Privet! So, so sorry for the wait! I've actually had this story written for a while, but frankly, it sucked. :P So I went back and changed a lot of things and now I'm pretty pleased with it! Again, sorry for the two week stretch (shakes fist at the never-ending homework), but I think the next chapter will be up sometime soon.

One thing I've wanted to do for a while is comment/answer some of your oh so wonderful reviews! So starting now, I will do it before each chapter. Seriously, your reviews encourage me so much, so keep them coming! (smiles winningly)

Daya Knight: Yay! You had my first review! I'm glad you liked the first chapter and I hope you like this one as well!

N. James: Mysterious? Really? Thanks! Yes, this is DEFINITELY a Hatori/Tohru story, but to make this as realistic as possible, it will probably move at a slow, steady pace. For me, I get really annoyed when I read a story and it all happens overnight. I really like Hatori and Tohru together too! They make such a cute couple. Thank you so much for the review!

UnspokenDreams: What can I say. You've given me two awesome, encouraging reviews. Part of me feels that you're complimenting me too much because I really don't think I'm that good:P I've read a few of your stories, and they are truly amazing. You capture the characters so well, and it means a lot that a talented writer like yourself appreciates my own stories! Thank you so, so much for reviewing and giving this story a chance. I hope you will have more nice things to say about this chapter!

Takeru Takaishi's Gurl: Whew! I hope I got your pen name right! I'm so glad you liked the first chapter! And yes, you're right. It does take a while to write something well, so thank you for being understanding! I hope you enjoy the chapter!

-FromRussiaWithLove

God's Plan

Prologue: Part 2

Shigure's infectious laughter crackled over the phone.

"I'm insulted. You think I have a part in this?"

Hatori was trying very hard to keep calm, though his tense fingers wished very much to chuck the phone he was now holding in a death grip at the far wall. The door to his office was closed, the dull gray curtains drawn. He had ordered that his nurses bring in no patients until he was off the phone, which prompted many mystified faces, considering Hatori was never the type to set work aside, even for a minute. But at the moment, Hatori was very much prepared for interrogation.

"I don't recall accusing you," Hatori deadpanned.

"Ah, but that's why you called, isn't it? Haa-san never calls anymore except to scold me! How terrible!" Shigure sobbed.

Hatori closed his eyes and sighed, letting loose some steam. He leaned forward on his vast mahogany desk, raking a hand through his black hair.

"You can't ignore the fact that you have a certain…bond with Akito," Hatori chose his words carefully, slowly. "I can't help but wonder if perhaps you might have overheard anything Akito's said. The last time I was there-"

"When did you visit Akito?"

"Another cold." It was explanation enough.

"And you really think I would've helped with this?" Now, Shigure was very serious indeed. There was even a note of regret in his voice. "Do you think I want this?"

Hatori paused, unused to such gravity from the usually playful dog. "I don't know what to think," he finally said.

Hatori suddenly heard a couple of male voices in the background, just loud enough for him to recognize who they belonged to. He leaned off the desk and back into his chair slowly.

"You know they're going to hate this."

Shigure laughed shortly. "Well, I have no doubt about that. It'll just add more fuel to their animosity towards Akito."

"And Tohru?"

Hatori's words hung in the air between them, almost as if a tangible weight had just been placed on both of them. After a few seconds, Shigure finally answered.

"This has been her home for so long," he commented, his voice thoughtful and soft. In Hatori's mind, he pictured Shigure smiling sadly to himself, sitting at his own desk. And if he listened closely enough, he could hear the sigh of tender music playing, no doubt to help keep the writer inspired. "It's not going to be easy telling her."

The soft chatter of the nurses drifted slowly into Hatori's office, but he merely continued to listen to the loll of the music he heard from Shigure's study, letting it wash over him lightly like sweet spring rain. After a moment, he shook his head and instead focused on the stack of files lying heavily on his desk.

"When are you planning to tell her?"

"There's no use putting it off," the dog sighed reluctantly. "I suppose I should do it when she gets home from work tonight."

Hatori nodded to himself. "I agree." Remembering Akito's words to him, Hatori added by rote, "Akito wants everything settled by Sunday. The sooner the better."

Shigure paused. "I understand."

Hatori could easily recognize the sadness in his friend's tone, though he was trying hard to keep it matter-of-fact. In all honesty, Hatori couldn't blame him. Akito's orders were unrelenting and absolute; there was no room for defiance. For all of his life inside the Sohma house, Hatori did whatever Akito wanted him to do, learning from an early age that it would only bring more harm to challenge his say. So he kept his words to himself. But that day, when he had gone to examine Akito during one of his ever frequent colds, the next order he had been given left him momentarily stunned. As Hatori sat in silence, Akito had looked down on him with a face filled with striking hostility, eyes dancing in mirth.

"I know you won't disappoint me, Hatori."

Akito proved correct. Hatori had complied without question. Without realizing the amount of sorrow that would befall on a certain young girl if Akito's order was fulfilled.

Of course, he realized everything now. But it was too late. The decision was made. And as much as Hatori despised the chilling look Akito gave him on that day, as much as he detested what the head of the family was making him do, there was nothing else he could do. It was like he was trapped in a cage with no doors.

Tohru would be hurt. That much was inevitable. And for Shigure, who always tried to please Tohru and make her brighten her pretty face with one of her famous smiles, he couldn't even imagine the look he would see on her face in only a few short hours.

"Just remember that I'll be over on Saturday to-"

But before Hatori could finish his sentence, his office door crept open with a loud groan, one of his most stubborn nurses looking at him with barely hidden impatience.

"Excuse me, Sensei, but your patients have been waiting for over an hour. Perhaps you should see them and finish the phone call later," she suggested with a snippy attitude.

Hatori gave the arrogant woman a rather cold look. "Then what are you waiting for? Show them in," he snapped, immediately regretting it afterwards.

The nurse looked a little stunned, but quickly shook it off as she nodded stiffly, scowling as she quickly left the room.

"Bad time?" Shigure questioned with a touch of sympathy towards his over-worked friend.

"Unfortunately," Hatori sighed deeply, touching his temple with long, able fingers. "This whole week's been chaos here, patients constantly coming and going."

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Shigure said the words that had constantly been on his mind as cautiously as possible, not wanting to upset him. It was obvious to both men that he wasn't referring to work.

"I'll be fine," came Hatori's mechanical reply. He eyed the door expectantly, already searching through one of the stacks on his desk for the patient's file. "I'll be over on Saturday. Don't forget."

"It won't be hard," Shigure said honestly. "These two days are going to go awfully slowly at the house once I tell her."

"I know," was all Hatori could say. There was a swift knock at his door. "I have to go now. I'll see you soon," replied Hatori hurriedly as he watched the lethargic patient enter his office.

"Take care, Hatori," Shigure said earnestly. Hatori set the phone down soon afterwards.

For the next thirty minutes, Hatori examined the sickly patient, asked him the routine questions, prescribed the usual medicine, but for some reason, he found himself unable to concentrate on his work for the first time in a long time. For some reason, his mind kept drifting back to Shigure's soft music and its lilting voice, finally hearing the sweet sadness that was in it, feeling it wash over him once more. Hatori closed his eyes, listening to the sweet sadness.

"Hatori, I believe that stupid girl has forgotten her place. She tries to help those two boys as if she can heal them, save them. But she can't, can she? She can't do anything. She's become too arrogant for my liking, Hatori. Isn't it obvious?

"I've decided to remove her from that house. Permanently. Oh, but it'll be for the best Hatori, because you see, I'll take her and place her in your hands. That stupid girl may have charmed those idiots she lived with, but you…you're as cold as snow, Hatori. You're incapable of ever loving someone. You don't care about anyone other than yourself.

"That's precisely why she'll now be staying with you, Hatori. Away from that house, away from them, she'll come to hate living with you and your coldness. She'll stop thinking stupid thoughts about trying to break the curse and save everyone… and she'll turn just as cold as you.

"I know you won't disappoint me, Hatori."