Usagi skipped to the hospital with a wide grin of hello. By passing many pedestrians as she did so, and they smiled in response to her happiness. The white building loomed ahead of her, and she walked in calmly. Waving at the desk clerk she continued the trek to where she had met Rin before.
Though Usagi was surprised to see someone else there with Rin as she entered. Shocked at the other presence, she didn't announce or approach her new friend. However, luck was on her side as Rin waved off whatever was said to her and turned to the door. A tired smile was issued from Rin as Usagi stood there, intimidated by the other presence. Rin let out a small chuckle which had the other person turning to see what was going on.
It was male, and a good looking one at that. Though his aura gave a sense of seriousness and a tinge of sorrow. His one visible dark blue-green eye narrowed in mistrust. Lean black hair hung down to his lower neck hiding his left eye. A lab doctor's white coat hung off his slim shoulders. Underneath was a suit of dark colors, and Usagi marked him off as a high price doctor.
"Hello." Usagi greeted, and bowed before turning her attention to Rin. "Is Rin-chan all better?" Usagi inquired, the doctor raised an eyebrow while glancing sideways at Rin.
"Yes, Hatori is here to take me home." Rin answered, as the doctor 'Hatori,' was a bit preoccupied with his silent measuring.
"Then shall I accompany Rin-chan home?" Usagi asked. Rin smiled at the nice gesture while Hatori made his position known.
"No, that is not a good idea." Hatori spoke up, which made Rin frown at the hidden message. 'Akito-san wouldn't accept it.' Though normally docile, she was feeling rather rebellious against the clan head.
"It's fine, Usagi-chan can accompany me." Rin spoke up, her face narrowed at Hatori.
"Are you sure Rin?" Usagi inquired, glancing between Hatori and Rin.
"Yes, I feel well, it is fine." Rin answered. Usagi smiled, and gently stepped past the doctor to hug Rin hello. Hatori withheld a sigh and nodded that Usagi could follow. "Oh, Usagi this is Hatori." Rin introduced, and Usagi bowed to him. "Hatori, this is Usagi." Rin reciprocated. Hatori glanced Usagi over before nodding hello.
The three stepped outside, and walked to what Usagi would come to know as the Sohma main house. That should actually be plural, as it was the Sohma Main Homes. There were several small Japanese structures littered around the grounds, and their destination seem to be in the back.
As Usagi walked by the homes in the section, she could of sworn that she saw a person in one of the windows. Said person glanced up for a split second and locked eyes with Usagi. A glare came to their eyes, and Usagi felt a shiver crawl up her spine. It was Rin who stepped back and led Usagi away. They entered one of the smaller homes, and Hatori gave Rin the once over to make sure of her health.
After his assessment, Usagi invited him to stay for a moment. Hatori shook his head, and stood to leave if not for the light knock at the rice shade door. The room became immensely tense, and Usagi blinked at the change of atmosphere. Though Hatori approached the door none the less.
Sliding the door back, Usagi was greeted with a familiar person. "Ah, Kureno-san." Usagi greeted, causing the other two to glance at her while Kureno raised an eyebrow. He glanced at Rin, Hatori, and back to Usagi with an almost amused expression.
"Akito-san requests your presence now Hatori." Kureno spoke, and then offered a small wave to Usagi. Hatori nodded gravely, and Usagi looked on, she really wished to know the silent doctor as well. Hatori followed Kureno out, while Usagi shook her head, and instead turned her attention to Rin. Her afternoon was spent chattering with Rin, but what about Akito and them?
Hatori was glad of Kureno's silence as they walked to where the sickly clan head resided. However, it seemed Kureno wanted to impersonate a bit of his zodiac character. He brought his head straight, and leveled his eyes with Hatori. "So, an outsider.." Kureno spoke up, and Hatori sighed.
"Yes, one you seem to know." Hatori responded. Kureno shrugged noncommital to the statement.
"I was shopping for Akito-sama, and ran into her." Kureno commented.
"You go shopping all the time, I don't hear you conversing to often with others." Hatori stated.
"True enough, but then again, they don't normally plow me down." Kureno answered.
"She didn't...find out, did she?" Hatori questioned.
"No, of course not." Kureno scolded lightly. Hatori nodded, and rechecked who he was talking to, no Kureno would be the least to be found out. He, himself would probably be next, though that isn't saying much because he has been found out twice. "Are you tired of what you do Hatori?" Kureno asked seriously, and the doctor glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
"Aren't we all?" Hatori answered blandly and stepped in the clan head's room.
"Is she a threat?" A smokey voice echoed when Hatori stepped in. Though 'she,' was vague, Hatori knew none the less who the clan head was talking about.
"No, she is like Tohru." Hatori answered.
"Hmm, and we saw what happened with her, now didn't we?" The voice chilled out. "I want her observed closely." The voice ordered, as Hatori approached it.
"Yes, Akito-sama." Hatori spoke.
"She is not, to find out the truth." Akito told him. "Else, well you know." Akito added. "One outsider is enough.." was warned. "Even such we have two, that dreaded creature is one too." Akito summed, and Hatori stayed quiet. "I think that is one to many." Akito whispered. Hatori straightened his spine, but didn't react to much to that statement. "Hmm, I want you to assign someone to keep an eye on that blond." Akito ordered.
"Yes, Akito-sama." Hatori answered, and sighed. Then he did his daily check over and bowed in good-bye.
Hatori sighed as he entered his office, he collapsed into his to stuffed chair with a sorrowful countenance. A warning from him will do little now, not that it did much the last time he tried to warn someone away from the Sohma family. His eyes drifted to the only picture in his office, searching for guidance to what he should do.
Hatori was hit with the painful memories that always came from that image. However, he didn't regret what had to be done. He balanced his head on his clasped hands, and thought over his latest order. Who in the world could he get to watch the blond Usagi? His thoughts were halted by a loud ring, and he sighed while pulling out one of his only vices. The cigarette hung out of his lip as he lit it before lifting up the phone.
"Tori-san!" The familiar voice cried out over the phone, and a sigh of exasperation escaped Hatori's lips before hanging up. Really, Hatori needed to solve his problem not deal with the exuberant Ayame. The phone rung once more, and as always Hatori picked it up.
"Ha-san, Aya called me and said you're ignoring him!" Another voice cried at him this time. Again, Hatori sighed, drew in a breath of toxic air before exhaling and hanging up. The phone must be cursed, because as soon as he hung up, it rung again. Third time's the charm, and Hatori decided to suffer through whoever was on the other side of the phone.
"Yes?" Hatori asked, and no sooner he did was he overwhelmed with the vivacious voice of Ayame.
"Tori-san!" Ayame spoke cheerlessly. "How dare you hang up on me." Ayame scolded him. Hatori must enjoying sighing, because he did so once more to release the tension building in his forehead.
"I'm going to again if you don't get a point." Hatori warned. He heard a shout of dissatisfaction, before a laugh that sometimes grated on his nerves. "Ayame..."Hatori was drawing to his last nerve.
"Tori-san, I hired a new employee." Ayame chirped out.
"Congratulations." Hatori responded, and made to cradle the phone.
"Tori-san, I haven't told you the best part!" Ayame's voice carried over and Hatori unwilling put the phone back to his ear.
"What?" Hatori inquired boredly.
"It's a blond Tohru!" Ayame told him excitedly. "Though she's a little more developed, and a bit more outgoing.." He chattered on, but Hatori had paused at the description. That sounded remarkably like the blond currently in Rin's room. "Her name is Usagi, and I know that I need your approval on my employees." Ayame explained over the phone. Hatori felt his breath hit a loop, an answer in front of his face, but should he really subject the poor girl to any more of Ayame's time? Though his conscious scolded him for thinking such a thing, a small smile tickled his face.
"It's fine." Hatori spoke. "In fact, your employee is currently over here." Hatori answered.
"..."Ayame paused, and Hatori sensed the tension on the line. "Akito knows then." Ayame dead panned.
"Yes." Hatori reacted.
"Okay.."Ayame stated slowly. "That's fine." he commented.
"I want you to do something." Hatori told him.
"Anything for Tori-san!" Ayame responded with pep. 'I'm going to regret this..'Hatori thought as he gathered his feelings.
"I want you to keep an eye on her." Hatori ordered him.
"Of course." Ayame answered. "That will be fabulous for me!" He agreed and then went on to tell Hatori of all the romances he could make come true.
"Just come get her." Hatori told him, before hanging up, ignoring the continuing line of comments from Ayame.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays! So, Hatori makes the scene, and Akito is closing in. Seems like Usagi is being wrapped into the Sohma web willing or not. See ya later, and please review when you can.
Season Greetings,
WCB. Hope you get what you want, and who you want under the mistletoe.