Chapter 13:

Hatori walked the halls of the museum, partly appreciating the various works of art and partly drowning in his own thoughts. It's been a week now since the…event at Shigure's party. For a while everyone seemed to have changed their views on Hanajima, Saki. She used to be the calm, quiet wallflower…suddenly she's the devil-may-care girl that jumps off of rooftops. Everyone, especially Tohru, seemed frightened at the thought of leaving her alone anymore. But thanks to time, the wound on her leg started to heal just as everyone slowly came at ease once again.

What puzzled him the most was that ring. What did it really mean to her? Was it so important? Exactly what happened? Why Yuki? He searched the dark corners of his mind for something to grasp on, something to consider a reasonable answer. But none came. All he could think of was that damn ring and Yuki giving it to her. Was he jealous? Possibly. Possessive? Couldn't be. Falling?

Just when he was about to conclude that he had no answer to the last question that invaded his mind, he was stopped by the sight of one woman—girl…standing ever so still in the same partially empty hall as him. No one would ever take notice of her for she wore what would make her invisible. Only he saw her, for he as well was trying to be invisible.

He stepped closer, closer and closer until he was at an arm's reach. She turned to him, sensing his dark, morbid waves with her dempa. Her emotionless, empty gaze turning and belonging to him. He captured her with his stoic gaze and his eyes roved the smooth surface of the modest beauty that is Hanajima.

What was she doing here? Not a lot of people went to museums on weekends. But then again, she wasn't like a lot of people. What was she looking at? He turned to the painting on the wall and saw a picture of a road. It was winter in the painting yet cherry blossoms were blossoming still as if it was spring. He couldn't see the logic in it, but he somehow felt drawn to it.

"It's…beautiful." She spoke softly, turning back to the painting with a small mysterious smile.

He eyed her form the corner of his covered eye, the one that saw only her outline and her dark, still form. "Yes, it is." He answered simply to imply that he was listening to her.

"What's beautiful about it…is that it's wrong." She started, not taking her eyes from the painting. He stared at her still. "The season and the trees are wrong. The road is straight but there's no end to it. The sky is vanilla, but the moon is set high above it. It's all wrong."

"But it's beautiful…" Hatori started, "because it contradicts itself. It compliments everything about everything. It…makes its counter-part…stand out as it should." He finished.

There it was again. The Mona Lisa smile. He could see the twinkling mirth in her eyes at the prospect of someone sharing her very thoughts. They were thinking the same thing; their understanding was as if they were one whole being. It was as if they were made for each other.

Hatori looked back to the painting, to the thick layers of ice on the ground. Out of nowhere he spoke, "Hanajima-san, when winter melts away, what will it turn into?"

Hanajima looked at him then, wondering what came over him to ask such a strange question. She thought in her mind the situation and turned back to the painting with a sure answer. "Tears." Hatori swiftly turned his head to her in both wonder and confusion. He'd never heard that answer before and it was quite strange. Seeing that she needed to give him an explanation, Hana continued. "When winter melts away…I will…cry…" she looked to him, her eyes staying bound to his.

Somehow, in some way he couldn't explain even ten years from then…he felt completely breathless. He felt the walls of ice melting away. He felt every single shard of ice falling off of his body. He felt complete release as if he'd been choking in a room full of smoke and someone finally opened a window. He felt something similar to what he felt for Kana except this was different somehow. He couldn't tell what was different. Hell, he couldn't even think straight at the moment. All he could think of was the sincerity he found in those eyes. If he melted away…she would really…cry.

She turned back to the painting after a while, appreciating it a while longer before whispering her goodbye to him. Before she could turn to leave, he had already spoken. "Have lunch with me?" it was more of a statement than a question. She turned to him with a raised brow, not quite believing she heard him right.

Kagura walked the busy streets in silence with a bag of groceries in her arms. She was in deep thought about the talk with Haru a few days ago. She supposed she should apologize for hurting him that way. It was just that…her emotions got in the way. Admittedly, Kyou was still in her heart. And just the thought of seeing Kyou so happy being with another girl—with Tohru of all people…she just wasn't sure if she was strong enough yet. Perhaps another time.

The stoplight turned green and she stopped at the sidewalk. After a while, she got bored of just watching random cars pass by so she looked around her. Something caught her eyes though when she turned to a nearby café. Who was that? It was Hatori! But…who's that girl with her? She looked a little familiar but not enough for Kagura to recognize her. She looked so creepy what with her black braided hair, jet-black old-fashioned dress, and deathly pale skin. But what were most frightening about her were those eyes. They were blankly staring…as if she was lifeless.

Neither one was talking; they weren't doing anything much but staring. Hatori was staring at her while she was staring at her cup of tea. What were they doing there? It was strange since she'd never seen Hatori out with a woman other than Kanna. But that was ages ago. So what was this? Was Hatori moving on? If so, who else is moving on? Should she as well move on? The stoplight turned red and the cars stopped. With that, she turned away and crossed the road. Perhaps another time.

Hana looked up at the doctor whom she knew had been staring at her the whole time. What was he looking at? Content. His waves say that he's content. To eat lunch or to be with her? He was handsome, she concluded, looking into those deep dark windows to his soul. Seeing as this event would be completely dreary if no one broke the silence soon, Hana spoke first.

"Souma-san, I haven't received the bill yet."

"Bill?"

"For stitching my wounds. I told you to send them to me, didn't I?"

Hatori looked outside the glass panel, avoiding eye contact with her. "It's free."

Hana looked up at him from her thick lashes, curiosity coursed through her veins. "Free?"

"Hai, free. I won't charge for it."

Hana looked down at her cup of tea and wondered if it was free too. "Why?"

Hatori, once again as he always did, weighed his answer carefully. He decided to be bold and daring that moment. When winter melts away…I will…cry… "I will always fix you." Hana turned to him sharply; her finger twitched and something in her chest told her something she couldn't understand. "Whenever you are hurt, or wounded, or cut…I will always come…and fix you."

Hana stared at him carefully as he sipped his cup of coffee as if nothing happened. She only knew one thing to say at times like this when kindness is shown to her... "Thank…you..."

Hatori looked at her, loving the way the light seemed to make her darkness transcendent. Who could resist a beauty as morbid as her? Surely not him. She was an outward representation of his inner emotions…his darkness.

Tohru stopped at the doorway of the kitchen with eyes wide and incredulous. "Souma-kun!" Yuki turned to her with surprise and the eggs he held in his hand fell to the floor.

"Oh, no, it's alright, Honda-san. I'll pick it up."

"Yuki-kun, what are you doing in here? Why are the kitchen utensils out of the cupboard?"

Yuki blushed and scratched the back of his head in an adorable fashion. "Gomen, Honda-san, if I'm causing you any trouble. I'll clean it up soon."

"Oh, no, Souma-kun! I-it's alright! I-I didn't mean to intrude in your activities or anything—I mean—I…"

As Tohru kept bowing and apologizing, Yuki started looking back at the cook book at the corner near the sink. Can he really do it? No…he couldn't cook for his life, let alone bake. He needed someone's help. Someone who's good at cooking. And then a light bulb was turned on. Bling! Idea!

"Honda-san." Tohru looked up at hi through her teary apologies and saw him smiling that oh-so-charming smile at her. "Would you mind if I asked for your help?"

Tohru blinked twice before it fully registered in her mind that Yuki was asking for her help. "Ah—sure, Souma-kun. What do you want me to help you with?"

"I'm…baking a cheesecake." He smiled.

"Cheesecake?" Tohru asked.

Yuki nodded enthusiastically for once, "Hai! Cheesecake!"

Review Responses:

LadieAnimeFreek: thank you! I'm glad you think so!

flower-on-thewind: lol! Thank you for waiting so patiently! Sorry if I took so long!

Shezel: hehehe…thanks for waiting!

Princessmoi: thank you! I'm glad you liked your first HanaxYuki!

Different Child: thanks for waiting!

Hanasaki Kaguya: hahaha! I'm still not sure yet. I like Hatori as much as I like Yuki. I guess we'll just have to wait and see! Thanks!

Caramel: haha! Yes, very true! Thanks!

Alex: thanks! I'll keep that in mind!

Unchained3011: hmhmhm… yes, it does! (wink, wink)

Daniel of Lorien: I'm glad you think so, thanks!

Matron Raenee: hahaha! Thanks for waiting so patiently!