Disclaimer: i dinna own nonda furuba characters or anything likes that...and if the commentary i'm making is weird then blame it on Pink Floyd...i don't own either...but i wish i did...on all accounts...but the oc's are mine...grrr...mine..

Anyways to the reviewers:

phantomnessness: nice name...?...there some question marks fer ya...as for why a tree...lack of coffee and inspiration...and i can't remember where the new characters come in but they do...and you reviewed three times...yay! throws you a red rose there present

Dark Resister: welcome for review and thanks for your opinions...and yes it is a good story...hah...glad you like and glad the cliffhanging thingy works cuz i'm gonna keep using it...well trying anyways...you reviewed three times too...throws you a red rose there present

The Water Sprite: glad you like...and i too would have been in a tree...hee hee yes she likes him...hee hee...glad you find it funny and sweet head swelling from the praise you reviewed three times as well throws you a red rose there present

Angel of Courage: thank you for finally reviewing! glad you like...sighs you don't get red rose but digs out a complimentary pen here...never know when you need a pen hope you keep reading!

To all the others who are too lazy to review: please review...all of the above people have showered me with praise and you have not...why? well just click da button and type a few words...not that hard...really it's not... and my inferiority complex is giving me writer's block...sighs

Chapter 4: About the Past

You then come back with three pillows and some blankets in tow. You spread some of the blankets on the floor and put down the three pillows.

Hatori looks at you then says "You look like you've done this before."

"I used to volunteer at a free clinic in New York." you reply as you straighten out the blankets. "Okay you three onto the blankets and no dropping the thermometers." you say to the sick Sohmas and then mumble "nothing worse than having to continuously redo thermometers"

Hatori looks at you then laughs.

"What!" you ask

"You look so comfortable in a house full of men you barely know." Hatori shakes his head.

"Well my mother always told me I trusted people too easily but…I don't care" you say. "And I do know Haru." you point out. Kyo, Haru, and Shigure are now all on the blankets and you cover them up.

Hatori checks their temps then says "Okay Shigure you have a fever of 100, Haru one of 101.3, and Kyo one of 102. None of you will be moving until these fevers break. Which means someone has to stay here and look after you. I would but I have work. I'll call Tohru and she can come stay with you."

"Hey. I could stay and watch them." you volunteer.

"Don't you have to worry about the club?" Hatori asks.

"I can put in a few calls and cover everything. Nothing big." you reply

"Yes Kaa-chan can stay and watch us" Shigure says.

"Okay." Hatori sighed. "I'll leave some medicine and other stuff for them."

"Okay I can handle it." you say. "Just leave it and you can go." You walk into the kitchen and take out a pot.

Hatori follows you and says "Thanks for offering to stay with them."

"No prob. 'Sides I like your family. It's never a hassle to stay with them." you take out various ingredients and look at them "Now let's see if I remember how to make this."

"Oh a little friendly advice. Kyo hates leeks, onions, and miso." Hatori warns.

"A guy after my own heart" you laugh and start mixing stuff together.

Hatori walks up to you and kisses you on the cheek. "I'll be by sometime tonight to check on them" He then walks out.

You stand there flustered until the strange mixture in the pot starts to steam and you turn you attention back to it. You stir the pot thinking of Hatori and only stop when Shigure calls to you to ask when the food will be ready. "Its almost done" you call back.

You pour the soup into three bowls, put them on a tray and carry it into the other room. Setting the tray down, you walk off and dampen three washcloths. Folding them as you come back, you see Shigure sitting up. "Hey, you're sick too you know. You gotta lay back down."

"In a minute" Shigure replies. You are a little uneasy at the serious look on his face. You put the damp cloths on Kyo and Haru's forehead's then look at Shigure.

"What's wrong?" you ask.

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"About the past. My past. Hatori's past. Our family's past." Shigure sighs and looks at you. "The Sohma family has been cursed for generations by the vengeful spirits of the Chinese Zodiac. The Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and Boar spirits all cursed our family. But also the spirit of the Cat the one who was cheated out of the zodiac by the Rat. Anyways these spirits manifested themselves by inhabiting a Sohma body when it was born and whenever that person was embraced by a person of the opposite sex they would transform into their zodiac animal. A person also transformed whenever they became too weak. Two years ago the curse was broken. I won't go into the details but the cursed Sohma people are now free from it. But the curse ran deeper than just the transforming part. It never allowed any of us to be happy for very long. I was one of the cursed members. As was Hatori…and Kyo, Yuki, and everyone else you met that night six months ago. Well Tohru wasn't born a Sohma and two of the members weren't there but anyway. The curse also afflicted the head of our family, Akito. He was dying. Hatori was at that point strictly the family doctor. Much of his time was spent caring for Akito. Hatori one day met a woman, Kana. The two of them fell in love, even after she found out about the curse. So one day Hatori asked Akito if he and Kana could get married. Akito became furious. He began to yell and scream. He ended up hurting Hatori's eye and he is now almost completely blind in his left eye." Shigure sighed at this. "Hatori didn't blame Akito for it. But Kana blamed herself. She was drowned by her guilt and Hatori was forced by Akito to erase her memories, another gift of the curse for him. Kana is now remarried and Hatori has become very reserved. I hate it!" Shigure pounded the table beside him. "He is hurt deep inside but she can move on. Never remember what she and Hatori had together while it is all he remembers. He has dated off and on but generally he stays to himself. I hate that he is so alone. But such is the case with those cursed by the Zodiac." Shigure looks up at you and is surprised to see you crying.

"Kanya why are you crying?"

"Hatori is so kind. I never would have guessed he has such sadness inside." You look into Shigure's eyes. "Shigure, why did you tell me this?"

Shigure sighs and replies "Because Haa-san is starting to care for you and I don't want him to ever hurt like that again."

"I am starting to care for him too" you say "but I promise that I would never hurt him intentionally."

"It's not the intentional I'm worried about." Shigure says then sighs.

A/N: ...i finally got around to putting this chap up...sorry it took a while...i had to escape reality through video games...and my comp decided to mess with my head again and go on strike...we've come to a mutual agreement...for now...anyway read and review and you might get a present! (extra note: while writing the commentary for this chap author was influenced by Pink Floyd a very very good band but just slightly strange )