Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Everything ❯ Return of the Onigiri ( Chapter 12 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

AN:



Nathan is gurgling in my lap at this moment as I type, so I will hug him for all of you instead. I'm once again in a luv-luv mood... Don't ask! Thank you so very much for your encouraging reviews pruningshears, Kaiba's slave, Little red bookworm, Cardcaptor Soldier, catgirlversion.0otakufan, Lathyan, furygrrl, xnewtx, Pebbled Sky, GoldenKitsuneHime13, sami1010220, PeaceSeeker, Ariyana, RanmasAngel, Jojo, sayuri, thilver, mike~, Yukako, Katara, Frankie cRoW, phalon22 and Andane.



Things can get so frenzied, that it's nice to escape the real world through my writing, so I'm glad that all of you can enjoy yourselves whilst reading along to this story.


Buckle your seat-belts my dearies... This chapter is going to be a bumpy ride.




Previously...
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Her stomach was quivering and her hands were clammy. She had thought that it was probably the morning breakfast at fault, but as she walked back to the villa, her symptoms seemed to grow worse with every step she took.



The nausea was unbearable...



Why had she gone to see Akito-san?



She couldn't remember...



With heavy feet, she trudged into the room she shared with her husband. She was lucky her son was not here to witness her in this state...



She looked about the empty room in surprise. Hitoshi was nowhere to be seen. Rubbing her chest to settle the sickening sensation in her body, she sank down into the soft comfort of the bed, and watched the room fade away into the shadows of her sleep.




Hitoshi leaned down to brush his lips across his wife's brow. He frowned at the warm heat that exuded from her moist skin. She had continued to sleep after the Sohma doctor had left; he didn't have the heart to try and wake her. The worry that he felt was slowly beginning to creep outward, his forehead crinkling as he thought about his wife's condition.



There was no logical explanation for it.



She had been fine earlier, before visiting Akito... So what could have brought about this sudden reaction? Even if Hatori was correct and she was pregnant, there would still be no reason for her to lose consciousness.



They were to leave for Tokyo in the morning. He knew that if she still was not well enough to travel, he would have to leave her here in the care of the Sohmas.



Already they had been so generous, offering him and his family a place to stay for their vacation, so he did not know if he could impose any further. But he was certain that, being as hospitable as they were, they would not allow Tohru to travel back to Tokyo if her condition remained the same.



He did not wish to leave his wife and travel on to Tokyo by himself, but he knew he wouldn't have much of a choice... Things were already dire on the business front, and he wanted to settle matters so that she would not have to worry about anything.



He blinked and took respite from his musings to gently drape the light sheets over her slumbering body. All he could do for now, was wait. He hoped with all his heart that she would recover quickly from this sudden illness... Otherwise he would have to leave her here. And that was something he could not even ponder.




Shigure smiled secretly as he glanced at the feminine body that was sprawled across the low table of his desk. He reached out to caress the lengthy, mousy brown hair as it hung over her cheek. Mii had refused to leave until he would give her the remaining pages of his book. She had fallen asleep before the allotted time that was allowed, and so he called for a courier to come and collect the remaining chapters of his newest book. He didn't have to heart to wake her, for she looked too peaceful and beautiful for him to do that.



He couldn't help but marvel at her dedication... It was another reason why he didn't wake her up when the time for the deadline drew near; he wanted her to rest.



"Mii," he said finally, shaking her shoulder carefully, "Wake up Mii, you missed the deadline."



He held back a huge, illuminating grin as her head shot up from the desk.



She looked around frantically, "Wha–? Are you done?" Her eyes wandered to the open shoji panels of the room. They widened as she realized that the sun was shining down brightly upon the earth, it's gentle rays kissing the emerald green leaves of the trees outside.



"Why didn't you wake me?" She demanded fiercely, standing up whilst shaking her head in disappointment. "I knew that one day you would miss a deadline," she sighed, folding her arms and looking at him quite smugly.



Shigure's brow rose fractionally, "Oh, really?"



"Yes, really. I just knew that sooner or later, you would put a foot wrong–"



He raised his hand to halt her speech. She sent him a look of shock, marvelling at the serious expression that crossed his face.



"Is that how you truly think I am, Mii?" He asked, gazing at her intently.



Mii squirmed under his scrutiny, "Well–I... I guess–What am I supposed to think about you?" She finally spat out.



Much to his surprise, he could hear a hint of slight bitterness that tinged her voice.



Shigure's playful mood vanished quickly at the scowl that played upon her ruby lips, "I thought you knew me better than that," he said softly.



Her head snapped up at his quietly spoken words. A wry smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and she felt an unconventional bubble of anger form within her breast, "I don't know you, Shigure," she stated firmly, her voice too calm and cold for his liking.



"Of course you know me, you've known me for years!" He retorted with confusion at her ridiculous statement.



"No," she assured, "I don't. You keep to yourself in this secluded little house and the only thing I know for certain, is that in somewhere deep within your heart, you can be a good person when you want to be."



She paused to catch her breath and calm her pounding heart, "But after knowing you for so many years, I realize that I have no clue as to who you are; beneath your facade of jokes and jibes, I have no inkling towards figuring out the kind of man you that you have the capacity to be. What we have is a business relationship, we are not friends... We never have been. But against my better judgement, I still let you torment me with your mundane tricks, and I have no idea as to why I am still working with you..." She trailed off, whispering the last few words as she could not find the strength to speak them loudly.



It had been the last straw; her nerves could not handle his childish behavior any longer.



His stunned expression spoke volumes as she gathered her coat from the floor. Before he could reply, she was already making her way towards the exit of the room.



"I sent the chapters via a courier," he mumbled to himself, his throat tightening as he saw her halt in the door way, as though she had been barricaded in by his words.



Mii tilted her head slightly and offered a view of her profile, "Good."



The single word weighed heavily upon his heart as she walked out of the room without a backward glance. He slumped down onto the tatami floor, frowning deeply as he processed the strange conversation that had just taken place.



Perhaps this time, he had gone too far in his humorous pranks..?



Yuki sighed, placing his cell phone back into the pocket of his trousers. "Shigure's not answering, he must be busy," he said to the fuming cat sitting across from him.



"Dammit to hell!" Kyo spat, slamming his fists down onto the table.



Yuki shook his head, silently condemning the other man for his foul temper. He stood up with regret and informed his cousin that they would do something, anything, to help Tohru and her family.



It would break his heart to see her in pain, no matter how much he wished to be in her life.



"I better go, I have too many meetings that I'm unable to neglect," Yuki said finally, with resignation.



Kyo nodded and watched the silent man leave with an air of grace he knew he could never possess, even if he petitioned the Gods themselves. It was not the wordless manner in which Yuki had left that disturbed him. It was the pinched, sombre expression on his face that worried the brooding cat. If it was anything to go by, he knew that the rat was highly agitated and upset beneath the calm facade.




Mine sighed to herself as she thought about the day's events.



It had been such a joy to be in the company of the young child, that it had only brought out her more maternal instincts.



Ayame had briefly joked about stealing the young boy and claiming the precious child as their own, and Mine had simply laughed at his words... But deep down, she yearned for children.



She wasn't growing any younger and the passing years only reminded her of the little time she would have left. If her love for Ayame was anything to go by, she knew that she would happily marry him and start a family with him...



A dreamy smile lightened her face as she thought about the prospect. A family. With Ayame. He would make such a wonderful father. The day with Toshi had already proven that much to her. He would have just the right amount of discipline, humor and love to win over any child–after all, who could resist his charm?



She certainly could not.



"What are thinking about, love?" She shivered as the baritone voice spoke into her ear.



Her smile grew as a pair of strong hands rubbed her arms, as if to warm her. She tilted her head to look back at the man she had come to desperately love in the past few years. "Nothing in particular, just thinking about Toshi and how much fun we had today."



Ayame's face broke into a dazzling smile as he walked around her, stopping in front of her so that he could look deeply into her warm, brown eyes, "So, you enjoyed his company?"



She nodded confidently, "I did; he's such a beautiful child... I almost envy his mother."



The gleam in his golden eyes was not lost upon her as he pondered her words. There was something strange in his manner every time she mentioned Toshi's mother... Perhaps he did not consider the boy's mother to be a good parent?



"What is it?" She asked when he didn't reply.



A sad smile crossed his face, causing her heart to beat faster against her rib cage. He motioned for her to sit on the comfortable couch that he had placed in the back room of the shop. The front entrance was locked, and the closed sign was up, signalling the end of the day, so they did not have to worry about straggling customers.



She sat down pensively and waited for the golden-eyed man to speak.



"I've been... Keeping something from you, Mine."



An invisible hand tightened around the organ in her chest, causing her frown, "More secrets...?" She whispered the question, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.



Ayame shook his head, "No, simply withholding information–"



"–About Toshi?" She interrupted, the frown on her face beginning to recede.



"There's no easy way I can tell you this, but–Toshi's mother is Tohru-kun," he held his breath for her reaction.



Mine's eyes widened with shock, before a brilliant smile crossed her lips, "Tohru-kun is here?" She asked excitedly, clearly remembering the quaint young girl that had visited Ayame's shop many years ago. She had been confused as to her abrupt departure, but had not given it a second thought... Until today.



"Why hasn't she come to visit you at the shop, then? Does Yuki-kun know she's here?" Her attitude grew serious at the mention of her lover's younger brother.



She knew how much Tohru had meant to Yuki, she only had to look into his eyes that day when she brought out the adorable girl, dressed in such a cute and flattering dress. His violet eyes spoke with a volume of love that she couldn't begin to fathom, until she realized her own feelings for his older brother.



Ayame winced at the mention of his younger sibling, "He knows, but... Things aren't like the way they were before. You knew of Yuki's feelings for her, and now that she's married..." He trailed off, gazing into a faraway realm that she could not see.



Of course Yuki would be devastated by Tohru's sudden arrival, especially with a husband and child in tow. She did not know how the young woman could have been so blind towards Yuki's love for her... It was cruel beyond comprehension.



One thing bothered her though, which she aptly voiced, "Why didn't you tell me that she was here?"



The snowy-haired man shrugged, "I don't know... Because of certain circumstances."



He was being vague, and she knew it. "What circumstances?" She prompted gently.



Ayame sighed and sat down heavily beside her, slumping into the comfortable cushions of the sofa. "Do you love me?" He asked utter sincerity and seriousness.



"Of course I do," she replied without hesitation, reaching out to hold his hand. She squeezed the calloused fingers with assurance.



"Say it," he whispered, still not looking at her.



Her confusion grew ten-fold, but she complied to his request, "I love you Ayame, I always will."



The tension in his shoulders seemed to evaporate at her loving words. He lowered his head and finally mustered the courage to speak, "When Tohru-kun was sixteen, she found out about the our family curse..." Mine's eyes widened in shock, but she remained quiet, waiting for him to speak. "There's a general rule that anyone outside our family, who finds out about the curse, must have their memory erased."



At that moment, she could not stay silent, "Erased? How–what do you mean? That's ridiculous!"



Ayame swallowed, "I hardly think it should come as a surprise, considering that I turn into an animal any time I'm hugged by the opposite gender, Mine," he joked before growing serious once more, "One member of the cursed Jyuunishi is gifted with the ability to suppress or erase unwanted memories. It was given so that we could protect our family secret. It is not harmful to the person, it's merely a form of hypnotism..." He then went on to tell her about all of the events that had occurred, leading up to Tohru's departure; about Akito and Hatori's part in her absence, about his brother and his rivalry with the thirteenth member of the Jyuunishi, the cat...



Once he had finished, he braved a glance at her and was not surprised to see the disgusted and shocked emotions on Mine's face. "Why didn't you try to stop him?" She demanded, frowning at the perplexed expression that colored his features.



"We can't oppose him Mine, no matter how much we wish to. He is... We are here because of him–because of his sacrifice. But it is also because of him, that Yuki-kun is... Is the way he is; cold, aloof and soft-spoken."



Her demeanor softened at his heart-broken words.



In some strange way, she understood.



The idea of his family's curse was still so overwhelming for her, but she accepted him no matter what, she accepted the good with the bad. After all, didn't they say that love was blind? "Poor Tohru-kun..." She whispered, looking down at their entwined hands in her lap.



She was startled from her musings when gentle fingers brushed away the tear that had lingered on her cheek from his confession, before he leaned in to place feathered, goading kisses along her jaw line.



Her eyes fluttered shut as she tilted her head in reply to the moist kisses. A quiet moan escaped through the passage of her parted lips and she could feel the familiar stirring of desire tremble at the base of her stomach. She vaguely wondered how he could render her so utterly helpless...



"Help me forget the pain, Mine," she heard him murmur urgently against her arched neck.



Anything.



She would do anything that he asked of her. Unable to voice her response, she twisted in her seat and carefully grasped his shoulders so that she could push him down onto the length of the couch, straddling his hips as she did so. Seeing the surprised pleasure in his golden eyes, she smiled sweetly before she began to rid him of his clothing.




The next morning held such promise, were it not for the fact that his wife still had not woken up.



He was restlessly pacing the polished floor of the main Sohma house, waiting outside in the hallway for a diagnosis on his wife's condition. He knew that the Sohma doctor was wise and good at his craft, but Hitoshi couldn't help but feel a slight uncertainty at letting the man examine his wife. It was a strange niggling sensation that kept buzzing around his head like an irritating fly.



The shoji panels opened to reveal the stoic doctor.



"Well?" Hitoshi prompted, wincing as he allowed his rudeness to diminish the etiquette that had been taught to him as a young child.



"I'm afraid we will have to do more tests, Hitoshi-san," Hatori said softly, sending a guarded gaze at the little boy that stood quietly against the opposite wall, watching their interaction.



"I'll have to leave her here?" Hitoshi couldn't help the disappointment that crept into his voice.



The doctor nodded once, "Are you sure you cannot extend you stay here?"



Hitoshi shook his head, "No, I must return to Tokyo and settle matters before..." He trailed off, unwilling to inform the calm doctor of his financial problems.



"Very well then; it would be best if you allowed us to keep her here, Hitoshi-san. Moving her in this condition would prove to be unnecessary."



Hitoshi nodded reluctantly, "If it is for the best, then fine... I'll leave her here under your care–but I will be back as soon as things have been smoothed out in Tokyo."



"What about Toshi?" The doctor asked hesitantly, unsure as to whether his question crossed certain boundaries.



"He will come with me," the other man replied firmly, "There will be someone to look after him in Tokyo."



Hatori lowered his head in understanding, casting the little boy a small smile. Toshi responded by frowning and moving to bury himself behind his father's long legs. He sighed to himself; he had never any good in dealing with children... That had been Kana's forte.




Heat.


It was all that she could feel in the fringes of her mind; blinding, searing heat. Her eyes felt heavy, and much to her consternation, she could not open them, no matter how much she wished to. But... Something was wrong. That much she knew.



She could feel her heart weeping from an unknown cause.



It tore at the delicate fabric of emotions that had surrounded her with such warmth–and she could feel it slipping away... But what? It was something she held dear to her, something she loved with her entire being, something that had encompassed her with such tenderness.



But now it was being ripped away from her and she could do nothing but watch the invisible thread of her soul, unravel and change into something that she did not want it to be.



It was at that moment, she realized what was happening.



Her memories; the precious gestures, smiles, caresses, the images of the life that she held dear to her heart, were being torn from her once again–and there was nothing she could do to prevent it.

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Hatori looked up from his chart as the quiet moan from his patient, broke through his inner musings. He leaned over her prone form, and absently allowed his fingers to brush the finely structured bone of her cheek. Frowning as she continued to voice her discomfort, the relief he also felt was unlike anything he had experienced before.



She was fine; she would be all right. He hoped.



Checking her vitals, he moved silently to the other side of the bed so that he could try his hand at awakening her from her deep sleep. She had been in this condition for most of the day, and he had slowly began to worry about her condition. He would have called for more assistance, had she not voiced her thoughts through unintelligible, incoherent mumbles as she awoke.



"Tohru-kun? Tohru-kun, can you hear me? I need you wake up now," he watched intently as he eyes waged a war with her mind, as though she were fighting for control of her bodily functions.



Moments later, she opened her eyes and looked up blearily at the concerned mask of his face.



"Hatori-san?"



Her voice sounded so small–so young, compared to what he had heard of it previously. Even with these thoughts, the dry whisper sent him into action, helping her to sit up in the comfortable bed before he moved to offer her a glass of water.



He held the glass to her parched lips, his brow furrowing as she looked at him with a deeper recognition than she had ever done in the past week. She drank deeply from the store of water, never taking her eyes from his as he continued to aid her.



A small smile found it's way to his lips as a thin line of water trickled down her chin. Before she could react, he reached out and wiped away the water, earning him a confused, but amused look from her azure eyes.



As he pulled back, she finally found the strength to speak, "What happened? Is everyone all right? Akito-san didn't hurt them did he?"



This time, Hatori frowned deeper than he had ever thought possible, "Tohru-kun?" He began hesitantly, "What do you mean, about Akito-san?"



Tohru looked startled and tired, but answered as well as she could, "He was saying something to me, about the Sohmas and how I could never understand... Didn't he tell you to erase my memory? I thought I was going to lose all of you," she paused fearfully, "What happened–didn't it work? I'm glad that it didn't though..." She added hastily.



The absolute shock he felt as he stared at her, was incomprehensible. He reeled back from the bed, desperately trying rein in his emotions as he felt them surge forward without warning, "Tohru-kun, what is your last memory?" He asked pleadingly, wincing at the tremor his voice held.



She tilted her head and looked at him thoughtfully, "I remember you telling me that everything was going to be all right," she replied in a tiny voice that matched her hunched shoulders, "I was–I was afraid because, I didn't want to forget any of you... And I told you that I didn't want to forget, but I knew that you couldn't oppose Akito-san and–and I understood. And then... I woke up and I still have my memories, so Akito-san must have changed his mind!" She ended brightly, her eyes lighting up like two shining azure pools, filled with a wealth of emotions.



He remained silent and so she took a deep breath, not noticing the stricken expression upon the doctor's face as she continued to speak, "So, if Akito-san changed his mind, then that's why I have my memories! But then–where is everyone else? Are Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun and Shigure-san all right? I hope Akito-san hasn't hurt them..." She trailed off, glancing at the doctor with a frown creasing her brow.



The silence stretched and the doctor still had not replied to her queries.



"Um... Hatori-san?"



He blinked, shaking his head, "Yes?" His voice was coarse and unrefined.



She was worried, she had never seen him look so... So heart-broken before, except perhaps when he spoke to her of Kana.



"You look older somehow," she voiced this somewhat teasingly, having grown to like–and love the doctor in the year she had known him. "I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble," she said with worry lacing her voice.



This time, as she looked at him closely, she caught the grief in his eyes as he backed away from the bed.



"T-Tohru-kun," he stammered, unable to find the words to tell her everything.



How could Akito do something so reckless? How could he have replaced this woman's memories with her forgotten past?! He did not know how the demi-god had hidden this power from the other members of the Jyuunishi, but it seemed he had to ability to bring back a person's suppressed memory. Something which could prove to be dangerous; but it already had been proven! And with Tohru no less!


There was one flaw that had been overlooked. In offering her memories back, Akito had unwittingly, or consciously, wiped away any memories she had after the day that Hatori had used his own gift on Tohru. Which meant... That she had no recollection of her husband, of her life after the Sohmas–of her son.



The bile rose in his throat as the pure form of white, blazing hot fury grew within him. Never, never had he held Akito responsible for his callous actions! But this time–this time, he had gone too far! This was the last straw.



He calmed his temper somewhat, observing the fear that had been gradually growing within the young woman's eyes.



They were as innocent and untouched as they had been nine years ago... The woman he had grown accustomed to seeing in Tohru's eyes, had vanished. And in her place, was left the vulnerable, lovingly adorable teenager that had gradually melted the concrete ice from the Sohma family's heart.



"Hatori-san?" She prompted softly, her voice gentle like the balmy breeze of a cool summer's night, "I'm sorry..."



He looked at her sharply, cursing himself as he allowed himself to run away with his emotions. Carefully schooling his features into a blank mask that offered nothing more than a tentative smile, he finally spoke, "You have nothing to be sorry for Tohru-kun," he assured her with kind but stern eyes.



"What about Kyo-kun and the others?"



"They're fine Tohru-kun, you don't have to worry," he said gently, soothing away the prominent fear that creased the corner of her eyes.



Her demeanor brightened suddenly, "I'm glad to hear Hatori-san call me by my name!"



Hatori started and felt a faint tinge of red burn his cheeks, "Oh–forgive me, Honda-kun," he said carefully, remembering not to call her by her other name. How would he tell her that she was married and had a son? Her mind was now that of a seventeen year old girl, not the twenty-six year old woman she had been... He sighed wearily, wondering how everything had become so complicated.



"No!" She protested forcefully, "I like it, after all, it's what Shigure-san calls me and–and I think after yesterday, we've all become closer... What I mean to say is–I would be honored if you called me by my first name," she rambled.



He almost grinned at the familiar sight of her bumbling speeches, "As you wish, Tohru-kun," he glanced at the door before turning his attention upon her, "Now, I think it would be for the best if you rest for a little while longer. I will be back in a moment, is that all right?"



She nodded eagerly and settled back into the bed, watching him leave with the steady strides of his long legs.



As he stepped out of the door, he grew even more livid than before. Everything was happening so fast, that it was not registering in his mind. And how could it?



She was back!



Their Tohru-kun was back and she knew of their curse! The weight he had been carrying for nine years seemed to evaporate momentarily, until his thoughts darkened and turned towards the cause of this new problem.



"Akito," he growled under his breath, striding purposefully towards his destination.



He did not know what he was going to do once he had confronted the demi-god. But he knew that if he did not calm down, he would do something incredibly irrational–and ultimately, foolish.

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