-1AN: Thank you for your patience. I actually have about 4 chapters wrote, I usually write when its slow at work, unfortunately it takes me more time to type it out. And I'm pretty much busy 24/7. Thank you all for your support reviews and reading it.
Chapter 17: Hatori's Idea the title to this chapter sucks
Hatori sat down at his desk sighing he rubbed his temples as he thought of Tohru. It had been almost three weeks since she had left Shigures home. In some ways she seemed better, she had an amazing inner strength and she needed it now more than ever. The job situation was bothering her a lot. She couldn't even work by her old building, much less go back to work there. Arisa, had gotten her a job at the convenience store, the first few days of training went good. But on her first night alone, some older drunk guys came in flirting and joking around with her. She had suffered a series of panic attacks, causing her to leave the store unattended. She was fired the next day. But she did smile more now and it was no longer forced but her smile still didn't reach her eyes. Her eyes were different, they were cold and dark.
On his visit last week she has surprised him by having a small dinner fixed. xxFlashBackxx While they were eating she quietly handed him a news paper folder to the article, he had read it earlier. "Local man killed by wild dogs." Beneath was a picture of the man and a brief description of the "accident".
"That was him" She said in a low whisper. " I should feel bad, the article mentioned that he had a wife."
Hatori sat back watching her eyes as he lit a cigarette. "But I don't all I can think is good." She met his eyes with hers. "Good, he is dead, good." He shivered slightly he had seen eyes like this before. They seemed to burn with rage and hurt. Kana's eyes, Rin's eyes, and numerous other Sohma's eyes who had been broken. axed Flashback
The doctor was jerked out his thoughts when Kyo came storming angrily into his office. The orange hair teen slammed his fist down on Hatori's desk. "This is bullshit. Hatori, I need to know where she is. Something. I need to see her or at least talk to her."
"She isn't ready, Kyo, didn't she say that she would come to you?" He watched as his younger cousin tried to fight back tears of frustration and pain.
Kyo took a ragged breath. "Can't you tell me something? Is she at least ok?"
The dragon felt sorry for the boy. After all he was the only one that was no longer cursed, he could be with the one he loved, and hold her. And to have this happen, then her not even want to see you. Plus her words came back to him. "Hatori-san, sometimes I miss him so bad it hurts worse than anything else I've felt. I miss Kyo so bad, that it hurts to breathe. But then when I think that I could see him, I know that I can't be what he deserves. "Kyo, she misses you and she is doing better. Other than that there isn't much to say."
"She misses me?" his amber eyes brightened some. "When? Can I ?"
Hatori calmly held up his hand. "I'll talk to her, but we can't push her."
He could tell the boy was struggled for control again. He wanted to yell, to kick things over but he also knew the doctor would not allow him to see her if he thought for one second it would do any more damage. Kyo finally decided, after all Hatori had also lost his true love, so he might understand. In a hoarse voice he said. "Hatori, I need her, I love her I want to protect her." The teen turned and left face burning at his out pouring of emotion, he left before Hatori could say anything further.
Hatori watched the boy leave, his heart heavy with pity, for the couple. He wanted to help, but there wasn't much he could do. He looked at the clock, it was almost time to go to Tohru's , so he gathered a few things and went to his car.
He arrived at the boarding house it was starting to get dark. The air had cooled considerable during the day. But he saw Tohru in her usual place. There was a small bench in the side garden she as playing with three small kittens. He wanted to watch her a minute before he approached.
"She is such a sweet girl." A voice startled him. "But so sad." The voice belonged to Suki-san, the elderly lady who ran the boarding house. Hatori just nodded his head. "Can I ask you something, young man?" Before he could answer she continued. "You are the only person that she ever sees, are you really just her doctor? I mean I know that it isn't any of my business, but my late husband was 20 years older than me. So if you.."
Hatori cut her off. " I really am just her doctor."
"Its just hard to imagine her really being as alone as she says." Suki insisted. "At least when you come around, she takes the time to fix herself up a bit."
I figured that much. "Suki-san, she really is just my patient and a family friend." He relented and added "and she isn't as alone as she thinks she is."
This answered satisfied her and she hollered across the yard. "Thoru-kun, your handsome doctor is here?" Causing Hatori to blush slightly. "I'll put some tea on for you tow." The woman smiled as she watched Tohru's face light up. She approached the doctor caring a little orange ball of fuzz, the calico and the gray one followed behind her.
"How are you today Hatori-san?" She asked smiling as she put down the sleepy kitten.
"Pretty good today. How are you feeling?" Smiling down at the girl. Her hair was evened up by her two friends, into a cute pixie cut. "any luck getting a job."
She sighed. "no, I just get to scared around people, especially guys, except for you. Is that normal?"
The dragon nodded. "It will ease up in time. Can we go in I would like to talk to about something, well maybe a couple of things."
She looked up worried and scared. Was something wrong with Kyo? With Yuki?
"Don't worry, everything is okay at home?" He patted her head and led the way into the house.
"You can go on up Hatori-san I'll get your tea." Tohru said and walked into the kitchen. The teas was ready. Suki-san was sitting at the table. "Thank you, Suki-san." She said bowing slightly. "you didn't have to go through all that trouble."
"Its no trouble, just tiring to give you some extra time with your young man. You spend to much time alone dear."
My young man. Her face turned red. "No No No, Hatori-san, he isn't. He is my doctor."
"He said you were a friend." She smiled at the girls reaction.
"Oh yes he is my friend, but nothing more really he is just my doctor." Not looking at the older woman." She couldn't believe that anyone would think that Hatori. Well it is true, I suppose he is the only person that I spend any time with anymore.
On the way out of the kitchen she heard the old woman say. "He certainly makes a lot of house calls."
"Here you go." Tohru said as she sat the tray down. "Oh" She whispered softly when she noticed she had left a picture of her and Kyo out on the bed. She quickly picked it up and put it in the night stand drawer. It was one of her favorites. It was taken at he beach neither had known it was being taken at the time. Momiji was good at sneaking around and taking pictures. She had convinced Kyo to wade out in the water just a bit. When she got knocked by a breaking wave. In the picture, Kyo had just helped her up, he was holding one of her hands his other was brushing her hair back. His face had softened from his usual hard look he was giving her one of his real smiles. She was drenched head to toe, her hair had gotten loose and was sticking to her shoulders and back as she smiled up at him.
"That's one of the things that I want to talk to you about. Kyo." he watched as she winced. "He came to see me."
"Is Kyo doing good? Has he mo.." She couldn't finish the sentence.
"He is doing good. He spends a lot of time at the dojo, now. He still misses you, Tohru." She nodded wiping her eyes. "And no, he hasn't moved on. He hasn't found anyone. He wants to see you."
"Oh Hatori." She began to cry harder. "I miss him more than I can explain. I try to stay so busy helping, Suki-san around the house. But he is always on my min. I just don't know if I can see him."
"He did say that he loved you." Hatori said.
She just stared out the window. "Its not fair" she whispered. "What else did you want to talk about?" She asked turning to him again. Her eyes no longer sad, but angry. She was no longer crying.
Tohru, you have changed. It is like you are fighting yourself don't close yourself off to much. Don't allow yourself to become to cold.
"I need a new assistant." He said in his professional voice as she stared at him. "I can't pay a lot, but I can pay some and it isn't hard. Plus you should feel safe."
"I don't understand, Hatori." She said.
"You need a job and I need an assistant." He said simply, though the thought of having her so near Akito, worried him some. "Don't worry about the little brat, Hatori, I won't hurt your new assistant as long as you and all the other members of the zodiac behave themselves. Besides, I wasn't the one who caused your old assistant to get hurt, Was I?" The conversation with Akito earlier invaded his thoughts. He shook his head. And smiled slightly as Tohru stared at him, still not understanding that he was offering her a job.
"Are you sure? I don't know anything about medicine." And she began to panic in her old-funny way.
"Calm down Tohru. Its nothing fancy, mostly cleaning my office and doing filing. So will you take the job."
"If you are sure. Hatori-san I owe you so much already. It would be an honor to work for you."
"Non-sense, Tohru" Just get better and be happy. "I'll pick you up on Friday morning around 8. I need to be going now." He said as he stood. "You don't need to see me out. I'll see you on Friday."
"Thank you so much Hatori-san."
Once he arrived back at his office, he called Kazuma. "Yes, I figured he had told you. She is going to start working for me, this Friday. She does miss him too."
He listened into the phone, as Kazuma talked about Kyo and a small plan that he had.
"Yes that was what I was thinking, I'll send her over around four."
Kazuma hung up the phone and continued to watch Kyo through the window. Kyo was currently attacking the practice dummy, as if he meant to kill it. Hang on just a few more days, son.