Disclaimer: Neither Fruits Basket nor the Fruits Basket characters are mine. They are the property of Natsuki Takaya. However I unashamedly borrow her characters and create my own plots to be woven about them. This one is coming to an end. I made the ending a happy one and I hope no one objects. Please read and enjoy.

Chapter 9 "I Am So Happy:

Hatori arrived back home and was immediately immersed in the affairs of the Sohma household. His thoughts always turned to Tohru in the evenings after everything had quieted and then he would call her on the phone just to hear her sweet voice. Things were progressing slowly and he really didn't know when he would get a chance to return to Koriyama. After he had been home for two weeks, Shigure invited him to dinner at one of their favorite coffeehouses.

When Hatori arrived, he found both Ayame and Shigure awaiting him there.

"Ha-san, it's been so long since we have had a chance to talk. Please come , join us. I am even paying for the meal." Shigure immediately put a palm out towards Hatori…"Don't look so surprised. I am not always thinking about myself you know."

Hatori nodded. "I know, but more often than not I somehow end up paying for your meal."

"Not tonight Ha-san. Ayame and I have a very important matter to discuss with you."

"Yes, Tori-san, a very important matter, a matter of love!"

Hatori had started to sit down, but upon Ayame's proclamation, reclaimed his jacket from his chair and started to leave.

"Sit down Ha-san. This is important to all of us. We wish you to listen and then if you like, you can leave."

Hatori sighed resignedly. "Very well, now is as good a time as any since I know you two won't leave things alone."

"Exactly!" Shigure agreed. "We only have your happiness at heart although if you take our advice, we may be a little less happy."

"And this is because…" Hatori prompted dryly.

"Because we think you should move to Koriyama to be with Tohru-kun" Ayame jumped into the conversation.

"Ridiculous! You idiots!" Hatori spoke sharply. Even as he spoke, he wished he could do as Ayame so blithely proposed.

"At least hear us out Ha-san…" Shigure said in a placating tone of voice. He could tell it just might be difficult to convince his stubborn friend that such a course of action would be okay.

"I'm here aren't I" Hatori spoke gruffly.

"You are here. Ahhh…here's our waiter. Let's order and then we can begin our conversation." Shigure placed his order with the waiter, as did the other two men. Once the order was given and sake was delivered to the table, Shigure began to talk.

"Ha-san, always, since we were young together, you have always been duty bound; first to your father as the head of the family, and then to Akito. This is as it should have been. However; Akito is gone now and the new head of the family is not the same. During your absence he grew use to Kana and she was made aware of our curse although I know very few people outside of the zodiac know anything about it. She bumped into Yuki by mistake and he changed form. It didn't seem to surprise her too terribly much and he said it was okay for her to know."

"Hatori-san has always looked out for everyone, even Shigure and I since we were kids together. You've always done your best to find a way for everyone to be as happy as possible although it meant you sacrificing your own happiness. " Ayame picked up the conversation where Shigure stopped. "Shigure and I both feel it is time for you to claim your happiness Hatori-san."

Hatori wanted to get up and leave. It was almost too much for him to even think that he might deserve happiness of his own. "I am happy when those in the Zodiac are happy. I don't need anything else."

"You are a terrible liar Ha-san. Think about it. Kana is capable of and willing to take on your duties as the official doctor of the Sohma. I know you like to think you are indispensable and you probably are…but Koriyama is not that far away by bullet train. Let Kana take on your responsibilities and be happy with Tohru-kun. She can make you 200…no 2000 times happier than Kana ever would have."

"Remember I said I wished you 10000 times the happiness you had with Kana…I think Tohru can do that for you."

"You two are not making sense…" Hatori protested although a little more weakly than he would have liked.

"Do you really believe that Ha-san? I don't think you do. If you won't think of yourself, think of Tohru-kun. Is she truly happy there by herself? Would she be happy moving here with you when she has friends and an employer in Koriyama that respects her and entrusts her with his business?"

"I wouldn't ask Tohru to move back here. I could tell that Koriyama was home to her after all of her years of wandering. But…"

"No buts Ha-san. You said yourself that she said she loves you, even after she found out you were responsible for stealing her memories. Do you really want to live knowing that you could have had a love like that but you refused it. Do you want both of you to be miserable?"

"Shigure, you are a manipulating, irresponsible dog…but I'll think about what you and Ayame have said. Fair enough?"

"Fair enough."

Two weeks later, Hatori had his office and house packed and on the moving truck heading for Koriyama. He laughed as he recalled Reikishi-san's reaction to his request for a two-bedroom apartment.

"It's about time you came to your senses Sohma-san. Tohru-san puts on a good act but I know she misses you. I knew you would do the minute I laid eyes on you. The apartment will be ready in two weeks."

Hatori parked his car along the curb outside of Tohru's house and backtracked to the restaurant. He knocked on Morikawa's office door and waited for an answer.

"Hai…"

"Morikawa-san, it's Hatori Sohma. May I talk to you for a minute."

"Sohma-san? Of course, please come in. Have you come to take my head chef away from me?"

"What…" Hatori blushed at the knowing look in Tomo Morikawa's eyes. He recovered quickly though. "No, as a matter of fact, I am going to hang out my shingle here in Koriyama and I hope Tohru will be an important part of my life here. That's why I wanted to ask you if I could ask her to come with me for the rest of the day."

"Of course, let me get her for you. Please wait."

Tohru looked up as Tomo came through the door. "Honda-san, get ready to leave. I have a very special guest and he especially requested you as his guide."

"Ehh…Morikawa-san?"

"Hurry up, we don't want to keep Sohma-san waiting."

"Hatori…he's here? I'll be right there."

Tohru checked with Harukia to make sure all was well. Harukia assured her that all would be well and chased her out the kitchen door.

Tohru removed her apron, washed her face and brushed her hair. She took a deep breath and approached her boss's office. Hatori was really here…it was too wonderful to be true. And Morikawa-san was allowing her the day off. She wondered why.

Tohru knocked and was told to enter. She looked at Hatori with shining eyes. "Hatori-san, it is so wonderful to see you again."

"Thank you. You look lovely Honda-san. Shall we go?" He turned to the old family friend and bowed. "Thank you Morikawa-san." Tomo nodded and watched the two leave together.

As soon as he and Tohru were behind the doors of her apartment, Hatori pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly. Tohru returned his kiss with just as much fervor.

"Let's go to the lake and then I have something I want to show you," Hatori murmured against her silky brown hair.

"Okay, but what is it Tori-san? Won't you tell me?"

"It's a surprise Tohru."

It was summertime now and the shores of the lake would soon be teeming with people. It was early enough in the day at the moment for them to have the beach mostly to themselves. Hatori led Tohru to the Picnic table where they first sat and had their bento. He sat her on the seat and then he sat down beside her. "Tohru, I have never been happier than I have been since meeting you once again. I have given a lot of thought to our future together and I can't imagine mine without you in it. Will you marry me Tohru-kun?"

"M…marry you? Of course I will Tori-san!" Tohru flung her arms around him and gave him a huge hug. Surprisingly enough, he didn't change form. Hatori wondered at that, but let it go for them moment. Perhaps someone could explain it to him and even if not, that was okay. He could hold Tohru and that was precious.

"Then, please accept this." Hatori proffered a beautiful jeweler's box containing a delicate diamond and pearl engagement ring. He slipped it on her finger and it fit perfectly.

"I'm so happy Tori-san!"

"I am glad. Come with me now, I have something to show you. They took the bus back to the block with the apartments Reikishi-san provided for renters. Hatori removed a key from his pocket and unlocked the door to one of the larger apartments. "Please enter."

"Tori-san, is this yours?" Tohru spun around as she looked at the room with its well populated bookshelves and beautiful mahogany desk. The apartment was furnished with used but beautiful pieces of furniture. "This is beautiful."

"It will be ours Tohru for you to decorate as you like. What do you think."

"I think I am going to love this place as much as I love you Tori-san."

The couple were married a month later in Koriyama. Tohru was radiant in a pale pink wedding dress and Hatori was resplendent in a three-piece black suit with a pale pink sash to match the dress. It was well attended by Tohru's friends and co-workers in Koriyama and most of the members of the Zodiac.

Tohru looked at the sea of faces and didn't really recognize any of the Sohmas. It was as if each were being met for the first time. That was okay though, because Hatori stood by her side and she was warmly welcomed into the family by Ayame and Shigure. In time she would become reacquainted with her old friends.