Sorry I haven't updated any of my stories as much as I would've liked. & I'm sorry for how short this chapter is: it's all I could come up with at the moment.

As of these past few months I've been struggling with Writer's block, RA pain, anxiety, depression, & other issues.

I can normally get past the Writer's block within a month & the other issues within two months.

However, back in March, we found out that my stepfather had lung cancer that spread to his brain with 5 marble-sized tumors, his hip bone, & several other places.

In-I wanna say May, he got some pulmonary lung fungal infection, so he was unable to continue with chemo.

Finally, on August 10, he passed away from everything.

It's not something none of us didn't see coming, but it's still difficult.

I've been called heartless by some family members (not my mom, bf, or younger brother) because I haven't broken down, crying. I've also been told I'm just shutting down because I haven't really been typing much, & if I have, it takes me longer-or I'm just editing older stories.

& in all honesty, I've gone to editing older stories-either posted or no so that I didn't come up with more stories to either overwhelm me or that are different versions of other stories I've already started.

Hatori managed to settle Tohru down after her seizer. In reality, it only lasted a few minutes. However, to Hatori, it felt like a lifetime.

When had he fallen in love with Tohru?

He wasn't sure:

· It could've been that first meeting at her school's festival.

· It could've been that day he told her to leave the Sohma's and never come back.

· It could've been that time at the Sohma Family vacation house.

· It could've been one of the times she was sick, and he was beckoned to care for her.

· It could've been any of those times and in between.

What he did know for sure was the "why." He knew exactly why he fell in love with her:

· It was her kindness.

· It was her tenacity.

· It was her big heart.

· It was her willingness to help anyone she could—even if they didn't want it.

· It was her who could do what nobody else could do since Kana—and melt his icy heart.

· She did the impossible and helped break the curse.

· She did the impossible and changed Akito for the better.

· She was the light in the dark he needed.

· She was the sun that melted the ice and snow.

At this point, Hatori didn't know what he'd do if anything more happened to her.

He didn't know what he'd do if she died because he couldn't do everything in his power to help her—to save her.

"Tohru—I love you." Hatori whispered, watching her sleep.

Several Hours Later:

"How is she?" Tohru's grandfather asked, walking in behind Hatori.

"She's stable." Hatori replied.

"That's a relief. Thank you for taking such good care of her. And thank you for keeping me updated." Tohru's grandfather thanked Hatori with a sigh of relief.

"Of course. You're her family; she would want you to know." Hatori awkwardly replied.

"I just wish this hadn't happened to her. I don't know what I would do if I lost her as well. First, my wife. Then my son—Tohru's father. I do still have my daughter and her children, but it just wouldn't be the same without Tohru." Tohru's grandfather sadly spoke, watching Tohru's almost lifeless body—some tears slipping from his eyes.

"As sweet as your granddaughter is; she's also a fighter. I'm sure she'll pull through one way or another." Hatori sincerely told Tohru's grandfather.

"Yes. She's so much like her mother in that sense." Tohru's grandfather stated with a small smile.

"What about her father?" Hatori absentmindedly asked.

"She inherited his looks, politeness, and mannerisms. She gained a lot of wisdom from her mother as well. Her father passed away when she was a little girl from pneumonia. Her mother was killed in a freak car accident." Tohru's grandfather answered.

"Ah. Yes. She mentioned her mother often. She sometimes mentioned her father, but not as much as her mother. But I suppose I understand why. She doesn't remember him very much, does she?" Hatori replied before asking.

"No—I can't say she does. My daughter is calling; I have to get going. Please continue to take care of my granddaughter." Tohru's grandfather told Hatori after receiving a missed call from his daughter.

"I will do all I can." Hatori promised Tohru's grandfather.

"I know you will." 'At least he'll be better for her.' Tohru's grandfather replied before thinking to himself as he headed out.

"Ha-tori…" Tohru mumbled in her sleep; she sounded like she was in pain.

"I'm right here, Tohru. Your grandfather was just here; he sends his love and hopes you feel better." Hatori calmly told Tohru, feeling her forehead; she had a fever—again.

"He's here." Tohru mumbled.

"Who's here?" Hatori asked, confused, looking around.

"He's here. Right over there. Right there." Tohru deliriously insisted.

"Who is he? What does he look like?" Hatori asked, hoping to find out who attacked her after realizing she was still asleep.

"They're all here." Tohru mumbled, scared as tears started running down her sleeping cheeks.

"They're? You were attacked by two people—or a group? How many? Tohru. Tohru, it's ok. Wake up. It's ok. I'm right here. I'm right here." Hatori soothed Tohru after she woke up, panicking. He felt terrible; it was his fault for asking too many questions.

All Tohru could do was cry as she clung to Hatori…