What Goes On in a Man's Head
By Mayumi Takanashi
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of its characters.
Hatori sat in his office looking at a small picture. In his hands he held a silver frame, engraved with small swirl patterns. Within the frame was a picture of a cute, smiling, young woman with a light blue sundress on.
"Kana…" whispered Hatori longingly to the picture.
He buried his face in his hands. His love was already married to another man. If only he hadn't asked Akito for permission to marry her, he wouldn't have to have erased her memories of the passionate love they had shared together. But she was now just a figure of the past, only a stranger who had come…and gone.
With a swift action, he stood up from his chair. This was his chance to get her back! There was no curse, and no Akito to disapprove of his romantic feelings for her. If he was to get her back, now was the time to do it. He had to act fast. There was no time to loose! There had to be some way to make her remember their love…
Grabbing his coat from behind the door, he left the Sohma Estate for the sake of their lives being together. Maybe they could be reunited; he could marry Kana, and she could work with him, as partners…
Thoughts raced through his mind, like how they could spend the rest of their life together. He could win her back, he just knew it.
Before he realized where he was, he found himself almost passing the address on the paper he held tightly clenched in his fist. Ayame had found it for him, just as he had found out about Kana's marriage.
"I found her address," said Ayame, handing Hatori a neatly folded piece of paper.
"Kana's?" he asked.
"Yes," Aya replied solemnly. "You use it to fulfill your heart's deepest desire."
"Thank you, but it's over between her and me."
"I agree. If she could move on so easily like that then she isn't the one for you. Like I said, you deserve better."
"Then why are you giving this to me?"
"For future reference."
Aya could be a bit silly at times, but his friendship was very important to Hatori.
Taking a deep breath, Hatori stepped up to the front door and pressed the doorbell. He could hear a dog start to bark wildly, and a woman's voice attempting to calm it down with soft words. The door slowly opened, and there she was.
"Dr. Hatori?" asked a disbelieving Kana. "It's been such a long time!"
"Yes, it has," he breathed.
"Why don't you come on in?" said the mildly surprised Kana.
He stepped over the threshold, gazing around the small house. It was bright and cheerful, just like her personality.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" offered Kana.
"No, thank you," he replied, turning to look at her.
"Please, sit down," she said, gesturing her hand toward the couch.
Hari seated himself on the sofa, as she sat upon the lounge chair. All he could do was stare in awe at her beauty.
"Wow, I can't believe you're here!" exclaimed Kana, not taking notice of Hatori's glances.
"I came to remind you of how we used to be."
"What are you talking about, Doctor?"
"Our love."
"We weren't ever in love!" she said, taken aback by his boldness.
"Yes, we were," he said, standing up. She did the same.
"I think you're not feeling well," she told him, putting her palm to his forehead. "You don't have a temperature…"
Hatori closed his eyes. The touch of her soft, silky hand was so gentle, so warm, so wonderful.
"I'll go get you a glass of water," she said, turning toward the kitchen.
"Wait!" he shouted, grabbing her wrist.
"Huh?"
Hatori spun her around and kissed her soft, pink lips. He could feel the memories flooding back to her, he knew this would make her remember…maybe she couldn't remember Akito, but she could remember their passion.
Slowly, they withdrew. Her breath was warm against his face. Her eyes fluttered open.
"I…I…had no idea…" she whispered. "I can remember it all, about our love."
"Yes…" he sighed.
"I probably caused you so much pain."
"But I'm happy now," he told her. "I'm happy because I'm with you."
"I'm sorry, but my heart belongs to another."
"What?" he asked, gaping at her with a crestfallen expression.
"I have a husband now, whom I love very much," she said, stroking his cheek.
"As long as you are happy, I am as well."
"Thank you."
"You have my blessing," he said, turning to go.
"Hatori, I will always love you, too."
"I'll walk myself out."
Picking up his coat, he turned the knob of the door and stepped outside. He closed the door behind him, closing the door of his past, and closing the door of Kana's love. Head down, he shuffled home, his broken heart in a thousand pieces.
Author's Notes: I'm so sorry to depress you all. The next chapters won't be filled with this depression, but there will be some heartbreak. I mean, Tohru can't have all those men who chase after her… Hint! Hint!