Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Golden Dreams ❯ Goodbye Happiness ( Chapter 15 )

"Gone." Tohru whispered as she climbed into her empty bed. She sighed heavily. 'It should be raining.' She pulled her blankets up to her chin. She wished she hadn't washed her sheets, she longed for Hatori's scent to permeate her senses. She was faintly aware of the hushed musty aura that still lingered among her belongings. It wasn't enough. She closed her eyes. They were like glue, stuck shut. When had she become this tired? She welcomed the sleep that rushed from the floor to greet her.

 

Hatori on the other hand, not recovering from a rather nasty GI bug, had a much harder time finding sleep. He went home and immediately flopped into a chair. Longing for the soft light of a candle, he lit one next to his elbow. He lit a cigarette also. He wasn't much for smoking in the house, but he didn't feel like sitting in the chilly nighttime air. It was cold enough in here. It was now hours later. He was out of cigarettes. The smoldering remains of his last one lay softly glowing in his ashtray. His candle had long since extinguished itself amidst a pool of hot wax. The cigarette ceased to glow. He sat in the dark staring straight ahead, as he had for hours, in the utter darkness. Not even the moon was able to penetrate the darkness of this night. He shivered, but didn't bother to reach for a blanket. It seemed fitting that he should be cold. Cold, dark, and alone. He wanted another cigarette. He wanted to feel the soothing menthol scar his lungs. Cold, dark, having a nic-fit, and alone.

 

Ironically it was light that snapped him from his self-absorbed trance. He blinked and glanced out the window. Sunlight was beginning to dance upon the dew christened landscape. “Morning?” he asked. Had he dreamt? Had he even slept? He was not sure, but somehow the morning had come; it was time for life as usual.

 

She awoke, aware of the pain in her chest. How is it, that emotional pain can cause such a deep, physical, reaction? `How is it, that when you heart is aching, your heart actually aches?' She laughed audibly at her silly inner-monologue as she climbed out of bed. She sighed heavily, stretching it into a mock groan. “Too early.” She mumbled, stretching her whole body as much as she could. She yawned. “Good morning, toes.” She mumbled as she wiggled them. She laughed again. `Why am I being so goofy? Hmm, defense mechanism?' She didn't know, but I don't suppose it is important to the plot of this story as to why she was being so goofy. What is important is that she was being goofy, and that Shigure, who was on his way to bed for the night… or um… morning, heard her.

 

 

He smiled. `She is so strong.' Shigure, though he might act it, is not a complete idiot. He knew something transpired between the two, he just wasn't exactly sure what it was. He knew last night had been sad for Tohru. He also knew Hatori, whom he did consider to be a complete idiot at times, had done something to screw it up. Probably by not telling Torhu how he felt, thereby allowing her to go on her merry, or not so merry as the case may be, way. He allowed her to stroll right out of his life while probably trying to do something dumb, like protect her.

 

But the precious flower of the Sohma household was ever resilient. Contrary to the popular opinions of those well-meaning individuals closest to her, Tohru needs to be protected like she needs the rice-maker to explode violently. (That would be interesting though.) `I only wish Hatori realized that.' Shigure thought as he collapsed into a lump on his bed. At least he thinks it's his bed. It is quite possible that he collapsed into a lump on a giant pile of dirty clothes and other various items that compose the “sea of decay.” “Just who is this woman hiding under the guise of a seventeen year old girl?” Through all her tragedies, she lives a life void of negativity, apart from all the things that bind the Sohma's to their curse. `Nothing, not even Hatori, can strip her innocence from her. She is not innocent because of what she doesn't know. It is through her clear-sighted optimism that she retains her innocence. She will always see the glass as half full, while trying to make it overflow for everyone else. She will ever remain chaste from the pessimism that has fractured the souls of those around her.'

 

“I'll pay Hatori a visit later this week.” He said aloud.

 

Tohru was strong. She went about her days like any other day of her life. `It hurts,' she thought, `but other things hurt more.' She did feel sick; she did want to cry at times, but she couldn't separate herself from the joys of everyday. The yellow flowers peeking through the ground were so vivid, and they smelled so sweet. How could someone not find that beautiful? Yuki and Kyo didn't seem to be fighting as much as usual, only half-heartedly bickering; that really made her smile. The week was long, but she made it through. On Friday night she decided to take a quick nap before the rest of her household appeared for dinner.

 

She was outside hanging up some laundry when Hatori appeared. She wasn't aware of his approach until she felt his hands gently grip her hips. She turned to see his hungry eyes staring into hers. He caught her mouth in a matter of seconds, filling it with hoards of passionate kisses. She nearly melted. She pulled away from his tempest of kisses. She looked coyly into his eyes, and nibbled gently on his ear. She descended to her knees and pulled his pants and boxer briefs down to his ankles. Hatori gasped; Tohru smiled. She took the length of his rock-hard penis into her mouth. He cried out breathily. She licked down his shaft before sucking on his pulsating balls. His knees buckled. Her coy smile returned as she stood, leaving Hatori with his mouth gaping, and resumed hanging the laundry. She was playing with fire; she liked it. She felt him press his erection into her backside. She pretended like she didn't notice. He lifted her and set her down gently on his erection. She felt him shudder as her underwear moved aside. She then felt him enter her slowly until she became wet enough that his intrusion would not hurt either of them. He began to bounce her lightly up and down. She steadied herself on the beam of the clothesline and hooked her legs around his waist. She moaned loudly as the pressure mounted from within.

 

Thirty-two feet per second squared wasn't fast enough. Hatori grabbed the post and slowly descended until Tohru was on her knees on the cold wet grass. He wrapped his hands around her tiny hips and pulled her back onto him. She dug her fingernails into the dirt as she felt her climax fast approaching. Hatori quickened his pace, his testicles smacked against her clitoris, moaning in time with Tohru. She arched her back, allowing him deeper entrance into her inner chambers. She cried out as her constricted organs released. She felt Hatori break as he emptied his semen into her dripping vagina.

 

Tohru sat up quickly. The sun streaked through the sky, the brilliant color of evening orange. She climbed out of bed to prepare dinner. Her panties were soaked. She blushed a little, remembering the details of her dream, and pulled on a new pair. She didn't usually dream like that. But that wasn't really a dream was it. She looked down at her fingernails. It had taken her hours to get all the dirt out. She sighed. She hoped her pleasant memories wouldn't make her cry out in her sleep. “Embarrassing!” She sang like something Shigure would sing. She giggled and headed for the door.

 

Hatori's week did not fare so well. Akito had come down with a nasty case of influenza. Hatori had to give him steroid shots every couple of hours to keep his wheezing down to a minimum. Needless to say, he wasn't getting much sleep. He wanted to be alone to grieve. When he did have a couple of hours to himself he would sit in his chair and stare at the wall. He wouldn't realize time was passing until he fumbled for a cigarette and discovered he'd again smoked the last of the pack. His trash was full of empty wrappers and ashes.

 

One day while in the middle of his habitual staring he noticed Kana smiling at him from her picture frame. He was startled. “Kana.” He said aloud. He hadn't thought of her for almost two weeks now. He walked across the room and picked up the frame. Her bright eyes made him smile a little. “That's funny.” He set the frame face down on the coffee table.

 

Hatori began to cry for the first time since he left Tohru. He cried tears of irony. How many times had he prayed for relief from the pain of his love for Kana? Now, he could smile when he looked at her shining photograph, but his world was much darker than it had ever been. Life was simply cold without Tohru. He cried so hard he started to choke, but the tears kept flowing. He hadn't cried like this since he was a child. He curled himself into a little protected ball on his chair. His sobs echoed within his empty house, his empty heart. He began to gag. He sprinted to the bathroom where he vomited burning bile into his toilet. He hadn't been able to eat all week. First, he didn't have the will, but when he did make the effort, his stomach wouldn't accept his offering. Flushing the toilet, he spit into the sink. He caught his reflection as he stood. He was pale and emaciated. Dark purple rings circled his sunken eyes seeking to highlight the grotesquely yellow color of his skin. He shuddered and sunk to the floor. He was terribly dehydrated, and it looked as if his liver was about to give up the ghost. For now, he didn't care. He didn't have the energy to take care of himself right now. He curled back into his protected ball on the floor and began to shake violently. A fever was fast overtaking him. He wanted to cry, but there were no tears left. His eyes were made of broken glass. He shut them as tightly as he could.

 

Hatori was bathing. Tohru had made quite a habit of interrupting his baths with her stunning seduction. Tonight was no exception. She slipped into the bath opposite him, and was rather good, for a while. She laid her head against the back of the tub. Her hair cascaded around her face until it hit the water, where it swirled about on the surface, seductively concealing her bosom. Hatori laughed inwardly. She didn't even have to try to seduce him; just looking at her turned him on. He pulled her closer to him, with the intent of a little almost cuddling. (The closest thing to cuddling they could do with out Hatori turning into something really cute.) Tohru had something else in mind. She gyrated over his hardening genitals as he pulled her closer. Hatori gasped. He hadn't expected that little move. She moaned into his ear and positioned his penis under her before impaling herself completely on his length.

 

He screamed. “TOHRU!” He bit her shoulder.

 

She reached between his legs and fondled his testicles. He moaned loudly pushing into her as deeply as possible. She arched her back and exhaled sharply. “Hatori!” She breathed in his ear before lightly nipping it.

 

He rocked her from underneath. Her cries echoed against the cold hard tile of the bathroom. Water sloshed over the edges of the bathtub. Hatori paused for a rest, but Tohru was relentless. She gyrated about him with all the fervor her tiny figure could amass. The churning water kissed the tips of her curling hair, pulling it along, like drifting seaweed, with its roving currents. Hatori captured her mouth with his as he took control of the situation. He braced her hips with his hands and hammered himself inside of her time after time. Her cries were growing louder. Her supple breasts bounced violently as she rode her bucking dragon. Hatori felt the walls of her vagina tighten around him as her apex approached. Her entire body shuddered as she grasped unsuccessfully for the edges of the bathtub. She arched her back as Hatori plunged into her one final time. Pleasure pulsed through his veins; his breath remained hard and fast.

Hatori was startled awake by loud knocking on the front door. “Aww man!” He muttered looking at the sticky mess he had made of his pants. He quickly shucked them for another pair

 

“Hey.” He said coldly. “I was trying to sleep.”

 

Shigure smiled. “TORI! I missed you! You haven't been cheating on me have you?”

 

“Do you have your cousins confused?” Hatori asked dryly.

 

Shigure giggled.

 

“Come in, sit down.” Hatori stumbled into the kitchen after another carton of cigarettes.

 

Shigure noticed the askew picture frame on the table. He went to set it upright when he noticed it was empty. He looked to the wall where Kana's picture should have been. It was gone. He smiled and returned the frame to the table. “Good boy.” He said softly.

 

Hatori returned with his cigarettes. He emptied his ashtray into the trashcan before fumbling to open his pack.

 

“Easy there cancer.” Shigure muttered noticing the trashcan. Hatori shrugged. Shigure snatched the cigarettes from his hands. “Give it a rest, you look terrible.”

 

Hatori shrugged again. “I've come down with a bug.”

 

Shigure pressed the back of his hand to his cousin's forehead. “Gods man, you've got a terrible fever.”

 

“I told you.” He paused. “What are you doing here anyway?”

 

“I actually came to inform you that you left one of your jackets in Tohru's room… pervert.”

 

“What? I…” Hatori sighed; this was too much effort. “Well, where is it? And what were YOU doing in her room?!?”

 

Shigure laughed as Hatori put up his protective hackles. “I didn't bring it.”

 

“You really are an idiot.” Hatori muttered under his breath.

 

“I thought you might drop by and pick it up sometime. It would really cheer Tohru up!”

 

Hatori's eyes brightened up a bit, but soon faded to the dull translucent glass that usually covered his soul. “How is she?” He asked softly.

 

“She's doing well.” Shigure paused. “She really is strong, you know. She isn't the type who will easily break.”

 

Hatori stood and stared blankly out the window to the fading sky.

 

“You can't hide it forever.” Shigure commented plainly.

 

Deep sigh. “I know.”

 

The dragon turned and flopped back down on his chair and groaned. “I'll come by some other time, right now I just want to pass out.”

 

Shigure looked at his cousin; he looked terrible. “I think you should come over tonight.”

 

“I can't.” Hatori replied flatly. “Akito's sick, and I really don't feel like being out.”

 

“You obviously aren't taking care of yourself here. When was the last time you ate?”

 

Hatori puzzled for a minute.

 

“See,” Shigure replied. “Come over, eat a good meal, and stay with us for the night.”

 

“But Akito…”

 

“You get ready, I'll go check on him now. Write down everything you need done for his on-call nurse to do tonight.” Shigure put his hand on his cousin's shoulder. “Just this one night, Hatori. If you're feeling better in the morning, I'll drive you home myself.”

 

Hatori nodded, he really didn't feel like fighting a determined Shigure right now. He sat on his bed as Shigure disappeared for Akito's chambers. He put his head in his hands. He really didn't want to face Tohru looking like this, but that damn dog could be so manipulative. He stuffed some clothes in his bag and laid down waiting for Shigure's return.

 

He awoke at Shigure's house. “What the…” He muttered. Shigure and a driver from the main house were pulling him out of the car. His legs almost failed him as he tried to stand. “How did I get here?” He asked.

 

“You wouldn't really wake up when I was ready, so I called a chauffer. You probably shouldn't be driving anyway.” Shigure paused. “Anyway, we more or less guided you to the car.”

 

Hatori entered the house to find Yuki and Kyo idly watching TV. He mumbled a greeting.

 

“Whoa, Hatori, you look like shit!” Kyo commented.

 

“Thanks, Kyo.” He muttered. “Watch your mouth.”

 

Yuki snickered.

 

“Shut up, you stupid rat!”

 

Yuki shrugged and returned his attention back to the television.

 

“I WAS TALKING TO YOU!” Kyo screamed.

 

“Yuki, where's Tohru?” Shigure asked.

 

“WHY DO YOU HAVE TO ASK HIM?”

 

“She's taking a nap, she told me to wake you up when you got home.” To Kyo he said: “Because you're an idiot. Idiot.” (commence bickering)

 

“Thank you, Yuki!” Shigure sang. “Hatori, would you wake up my flower for me?” He asked sweetly. “You can get your jacket while you're up there.”

 

Hatori nodded, grumbled, and ascended the stairs. He arrived at Tohru's door. He heard her sing “Embarrassing!” from within. `She needs to spend less time with Shigure.' He raised his arm to knock at the door. It opened before he had a chance.

 

POOF!!!

 

`Now this is embarrassing.'