Well, here's the next chappie everyone. These next few episodes will just be building relationships and such, the good stuff is getting ready to happen though. :) Notes!

Neko-chan in Wonderland: I have read through all the mangas released in the US, up through 13. I know in the upcoming manga, since I've read the preview, this story will be shot down, but currently it can't be, well, if you're thinking with a far-fetched imagination. LOL. :)

Rebelchic17: Yeah, I know the transition wasn't the best, but if you'll remember it's the same way in "Dancing" so I figured I'd do it the same way. Makes sense, right?

Chapter 14

"Hana!" Uo shouted in the girl's face as the door opened. Hana backed up at the sudden exclamation. Her heart smiled gently as she looked upon her two best friends and their worried faces. She wondered why Uo was worried; she didn't know why she knew. Hatori had told her the story about how Tohru came to know about the curse and was forbidden to tell anyone. She wasn't allowed to tell Tohru of her own knowledge, not was she allowed to tell Megumi until the time was right. To get past the questions she would have to tell everyone that she didn't remember anything from the stairs to the couch.

"Are you all right, Hana?" Tohru asked urgently.

"What are you talking about?" Hana asked confusedly.

"She doesn't remember anything," Hatori said.

"What?" Tohru said.

"She doesn't remember anything from the time she fell down the stairs to the time she woke up on the couch," Hatori explained.

"What did happen?" Hana asked, really curious about what Uo had been told and all the other details.

"You tripped on the last two steps and fell on your head. You've been unconscious for a few hours. This is Hatori, and I'm sure you already know about him," Shigure explained.

"Wait a minute, Novelist, you told me you tripped!" Uo shouted accusingly, pointing a finger at him.

"Oh, I did, well, um, I didn't want you to worry about Saki and the last thing she or Hatori needed was a commotion," Shigure lied with a huge fake grin on his face. Uo sighed and rolled her eyes, a smirk on her face. Kyo stood in the background, not a bit concerned about Hana, or not appearing to be, whereas Yuki stood by Tohru, very concerned about Hana.

"Miss Hanajima, are you all right?" Yuki asked. Hana cringed inside. "Hanajima" sounded so wrong to her now. She wanted to tell him her real name; she wanted to tell them all, but she couldn't. Hatori could feel her wince; he didn't have to be touching her to know how she felt. He knew she wanted nothing more to do with the last name "Hanajima," but it couldn't be helped.

"I'm perfectly fine," Hana replied in her usual solemn manner.

"I must be going," Hatori said to Hana. The two were standing on the front porch; Hatori had pulled Hana away, saying he needed to make sure everything was fine before he left.

"Hatori," she whimpered, grasping his hand. She had become much more open then she normally was. She would return to her grave state eventually but right now all she wanted to do was express to the man how much she loved and accepted him, regardless of their parents. "When will I see you again? Will I ever see you again?" Hatori looked at her blankly, not knowing what to say.

"I don't know, Hana," he said softly.

"I must see you again, I can't just go on living as if nothing's changed; everything you've told me affects my entire life; I, I need you," Hana said.

Hatori's heart ached; all he wanted to do was hold the girl close and tight, pull her into his chest and comfort her. She was beautiful; he hadn't noticed this before. She looked just like Rin, except dressed more modestly. There was no doubt the two were related. Rin had always been beautiful, and still was, even after her accident which hadn't really been an accident at all, that was just the only word for it. Rin just flaunted herself but yet wouldn't let anyone near her, not even Hatsuharu, that's why Hana's evident beauty wasn't noticed upon the first appearance, and maybe not ever.

"The bookstore," Hatori said finally. "We both seem to go there frequently. I will meet you there every Tuesday directly after school." Hana nodded wordlessly. When Hatori realized that there would be no reply he squeezed the girl's hands reassuringly and hurried to his car.