I'm kind of annoyed at the fact that Hatori is called 'Harry' in the Australian Chuang Yi comics version of Fruits Basket. I prefer the Tokyopop translation, Hari…It just sounds somewhat more authentic…anyway…why am I saying this?

Ah, of course…it's because of the title! Hari to the rescue!

Chapter Four

Hari to the 'Rescue'

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Yes"

"You know that you'll have to face the consequences for doing this…?"
"Yes"

"You're sure you want to do this?"
"Yes"

"You know, you're just being manipulated by Akito?"
"Yes"

"Will you give me a cheque?"
"No"

"Just checking…"
"No, seriously…you're sure you want to go through with this?"
"Yes"

The doctor sighed and put his head in his hands. He then lifted his head and stared at his hands.

"I possess the power to erase and to mend," Hatori said and turned towards Yuki "You want to erase Honda's memories?"
"Yes"

"But why?"
"I told you, if she forgets, she won't be with me and she'll be safer with her grandfather."
"I'm telling you, this is how Akito's manipulating you. He threatens to hurt her and then you take the bait and want me to make her forget to 'protect' her. You should think about it for a bit more and then come back to me later."
"I'm sorry, Hatori, I can't take that risk…" Yuki said wistfully looking out the window into the pond.

After many hours of persuasion, this was all it had come to.

"Are you absolutely, positively-"
"Yes, Hatori. I'm sure"

Hatori swivelled to his desk on his chair and stared at the photo resting on it. After a few minutes of absolute silence, he spoke.

"Alright then, I'll do it…"

They sat there for a few minutes sipping tea, when suddenly Yuki spoke.

"Is this selfish of me, Hatori?"
"Hm?"
"Is it selfish of me to ask this of you? Is it selfish to erase the memories of someone everyone loves?"
"Selfish? It is not selfish to want me to do this. It is the task I was assigned. It is my own curse. No, I think the others will understand why you have to erase her memory."
"I don't think Kyo would approve…"
"Since when did you care about what Kyo thought?" said Hatori with an amused smile on his face. 'So Tohru did manage to improve their relationship,' he thought.

Yuki looked at the ground. Tohru had helped them get along with each other. She had done so much for the family. But it had come to this. She was going to forget each and every one of the ones she had helped, each and every one who were all in debt to her. And it was all because of him. He had gotten her into trouble for speaking against Akito. It was all his fault.

He was reminded of a time when they were together shopping. He had dropped some plates she had just bought in order to save a dog that was almost got hit by a car. He apologised for doing it.

But Tohru merely smiled and said, "It's okay, you broke them to save a living creature. You know, my mum told me about the importance of living things. She said 'Tohru, you should learn to protect all living things great and small no matter who or what they are. Learn to cherish them because all living things will die one day. That's why sometimes need to make sacrifices to save what you're protecting.'"

Sacrifices…

This was a pretty big sacrifice…

"We'll do it on Sunday, okay"

"Alright…"

Sunday came very quickly and Yuki had a plan to lure Tohru into the main Sohma house. All the Sohmas were told about what would happen. There was great sadness and sorrow among each and every one of them, especially Momiji and Kisa. The rift between Kyo and Yuki had widened but he still understood Yuki's reasons for why he had to do it. Hatori wrote a letter to Tohru telling her to meet her at the main house and Yuki slid it under her door.

Tohru received the message and set off to the Sohma house, unaware that it could be the last time she would enter the dark and mysterious building.

She entered Hatori's room and it was empty. It was cold and windy causing the wind chimes to sound in an eerie sort of way. Then the door opened, Hatori walked in followed by the Jyuunishi members.

"Remember, no one can tell Akito. Got that? Kureno?" Hatori said as he held the door open for the others. The rooster nodded.

"Hatori-san? Did you want to see me? Why are the others here?"
"I'm sorry, Tohru" said a voice from the back. It was Yuki, his head hanging low.

"Y-Yuki-kun…"

"I'm sorry, Honda-san. I'm sorry for what I said to you. I-I didn't mean it. Now is the time for you to forget…everything."

"But-"

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault," he said with tears sliding down his cheek.

"How is it your fault?"

"A-Akito said he was going to kill you"

Tohru's eyes widened in a mixture of horror and disbelief.

"We're all going to miss you Tohru" Momiji said solemnly. It was happening again. He was going to lose another loved one.

Kisa and Hiro were holding hands.

"Onee-chan" Kisa said quietly "Onee-chan"

The little girl ran towards Tohru and hugged her.

"I'll never forget you, Tohru" Kyo said, looking wistful.

Tohru was speechless. She just stared at the Sohmas, inhaled and sat down. She had to go through with this. There was no way of getting out if it…

"I'll miss all of you too," she said with a weak smile "Hatori, I'm ready to accept my fate."

Kisa then ran to Haru, her face buried in his arms. Kureno and Rin had unreadable expressions on their faces. Hiro stared at a spot on the wall with his arms crossed. Shigure and Ayame stood at the back with a serious look on their faces. Kagura clung on to Kyo. Hatori placed his hands over her face.

"I'm sorry too, Tohru, but it's best for you. Do you want to say anything before you lose all your memories?"

"Yuki-kun" Tohru whispered softly

He couldn't look at her, the guilt…

"Yuki–kun" her voice pleaded

He had to. He was obliged to. It was his fault.

"Promise me we'll still be friends" she said and smiled.

Hatori closed his eyes. It took a couple of seconds for it to work. But suddenly, Tohru started to fall and to everyone in the room, it seemed to take a lifetime for her to hit the ground. She fell backwards slowly, like a leaf that had broken off a twig. Her body lay idle on the ground and she was still smiling. It seemed to glow in the light. A single glistening tear rolled down her cheek.

Her memories were gone.

Oh woe! What will happen next?