Author's Notes:

This was written over a week ago, but lots of stuff happened, so it didn't get up (sorry) I have already finished chapter nine and have to get that typed up and put up and have started chapter 10 as well. When this was written, I had over 1100 hits but only 11 reviews, and still this has hardly changed. I am very disappointed. I have a few people that are in love with this story and for myself, I want to continue it, but if people continue to read and not comment I'll find a different venue for my writing. Please, if you're going to take the time to read or at least glance, take the extra tiny bit of time to leave me a note. Thank you.

Thanks for reading the last chapter! I know I had some mistakes, but I was still encouraged and therefore shall continue with the alternating P.O.Vs. This chapter starts out with Shigure.

Now, speaking about mistakes and lack of reviews…I know my characters are a little skewed. Well, newsflash, other than the case of Ryu and Sakura (who comes in later), I have not created any of the characters, Takaya-Sensei did, and so I cannot reproduce them exactly. Sorry, but that's life. Secondly, the main plot behind this storyline is that Hatori has admitted that he is depressed and suicidal. You get that note right in the preview. Anyone who is depressed and suicidal has a warped personality. I should know as I have clinical/manic depression. Third of all, Hatori's body is going through the ringer because he is going through e-coli poisoning. I apologize for calling it rust poisoning earlier and thank my good friend J-Kun for pointing out this mistake for me.

Finally, this is an official spoiler warning—this chapter alludes to things that happen in volume twelve of the manga.

Enjoy!

Minutes after Ayame calls, we pile into one of the Sohma Estate cars. Ayame motions to the driver and we head to my house. My empty house. Ayame has his shop and Mine to attend to. Yuki, Kyo-Chan and Tohru-Kun will all be at school. In fact, Tohru-Kun probably left a meal for me. I never called. She's probably worried.

I sigh and Ayame turns to me. "'Gure-San…"

Suddenly tears are pouring down my face. I pull out one of my treasured romance novels from my pocket, but it doesn't help. I close my eyes tight. "Shit, Hatori, how could you do this to me?"

"'Gure-San…"

The tears still won't stop. "It hurts, Aya! Dammit it hurts! My stupid chest won't stop burning!"

"It's called love, 'Gure-San."

I look to Ayame, blurred by my tears.

"It hurts a lot, but it's worth it."

"You don't understand!" I shout, turning away.

"You think I don't know?" I've never heard Ayame so spirited before…well, not over something so serious anyway. "You think you're the only one who suffers? Do you know what it's like to be filled with passion and not be able to hold your beloved close?"

I pause.

"Together we can fulfill everyone else's romantic dreams…as long as we don't satisfy our own." Ayame takes a deep breath and I turn back to him. He's surprised me out of my tears for awhile, but now I can't hold it in anymore. I crumple into Ayame's arms.

"He's dying, Aya!"

..:..HaToRi'S pOv..:..

For quite some time I am left alone. After all the excitement with Shigure I am still beside myself. What came over me? I try to slow the frantic beating of my heart and cool myself down by slowly looking around the hospital room. Simple and clean…just like me. Just like my mask, that is.

I look over the medical equipment—things I have been familiar with for years. They all look foreign to me. Why did I become a doctor anyway?

"The blessed instead of the cursed." Akito would say to me, "You have the power to cure people of their memories…you should use that power and be a healer."

I never really minded being a doctor, I suppose. After all, I quite enjoyed teasing Shigure with syringes. No, no! I'm supposed to get my mind off of Shigure. Whenever I think of him and he's not around, my chest burns like hell.

Lost in my reverie, I hardly notice the door opening. "Hello again, Hatori-San."

I look up and see Ryu-Sensei's now familiar face. "Hello again, Ryu-Sensei."

"How are you feeling?"

"A bit warm."

"Well, I'm here to check your vitals anyway, let me take your temperature." I nod. Slowly, Ryu-Sensei inserts a thermometer into my mouth and I patiently wait for my temperature to register. After about a minute, Ryu-Sensei yelps, "Hatori-San, you're not warm, you're on fire!"

"What?" I ask in surprise, attempting to sit up, but dizziness forces me down.

"Your temperature is nearly 41 degrees Celsius! (105.7 degrees Fahrenheit) Lie still and let me check the rest of your vitals."

I comply, having no other choice, and Ryu-Sensei continues, muttering things like, "oxygen level slightly depleted, blood pressure on the low side but normal…"

Suddenly, my vision is going. I start seeing different shapes, then shadows, then my head forces my eyes closed. I hear alarms of different machines going off and Ryu-Sensei yelling, "Hatori-San!" but I slowly slip into the darkness.

..:..ShIgUrE's PoV..:..

"What do you mean, he's dying?"

I just spilled to Ayame that Hatori is dying. Oh my God, what have I done? What have I said? Hatori dying? He can't!

Suddenly I realize I'm breathing hard and Aya is rubbing my back. The driver has pulled off the road and is looking back on us in disgust. Then I realize that I've thrown up. "I…I'm sor—" I try to mutter.

"Hush, hush, 'Gure-San!" Ayame interrupts. He turns to me with a twinkle in his eyes that I've never seen before and a big smile on his face. I can see why Mine fell for him. Sigh…

"You must calm down. Allow me to cleanse you so that you may visit Ha-San!"

Nope, he's back to the same old Aya.

"Aya, I can't visit him, I'll just make him worse."

"You love each other, don't you?

"Yes, but…"

"But nothing! If you love each other, you're the only thing that can make him better!"

He's right. I have to see him. On our own, we're dying. "Take me to my house so that I can clean up!" I announce. The driver makes a face, but at Aya's nod, he drives off. It seems like hours until my house, but Aya claims it is only fifteen minutes. I run into the house towards the shower and notice a package on the kitchen table.

"Shigure-San, Yuki-Kun called the main house and found out what happened. Here is a meal to take to Hatori-San. I hope he gets better soon and doesn't fall in the shower again.

--Tohru"

Ah, how sweet. How innocent. How terribly naïve. Now, off to the shower. I shower in record time and run out to my closest. "No need for a towel, I'm alone." I mutter, looking for something to wear. Better not wear a yukata to the hospital. In the back of my closet I find the suit I borrowed from Hatori for Tohru-Kun's parent-teacher conference. Gingerly, I take it out and hold it close. The scent of Hatori still lingers. My sense of longing is driven through my beeping of the car outside.

"Sorry, 'Gure-san, we must depart!" Ayame yells.

Shit, that's bad timing. "Yeah, sorry!" I call back. I pull on Hatori's suit and run outside, grabbing Tohru-Kun's package on my way.

"You look nice." Ayame nods, "You shall inspire so many wonderful dreams for Ha-San."

"I hope so…years and year of dreams." As long as he's dreaming, he's alive.

Ayame and I share a knowing nod and jump into the car.

"To Nakagawa Hospital!" Ayame shouts to the sound of squealing tires.

Well, that's it for this time around. I wonder what will happen when Shigure finds out Hatori's taken another turn for the worse? (kitty face) Once again, please review. I have decided to give a special mention to everyone who reviews. So please, in your review, make some sort of request such as "I want a plushie of Hatori in human form petting Shigure in dog form!" or something like that and I will include the request and your penname in my author's notes at the beginning of the story. I should get chapter 9 and perhaps 10 up in the next few days. Sorry for the long waits.