Author: I'm beginning to struggle on this story so updates will be slow. Sorry

CHAPTER THREE

It wasn't until Desare's stomach rumbled loudly, that she looked at her watch and realised what the time was. "Lunch time! Thank you stomach!" she giggled to herself as she went about preparing a basic lunch. Just sandwhiches and coffee. It was all she had until she did a proper shop. For now, she was just living off the necessesities. "Hmm, I wonder if Hatori will take a lunch break?"

Ever the curious mouse she was, she stood up from her crouched position and walked over to her kitchen window, where she could see Hatori's kitchen window opposite hers. She felt a surge of disappointment at seeing his kitchen blinds closed. To her, it was a sign that he was either busy or he didn't want to be disturbed. Or both. She understood, of course. Him being a doctor and all. But deep down, she wanted to spend more time with him, and get to know this Doctor who holds so much mystery.

Her stomach whined for some food. Sighing, she turned her back to the window and made her way to the family room. It was the only room that was currently housing chairs. It was either that or she ate in her bedroom – but that made her felt like one of those deeply lonely people and she didn't want to feel like that.

Curling her feet underneath her, she sat comfortably in one of her chairs and ate quietly. And alone.

It wasn't until 3pm that Hatori stopped for a break. He wasn't hungry, but he could feel that his body was getting weary from completing hours of paperwork wihtout rest. He was low on coffee and in need of a smoke. It can be said that for a doctor, Hatori's eating habits were irregular. But he knows his limits, and refuses to become ill. For who would become the family physician if Hatori was bed-ridden? This being said, Should anyone even dare question his smokoing habits?

Standing abruptly, had caused Hatori's chair to wheel back and swivel in its spot. Discarding the chair altogether, Hatori made his way to the kitchen where he put on a pot of coffee to boil whilst he allowed himself a break for a smoke.

Walking out on his back balcony, Hatori lit up a cigeratte and inhaled the muchly needed substance. He slowly exhaled as he looked around his garden; Except there wasn't much garden as the snow had taken over. Snow. Kana.

"I knew it would snow today!"

Her soft voice filtered into Hatori's mind. Why the hell was he thinking so much about her? Was it because the girl next door had reminded him so much of her, of Kana? Snuffing out his cigarette and thoughts, he returned back to the kitchen to focus on making his coffee.

She reminded him so much of Kana, and yet, was also different to her individual being. It made Hatori want to discover more about her, learn more about her. But lifting his hand to entangle his fingers in his bangs, which covered his damaged eye, had reminded him of the consequences of becoming close to another woman. It was utterly impossible as long as he carries the curse. He had to keep this woman at a distance and train his mind to think of her as the annoying neighbour. Nothing more. It was a cold decision to do. "You're as a cold as ice, Hatori." Were the words Akito had used to describe him. And how true they had become.

With Akito's voice sitting at the back of his mind, he finished making his coffee and once again, made his way back to his office. Taking a gulp of the much needed scalding liquid, he placed the mug down on the desk away from his paperwork, and continued with what he had left. With no patients on the weekend (unless it was an emergency), Hatori used this time to catch up on some overdue paperwork. Most needed filing under the appropriate categories. Hatori made it a point to never fall behind on medical reports themselves as it could easily cost someone there life – and that was something the Doctor couldn't afford.

And paperwork was always a good excuse to avoid people. Namely one woman.

With sunset falling, Desare had managed to unpack most of her kitchen (her first priority was locating her kettle!) and the start of her tutoring utensils. To be disappointed that she hadn't seen Hatori today was a slight understatement. He was a doctor so she could only assume he was busy doing doctor stuff, paperwork, things like that. She didn't really know what Doctors actually do other than prescribe medicine to their patients. And there was a conversation starter, she made a mental not to herself.

With the night falling, she pulled out a frozen meal and defrosted it in the microwave.

While waiting for that 15 minutes, she continued to unpack boxes and place items in their respective rooms around the house. She had hoped to have her house in order once during the current weekend so she could invite Hatori over. It would be her way of returning the favour of when he had her over for a cuppa. He could have easily gave her some coffee and sent her on her merry way; but he didn't. He asked if she wanted to sit with and so she did. Until his cousins showed up. Desare giggled to herself. They were a funny pair.

-BEEP. BEEP. BEEP- came the ending signal from the microwave. Her dinner was ready! Her hunger showed through the excitement of having some food as she bounced from her living room to the kitchen. Grabbing some cutlery that was sitting on the bench waiting to be placed in its respective place in the drawer, she took her dinner to her sofa and sat down with her legs curled underneath her and her food resting on the armchair. Sure she could sit at the table, but it was only her tonight. Why not enjoy a much needed meal in comfort? She earned this moment. She earned the right to do whatever she wanted in her own home.

"Daddy?" a young Desare asked her father, holding her plate steadily in her hands. "Can we have a TV Dinner tonight?" the innocent young girl asked him. 'TV Dinners' consisted of eating dinners on the couch whilst watching television. It was a treat for Desare as per any household in America, it was only polite to eat at the table with other members and to converse over dinner; not ignore each other and watch television.

"And what would I get in return?" asked the male figure that she was meant to call her 'father'. And she did. He just...he wasn't like the other dads.

"Um..whatever you want?" she squeaked out quietly. She knew she should have just stayed sitting at the table and not have asked. If she had just kept quiet and eaten at the table, she wouldn't have to suffer through what was to come. But she really wanted to watch her favourite movie – Cinderella. And it was on television. Unfortunately, she wasn't lucky enough to own her own copy of Cinderella.

Her dad chuckled and affectionately patted her bum. "Sure, kiddo. Whatever ya want."

"Thank you!" Desare carefully walked to the loungeroom and sat down in front of the TV and began her treat of a 'TV Dinner'.

It had been hard for Desare when her mom died when she was so young. She was only raised by her father. Even though she was only the young age of 5, she could already tell that her dad was struggling. And it was up to her to make sure that she would always be her mommy to him. That's what he told her. And that's why, after watching Cinderella, she has to make sure he's happy.

No. Desare would not allow a past memory to ruin everything for her. She was not that young girl anymore. She was Desare Bellamy. A young woman who earned her degree in teaching. Who earned the right to sit in front of the Television in comfort and to eat her dinner without a care in the world. Memories. That's all they were. They hurt the past, not the future.

Eating only half her dinner, she had suddenly lost her appetite. Perhaps she wasn't as hungry as she thought she was? Sighing, she forced herself off the comfort of her sofa and walked on weary and tired feet to the kitchen where she dumped her food on the counter before walking to the bedroom. She needed a shower. She felt dirty. She had unpacked a lot today and had built up a sweat. But the memory only made her feel even more dirtier. It was nothing that a hot shower could fix.

It was dark out, which meant it could only be late. Hatori glanced over at his clock as he shut the last file of paperwork. The clock read 6:30pm. He really should fix himself some dinner.

Part of him wondered if Desare had dinner herself. He stopped himself from acting upon his question by frowning and pushing all thoughts of her aside. He would not allow her to be on his mind. He couldn't afford it to put his family through the turmoil of watching his suffer. He knew he had hurt his family by distancing himself since Kana. Heaven knows what will happen if he fell in love again and repeated the same thing.

Closing his file, satisfied that all his paperwork was finally complete, he reached over and placed the file accordingly in its respective place in the filing cabinet. Shutting it close with a small bang, he stood up and stretched, working the muscles in his back by rolling his shoulders. He felt the aching tension fade a little. Straightening up his desk, he left it spotlessly clean for the following morning.

Walking out of his office, he switched the lights off and closed the door behind him. A days job done. Sighing, he contemplated on what to have for dinner. Opening his fridge, he hit jackpot. He had leftover Teriyaki Chicken. That will do. Placing it the microwave to heat, he looked out his window as he waited. He saw Desare's house engulfed in darkness. Perhaps she had an early night? A wise decision that he would soon follow in her footsteps by having an early night himself.

-BEEP. BEEP. BEEP- came the shrill ending of the microwave, which pulled Hatori out of his thoughts. Dropping his hand away from the curtain, he gathered some cutlery and took his meal out of the microwave. Placing it on the table, he sat down and quietly ate as he retrieved a nearby medical book and read some of the latest surgical techniques.

On his days off, Hatori worked at the local hospital as a surgeon. Akito only allowed this because it would benefit her by Hatori having access to the latest medicinal supplies and techniques. If Hatori wasn't the family physician, his life would consist of practically living at the hospital.

Having finished his meal, he quickly washed his dishes and left them on the sink to dry overnight before retiring for the night with a quick shower.

Desare, on the other hand, was not having 'an early night' as Hatori had thought.

Right now, the poor girl had been overwrought with memories that she couldn't control. She had scrubbed at her skin in the shower until it was red raw and she could scrub no more. Now, she just sat in the shower with her leg held closely to her chest, the piping hot water cascading down upon her. Dirty. She was dirty and she could never become clean.

Fifteen minutes later she finally switched the water off and got ready for bed. And her nightly ritual began; scared to fall asleep knowing nightmares would plague her through the night.

With the next day starting, Hatori got up early to start his day with his usual coffee and cigarette before leaving.

Shrugging his doctors coat on and clipping his credentials to his chest, he grabbed his go-to medical bag in case of emergencies. Grabbing his keys, he locked and closed the door behind him before making his way to his car. Unlocking the car, he placed his medical bag on the passenger seat and sat down in the driver's seat where he turned the key ignition and the car roared softly to life. Reversing out of his driveway, Hatori made his way to Kaibara Hospital.

The minute he stepped into the hospital he was bombarded with files that contained contents to brief him on impending surgeries. Dropping his medical kit on his office seat, he threw his scrubs on and made his way to the surgery department where he would begin the long and thorough process of prepping himself and his patient for surgery.

And thus began the day's work.

Desare woke up like a zombie in the morning. Her body ached all over from moving boxes and furniture everywhere. She was sleep deprived from nightmares throughout the night. She needed coffee. Now. Groaning, she stretched the achiness from her muscles before padding out of her room and down to the kitchen where the kettle was sitting on the bench waiting for her.

Flicking it on, she got her coffee ready and waited for the water to boil. She looked over at the time ticking away on the clock. 7:00am. That was way too early for Desare to be up! Had she known it was that early, she would have stayed in bed. Nevermind, she was up now. With the kettle flicking itself off, she poured the hot water in her cup and made her coffee strong.

Grabbing her jacket from her coat rack, she shrugged it on and walked outside, coffee in hand, in hopes to see Hatori on his front porch having a coffee. Her heart sunk a little when she didn't see him. He must already be working she thought to herself as she took a sip of the scolding hot liquid that would soon awaken her senses.

Having finished her coffee, she walked back inside and deposited the empty mug in the sink before walking down to the bathroom where she would take a shower and commence her days activities of unpacking the last of her boxes and organise Momiji's tutoring paperwork.

As the day progressed, both neighbours became busier in their confined spaces. Hatori, elbow deep in someone's body and Desare, elbow deep in paperwork.

It wasn't until 5:30pm that Desare dropped her pen and sighed. She had done everything! Her boxes were all unpacked, her house was put together and Momiji's tutoring paperwork was all organised. It felt like such a relief to know that she could start the Monday week off organised, refreshed and ready to go.

Hatori, on the other hand had just pulled in his driveway. One of his patients had some heavy bleeding which caused it to squirt onto Hatori's scrubs and through to his clothing, which he wasn't too happy about. It meant that he had to throw an expensive vest and shirt away.

Stepping out of the car, he heard a squeal of "Hatori! Oh my god!" and footsteps running towards him.

Desare heard his car pull up and was a little bit too eager to greet him than a normal person. Standing on her porch, she watched as he got out of his car only to notice blood on his clothing. Completely forgetting that he was a doctor and probably had some emergency causing the blood to be splattered on him, her mind went straight for the worst case scenarios. "Hatori! Oh my god!" she cried out as she ran to him.

He placed a hand in the air between the space of her body and his. He couldn't risk her bumping into him at any point. "You'll kill yourself running." The doctor sternly joked with her. Of course she couldn't kill herself running, but she could injure herself with just a single trip. And Hatori was too exhausted to deal with any more injuries for one day.

"But you're..." Desare started to say bleeding when she noticed that it wasn't really him bleeding. "You're not..." no, it was someone elses blood. "It's someone else's...I, who?" her concerned eyes looked up at him.

"I am not at liberty to discuss my patients outside the practice vicinity. Sometimes a patient's blood will squirt rather than ooze out. Unfortunately I happened to be on the receding end of it."

Patient...blood...squirt...of course! It finally hit her like a ton of bricks. How could she be so stupid!? She let out a nervous laugh. "Oh, I thought it was your blood and you were in an accident."

"No. Your concern is not needed. Especially over something so trivial such as I." He told her, closing his car door and locking the vehicle.

She stepped back as he locked his car and frowned at his words. Did he really think so little of himself? Of course she would be concerned over him. He was her neighbour, and it was only natural for her to be concerned about those around her. "Well, I'm glad you're alright."

His green eyes show an element of surprise as he looked down at her and met a pair of warm green eyes. "I wouldn't be otherwise." He simply said, not really sure how to handle the situation at having a stranger be concerned over him. Realising just how cruelly cold he sounded to his own ears, he quickly said, "But, thank you for your concern, Desare. I apologise if I've startled you at some point."

Her eyes flickered from concern to happiness as his cold facade dropped to reassure her. "Oh no, that's quite alright. I should leave you in peace, seeing as how you just got back after a long day and all. I'm sure the last thing you need is to deal with an annoying girl." She cheerfully said, covering the small burdened feeling, knowing that she could be annoying the doctor when she didn't want them to start off on the wrong foot. She wanted to be his neighbour. His friend.

Hatori nodded slightly in agreement that she should leave him in peace. But it was for own health in this weather. "Yes. You shouldn't be out in the cold weather. The last thing I need is another patient." His lips curled up slightly in a small smile, he was lightly joking at the last statement he made.

She laughed lightly. "Of course. Good night Hatori." She waved him goodbye as she turned down the path that lead out of his Residence.

"Oh, Desare?" she turned at hearing his voice, noticing he stood slightly awkward as though he had something to say but was too hesitant to say it.

For Hatori, opening up like this was extremely hard for him to do. Giving another woman a compliment was something he hadn't done since Kana. Letting another woman in to melt the ice around his heart was also something he hadn't done since Kana. And yet, he felt as though he was 'compelled' by Desare. The atmosphere she brings to him makes him feel as though he doesn't have to hold back anymore.

"You're not...annoying." he finally said after a little while.

If her cheeks weren't pink from the cold already, they would have been pink from the good kind of embarrassment. She flashed a proper smile at him before turning to leave and walk back to her house.

Once inside, she closed the door and stood there. Staring at nothing in particular. Her hands were clasped together against her chest as Hatori's words echoed through her mind 'You're not annoying'. The corners of her lips turned into a small smile, which formed into a larger grin. It caused her heart to flutter so much that she couldn't do anything more except giggle to herself. It was a rather nice ending to the day. Worried she had got off on the wrong foot with him, only to find out she wasn't annoying to him. And have him stand there awkwardly to tell her so.

Needing to work on his game plan, Hatori watched as Desare made it safely inside her home. Call him old fashioned, he knew better than to expect danger lurking within the Sohma walls.

He knew if Ayame and Shigure ever found out about this moment, that the two would lecture him on how to properly pick up women.

Except he didn't want to 'pick up women', he just wanted to get to know one particular woman. And he wanted to do it on his own terms. Not through the perverted sense of his cousins.

Stepping inside the warmth of his residence, he switched the kettle on and made himself a hot cup of Green Tea before turning in for the night. He was too tired to eat, and had an early start tomorrow since it was back to his duties as physician. As much as he loved working at the hospital, it still drained him at the end of the day.

Akito watched the new tutor and her Doctor from her window. She didn't like what was unfolding before her eyes. She glared at the blonde woman for being so close to the God's Doctor. She frowned as Hatori watched in concern for the tutor. So this was how it was going to go down; a repeat of Kana.

No one will take her Dragon away. No one.