Chapter 2.

POV

"Ungghh…" I winced at the light when I opened my eyes. "Ungghh…"

Hatori turned to me, eyes on my hair. "Are you okay? Can you speak?"

"Ungghh… hurts…let me go…" I started to feel nauseous.

"Here." Hatori held the pail for me as I threw up water. "It's me Hatori, not Akito. You've thrown up a few times when you're sleeping. I thought you were going to choke in your own vomit. Haru came and help too. But was sent home by me because he hasn't had any sleep in the last four days."

"What… I want to go home… Hatori I…" I tried to sit up.

"No. Don't move. I'll carry you."

I obeyed.

"Why are you saving me? Everyone hates me. I should die. The sooner the better." I tried to sling my arms around Hatori's neck, but found it too painful to do so.

"Nobody hates you. Even Akito loves you."

"What… I don't understand… I only know that I…" I saw that Hatori was reaching the bathroom.

"We're here. I'll bathe you. It was so difficult to move you when you're sleeping, I had to wait till you're awake." Hatori put me down in the bathtub. "Take off your clothes."

"…" I obediently took off my clothes.

Hatori took off his own clothes and joined me, while waiting for the water to fill the tub. "Why are you so quiet? You're weren't usually so. I like you better the noisy way…" Hatori took the cloth and rubbed my face. Then he continued to my thigh.

"Stop… I…" I pushed Hatori's hand away. I immediately felt sorry when I saw Hatori's hurt look on his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I'll make it up to you. I… I'm sorry…"

"You're not Ritsu, don't say sorry so many times. I'll continue to take care of you everday from now on. Every minute every second. I'll protect you from Akito." Hatori took my hands and directed it to his abdomen, then down his thighs and to his private area.

"I… I… I can take care of myself. I don't need your help. And I thought you said Akito loves me." Hatori grabbed my hand before I can take it away from the area.

"Don't… I like your hands here. Don't be shy, or I'll get aggressive. Your wounds might open again." Hatori took my hands and rubbed circles around his own thighs and private area.

My eyes widen in surprise. "Again…? You mean it has opened before? When?" I started to get comfortable with this conversation.

"While you were sleeping. Do you know how long I've been longing for you?"

I blushed, hand still on the area it was on before.

"Since a year ago. I was in the forest. I saw you. You ran away from home. You were so… dirty… and dark. I wanted to take care of you, to take you away from those that hates you, and from those that you hate." Hatori sits closer to me, hands now on my hair and face.

I blushed again, but leaned closer to Hatori. I somehow feel safe with him. I feel like I can trust him. "I… do you really like me? You won't push me away like Haru and Yuki did? You won't go away like Momiji did? You won't tell Shigure and Ayame? You won't…?"

"Of course I do." Hatori leans in.

"Oh…" My head hangs low. I feel sad that he cannot fulfill all the promises like them… Perhaps this is just the way people acts around the cat. Maybe it's a natural feeling to them that the cat is am dirty… and stinky… that I am a… jinx.

Hatori leans further in and caressed my face. "Of course I do like you. And of course I won't push you away like Haru and Yuki did, I won't go away like Momiji did, and definitely I wouldn't tell Shigure and Ayame…" He kissed me on my lips.

I was shocked. I couldn't move. But slowly… it feels… safe, with him. I leaned in to him and returned to kiss.

I am not surprised. Usually I would just scold and push people off. But now… it's different. I feel really safe.

Hatori drew me into his arms. Hugging me possessively, not wanting to let me go. "Don't go."

"I…" I started to hesitate. Maybe this is just a joke. A joke that Akito plays, like he usually does. But… this is Hatori. Hatori would not do that to me. He would not lie to me. But what if he does. I… I should leave. I should leave him as soon as possible. I will not let myself be hurt again. After what Hatsuharu and Yuki did to me…

"I'm sorry Hatori. You don't love me. I have to leave." I got up, wincing from the pain. I began to feel dizzy, and collapsed into Hatori's arms once again.