Author's Notes:
Here we go! chapter 5! I was encouraged by lady Lilac's enthusiastic review and I really wanted to write at that moment when I read her review, but sadly I had to go to school and had been busy throughout the week which is why I'm only able to post this now.
But I don't know if I'll be able to write anything for the next two weeks since finals are coming and I still have term papers to do so you guys will have to wait. Don't worry, after that I'm sure I'll be able to update faster since after finals will be SUMMER VACATION! XD
*ahem* anyway, on with the fic!
Chapter 5
"I'm sorry, Momiji"
Momiji turned his head towards Haru's voice. He was a little surprised at the sudden apology and a short silence came over the room. It was just the two of them left in the room now. Kyo had arrived earlier to pick up Tohru, who had promised to bring another dessert next time she could come and visit, and left afterwards.
"What for?" he asked curiously. He didn't know of anything that would make Haru apologize to him. Haru seemed to be thinking of whether he would tell Momiji or not as he kept silent for a few seconds before speaking. "If I had been there with you when the accident happened, you wouldn't be…" he trailed off and Momiji gave him an understanding look. "It's not your fault Haru." He said.
Haru slightly shook his head before he remembered that Momiji couldn't see him "No. If I had been with you that day I could have helped you with that snatcher. You might not have been in that accident." He paused "You might have not lost your sight." Haru said, his head slightly lowered and Momiji could pick up the guilt in Haru's voice and he sighed. So this was what Haru was apologizing for. Honestly though, Momiji didn't see the need for it. It wasn't Haru's fault he wasn't there when Momiji got into the accident. But he knew why Haru felt guilty for what happened.
The two of them had walked home together most of the time ever since they were young; with Momiji leading the way home and preventing Haru from getting lost, and Haru keeping him safe whenever they would cross the street or catching him when he would trip and fall. Sometimes Kyo and Kagur would walk home together with them, but most of the time it was just the two of them. They had been like that for such a long time, watching out for each other, which was why Haru was probably feeling guilty about what happened to Momiji. He felt that it was his role to look out for Momiji.
"It's not your fault, Haru." Momiji said again "It's no one's fault." He told the other boy and it was true. In a situation like this, no one is at fault. No one knew that things would turn out this way. Not him, not Haru. So Haru shouldn't blame himself. "No one knew that something like that would happen. Don't blame yourself." He added hoping that by saying so it would reassure Haru.
Haru stayed silent a while longer, thinking, "I know that. But-"whatever he had wanted to say was left unsaid as Momiji cut him off. "No buts. I'm fine Haru…" he said before realizing what he said "…okay, except for a few injuries and a broken arm, but nonetheless I'm fine." He quickly added "But your sight…"Haru said and Momiji sighed "It'll come back. It's not like I'm permanently blind Haru, the doctor made sure of that." He told Haru as he remembered how Hatori would ask the doctor several times about his condition whenever he would come and check on him and the doctor ensured him countless times that his prognosis was correct until Hatori was satisfied. "Don't worry about me." He smiled as he told Haru.
Silence engulfed the room once more and Momiji was starting to wonder if Haru would still insist on apologizing when he heard a sigh "Alright. If you say you're okay, then you're okay." Haru said, his tone was back to its usual nonchalant way that told Momiji that everything was back to normal now and his smile grew even wider. "That's good to hear." He said cheerfully and Haru smiled.
As they began to talk about other things, the door opened and Hatori came in. "I see Haru's here." He said as he removed his coat and placed in on one of the chairs.
"Hatori! You're back!" Momiji exclaimed "Did Tohru leave already?" he asked and Momiji nodded "Kyo came earlier to pick her up." Haru said. As Hatori grabbed a soda from the small fridge and headed towards the chair to sit, Momiji told him about what he did for the whole day with Haru commenting here and there and Hatori listened quietly letting the two, mainly Momiji, continue on about what happened the whole day.
Maiko stood, paralyzed in shock as she stared at her husband "…What?" her voice was trembling. She had wanted to say more but it was the only word she could manage to say at the moment. "Momiji is… our son…." She finally said and she suddenly felt the need to sit down. Mizuki watched his wife sit down on the chair in front of him with an unreadable expression in his face. He had told his wife everything. Starting from the zodiac curse of the Sohma family, which he had to extensively explain to his wife since she wouldn't believe him at first, and then he told her about Momiji and erasing her memories…
Mizuki had inwardly sighed. His wife was taking everything quite well when he had explained to her the curse and how the Sohma family works but, after he had told her about Momiji, how he was her son and her decision to forget, she had been shocked speechless. He knew that she would react like this when he decided to tell her but to actually see it now; knowing that what he said can never be taken back was actually frightening.
He had seen how his wife could be at her troubled state, he had seen it so many times before, and he was afraid, now that everything was revealed, she might remember everything return to her old broken state. It scared him. But he didn't show it as he put on a calm face, while watching his wife. He could see in her eyes the surprise and shock of the truth. But he could also see how the wheels in her mind are moving as she processed the information she was told.
After a few minutes had passed, although it felt like eternity for Mizuki, Maiko had looked up at him, looking slightly hesitant. "But I don't get it… earlier on Momo kept clinging on to Momiji and he didn't transform into a rabbit. How can you say that the curse is real?" she questioned him. "That is because the curse is now broken." He told her "If Momo or any other girl had done the same thing to Momiji half a year ago, he would have transformed into a rabbit." He explained further.
"You said earlier that I had decided to forget about Momiji right?" she asked and Mizuki nodded "That's right." He told her and Maiko seemed to look curious "…how did I… forget?" she asked him.
"Remember the curse I told you about?" he asked her and she nodded "There was one among the junishi who had the power to erase memories." He explained. "Who?" Maiko asked him "It was Hatori." He answered. Maiko's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't know that Hatori was also a member of the junishi. Then again, her husband didn't actually tell her who they were except for Momiji, who was the rabbit. "What was his curse?" she asked curiously. "He was the dragon." Mizuki answered. That explained why the man seemed to be quite close with Momiji, they were both cursed.
Now that she thought about it, Hatori was the one who looked after her during the time she was recovering from her 'illness' and continued to do so afterwards. She supposed it was normal, after all, he was a doctor and he took care of any member of the family that was sick, but she probably received more attention since she is Momiji's mother and the fact that she might remember…
Speaking of Momiji, the boy knew everything right from the start; he knew that when she decided to forget everything he wouldn't be able to be with her anymore, that she would forget everything about him, that he even existed and… he was fine with it.
The thought suddenly made Maiko feel a pang in her chest as the image of the boy sitting in the hospital bed smiling flashed through her mind. "Maiko?" he heard her husband's worried voice call out to her and he looked at him. "That boy… he said that there were several circumstances that I wasn't able to handle anymore, which was why I decided to 'leave.'" she said and Mizuki stayed silent, listening as his wife continued. "How was I back then?" she asked and Mizuki sighed.
As much as possible, he didn't want to recall how his wife was before she had her memories erased. She had been so irate and would easily get upset with the even the smallest of things. She would sometimes even break things just to let her anger out. He remembered during those times how Momiji would always run to him when she was having one of her temper tantrums and he would comfort the boy before going to where his wife was to try and calm her down.
"Mizuki?"
His wife's voice broke him from his thoughts and he looked up, not realizing that he had lowered his head in thought, to see his wife looking at him with a worried look. "It's nothing." He said. Then he remembered the question earlier "Do you really want to know how you were back then? He asked.
A nod from his wife confirmed that she wanted to know and Mizuki had no choice but to tell her "After you found out about the curse and that Momiji would turn into a rabbit you were despaired by the fact that you couldn't even hold him without him transforming." He told her. Maiko listened in silence as she saw her husband's face become morose as he continued to tell her what she was like back then. "You became frustrated and angry to the point that seeing Momiji would make you go in a fit of rage." He continued and Maiko couldn't believe what she was hearing.
If she didn't already know about Momiji being her son, she might have thought that her husband was describing a different person. She couldn't believe that she had become like that, always upset and easily becoming angry, it seemed so unlike her. She would get mad, yes, but she knew she had quite a long tolerance over almost anything.
"She couldn't take it anymore."
Momiji's words rang in her mind and she remembered how sad Momiji looked back then as he told her about his 'mother'. And she couldn't help but feel bad about it.
"Mizuki," she called her husband who turned to her "how old was Momiji again when I forgot him?" she asked him. Mizuki blinked at the question, seemingly surprised at the sudden question "He was five." He answered "why?" he asked.
Maiko's gaze fell onto the phone that was left forgotten on her husband's desk. The picture from Momiji's locket still displayed on the screen. "He was five…" she said "He was only five when I forgot him." Her voice had become softer, lower. To experience something like that at such an age, it must have been terrible for Momiji. She faced her husband again
"You said you asked him if he was okay with me forgetting about him?" she looked at Mizuki who paused for a while before answering "…Yes, I told him that if you would forget him, there was a chance you would recover and be happy again." He answered and Maiko "…and he said he was okay with it?" her voice was now barely a whisper as she asked him.
Mizuki closed his eyes as he tried to push back the memories of the day he asked Momiji that question to the back of his mind, together with the emotions that it brought along. "Yes." He answered and a long moment of silence passed between them, each of them falling into their own myriad of thoughts.
Mizuki removed his glasses and placed them onto his desk as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He remembered how torn he was that day. How he tried so hard to look for another way to make things work. But it was just too much. Maiko was already too broken up about Momiji and he didn't want his son to suffer anymore from her anger and despair.
Truth be told, he never wanted to allow such a thing to happen knowing that the one who will hurt the most will be Momiji, but, at the same time he felt that if he didn't allow Maiko to forget, he would lose her. And he didn't want that. Because if he lost her, he just knows he wouldn't be able to take it anymore. That he, too, might break.
And for that brief moment he decided to go along with erasing Momiji from Maiko's memories. Because he was also tired. And for once, just this once, he had wanted to be selfish. So he did what he had to and told Momiji about erasing him from his mother's memories knowing that his son would agree with the idea, if only to help his mother to be happy again. After that was done, he had asked Hatori to erase Momiji from his wife's memories.
It was only some time after that Mizuki had quickly regretted his decision. He saw how his son had suffered living away from them. How he would sometimes see him watch them from afar as they had dinner outside or when they go to the park and he did nothing about it. He tried to spend as much time as he can with Momiji but he knew it was not enough.
Still, Momiji would understand when he would apologize. He understood when he scolded the boy when he accidentally met his mother as he was hanging around the building with his friend who worked there. He even understood him when he told him he had to quit taking violin lessons from the same teacher Momo was learning from. Aand Mizuki felt so guilty about all of it. Because he knew that Momiji knew what he wanted. He understood and calmly agreed with what he decides. And Mizuki felt so ashamed.
Because he knew that Momiji knew he was afraid of losing the happiness he had been able to build with Maiko and Momo if they were to meet with Momiji. And that he would do anything to prevent that world of happiness to break.
A loud beeping sound took the occupants of the room by surprise, shaking them off from their own thoughts. Both Maiko and Mizuki turned their attention to the telephone placed on the corner of the desk which was the source of the noise and Mizuki pushed the small red button that was flashing red.
"I'm very sorry to disturb you sir, but your next meeting will begin in five minutes."
The apologetic voice of his secretary came through the telephone. "I see. I'll be there in a moment." He answered back and after hearing a 'yes sir' from his secretary he released the red button and wore back his glasses.
"You shouldn't keep them waiting." Maiko said as she stood up and reached out to pick up her phone from the desk.
"Maiko-"
"Please don't tell Momiji about this." Maiko abruptly said while returning her phone inside her bag. "What?" Mizuki asked in response "Why?" Maiko looked at him, her expression unreadable "…I don't want to cause any more trouble for that boy. It was already because of me that he lost his sight, even if it isn't permanent. I'm sure finding out that I now know that I'm his mother would cause him unwanted stress." She explained.
"Alright." Mizuki agreed. Maiko turned and headed for the door, but she stopped as she was about to open it and turned back to him "We'll continue this conversation when you get home." She said and she opened the door and left.
After the door had clicked shut, Mizuki reclined back in his chair. Their conversation had definitely tired him out and he closed his eyes as he let a sigh escape his lips. He now had less than five minutes until his meeting starts but right now he just wasn't in the mood to listen to a boring meeting about how much the company earned or lost or whatever. He didn't care if he'd be late, heck, he was the president. His people could wait a few more minutes. He won't be able to concentrate anyway; his mind was swirling around Maiko and Momiji. What will he do from now on? He doesn't really know what will happen with the days to come but he knew one thing for sure. It was going to be a big mess.
Opening his eyes, his gaze falls onto the second to the last drawer on his right and he reaches out to open it revealing a picture frame with a picture of him and Momiji together smiling happily.
"Momiji, what should I do now?"
The whole week passed by as Momiji continued to recuperate in the hospital. Almost all of the junishi had visited him during his stay. Kisa and Hiro visited him on his third day there and gave him a small Mogeta plushie as a get well gift. He apologized to Kisa saying that he won't be able to watch the movie with her and Hiro like he promised. Kisa had understood saying that it was okay and Hiro commented that they could always watch it again together with him when he gets his sight back.
Shigure and Ayame also visited and were causing quite a ruckus that Hatori had to apologize to the nurse that had to come every now and then to remind them that they were in a hospital and that they should keep the volume at bay. And even though he couldn't see, he could feel the dark aura emanating from Hatori as he scolded the other two for being so noisy; with Ayame talking animatedly and Shigure backing him up every now and then. Before they left though, Ayame had promised to make him some clothes and when Hatori had asked why Momiji would need new clothes, designed by Ayame himself, the man simply answered that just because Momiji can't see the fabulousness of the clothes he was wearing doesn't mean he shouldn't wear them and that he should show it off to the other people who dared to wear such plain clothes causing Momiji to laugh.
Yuki had managed to make time despite his busy schedule in university and had come along with Tohru and Kyo the next day and Momiji was glad that they all came together. He spent the day with them talking and eating and having fun like the way they used to in Shigure's house and he was a little sad that they all had to leave as the sun began to set but he was okay with it since Yuki promised to visit again when he can and Tohru and Kyo said they come again the next day.
He was actually surprised that there would be at least someone aside from Hatori and Tohru that would come and visit him. Aside from Kyo who usually came to the hospital to pick up Tohru or come and visit him with her and Haru who visited occasionally, Kagura also came bringing get well gifts from her and her mother and Rin visited him once together with Haru. Even Ristu came and Momiji was glad he was somewhat less panicky than before and didn't cause much of a scene now unlike before.
He was also glad that his mother and Momo still came a couple of times after their last visit. He was afraid that his last conversation with his mother would create an awkward atmosphere between them but when she came with Momo, he was glad that it didn't seem to have affected her. Although he did notice something different with the way she spoke with him. When he asked them if something was wrong, she said there wasn't and that he was probably thinking too much and after thinking about it, he realized that he was and he decided to just shrug it off.
The week passed by so fast with all the people who came to visit him and the day he was going to be released from the hospital came. He was sitting on the edge of the bed humming happily as Hatori made sure that they had everything they brought with them packed into the bag. "There." Hatori said as he zipped the bag close. "Are you done?" Momiji asked him "Yeah, we're good to go." Hatori answered back. "Okay! Let's go!" Momiji cheerfully said as he stood up.
Moving was no longer a problem for Momiji. The pain in his side had become dull and moving had become much easier, although he's still quite cautious of moving around too much since his ribs still haven't fully healed. Aside from that, the only other thing left that hasn't healed completely is his left arm.
Grabbing the bag from the table, Hatori went over to Momiji and guided him as they made their way outside the room. It was Momiji's first time to walk this far after he had lost his sight. Sure, he had walked around his room when moving around became easier and with the help of Hatori, who suggested that he practiced walking while being guided so that he won't have that much of a hard time when he gets released from the hospital, but knowing he was now walking outside his hospital room made him a bit nervous.
"Don't worry, I'm right here." Hatori probably sensed that he was nervous as he said those words and it had somehow calmed him down. They had reached the elevator and for the first time, Momiji tried to make out his surroundings from what he could hear as they waited for the elevator to reach their floor.
He could hear voices coming from both his left and right sides and it seemed like the people in this floor were really busy as he could feel the people pass by behind him, some slow, others fast and some were walking together discussing things that he wasn't able to hear properly because they walked to fast for him to actually understand anything.
He was too absorbed in his surroundings that he flinched in surprise when Hatori placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong Momiji?" the elevator's here." He told him. Momiji blinked "Oh, uh, it's nothing. I just got distracted. Let's go." He said sheepishly and Hatori guided him towards the elevator looking mildly amused.
The quiet sound of the elevator was the only thing Momiji could hear as it descended to the lobby of the hospital. After the elevator beeped, signaling that they were now on the lobby, the door opened and Momiji didn't need to see to know that the lobby was bustling with people. They stepped out and Hatori guided him towards the waiting area where the chairs are. "You can sit here and wait while I hand over your release form to the reception desk." Hatori told him "Stay here okay? It'll only take a short while." He finished as he watched Momiji felt around for one of the chairs and slowly sits on it. "Okay." Momiji answered and Hatori headed towards the reception desk.
Momiji leaned back into the chair as he continued listening to his surroundings. It was the first time that he had to rely on his hearing to create a picture in his mind of what his surrounding was like and it felt new to him. He could hear various things, from the loud voices of the people in the distance to the quiet low voices he could hear from the seat behind him and the sound of people walking around going to various directions talking, laughing, crying and many more. The various sounds he could hear were all meshing into each other that he was having a hard time pinpointing which sound belonged where. He was busy with trying to follow the sound of what he assumed was a wheelchair that he didn't notice the sound of footsteps heading towards him.
"Momiji-kun."
Momiji looked up towards the voice and smiled. "Maiko-san, what are you doing here?" Maiko smiled in return as she stood in front of Momiji. "I heard you were being released from the hospital today. I wanted to visit you for the last time. It seems I made it just in time to see you off." She said and Momiji's smile faltered just a little bit "Oh, I see. Well, technically I'm still not released, that is, until Hatori returns from the reception area. He's has my release papers." He told her.
"You must be excited. You can finally get out of the hospital." She said and Momiji laughed a little "Yeah, I can finally return home." He said happily "Although, I'll be staying at Hatori's place for a while since my father hasn't returned from his business trip yet." He added and Maiko's smile slowly disappeared.
"Momiji-kun, there's… something I wanted to tell you." She said, her voice was quiet but it was loud enough for Momiji to hear. "What is it?" he blinked in question. A few second passed between them and Maiko's expression turned serious. "Momiji-kun… I know." She said.
Momiji furrowed his brows in confusion "I'm sorry, I don't understand. What do you mean?" he asked her and for a second, a look of uncertainty passed through Maiko's face before returning to the serious look she had before.
"Momiji, I know now… that I'm your mother."
Momiji's eyes widened as her words sunk in. "…W-what?" his voice was trembling, but he couldn't stop it from doing so. She knows that he is her son. She knows about… the curse. "…How?" it was the only thing that came out of his mouth and Maiko could see his hands were shaking. "I'm sorry Momiji, I lied to you." She said apologetically "The picture in the locket, I saw what was inside." She said and she explained to him how she confronted his father about it, how his father told her the truth, about the curse and about erasing her memories.
Momiji sat in the chair, dumbstruck as he listened to his mother's explanations. His mind was swirling with thoughts, questions, he was thinking of what to do next, what would happen next.
"..ji-kun…Momiji-kun"
Momiji looked towards his mother's voice "What?" he was too absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't hear what she said. "I said I'm sorry for not telling you earlier. I didn't want to cause anymore stress for you. "She started "To be honest, I planned on not telling until after you've healed but, I realized it wouldn't be fair to you if I didn't tell you about it. So when I heard that you were going to be released today, I came and I saw you sitting here." Her voice had become gentle as she finished explaining to him.
"…Momiji-kun?" Maiko called back thinking that the boy must have fallen back into thinking but he responded when she called him "…Does Momo know?" he asked quietly "No, I didn't tell her." She answered "I see…" Momiji lowered his head, his hair covering his eyes.
Maiko stared at the boy in front of her, she knew what she said would cause distraught for the boy but right now she didn't know what to do.
"Momiji-kun…" she called out the boy looked at her and she could see the confusion and anxiety in his eyes "Momiji-kun" she called again as she reached out to caress the boy's cheek thinking it would comfort him just like the last time she had done so. But at the moment that her hands touched Momiji's cheek, the boy had flinched and moved away from her touch in surprise. "I-I'm sorry." Maiko apologized; she was taken by surprise at the boy's reaction.
"Uh, no… it's okay…"Momiji managed to said a few seconds of silence fell on them "Um," Momiji began to speak gaining Maiko's attention "I know it might sound rude but… I'd like to ask you to not visit me for a while." Momiji slowly said and Maiko stared at him not knowing what to say. "Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not mad or anything but, I just think… I would need some time to gather my thoughts about this before I could talk to you again." Momiji explained.
"I see." Maiko said, her head lowered a little "Its okay, I think we all need the time to think about this as well." She told him. "Well then, I supposed I should get going." She said and Momiji only nodded in response.
"Oh, Maiko-san, I didn't expect to see you."
Both Maiko and Momiji turned to look in the direction where Hatori was coming from. "Hatori-san, I heard that Momiji-kun was leaving the hospital today and I dropped in to visit him one last time." Maiko said, forcing a smile on her face. "I see." Hatori replied. He then turned to Momiji "I'm sorry it took so long. I didn't expect that there would be so many people today, the reception desk was full of people." He told Momiji. Momiji shook his head "No, it's okay." He too, had a small smile in his face "Are we done then? Can we go home?" he asked as he stood up.
Hatori nodded "Yeah, we can go home now. And you Maiko-san?" he turned to the woman standing beside Momiji "I have to go as well; I have an appointment to go to." She said. "Well then, shall we all go out together then?" Hatori asked and after receiving a small nod from Maiko, he stood beside Momiji and started to guide him across the lobby and towards the exit. As they began to head into different directions, Momiji and Hatori towards Hatori's car and Maiko towards her own, Maiko called out.
"Momiji-kun, until the next time we meet."
Momiji stopped and looked back at her. Her words had a certain feeling to it. It had a tone of finality to it and it unsettled Momiji. But nonetheless he nodded "Yeah, until the next time we meet." He echoed her last words and Maiko had a small smile on her face as she turned away after saying farewell.
Hatori watched the exchange silently and turned to Momiji as they began to walk towards his car. Hatori noticed there was something different with Momiji after he returned. He wondered if Maiko had said anything to boy while he was gone. But then again she did say she was visiting him for the last time. Momiji was probably sad about it but was trying not to show it. He always felt a little sad whenever maiko would tell him that she had leave and go home or that she had an appointment to go to. Momiji never showed it, but Hatori could tell. He did, after all, spend a lot of time with Momiji before so he knew how to read the boy's expressions.
"Is something wrong?" he asked. It took a few more seconds before Momiji answered "No, it's nothing." He replied back. And Hatori stared at the boy a little while more. He was probably thinking too much about it and was being paranoid. But for some reason there was something nagging at the back of Hatori's mind about the way Momiji and Maiko looked when he saw them from afar. Returning his gaze back towards his car, he decided that whatever it was that happened, he knew Momiji would tell him one way or the other. Right now, all he needs to do is wait. Asking Momiji about it now won't make the boy tell him anyway so that's what he'll do.
As they reached the car, he helped Momiji into the passenger seat and then put the bag into the back of the car before they left the hospital and headed back to the main house.
Author's notes:
...I was actually thinking of putting another cliffhanger here but then Lady Lilac might hate me even more for leaving the chapter off with another suspense XD so i toned it down a little. I'm not sure about the next chapters though LOL
Truthfully, I actually had a hard time writing Haru since his character is hard to get (for me) and Maiko and Mizuki's scene took me forever to write! I was visualizing the scene too much that I got confused about which POV would come after which dialogue . but then after a lot of rewriteing and editing I've finally fixed it and I'm glad with the outcome.
Anyway, there you have it! Chapter 5! Now let me know what you guys think ^^