Winter Illusion

Chapter Six

Tohru was getting along with the curse holder after only a few days of visits. He was…so open with her about his feelings. His pain and suffering that he endured throughout the years was spread out like a map for only her to see.

And she accepted him for who he was.

He had never, in his life, had someone who really listened to what he really had to say.

They were getting closer, and Hatori noticed as Tohru was going over her notes of Akito's personal thoughts and memories that he shared with her earlier that week. She casually sipped at her tea as her brows furrowed in concentration. Hatori had to stop staring, but it was the hardest thing for him to do with the hurt and rejection he was feeling from this new little development.

She shared personal things too, and none of them were pleasant.

Until then, he had always thought that Tohru was emotionally stable and had no trouble with school work or anything in particular. And then he heard her talking to Akito about the dates she had been through, how the men would try to hold her, to touch her inappropriately and couldn't keep their hands to themselves. She expressed how afraid she was about even chancing another date with anyone because of how they acted toward her in the past. Let's just say that she didn't have the best luck in the world in choosing guys.

And then she told him about one of her professors that had been making moves at her, threatening her with a bad grade if she didn't get him coffee in the middle of class or dropping a pencil and making her pick it up a certain way. Akito's reaction was astounding.

Akito grabbed Tohru's hand and cupped it with his own. "If he does anything to you again, call me." He didn't sound sarcastic or menacing at all, and Hatori was genuinely surpised at the affection he showed to her. Tohru had let out a nervous giggle he hadn't heard in years and nodded.

Why was Hatori questioning his feelings for her?

Hatori sighed, drawing Tohru's attention. She looked up at him, curious about what he could possibly be sighing about.

Because he didn't want to feel that way after what happened with…

"Hari-sama?" She asked, tilting her head to the side just as a confused puppy would. He smiled a little, and then he had an idea.

"Tohru-chan, how would you like to take a break for a while?"

She tilted her head again. "What do you have in mind, Ha-san?" She asked, intrigued. Hatori didn't think about the wording of his next question, but just decided to let it go anyway. He helped her up from the couch after collecting the papers that were scattered every which way and taking the binder from her lap and placing it on the coffee table nearby. He didn't say anything as he lead her to the car, coats forgotten, and helped her in. She was laughing, and he would rather see her laugh rather than her brows furrowed in concentration.

"Hari! What's going on? Where are we going?" She was asking, still suffering from the laughing fit she had been into the past five minutes they were driving. Hatori had been smiling like a mad fool at the sound of her laugh, and he couldn't help himself.

"I'm not saying anything." Hatori said, still smiling. She started laughing again.

"Yeah…well…" Giggle. "Me either!!"

Silence only lasted for two entire minutes, and then she erupted in laughter, Hatori silently smiling to the point of laughing. At least he was sensible enough to bring his wallet.

"You really want to know?" He asked, smirking. She stopped laughing and stared at him in awe.

"…do I?"

"Well, I guess you'll see when you get there…"

"Hey! Tell me!" She demanded, trying to be serious.

"You'll see."

They finally stopped at a small shopping village and got out. Hatori took Tohru's hand and looped it through the crease of his arm and ran before she got a chance to catch a glimpse of the store name.

Tohru's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You're taking me clothes shopping, Hatori?" She said, smirking. He didn't say anything until they got to the middle of the store.

"Ten minutes to find whatever you want. Starting…"

"Wh-what?!"

"NOW." He shuffled off towards the men's section, leaving Tohru standing alone in the middle of the store. He turned around and made a "shooing" motion with his hands. She shook her head, but then thought better of it.

Hatori was being spontaneous. And she liked it.

She shuffled off to her section of the store, looking for her size of clothing. She was no longer a small, but she still wore size small of her old clothing because she didn't have enough time or money to go shopping for more clothes.

And then it clicked.

Wearing her old clothing meant that it attracted the wrong sort of guys.

Which meant he heard her when she was telling Akito stuff.

Tohru couldn't feel rage, no matter how much she wanted to at this point. She would show him! She looked through the racks at winter clothing and something caught her eye on the sales rack. It was as if gravity pulled her to it—and she snatched it for herself.

It was a white summer dress that was made of pure cotton that would probably touch her ankles. But, the flow was very beautiful, and it was so…Tohru.

Maybe she could sneak this one in. All for revenge's sake, of course.

She picked out sweaters and pants that would fit, and even found a couple of business suits on sale. But it was the dress that made everything worth while.

The dress didn't escape Hatori's eye, even though Tohru was off looking at the cooking catalogues next to him. Hatori smiled and paid for everything, asking where the changing rooms were and managed to convince Tohru to change into something nice for what they were doing next. Tohru looked through her bags and smiled when she brought out the dress that inspired her to go with Hatori through this little escapade in the first place. So pure…so beautiful. Did she deserve this dress?

Tohru snapped out of that train of thought and decided to at least try it on.

She sucked in her breath when she turned to take a look at herself.

It was as if it was made just for her. It fit her so beautifully that she didn't have any desire to take it off anytime soon.

Hatori knocked. "Tohru?" He asked. Tohru bit her lips together as if she were in trouble. Maybe…

The coat would go wonderfully with it. Wouldn't it? She tried it on and had to keep herself from laughing. Okay, maybe not. She gasped when a hand holding a sensible coat suddenly jutted through the curtains separating the two.

"You'll need this, I believe." Hatori said from the other side of the curtain. This coat was more like a trench coat, but it matched rather nicely with what she had on.

"Not so oblivious, I imagine." Tohru said, laughing again. She was putting her hair back in a simple, low pony-tail, but thought better of it and left her hair down. She could almost feel the smile he was sending her.

"I'm more keen than one would like to think."

"Thank you, Ha-san." She said. "I can't bring myself to be mad at you, you know. For listening to me."

"I was hoping you'd forgive me." Hatori said, his back turned to Tohru as she stepped out of the dressing room in the dress that was made for her. She fidgeted.

"How do I look?" She asked. He turned around and was immediately stunned. Yet again, Hatori Sohma was at a loss for words.

"I…uhm…" He blinked rapidly and smiled for her, taking her hand, bowing, and kissing it as a gentleman would. Tohru couldn't help but smile and laugh at this gesture.

"You look amazing, Hari." She said, blushing slightly at how readily she took him in. He was wearing a nice sweater, a green scarf, and some jeans. "Maybe I'm over dressed." She said. He shook his head.

"You look stunning." He said. "The wool trench really does work with that dress of yours."

They walked back to the car, Hatori helping Tohru with her bags and opening the trunk for their apparel. Hatori opened her door for her and shut it when she was safely inside.

"I know of a fantastic bakery where we can sit and eat. Their cocoa is very good, and their croissants are—"

"Why?"

Hatori looked at her after he shut his door, buckled up and put the key in the ignition. The warm air from the heaters blasted upon them, providing them with instant relief from the chill outside. "Why?" He asked back.

"You heard about my problem, and you helped. You went out of your way to be spontaneous, even if it was only for today. Why did you help me, Hatori?"

Again, he was at a loss for words. Why did he do this?

Because he didn't want to see her sad, angry, depressed. He found himself wanting to solve all of the problems in the world that included Tohru somehow within the equation. He wanted her to be safe more than anything—he wanted…wanted…

He caught himself when he tried to reach for her, and put the hand reaching for her onto the steering wheel. "I want you to be happy, Tohru." He said with a sigh. "As does Akito."

Silence hung in the air, and all joy they had worked up until then ceased to exist. "Are you sure it's only about what Akito wants…?" Tohru asked in a whisper. Hatori knew that this was a turning point in their friendship, companionship, and maybe even relationship. If he said what he wanted to say, what would she do?

That was it. Out with the truth.

He put the car back into park and reached over to grasp her hand. "Akito isn't the only one who needs you." He said, picking up her hand and putting it to his cheek. "I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do, Tohru. I am just giving you another option, if you will have it."

Tohru made a quick decision, and knew she wouldn't regret it. She cupped his cheek and brought her lips to his, closing the gap that had been waiting to be filled for years on end.

Kana…thank you...for moving on. Now it's about time I did, too.

A/N: Now it's time to get this story rolling. I already have the sequel planned, and I think you guys will enjoy it. Don't worry--I'm not even close to getting this firstie where it needs to be in order to link the sequel to it yet. But it'll be a good idea to keep that dress in mind--it will probably come in handy for the second one. ^_-

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the next chapter. They will roll pretty quickly so I can get around to posting the sequel.

Love lots,

KateV.