Disclaimer: this is the last time I'm telling you that I don't own Fruits Basket; you should know by now that I don't and that I don't even plan to any time soon.
I'm so sorry about the long, long wait. I had school and work to worry about, and plus I've been very busy lately with work and stuff. And Thursday through Saturday I have to work circus. So, I'm very busy. Anyway, here's chapter 14! Please don't kill me if you don't like it, and if it's very short then I apologize already!
Chapter 14: Stress and Beginning Conversation
Momiji couldn't sleep at all that night. He constantly thought back to what Haru had said, and began to wonder if he was right. He didn't want to believe him, but… it was very possible. He curled up, feeling worse than he had earlier. Now, he just wished for it to be morning so he could call Hatori for some… help! He ran into the bathroom, waking up Haru.
"I'll call Hatori now," he said as Momiji trembled. "I don't care if I wake him up."
*****
Hatori was sleeping peacefully, but his dreams were somewhat hectic. His subconscious mind seemed to be screaming 'Danger! Danger is near!' but he thought nothing of it. His eyes opened as he heard his telephone, which was next to his bed, begin to ring. He answered it, "Hello?"
"Ha'ri, Momiji is sick, so get your ass over here!"
"Haru… what's the problem?"
"He has a fever and has been throwing up."
"Okay, I'm coming. I'll be there in about twenty minutes, alright?"
"Just hurry up!" Then Haru hung up, slamming down the phone.
Hatori sighed. Leave it to Haru to give him a headache right after waking him up.
*****
Haru didn't know what to do, and now Hatori was probably going to be pretty angry with him when he got there. He had to think of something. Then he got an idea. Picking up the phone once again, he dialed Shigure's number. Once he heard the dog say hello rather tiredly, he said, "Is Jade there?"
*****
(Jade's POV)
I had woken up when the telephone started to ring, but I was too tired to get up and answer it. It rang a few more times until I heard Uncle Shigure answer it. I listened carefully, but Shigure was probably just listening to whoever it was at the moment. Then I heard him say, "Jade, Haru wants to speak with you."
I sat up immediately. Why would Haru want to talk to me? Wait a minute; what if something happened to Momiji? I got out of bed and hurried to where Shigure was, holding the phone. He gave it to me and walked away. "H-hello?"
"Jade?"
"Y-yes… what happened to him? How is Momiji???" Sure I was probably jumping to conclusions at the time, but that didn't matter to me. I had to find out what was wrong, and now!
"He's sick, and I was hoping that you could stay with him while I'm at work. I don't care when you come, as long as you promise to keep an eye on him."
My heart sank. Momiji was sick?! "I'll come as soon as I can! It may take awhile since I have to walk, and you must give me directions too!"
"How 'bout I just pick you up as soon as Ha'ri gets here? That way we'll even have a chance to talk."
"Well…" What was I supposed to do? I mean, I did want to make sure Momiji was okay, but did I trust Haru? Even when we were younger and growing up near the main house together, he never really talked to me unless he felt he had to. "Okay." Maybe this will help us to better understand each other. Hold on a second… "Do you have a license?"
"Don't worry; I won't get pulled over."
Uh oh…
(End of Jade's POV)
*****
Hatori arrived when he said he would and began examining Momiji. True, he did have a fever, but was that really the only reason he was sick? Maybe it was just stress. That would explain everything.
"Hatori?" asked the blond young man.
"Yes?"
"What's wrong with me?"
"Well, you really just have a cold. Everything else is because of stress I believe."
Momiji chuckled. "Of course! That makes a ton of sense."
"Yes, and Haru has left to pick up Jade so that you wouldn't be alone today."
"Really?"
"That's right."
He looked at the clock. It was 1:30 in the morning! "I'm sorry you had to wake up, Ha'ri."
The older man just smiled down at him. "It was no problem, Momiji. I was worried about you. I don't like it when my relatives are sick."
"And… Akito?"
At this, Hatori frowned. "There is nothing I can do for him."
"I… I understand that, but is he really giving up already?"
"I honestly don't know. It seems that way, but I'm still not entirely sure. Maybe he is, and maybe he isn't. It's all up to him now whether or not he gives up. I just hope that he chooses not to give up just yet."
*****
Haru was on his way back from Shigure's by now, with Jade sitting in the passenger's seat next to him. They hadn't said a thing to each other since the telephone call. It was driving him crazy! "Listen, Jade," he said finally, "I need to talk to you about a few things."
"Okay," said the curious young woman.
"I also want you to be honest."
"I will be."
They drove on through the nighttime traffic, shadowing facial expressions of the two Sohmas in the black and white vehicle.
To Be Continued
Well??????? I hope it wasn't that bad. Wish me luck with the rest of my story.
