Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Here Without You ❯ Leap of Faith ( Chapter 3 )

Hatsuharu went to school the next day and went to meet up with Yuki, Kyo, and Momiji. Hatsuharu sighed, he felt bad about leaving Tohru alone in that room. 'What if she got lonely?' He thought. 'What if Akito came to see Tohru? Would he hurt her again? Would Tohru even fight back? --'

"Haru," Momiji exclaimed, interrupting Hatsuharu's thoughts. "Where have you been?

"Helping Hatori with a patient," Hatsuharu replied in his plain, cool, calm voice.

"Really! You got to help? Who's his private patient?"

"That's classified information, Momiji."

"Aw, why?"

"That's how Hatori feels about the patient. He believes the person should have complete privacy."

Momiji looked very disappointed. "Okay..."

"Who is it, Haru!" Kyo yelled. "Who's this mystery patient!"

Hatsuharu's anger started rising. "None of your business."

"Who is it! It's Tohru, isn't it! If you don't tell me, I'll kick your sorry ass!"

Instead of throwing a punch at Kyo, he punched a hole in the wall next to Kyo's head. Kyo had brought out Black Haru. "Shut up, you stupid cat! It's none of your damn business who Hatori treats! Keep you damn mouth shut and I won't have to kick your ass!" He stormed off to his class, people clearing a path for him.

Kyo blinked, Hatsuharu had never turned black that quickly since they were little. Yuki just stood there, just as shocked as Kyo. Momiji ran after Hatsu haru, waving goodbye to the frozen rat and cat.

"What was that," Yuki asked, finally able to say something.

Kyo snapped out of his shocked state; "He freaked out because I kept asking who Hatori's private patient was... I asked him if it was Tohru, and he just exploded."

Yuki leaned against the wall and thought aloud; "It's a possibility that it is Miss Honda if Hatsuharu reacted like that."

"Yeah, and Hatori called me a cat when I asked him about it yesterday."

"Hatori?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm..." Yuki stood there, deep in thought.

This was the most of a conversation Kyo and Yuki had with anyone since Tohru went missing. But, this conversation would not end with good results or good ideas...

Tohru slept in until two o'clock, but when she woke, a patient, calm face was near her own. She jolted up and put a hand over her heart. She put one hand over her heart and calmed her breathing. "Oh, Hatori," Tohru replied, "you scared me!"

Hatori stood up, putting the old bandages in the trash can. "I was just changing your bandages.

"Yes, of course..." She yawned and saw a tray of food next to her bed. "This looks delicious!"

"Hatsuharu made it."

"Tell him I say thanks you!"

"I'll be back in a few moments." Hatori left the room, locking the door behind him.

Tohru looked at the food and took the tray, putting it on her lap. She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat, enjoying the riceballs, sushi, and rice with soy sauce. As she ate, the door unlocked and someone walked in, shutting the door behind them. "Welcome back Hatori," Tohru said, still chewing some of the rice in her mouth, and then swallowing it. "Would you like some? --" She looked up and blinked. "Wh-what are you doing here, Hatsuharu?"

"I thought you'd like to see a friendly face;" He took a seat next to Tohru's bed and smiled. It was one of his rare, genuine smiles. "You like the food?"

"Oh, yes! It's delicious!" Tohru took another bite. She held up a fox roll (a type of sushi, mind you) with her chopsticks and directed it towards Hatsuharu's mouth. "Have some, please. I can't eat all of this alone."

"All right..." He opened his mouth and Tohru put the fox roll in his mouth. He bit down when Tohru removed the chopsticks from his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, responding with a smile; "Delicious!"

"Maybe after I get out of here, I can make you a meal."

"Maybe."

Tohru and Hatsuharu spent the rest of the day talking and laughing. Tohru didn't feel so sad anymore, she felt relieved and more like herself again. If only this moment could last forever for her, if only...

That night, Yuki and Kyo dressed in all black, ready to sneak out. For once, they were working together. They were both suspicious that the mystery patient was Tohru. If it was her, they wanted to know, they wanted to see her, talk to her, but most of all, know that she's alive and well.

They jumped off the balcony and ran to the Sohma residence. When they arrived, both of them crept through the shadows and in between buildings just like a cat and a rat. As the quiet animals they were, they didn't make a sound, not even a crack of a stick could be heard or a sound of a dashing shoe. So, the Sohma residence was as quiet as ever.

Once they reached Hatori's home, they looked through the window and saw Hatori hard at work. They slicked towards the back of the house and took the screen off quietly. Kyo tried to pull the large, thick shade open, but it wouldn't budge an inch.

"It's locked from the inside," Kyo whispered.

"Is there some way to get in from the roof or something?" Yuki responded, whispering as well.

"None."

"We can't use the door..."

"Damnit!"

"Shh...!"

Suddenly, someone shined a flashlight in their eyes. "I thought you two would come some night, I just didn't think it'd be so soon..."

"Turn that damn thing off," Kyo whispered a little loudly.

Hatsuharu pointed the flashlight down at the ground. "You two really though you'd get away with this, didn't you?"

"I want the truth, Haru," Yuki said sternly and strongly. "Is Miss Honda in there or not?" Yuki gave Hatsuharu the more depressing and longing look in the world. Yuki's face showed how he felt deep inside himself.

Hatsuharu was now finding it hard to lie to Yuki now. He turned his head to look at Kyo. Kyo had emptiness in his eyes that went deep down into his soul, reaching to the loneliest place within him. Hatsuharu sighed and looked Yuki straight in his eyes; "I miss Tohru too... and I know how much you care about. If she was here, I'd tell you, but she's not. I'm sorry..."

Yuki just looked down and frowned. "Sorry for invading your privacy, along with Hatori's..."

"Me too," Kyo kicked a rock and stuffed his fisted hands into his pocket.

"Get home before Shigure sees you're gone." Hatsuharu walked back into Hatori's, turning his flashlight off.

Kyo and Yuki headed home, guilty and disappointed. Hatsuharu walked past Hatori's office, but stopped at the doorway when Hatori asked: "So, was it Kyo and Yuki?"

"Yeah," Hatsuharu responded in a saddened voice.

"Did they see her?"

"No, but Yuki looked so depressed and like... like he needed her. And Kyo, he looked so empty, like he had no soul. I managed to lie to them somehow. I don't know where I got the courage. If Tohru could hear from them--"

"No, Hatsuharu. I'm already taking a huge risk of letting you see Tohru. If Akito walks in one day and you're there, you and I will be punished severely. You know what would happen if Yuki and Kyo saw Tohru, they'd go after Akito violently. They'd cause more conflict then, mostly for Tohru; so, it's for the best." Hatori looked up from his work and at Hatsuharu. "Things will get better, I promise."

Hatsuharu nodded and walked back to Tohru's room where Tohru was lying awake, listening to the events going on. Listening to the way Yuki and Kyo were broke her heart into a thousand pieces, like her heart was glass and she dropped it by accident. But, Akito... he made her drop the precious glass and she could never forgive him.

Tohru burst into tears, because of Akito, she had lost all her dreams, hopes, and even her faith. She even found it hard to like herself anymore. Deep, deep down in her dark thoughts, she wanted to end it all, but the idea that she had nothing to end her life with made her disappointed and pushed it out of her mind. Sometimes, the thought of suicide stayed fresh in her lonely mind, and made her want to cry more.

Hatsuharu unlocked the door and walked in. Seeing her crying, he walked over to her and took her hand. He held it between both his hands. Hatsuharu put on a comforting face and said in a soft, gentle, sympathetic voice: "You'll see them again, I promise. You'll cook and clean for them, walk to school and walk home with them, and go grocery shopping with Yuki too. And, after a long day, you'll sleep in your bed, feeling safe because Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure are near by. Now, stop crying... no one likes to see someone in tears."

Tohru smiled a little, her crying subsiding. "Thank you, Hatsuharu."

"No, thank you, Tohru."

Hatsuharu held her hand still with both of his own, smiled sweetly, and held her hand until she was asleep. He stroked her hair and said in a calm, quiet whisper: "You'll see them again... and you'll continue to live a wonderful, happy, healthy life with all of us. Have faith, Tohru, because I'll be out there, and we all truly care. Then, when you call out for us, we'll be right there." He gave the back of her hand a tiny kiss and left her to sleep.

The whole time, Tohru was still awake, listening. When she heard the door shut and locked, she sat up, looking at the locked door. She felt the heat rush to her cheeks, turning them a bright red. Tohru had never felt so cared for, so loved since Kyoko died. A boy had never kissed her hand before, like a gentleman does, either. For once, since Akito had kidnapped her, Tohru had her faith of returning home where Shigure, Kyo, and Yuki would be waiting.

When Hatsuharu had left Tohru to sleep, he was surprised to see Kisa there. "Kisa, you should be in bed," Hatsuharu said, acting like her big brother.

"Who's in there," Kisa asked in her sweet, quiet, innocent voice.

"No one." He replied calmly, knowing Kisa was just an innocent child.

"It sounded like you were talking to Sissy..."

"She's not in there, I don't know where she is. No one does, sorry."

Kisa looked down and frowned. Noticing the little one's loneliness and sadness, he picked her up and smiled; "Let's go to bed, okay? I'll tuck you in..."

"Okay," Kisa replied and as they walked to Kisa's home, she asked: "When is Sissy going to come back?"

"Soon, Kisa... soon..."

Kisa smiled her sweet and innocent little smile. It always made Hatsuharu feel better when he saw her smile, especially after the hard time she went through when everyone teased her in school. One day, everyone would feel as hopeful and cheerful as Kisa was right now. Express their feelings through words, affection, and expressions, except Akito. What would happen to Tohru when she got better? Would Akito go after her again? Would he even let her go? It was highly doubtful, but the least Hatsuharu could was keep everyone hopeful.