All right, everyone, I know I said it would be awhile for the next chappie but I just couldn't stay away from this story, I'm so excited about it. I'm really into it because I can't exactly say exactly all the details and complications I'm going to put into it, so I'm giving it a lot of thought, therefor pushing the other story I'm working on in Bonanza out of my head entirely. I promise I'll get back to our BZ story ASAP, Rebelchic17! I've just been caught up in this one. Anyway, here's chappie 2!
Chapter 2
"Tohru," Hana said, surprised. She knew Tohru was in the store but she didn't think they'd be running into each other.
"Hana, are you all right?" the girl questioned concernedly, eyes filled with worry.
"I'm fine, Tohru," she assured her with a small smile, one she didn't show very often.
"Oh, thank goodness, you looked awfully pale a few seconds ago. I was worried," Tohru said, her face brightening immediately, never mind the face that Hana's face was always pale. But the two had been friends for so long that they could tell and Hana knew what she had meant. "I didn't know you came to this bookstore too!" Tohru seemed so excited.
"They receive the new books before all of the other bookstores," Hana replied blandly. Tohru's smile grew even bigger.
"Well, I'm just here to buy a new recipe book and then head off to work, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Tohru said happily.
"Yes, tomorrow," Hana said as Tohru skipped off. Her mind immediately turned back to what had happened a few minutes ago. It was too strange. The headache was concerning, but not as much as the voices. She hadn't heard voices since middle school, after she had learned to control her power. Now she would get signals from people's emotions directly to her brain; she would not be inundated with voices. Why now, years later, was she hearing voices?
"Hatori," a voice whispered.
"Kana?" Hatori asked, furrowing his brow in consternation.
"Hatori," she breathed. He could see her now, her slim figure as clear as if she had been standing right there.
"Yes?" he breathed.
"Hatori, you can let go now," she said.
"What?" he asked.
"I know your pain, the ice around your heart. The snow hasn't melted yet, has it?" she said.
"Kana-" he started.
"The spring is here, Hatori. Why won't you allow it to enter your heart?" she asked.
"Kana-" he repeated.
"Let it in, Hatori!" she cried, tears now started to flow from her eyes.
"Kana, don't cry," he whispered, dying to reach out and run his fingers through her hair but he knew the minute he tried her presence would vanish.
"But I do cry, Hatori, I cry daily for you. Hatori, can't you see that I want your happiness just as much as you wanted mine?" she wept. "Please, Hatori, let the snow melt." Her figure started to disappear.
"Kana," he said, a hint of urgency in his voice. "Kana!" He jerked awake, throwing the sheets off of his body and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. He rested his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He was sweating like mad and breathing hard. He could hear her voice ringing in his ears.
"Hatori, I'm so glad to have met you," she had said. "And I'm even happier to have fallen in love with you."
"Kana," he breathed, half fiercely, half tenderly, clenching his fists. He wanted to cry, long and hard, but he had held it in so long he couldn't. Plus, he was the strong, emotionless Hatori; what would the others think if they knew that the strongest off them all spent his nights weeping for the past?
"Please, Hatori, let the snow melt," she had begged. Her words had been so clear, as if she had really been standing there.
How, Kana? How? Please show me.