Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters belong to me, They are the property of Natsuki Takaya.

Hi, It's New year's and I hope every one has a very Happy New Year. This is my next to last chapter and I hope you will enjoy it. I will post the final chapter and the epilogue later today, probably tonight. It's 5:00 in the morning on New Year's as I post this, and I have to get some sleep before the family festivities. Hence, the rest of the story will have to wait.

Please enjoy and review if you feel like it. I appreciate any and all comments on my stories. Thank you so much for taking the time to read.

Chapter 8 "Come back to Me Soon"

How could this have happened before…Hatori considered his response carefully. He could just pass her query off as reminding him of similar incidents in his life. He had not specifically said it had happened or at least not in so many words. She would believe that was what he had meant. She still trusted people that much. However Tohru deserved better than that. It was time to tell Tohru her story but he feared her reaction. Would she be angry? Hurt? Disappointed? Would he still have a place in her life? To think he might not be able to stay near her, to see her smile each time they met…that hurt more than he could believe possible. It was almost as if he had…no that would never do. He couldn't have fallen in love…right?

"Tori-san are you certain you're okay? You weren't hurt were you? You've been sitting there fro a while without speaking. Shall I take a look?"

Her questions penetrated his awareness and it suddenly dawned on him that she had been calling him Tori-san for the last little while. His heart skipped a beat as his green eyes gazed into her teal blue eyes and he knew…he knew he had fallen in love with Tohru Honda. He smiled gently at her concern. "No, I'm quite all right. I was just considering how to tell you why you had this sense of deja vu." His smile faded to be replaced by a troubled expression.

"Tori-san?"

"I will get to the point in a moment. I need to tell you something before I do. I am very afraid right now because I don't want to lose someone precious to me for a second time."

Tohru looked at him in confusion. "I don't understand, what do you mean?"

"I mean I've fallen in love with this warm, wonderful, beautiful woman and I don't quite know how to tell her or even if I should tell her…but I do want her to know that I love her."

"Oh, is that all? If you love her she's sure to love you Tori-san. Who is she? Do I know her? Oh, Tori-san doesn't she mind that I so selfishly ask you to spend your evenings here with me?"

Hatori chuckled despite the circumstances. "Oh Tohru-san, you silly precious woman…it's you I love. How could you possibly object to yourself?"

"Me? You love me Tori-san?" She looked at him in wide-eyed wonder. "But that's wonderful because I love you too."

"Tohru-san, that makes me very happy but don't be so quick to say so. You may feel differently after I've told you my story."

"Mmmm…I don't think it will change anything Tori-san." She leaned in close to him with sparkling eyes. "I don't think there is anyway that could happen."

Tohru's nearness sparked awareness within Hatori that he sought to squelch. Instead, he leaned in and lightly kissed her on the lips. "Listen before you decide."

"Okay." Tohru moved to sit beside him on the sofa and prepared to listen attentively to every word.

Hatori took a deep breath and then plunged into his story. "You see Tohru-san, I am a part of that past you keep searching for…my family and our curse are the reasons it was forgotten."

"How can that be? I still don't get it."

"Of course you won't Tohru-san. That's why I need to tell you your story. I can leave that much with you even if you wish never to see me again once it's told."

Tohru started to protest but Hatori pressed his finger to her lips. "Just listen and then speak." She nodded her head to show compliance with his wishes. Hatori then began speaking.

"I first met you after your mother's death and after you had come to live with Shigure in his house. You spent some time in the forest but there was a landslide and your tent was buried. Shigure took you under his guardianship." He told her of her sojourn in the woods as he had heard it from Shigure, Yuki and her. He spoke of haw she had come to live with Shigure, Yuki, and a few days later, Kyo as well. Most of what he told her was firsthand, but he also filled in some of the blanks with what he had been told by others during the three years she had spent with the Sohmas. Ten o'clock came and went as he talked but neither one cared this night.

Tohru listened attentively. She identified with the girl in the story but did not feel as if she was that girl. Nothing he said brought those three years into focus but she stored his words in her memory. Those words could be the only account she would ever have of her missing pass.

Tohru realized as she listened that while she might never remember that time of her life, at least she was close to someone who could and would continue to remember. She listened to Hatori as he tried to keep his words matter of fact. As Hatori's narration continued she began to hear behind his words. She heard the loneliness and self-disgust he felt towards himself. She recognized the fact that he hated what he had done, but he had felt he had no choice at the time. She didn't find herself horrified with the fact that he could take people's memories away because that seemed to have been a necessary part of the Sohma lives.

Hatori ended his story with the events that had transpired on the day that he had erased her memory and the promise he had made to her then. He explained the part he, Shigure, and Ayame had played in her education and then he fell silent. He looked at her through the curtain of his hair and was surprised and yet not surprised at what he saw. Tohru's eyes were brimming with tears, as she looked at him and she place her hand on his. Her words soothed the pain that had inflicted his life from the first time he had obeyed his god and erased a person's memory.

"Tori-san, what a difficult life you've had. It must have been very hard to obey the command of your family head when your heart was so pained at the need to do so. Isn't it wonderful though, that you can keep the memories of those people fresh in your mind and tell them as you told me of all that happened to them in that part of their lives. I have to admit though, your story does change the way I feel…"

Hatori bowed his head so she couldn't see his tears. Tohru touched him gently on the shoulder. "I don't mean that I love you less, Tori-san. I mean that this makes me love you even more. You are so kind and tenderhearted, and even after all you went through because of me, you didn't forget your promise. You were still my friend when we met again, and now…now you say that you love me. Thank you Hatori-san. That makes me so very happy!"

He looked at her with disbelieving eyes. The expression in her gaze and upon her face told him that it was true, that she did still love him even after all that he had done to her. "Tohru…"

"No more doubts Hatori-san. I still can't remember that time in my life, but at least I know that someone did remember and cared enough to tell me. Even if the memories never return, at least I know that the Sohmas were my friends and that we made a difference in each other's lives. That means a lot to me. I can't really tell you how much. I am sad that I can't remember all of those wonderful times with the good and the bad that happened, but I am happy that at least I know where I was and what happened, even if it is only through your words."

"Tohru…" Hatori held her as close as he dared and kissed her softly. "I love you dearly, but I am so afraid that things are not going to work out. I have to return home soon and I really don't want to leave you here, but I don't want you to leave your job and this place that has become your home."

Tohru's heart sank just a little at the reminder that Hatori did not live in Koriyama. She would leave if he asked her to, but he was right. Koriyama had become her home, especially now that she knew where she had come from and how she had ended up at this place.

"If we try, I know we can work something out Tori-san. Please be happy that we have this time together."

"I am happy Tohru-kun, but I want it to last so much longer. I want it to last a lifetime."

"Let's not think that far ahead, let's enjoy today and each day as it comes. Mom told me that was the best way to live life. She said live in the moment, be thankful for each new day and live it as if it might be the last day. Mom and I, we did that, right up until the time she died. Let's you and I give it a try Tori-san. Okay?"

A genuine smile finally lit Hatori's features as he looked into her earnest gaze. "Okay, I can do that."

"Good."

The next two weeks passed swiftly and he and Tohru spent as much of it together as possible. He allowed himself to be carefree and to have fun, but the day finally arrived when he had to return to Sohma house.

Tohru knew the minute he walked into the restaurant that something had happened. "Tori-san, are you okay? Is it time for you to go?"

Hatori nodded his head; he didn't trust himself to speak for a moment. "Yes, I have been summoned back to Sohma house by the head of the family. I will return to see you, as often as I can, but there are many matters I must return to take care of. I have to leave tomorrow."

Tohru smiled radiantly. "Tomorrow is Wednesday. I'll be able to see you off at the station. Isn't that wonderful?" Tomorrow night would be time enough to cry; for now she wanted Hatori's last 24 hours to be happy ones.

Hatori left the next day after they had enjoyed themselves at the amusement park and their favorite restaurant. They spent their last couple of hours walking along the lakeshore and gazing at the cherry blossoms.

"Hatori-san, it's spring. It's the time of new beginnings. Please take care and I hope to see you soon."

"It is spring. Thank you Tohru. I will be in touch." He kissed her lingeringly at the platform and then boarded his train for home. He watched her out the window of the train for as long as he could see her.

Tohru waited until his train was out of sight and returned home. She fixed herself a pot of tea and the tears overflowed. She already missed him and he had only been gone a short while. "Tori-san, be safe and come back to me soon."