Title: Needed

Summary: Tohru makes a wish to be able to hug the Sohma member who needs it the most. But what happens when the Sohma who needs it most isn't the one who Tohru expected?

Disclaimer: Still don't own neither the anime, nor the lyrics of all songs used at the beginning of each chapter.

A/N: Well, I certainly didn't expect such a great answer to this! But I'm so glad it was well received. On to the next chapter, ne?

ii. the one who needed it most

haru wa mada tookute

tsumetai tsuchi nurakatte

"Let's Stay Together Itsumo"

When the first ray of sunshine glared through Tohru's windows, the lump under the covers shifted. A few minutes later Tohru was up and ready to start her Monday. She got dressed, cleaned herself up, and prepared her school bag. When she was done, she climbed the stairs down, and headed towards the kitchen, where she made breakfast.

She took the plates in her hands, and turned around to make her way to the table.

"Watch out!" someone shouted, and soon enough, she collided with a very male someone, and then with the ground. The plates were all laying in broken pieces, and an orange cat glared at her from the ground.

"Kyou-kun, you're up early!" she muttered, picking up the shards from the floor. The cat stood up and went to sit in the corner of the room, dragging his clothes behind him.

"Couldn't sleep longer," he muttered.

"Ah. And Yuki-kun?" she asked, throwing the shards in the waste basket.

"How should I know?" the cat shrugged.

Tohru let out a sigh. She would have to buy new plates for them, meaning she'd have to apply for some extra hours at work.

"Ohayo," came the familiar sleepy mumble of Yuki.

"Ohayo, Yuki-kun!" Tohru greeted, cheerfully. "Breakfast is ready, but I broke some plates. Gomen ne, I'll buy new ones tomorrow!"

"Don't worry about that," Yuki mumbled, sitting down at the table.

She set the table, and they started eating breakfast as soon as Shigure joined them. Breakfast went without incident, and they soon left for school.

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"Honda-san, please report to the principal's office."

Tohru's eyes snapped open at the sound of the loud voice. I wonder why I'm so tired? That had been the second time she'd fallen asleep in class that day, and true to her word, her teacher sent her to the principal's office.

The halls of her school were quiet, and she kept her gaze on the tiles under her feet, embarrassed by the visit she had to pay. She heard her footsteps, the sound of the taps they made on the cold floor. She wasn't aware of the presence of someone else, until she collided with him.

"Sumimasen, Yuki-kun!" she said to the white rat in front of her. Tohru stood up, brushed her knees, and picked the rat in her hands. "Ano, what were you doing outside of class?"

"I had to go to the principal's office a few minutes ago, didn't you hear the notice?" the rat asked.

"Ah…I think I must've been…sleeping."

"Are you okay, Tohru-san?"

"Hai. I'm fine. I must go to the principal's office now. Ano…why did you have to go there?"

"Hatori came to check up on me. Said something about having seen I had the symptoms of bronchitis or something."

"I hope you're alright! Ano, I should go…"

"It's okay, Tohru-san. Just put me down, I'll be sure to find my way back."

"Gomen," she said again, placing the rat on the floor. With a wave she went on her way to the office.

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"See to it that it doesn't happen again, Honda-san," the principal said, his voice sharp.

"Hai, I promise," she answered, bowing down respectfully.

"And do try to sleep more, girl. You look awful," he added with concern.

"Hai, sensei," she answered again.

"Well, you're free to go back to class, then."

"Arigatou," she bowed down again, and left his office quickly.

Tohru leaned on the wall just outside the principal's room, breathing softly. A wave of dizziness washed through her, and she fell to the floor, her knees scrapping a bit on the floor.

"Honda-san?" The voice belonged to the last man Tohru had wanted to see right then.

Oh no, he'll think I'm foolish. He'll think I'm overreacting the situation! He'll think I'm behaving childishly! He'll think I'm—

"Are you sick?"

He'll think I'm sick. She lifted her head up to stare into a deep green eye. "Ie, I'm just…tired," she finished with a whisper.

A hand came in the line of her vision, and she grabbed in, and let herself be pulled to her feet. He has warm hands. I imagined they'd be cold. "Arigatou," she whispered, keeping her gaze on the tiles beneath her feet.

"Have you been resting well?" he asked, his deep voice held a sharp tone.

Tohru nodded softly, but it made her dizzy again. He caught her before she could collide and hug him.

"I'm taking you home, Honda-san. You're too tired," he decided, taking her hand and guiding her outside the building.

"Ie, I can't! I need to study, and I need to go to work tonight! I broke Shigure-san's plates this morning, I have to buy new ones, I have to go—"

"Shigure will mind more whether you're feeling ill, than whether his plates are intact. Plus, he has enough money to buy new ones."

"But I broke them…"

"We're going home, Honda-san. That's final."

"Hai, Hatori-san. Sumimasen."

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It was as if he was not driving a car at all. Tohru felt as if she was floating on some clouds, some black clouds with a BMV sign, but clouds nonetheless. Perhaps involuntarily, she fell asleep, her head leaning on the cold window of the passenger's seat.

Hatori glanced at her for a short while, the corners of his mouth tilting up in a small, almost inexistent, smile. The way she slept was so peaceful; it made you sleepy as well. He saw her frown, trying to blow away a rebel strand of hair getting in her nose. After hearing her try and fail several times, Hatori took his hand off the driving-wheel and tentatively brushed the hair behind her ear. His eyes never left the road in front of him.

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She was barely aware someone was shaking her until she heard his voice in his ear.

"We're home."

She opened her eyes slowly, and almost wished she hadn't. "Sun, bright," she explained with accuracy, keeping her eyes shut. He heard him sigh in front of her, and two arms grabbed her shoulders awkwardly.

"Honda-san, I can't hold you. The curse…" he left the words hanging in the air, but she understood and opened her eyes.

Tiredly, she got out of the car, holding one hand on his shoulder for support. He reached behind her and closed the door.

"Ready to walk?" he asked, his hand coming to steady her.

"H-hai. I think so." She took a step, and quickly wished she hadn't. She felt dizzy, and without wanting to, her legs failed her, and she fell forward. Hatori, who had been looking behind him to see if Shigure was home, didn't see Tohru falling until it was too late, and she fell against him.

There's no water near-by. She opened her eyes when she realized the familiar 'poof!' wasn't heard. Her eyes widened even more when she realized two arms were hugging her quite tightly. They both tensed, and looked at each other. He didn't transform! But why?

//I wish I could hug one of the Sohma's without transforming him. The one who needs it the most./

Tohru took in a quick breath, putting two and two together. Hatori-san, he didn't transform! But…but the wish, it couldn't have happened! It was only a star! Wasn't it? It obviously wasn't since I'm hugging him, and he hasn't transformed!

/The one who needs it the most/

Tohru looked up at Hatori's face, to find him looking down at her. She was about to ask what happened, but he didn't give her the time to do it. Being the practical one and the logical one, he took her in his arms and made his way to the house. When he placed her down on the ground, still holding her by the waist, Tohru found herself blushing bright red.

"Let's get you to bed," he said, clearing his voice, obviously uncomfortable with the situation. Makes two of us.

Shigure wasn't at home that morning, for which Tohru thanked Kami-sama. The last thing she—they—needed was Shigure snickering at the situation. Hatori led her upstairs to her room. She let herself fall on her bed, breathing softly. Sleepy.

She was jerked awake when Hatori placed a thermometer in her mouth. "You're burning," he explained.

He's always so quiet. I wish he spoke more. At least to…at least to me.

He took the thermometer out of her mouth and frowned. "You have high fever, Honda-san. I'll have to see if you caught Yuki's bronchitis. You're not showing symptoms, but to be sure."

Half an hour later she was tucked under her covers, still blushing after the medical check-up. His hands were shaking, why were his hands shaking? Hatori stood near her bed, looking at her seriously, frowning.

"I wish you could smile for me," she though, and it came out loud. She lowered her eyes before she could see Hatori's eyes widen.

The doctor cleared his voice, and pulled at his tie. "You'll need rest, and to drink lots of water. Also, you'll have to put on some weight; it'll give you more energy. I don't want you to move from that bed in two days."

"But what about lunch and dinner? What about cleaning? What about—"

"Two days, Honda-san! I'm sure Shigure will come up with something, but you're not to move a muscle in two days. Doctor's orders."

"Hai," she nodded, catching him smile slightly before he turned to leave her room.

"I'll be down stairs until Shigure comes." And he closed the door behind him with a soft click.

Tohru leaned back on her pillows, her mind going at a mile per minute. I hugged Hatori-san, and he didn't transform. Could it be that my wish came true? Then…is Hatori-san the one who needs it the most?

Why?

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A/N: Well, there's that. Hope this chapter was to your liking as well. A few thanks:

Elle DeVarquez: You made me blush and squeal with joy. A 100, eh? Thanks so much! I hope you'll think the same after this chapter!

Korii Shoujo: I'm so glad you liked! Reviews make me go on with the stories!

Alice: Thanks for the advice, I realized I forgot to use a corrector. Hope it's better now. Thanks for reading!

Mori'quessir: Thank you! Hatori fascinated me the first time I saw him, and then in the next episode, when he plunged to save Tohru from falling, my heart immediately went out to him, and to this wacky pairing!

Thanks for reading, again. Please leave a word? Writing is a two way street, I learn from my mistakes, so if any of you see grammar mistakes or the like, don't fail to tell me. Same goes for in character-ness, and the likes!