Well, everyone, I'm back, and it's time for chappie 10! I hope you're enjoying the story so far and I hope you will continue to enjoy it after this chappie. In this one the connection between Hatori and Hana is revealed, but the story does not end here. Unlike "Dancing" where the secret is discovered and there are only a few more chappies to wrap it up because the main plot happened beforehand, in "Darkened Hearts" the main plot picks up after the secret is revealed. Anyway, I'm probably confusing a few of you, just read. Oh, a note!

Black Heart of Darkness: About Uo, I don't think this was a very unnatural response, for her to not be concerned. The question is: why would she be? Shigure told her he had tripped on something and she had no reason to believe otherwise. She was also wrapped up in her game with Kyo and that definitely distracted her to the point of her just shrugging at Shigure's excuse and continuing with her game with Kyo. I don't think the fact that Hatori was there to check up on Yuki would have added any suspicion. Anyway, I hope this helps you understand why I don't find it odd at all for Uo not to have suspected anything, she didn't have a reason to in the first place.

Chapter 10

Hatori sat straight up, sloshing water around his body as he did so. He couldn't remember what had happened or where he was. Suddenly it all came back to him. He had been knocked unconscious when he had caught the girl falling down the stairs. All of a sudden he realized who she was. She was the girl from the bookstore, the one who had passed out. She seemed to be having the same problem again.

Perhaps I should take a look at her, he thought. He looked around the bathroom and found his clothes sitting on the seat of the toilet and a towel hanging on the peg in the wall.

"Where is she?" he asked as he stepped out of the bathroom, adjusting his tie.

"Oh, Hatori, how are you feeling; can I get you anything?" Tohru asked, stopping by the doorway suddenly since she had been prepared to just walk on by. She had a bag of ice in her hand.

"I'm fine, Tohru. How is your friend?" he asked.

"She fainted right after you transformed," she replied.

"Where is she?" he questioned.

"On the couch in Shigure's office," she said. He nodded and followed her into the cluttered room where Hana was covered by a blanket. Tohru moved to her side immediately and placed the bag of ice on her forehead, removing it periodically. Hatori knelt beside the couch and gazed into her face softly.

"Who is she?" he asked Tohru.

"She's one of my two best friends, Hana, oh, I mean, Saki," she replied.

"Saki," he whispered.

"Yes, Saki Hanajima," she elaborated.

"Saki Hanajima?" Hatori said suddenly, looking up to see Tohru nodded. "She has a brother, correct?"

"Yes, Megumi," Tohru said, not even considering the fact that she didn't know why Hatori know about Hana's younger brother. "Oh, excuse me, Hatori, I think I hear the kettle whistling." Tohru leapt up, knowing she was safe to leave Hana now that a doctor was by her side. Once Tohru had disappeared Hatori looked down upon Hana's peaceful face.

"Saki Hanajima," he breathed, tears forming in his eyes as he took one of her hands in his. Her eyes began to flutter open and she looked up into a face with kind, gentle eyes that was looking down upon her. Well, it was really half of a face since the left half was covered by a lump of hair. Hana looked down at her right hand enclosed in his. She was startled but did not draw away. Her head began to pound and she closed her eyes in pain.

"W-who are you?" she managed.

"My name is Hatori Sohma, I'm a doctor," he replied.

"You won't be able to help me, I-I'm-" she started.

"I know, you have a special power; no doctors have been able to help you," he said, nodding. Her eyes popped open and though her vision was blurry she stared at him steadily.

"How do you know that?" she asked.

"Because I-I'm your brother," he stuttered, not looking at her. Immediately her vision cleared and her head stopped aching; it didn't hurt at all. She gazed upon the man blankly until he finally met her eyes with his.

"I only have one brother; he's younger. His name is Megumi," she said finally. Hatori shook his head, a tear beginning to drip down his cheek.

"No, Saki, I am your older brother Hatori. You also have an older sister named Isuzu, who we call Rin, and a younger brother named Hiro," he said. Hana couldn't move; she was completely stunned. "I know this is a lot to take in. You don't remember anything because I was ordered by your parents to erase the memories of both you and Megumi. We were never supposed to see each other again because I knew your power and the connection we shared would trigger a reaction of some kind."

"H-Hatori," she whispered. He nodded. She raised her free hand to touch his cheek softly. She felt a spark, an electricity running through her fingertips and up through her arm, eventually consuming her entire body. She knew he was right. She could feel the memories, the few she had, rushing over her like a wave. A flood of tears came over her as well just as it had Hatori. She cried uncontrollably, throwing her arms around the man.

"My brother!" she wept. He embraced her quickly but the next moment he was gone. She pulled back with a sudden gasp, her tears evaporating.

"I suppose we should start with the curse," she heard him say, looking down upon the bed to see the small seahorse staring back at her. She scooped him up in her hands and brought him close into her as he began to tell her the story of just how her life really was.