:: a few notes
Hehheh, so I realized it would prolly make more sense to call him Haa-kun, instead of Tori-kun. I think "Tori" sounds cuter though : D but I guess it would be weird to see Tori-kun. Ok, so let's call him Hatori-kun from now on, ok?
Oh yeah, and it actually kind of seems to me like Tori is older than Aya and Gure. Maybe cos he's more responsible. But it makes more sense for him to be younger in the fic.
On to the damaging ficcage!! : P
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Chapter 2 : Attraction distorted
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"Hatori-kun?"
Hatori opened his eyes and blinked at his book. Great… he must have closed his eyes a little too long that time. He'd been up since five, but he was still blinking the sleep out of his eyes…
"Kazuma-san!" Hatori bolted up. How embarrassing to be caught still in bed.
"I'm glad to see you're so energetic this early," said Kazuma. He smiled at Hatori. "Hard at work, I see."
Hatori flushed. It seemed weak to do any kind of quiet studies before the marital-arts master. "Just… some reading for school," he muttered.
"Oh?" Kazuma flipped up the cover of the book. "'Advanced organic chemistry for university level'… glad to see that they're improving the standards of secondary schools these days, Hatori-kun."
"Ano…"
"You never have to lie to me, Hatori-kun."
"I- I… ok."
"Hatori-kun," said Kazuma. "I'll support you, whatever you decide to do, whether it's staying with the Sohmas or going off to university. But… be careful, ne?" He patted Hatori's shoulder. "Remember, whatever you know, Akito-san will know."
Hatori stared back at his teacher. He nodded.
"Ano…" muttered Kazuma, "oh, why I came up here in the first place. Aya-kun, Gure-kun and Ritsu-chan are eating breakfast. Would you like to join them?"
"Ritsu-chan?" asked Hatori. "What's he doing here?"
"His mother brought him over this morning," said Kazuma, as Hatori swept up his sheets. "Apparently Akito-san has been berating her quite harshly lately…"
"Mmm-hmm."
"It's not good," Kazuma continued. "Ritsu-chan doesn't quite have the disposition for martial arts…" He stopped abruptly and smiled down (1) at Hatori again. "Sorry, Hatori-kun. You should go down before they finish off my leftovers."
Hatori grinned and bowed before he jogged off. Somehow, even when he meddled, Kazuma hardly ever rubbed him the wrong way.
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Ritsu, he noticed, was sitting there, looking very timid and very hungry. Shigure and Ayame, he noticed, were feeding each other and talking up half the bench and most of the food. "Act your age," Hatori snapped as he sat down. "Can't you see that Ritsu-chan is uncomfortable?'
"Ha- Hatori-kun…" Ritsu whispered. "Sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry you had to speak for me."
Hatori smiled at the twelve-year-old as he snatched the pot from Shigure. "That's a very pretty dress, Ritsu-chan," he said politely. "Is it new?"
Ritsu smoothed down his lavender ruffles and barely smiled. "Yes… Tou-san bought it for me… but… but… Akito-san got mad. He made fun of me… well… I… never mind."
"You shouldn't worry, Ritsu-chan," said Kazuma as he walked in. "I promised your parents I wouldn't let you worry."
So that's why the kid is here, thought Hatori. He snorted as he brought his tea to his lips. Interesting kid. In fact… a prime example of just how sickening the Sohma influence could be.
"Give me the water," he told Shigure.
"You should be more polite, Hatori-kun," said Kazuma.
"Yeah, but he's not," said Shigure. "Never is. He's a rude little bastard, aren't you, Hatori-kun?"
"Language," Kazuma said mildly.
Hatori silently steamed. Damn Shigure. Always trying… no, not even trying, since he did it naturally… always naturally making Hatori look bad besides him. Who else would have imagined that perfect Hatori Sohma was jealous of his flake of a cousin? A cousin who could be perfect, if he was just… half as hardworking as Hatori.
Not that Hatori was really jealous of Shigure, or anything.
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"Ha-to-ri and Ri-tsu chan, ka-wa-ii..." Shigure sang to himself.
Hatori hit him. "Want to say that again, you damn dog?"
"Didn't say anything," Shigure protested. "I didn't say a single thing, so I can't imagine why you…"
Hatori punched him in the stomach.
The boys were sitting on the roots of an old oak tree, one of the many in the spacious park inside the Sohma compound. While Shigure clutched at his chest dramatically and pretended to die, Hatori ignored him and looked around the park. Not very many people today, on a Tuesday afternoon. Just fine, for the jyuunshi to be about.
"Oh-oh… that tickles! Oh- oh-"
Hatori smirked as he caught sight of Ayame, giggling and prone on the ground as two little zodiac members tickled him mercilessly. The little white head let up first, deciding to tackle the ball of yellow fluff instead of the snake. Ayame drew a breath and propped himself up, watching the two play.
"No fair!" wailed Momiji, as Haru pinned him down. "Aya-san, Haru-chan is bigger than me, it's not fa- hehehehe- not- hehe- not- Haru-chan, stop it!"
The other boy stared at Ayame blankly. "What?"
Ayame laughed and patted Haru on the head. "How very cute. You look just like a little calf."
The six-year-olds wandered off, and Ayame rejoined Shigure and Hatori. "Whew," he sighed. "Those kids sure tire me out. Wish I had that much energy!"
"You do," said Shigure.
"I'm surprised you like playing with them so much," Hatori remarked. "The way you ignore your own little brother."
Ayame raised an eyebrow. "Yuki-kun is none of your business."
"He's… how old?" continued Hatori. "Seven, right? That's a nice age."
"Hatori-kun, I'm warning you, don't."
"Hmm? Oh… I get it. Snakes are rather cold-blooded, now, aren't they?"
"Hatori-kun." Shigure touched his arm.
"I remember last time I saw him was at New Year's… Yuki-kun was in tears after his dance, wasn't he? It's too bad his big brother was laughing at him."
"Stop it," said Ayame, avoiding Hatori's smirk. "S-stop it. STOP IT, you dragon bastard!"
He flung himself up. "Stop it."
Shigure and Hatori watched as the teenager stormed away. "Tori-kuun, you shouldn't have done that," said Shigure gently.
"Done what?" snapped Hatori. "Damn snake brought it on himself."
Shigure shrugged. "Maybe… but… Hatori-kun, what got into you?"
"Hn?" Hatori blinked at his cousin. He sighed. "I don't know."
-
Hatori elected to stay another night in Kazuma's dojo, instead of following the older boys home like he usually did. In the quiet of the martial-arts courtyard, he practiced. Shigure and Ayame didn't know it, but he had asked Kazuma if he could create his own martial-arts technique using his favorite aspects of akkido, karate and ninjitsu.
He wasn't soft. He wanted to be able to take care of himself- to live by himself, like Kazuma with a summer dojo in the mountains.
Kazuma. Hatori smiled fondly. He was only ten years older than the boys, but it was like he was their father. A damn better father, too, Hatori thought.
"My wife is more important to me than this dragon-bastard."
"Dear…"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it for you. I'll take it far away… I'll make sure I put it far away…"
"Dear, dear husband…"
"Yes, I'll put it far away."
He completed another rolling kick.
Hatori turned his head toward the house when he heard a telephone ring. For him? Apparently not, because Kazuma talked into it at length. Guiltily, Hatori snuck over to the thin paper door. Well… if it had to do with him… besides, Kazuma sounded oddly serious. And nervous.
"Y-yes. That will be fine."
A mumbled voice on the other end.
"No, please don't tell him."
Shouting.
"Please- I've already adopted the boy, so there's no need to shout."
-
The voices continued for another few minutes, but Hatori left his post and went back to practicing. He only vaguely wondered if Kazuma was talking about him.
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:: a few more notes
1 Kazuma is taller than Hatori! Aww… kawaii :hugs: LOL. I just love that, cos Hatori's the tallest now that he's an adult :D
Oh yeah: I don't know if Hatori's anorexic, I don't know if he's gay. I'm just kind of… making it up as I go alon. So maybe if you want to see something in particular you could tell me in a –cough- review –cough-
Ritsu isn't so OCD apologetic yet, did you notice? And oh, oh, guess who Kazuma is adopting! Btw, I have no idea what Hatori's parents are like soo… if they're different, gomen! Please don't tell any spoilers, though, just say I'm wrong or something : )
Thanks, readers !!