Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Strawberries and Skinny-Dipping: Hatori's Remedy ❯ Of Permanence, Domestication and Fluttering Butterflies ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: bugaboo107
Stupid. Those three words. They were just so difficult to say. They had been a jinx before. With Kana, and he didn¡¯t want anything to harm this relationship. To jinx them. Why couldn¡¯t he say them?

Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.5K | Visits: 412 | Status: Work In Progress

DISCLAIMER: I don'town anything (for the 7th time).
Hatori's Remedy presents:
Chapter 7: Of Permanence, Domestication and Fluttering Butterflies
They held each other for what felt like eternity. Tears from both dampened each other's hair.
They didn't care.
Nothing mattered when they were together.
It was a symbiotic relationship. Tohru needed Hatori. Hatori needed Tohru. That was their only reason. Nothing else mattered.
Tohru struggled slightly under his weight, and Hatori moved his head back, but not letting go of the embrace. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry.”
“Ne, it's alright.”
Hearing those words whisper against his ear made Hatori shudder. They were so comforting.
Beautiful.
Simultaneously, they pressed their lips together in a passionate kiss, devoid of any resistance or moral setbacks.
It was more fervent than before. Both growing bolder and bolder at each suckle. His lips pressed deeper onto hers, his tongue going past the portcullis of teeth and into the castle. He initiated a duel this time, probing further.
Deeper.
It was gentle, yet eager and demanding. He longed to kiss her tears away from her face, but he was locked in an intense clash of passion. He could not break away. Tohru tasted the remnants of strawberries off his luscious lips, threatening to curve at the edges into a smile. Hatori was very satisfied with Tohru's enthusiasm. They were both so eager and yearning for some permanence to their relationship. Something that both sides could remember and be remembered for.
Hatori's gentle hands held Tohru at the waist, his hands lightly massaging the tension away.
One wisp of hair strayed away, moving to her blushed cheeks to caress the soft skin. He brushed her interfering bangs away from her eyes. The thick set of lashes that seemed coy yet wanton. They were closed tight, as though she was trying to remember every piece of this event.
She was stiff as they sat side by side on the branch. Her hands resting lightly on Hatori's shoulders, feeling his broad shoulder blades beneath. She did loosen up as the kiss progressed.
Hatori had given Tohru her first kiss. It had been so sweet, but now, this one demanded all of her attention and focus. She wanted him to enjoy it as much as she did. Her lips pushed back into his. He tasted the sexy, sensual taste of the blueberries she had eaten. The powdered sugar seemed to bring a tingle of sensation throughout his body.
Finally, they broke away, breathing heavily from the kiss's intensity.
Hatori gazed into Tohru's bright, cloudless eyes, eager to see her expression. Was she okay?
“Are you okay?” Hatori's voice splintered.
“Hai,” she responded in breathless anticipation, not sure what he was feeling. Hopefully the same way she was. Rejuvenated and…
lustful.
His hands were not willing to release her just yet. They went up to her shoulders and squeezed them gently. Hatori said once again,” You're sure, right? I didn't hurt you?”
He wanted to make sure there weren't any burdened feelings wound up inside Tohru. He had had enough of those long ago, he knew they were painful.
Tohru nodded quickly.
Hatori longed to hold her in his arms; to have her chest pressing into his needy one. However, they could only have a half-hug, one that involved the side of her body slightly grazing his chest, one with little body contact.
“I'm sorry Tohru. I will never be able to hold you. Hug you.”
“None of that matters Hatori-san. I love you,” Tohru said openly.
“I-I--I, um, I do too.”
Stupid. Those three words. They were just so difficult to say. They had been a jinx before. With Kana, and he didn't want anything to harm this relationship. To jinx them. Why couldn't he say them?
He saw the hidden disappointment in Tohru's evocative eyes flicker away, before she put on a cheerful smile.
“Let's head down, Tohru, the winds are picking up a bit. Oh, before I forget, let me show you something.”
What? Another little surprise? Tohru loved surprises. She loved that Hatori had shown her his secret place. He had never told anyone else. It was his and her secret. Somewhere only they knew. Somewhere where they had shared that long delayed kiss. Even though he hadn't said “I love you” directly to her, she had seen it in his eyes. It showed a state of vulnerability, pain. Those three words didn't matter (even if she was a bit saddened).
“Hai.”
As he continued to slide down the branch, Tohru said, “Are you sure? We're getting kind of close to the edge.”
“It's here.”
Hatori pointed down at a small carved square on the branch's bark where Tohru's eyes immediately flew to.
The initials H.S., with a simple seahorse drawn around it.
Even if Hatori loathed his dreaded Juunishi form, it was him. However, it didn't matter, he wanted to show Tohru a little bit into his past.
Tohru's fingers grazed his as they both reached for the carving. It was nostalgic. Hatori quietly wiped his eyes away with the back of his hands. He didn't want Tohru to see him in this state. Tohru looked down, her eyes twining with tears. It was so symbolic. Sacred.
She brought two fingers to her lips and kissed them before setting it softly on the delicate on the carving.
“Tohru, please don't cry,” bringing his fingers to her hair, and running his long fingers through her long hair—those that had fled from her tie. She sniffled softly and her tears abated. He moved his other hand to her cheek and rubbed his thumb against her jaw. Tohru's forlorn eyes looked up to him reminiscently as Hatori searched her features. “I didn't mean to make you cry.”
His lips moved to her forehead as he placed a gentle kiss in the center. “You are wonderful. You are just the way I what you to be.”
They sat on the branch looking at the city for a while before Tohru said, “I have something to show you too.”
She went to her shoulder bag and began rummaging through the clutter until she came upon her purse. She took out a small folded piece of paper and unfolded it.
“This was the address you gave me to get to the Main House. Remember when we first met at school?”
Hatori remembered that day clearly. He had gone with the ever-excited Momiji to the Yuki and Kyo's high school to give Yuki a late-check-up and meet this “Tohru-girl” who Akito didn't object to. Upon first seeing her, she had thought of her as just another attractive young girl, the kind Shigure was engrossed with. She was an ordinary girl. He didn't see her in a romantic light. He didn't see any girl in a romantic view for that matter, not since Kana. (Not even before… he just wasn't interested… and no, he wasn't gay!)
However, since the occasions he had met her, he had fallen in love with her. Everything about her suited him. She was kind, beautiful, smart, cute, funny, and plus, she was a wonderful cook, but that didn't push him to do anything. He never would have tried anything with her. She treated the “boys” well, and he didn't want to jeopardize anything.
He kept his distance.
Now, he had fallen for her even more.
He returned back to the conversation, “Hai?”
“I still have it,” she said, slightly embarrassed by his daze.
Had she been `attracted' to him upon their first meeting? His heart fluttered like a high school boy going on his first date.
“I liked Hatori-san the first time. He was so nice to Sohma-kun and Kyo-kun, even if he didn't say much. I could tell he cared very much for them. When you told me to meet you at the house, I was really nervous. I hoped you wouldn't be angry or erase my memory.”
Those last three words pierced his heart.
It was he who had done all those things. Suppressed all those memories.
He couldn't help but put that guilt behind him. He had chastised himself for years, ever since he `started' doing it. Especially after Kana. How could he have been so foolish to listen to Akito? To hurt his friends?
He had been, but now things were going to change. His eyes glistened reminiscently.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up. I'm sorry, Hatori.”
“Let's head down,” he said.
He planted his hand at her waist and guided her across the limb. “Put your foot there,” pointing at the limb below.
With deliberate steps, they reached the bottom. “Ah, we're back on the ground, I'm really a bit dizzy from returning from that height,” Tohru teased, wobbling a little, feigning a collapse with her hand on forehead.
Hatori reached for the small of her back to hold her, smiling at her humor. He was filled of unexpected, but wonderful surprises.
“Where to now, Tohru?”
“Oh, no,” Tohru said, waving her hands frantically, “Ha-san has done too much already. Paying for that wonderful------“, Hatori put his fingers on her lips before she continue.
“None of that matters. Where go you want to go now? Anywhere you want, right now.”
“Anywhere?” she asked coyly.
“Yes.”
Putting one finger at the side of her chin, she said, “How `bout back to the farmer's market. Maybe I could buy some food for everyone. I wonder if they have any fresh bamboo shouts. That canned stuff isn't all that good. Maybe I can make a Chinese stir-fry. What do you think, Hatori?”
He had really listened. He was entranced with her contemplative eyes. She looked so cute when she was in deep concentration.
“Hai, that sounds wonderful. I'm not a cook, but can I help you?”
Tohru was quick to respond, “Definitely. I've always wanted to have a partner. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather work with.”
They took of hand in hand and strolled down the common lawn. A gentle morning breeze fluttered through across the fields.
“Are we going to finish the crepes,” said Hatori, still holding the box.
“Ah, I forgot, let's go to the picnic tables next to the playground over there,” she said, pointing to her left.
They walked over and found a table. Hatori found a seat next to Tohru, their hips touching each other.
Hatori opened the plastic bag, and then the container. Tohru licked her lips ravenously. Remember the previous “feeding” by Hatori.
“I'll go get the forks and knifes, I'll be right back.”
Hatori got up from the bench, gave Tohru a quick peck on the brow and scurried away back to the crepe shop. Tohru sat alone, watching the children scuttling to and fro on the equipment.
They had finally found permanence in their relationship.
Something that would last forever.
Memories of the tree. The kiss.
Chapter 14 Butterflies
She remembered the times her mom and her had come to the park. `Their' park was smaller, but she remembered every single detail of those trips. How her mother had doted upon her. Kyoko had always been the “huggy” type, as Hanajima and Arisa had found out upon many occasions. They had a great mother-daughter relationship. Why do the Sohma's never talk about their parents? From the bits and scraps I've heard here and there, they don't seem to have good relationships. Yuki. Momiji. How about Hatori? She was still just grazing the surface of his emotions. However, he was opening up. Like a butterfly. He had been `hidden' in his crystallized cocoon, but now, she hoped, he would be ready to spread his wings, to share his life. Everything. She was willing to hear everything.
As she sat along, she began to feel self-conscious. I bunch of high-school girls (not from her school) were pointing at her and giggling. Were they talking about her and Hatori? Did they think she was too immature for him? Even though Tohru had never let other opinions bring her down, it did sting her heart. Over the loud buzz of the kids she heard, “They are so cute together”, “She is so pretty”, “He is totally hot”, “Are they in college?”, “Duh”, “I wish I had a nice boyfriend like that”.
Tohru couldn't help but smile. They thought she and Hatori were a cute couple. Yay! Her heart shouted. It made her feel good, to be complimented, and especially because they didn't think she was too young for Hatori. So I guess I am his “girlfriend”. I must really show it to him that I am capable of being a `good' girlfriend.
Tohru moistened her parched lips. She was thirsty. She looked around and discovered a drinking fountain on the opposite side of the playground, near the children's water-play area. She thought it would be okay to run over for a quick sip. She could still keep her eye on the food.
She got up and skipped over, deciding to release her hair from the stringent ponytail bang. She waved her mane sexily, feeling it against her neck. She bent down and took a long drink. Liquid gold. She felt a small splash of water across her neck. It felt cool against her frenzied body. Probably some kids playing behind her. Nothing to worry about.
Hatori had returned moments earlier to find Tohru missing from the bench. His heart began pounding like it had yesterday when he woke up from his nap. He had been so careless to let her leave the house without him. Into the world where the “killer” was. Now, however, she was in the park, he didn't think anything would happen to her here. He looked around and landed sight on her backside, taking a sip from the drinking fountain, her hair brushed to one side of her face. Oh, she let it down, he thought slyly. She looked so innocent, her gentle tongue making erotic movements lapping the water. His mind began wandering until he landed on a brilliant idea.
He crept up behind her, stepping into the pit of playground wood chips to get across to the foam- laden ground where period spouts of water sparked. He waited patiently until the water gushed out like a powerful geyser and he took his chance and filled his cupped hands with water.
Then, without his conscience taking over, splattered the water on Tohru as though she were an empty canvas.
At first, Tohru did nothing. Probably a child, she thought. When she turned around however, she said the five feet eleven inches of bulk in front of her. Hatori.
Had he accidentally splashed water on her. Not a chance, he was grinning wolfishly like a child who had been caught stealing from the cookie jar. He looked tamed and relaxed from his usual state, his arms folded across his chest in a taunting, collected manner.
“You scared me again. I thought I'd lost you for the second time this weekend. You deserved that,” Hatori said light-heartedly.
“Oh yeah?” she challenged, just as a thick jet of water sprayed to the skies. She quickly stepped right of Hatori and filled her small hands with just enough water. She gracefully flung it at Hatori.
The two caterpillars had metamorphosed. Together. They had helped each other change. Transform.They helped each other become aware of each other's quirks and silliness. To accept them.
Hatori `silliness' boiled within his warm heart and he waited for the another geyser to sprout forth again and splashed Tohru.
They giggled together innocently and laughed, wet with satisfaction. Noon was approaching the water felt soothing against their scorching skin. Tohru grabbed at the water one last time throwing it at Hatori before running away from the playground, afraid that he was going to splash her.
It was child's play.
Hatori followed his beautiful vixen further from the playground, his long, lean legs pumping faster and faster. She escaped his vision behind the maintenance building, into a small wooded area in the park. It was an idyllic forest scene, lush flora everywhere, similar to “back home” at the forest surrounding Shigure's house.
He heard a muffled giggle to his left and followed it. He saw a flicker of black cloth behind a tree.
Tohru leaned against the slanted tree, her chest heaving heavily on the smooth bark of the willow tree, the long branches dancing around her. She was afraid to look out from behind the tree, but she knew Hatori was around. She had heard his heavy steps follow her. Daringly, she took a side peek, but he was nowhere to be seen.
After a moment, she decided to step back and find him, the game was up. She didn't want to scare him.
Suddenly she felt a gentle breath on her neck, fear gripped her until she heard the silky voice, “Found you, Tohru.”
She spun around and saw Hatori, his fathomless eyes flaming with unbridled passion. Desire.
“I'm sorry, I thought I lost you, Ha-san.”
“Me too.”
He was so close to her, she couldn't help but leaned back against the trunk of the tree. Everything around them was still. No sound could be heard, only their slight breathing. Hatori put his arms around Tohru's and settled his pelvis against hers (or as much as be could, with the height difference), he pulled her up against the tree slightly so that his bulge wouldn't be rubbing against her stomach. He nestled it securely in her groin, uttering a sound or satisfaction when he felt her arms around his neck.
He pressed his legs into hers, so that she wouldn't `slide' down the tree, looking one last time into his lover's eyes, and seeing that they were just as lustful has his, pressed his lips into hers.
This time it was forceful, with no side `tricks', he penetrated his tongue deep into her cavern and probed everywhere, feeling along the walls before Tohru's tongue grazed his. They kissed for what seemed like an eternity, exploring every inch of their mouths. It was as though they wanted to memorize and create a blueprint of their experiences.
Hatori's hands caressed her cheeks, stroking the softness of her excited skin before moving downward. Skillfully, he traced down her neck to her prominent collarbone. His fingers ran along the beautiful bone structure, remembering every niche in the bone. He went lower, his other hand helping to unbutton Tohru's flimsy blouse.
He felt her body heat radiate on his and wanted to see for himself (truly his time) the beauty of her. However, before his hand delved any deeper, he said, “Tohru, are you sure? Do you want me to stop,” between long, passionate kisses.
He felt her gentle head movement signaling `no', but added, “Whenever you want to stop, just say so, okay?”
He felt her nod.
Tohru felt his slow, cautious hands unbutton her wet blouse. When he finished all of them (which was halfway down her torso), his hands moved to her breasts. They peaked over her simple bra, wonderfully molded to the cups. He released the kiss and focused his attention on her nipples. They stood erect to his intense stare, yearning for a touch. His finger tentatively touched it gently before he covered both of his hands over her breasts. Feeling the heat seethe from the light fabric. Now he understood the male “hormones”, why Shigure had always had an “obsession” with women and their bodies. Tohru's body seemed to mold perfectly into his, except, he couldn't allow his chest to every touch hers. He looked up to Tohru and saw her pull of bottom lip through her teeth, was she having second thoughts? Was she as nervous as he was? Scared, perhaps?
Not wanting to `lost the courage', he brought his lips to the side of her neck and began to kiss the fresh skin, still moist from the water. He kissed, caressed, and reflexively nibbled on the sheer skin.
Tohru cried out.
Realizing the extent of his actions, he stopped and said, “I'm sorry, are you okay, what am I, a vampire? I'm really sorry,”
Afraid to see her face he looked away shamefully.
To his surprise, he heard a giggle. He looked back to see Tohru smiling, full-on. Her eyes squinted into two perfect crescent moons as she sniggered. “Hatori-san, a vampire?”
He had to admit, it was a silly thing to say. He stood stuff, his legs still around hers, his hands on the tree bark so that his chest wouldn't touch hers, not wanting to release her.
“Don't be sorry, it didn't hurt. It-it- felt… good.”
Tohru was slightly embarrassed to say that. She had never felt that way before, the adrenaline pumping within her, her insides squirming with delight. Tohru continued to laugh, Hatori just called himself a `vampire'—if he was; he was a very cute and attractive one.
Tohru put her arm around his neck and brought it down to her mouth. She gave him a long kiss on the cheek and hugged him tightly, her head lying peacefully on his pounding chest. Her Hatori.
She loved having Hatori so close to her.
Under the darkened willow tree, the rays of light beamed in through the soft tendrils, the light and shadows danced on their intertwined bodies.
Hatori allowed the crook of his neck to settle on Tohru's head.
They remain together for a long while.
This was the perfect day.
And the still had more than half a day together.
Two butterflies in the world.
With each other.