"H-Hatori-san…"

"Didn't I mention to you that no eating in the halls?" he picked the strawberry in her hand. "Hmm… where did you get this?"

Oh no…

"I haven't ordered Kagura to buy strawberries…" he wondered. "Where did you get this?"

Okaa-san, this is not happening! She thought to herself. Be brave, Tohru. Whatever happens, he shouldn't know about the garden!

"I asked you where you got this." he raised his voice and grabbed her in the shoulder. "Answer me."

"…"

"Let her go."

Hatori looked up and saw Haru walking towards them.

"You're back?"

"Yeah." He grinned.

"Since when?" Hatori asked.

"What do you care? I'm a Sohma." Haru pressed. "And right now, I'm recognizing that you're… harassing this young woman." He smiled at her.

"I-I am not!" Hatori stuttered.

"Watch the grip, Hatori, or I might suspect more about you." He warned and Hatori let her go.

"Hmph." The doctor mumbled. "Go back to your quarters."

Tohru silently went back to her room. Okaa-san, I'm in misery now!

Before she even closed the door behind her, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Are you ok?"

She looked around and found Haru at the door. "hmm?"

"Are you ok?" he repeated his question.

"Hai." She bowed. "Thank you very much… for saving me back there."

He laughed. "That's alright, I understand that being a maid isn't an easy job. If he goes rough again to you, always remember to approach us and we'll fix his little attitude problem, ok?"

"Hai." She nodded. "Gee, I can't imagine that you are all against Hatori-san, despite that he's tough in character."

"Yes, he is. And the only one who can control his temper is Shigure and Ayame but they're always gone somewhere. So we developed our own way of talking to somebody older than us." He explained. "But, of course, he's our cousin so there are some limitations of doing things."

"I see."

"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked again. "Do I have to tell Yuki about this?"

"NO!" she said quickly. I can't let Yuki know this. If he does, the gap between he and Hatori-san will grow bigger. "Please don't mention this to Yuki…"

"Why? He has the right to know, right?"

"I… don't want him to…" God, why can't I say that I'm worried about him.

"That's alright." Haru smiled. "I understand. Then, we'll keep this a secret, ok?"

She nodded happily. At least this way, only the two of us knew what happened.

The two of us… plus Hatori…

What's my fate, Okaa-san? Am I borne to be blamed by people???

"You sounded very familiar…" He wondered.

"Eh?"

"Years ago, as Shigure narrated, there was also a hired maid who was under Hatori. She also had problems between Hatori and her. Whenever Hatori approaches and commands her, she just ignores him or answers back." He laughed. "Hatori was tough to handle. But she was tougher."

"Really???"

"Yeah. After a few months, Hatori became softer to her and she as well understands him. They became good friends, you see."

If she's tough and soon became friends with Hatori, I could also become tough and be like her. "Can I meet her?" she asked hesitatingly.

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

"Why?"

"You can't meet her." he whispered. "She passed away years ago."

He face fell. Darn, there goes my luck.

"Her name will never be forgotten by Sohmas." He said. "She's the reason why Hatori became independent and caring as well to others."

Caring? She wondered,

"Of course, that was when she was still around and Akito was not around."

"Who is she?" Tohru asked curiously.

"You don't know?" he asked. "She's Kana Sohma."

"Kana?" she repeated. "The wife of Hatori-san?"

"Yes, why?"

But she was murdered…

If Hatori change for the better because of Kana, then why did he kill her?

There must be some mistake about that rumor.

The next morning, while Yuki was eating his meal in his room, Tohru began to ask questions that surprised Yuki.

"Kana?" he repeated. "You wanted me to narrate the story of Kana?"

"Yes." She nodded. "Can you?"

"…Tohru, I was still a child when Kana died." He explained. "You should interview somebody older than me."

"B-But Shigure's not here and… Ayame's in the village and… nobody else knows except you." She begged. "Please…"

"Tohru-san, I'm really happy to help but I'm not in the right age…" he sighed. "I think you're interviewing a wrong person."

"I see…" her face fell again.

Yuki stared at her. There I go again. I'm trying to find a way to cheer her up or even help her but now, I'm denying her help! "Is there anything else I can do?"

"No… nothing, thank you." She stood up and left the room.

He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed some numbers. I'm really nuts to do this but… this is for her anyway… "Hello?"

"Yuki?! Yuki is that you?! My little brother---"

"I want you and Shigure to come here to the mansion now."

"B-But, my little brother---"

Yuki glared at the voice. "Don't push it."

"We could talk here on the phone! Why should we go there?"

"… it's for Tohru…"

This is the only way. She reminded herself as she faced the large door leading to Hatori's office. I'm really nuts but I want to know. Besides, I'm going to ask him not to smother him.

She took a deep breath and nodded. Here I go… and again, this is the only way.

She knocked at the door and went inside.

There she had an eye contact with Hatori, who was sitting at his desk.

"What do you want?" he asked flatly.

"C-Can I ask you a question?" she shyly asked.

"No, you're a maid. You don't have the right to say that. You also don't have the right to ask. Leave now." He ordered.

"B-But it's only one question…"

"I don't care. Leave."

She took a deep breath and shouted. "Why are you so heartless???"

He stood up and shouted back. "How dare you raise your voice to me?"

"I don't care! I'm trying to ask you a question but you just completely ignored me!" she said angrily. "If you continue to be like this, people will never like you!!!"

He quickly went towards her and, to Tohru's surprise, slapped her on the face.

Okaa-san…

"Honda Tohru, never I was insulted like that in my entire life!"

"…" she kept herself silent.

"People respect me because I can carry myself well better than others. Look at you!" he growled. "Do you think that people will like you because you are a maid, a servant… A PEASANT! I don't think so. People nowadays will like you because you are rich and educated, not because you are loyal and deserving!"

"…so that's why… you killed her…" she murmured.

"Excuse me?"

"So that's why… you killed you own wife." She looked up to him. "Because she's a peasant!!"

Caused by anger, his idle hand quickly gripped her neck while his other was clenched tightly at his side.  He stared at her deeply.  She's scared… I know it… but she made me do it. She made me angry…

To his own surprise, his other hand quickly, instead of slapping her (which he intended to do), he punched her… hard.

Tohru sat on the floor uneasily, her hands covering her face. Hatori remained motionless as he thought about what he had done. Before he could say another word, she quickly stood up and ran out of the office, ignoring his face, his gaze and simply ignoring him.

While Tohru was running out the door, Haru was there by the stairs looking at her. Then he looked at the opened door of Hatori's office.

This had gone too far. I should tell Yuki.

I'm sorry Tohru… but he cares about you…

"Have you seen Tohru?" Yuki asked.

"…hmm, let me think." Kagura wondered as she sliced the carrots. "After she asked me about Kana, I told her to go to you. Then… I don't know."

"Shoot, where could she be…"

"Why are you so worried, nezumi-san?" Kyou grumbled as he finished off his cereal.

"At least I'm educated enough to worry about others. Look at you, all that you worry is eating your cereal in the middle of the day." Yuki pressed.

"Why you---"

"Please stop it, both of you!" Kagura ordered. "She could be anywhere. All we have to do is to find."

"How about we shout her name?" Kyou suggested. "That way, she'll be the one who'll approach us."

"We're not Tarzan." The nezumi mumbled. "We're educated people---"

"At least I'm giving a suggestion. That's what an educated person does. RIGHT?!"

"Stop it!" Kagura banged the spatula on the table. "This won't go anywhere!"

After a while, Haru went inside the room and panted. "Tohru left the mansion."

All of them stared at him. "Where did she go?"

"I don't know." Haru explained. "She just… left…"

"But Hatori won't let her leave!" Kagura said.

Haru shrugged. "Actually, she went inside Hatori's office…alone."

Yuki went close to his cousin. "Did you eavesdropped on them?"

"No…"

"Damn." He whispered.

Haru wondered for a while and whispered blankly. "Actually, Yuki…"

"Yes?" Yuki turned around to listen.

"…there are some things that Tohru hasn't mentioned to you…"

"Sir coachman!" Ayame hissed. "We need to get to the mansion immediately!"

"Why did we stop?!" Shigure yelled. "We are very important people, for crying out loud!!!"

"I'm sorry, sirs, but I'm afraid we hit something…"

"Leave it alone!" the inu yelled---

"…or someone, sir!" the coachman explained. "I think we hit someone sir."

"Oh my God, Shigure!" Ayame clutched near his cousin. "We committed a crime!"

"Nonsense! Is he still alive???" he asked.

"Sir, I can't see…" the coachman said slowly. "It's too foggy out here and the rain has gone wild out here sir… but I think it's a she, sir."

"Oh, what a waste of---" Shigure stopped talking and turned to Ayame. "Did he just say she?"

"My hearing is perfect and I also heard the same thing!!!" Ayame yelled excitedly. They both went out of the carriage.

True, it was foggy and rainy outside, but the Sohmas managed to walk on the wet, slippery road towards the girl.

I can't believe this is my luck! Ayame wondered. First, I will welcome her in my house and feed her and sew her clothes and…

I can't believe my luck! Shigure thought happily. First, I'll take her to the mansion, and let her in my room and I'll say, "you're clothes are wet, my dear. Let me take them off for you…"…

But both of them suddenly stopped once they recognized the girl whom the bumped to.

It was Tohru, on the middle of the road, with her left arm and leg bleeding. She was clutching her chest tightly and from afar, they could recognize the bruises found on her faces.

"TOHRU!!!" They both approached her quickly.

"What happened to you?"

"Where did you get these bruises???"

"These are punches… who did this to you?!"

"Where my brother?"

Tohru didn't answer their questions. She didn't even manage to look at their faces. Instead, she leaned at Ayame's strong shoulder and held Shigure's hand tightly before she lost consciousness.

I'm tired…

Tohru-chan, hang on!!!