Babes and Bribery
"Doctor Sohma? I'm sorry to interrupt but there's a young lady outside asking for a few minutes of your time. She said to tell you it's J.D. and that it's important." Hatori's assistant said hesitantly from the doorway. Anyone could see that the doctor was worn out but the woman was so insistent, not to mention sure that Doctor Hatori would want to see her.
"Send her in." Hatori said after a pause, rubbing his hands over his face like he could just erase the visible signs there. He hadn't had a decent amount of sleep or meal all week and boy did he ever look it.
"Yes, sir." His assistant said with a quick bow before exiting the room, returning moments later with J.D. who seemed to be carting around a small basket.
"You look like hell, Doc." J.D. said once the assistant had closed the door behind her. "Momiji wasn't kidding when he said you looked like you have one foot in your grave."
"Something I can help you with?" Hatori asked wearily, itching to get out a cigarette. But he'd promised Momiji he'd cut back and a promise was a promise.
"Other way around, Handsome." J.D. said with a grin as she walked over and setting the basket on his desk reached in and started taking containers out that smelled suspiciously like food. "Momiji says you haven't been eating properly so I made you food you are now obligated to eat and I'm not going till you do."
"You..made me lunch?" Hatori said slowly, his eyes wide with surprise as she set a can of pop in front of him. No one made him lunch other then Momiji and...Kana. She'd harped about his eating habits too. "You didn't need to do this." Hatori said gruffly even as his stomach betrayed him by growling as she pulled off a lid to reveal piping hot noodles.
"Well I wanted to. Plus I brought you some stuff from Brie that should help you with your Akito problem. Momiji said that the kid was complaining about extreme muscle pain all over and piercing headaches right?" J.D. asked with a questioning look and when he nodded she smiled in satisfaction. "Well then I have a lotion that will help with the muscles and a special tea blend to help with those headaches."
"Who is Brie and no offense but he's had these problems for years and we've yet to find anything that does more then dim the pain for short periods of time." Hatori said, absently taking the chopsticks she'd handed him as she loaded up a plate for him.
"Well these aren't ordinary remedies." J.D. said with a grin as she made sure she'd given him a big helping of everything before she shoved the plate towards him before going to work fixing her own plate. "And Brie is my best friend Tanya's oldest sister. Her full name is Brianna but we all call her Brie and if you ask for Brianna no one will know who you're asking for. Anyway Brie is studying to be a doctor and she's already quiet the herbalist and is very into natural healing. She says the stuff will work, it'll work."
"You went to a lot of trouble." Hatori commented as he looked down at his lunch with a mixture of greed, shock and serious hunger.
"You betcha so dig in and no talking until you're done." J.D. said with a small smile, reading his face easily enough. When he dug into the food like a man who'd been without food for weeks she knew Momiji hadn't been kidding at all. The poor man really did need someone to take care of him and she was just the girl for the job. After all Hatori had taken such good of Momiji for her that it was only right that she took good care of him for Momiji.
"Thank you very much." Hatori said feeling very full and just a little embarrassed at his behavior. He'd basically demolished everything she'd brought and he'd been less then stellar company. Of course she'd said no talking but he was pretty sure she'd said that for his benefit. "And I'll take the stuff to Akito, I'm sure he'll appreciate the gesture."
"I figured he'll likely look at it as being a bribe but there's no way to do it without looking like one either." J.D. said with a good natured shrug. "I know you and Shigure went to bat with him for me when Momiji went to tell him. I really wish you'd have let me come to since I was the one who deserved to be yelled at."
"You don't deserve to be yelled at and...Akito tends to get violent when he's angry. It was safer that you weren't there." Hatori said quietly, not even wanting to think about how much worse Akito's rage would have been if J.D. had come as well. As it was the boy's condition was likely the only thing that had kept Akito from making another attempt to beat Momiji for this. Of course Akito had ordered that J.D.'s memory be erased and had been angered greatly when it was explained that with so many people knowing that she had a nephew erasing her memories of him would only cause more problems. The recommendation to leave her alone until she posed a threat had not sat well with the head of their house. Since Akito was so sick though he hadn't wanted to cross Hatori on this. When Akito was better though...then there was sure to be hell to pay for all of them.
"I'd rather it be me that got hurt rather then any of you. You've all been hurt enough." J.D. said softly as she finished off the rest of her pop. "I'm sorry..about what happened to your eye. Momiji only said something because I'd commented that I didn't know how you could see clearly with your bangs and...it must have been really terrible."
"It's in the past." Hatori said with a shrug, his eyes going to the door when there was a slight rap before his assistant stuck her head in again looking more then a little frazzled. "What is it, Meroko?" Hatori wanted to know, ready to get to his feet. Perhaps Akito had demanded his presence again and Meroko was worried about the appointments.
"There's another girl asking to see you. She said she has something for you that this young lady forgot." The assistant said, not use to people outside the family visiting the main house. Only that Tohru Honda girl was allowed such things.
"Send her in." Hatori said and then blinked when a girl appeared behind his assistant suddenly, making the older woman jump in surprise.
"I told you to wait in the waiting room." Meroko squawked, glaring at the incorrigible girl who just shrugged and moved around the woman.
"You forgot the items I gave you." Brie said simply as she held out a shopping bag towards J.D. who took it with a sheepish look on her face. She obviously hadn't even realized she'd left the bag behind. "Hello, Dr. Sohma." Brie added respectfully, bowing her head slightly while his assistant fumed as she left. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Brie."
"Hello, Brie." Hatori said with a nod, surprised by how young the girl looked. The girl had straight, black hair with eyes an unusual bright blue. She was very thin, almost too skinny dressed all in black with a rather dark aura. Not a threatening one but one that suggested she'd faced things that had darkened her spirit.
"I'm going to medical school, I'll be going into my second year in the fall." Brie offered, sticking her hands in her pockets as she studied Hatori with solemn eyes. "Will you be needing any help around here?"
"Are you asking for a job?" Hatori asked in surprise, that completely unexpected.
"I can get a job with my sister and J.D. but I'd like to work someplace that will reflect my chosen profession." Brie said with a shrug, like it didn't matter overly to her whether he agreed or not. Disappointment and rejection were nothing new. If the dragon didn't want to work with her then that was his choice. "The kid said you were being overworked, especially since your assistant there is spending so much time with her daughter who's going through a difficult pregnancy. It was just a thought."
"Well if they're letting you come back in the fall your grades must be reasonable and you would have more experience then some of my other former employees. Give me the name of your school and teachers I can talk to. If they feel you're competent enough and if it's okay with the head of the house I'll consider hiring you on a trial basis." Hatori said with a considering look on his tired face. Everything the girl had said was true. He did need help, especially from someone who knew what the hell they were doing. Plus if her herbal remedies worked by some miracle then it would be necessary for him to learn how to either make or get a hold of the concoctions for when she was away at school.
"When my remedies help him he won't argue about allowing me to assist you. My teachers will tell you that I'm always in the top five in all my classes." Brie said without ego, especially since she was of the opinion that half the world's population were dumber then lemmings. She was intelligent, hardworking and organized, simple as that. "Simply tell him that I'll continue to supply him with those items and others for his various ailments if he allows me to come here to work."
A couple hours later Hatori was lead into Akito's private chambers, the shopping bag in one hand and his medical case in his other. Finding Akito laying on his bed, his eyes scrunched tight with pain Hatori felt a stir of sympathy for the boy. Despite all the boy had done he was someone to be pitied, not hated. "Akito." Hatori said in a low, firm voice until the boy opened his eyes slightly. "I've brought my usual medicines which we know will only help you temporarily. With your permission I'd like to try something different to see if it has better results."
"New drugs?" Akito croaked out hesitantly, his eyes opening a little wider, the dark depths filled with pain and a desperation for relief.
"No, these are more herbal remedies. A medical student I know brought them to my office and asked for a job. She knows Momiji and had heard that I had yet to find something to help cure you, his cousin, of your migraines and muscle pains. I've tested them and there's nothing harmful in the special tea or in the lotion to rub into your muscles. It's worth a try I believe." Hatori said with a serious look on his face. Given his own defying science condition he was ready to believe anything might work.
"A friend of that idiot rabbit? You want to try something a friend of his would recommend?" Akito hissed, the pounding in his head near to unbearable. God he wished only for oblivion, sweet oblivion, but he was in too much pain to fall asleep and the sleeping pills had done nothing as he'd known they would.
"I checked her background since she was also looking for a job for this summer. All her teachers reported she's a brilliant student with great potential to be one of the finest doctors to ever come out of their school. If they don't work I won't hire her." Hatori added as an added incentive. Technically Akito had no real say in who he hired at the clinic but he knew the boy would likely want to think he did. Plus the idea of being able to make Momiji's friend have to look elsewhere for a job was bound to be tempting. The rabbit was most certainly on Akito's hate list at the moment.
"Then I guess I should try them and see if she's as smart as she thinks she is." Akito sneered, forcing himself to sit up, his face going ivory at the effort. He'd try the little witch's potion and when it failed the outsider would find herself without employment.
"Okay then." Hatori said as he bowed, getting back to his feet. "I'll get the tea." He added as he walked over to the door where a servant was waiting with the tea she'd prepared according to Brie's instructions. Taking it from her with thanks Hatori walked back in and pouring some into the single cup on the tray held it out to Akito who took it with a weary look on his face.
Lifting the cup to his lips Akito blew over the surface once then took a tentative sip then a gulp as the delicious tasting tea filled his mouth. He'd never tasted such a blend that was near to impossible to describe. It was amazing though and he couldn't get enough of it. Drinking it all until it was gone he held out his cup to Hatori and demanded another cup full.
"Brie said that you could only have two cups." Hatori said as he filled the cup once more, surprised that Akito had actually drank the one cup, much less wanted more. What had Brie added to that tea? "She said more then that would upset your stomach. Is it helping with your headache? Any noticeable difference?"
"Of course it...it is." Akito said slowly, his eyes going wide as he realized his headache was beginning to fade. It was still there but the pain had lessened to the extent that he could bear it. Sipping the tea some more Akito felt a tad sleepy and more relaxed then he could remember being in a very long time. The tea wasn't just delicious but relaxingly soothing as well. "And my back doesn't hurt as much. Incredible." Akito whispered, overwhelmed by it all. Never had any of the medicines or so called cures Hatori had found had ever worked this well or quickly.
"There's also this lotion to rub into your muscles." Hatori added as he bit back a smile, feeling his muscles relax as he held out the small green jar with the cream inside. It was okay. In fact it was damn well better then okay, Hatori thought with the faintest of smiles. If Akito were to regain his health, at least to some extent then perhaps the boy would be able to move about more freely, regain some of the freedom he'd had when he was younger, before his health had deteriorated so rapidly.
Setting his tea aside Akito held out his hand eagerly. "Let me see." He demanded, practically snatching the jar from Hatori's hand. Unscrewing the lid he set that aside as well then dipping fingers into the cool cream applied the cream to the back of his neck, feeling a slight burning sensation for a moment before a welcoming coolness. "Leave me." Akito ordered as he looked over at Akito, his eyes back to their normal clear and focused. "And hire this girl. See what other "remedies" she knows as well."
"Yes, as you wish." Hatori said with a bow of his head before getting to his feet, picking up his bag and heading out, hearing clothing being shifted around from behind him as Akito continued to apply the cream to his arms, legs and back. Closing the door behind him Hatori broke out into a huge grin that stayed on his face all the way back to the clinic, shocking the hell out of everyone who saw him.
"But that's really such wonderful news." Tohru gushed as she clapped her hands in delight, beaming at Shigure who'd just informed them that a friend of Momiji's had found medication that actually worked on Akito. "Now he can leave his rooms more."
"I fail to see how that's a good thing." Yuki said as he stabbed a piece of meat a little harder then was necessary. A healthier Akito meant the head of his house was going to want to see him more or even worse come to visit. The very idea made his stomach tie up in knots.
"But it also means that he should be in a better mood. After all he must have been so miserable being so sick and not being able to even go outside." Tohru argued, her face filled with sympathy for the poor head of the Sohma family. No matter what he'd done to her and her loved ones in the past she didn't wish him ill. She wanted him to be happy too. "Plus maybe this will make him nicer to Momiji's aunt since it was Tanya's sister that helped him."
"He's miserable and vicious no matter how he's feeling." Kyo said with a dark look, completely on the rat's side though he'd sooner marry Kagura then admit he and the stupid rat actually agreed on something. "And as for Brie well lets just hope Akito doesn't insist on meeting her."
"Why would you say that, Kyo?" Shigure wanted to know having yet to have the pleasure of meeting this Florence Nightingale.
"She's a lot like Rin, really dark and tough. She doesn't have Rin's attitude so much but I get the feeling she could be pretty nasty if she felt the situation called for it. If Akito does his usual I'm the lord of all things and you shall bow down to me thing I can see her telling him to stick his attitude where the sun don't shine."
"When people say that, what do they mean? I mean stick it where the sun don't shine? Like a cave or something?" Tohru asked with a questioning look, her three favorite guys in the whole world looking at her with a combination of shock and amazement. "What? Was it something I said?"