Kana/Hatori, my fanfiction friends. I like this coupling. 'Tis a shame they didn't get their happy ending. Well, this tale is set within the first few weeks of Kana's employment.
Disclaimer: Is it under my desk? (checks) Is it in my closet? (looks) Nope, not in there! Natsuki Takaya owns Furuba. Think she'll let me borrow?
"I wish the sun would come out. Rain's nice, but so gloomy. Kinda like you," Kana added playfully.
"Please get back to work," Hatori said to the young Sohma gazing out of the window. He turned to face his desk while hiding a soft smile. Within a few weeks of her employment, Kana managed to brighten his grey world. Hatori was determined to be the best doctor he could and before Kana, that was all he cared about. Stoic, straight-laced, ambitious... Those were traits that applied to him. Those words still described him, except maybe stoic. Hatori was being introduced to new emotions just from her presence.
He even enjoyed her lilting voice. However, business had to take precedence over enjoyment.
"Hatori, when the rain..." Kana looked at the ceiling in thought.
"Flows down the gutters?" he guessed.
"...I guess, but-- When the rain dries, what does it become?"
He couldn't help smiling. Her interpretation of snow melting into spring had been quite refreshing. "I really don't know."
She made a buzzing sound as she looked at him. "Wrong! It becomes a sunny day."
"Do you intend to wait for this to happen?" he asked through lips refusing to conform to a jubilant expression. They were amusedly twisted however. Finally an idea on how to incite his family member to be more productive came to mind.
Hatori stood as Kana danced lively with one leg, then the other.
"Let's step outside for a bit."
"Hai!" An excited Kana rushed out onto the porch. He followed her.
"Please sit down."
She did.
"Now," Hatori instructed once he sat down, "be silent."
Kana cocked her head to one side curiously. "We had to come outside for me to be quiet? I'm not complaining; the garden is beautiful! It makes me kinda sleepy. I'm still confused though. Why?"
"Why should you be quiet? Just trust me, Kana-san. I won't speak either. Let's just enjoy the rain."
"Okay!"
Nothing more was said.
Hatori saw how her mute condition was making her antsy. She fidgeted, eyes flitting from tree to tree. She looked at the doctor, then drummed her fingers on the wood beneath her. Her expression and uncomfortable manner made him think of a child made to suffer through a stuffy dinner with guests. With that thought, he smiled.
It was as if Hatori's smile was the signal for her to relax. She exhaled, peeled her eyes from his face and immersed herself in the garden.
With the rain falling, the Sohma grounds were gray and gloomy. Nevertheless, it was beautiful. The wind surrounded them and blew cold raindrops at the two. Kana squealed in delight as she held up a hand.
"You lose," he said as he rose.
"I didn't know we were playing anything."
Hatori coughed. "Well, let's go inside." He and Kana walked into the warm office.
His plan had succeeded. She got to work immediately. Admiring the scenery worked wonders for him when he was distracted or restless.
But the brief visit made her presence a hundred times more magnified. Instead of working, he concentrated on the sound of her lightly humming, the rustling of papers, the scratch of her pen.
He realized one thing from the experience.
Kana was special to him.
But there was no way bright sunny Kana could regard him in the same way he did her. Kana wasn't a fan of the rain, and that was what he was.
He caught her eye and held the contact. In her amber eyes was a message.
"Thank you, Hatori-san. I love the rain."
He smiled as they upheld their gratifying silence. There was no need for words.
All that needed to be conveyed was in their silence.
Even when not speaking, thoughts and emotions can be exchanged.