love and independence. He had to obey Akito, it was his responsibility.

The two sat in a darkened room which branched off of Hatori's office. The doctor kneeled down in front of her, listening to her breaths for a few moments. They came short, forced out of her as if something was blocking her throat. Something she wanted to say, but couldn't. All he could do was sit there and watch. Watch this girl, who had come into his life one day and asked for work. He had fallen in love with her, and now he was being forced to make her forget all this.

Placing a small blanket over her bowed head, he felt her spine trembling under his him. Closing his eyes, Hatori placed both his hands on her temples, and the job was done.

He drew her body close to him, resting her head on his shoulder for the very last time. And for the first time, he cried.

A sharp knock at the closed door caused him to open his eyes. Hatsuharu's voice came from the other side.

"Ayame-san's here."

Hatori could hear him turn and walk away down the hall quietly.

"Ah, Hatori-kun!" Ayame appeared to be listening intently to something that had happened to Ritsu.

The boy, wearing a lavender kimono as usual, was flailing his arms about, sobbing and blowing his nose on one of the flower-printed sleeves.

"All I wanted was some bread!" waterfalls of tears poured from his eyes.

"There, there." Ayame patted him on the shoulder and turned to Hatori.

"Really Hatori, it wasn't necessary to meet me out here. I know just where your office is."

"Good, because that's where you're going."

"I see. . ."

"I knew it! I knew it! 'Don't say anything in front of poor little Ritsu!' Oh no, don't mind me, just go! Go!" he slammed his head against the nearest wall.

"Goodbye, Ristu-kun. I'll meet you on my way out." Ayame replied as the two walked off.

"Well, you made such a fuss of calling me here; I had to put several calls on hold, and was forced to let my assistant close up shop. So, what's your reason, dear cousin?"

Shutting the door behind him, Hatori responded, "I've been thinking."

"Really. . . .Care sharing?"

"I've decided I'm going to go see her."

A quizzical look came upon Ayame's face. He quirked an eyebrow. ". . .Mine-chan? Really, Hatori-kun, that won't be necessary. She's closed up before, she can handle it."

"You know who I'm talking about."

Ayame sighed deeply. "So, what brought this on?"

"It's been long enough."

"Several years, if I'm not mistaken?"

"Correct."

"But, Kana. . ." he stumbled for words. "Kana isn't exactly one. . .one you chase after, Hatori-kun."

"Maybe not. But it still feels right. There're a few things I'd like to tell her that I never got the chance to."

"And what of Akito?"

"Nevermind him."

"'Nevermind him?' Since when do you speak like that over matters such as these?"

"This is too important, Ayame-kun. And I trust you won't be mentioning it to anyone?"

"Of course not!" he waved the thought aside as if it was ludicrous. "You're my cousin, and you know I fully support whatever you do. But still, I don't even feel she loved you to begin with."

If this was anyone other than Ayame, Hatori would have reacted differently to that.

"Besides, you saw those pictures I brought to the lake. She's married now, Hatori-kun."

"Yes, I'm well aware—"

"But are you really?" Ayame interjected. "Are you truly aware of what you're doing? What will happen because of it? Kana barely remembers who you are. She has a husband now, Hatori-kun. How much do you really wish to interfere, hm?"

Hatori was silent for a while.

Again, thoughts came racing back into his mind, like old pieces of furniture uncovered and dusted off after so many years. She was so remarkable, so serene. He couldn't have imagined anyone else who would have been able to work along side him. He was just as quiet in those days as he was now. Sitting at a cold, flat desk for hours, not talking to one another. How did she tolerate it? Was that real love? Being able to spend a day with someone in complete silence, not caring? Not having to look at each other, not even for a minute?

He looked up, a more confident look in his eyes.

"As long as it takes."

"Well, I certainly hope you know what you're getting yourself into." Ayame said, placing his hands on his hips.

Author's Notes:

Okay, I know I said Hatori would go over to Kana's house this chapter, but I got caught up in flash backs and Ayame's reaction. Plus, I figure I should devote an entire chapter, or maybe just a half, depending on how things go, to him actually being there. So, this promises that the next one will be up soon, probably within a day or two. Expect plenty of awkward moments, dealings of Hatori and Kana's new husband, and her children as well. I won't reveal the finale of it all. It's really against my writing to actually create this much with one character, her having kids of her own and all. But I feel it's necessary, the way this story is heading. So hopefully I can capture it, and no one will be too mad. Trust me, it'll all work out. I think. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter at least. Write a review if you would please. And again, if you'd still like to be a pre-reader, just email me at ourladyshadow@hotmail.com. Thanks. – Kain Lorelus