Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters are mine...but a girl can dream...right? They really do belong to Natsuki Takaya.
The plot and all original characters belong to me...although they don't really have exciting roles in my plot this time around. Such is the way of the pen...At any rate I now offer you Chapter 2. I hope you will read and enjoy short though it may be. I promise, eventually the chapters do get longer.
All comments are welcome. Thank you so much for taking the time to read.
Chapter 2 "This Is My Responsibility"
A month passed as Shigure and Ayame watched Hatori with grave concern. Their already serious friend had become even more somber. The spark of humor that had always lay just under the surface seemed to be totally extinguished. He went about his tasks in a robotic manner with no warmth or humor to grace his features. Ayame and Shigure did their best to penetrate the emotionless calm of their best friend. All they wanted was a smile or even anger; anything that said he was recovering.
The three men sat in Shigure's study on a chilly December evening. Warm sake and a quickly dwindling supply of cigarettes rested in the center. Silence descended after Shigure and Ayame failed once more in their attempts to waken Hatori's emotions. Hatori finally spoke after allowing a few moments of silence.
"If you two are finished with your false jocularity, I have an announcement to make." Two pair of eyes, one gold and one gray, turned in his direction.
"He spoke!" Ayame proclaimed grandly.
"He did speak." Shigure agreed.
"Are you two done? Hatori asked dryly. Silence was his answer. "Good, now maybe you'll let me talk. I had an audience with the elders today. They have granted me permission to seek out Miss Honda and ascertain that no lasting harm was done to her because of Akito's directives. I will be leaving after the New Year's Banquet for an extended period of time. Kana and her husband will cover my practice during my leave of absence."
"Hatori-san this is wonderful news! Of course I will accompany you in your quest."
"No Ayame, I can't let you do that. Mine-san is counting on you to be here during the birth of your son. There is no guarantee I will be back by that time."
"Then we will have to wait until your return. No one must deliver little Ayame but my dear Hatori-san."
The ghost of a smile caused Hatori's lips to quirk ever so slightly. "Ayame, your loyalty is touching but I don't think the babe will delay his arrival just because I may be absent."
Shigure started to speak but Hatori cut him off with a stern glare. "Shigure, don't even offer. You have a book to write and deadlines to meet. Also, this is my responsibility. I obeyed Akito's directive because I didn't have the will to refuse. My peace of mind depends on me doing this my way. You mean well Shigure but let's face it, you like to complicate my life."
The hurt on his friends' faces brought a gentle smile to Hatori's lips and it even managed to reach his eyes. "You two are my best friends and I sincerely appreciate the effort and support you've given me over the last several weeks. However this is my burden not yours and I have no wish to share it."
Hatori stubbed out his cigarette and got to his feet. He offered each of them a bow. "Sayonara." He left Shigure's house, a tall lonely figure in the moonlight.