DISCLAIMER: I do not won the fruits basket characters. Though I did hear a nasty rumour that they are in fact not real, but fictional...but that can't be true, right! (o-)

Hehe…anyways!

Chapter Four

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"Mayu-chan!"

Mayu's eyes snapped open. It took her a moment to realise she had fallen asleep in hospital waiting room. She stood up and began to straighten out her clothes, nodding to Keiske who was walking towards her now with a look of relief.

"I'm glad you're here," he said – fatigue evident in his voice, "Kana will be pleased to see you.

Keiske had always been an attractive man, but this morning his usually handsome features were marred by worry and lack of sleep. Even his expensive looking suit couldn't hide his obvious exhaustion.

"They said she'd pulled through ok?" Mayu muttered, feeling suddenly useless.

"Yes, she's ok. Very shaken up though." He glanced down at his watch. "It's visiting hours now, let's go see her together."

Mayu noted for the first time, the brief case at his side. He was a lawyer, she remembered. "Are you due in court?"

"Huh? Oh, I was. I pushed it back to this afternoon. Frankly I'd like to cancel. I don't want to leave her, but the Firm is being impossible. They can't seem to understand it's more important for me to be with my wife than be at work right now."

"Damn."

"I'm sorry?"

"Work. I forgot, school – the kids." Mayu glanced at her watch. "Give me two minutes, I just have to ring up and let them know I won't be in today." Absently, Mayu pulled her cell-phone out from her bag, while waving Keiske forward. "You go in ahead, I'll be right behind you."

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"Kana?"

Kana looked over to see her husband – looking rather like he himself had taken 1000 watts through his system – slipping into the chair beside her hospital bed. Had she not been so emotionally exhausted, she might have smiled.

"Kana, how are you feeling?" He asked gently, taking her hand.

"I feel…" devastated "I feel ok, Keiske." She smiled lightly. "You look awful."

Kesike ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Yeah well, it's not every day your wife decides to frighten the life out of you." He tried to laugh, but didn't succeed. "Kana…"

"Yes?"

Keiske sighed. He wanted to say that the last twelve hours had been the most terrifying of his life. That for one very harrowing night he had understood for the first time just how much it'd tear his soul apart to ever have to lose her. And that all he wanted to do for the rest of his life was hold her close…keep her safe…but instead he said: "I'm glad you're ok."

They sat in uncharacteristic silence for a moment, before Mayu knocked sheepishly at the open door.

"Can I come in?"

Kana nodded, smiling for Mayu's sake. "Of course, Mayu. It's good to see you."

Mayu stood by the bed, feeling a little awkward, though she couldn't pin point why.

Keiske, excused himself, explaining that he needed to quickly make a call to the office. Mayu slipped quietly into the chair he had now vacated. She smiled, absently.

"It's been a while since we've talked, just the two of us." Mayu began. "I wish it were under better circumstances."

Kana didn't appear to listen. Mayu cleared her throat tentatively.

"It doesn't…you aren't hurting are you, Kana?"

"It hurts, Hatori…"

"Kana?"

"Huh?" Kana blinked once, twice. She realised Mayu was talking to her, more concerned now, for her not answering. "Yes." She muttered. "Sorry, what were you saying, Mayu?"

"It…it doesn't matter." Mayu glanced at her watch. The children would be gathering together for their first class right about now…

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"Baka-neko!"

"Dumb cat!"

"Damn rat!"

"Ano – Kyo-kun! Yuki-kun!" gasped a very nervous looking Tohru, as the two volatile teens began to (yet again) test their strength on each other as they walked home from School. "Please, don't fight – I'm sure Hatsuharu-kun was just kidding before, when he had said you two act like an old married couple!"

The two boys stared on at a now sweetly smiling –and ever-blushing – Tohru-kun, before promptly pulling away from each other.

"Gomenesai, Honda-san." Apologised Yuki.

"The damn rat started it!" snapped Kyo, before sighing at Tohru's dismayed expression. "Fine, fine, we're both sorry," he muttered, "We won't fight anymore…for now."

This seemed to placate the sparkling eyed girl. "I'm glad." She gushed. "Ah no, Shigure-san will be so surprised to see us home this early form school, ne?"

Upon gathering in their classroom, the students had been informed that Sensei-Mayu had been unavoidably detained, and would therefore not be into school. The news that they were free to leave for the day was met by a chorus of delighted high-schoolers.

Walking leisurely through the woods, just past the Sohma compound en route to Shigure's house, the three teens couldn't help but feel relieved at this unexpected little holiday. With finals around the corner, everyone had been working so hard lately, and it was nice to have some breathing room.

"Ah, no!"

"What is it, Honda-san?" Yuki remarked, at the sudden word of concern from the young girl next to him.

"Hatori-san was supposed to meet you at school today, for your regular check up! Don't you remember, he was going to drop by during lunch so as not to impede our study time after school?"

Yuuki glanced at his watch. "I'd forgotten. Still, it doesn't matter Honda-san." Yuuki smiled, "We're right next to the Sohma compound anyway, we'll just stop by Hatori's house now – ok?"

Tohru nodded enthusiastically. "Hai! Yes!"

Kyo rolled his eyes. "You two carry on…I'm gonna head home."

"You won't come with us, Kyo-kun?" Tohru asked innocently.

"No! I have work to do." Kyo barked…then turned a funny shade of red.

Yuuki sighed. "You're afraid you'll run into Kagara, aren't you?"

"WELL YOU'D BE AFRAID TOO, IF SHE BROKE ONE OF YOUR RIBS EVERYTIME SHE SAW YOU!"

Yuki chuckled. "Afraid of a girl. You really are a fool, stupid cat."

"DAMN RAT!"

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Akito winced slightly as Hatori performed a regular blood test on the frail head of the Sohmas. "Damn fool, why can't you be more gentle!"

Hatori didn't miss a beat. He was well used to Akito's complaining by now. He could dismiss Akito's frosty demeanour even as he feared it. It was a skill all cursed members of the zodiac were wise to develop.

"That's it, for now Akito-san." Hatori stood up. "Rest for now, I'll be back this evening."

"Damn idiot." Akito muttered. Hatori didn't respond, as Akito knew he wouldn't. Instead he gathered his medical supplies and drifted away towards his own home.

Hatori was not twenty feet away from his door when he spotted Yuki and Tohru walking towards him.

"Yuki, are you ill? Why aren't you in school?"

"I'm fine." Yuki assured his older cousin.

"Then why…"

"Mayu-sensei was absent, so they sent us home early."

Hatori nodded absently in response. "I…I see…"

Tohru and Yuki stole a quick glance at each other. Why was Hatori acting so vague?

"Did they say why she wouldn't be in?"

"Huh? Oh, no. Just that she'd probably be back on Monday." Yuki shrugged his shoulders. "Probably has a stomach bug or something."

"I see…" Hatori began to fidget now.

Once again Tohru and Yuki glanced at each other in curiosity.

"Ah no, Hatori-san…"

"Excuse me, I have to run an errand." Hatori apologised, before dashing past the two bewildered teens.

"Um, but…"

But it was too late. Hatori had already nipped into his car and pulled away. Tohru merely stood there, quietly dazed, while Yuki shrugged his shoulders one more time, in mild –albeit baffled- relief.

"Guess my check-up just got rescheduled."

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Mayu drove home from the hospital feeling rather confused, and more than a little exhausted. She had sat a while with Kana, talking about nothing in particular, while Keiske had been on the phone – successfully managing to reshedhule his court case for a later date. He had been so relieved, Mayu remembered, so glad to be able to spend the extra time with Kana.

But Kana had barely acknowledged it, thought Mayu. She'd smiled a little, but had said nothing. And Mayu was quite certain that Kana had barely heard a word that either Mayu or Keiske had spoken to her in all the while she'd been there. Finally, because for some reason she'd started to feel that her presence was actually more of a burden to Kana than a comfort, Mayu had excused herself –promising to return that night before visiting hours were over.

There'd been no point in going to school at that point, as Mayu was certain that, in her absence, the kids would have long been dismissed by now. It was best to just go home, catch up on some sleep, grab a shower, and then return to the hospital that night after Kana had had some time to rest.

That was all Kana needed, Mayu tried to reassure herself; some rest. She was bound to be exhausted after her ordeal. Surely by the evening she'd be bouncing back to her old, smiling self again – and no doubt scold Mayu for her needless concern to begin with. Yes, thought Mayu, there was no need to worry. How could Kana not have been dazed, she'd endured an electric shock – it was only natural she act so…out of it. But she'd be fine, there was no need to worry.

But something about her visit with Kana still played on Mayu's mind. It was the way Kana had acted – what she'd said just as Mayu was taking her leave…

"Mayu!"

Kana grabbed Mayu's hand just as she was gathering her things, ready to leave. Mayu looked up for Keiske,a little concerned, but he was still outside on his cell phone.

"Yes Kana?"

"Mayu…please don't tell Hatori…kun, about…about my accident."

Mayu tilted her head in curiosity. "Why?"

Kana smiled blankly, fidgeting with her hands as she spoke. "It's just…well, it was such a silly thing for me to do and…and I wouldn't want my former mentor to think me a fool. You understand, right?"

Mayu stared at Kana a few moments, not understanding why it was that she felt so uneasy. Finally she nodded. "Of course Kana, I understand. Your secret's safe with me."

Kana had all but cried with relief. "Thank you Mayu. I can always count on you."

Now, as she turned into her driveway, Mayu instructed herself to let it go for now. While Kana had no idea about her past with Hatori, it was –Mayu considered – natural for Kana not to want to leave a negative impression of herself on her former teacher. It was after all Hatori who had taught Kana much of her Medicine studies. And It wasn't as though Kana hadn't didn't remember having had a crush on Hatori, reasoned Mayu. And most women, if they were truly honest, wouldn't want a former teacher and one time crush to know just how careless said woman had been, least of all a teacher as good looking as…

"Hatori?" Mayu muttered to herself, as she saw the good doctor sat waiting for her on her own front porch. In a flash, Mayu jumped out of her car. "What are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

Hatori began to fumble a little. "I…Yuki said you weren't at school today. I was worried…"

Mayu could have danced. "You…were worried…about…me?" she all but whispered.

"Yes," he confessed, "I…I was afraid it might be…food poisoning."

"Food poisoning?"

"Yes," he muttered, "You know…from…all the spices?"

Mayu stared blankly at the handsome physician in front of her…before throwing her head back in laughter.

"Oh Hatori!" she laughed, wiping away tears, "But don't you remember? It wasn't spicy, it was…"

"Oh yes!"

Mayu glanced up as he interrupted her, and saw a mischievous smile playing upon his lips.

"I forgot," he continued, "Not spicy; interesting."

Mayu could only nod. "Yes," she grinned, "exactly!"

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To be continued…

AN: Please R&R, mkay?