Standard Disclaimer applies.

A/N: Enjoy!

Hatori's Remedy presents:

Chapter 54: Before the Storm

Kyo stiffly pulled the chair out for her to sit down. "I'll go get us some snacks."

Tohru nodded, still catching her breath after dancing. Tonight was turning out perfectly. They had spun around until they were dizzy, humming and moving to the music. Both managed to keep stepping on each other's toes to less than 10 times each. Kyo seemed happy, and so was she. But she couldn't wait to get home early to see Hatori. She had so many stories to tell him. Like when Kyo was in a flurry to open the door for her and tripped on the steps, or when Saki called her date a "Fungi" in an attempt to make the stoic boy laugh (who was quite her complement). Tohru looked on at the energetic dancers. Some people's feet moved awkwardly, and sometimes she was afraid that one couple would tumble, causing a domino effect, ending in a heap of tired limbs and laughs. Others danced gracefully, like professional dancers.

"Hey Tohru, do you want to go out for a breath. It's really stuffy in here."

"Sure." Her cheeks were flushed with energy.

Kyo let them out to the courtyard again, with his hands full of tasty goodies. This time they settled on a bench surrounded by flowers and dim paper lanterns. It was idyllic. Tohru wanted to capture the image in her mind to share with Hatori. Click.

Kyo passed her a plate with delicate pastries and fruit. "Thanks."

"The line was long, I guess all the people were hungry after all that dancing."

They filled the time between munches with small talk before Kyo abruptly asked, "Tell me more about the guy you like."

"You want to know more about him?!" She asked, incredulous. She wiped her mouth of bittersweet molten chocolate.

"I want to know what a girl looks for in a guy. It's will be my guideline."

"He's caring, smart, patient, loving, honest, thoughtful, a little shy, and of course super handsome."

"He's setting the standard high. Does he have any flaws?"

"Hmm... sometimes he doesn't express his feelings; he tries to hide them. He can come off as unfriendly or cold."

"That sounds like me, the quiet, I-have-a-dark-cloud-hanging-over-me type." Kyo said with a goofy, joking grin on his face. Tohru turned away from his, blushing. All of the Sohmas are like that in some way...

"Is he our age?"

"Not really."

"Oh." From the express on his face, she knew that he wanted to ask 'how old' but he didn't, and she didn't provide any hints.

"So you really love him?"

"Yes."

"Then I approve. I'd really like to meet him someday, and make sure he's going to take care of my good Tohru." He ruffled her hair. She shook her head and said, "Aiiii Kyo!"

Kyo chuckled at her reaction. Shaking her head made things worse. He fixed a strand of hair, putting it behind her ear. She forgave him with a smile. She burst into a fit of laughter, until her she was misty-eyed.

"That's be nice."

"Hey you guys! We've been looking all over for you. We're going to have a group picture!" called out a voice.

"Be in, in a sec!"

"Okay!" Arisa shouted.

---

Hatori sat on the couch holding his face in his hands. The glass had pierced his face, and his knees when he knelt down. I should leave her. To protect her. If Akito isn't afraid to hurt me, she won't be afraid to hurt Tohru, someone she was no care for.

I can't. I want to be with her. I love her. But I want her to be happy and not stuck in this dangerous relationship. I do not know what the irrational Akito would do. Would she go so far as to harm someone? Yes, it has happened. It was unimaginable. What if it happens again? I would never forgive myself if I harmed her.

Two parts of him fought. He finally rose and paced the length of the room. What am I going to do?

He avoided reflective surfaces. He couldn't not bear to see the monster, or the dark emotionally-scarred eyes that would tell him that he was a fool for thinking he could protect her. A pawn without any weapons was useless against the king, or in this case, the queen. His wakeful state was pure agony, racing, depressing. It was impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This tunnel was dark and smothering. It could only end badly. He fell into a fitful sleep, dried tears stained on his ashen cheeks.

---

She came to the house after the dance. Kyo had kissed her on the cheek before heading to the kitchen. She told him she was going out for a walk. She changed out of her heels into some comfy, worn sneakers, before ducking out into the darkness. The night was still, with only sounds of nature. Usually, it scared her, but tonight, she felt unafraid, free from her fears. It was a thirty minutes to walk to the estates.

She crawled under the broken fence and fled to Hatori's bungalow, mission impossible style, not wanting to attract attention from other residents. She knocked on the door softly.

At first he didn't hear. At first he thought Akito was back, to finish some business. But he figured she would not have knocked, but rather just stormed in.

---

"If you loved me, you'd fight it with me. But you're being so cowardly." The pain of her expression made his heart twist with the realization of things he had just said. I can't be with you anymore. At first, she had taken it was a joke, a test. But when his face showed no sign of humor, she fought back. Why?

There was nothing subtle about her sobs.

"You didn't hear the things she said," Hatori said sharply. He didn't want to continue you this. The more she asked, the more she stared at him with her wet eyes, the more he wanted to give and and tell her it was all a joke. Maybe let them be together for a little while longer, until the dream came to a crashing end. But it was wrong, so dramatic and illogical.

He was lost. He wanted her so badly. Yet he wanted so badly for her safety.

Protection over love.

Love over protection.

The thoughts twisted in his mind endlessly.

"Whatever they were, it couldn't be worse than the things I feel right now. I-I ca-can't even look at you." She said, shutting her eyes so tightly that her lashes twitched. She was trying to end this nightmare, this horrible, horrible hallucination.

The silence between them was absolute. Not a flutter of wind.

Not a flicker of hope in the thick air between them, dark and decrepit.

"I'll go now."

"No. Not yet." His raspy voice called out. It was far from his usual smooth masculine tones. This was his last chance. Was he ready to give it all up? His body was numb all over. His only grasp to earth, was that she was still in front of him. He did not even want to blink, for fear that when he opened his eyes, she would be gone.

"I think it's over."

"I still love you."

"How can you say something like that after you... you don't. Don't tell me lies!" There was an explosion of energy, hopelessness, pain.

He went across the living room, to her. He reached for her arm, wanting to pull her into the protective arc of his arm - the last time, but she pulled away. "Go. Away." The two words she had never thought she would say to him so harshly.

And with that, she left. She didn't slam the door. That would have numbed his mind at least.

He lost her. It was all in his control. But he did it.

He stared into the painful brightness of the white wall.

Then, he woke up. He was on the couch, not standing at the door like a lost seaman. It hadn't been real. She had been a creation of his own need. He wiped the sweat from his face.

---

The distant hollow knock gradually became more clear, pulling him out of his seat. He went to the door and opened it.

There was no one. Nothing. And he heard it again. It was a tree's branch against the window. This was so confusing.

Maybe he should go check on Tohru - to make sure that she had not come, that none of that had transpired. It was half past one, she must be home now.

Please let it had been a dream. Please.

He grabbed his keys and drove - fast. He parked his car haphazardly, right-side in the grass.

The house was dark, except for a small light coming from behind the front door.

He just wanted to make sure she was safe.

The door was unlocked, as it always was. He opened it slowly. His eyes took in the living room, worried. And he saw her. The angle at which she was positioned in the rocking chair, together with the sheets of her hair prevented him from seeing her face. That delicated visage that had haunted his sleeping state. He knelt beside her. Her face was pure, free of any distress lines; she breathed softly.

He sighed in relief.

Being the light sleeper that she was, she stirred. "'Tori?"

He was stuck. He hadn't wanted her to wake.

"I'm here," he said quietly, stroking her thigh.

She opened her other eye, and immediately stood up. "What happened?" She asked, her voice laced with emotion at seeing the crusted blood on his face, his bloodless face.

He watched her chin quiver. Her hand touched his cheek. As much as he wanted to move and touch her and whisper that it was okay, he didn't, because it wasn't.

He was about to do something so horrible that she would forget him, hopefully erase him from her mind. And he would live with the terrible memories, again.

He gave a guilty twitch.

---

A/N: Hatori got a bit paranoid at the end. The next chapter is on another computer, far far away. Friday the 13th! Does anyone like horror movies? (random, random)

I treasure each of your reviews. Make my day by reviewing. :)