AN: The future of Kisa, Hiro, and Hatori, in my thoughts... I also would like to say that I don't remember how Kisa addresses Hiro. As a kun, as a chan, as a san; I have no idea. So I just left it out. Same with Hiro. Who cares anyway?

2 years prior

Quiet rapping on the door made Hatori finally open his eyes. Too tired to move from his spot, he called out in a hoarse voice.

"Come in. The door is unlocked."

He could hear as the door slid open. Dainty steps sounded and stopped to remove the shoes. Hatori turned in his chair to see Kisa walking into his office. She smiled kindly and bowed.

"How are you, Hatori-ojiisan?" she asked in her quiet voice.

He sighed and settled back in his chair. "Still slowly deteriorating."

"Aren't we all?" Kisa laughed.

Hatori smiled faintly and looked at Kisa again. For a second he remembered back when she was still a child, constantly following Tohru and looking up to her. For some reason, it wasn't so long ago... was it?

"So how are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm alright. Hiro and I are going to go out for dinner later on. I just thought I should drop by to see how you are doing."

'Thoughtful. She's on the same track of mind.' "Well, as you can see, I'm still alive. There's nothing to worry about."

"I suppose so. Well, I'll be going now. Hiro is waiting for me outside." Kisa bowed again. "I'll see you when we get back, Hatori-ojiisan."

"Mm. Alright. I'll see that I don't fall asleep and make you think I'm dead."

Kisa grinned and headed out to put on her shoes and meet Hiro outside. She shut the door behind her and trotted over to where Hiro was nonchalantly leaning on a tree. He spotted her coming over and stood up straight, smoothening out his jacket first. He smiled at her.

"All set?" he asked.

"Yeah. Let's go."

Hiro offered Kisa his arm. Blushing slightly, she weaved her arm through his and they walked to the gate to the destination at hand.

---

The sun had already gone down as Hiro and Kisa returned to the Sohma estate. Hiro offered to walk Kisa back to her house when she quickly remembered her promise to Hatori.

"I told him I would see him again when we got back. I don't want him to stay up waiting for me, especially with his health."

Hiro nodded, and the two headed over to the doctor's house. The porch light was on and the front door was unlocked. This time, Hiro followed Kisa inside, leaving their shoes, to see how Hatori was.

"Hatori-ojiisan? Are you awake?" Kisa called quietly.

Even though the front light was on, none of the interior lights had been left on. Kisa clumsily stepped around, still unsure of her footing.

"Hold on," Hiro said. "Let me see if I can find a light switch."

"Okay."

For a while, there was nothing but the sound of Hiro's hand running along the walls. Then a sudden light blinded the two, and they had to blink at it for a few seconds. Once their eyes readjusted, they continued their search. Kisa spotted a figure sitting in the chair in the office.

"Hatori-ojiisan?" She hovered over him. "Are you awake?"

No answer. Believing that he was asleep, Kisa began to back away quietly when she stopped. Hiro noticed her sudden cease and came over.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

In silence, the two gazed at the figure sitting completely still in the chair. Then, shaking, Kisa reached to touch him, just in case. She jerked away and backed into the wall. Hiro understood now, and he searched for a phone. His eyes fell on Kisa, who was shaking and close to tears.

"Kisa... it was his time anyhow. He was old and sick. Who knows when it would happen?"

Kisa shook her head. "You just... don't know, Hiro..."

Caught into a silence, Hiro began again to search for the phone.