Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Golden Dreams ❯ Goodbye Love ( Chapter 14 )

Shigure arrived mid afternoon, he was the first one home. He noticed the sheets hanging out to dry. 'Damn,' he thought, 'guess I can't investigate.' Hatori was sleeping propped up against a column of the porch. 'He looks so much happier when he sleeps.' Shigure sat next to him. The dragon stirred and groaned.

 

"You let your guard down," Shigure commented, "you actually let someone see you sleeping."

 

He looked at his cousin. The pleasant expression on Hatori's face had shattered. Deep sadness filled Hatori's eyes before crystalizing into a cold hard stare. Shigure put his hand on his shoulder.

 

"You didn't tell her."

 

"I don't know what you're talking about." Hatori replied

 

He fumbled in his pocket for a cigarette. His shaking fingers came up with nothing. Shigure offered him one. The dragon drug deeply. He coughed and sputtered.

 

"You O.K.?" Shigure asked.

 

Hatori nodded through his choking. 'I guess I haven't been smoking much this week.'

 

"I don't know who you think you're fooling, Tori. I saw you sleeping, I haven't seen you that happy in years."

 

Hatori sighed and closed his eyes.

 

"Hatori, lunch is ready." Came a pleasant voice from inside.

 

Tohru peeked out the door onto the porch. "Hatori?" Tohru's face fell. "Oh, um. . . Hi Shigure!" She was trying to sound bright.

 

Shigure raised an eyebrow and peered over at Hatori. 'She isn't happy to see me. . . Maybe something did happen.' Hatori was fiercely glaring back at him as he replied. "My little flower, I am so HAPPY to see you. Was Hatori pleasant enough company in my absence?"

 

Tohru blushes and stammered, "Um. . . yes." She was afraid to look at Hatori. She knew she would betray the promise of secrecy if she looked at him. "I. . . um. . . I'll go set a place for Shigure."

 

"We'll be in in a minute, Tohru." Hatori called after her.

 

Shigure laughed as she nearly took off the doorframe as she stumbled through. "What ever have you done to my precious flower?"

 

"I don't know what you're talking about."

 

"Oh come on Ha'ri! She's stumbling around like an idiot in love!"

 

"You're the idiot." Hatori snickered as he stood. "Anyway, isn't she always a bit," pause, "absentminded?"

 

Once safely inside the kitchen, Tohru let her breath go. 'It's over,' she thought. 'My dream week is finally over.' It was all she could to do to contain her tears. She saw the men entering the house. She grabbed her dishes and squared her jaw. 'I'm stronger than this.' She told herself. 'A promise is a promise and I can't make him feel bad about this week.' Her smile fixed in place. 'No regrets and happy memories! Here goes nothing!'

 

"Shigure, I'm so sorry for my behavior earlier, I was startled to see you. I thought Hatori had multiplied!" She smiled brightly.

 

Shigure beamed at his flower. "It was nothing, my princess." Shigure could feel Hatori grimacing at his praise. 'Well, if that's what will make him break! At least he won't punch me for it.'

 

"How was your trip?" She asked.

 

"Oh, blah blah. I suppose I had fun, but it just wasn't the same without my dear little Tohru." Shigure cried a little.

 

Tohru blushed; Hatori tightened his fist.

 

"I mean there were plenty of pretty girls there, scantly clad I might add, but none would fill the void in my heart." He cried a little more. Shigure leaned over and whispered something in Tohru's ear. She turned scarlet.

 

Hatori looked down and realized his knuckles were white. He needed to distract himself from wanting to kill his cousin.

 

"Tohru," he said calmly. "Would you mind passing the Oyako?"

***referring to Oyako-Donburi which is chicken and egg over rice***

 

"Oh, right. . ." She looked down at her knees. "Sorry, Hatori."

 

She handed him the dish, but he did something sneaky. As she was handing him the chicken, he slipped his hand over hers and squeezed her hand gently. This action, taking place on the other side of the dish, was concealed from Shigure's view and the couple almost got away with it. Tohru's eyes snapped to Hatori's. A fleeting emotion flashed across his eyes, signaling to Tohru that she was not forgotten. She smiled softly before asking Shigure some meaningless question to spark conversation. Shigure, for once, was oblivious to the goings on, but someone else was not.

 

Had he just seen what he thought he'd seen? Kyo puzzled over the image that flashed though his vision. It had occurred in less than a second. He wondered if he were imagining things. Hatori couldn't have just made a pass at Tohru. If he had, she would have turned purple, she wouldn't be smiling ever so sweetly and chattering with his older cousins. He slammed the door behind him, loudly announcing his presence.

 

Tohru jumped slightly. "G-g-good afternoon, Kyo! You startled me!"

 

"Yeah, hey." He mumbled.

 

"Would you like some lunch? I know it's a little late, but. . ."

 

"No thanks," He replied. "I already ate." He flopped down on the floor next to Tohru.

 

"You seem tired. How was your time with Shishou?"

 

"Good!" Kyo perked up a little, but he yawned and sank back to the floor.

 

"Kyo," Hatori began, "Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest? You look like you're about to pass out."

 

Kyo nodded and started to leave. "You'll have to tell me about your week, later!" Tohru called after him.

 

Kyo flapped his hand in the air in response. Tohru sighed. "He can be

so difficult."

 

The remainder of the day passed without incident. Yuki arrived shortly after lunch looking even more ragged than Kyo had. He muttered something about death and Aya before he stumbled up the stairs and collapsed into bed.

 

Hatori's soul was heavy as he prepared to leave. There was so much he should have said to her. He grabbed his things from upstairs hoping he would have the chance to speak to Tohru alone before he left. No such luck. His younger cousins had woken up and were making up for lost time so to speak. They were talking with her, fighting, and ignoring each other at the same time. Needless to say, with all the activity, he didn't get a chance to say what he would deem the proper farewell.

 

"Tohru!" Shigure called in his singsong voice. "Hatori's leaving, would you mind seeing him out?"

 

'Leaving?' She thought. 'How did it get that late?' She walked with Hatori to his car. There were so many things she wanted to say, but couldn't.

'BE STRONG BE STRONG BE STRONG!' She encouraged herself.

 

Hatori's heart pounded in his throat. He was surprised Tohru couldn't hear it. He wanted so much to tell her the thoughts that were tumbling through his brain. His breath was heavy. He couldn't form the words in his mouth.

 

"Tohru, I. . ." he paused. He had been at this point so many times this week. Why couldn't he finish? "I mean. . . I'm sorry." 'AHHH NOT WHAT I MEANT TO SAY!!!' He screamed in his head; his voice echoed within his skull.

 

"It's OK," she said. "You don't have to apologize, I knew perfectly well what I was getting into." She smiled at him. Her glistening eyes nearly drove him to tears. She sighed, "though I'd like to hug you."

 

They stopped in front of the car. Hatori placed his hands upon her shoulders. He stared down, apologetically into her eyes. 'I love you I love you I love you.' He cupped her cheek, gently stroking it with his thumb. 'Maybe it's better if I just let her go.' He thought. His chest tightened; he was having a hard time breathing.

 

"I had a good time this week, Hatori, thank you." She said

 

He nodded. There was so much he wanted to say, but nothing came to his lips. He didn't know what he should say. 'I can't keep her all to myself.' He thought. 'I love you. She deserves better than me. I love you. God, I hope I didn't hurt her. I LOVE YOU!'

 

"Don't thank me." was all he could come up with. He leaned down and kissed her cheek ever so gently, savoring her smell, her touch. He squeezed his eyes shut as tightly as possible. "What I wouldn't give to hold you right now, too." He whispered. He pulled away and stared into her eyes.

 

"Be safe." She whispered. She gently squeezed his face between her open palms. She smiled sweetly, turned and walked inside. 'I have no regrets,' she thought. She didn't look back.