DISCLAIMER: I own none of the fruits basket characters. In spite of consulting two witch doctors, three genies and wishing on several monkey paws, I still don't own the damn fruits basket characters…  Gutted!

Chapter Two

"Will you pass me the knife?"

"Sorry?" Mayu blinked in confusion.

Hatori pointed towards the chopping knife next to her. They were both of them hard at work in his kitchen, trying to produce an edible offering for dinner. "The knife, I wanted to dice up some tofu for the soup."

"OH!" Mayu could have slapped herself. Why did she have to keep zoning out like that? She was acting like a child. It's just that, she could hardly believe he had invited her to stay for dinner just like that and - well, he'd looked so handsome stood at the kitchen counter, with his sleeves rolled up and his tie loosened. If she imagined hard enough, it was almost as though they were husband and …

GET A GRIP! she mentally ordered herself.

"Mayu, the knife?"

"Huh?"

Hatori chuckled, and leaned over her to reach it himself. When his arm brushed hers, her heart caught in her throat. Maybe staying for dinner wasn't such a good idea…

"Do you like spicy food?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh, um…I guess so, why?"

"Nothing, apparently I have a tendency – according to Shigure – to put a little too much spice into my food sometimes, so I thought I'd best check."

"You like spicy food?"

Hatori cocked an eyebrow. "So it would seem. Why?"

"Nothing," Mayu gushed, "It's just I never thought of you as someone who cared for extra spice." She blushed instantly, panicking. "I mean, not that I think of you in terms of spicy or not. But that's not to say you're boring or anything, on the contrary I actually think you're very interesting…"

"Interesting?"

"Yes. I mean, No!…NO, I mean, I don't think of you, who said that I think of you? I mean that wouldn't be…that is…well…oh hell… "

"Mayu?"

Mayu shook her head from side to side. "What?"

Hatori put the knife down, and walked over to her. "What do you think of me?"

Mayu suddenly realised she was holding her breath, and let it out as slowly as she could. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Hatori was standing so close to her now that she was able to smell the light layer of cologne that he was wearing. As the aroma filled her head, panic filled her heart as he took another step –bringing him even closer.

"I spend so much of my time working, trying to forget…I suppose it's been a long time since I looked at myself and wondered what other people thought of me. Wondered how I look to the rest of the world. Or even cared, for that matter." He sighed now, and turned away. "Most of the time I'm so caught up in my own little world of the Sohmas…I can barely remember what it's like to feel a part of the outside world. But then I don't suppose I ever was part of it…at least, not for long."

"You're talking about Kana, aren't you?"

Hatori turned around, while Mayu- forgetting her own nervousness– continued to speak. "I know how much she meant to you, Hatori-kun. And while I don't really know much about your family, but I know that your obligation to them has kept you from ever leading a normal existence. I guess, when you were with Kana, all of that just…faded into the back ground."

A light smile played across Hatori's lips. "Yes. I guess you could say that." Then his expression saddened. "Of course, it didn't last. But then I don't imagine I was meant to enjoy such things as the love of another. Not for long, anyway."

"Don't say that!" Mayu cried out, despite herself, while Hatori looked up in surprise. "You're a kind and decent man Hatori-kun. And you're brave, and so strong. What you did for Kana, taking the pain of what happened upon yourself- keeping it from her. You protected her, I don't even know how you did it, exactly, but you did – despite the cost to yourself. Even knowing that freeing her would only add that much more pain and sorrow to your own heart…you did it. I don't think I've ever known anyone to be so gallant. I suppose that's how I think of you…as gallant."

Mayu's hand flew up to her mouth, as she realised what she'd said. God, she hadn't meant to let it all out like that – what was she thinking, what must he be thinking?

"Mayu?"

She couldn't bear to look at him, so she kept her eyes shut. "Yes?"

"Thank you."

Now her eyes snapped open, and saw his staring back at her with warmth and gratitude. "You're…you're welcome." She stammered.

Hatori smiled, and gestured to the plates of ready food. "Shall we eat, I'm afraid it might be a bit spicy…"

"That's ok." Mayu stammered. "I like spicy."

Hatori chuckled. "That is fortunate."

As the two of them sat down to eat, Mayu's phone began to vibrate. She hastily switched it off. So far as she was concerned nothing in the world was more important than breaking bread with the man she adored. As she took the first bite, her heart was full of joy at being able to sit and eat with Hatori. And for a whole moment, all was more or less perfect in her little world.

Then the spices kicked in.

COUGH! she spluttered out several coughs and quickly reached for the water. Hatori blushed slightly. "Too spicy?"

"No-no!" she blurted out, lying. "No not spicy, just…"

"Interesting?"

Mayu looked up and saw the good doctor grin. Heavens, had he just made a joke? Yes! Yes, he had!

"Exactly!" laughed Mayu, "VERY interesting!"

The smell of Kana's little room at the hospital shouldn't have bothered her. After all, she spent enough time in that hospital that she should have been more or less immune to the smell of disinfectant by now. But for reasons she couldn't quite explain, everything about the room was bothering her. From the blue and sterile looking sheets sheets, to the patient voice of her doctor, to the concerned fussing of her husband.

Couldn't they just leave her alone?

You were very lucky, Mikage-kun." Dr Tsukino spoke softly as he finished his final exam on a very pale and shaken Kana. "I don't need to tell you how easily you could have been killed."

Kana could only nod, she wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep and find that the whole affair had been nothing more than a dream. Sometimes, when she'd dreamed about Hatori over the last few years, that was all she had thought them to be; dreams. Now she knew the truth.

They hadn't been dreams, they'd been memories.

Dr Tsukino finished his exam, and informed a reluctant Kana that he wanted her to stay a couple of nights for observation. Kana would much rather have gone home and buried herself under the covers, but at Keiske's insistence, she heeded the old doctor's request.

"Darling," Keiske whispered, "You should try and get some sleep, it's after ten." Keiske's throat was dry with worry and fatigue, but he fought hard to sound positive. He wouldn't give his darling wife cause for concern, no matter what – her well being was what mattered to him. Above all else.

Kana squeezed the hand that held hers, more out of habit than anything else. And God, she wanted something that felt real and familiar. But not as much as she wanted to forget…

"You should go home Keiske, get some rest. I'm sure you've hardy slept at all."

Reluctantly, Keiske nodded. He would have gladly stood by side all night long, but knew that unless he got some sleep he'd be unable to look after her properly. He stood up and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I contacted your parents, they were still on holiday in Germany but they're catching the first flight out. They should be here by tomorrow. Oh, and I couldn't get through to your friend Mayu so I left a message on her machine. Is there any one else you would like me to call?"

Kana shut her eyes for a moment, thought of Hatori.

Thought of blood.

"No," she muttered. "No, don't worry. I'll see you in the morning, darling. Get some rest."

"Ha ha – Hatori-kun, I don't believe you!" Mayu laughed heartily, as she sat opposite Hatori at the dinner table, unable to remember when she'd felt so giddy. "Shigure really used to dress like a girl?"

Hatori grinned, lighting up his face. "Right up until the age of seven."

Mayu giggled. "Is it wrong that I'm not surprised?"

"No, it's wrong for a fourteen year old boy to get regular manicures."

"Shigure?"

"No, that was Ayame." Hatori tapped his chin. "Come to think of it, I think he still does…"

"Now that, doesn't surprise me!"

"Nothing Ayame does surprises me. That man has more colours than a rainbow."

"He and Shigure were always quite the comedians, no – make that still are." She sipped on some more sake. "The three of you make a good combination."

Hatori tilted his head thoughtfully. "Why do you say that?"

"Well, Ayame is so full of life and charisma, you're so grounded and smart, and Shigure is so…well, perverted and manipulative."

"That about sums us up!" Hatori quipped, but Mayu shook her head.

"No it doesn't, not by a long shot. But what I'm trying to say is…you're good for each other, you bring out the opposing sides in each other, you know? Because he has you in his life, Ayame works to try and be a little more sensible. Because you have Shigure in your life, you tend to think outside the box and see things from a number of angles, and because Shigure has Ayame in his life, he can let loose and play the joker- when deep down he's actually really quite serious."

"Have you met Shigure?" Hatori joked, dryly.

"Met and dated him, to be technical!" Mayu chuckled, remembering. "But yes, actually I think underneath his crass attitude, Shigure is actually rather thoughtful. Bordering on scheming, but still – thoughtful all the same. More than he'd be happy to admit, anyway. He's actually quite a caring soul when he wants to be." Mayu frowned for a second. "But don't tell him I said so!" she warned.

Hatori laughed appreciatively. "Your secret's safe with me."

Mayu's heart was ready to burst. She didn't want the night to end. Yes–she'd nearly died of embarrassment when she'd spilled the bowel of salad because she'd been so caught up in looking at Hatori smile, but then who wouldn't be caught up in his lovely smile.

But that was just it, she realised. She couldn't remember when she'd last seen him smile so warmly or so often. Usually, he looked so…tired. And lonely. But tonight, he looked so happy. And it filled her with more joy than she could bear to think that she had some small part to do with it.

Honestly Mayu, she scolded herself mentally, Don't get so carried away. You have nothing to do with his being so good natured this evening.

"Mayu?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad you came over."

She could have sighed with delight. "So am I, Hatori."

When Mayu finally arrived home, just past midnight, she was on top of the world. She had spent the evening in the company of her favourite person and was so full of elation she was sure she might burst. As she had left Hatori's house, he had even invited her to go to lunch with him on Sunday. She had all but screamed the word 'yes', and caught herself just before she managed to ruin things by going to hug him. After all, she didn't want him to think her too keen. She had to try and play it just a little cool, she had told herself.

That was when her heart had practically jumped into her throat. Just when she'd been prepared to turn and leave, Hatori had leaned in kissed her.

Ok, so it was only a quick brush of the lips, and on the cheek! but still, a kiss is a kiss!

After hanging up her jacket, Mayu noticed her answer machine was flashing, and absently pressed the play button.

Message left at Two am: BEEP

Mayu, this is Keiske Mikage- Kana's husband. She's had an accident... we're

at the hospital where Kana works. It's not looking good. Please call or get here

as soon as you can.

The blood drained from Mayu's face. "Oh my God…"

To be continued…

AN: So, what d'ya think? Review, pretty please?