Well, I think you guys are going to like this chappie. It's frustrating and yet promising. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 15

"Saki, would you mind serving snacks while Kisa and I work on our class project?" Megumi asked Hana a week later. She still cringed at the name "Saki Hanajima," but suddenly asking her family to call her "Hana" would seem rather strange, so it couldn't be helped. As for her attitude, it had returned to normal, very silent and emotionless. Her face showed nothing of what was on her heart, the jumbled up emotions. She wanted her brother to know but Hatori said it wouldn't be a good idea yet and she was willing to oblige him. Her view of her parents had changed enormously, as Hatori knew it would. She couldn't say she hated them; more importantly, she wanted to help them understand how wonderful a person Hatori was and why they shouldn't have disowned him.

"Not at all, Megumi," Hana said, walking off to the kitchen. He walked back into the main room to meet Kisa from the hall where he had been talking to Hana.

"My sister is bringing us snacks," he reported to the girl. She nodded. The silence was so heavy and thick you could cut it with a knife. Neither of the two talked very often, Kisa even less than Megumi, so naturally it was awkward. Megumi wondered if they'd ever get anything done. He had just finished placing their names on a paper when Hana walked in with a tray of food. As she set food on the table she noticed the name on the paper. "Kisa Sohma." She couldn't help wondering if the girl could be related to her. She hadn't even met with Hatori yet and she already had questions for him.

"So, you met Kisa," Hatori said with a grin.

"I only saw her name on Megumi's paper, the two are partners," Hana reminded him. "I assume your response indicates that she is one the family."

"Yes, she is a very distant cousin, she also happens to be the tiger of the Zodiac," Hatori informed her. Hana nodded, her heart leaping at the thought of meeting another of the Zodiac, another member of her family. She wanted to know them all; she just wanted to be open to learn about them and love them.

"Do you have pictures of the family, Hatori?" Hana asked hopefully.

"I have pictures in my wallet, but they're very old; I haven't acquired recent pictures for years, I believe it wasn't since Hiro was six; I haven't looked at them since, either," Hatori said, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket and flipping through it.

It actually surprised Hana that he had them with him; he didn't seem like the kind of man who would carry pictures with him. Of course, she didn't seem like a person you would expect to carry pictures with her either, but she did. She had pictures of Tohru and Uo and pictures of the three together, also pictures of Megumi and her family that she carried in her purse. Hatori flipped through the pictures and told her about her relatives. She noticed that Kyo's picture wasn't there and it saddened her. No wonder she sensed chaos even more from him than Yuki, especially after she had heard the story of the Zodiac from Hatori. The last was one of a beautiful brunette and Hana noticed that Hatori didn't speak for a moment. Waves of utter despair filled her head and she didn't know what to say. The two stood in the medical aisle of the bookstore in silence, an uncomfortable silence.

"I had forgotten I still had this," Hatori whispered finally.

"Who is she?" Hana asked after another period of silence.

"No one of importance," he replied finally, folding the wallet and slipping it back into his back pocket.

Liar, Hana thought to herself. She was sensing too many disturbing waves to believe him; besides, he had made it bluntly obvious that something was bothering him. Suddenly Mayu appeared in the aisle with a box of books for shelving.

"Hanajima!" she cried, shocked to see the girl there, and talking with Hatori no less. "How are you feeling?"

"What do you mean?" Hana asked.

"Y-you fainted in here nearly a month ago," Mayu explained.

"Oh, yes, I am perfectly healthy," Hana replied. "Thank you." Mayu smiled in response, nodded, and got to work shelving. Hatori then strode to Mayu's side, nodding to Hana over his shoulder to indicate that he'd see her next Tuesday. She nodded back with a faint smile but inside she was confused and disturbed. Who was the woman in the picture?

"Dammit, Haru, leave me alone!" Rin shouted at the sixteen-year-old boy standing in front of her.

"I was simply talking to the main house to see Hatori, Rin," he said innocently, shocked at her accusation. "What are you doing here?"

"That's none of your damn business!" she cried.

"You should watch your mouth, Rin, it could get you in trouble one of these days," Haru said. Rin burned with anger, her body trembling in fury.

"I don't need to hear this from you," she spat at him.

"But I think you do," he said tenderly, moving closer.

Before she knew what was happening his arms were around her tiny waist, drawing her into his warm body; she had let her guard down. She was helpless in his arms, limp and frail. Her body melted into his as she allowed him to caress her, unable to do anything else. It had been months since she had felt his strong arms hold her but now she didn't know how she could have lived without this. Her memories had been keeping her alive, for not a day went by when she didn't think of him. She shouldn't be doing this, becoming so vulnerable. His life was in her hands and merely her presence could destroy him, whether he was aware of it or not, and if she had the power to save him, even if it meant she would suffer, she would; she had to. She loved him too much. She had tried to avoid him, knowing she was helpless in his arms. How could she have allowed herself to get into this situation? His face was moving closer to hers and without even knowing what she was doing she lifted her head to meet his. His lips brushed lightly over hers as if giving her the opportunity to break away now before he went any further. She didn't, in fact she drew closer. Their lips locked and he cupped the back of her head in his left hand, his right arm still wrapped around her waist, as she deepened the kiss. It grew in intensity until they finally broke away, panting. Rin's eyes then grew two times wider as she realized what she had done. She gave Haru one last glare and flew off into the woods.