Yay! I get to reply to reviews. Thank you!!
tohrukun92126: You've got lots of numbers in your name, too huh? lol. Thank you for reviewing both my chapters. That was really sweet, cause it was one update and the norm is kind of one per update . . . . but you gave me two! Thank you!
cm1000: Awww, I made you cry? Oooh! I'm glad you thought the characterization was ok, cause that is one of my big worries when I write – that I don't move too far away from the original characters. And I'm happy you thought the Shigure and Tohru interaction was good, cause I was considering getting rid of it, actually . . . . that was close!
Chapter 3. Monitio Claudii
Nerva. That's who she was. That's who Tohru was. The comparison entered Shigure's mind as he walked down the lonely pavement towards the elaborate prison that was the main house. Nerva, who succeeded the tyrant Domitian once his reign of terror ended. Nerva, the first of the Five Good Emperors, who was in entirety a harmless old man. Nerva, who set up low-interest loans for poor farmers, the proceeds of which were given to widows and orphans. Nerva, who treated all with utmost respect, despite being the highest member of his whole society. Nerva, who released thousands imprisoned for treason by Domitian, banned future prosecutions for treason, granted amnesty to many whom Domitian had exiled, and restored much confiscated property.
And Nerva, who was utterly defenceless against threats to his life. Nerva, who was too benevolent to persecute and put down those who conspired against his rule. Nerva, who had it not been for his adoptive son Trajan who protected him, would have been assassinated faster than he could say "Parce!" Defenceless.
So, based on that logic, Tohru would end Akito's reign of terror and restore peace and love and joy to the Sohma family. Uh-uh. Remember that was only due to Trajan's presence. One thing someone quickly learned about history was that it was governed by people's choices, actions, and often by pure luck or chance. Everytime an action was taken, there were a thousand other possibilities, other "branches" of events, that could have taken place and changed everything about the world forever. This was one of the many, many branches where Nerva wasn't as lucky. It's odd that people are stupid enough to want to target the people who are the greatest gifts to mankind.
His mind went different direction then. Tohru herself. There were a few things about the encounter which perplexed him. Such as the look on her face that having him hold her produced. Her face was drawn and she looked as if she was close to crying with fear. Fear didn't even come close. Terror, more like. Of course, any girl in her position would be frightened by a strange man grabbing them in a deserted side-street (and the more Shigure thought about the scenario, the more he realised how incriminating his behaviour must have seemed), but in Tohru's case this had been so extreme. Wading through the dirty feelings brought on by making her afraid of him – again – the writer wondered if perhaps she, in any small way, remembered. According to Hatori, his power couldn't destroy memories, per se. The term "erase" was misleading. Rather it covered them up and hid them. Theoretically, Tohru's memories – all the memories she had acquired throughout her life – were still inside her mind, but most had had covers drawn over them by time, as it is with all people, who forget most of the details of even the previous day. But all memories can be brought back to the surface by a trigger.
Which was why it was imperative to stay away from the person whose memories were suppressed. Perhaps Tohru, on being around Shigure, had instinctively become afraid, even if she couldn't remember why.
Other points of her behaviour perplexed him. When she apologised, she hadn't done so in her trademark fit of panic. Her apology had been low, filled with shame and submission. And when he had asked her why she was out so early . . . . . . . as crazy as it sounded, Shigure was sure she was trying to hide something. She wouldn't look at him, and she had scarpered as quickly as possible thereafter.
Should he talk to Hatori? No, Shigure didn't cherish the thought of telling Hatori he had risked Tohru's memories returning – he knew the executioner had no wish to erase them a second time, and he himself wondered if the stoic man could take that. He would speak to Mayu again. Ask her to check up on Tohru, and tell her he thought something was wrong. That was all he could do, really. He was meddling in the life of a complete stranger.
The Sohma House loomed in front of Shigure, but it was still only half past ten. Nothing to do outside, though.Still, it was ominous that he kept on being drawn back to this place. Stone walls do not a prison make, after all, but there are bonds and ties deeper than those of human design.
Hatori Sohma rummaged through his files, spilling a mass of paper onto his usually impeccably tidy desk. He pulled open drawers and flicked each coloured tab back, choosing to examine the contents of some, but leaving most. He closed each drawer in succession. Damn. Where is it? Giving up temporarily, he got to his feet and paced up and down the room that served as his office several times. He was fidgeting. The self-confessed hypocrite of a doctor pulled a cigarette and lighter out of his pocket, and was about to light it when a movement outside the window caught his eye. He berated himself for the small part of him that hoped it was Tohru, but he was too hard on himself.
Kagura did resemble her somewhat.
The young brunette was darting across the Sohma compound. Hatori watched her, orange cat-shaped bag dancing behind her. He grimaced. He had already told the girl not to put herself in danger, but she had a hidden stubbornness and she would not budge. Still, he and her mother were worried, despite Akito never having paid her much attention before.
Secretly Hatori was grateful for her disobedience. Her visits were the only light in Kyo's world now.
Shigure watched in secret from behind a screen of ivy hanging from the outer wall as Kagura nimbly made her way to a section of the wall which was hidden behind a house. She was doing her best to take every bit of cover she could, and avoid discovery. It was wise of her to do so. Shigure guessed immediately that she had gone to visit Kyo, who was no languishing in the prison of the Cat, and if Akito ever found out – well, the results would be self-evident.
There was a gap between all of the houses which bordered the wall and the wall itself, and though Shigure was a good few houses down from Kagura's position, he could see all the way down this gap as she gripped the ivy blanketing stone and began to scale the impediment. Simply walking out the front door would be out of the question for her.
Through the limbs of the almost bare tree adjacent the wall, Isuzu Sohma reached out her hand to pull Kagura over. Shigure was mildly impressed by Titus' ability to hide herself so well within the sparse foliage, and more impressed by what she was doing – he knew that Rin was there to cover for Kagura if she was discovered, and that she intended to keep her out of trouble no matter what, even if that meant suffering Akito's punishment again. From this perch she would be able to see if anyone was headed towards the Cat's prison (though it was unlikely that anyone would), and jump down quickly to distract them.
The two disappeared, but not before Rin shot several sections of the compound – including the one Shigure was in – suspicious glares. Humans often tell when they are being watched, but this is more true for animals.
The women had left, and Shigure was left to wander freely. He followed the gap around to the back of the Main House, where the gardens were situated.
The pools were almost frozen over, save for some holes that had been opened to allow the fish oxygen. The ice itself had thinned and was melting in the weak sunlight, only to freeze again that night. Akito was keeping his birds inside most of the time. Some would marvel at the care the volatile young man gave to those creatures, in contrast to everyone else, but Shigure knew that without warning, his gentle grasp on one of the birds could tighten any moment, slowly throttling the life from the screaming animal, slow enough that it could feel the fear and pain before it fell limp.
Yet the birds always returned to him.
He didn't know how long he stayed there, staring at the lifeless garden, before the soft whisper of feet falling onto grass roused his attention.
Domitian? . . . . he thought, before turning his head.
Num tu ades, Claudie? Nonne Agrippina te interfecit?
After seeing that Kagura and Rin had both safely left the Main House, Hatori had returned to his futile search, unlit cigarette still in his mouth, and for the past half an hour he had methodically cleared away most of the papers on his desk, checking through each one before sorting them and laying them in neat piles. Kagura's bravery put him in awe of her. She was risking so much to afford Kyo the kindness she could, and heaven knew he'd need it even more soon.
Akito had been ignoring Kyo until now, preoccupied with Yuki, who was undergoing such torture in "his room" right as Hatori didn't want to think about. Akito, he was sure, was determined to break his toy in again. He didn't doubt that Ayame or Kagura would visit Yuki if they could, and they were both hysterically worried about him, but Akito was determined to keep a tight hold on his Cat and Rat.
His search was interrupted by the doorbell.Removing the unlit cigarette and pocketing it, he went to answer the door. "You," he said evenly.
"I need your help," said Shigure equally so.
Hatori turned back into his house and returned to the office. He heard the other close the door and take off his shoes. "Are you bored?" he asked, not turning to his cousin and shifting several files dispassionately. "Since I doubt you came here unless there's something you want from me." Having just spent the last few minutes contemplating Yuki and Kyo's grim fates, he undersandably wasn't going to treat one he considered responsible for their pains but the bare minimum of courtesy.
If Shigure felt the blow, as he did with most things he didn't show it, at least in his tone. He entered the office and Hatori could feel the intuitive man's eyes on him. "What are you looking for, Haa-san?"
"One of Akito's medical charts. It's missing from his "medical history" file."
"What date is on it, Haa-san?" The dragon was cornered.
Hatori stopped shuffling the papers and turned around, a stony face hard and cold with disdain to Shigure."7th September, 1995"
"And is it important?"
"Quite frankly Shigure, no, no it's not important." He sounded as if he was daring him to say more. Shigure equalled his stare with a dismissive one, leaning casually against the doorframe with his arms folded, saying a great deal without opening his mouth.
"What do you want? If you're here to waste my time as usual then get out before I hit you. I'm not in the humour." He turned back to his files, one clenched fists resting on one pile, one splayed hand still rummaging.
"I'm here because Tohru-kun is in danger." Hatori froze. The very air seemed to freeze with him at those words. Everything was deathly quiet, deathly motionless, deathly wan. Unwanted memories came flooding back, but, as was his trade, he suppressed them, and trained his eyes onto the shelf above his desk.
"What are you talking about?"
"Akito isn't finished with that girl, Hatori. He's going to use her to make sure last month's . . . . incident is never repeated, and that the Juunishi remain under his control. From what I can gauge, anyway. Some of that is educated guessing, but he's still a threat to her. I predict he means to keep her as a sort of hostage against them. With everything that entails . . . . " he added darkly.
The air lost none of its chill. "And how do you know this? Akito told you, I suppose?"
"This is where is gets tricky. You see, I can't tell you how I know this." When Hatori turned around again, he saw that Shigure's eyes had slid to the floor, a sad smile on his face.
"So I have to take your word for it." After everything, he was saying he had to blindly put his faith in him with a matter as delicate as this.
"For the little it's worth, you have my word that every word I have spoken is true."
He certainly sounded sincere. But the man had hewed and perfected all his masks over the years so that even Hatori, who could safely claim to be the person who knew him best; was the closest thing to a friend the selfish, manipulative Dog could have; even he wasn't sure. But if Honda-kun's safety is in question, I'd better hear what he has to say. "And what exactly do you suggest we do."
"Kidnap her."
"What?"
"Kidnap Tohru-kun."
Hatori's brow came down in frustration. He'd had enough. He wanted this creature out of his house and out of his sight. "This is your idea of breaking the ice, isn't it? Some of us care about what happens to her, something someone like you can only see as another string to pull me, and everyone else along! Kisama, get out!!"
"No."
Taken aback by the gravity which took the place of the smirk he had been expecting, Hatori stared at his . . . . . is friend the right word? "I'm very serious about this, Hatori. She was hurt so badly because of me. I can't let it happen again." Hatori's expression softened slightly, but he was still suspicious. "It's my responsibility."
The Dragon didn't know what to do in the face of this. "But . . . kidnapping? Abducting a child?" There had to be some other, less drastic way. Or a way that would fit even slightly better with Hatori's principles.
"It's the only way. I've thought about it, and this is the only way. She doesn't know who we are. Who would believe two complete strangers who told them their life was in danger? And then, how would we convince her to let us help her? Unless we bring back her memories, of course, which is out of the question. If you have a better idea, I'd like to hear it. I'm not going to enjoy this any more than you." He walked over to the small round table near Hatori's desk and sank into one of the chairs. He breathed out heavily and leaned forward on his hand, so that he was facing away from the doctor. "Hatori. I know you don't forgive me. I'm not asking you to, and I don't expect you to. And I know you don't trust me. You'd be a fool to trust me. But this isn't about me, it's about Tohru."
Hatori was in a difficult situation. On the one hand, he could dismiss everything Shigure said as untrue (which it very well may be) and run the risk of it being true and Tohru being harmed. On the other, he could trust Shigure and go along with his plan, and though Hatori knew that Tohru would be in no danger from himself, he couldn't speak for Shigure. Taking the second option would give him exactly what he wanted, and he had proved himself dangerous indeed. Basically, Hatori could risk Tohru's safety, or risk Tohru's safety. "I don't know, I don't know . . . . . ." he muttered, pacing up and down the room. "How can I know you're telling the truth?"
"Lying would be consistent with my character," he confessed.
"Or that you're not just trying to snare Honda-kun so you can use her in another plan?"
"Manipulation would also be consistent with my character." Why did the man have to say exactly what people did not want to hear? "But I have two points to make which I want you to consider." Shigure moved his chair so he could stare directly at Hatori. "One; I am speaking to you as your cousin and your friend and I say that everything I've said here is true."
"Which would probably be in any way helpful to your case if my opinion of you wasn't so fraught with mistrust that I would run to the window to check if you told me the sky was blue," Hatori said dryly.
"And two; I'm going to go ahead with this whether or not you help me, so the best thing you could do to ensure Tohru's safety would be to come along and supervise me." He was serious. "I am serious." As if he had read Hatori's mind. "You know the lengths to which I am willing to go to accomplish my goals."
"I could call the police."
"We both know you're not going to do that." Regardless of whether Shigure intentions really were noble this time, he could still manipulate everyone around him like pawns. Damn you, Shigure. He sighed, and though it went against all his principles, as usual he bent. He was going to help his lying, scheming friend kidnap a helpless teenage girl, and risk wrapping her up with the Sohmas' dark affairs all over again, all on the basis of said lying, scheming friend's word that it was for her own safety. Sitting on the shair opposite Shigure, he tried to escape the horribly dirty feeling hovering outside his consciousness, and asked,
"So, how are we going to do this?"
Shigure held his chin in his hand and closed his eyes, his faced concentrated. "Well, leaving aside the logistics, actually kidnapping Tohru won't be that hard. She's naïve and physically weak and – what?" Hatori was staring at him.
"You're disgusting."
"The lesser of two evils, Haa-san. Needs of the many versus needs of the few. Et cetera."
The two continued this talk for some time, observed by no-one but two women in two separate framed photographs on Hatori's shelf.
Notes:
Hatori's obsession with finding the file isn't as bad as it sounds, as Furuba is set in the years 1998-2000. But it's still pretty bad.
"Kisama" is one of the many Japanese words for "you", but this is a very forceful and insulting way to say it. It's often translated as "you (insert profanity here)".
I have one burning question; Was Hatori in-character? Was his exchange with Shigure characteristic of their relationship? And was the hint at the end too subtle? Oh look, three questions. Hmm, I could just re-write this paragraph . . . . . but I like writing the way I would talk. Makes it more personal, you know?