Hiei: Well, that didn't go all that well now did it?
Yiku: Oh well, the first chapter's always the hardest for me.
Hiei: Heh, whatever you say.
Yiku: Anyway! Hello, everyone! I should be at school, but I stayed home because of an ear infection. But, I'm alright! I suppose that this was God's way of telling me to update my story, so here I am! I hope this chapter will be more enjoyable for you! ^^
Disclaimers: I found out who owns Fruits Basket! Nakaya Tasuki sama owns it, so I can't say anything.
Chapter 2: Breaking the Ice
At around 7 PM, Hatori packed up his things and walked out of his office. He was just closing the door, when a hand stopped it. He blinked and looked over at Kana, who chuckled. "Sorry to sneak up on you", she apologized, "But, I'm going to head home now, and all my things are in there."
Hatori smiled lightly at her. "Take your time", he told her as he began to walk down the hallway. He sighed to himself. When he was to get home, he still had to cook dinner for himself, Momiji, and anyone else who needed food. And it wasn't like he was a great cook, anyway.
He was almost out the main door when he heard, "Oh, Hatori, wait up!" from down the hallway. He turned around none-too-enthusiastically to see Kana running up to him. "I figured since we're both going to the same place, we could walk together."
"That would be nice, but I drove today, due to my hurry", Hatori said, looking off to the side a bit.
Kana looked at the ground dejectedly. "I see...what about tomorrow?" she asked suddenly, the smile back on her face.
Hatori thought about it, and said, "Tomorrow sounds great", and waved to her as he walked to his car. He got in, started it up, and sped home just as he drove there.
His thoughts were directed on tonight's agenda. He'd more than likely walk in, get tackled by Momiji, then being talked to till his wits' end. He hoped that he'd only have to cook for Momiji and Akito. But then again, the Sohmas always got a kick out of torturing the poor doctor, but Hatori never complained. Well, hardly ever complained, anyway.
Before he knew it, he was pulling into the Sohma Estate, and got out of the car, locking it as he did. He pushed the main doors open, and stepped into the small town-like house. Just as he predicted, he soon hit the ground forcefully, something sitting on his back. He groaned as the familiar laughter of Momiji met his ears. The child finally showed mercy as he helped Hatori to his feet. Hatori dusted himself off as he looked at him, saying, "Momiji, what have I told you about tackling people?"
"But you're a doctor, if I hurt myself, you'd give some medicine, wouldn't you?" Momiji asked hopefully.
Hatori sighed as he didn't bother answering a stupid question as that, and walked toward his house. Momiji followed him like a cat, despite being a rabbit. Hatori glanced down at the boy. Not once had he seen him without a cheerful expression on his face, and he wondered how any child of the Zodiac could live like that. He remembered when he was a child, his life was one of torment.
They entered the door, and Momiji instantly went to watch TV. Hatori sighed as he hung his doctor's coat up in the closet, and went into the kitchen, nearly giving himself a heart attack as he spotted a familiar face seated at the table. "Ayame!!" he shouted in surprise.
The snake in question looked up from his novel and smiled at his cousin. "Ah, Ha'ri! So good to see you again!" When he saw Hatori blink, he said, "I was growing lonely in my house all by myself, when a thought struck me! 'Let's go over to Ha'ri's house and pay him a nice surprise visit!' I thought, and well, here I am!"
Hatori slouched his shoulders. "Then why didn't you go to Shigure's house and terrorize him like you always do?" he asked, eyebrow quirked.
"Because he's coming over here!" Ayame announced happily.
Hatori faltered. His eyes grew as the side screen door opened and Shigure entered the house. He looked at Hatori and smiled. "Ah, hello, Ha'ri", he greeted, earning a nod back from Hatori. Hatori groaned in indignation as Ayame and Shigure spotted each other. He shook it off by starting the stove and preparing dinner for five.
He barely paid any attention as his family members joked around with each other. Sometimes, he feared that they were serious. But, after every jester, they'd both give a thumbs-up sign and say "yes!", so that was proof enough that they weren't like that.
Soon enough, Hatori finished preparing dinner for everyone, and spooned out a bowl of soup for the family head. He looked over at Ayame and Shigure, and said, "I'll be going to see Akito now. You two, try to contain yourselves for the sake of Momiji", and left the house.
He reached Akito's house in good time, and let himself into Akito's room, still carrying the bowl. "Akito, I've brought your dinner for you. Are you feeling better?"
Akito slowly walked over to the table where the bowl sat and sat down himself. "I'm feeling better. Back to my old self, even." He ate the soup and smiled an evil smile at Hatori. "Hatori", he started, "You're as cold as snow. Let's try to keep it that way, shall we?"
Hatori wondered what he could have meant, but nodded anyway. The words were true enough, but Hatori couldn't seem to think how that was in any correlation to the soup. He only stared at Akito, awaiting permission to leave. The young Sohma finished his soup and stood. "Nothing will melt your heart, not even the brightest sun. It's what keeps you going. That's why you go to work every day. That's why you are the only one in this family who has not once gone against my orders."
Hatori took in what was being said to him, and couldn't help but think why Akito was telling him all this. None the less, Akito gave him permission to leave, and Hatori left the dark house.
~~
The next few days went fairly well for Hatori. He and Kana walked together to and from work, just like he said he would. Kana was finally starting to warm up to him, and soon realized that despite his handsome face, he was cold on the inside. Oh well, she thought to herself, maybe if he warms up to me, he can turn into spring.
So, following her own advice, Kana did the best she could to help him in any way that she could. One day, they were both working at their desks busily, not aware of each other's presence it would seem. Kana kept glancing over at him, waiting for an opprotune moment. She smiled lightly when she saw him take a peek to his left at the cabinet, and he got up from his chair, walking over and picking up a file. Quickly, she opened the folder on his desk and placed her gift in it before he got back.
Hatori sat down, the new folder in hand, and opened his folder, unware of Kana looking over his shoulder. He blinked as he found a little package sitting there over his work, and immediately turned around to Kana, who shoved her nose into her book. He then chuckled lightly as he lifted up the small package and opened it. It was a rice ball, wrapped in snow-flake paper. He looked at Kana. "Thank you, but why?"
Kana lifted her head up, blushing lightly. "Well, I just thought I should thank you for putting up with me, and being patient with me for the past few days. And I remembered that you had liked my rice balls, so I thought it kind've just fit, along with the snow-flake paper", she explained quickly.
Hatori blinked, but then returned to his work, and Kana to hers. However, the cheery gift somehow managed to catch his eye every three seconds, and it was hard to concentrate. He simply moved it to the side, and continued his work.
Kana saw this, and groaned inwardly. Her surprise didn't seem to go off as well as she had hoped. Oh well, she thought, I'll just have to try again!
~~
At the end of the day, Hatori and Kana left the office and began to walk home. Kana walked ahead of him, and began to walk backward. "Hey, where do you live, anyway?" she asked, curiosity coating her voice.
"At the Sohma estate", Hatori answered simply, hoping that she would not ask about his home life.
"Oh really? I remember wanting to go there when I was younger, but my mother always said that I wouldn't fit in because of the distant relation to the main family. It must be nice, I've heard it's huge."
"Hm", Hatori said, his attention more or less focused on the snow-covered ground that they treaded on.
Kana was quiet, until she asked, "Hey, Hatori, I was wondering...since I'm a Sohma as well, and you live there..."
Hatori winced. 'Oh dear', he thought frightfully. He hoped that she wouldn't ask...
"Is it alright if you take me there?" she asked, staring off to the side.
'Yep, she did'.
Hatori blinked at her. He couldn't refuse her, that'd be cruel. Besides, if he brought her home with him, what would Akito do? After all, Hatori was the frozen snow, not to be melted by even the brightest of sunlight. He wanted to keep it that way, as he did not want to have to face Akito's wrath.
But, then again, as Kana had pointed out before, she was part of the family, no matter how distantly she was related. It was only fair to show her the main house at least once in her life. And, that would mean, Momiji, Ayame and Shigure would have someone other than himself to pester. Not that he was trying to be cruel, but the three cousins did get on his nerves.
Kana waved a hand in front of Hatori's face. "Hello? You alive in there?"
Hatori snapped back into the present moment, and looked down at her. After studying her face a bit, he smiled. "Sure, I don't see why not."
Kana smiled brightly as she began walking backwards again. "Thank you so much, Hatori! I really want to meet everyone, and this is really nice of you! Thank you so much ---"
She was cut short as she tripped over the curb and began to fall backward. Hatori gasped as he almost caught her around the waist, but his wits returned as he grabbed her hand quickly. He pulled her back onto the sidewalk, as they blinked at each other for a few minutes.
They were still holding each other's hand as Kana was the first to recover. She laughed, embarrassed. "Heh, oops. Sorry about that, I guess I have to watch where I'm going more often, huh?"
Hatori soon recovered and pulled his hand away lightly. He smiled warmly at her. "No harm done", he said simply as he turned the corner in the direction of the Sohma house.
Kana blinked as she followed him. That was the first time she had seen him smile in the four days she had known him. Her friends had been right, he really was quite handsome when he smiled fully. Of course, she couldn't help but wonder how they managed to witness such an event.
Maybe, tonight, when he'd be surrounded by his family, he could realize that it was okay to smile every day. She smiled at the thought, as she jogged up to him and walked beside him for the rest of the way.
~ End Chapter! ~
Whoo, that one took two days for the Yiku to type. Stupid writer's block.
Anywho, next chapter, we'll see how Kana reacts to Hatori's quite unusual family! So, of course, there will be some humor.
And will Kana ever see Hatori's true form? Yes, yes she will. We all have known this since Episode 8. But, if you haven't seen up to that point, OOPS! Wait, if you haven't even seen Episode 8, why are you even here?!
Review please! And a super big thank you to my first reviewer, Kireina! ^^ Thanks for your opinions on my fics! But I can't know them unless you tell me!
Thanks, and have a nice day!
[Yiku]
Yiku: Oh well, the first chapter's always the hardest for me.
Hiei: Heh, whatever you say.
Yiku: Anyway! Hello, everyone! I should be at school, but I stayed home because of an ear infection. But, I'm alright! I suppose that this was God's way of telling me to update my story, so here I am! I hope this chapter will be more enjoyable for you! ^^
Disclaimers: I found out who owns Fruits Basket! Nakaya Tasuki sama owns it, so I can't say anything.
Chapter 2: Breaking the Ice
At around 7 PM, Hatori packed up his things and walked out of his office. He was just closing the door, when a hand stopped it. He blinked and looked over at Kana, who chuckled. "Sorry to sneak up on you", she apologized, "But, I'm going to head home now, and all my things are in there."
Hatori smiled lightly at her. "Take your time", he told her as he began to walk down the hallway. He sighed to himself. When he was to get home, he still had to cook dinner for himself, Momiji, and anyone else who needed food. And it wasn't like he was a great cook, anyway.
He was almost out the main door when he heard, "Oh, Hatori, wait up!" from down the hallway. He turned around none-too-enthusiastically to see Kana running up to him. "I figured since we're both going to the same place, we could walk together."
"That would be nice, but I drove today, due to my hurry", Hatori said, looking off to the side a bit.
Kana looked at the ground dejectedly. "I see...what about tomorrow?" she asked suddenly, the smile back on her face.
Hatori thought about it, and said, "Tomorrow sounds great", and waved to her as he walked to his car. He got in, started it up, and sped home just as he drove there.
His thoughts were directed on tonight's agenda. He'd more than likely walk in, get tackled by Momiji, then being talked to till his wits' end. He hoped that he'd only have to cook for Momiji and Akito. But then again, the Sohmas always got a kick out of torturing the poor doctor, but Hatori never complained. Well, hardly ever complained, anyway.
Before he knew it, he was pulling into the Sohma Estate, and got out of the car, locking it as he did. He pushed the main doors open, and stepped into the small town-like house. Just as he predicted, he soon hit the ground forcefully, something sitting on his back. He groaned as the familiar laughter of Momiji met his ears. The child finally showed mercy as he helped Hatori to his feet. Hatori dusted himself off as he looked at him, saying, "Momiji, what have I told you about tackling people?"
"But you're a doctor, if I hurt myself, you'd give some medicine, wouldn't you?" Momiji asked hopefully.
Hatori sighed as he didn't bother answering a stupid question as that, and walked toward his house. Momiji followed him like a cat, despite being a rabbit. Hatori glanced down at the boy. Not once had he seen him without a cheerful expression on his face, and he wondered how any child of the Zodiac could live like that. He remembered when he was a child, his life was one of torment.
They entered the door, and Momiji instantly went to watch TV. Hatori sighed as he hung his doctor's coat up in the closet, and went into the kitchen, nearly giving himself a heart attack as he spotted a familiar face seated at the table. "Ayame!!" he shouted in surprise.
The snake in question looked up from his novel and smiled at his cousin. "Ah, Ha'ri! So good to see you again!" When he saw Hatori blink, he said, "I was growing lonely in my house all by myself, when a thought struck me! 'Let's go over to Ha'ri's house and pay him a nice surprise visit!' I thought, and well, here I am!"
Hatori slouched his shoulders. "Then why didn't you go to Shigure's house and terrorize him like you always do?" he asked, eyebrow quirked.
"Because he's coming over here!" Ayame announced happily.
Hatori faltered. His eyes grew as the side screen door opened and Shigure entered the house. He looked at Hatori and smiled. "Ah, hello, Ha'ri", he greeted, earning a nod back from Hatori. Hatori groaned in indignation as Ayame and Shigure spotted each other. He shook it off by starting the stove and preparing dinner for five.
He barely paid any attention as his family members joked around with each other. Sometimes, he feared that they were serious. But, after every jester, they'd both give a thumbs-up sign and say "yes!", so that was proof enough that they weren't like that.
Soon enough, Hatori finished preparing dinner for everyone, and spooned out a bowl of soup for the family head. He looked over at Ayame and Shigure, and said, "I'll be going to see Akito now. You two, try to contain yourselves for the sake of Momiji", and left the house.
He reached Akito's house in good time, and let himself into Akito's room, still carrying the bowl. "Akito, I've brought your dinner for you. Are you feeling better?"
Akito slowly walked over to the table where the bowl sat and sat down himself. "I'm feeling better. Back to my old self, even." He ate the soup and smiled an evil smile at Hatori. "Hatori", he started, "You're as cold as snow. Let's try to keep it that way, shall we?"
Hatori wondered what he could have meant, but nodded anyway. The words were true enough, but Hatori couldn't seem to think how that was in any correlation to the soup. He only stared at Akito, awaiting permission to leave. The young Sohma finished his soup and stood. "Nothing will melt your heart, not even the brightest sun. It's what keeps you going. That's why you go to work every day. That's why you are the only one in this family who has not once gone against my orders."
Hatori took in what was being said to him, and couldn't help but think why Akito was telling him all this. None the less, Akito gave him permission to leave, and Hatori left the dark house.
~~
The next few days went fairly well for Hatori. He and Kana walked together to and from work, just like he said he would. Kana was finally starting to warm up to him, and soon realized that despite his handsome face, he was cold on the inside. Oh well, she thought to herself, maybe if he warms up to me, he can turn into spring.
So, following her own advice, Kana did the best she could to help him in any way that she could. One day, they were both working at their desks busily, not aware of each other's presence it would seem. Kana kept glancing over at him, waiting for an opprotune moment. She smiled lightly when she saw him take a peek to his left at the cabinet, and he got up from his chair, walking over and picking up a file. Quickly, she opened the folder on his desk and placed her gift in it before he got back.
Hatori sat down, the new folder in hand, and opened his folder, unware of Kana looking over his shoulder. He blinked as he found a little package sitting there over his work, and immediately turned around to Kana, who shoved her nose into her book. He then chuckled lightly as he lifted up the small package and opened it. It was a rice ball, wrapped in snow-flake paper. He looked at Kana. "Thank you, but why?"
Kana lifted her head up, blushing lightly. "Well, I just thought I should thank you for putting up with me, and being patient with me for the past few days. And I remembered that you had liked my rice balls, so I thought it kind've just fit, along with the snow-flake paper", she explained quickly.
Hatori blinked, but then returned to his work, and Kana to hers. However, the cheery gift somehow managed to catch his eye every three seconds, and it was hard to concentrate. He simply moved it to the side, and continued his work.
Kana saw this, and groaned inwardly. Her surprise didn't seem to go off as well as she had hoped. Oh well, she thought, I'll just have to try again!
~~
At the end of the day, Hatori and Kana left the office and began to walk home. Kana walked ahead of him, and began to walk backward. "Hey, where do you live, anyway?" she asked, curiosity coating her voice.
"At the Sohma estate", Hatori answered simply, hoping that she would not ask about his home life.
"Oh really? I remember wanting to go there when I was younger, but my mother always said that I wouldn't fit in because of the distant relation to the main family. It must be nice, I've heard it's huge."
"Hm", Hatori said, his attention more or less focused on the snow-covered ground that they treaded on.
Kana was quiet, until she asked, "Hey, Hatori, I was wondering...since I'm a Sohma as well, and you live there..."
Hatori winced. 'Oh dear', he thought frightfully. He hoped that she wouldn't ask...
"Is it alright if you take me there?" she asked, staring off to the side.
'Yep, she did'.
Hatori blinked at her. He couldn't refuse her, that'd be cruel. Besides, if he brought her home with him, what would Akito do? After all, Hatori was the frozen snow, not to be melted by even the brightest of sunlight. He wanted to keep it that way, as he did not want to have to face Akito's wrath.
But, then again, as Kana had pointed out before, she was part of the family, no matter how distantly she was related. It was only fair to show her the main house at least once in her life. And, that would mean, Momiji, Ayame and Shigure would have someone other than himself to pester. Not that he was trying to be cruel, but the three cousins did get on his nerves.
Kana waved a hand in front of Hatori's face. "Hello? You alive in there?"
Hatori snapped back into the present moment, and looked down at her. After studying her face a bit, he smiled. "Sure, I don't see why not."
Kana smiled brightly as she began walking backwards again. "Thank you so much, Hatori! I really want to meet everyone, and this is really nice of you! Thank you so much ---"
She was cut short as she tripped over the curb and began to fall backward. Hatori gasped as he almost caught her around the waist, but his wits returned as he grabbed her hand quickly. He pulled her back onto the sidewalk, as they blinked at each other for a few minutes.
They were still holding each other's hand as Kana was the first to recover. She laughed, embarrassed. "Heh, oops. Sorry about that, I guess I have to watch where I'm going more often, huh?"
Hatori soon recovered and pulled his hand away lightly. He smiled warmly at her. "No harm done", he said simply as he turned the corner in the direction of the Sohma house.
Kana blinked as she followed him. That was the first time she had seen him smile in the four days she had known him. Her friends had been right, he really was quite handsome when he smiled fully. Of course, she couldn't help but wonder how they managed to witness such an event.
Maybe, tonight, when he'd be surrounded by his family, he could realize that it was okay to smile every day. She smiled at the thought, as she jogged up to him and walked beside him for the rest of the way.
~ End Chapter! ~
Whoo, that one took two days for the Yiku to type. Stupid writer's block.
Anywho, next chapter, we'll see how Kana reacts to Hatori's quite unusual family! So, of course, there will be some humor.
And will Kana ever see Hatori's true form? Yes, yes she will. We all have known this since Episode 8. But, if you haven't seen up to that point, OOPS! Wait, if you haven't even seen Episode 8, why are you even here?!
Review please! And a super big thank you to my first reviewer, Kireina! ^^ Thanks for your opinions on my fics! But I can't know them unless you tell me!
Thanks, and have a nice day!
[Yiku]