Disclaimer: You know what I mean...

Japanese to Know:

Hai - Yes
Hatsuharu-san wa doko ni imasu ka- Where's Hatsuharu-san?
Shitsurei shimashita - I'm sorry (I hurt you)
Iie - No
Gomen nasai - I'm sorry
Demo - But
Haa-san - Hatori
Baka - Idiot/stupid (You can be the judge when you get there)
Kiniiri - Pet/Lover
Ani - Older brother (familiar)
Iku - Go
Daijoubu? - Are you ok?
Itai - It hurts/Pain
Ashi kubi - Ankle (literally: foot neck)
Nii-chan - Cute form of "older brother"
Matte - Wait
Akito ga kowai - Akito is scary
Sou ka- Is that right?
Sou - Right
Arigatou - Thanks
Kawaii ne - Cute, huh
Daijoubu desu ka - Are you ok? (Polite)
Daijoubu - I'm fine.
Doko - Where
Shigure-san no uchi ni imasu - You're at Shigure-san's house
O-genki ka - Are you fine?
Genki desu -I'm fine.
Sono wa nan desu ka - What's that (next to you)?
Eeto - Umm

Chapter 7

Pain

"Tohru-kun, you're up!" Momiji smiled, bounding to her side.

"Hai, hai. I'm feeling much better," she said, holding up a bandaged hand. "Hatsuharu-san wa doko ni imasu ka."

The Cow looked over. "Shitsurei shimashita," he apologized, standing and bowing.

Tohru shook her head. "Iie! I shouldn't have gotten in your way. Gomen nasai." She bowed.

"Demo…."

"Ok, who's hungry?" she smiled, tying her hair back.

"Tohru-kun, do you think that's a good idea? You're still in pretty bad shape," Shigure mused, walking in.

"Eh? No, really, I feel much better!"

"I think Haa-san should be the judge of that." He led her to the table and gently sat her down on a cushion. "Just wait here 'til he comes home."

Momiji sat beside her. "We can play cards while you wait!"

Tohru nodded. "That sounds like fun. How about you, Hatsuharu-san?"

"If it's all right," Haru murmured, seating himself.

Hokage tore through the paper door, holding his right arm. He stumbled from the walkway into the dirt, blood spilling from his forehead. Fumbling to his feet, he ran as fast as his sprained ankle would allow. "Baka!"

"Kiniiri!" Akito called from the broken door. "You will never be free! Kiniiri!"

But the boy shut the voice out. He tripped his way to Hatori's office, crawling his way into the safety of an empty box. Shivering, angry tears ran down his flushed cheeks. "Baka! I should never have gone! Ani…you were right. Haa-san, save me. Someone please help me!"

"Ah, Hatori-san!" a woman screamed. "There's blood everywhere!"

Calm footsteps came into the room and stopped. "I'll take care of it, thank you."

"Demo—"

"Iku."

"Ha-hai," she stuttered, running out.

"Hokage, you can come out now." He knelt beside the box and reached in, grabbing the boy's right arm. Hokage yelped and Hatori let go. "Daijoubu?"

The boy rolled out of the box, laying his head in the Dragon's lap. "Itai!"

Hatori pried Hokage's fingers from his arm and removed his shirt. He grabbed a pair of tweezers and pulled out a piece of glass. Blood gushed from the lack of pressure, spitting in Hatori's face. He wound a cloth tightly about the wound, ignoring Hokage's cries of pain. Brushing away the boy's hair, he cleaned and bandaged the cut on his forehead.

"Where else does it hurt?" he questioned, staring down at the shivering child.

"Ashi kubi…itai!"

Hatori moved to the boy's feet, noticing the swollen left ankle. He left, returning with a towel filled with ice. As he pressed it to the injury, Hokage cried out and tried to crawl away. But he held the boy in place, keeping the ice on the ankle.

"I know it hurts," he whispered, closing his eyes. "I know."

"Nii-chan."

"Nii-chan! Nii-chan! Matte!" Hokage called, hurrying behind Shigure, Ayame, and Hatori.

All three stopped and turned.

"Akito ga kowai!"

Shigure smiled and picked up his brother. "Sou ka."

"Sou." He held up his right arm, revealing a small cut.

Hatori pulled out a band-aid and stuck it on.

Hokage smiled. "Arigatou!"

"Kawaii ne!" Ayame purred, ruffling the child's

"Ah, he's coming to! Hurry, get Hatori-san!" a girl said. Soft fingers touched Hokage's arm. "Hokage-kun."

His red eyes fluttered open, regaining focus in the dim light.

"Daijoubu desu ka."

He looked over at Tohru. "Daijoubu. Doko?"

"Shigure-san no uchi ni imasu. Hatori-san brought you over."

Hokage sat up suddenly and stared at her. "Did you see anything?"

"Eh?"

"Did I transform?"

"Iie."

He sighed in relief and lay back down. "O-genki ka?"

"Ah, genki desu." Her eyes drifted to a chain around his neck. "Sono wa nan desu ka."

Sitting up once more, he held the pendent tightly in his fist. "It's nothing."

Noticing his hardened eyes, she bowed. "Gomen nasai."

"Ah, no, it…it's not your fault," he stuttered, looking back at her.

"So, what happened to you?"

Hokage looked to the door and found Yuki standing there.

"Well?" he said, coming in and sitting.

"I…it was…eeto…" the boy fumbled, trying to remember. Blood and glass flashed through his mind; he went rigid.

"Hokage-kun?" Tohru said, touching his shoulder.

He slapped her hand away and glared at her.

"Hokage, that's enough," Hatori said sternly, striding into the room.

The boy turned his cold eyes to the doctor.

"Don't give me that look." He sat down beside Hokage, touching his right cheek. The boy beat the hand away. Hatori touched him again. He punched the man across the face.

"Hatori-san!" Tohru gasped, starting.

"It's all right," the doctor smirked, sitting back up. "He's just blowing off some steam." He touched the boy's cheek again, only to have his arm bitten. Hokage held tightly, still gripping the pendent in his left hand. Hatori flinched, but he let the boy stay latched on.

"Doesn't it hurt?" Tohru questioned, eyes welling with tears.

"Yes, but I'm used to it. He used to do this whenever he was afraid." He pet Hokage's head softly, feeling his grip loosen. "That's right, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Hokage gripped Hatori around the waist tightly. "Shitsurei shimashita!"

"Iie."

"Haa-san, daijoubu?"

"Daijoubu. Shigure."

The Dog nodded, looking at the quivering form of Hokage. "Kage-kun," he whispered, eyes softening.

Sorry about all the Japanese.