Hi, I'm back again with my next chapter. I guess I didn't make my Christmas goal, but hey...I think New Years is more appropriate for a Fruits Basket story. Before I go any further, let me state my disclaimer. Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters belong to me. They are the property of Natsuki Takaya.

Having said that, I will also stay that the plot and all original characters are mine. I hope you like both. Please read and enjoy. Reviews or just opinions good and bad are welcome. Thank you so much for taking the time to check it out.

Chapter 7 "It has happened Before"

Hatori sat staring at the phone as he considered what Reishiki-san had said. Perhaps he really should call Shigure…but not yet. His cell phone was home on his desk. He had forgotten it accidentally (on purpose). Akito was no longer there and Kana and her husband would watch over the new head of the family. He didn't have to be available for emergencies 24-7. He wasn't abdicating his responsibilities but he was delegating them for a change. Shigure and Ayame received a call from him every few days so he was not totally out of touch. Yes, calling Shigure could wait. Just a little bit longer for himself, he was beginning to believe that wasn't so much to ask.

The week passed and then two weeks and then three weeks…

Hatori rented a room from Reikishi-san when he decided he was going to stay in Koriyama for a few weeks. He like the atmosphere at her house and was pleased that she had agreed to rent him an upstairs room when he broached the subject with her. He ate most of his meals at Tomo Morikawa's restaurant for two reasons. One was because the food was excellent, and the other was because Tohru always found time to chat with him during his visits there.

Tomo watched the relationship between Hatori and Tohru with interest. After a week or so he gave a resigned sigh and shrugged his shoulders. If the distinguished Sohma gentleman was interested in Honda-san then Toshi was probably out of luck and in line for some heartbreak. Such is the way of the world. Toshi was still young; he would meet someone else someday.

Each Wednesday Hatori arranged for him and Tohru to spend the day together. Ostensibly, it was because he still wanted a guide for the area. In reality, he wanted to learn more about Tohru and the woman she had become. There were a lot of things she didn't talk of very often, but he pieced her story together because he had been a part of those things she didn't talk about.

Tohru had done well at Asahikawa and made friends along the way. She had spent a lot of time alone but never complained of loneliness.. Her talent and her gentle nature always won her at least a couple of good friends in each town where she lived. She had moved frequently until now and always to the south hoping she might find the key to recovering her lost memories. He'd learned she was sad at times but it never lasted but the more he learned the more he was certain Reikishii-san had been right. He would eventually have to reveal what he knew of Tohru's past and the part he had chosen to play in her loss of memories, but not yet. Perhaps if he could put it off a while longer, she would know him well enough that he wouldn't necessarily be a villain for stealing her memories. Her good opinion did mean a lot to him and he wasn't in a hurry for it to change.

Tohru, for her share in the matter, was happier than she had ever been. Her tenuous feelings for Toshi faded as she came to know Hatori Sohma better and to realize that she was falling in love with him. Toshi still walked her home each Monday night and she continued to enjoy their time together but it wasn't really the same since Hatori Sohma had come into her life. She knew she was hurting Toshi each time she rebuffed his advances but she knew now that friendship was the only relationship she and he would share. Toshi was aware of it too, but even so, he insisted on spending time with Tohru.

Tohru had felt a connection with Hatori from the very first. She wasn't sure why he stayed in Koriyama but she hoped it was because of her. Her days off passed swiftly when he accompanied her. It didn't really matter if it was a simple walk on the lakeshore, a sightseeing tour, or a shopping trip. The two of them spent the time laughing and talking amicably. Nothing was insignificant when he was there. Every moment was a memory to be made, a time for her to treasure.

After Hatori's first full week in Koriyama, he and Tohru developed a pattern. After acquiring a room at Reikishi-san's, Hatori arrived at the restaurant each evening to walk Tohru home. The only day he didn't walk her home was on Mondays because he respected Toshi's feelings on that.

Once they arrived at Tohru's door, the plans varied depending on the situation. Sometimes he would accept her invitation to come in for a cup of tea and on other evenings he would politely refuse and continue on his way home. Tohru found that a lot of evenings when he did come in they could talk about almost anything. There were evenings when they would play cards and other evenings when they would just keep each other company while each read their own book selection. Hatori never stayed past 10 and Tohru never dreamed of asking him to do so. She knew that his presence made her heart beat more quickly and made her day brighter. It was an unspoken fact that eventually Hatori would have to leave Koriyama and return home where he was needed but she wanted to store up as many memories as possible before that time. Maybe after he left she would move on again, but for now each day was precious because he was there.

The days passed and one evening Hatori hung up the phone and looked at his calendar. It surprised him to see that Shigure was correct. He truly had been in Koriyama for four weeks. It didn't seem so much time had passed. He wanted to stay a while longer and spend more time with Tohru, but the strings of Sohma house were reaching out to pull him home again. He knew it wouldn't be long before he had to return. Before that though…before that he would spend more time with Tohru and consider the best way to tell her of her past. He looked forward to and dreaded that moment. He only hoped that he would find the right moment.

That moment came faster than he expected. One night he walked Tohru home and accepted her invitation to come in for a cup of tea. She went into the kitchen to prepare the tea and he realized he had forgotten his book. The walked toward the kitchen to let her know he would be back in a few minutes. He reached the opening between the living room and kitchen just as Tohru was turning to bring the tea tray. The two collided and "POOF"

Hatori found himself smothering in his own clothing as he changed to his sea dragon form. The form wasn't much larger than a seahorse and he wasn't sure if he was embarrassed more because the form was so small or if it was because it was so strange for a man to change forms.

"Hatori-san…Hatori-san? You…you're a sea horse. Oh what should I do? Salt water or fresh?"

Tohru filled the tub with warm water and added sea salt from her pantry. She then left the seahorse in the bath room along with his neatly folded clothing and shut the door. Somehow the incident seemed familiar like de ja vu. "This is very strange," she thought. "Why didn't I panic? Why aren't I more surprised?" Tohru knew herself quite well and she knew something like this should have sent her into hyper-mode, but here she was calmly preparing another pot of tea and waiting for Hatori to emerge. She knew he would…somehow.

Hatori returned to full consciousness in a tub of salted water. His clothes were placed neatly on a tub-side stand and waiting for him. He drained the tub and turned on the shower to rinse off the salt. He admired the fact that Tohru had reacted in such an organized fashion, but he was also surprised. Was it possible…?

Tohru looked up from her book as he came out of the bath. "Hatori-san you're okay. I'm so glad to see you again. It's amazing that you can change form like that. Is there really that much magic in the world? I think it's wonderful! Are you ready for your tea now? I'm so sorry if my clumsiness caused you any discomfort."

"Tohru-san…"

"Yes, I'm sorry. Here's your tea. So what just happened…I mean I know you changed form, but why?"

"Before I answer your questions, let me ask one of you."

"Oh, sure."

"Why did you react so calmly and why have you accepted my alternate form so easily?"

Tohru giggled. "That's two questions Hatori-san. You know, I was just asking myself that very same question. I don't know. It's strange isn't it? It somehow seems like…" She shrugged her shoulders. "like de ja vu…like this has happened before…"

Hatori collapsed into the chair opposite her. His damp hair fell across his eyes as he considered his next move.

"Hatori-san?" Tohru asked softly.

He looked up at her and brushed the hair from his eyes. Uncertainty showed through and something more. "It has happened before. Under slightly different circumstances but it has happened."

"What…what do you mean Hatori-san? What happened before?"