Standard Disclaimer applies.
A/N: I credit LibraryLady08 for the title of this chapter. Thank you.
I have trouble with titles a lot. :)
Hatori's Remedy presents:
Chapter 52: Kiss and Tell
In class, Tohru received many nasty glares from girls because Yuki had accepted her blue box of chocolates and leaned in to kiss her cheek. It didn't even faze her. Yuki was a good friend, nothing more. But the fan girls/nosy parkers didn't know, didn't care. In their minds, even a chaste kiss on the cheek was scandalous. During lunch however, the gossip moved to Manchi, whose sakura-blossom print box was accepted by Yuki. Girls grew bold and had decided to approach Yuki with their gifts, but he declined them one after another. Shocked, rumors spread like wild fire; was Yuki Sohma playing the hearts of two girls? Snobby girls said Yuki's actions were out of pity.
Tohru was too caught up in her own affairs to listen.
After finishing only an apple for lunch, Tohru went into the bathroom to splash cold water on her hot cheeks. She was barely able to sit through her physics class: something about an object hanging off the edge of a table had her completely confused.
After school, she went to work. Without Takeshi, the hallways were lonely. The older women working the evening shift with her noticed the dark circles under her eyes. She advised Tohru to go home early.
"Don't overexert yourself. I wouldn't want my daughter like this."
Tohru didn't object, her arms felt heavy with fatigue. It was seven-thirty when she arrived at home. She made a simple dinner and plowed through her homework. She felt uncomfortably hot and muttered under her breath that she should have bought some cold medicine on the way back. She rarely got sick; how did this happen? She took off her sweater and opened the windows. The coolness of the air refreshed her skin, and the wintriness of the windowpane against her forehead made her sigh contentedly.
"Tohru, are you alright?"
Yuki asked outside her door. "Why are you eating with us?"
"Just eat without me. I'm not feeling well."
"Do you need anything?"
She hated ever asking for favors, but her body felt combustible. "Can you get me a glass of cold water, please?"
"Sure."
When she opened the door for him, he assessed her with the care of an older brother. He raised his hand to her forehead and then his own. "You're burning. You should get it looked at."
"Don't worry about it. I have a test tomorrow. I can't miss it."
Yuki ignored her plea. "I'll go call Hatori."
Tohru's face immediately turned pasty white. "But—"
"We want you to get well fast."
And when Yuki left, she said, "He'll have read my note. He'll be angry."
--
In the past hour, Hatori had read Tohru's note more than a dozen times. The two folds in the letter had become worn with use.
Dear Hatori,
You are going to hate me. Shigure and I were having a playful fight when he kissed me. I didn't push him away immediately like I should have. I have no feelings for him. I am so sorry and I understand if you don't want to talk to me. I deserve the miserable pain of not being able to see you.
Give the sweets a try. They are triple-dipped strawberries. Dark, bitter chocolate for you. Happy Valentine's Day.
Tohru
Her shaky handwriting made him want to rush over to Shigure's house and tell her loved her. He wasn't angry with her. He could live with the fact that she had accidentally kissed Shigure. He couldn't live with the fact that it was destroying her so much. While devising a plan to talk to her, the phone rang.
Hatori gulped. "She's sick?"
"Her forehead is hotter than mine."
"I'll be right over." Hatori put on his black toggle coat and drove to Shigure's house. The roads were icy, but he managed to not fling the car over the edge. He flung the house door open without any forewarning. He went up the stairs, where he saw into the open door. She was on the bed, sitting at the edge, with her feet dangling. Innocent, childlike. Yuki was on his knees, consoling her.
There was a pang of jealousy. He could never do such a simple action in the presence of others. "Out of character" or "perverted" were things spectators would say. Because he was always so cold, distant, wary of human contact. But in fact, he was passionate and caring. It was just that it had been dormant for a long time. But it was in full bloom again.
Hatori interrupted Yuki curtly. "Yuki. Midterms are coming up. We don't want you to get sick."
Yuki agreed when he saw the stern look on Hatori's face. At the door, Yuki said, "I'm two doors down. Call me if you need anything."
Tohru looked at him helplessly. It was her last chance to get away from the hands of guilt that would strangle her. She did not make eye contact with Hatori.
Hatori asked urgently, "Where are your pajamas?"
Tohru asked him why.
"You're staying with me until you are better."
"No it's alright."
"No it isn't. You can't get better if you are always taking care of other people. You don't take care of yourself." He said, harshly. He was angry at her for overworking herself to the point of getting sick. He was angry at Yuki, Kyo, and most of all Shigure for not helping out (and causing unneeded pain and confusion). He was angry at himself for not always being there. He was angry for being cursed.
She murmured, "It's only a few degrees –" She trailed off after being interrupted by Hatori's cool hand on her forehead. He didn't say anything as he went into the bathroom to get her toothbrush. He returned and asked again where her pajamas were. She pointed to the third drawer on the bureau. Her mouth was dry and she couldn't protest. This was mixed with the fact that if she stayed, she would be affecting Yuki. She did not want his scores to drop from their second place. She didn't want Hatori to lose sleep over her either.
While he opened the drawer, he said inaudibly, "It's not worth it to get sick and do too much because you feel ashamed." Tears trickled down her heated cheeks and she wiped them with her sleeves. Hatori put her stuff in a duffel bag and hung it on his shoulder as he bent his knees and curved an arm beneath her legs and pulled her into his arms. She was very light.
"You're taking my Tohru?" Shigure said at the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes." You opportunistic pig.
He put her gently into the passenger seat, making sure her head did not dip forward. He got into the driver's seat and started the engine. He did not look or speak to her. Because he if he did, he would lose his concentration on the icy roads. They would go careening off the road and that would be the end of things.
At the house, Hatori boiled some water for tea. He helped her settle into his bed after she changed into some penguin patterned pjs. When he tucked the comforter under her chin, she pulled it away. "I feel hot. Can you open the window please?"
He nodded.
--
In the bathroom medicine cabinet, he found his personal supply of cold medicine. He checked the expiration date: a couple more months. They were plain white tablets, no chewy fruity flavor or gel capsules. It was better than going to the supermarket and leaving her side.
Along with some cold water, he gave a drowsy Tohru her medicine.
She had a fitful sleep, though never fully awake. Every time she yelled sorry, he cringed. He wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her she needn't feel bad. He loved her too much to ever let her go or not talk to her as her letter suggested. She cried his name once, and he came rushing to her side from the hard chair in the corner of the room. He grabbed a cold towel from the bathroom to place on her forehead. It was freezing in the room, but as long as it eased her pain, he could bear it.
At eight, Tohru woke up startled, like an automaton. "I have to go to school."
As she slipped on Hatori's too-big bunny slippers (courtesy of Momiji), Hatori entered the room and firmly sat her back down. "You aren't well enough. I called the school. You will be allowed until the end of the week to make up the test."
"Homework,"
"Yuki will bring it over this afternoon. You won't be left behind." He offered a tight smile.
"I kissed Shigure." Tears sprung to her already puffy eyes. She covered her face in shame.
"I know." He said, removing her hands from her face.
"How?"
"He told me. And I don't care."
She looked back at him confused. She felt a bit slighted. "You don't care that I kissed another man?" Wasn't a good boyfriend supposed to be a little jealous? "You aren't jealous?" The fever was making her disoriented and extra emotional.
"I am jealous. Of course I didn't want you to kiss him back, but it happened. People move forward. I care about you and I can forgive anything that you do."
That seemed to console her.
He continued, "I know you don't have feelings for him. And that's all I need to know."
"I'm sorry."
"I forgive you." He kissed her forehead tenderly before giving her a thermometer to stick in her mouth. "After I get this reading, get some sleep."
"Don't you want to know the details?" So you know that it was nothing but a flicker of need. I was missing you, and I just got confused.
"I already heard them."
She blushed.
"It was in the heat of the moment. Your hormones got the better of you. Don't worry, I gave Shigure a big verbal beating. I just hope he didn't see the darkness in my eyes or my clenched fists. I was so angry that he did that, but of course I couldn't voice it as a boyfriend, but as a mentor."
"A little comparison is never bad."
"What do you mean, Tohru?"
"I love when we kiss, but I didn't truly appreciate it until Shigure kissed me."
"Is that a compliment?"
"I learned a lesson Ha'ri, you are the better kisser. He was too assertive. You know the perfect time to be gentle, passionate, sex-y." she struggled with the last word, and he thought it was utterly cute. She fumbled with the corner of the comforter.
"Thank you." I love you too.
"Oh, have you tried the chocolate strawberries?"
"I was waiting for you. I'll go get them."
He came back with the box. "How long did it take you to draw this seahorse? It's beautiful."
"For your box, it took me an hour. The pattern and coloring took up most of the time."
"Thank you. I love it."
He took a strawberry out by its stem. "Ooo, it's too pretty to eat." He sounded young and jovial, as though he had forgotten his jaded past for just a moment. It was a side of him she rarely saw, but when he glimmered before her, she felt exhilarated.
"Go ahead. I made them especially for you, because I know you don't like chocolate too much. The strawberry is the heart of the food because it was the catalyst for us meeting and growing so close."
He put the tip of the strawberry at her mouth. "I already know how they taste. I had two—" He put it in her mouth before she finished.
"Mmm-hmm."
He was about to put the rest in his mouth, before she pulled his hand away from his mouth. "Don't eat it. I'm sick."
"I don't care."
"Don't get careless, Dr. Sohma."
He had forgotten that she was sick. Caught it a moment of love. She could make him forget his duties. She could make him lose his rational mind. It wasn't a bad thing, but if he accidentally said something or did something careless, people would suspect because he was normally so organized and meticulous.
Doom was just around the corner.
"Thank you."
She took the remainder and popped it in her mouth, savoring the contrast between the slight tartness of the strawberry and the bittersweet taste of the chocolate. He followed her. He was ready for the onset of sticky chocolate at the roof of his mouth, on his molars, but instead, the cacao melted on his tongue – sweet, but not too sugary, bitter, but not too astringent. The layers and the center strawberry tasted great. He admitted that it was scrumptious.
"I am so happy you gave them a try."
"I'm glad I did too."
They enjoyed the rest of the chocolates, feeding each other like newlyweds.
"So, what do you want for lunch? I'm going to go buy something."
"I don't really want anything. Maybe some chicken soup with buckwheat noodles?"
"Alright." He answered, ready to hop in the car and return in a jiffy.
"I can make it myself."
"You're sick."
"I'm fine." She rose out of bed and scuttled to the kitchen before he could respond. It was immaculate, as it always was. Hatori always ate out. Tohru wished she could fill the kitchen with aromatic smells of rice, savory soup, and tasty meats.
"I don't have any food."
"Rice?"
"Yes."
"I'll write a list of things to buy at the supermarket. Even though I am not too hungry, I am going to make a feast. I want to make the most of this time we have together."
Tohru shifted a cabinet where the bag of brown rice was. She stood on her tiptoes, but could not reach it. She wiggled her fingers. Hatori leaned over her and picked up the bag easily.
"If only I were taller," Tohru said after thanking him for helping her.
"You are a perfect size. Perfect for shelter under my arm on a rainy day and carrying in my arms when you are sick."
She reddened. It always made her body warm when he said sweet things. The fact that the things he said were rare and genuine made her tingly. She went to his desk to get a notepad. She wrote down a few items she need and reminded him to pick the ripe ones, because when she told Yuki and Kyo to shop, they always returned with bruised tomatoes or hole-y leafy vegetables. He smiled at her comment and promised her he would return with fresh, flawless vegetables.
"Hurry back."
"I will."
--
Akito was looking out her window feeling uncomfortable. She saw Hatori step gaily through the snow. His hands were in his pocket and he looked happy, like he was going somewhere… fun.
The word fun and Hatori were never in the same sentence. What was up with him? When he came to check up on her every other day, he seemed distracted and a bit careless. Before his words were always curt, "Give me your wrist" or "Have you had any stomach problems today?" but lately he was friendly. He said "Please" or "Have a good day." It was strange to see even these small changes in someone who you though would always be stoic and rigid.
She decided it would be a good time to check out his office for clues. Snooping was what she did best.
She wrapped her yukata tightly around her slim body before slipping her feet into a pair of slippers. They were not appropriate for the winter, but she did not want to call one of the troublesome maids who would pretend to care about her health and tell her not to go outside, even though they wished she would just slip on ice, hit her head on a jagged rock, and die.
His house was still and quiet, as usual. But outside appearances were never taken for granted. There was an opening between the curtains. Akito peeked in. She saw a woman in the kitchen. The woman was taller than she, slim and dainty.
A guest? A fucking guest on the Sohma estates? Hatori knew better than to invite someone to the estate and have the secret exposed! He was probably the person most careful of doing such an irresponsible thing!
Plus, Akito thought that he had gotten over women after the incident with that Kana-person. Clearly he had reverted to his wicked ways.
Akito squinted her eyes to make out the face.
It was Tohru Honda! What was she doing here? She was supposed to be living at Shigure's house, a place Akito had so graciously agreed to? Now the stupid girl was getting cocky and going wherever she pleased?!
Akito wanted to storm into the bungalow and teach that girl a few things. Pull that long, luscious hair. Trip those long attractive legs.
But she wouldn't.
She would let things play out.
Ask around.
See that her control was faltering, because if it was, she would have to implement a few new rules. Instill some fear in her captives. Ideas taken from the Machiavelli's work, The Prince that she had just read and enjoyed.
Sometimes good comes from cruel actions: was her motto.
Though it may take some times for the puppets to realize that what she was doing was for the good of the community. She wanted a tight-knit family. Though she never admitted to liking anything, she did enjoy the banquets and holidays. The permanence of her efforts.
She did not want these impure bloods to mix with the pure blood.
--
"Shigure, what is that Tohru Honda doing at Hatori's office?"
"Oh, she's sick."
"Why couldn't she stay here?"
"Hatori insisted on taking her."
"Why?"
Shigure shrugged. "I guess he cares about some patients."
"What do you mean?"
Shigure pouted. "When I'm sick, he shoves the thermometer in my mouth or sticks a needle in me. He is so mean and aggressive toward me. I mean, have I done anything wrong?"
Akito thought about Shigure's comment. If she wasn't so cynical, maybe it was just that Hatori was more gentle toward women, no, just insignificant girls. Or that he was giving his paternal instincts an outlet. Who knew what happened in his mind. He always looks like he's lost.
And no one can fix that.
No one.
--
Dun-dun. Akito is putting the pieces together. Does anyone feel compassion for Akito?
Responses to All My Dear Reviewers:
kuramagal: Thanks for being the first! Glad you are lovin' the story!
-X-Nefertiri-X-: Evil 'Gure, Evil 'Gure!
Jaffa-Cake-Queen: OMG, I love angsty goodness. It breaks my heart and makes my heart race; impossible, right?
Botan and Kurama lover: Angst my love.
Running to my Heart: Glad you picked up on some hints!
slk1229: Grazie!
devilgrl1: Haha, I loved your reaction to the kiss: ewwwww.
krystelvampire: Krystel, I loved you review. Very cute.
kouga's older woman: All these bumps in the road for TxH. Boo-hoo. -.-
XOiHeartMiloOX: 'Emo,' I love the word.
Nikki-4: there will be highs and lows to come…
Keleidescope: Newcomer!! –welcomes you with a big smile and open arms- Thank you so much for reviewing! It makes me so happy when some has the willpower to read the story from start to finish. –kisses-
LibraryLady08: Thank you, m' lady, for the title of this chapter! :)
Alucard's-Master: Thanks for reviewin'. Just wondering, where is your username from?
hatori-zukoos2: Another newcomer! Thanks for the encouragement! I'm glad you found my story entertaining!
Stay Tuned…More angst to come...