Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Amor Del Dragon ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

very day I vowed to myself. A vow that could never be broken. Or so I thought…

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket…please don’t sue!

He set down the file he had been looking over and glanced at the clock. It was late. He was done for the day and had been trying to get a head start on some work. It seemed that a few hours had passed with out him realizing it.

‘I’m usually more in tune with time…’ He thought to himself. ‘I should head home.’ The last person in the small office had left hours ago. He was the last one to go home.

Hatori packed up his things and looked around the office a last time before heading out. He glanced at a picture that he kept towards the back of a shelf, out of sight from other people. The picture of Kana. He remembered all the special times he had had with her. They had laughed together. Walked together. Loved together… He stopped. Kana was married now and out of his life. He let the walls of ice he had built up surround him and he left his office with an expressionless face.

* * * * * * * *

Hatori walked into his house and went to his bedroom. He took off his coat and hung it on the back of his desk chair. He stepped into the kitchen and settled for some instant ramen. It was late and he wanted to go to bed and sleep. It had been a long day. Once Hatori poured the ramen in the boiling water he took it back to his desk and sat down. There were some papers that needed updating so he worked on that while he ate.

When he looked at the clock and it read 12:00 he set down his pen, put his bowl in the sink, and finally went to bed. He didn’t sleep very long because he woke up at 3:00 due to a car alarm going off. Once the foul noise was gone he tried to go back to sleep but it was no use.

‘Another sleepless night.’ Hatori grim fully thought. He got up and got dressed. He had nothing else to do so he worked on the files he had been working on last night. He finished in 3 hours and it was 6:00. He left for his office with the files. Hatori was never hungry in the morning so it wasn’t unusual for him to skip breakfast.

* * * * * * * *

When Hatori arrived there were only 2 desk clerks. He was early but he usually was, even though he didn’t need to be.

“Ohayo Sohma-san.” They greeted Hatori.

“Ohayo.” He answered and went back to his office. He filed the work he had at home and started working on some other ones.

* * * * * * * *

It was noon when he got a call. It was Shigure.

“ Haa-” Hatori hung up the phone.

“1...2...3..” The phone rang again and Hatori answered it.

“That was cruel Haa-san! And I was calling to be nice!” Shigure cried into the phone.

“What do you want.” Hatori said. It was more of a statement than a question. He was only going to half listen anyway.

“I can’t say it over the phone. Meet me at that new restaurant that just opened at 6. Just stand outside and wait.” Shigure hung up the phone and Hatori heard the annoying beep that signaled that you were talking to nobody.

Hatori hung up the phone and rubbed his temples. What was Shigure up to now. It couldn’t be that bad if it could wait until 6. But he couldn’t say it over the phone… Hatori let out a sigh. He wouldn’t worry about it. He had work to do and didn’t have time to play the dumb dog’s tricks.

* * * * * * * *

At 5:45 Hatori left the office. He was a little pleased that he could. He had had basically no sleep for two days and was glad that he had a reason to leave the office early. He would have liked to leave earlier but a patient took longer than anticipated. He had just enough time to make it to the restaurant.

Once Hatori got there he parked his car in front of the restaurant, stepped outside and waited next to the doors of the building. He looked at his watch. It was a few minutes to 6. Hatori then noticed that he was still in his doctor suit. He would have liked to change but there was no time. What ever Shigure had to say it wouldn’t take that long.

“Hatori-san?” A voice came from the side. It was too soft to be Shigure’s and sounded feminine. Hatori looked to his right. There was a woman around his age with light brown hair that went half way down her back and when caught by the right light, appeared to be a nice shade of auburn.

“Hatori-san is it?” The woman asked again.

“Yes…Who are you?” Hatori asked. He had never seen this woman before.

“I’m Holly Pauner. I’m a friend of Mii-san.” The woman said. Hatori thought. Mii-san…Mii-san…Mii-san… Where had he heard that name before. Then he remembered. She was Shigure’s editor. But why would she know him? Hatori almost collapsed in front of her. Shigure had set up a date for him.

“Uh…” Hatori and Holly said at the same time.

“Oh. I’m sorry go ahead.” Holly said. She was a bit nervous. She didn’t even know this man! Though Mii-san had assured her that he was very nice and nothing like Shigure. She didn’t think Shigure was that bad and that Mii-san was exaggerating a bit. (A/N: She’s never met him…hopefully she never will. Lol.)

Hatori had been about to sneak out of this “date” but when he looked at her she seemed to be the kind that would be very upset if he said something like that. He then noticed her clothes. She had a green and black striped shirt and skirt set. Hatori sighed inwardly. She went to all the trouble to dress up for this. He couldn’t get away! ‘Curse Shigure.’ he thought.

“Um…We should head inside.” Hatori said. He didn’t know what else to say.

“Oh! Yes.” Holly said. They walked inside and sat down at a table. A waiter came by and asked their order and shortly after came back with their food. The evening passed and Hatori surprisingly had a good time. Holly was very nice and once they had gotten used to actually being on a date they both enjoyed themselves and laughed (A/N: In Hatori’s case he sort of made a soft chuckle-like sound…he doesn’t laugh very often okay!) and talked.

“Um…” Holly started to say.

“Yes?” Hatori asked.

“Oh it’s nothing. Never mind.” She said. Her cheeks felt a little warm. She hadn’t even noticed that she was about to ask the question she had been wondering about.

“It’s fine. Go ahead.” Hatori said.

“Well…your suit…it seems a bit like a doctors.” Holly was blushing and she could tell that she must have been bright red by now. She had been wondering about it but she didn’t mean to say it out loud! Now she sounded like a jerk making fun of his clothing.

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking it looked like a doctors. Not that that’s a bad thing! I was just…making an observation!” She slumped in her chair very un-lady-like. “I’m sorry. Forget I sad anything.

Hatori chuckled. “Well I hope it looks like one.” He said. Holly stared blankly back at him. “I am a doctor. I had just come from my office when we met outside. A patient of mine ran late and I wasn’t able to change.”

“Oh.” She said. “So you’re a doctor.” She said leaning forward with interest. She had always envied doctors. They saved lives and helped people who were complete strangers. She would have been a doctor but the sight of blood made her woozy.

“Yes. But only for my family.” He said.

“Oh?” she said. He mustn’t get a lot patients or money if it’s just his family.

“All of my family. It’s quite large.” He said. Apparently she had never heard of the name Sohma. “But that’s me. What do you do?” He asked. He never really liked talking about himself.

“Oh. I’m working at a television station. I work behind the set on a lot of technical things. Like the computers and the cameras. It’s a lot of fun!” She said smiling. “I also have a part-time job drawing manga style for commercials and t-shirt designs.”

“Really?” Hatori said. He had never been very good at drawing. He had tried many times (A/N: When he was younger…Imagine Hatori-san at 27 sitting down trying to draw at his desk. Ha ha!). And he had failed miserably every time.

“Yep.” She said taking a sip of her drink. “Though I just started the part-time job. I had already been doing the technical job before I came to Japan. I was transferred because the TV station here offered more money.”

“You transferred? From where?” Hatori had assumed that she was Japanese. Her accent was flawless.

“America.” She answered. “Most people don’t realize that either. My parents loved languages so much that I grew up learning many different ones.” She had explained this so many times. She knew what was coming next. He would be shocked and surprised and think it was so cool and unique that she knew different languages like everybody else she explained this to.

“That must be nice to not be tied down by language barriers.” He said with a blank face.

Holly was a bit surprised. “Um… Yes, it’s…useful.” she said. He didn’t react the way she had assumed he would. She was usually pretty good at guessing what a person’s reaction would be to all kinds of situations. But this night she was unable to predict him. ‘He’s very mysterious. So far we’ve been talking about me and other things but he strays off the topic of his family and his past. Interesting…” She thought. She smiled when she thought of a way to get him to open up.

“So.” She said resting her elbows on the table and holding her head up with laced fingers. “Who was the woman before me?” She said slyly.

“Kana.” Hatori said then stopped. He started blushing.

‘How could I say that?! I’m on a date! You never talk about past loves on a date! Wait…It’s not my fault. She tricked me!’

“That was cruel and unusual.” He stated.

“Yes. Yes it was. Now who was she?” She asked. She wasn’t sure if it would work. He seemed to be the closed type and she had been ready if he changed the subject…but he didn’t.

“I’d rather not talk about it.” He said.

“Oh. Come now.” She said.

“No.” He stated.

“Fine.” She said and went back to her meal.

“You’re very…spontaneous.” He said after awhile.

“I’ve gotten that before.” She said smiling.

* * * * * * * *

The night progressed and when the two stepped out of the restaurant it was around 9 o’clock.

“Here. I’ll drive you home.” Hatori said as he began to walk to his car.

“Oh no. That’s alright. I can walk.” Holly said.

“It’s no trouble.” Hatori answered. Holly stepped into the car and Hatori drove her home according to the directions she gave him. When they finally got there he stopped outside her house. It was actually an apartment complex.

“That would have been a long walk.” Hatori stated. It was over a mile away from the restaurant and she had heels on. Not very big ones but heels all the same. (A/N: Man do heels hurt! Curse heels! *shakes fist*)

“It’s not that bad. I walked to the restaurant.” Holly said as she opened the door.

“I had a very nice night with you Hatori-san.” she said.

“It was nice.” Hatori answered. He didn’t know what to do. Was he supposed to just leave or should he walk her to her door. He didn’t really know her though…

“Good night.” She said and she walked up to her apartment.

“Good night.” Hatori said to nobody. He drove back to his house.

‘I can’t believe I was just on a date.’ It had been a long time since he had even been interested in the subject of love.

“No. Why am I thinking about love? I didn’t even know that I was going on a date. It was a one time thing. Just a nice relaxing night that I needed. That’s it. I‘ll probably never see her again. And I‘m fine with that. I hardly know her.” Hatori said. He wasn’t in love or anything. He just met the girl!

Hatori walked into his house and went straight to bed for once.


* * * * * * * *

Holly walked up to her apartment and closed the door behind her. When it was shut she leaned against it and slid down until she was sitting on the floor with her legs tucked underneath her. She sighed contently.

Then a door down the hall sprung open and another woman around Holly’s age rushed out of the room. She had shoulder length black hair and intense blue eyes that could look as soft and gentle as the ocean or as hard and menacing as a dagger the color of blue.

“Ooohhh!” The woman squealed as she rushed towards Holly. “Details. Details!” She said and grabbed a hold of Holly’s hands.

“Keiko-chan! I just got home!” Holly said but she was smiling at her room mate.

“As your official room mate I have the right and the need to know how my best friend’s date went!” Keiko said smiling. “What does he look like? I saw his car. He has to have some money.” She said with a glint in her eye.

“Keiko-chan!” Holly reprimanded lightly while blushing.

“Okay. Okay. But tell me about him!” She said.

Holly leaned her head back against door feeling all girly and happy like she was a teenager who just went on a date with her high school hottie.

“He’s a doctor-”

“Ha ha! Green stuff!” Keiko slapped her knee.

Holly started blushing. “Yes. He has money but he’s very nice and has good character. And it‘s only a family business.” Holly stressed the last part of the first sentence. “Though he didn’t talk much about himself.”

“Hmm. Shy type?”

“More like closed. I tricked him into saying who his last girlfriend was-”

“Holly!” Keiko reprimanded playfully. Holly gave a look that said “Shut up” and continued.

“He said her name was Kana but he seemed flustered about it and quickly changed the subject. Though it wasn’t just that. When ever we started talking about his family he would try to stay away from that topic.” Holly relayed her observations.

“Maybe his family wasn’t that close when he was growing up.” Keiko offered.

“That or he’s just the closed type. He didn’t share many things about himself at that.”

“More importantly…” Keiko started to say. Holly raised an eyebrow. Knowing Keiko she was going to want to hear all about what he looked like.

“Rating on his looks.” Keiko said.

“Keiko-chan!…He was very handsome…” Holly said. That was a lie. She had heard about a certain doctor Sohma and just put it together. What she had heard was that he was very good in his career field but what she heard the most was that he was good looking. And what she heard wasn’t a lie. He was very good looking. With his black hair that covered his left eye from view that gave him an almost mysterious demeanor. But his right eye that you could see was a livid sea green. It reminded her of the ocean…no…a sea dragon. The glassy wise eye of an old sea dragon that had seen much despite it’s age. One full of wisdom and experience. And not always good experience.

* * * * * * * *

Author’s Note:

Konnichiwa! It’s Yasu-san again! I hope you all are enjoying this fic as much as I am! Okay. The first chapter is done. I had been thinking about writing a Hatori centric fic and here it is. (A/N: Yes. This is good grammar. I hate that silent ‘H’ vowel rule. I never now when to use it!) Okay. Back to business. I would like to hear your input though I’m not demanding that you write a review. But for those readers that do write a review or have an opinion I would like you to tell me if you want this to be a happy ending or a sad ending. I came up with 2 ideas on how to end this in this while I as taking a shower (A/N: That’s where I do my best fanfic thinking!) and I’m in a turmoil on how to end it, so I will let all of my readers have the final say. I will post the ending that most people want but I could also post the other one if you readers would like that. Please tell me what you want. This is the only thing I ask of you! So please don’t hate me! Also I apologize in advance for the probable slow updates. Next week I will be in no contact with a computer and I had a rough time typing up this one. It’s a little hard to write how Hatori would react to different situations…

Yasu-san

P.S. The title means ‘Love of the Dragon’ in Spanish and for all those readers who read my previous fic “To Be Forgotten” I am making sequel. Slowly but surely. And it’s about Kyo!