Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Strawberries and Skinny-Dipping: Hatori's Remedy ❯ Of A Mundane Monday, an Illusion, and a New Friendship ( Chapter 10 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: bugaboo107
Tohru sighed deeply. She had dusted Shigure¡¯s bookshelf, did the laundry, folded the clothing (boxers and all), watered the plants around the house, gave the windows a wash, and swept the porch¡ªbut mostly thinking about Hatori.

Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2008 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.3K | Visits: 392 | Status: Completed

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything!
Hatori's Remedypresents:
Chapter 10: Of a Mundane Monday, an Illusion, and a New Friendship
During the thirty minute drive to the Sohma main house, Hatori encountered beautiful memories of his night with Tohru. Not just the caressing and kissing either; he recollected Tohru's cheerful image, enough that it felt as though she was sitting beside him in the car. The traffic through the small countryside streets served to prolong the good memories. He dreaded returning to Akito, but yearned to return home, to Tohru.
He drove into his usual parking space and turned off the ignition, holding his car keys in his hands and smiled at the image of Tohru waving him off. It was beautiful.
He stepped out of his air-conditioned car into the heat of summer. The sun was just peaking from behind the mountains and its rays were beginning to shine through the dense foliage that surrounded the estates.
He went to his mailbox and retrieved the month's bills (he never got anything else, except for the occasional letter from a college buddy).
Walking up the stone-cobbled pathway to his own house, he noticed its dark and gloomy appearance. So contrary to Shigure's house.
Hatori took out his house key and unlocked the front door, his heart shuddering at the memory of Akito skulking in the darkness of the living room. He left out a deep breath when he saw it was just as he had left it—remote and alone. It had no accents or decorations that made it cozy and comfortable. It was shades of simple earth tones. Nothing that really stood out, like at Shigure's house. Shigure's house at books scattered everywhere (summer reading books, homework, and most of all: Shigure's smutty novels), food remains, articles of clothing—you name-it, it was strewn everywhere. No matter how hard Tohru cleaned, Shigure's house emitted a playful, comfortable atmosphere.
On the contrary, Hatori's house was… the exact opposite. It had all the basic pieces of furniture, but nothing to accentuate it. Hatori had the expensive Italian leather couch, the cherry-wood cocktail table, the plasma screen television, the state-of-the-art electronics that went along with it—a result of one of Akito's “feel-good” “pitiful” days.
`Hatori, your house is too ugly and plain. Go buy some furniture.'
Hatori settled his suitcase on the kitchen counter and flipped through the mail. Nothing of interest.
He checked his watch, it was seven-thirty, Akito would be awake and waiting.
He went to his bedroom and retrieved the white “laboratory” coat and left his house. He walked a few paces to his office to get a few needed `tools' and went to Akito's house.
Even after all these years subservient to Akito, Hatori was still afraid of the young girl. She was nothing he pictured of a girl in her early-twenties. She had never gotten a formal education, so she wasn't expected to understand the basics of surviving. She had been mouth-fed everything she needed. Akito had never experienced the “real world”. She did what she pleased, when she pleased.
He drew in a long breath of fresh summer air before entering the double doors. He passed by the closed doors and a few servants before arrive at her room.
The door was made of heavy wood as Akito had instructed. Therefore, no one would be able to hear her rampages and… abuses to the Sohmas. Not that it mattered, because everyone found out eventually.
Hatori knocked firmly and said, “Akito, I'm here for your check-up. Open up.”
After a long hesitation, he heard a Akito shuffle in her bed before saying, “It's open.”
Hatori pushed in and saw her.
She sat on her jumbo king-size bed, her pale head surfacing above the multitudes of blankets tucked about her shapeless body. She wore a black yukata from what he could tell.
He pulled up a chair from the corner of the room and put it beside the bed, setting his suitcase beside her.
“Enjoying your stay at Shigure's house?” Akito said with a smirk of her pinched face.
“It's business, Akito. I am taking care of Yuki and Kyo while Shigure is away.”
It hurt Hatori deeply to call his stay at Shigure's mere “business”, because it meant so much for him, but he couldn't tell Akito any of that.
“Is that stupid girl taking care of the dragon well? Feeding you properly?”
“Hai, please opened your yukata, Akito,” Hatori said resolutely.
Akito un-sashed her yukata, revealing her sickly, bony frame, nothing of interest to the male anatomy, unless you were Shigure. Shigure was interested in any two-legged being with breasts.
Hatori put the cold stethoscope up to her left breast and listened.
Thump, thump, thump; reminding Hatori about Tohru's head against his chest and listening to his steady beat.
Hatori finished his business quickly before Akito would ask further questions.
“Okay, you are fine. You can go to the garden for a walk if you'd like. It would be good for you.”
Hatori left the tension-filled room, but stopped in his steps when Akito called out, “You aren't falling for that stupid girl like Shigure, Kyo, and Yuki, are you?”
Had she found him out? Had she seen his love-lost eyes, musty with passion?
“No. What would make you think that, Akito?” Hatori said indifferently.
“Nothing.”
Truth was, Akito had taken a wild guess, just to tease one of her puppets. She liked to see them squirm and writhe under her wrath. She was master of the puppets.
Hatori walked quickly out of Akito's house before Akito could interrogate him further. He stopped on the porch and inhaled deeply. Fresh-mowed lawn. His favorite smell. Besides Tohru.
Trying the suppress the memories of Tohru, Hatori piled himself in work—organizing folders of his Sohma patients, calling pharmacies for medicine, checking the expiration dates on the prescription drugs, visiting some of the Sohmas outside the Juunishi curse for a summer season check-up, and lastly, visiting his favorite Sohma, Momiji.
He went across the Sohma estates to the Momiji's place. He heard the drifting melody of the violin playing softly from the house. It calmed his mind.
He entered the house to see Momiji standing in the living room, facing a small person whose backside was facing Hatori. She was sitting comfortably in a plush rocking chair, erect in watching her performer.
Momo.
Momo was an ordinary girl, Momiji's sister, his best friend.
She had only found out recently that she had an older brother.
She loved him as much as he did her.
Hatori beamed at the entranceway, seeing the small boy play a complicated, melancholy song on his brilliant Stradivarius violin—one of a kind, and perfect to match Momiji's talents. It was haunting to the ears, but in every aspect beautiful. This was the kind of Momiji he enjoyed watching grow up—mature and talented, not bouncing up and down and pushing everyone's buttons (thought it brought out the best in Hatori sometimes, even if he didn't like to admit it).
It seemed to draw Hatori into a trance, as he closed his eyes and listened.
Momiji saw the long dark shadow at the entrance and paused, calling out wearily, “Who's there?”
Hatori awoke from the trance and stepped into the light, “It's only me.”
Momiji's shoulders immediately slumped back, phew, it wasn't Kureno or Akito. Those two had an `odd' relationship that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Momo looked back at the tall, handsome intruder and her face immediately lit up.
“Hey, Hatori-san,” Momo said, standing up and bowing politely.
Hatori bowed back in response and his heart ached. Would he ever have children? Two as beautiful and sweet as Momiji and Momo?
Hatori was beginning to feel the `fatherly' instincts these past few days. When he saw the children at the Farmers' Market and at the park, he imagined himself and Tohru with a family. Kami, Tohru was really having some indescribable hold over him. He wanted kids now?
The smile on Hatori's face suddenly disappeared.
Would it be impossible with the curse and all?
“What are you doing here, Tori-san?” Momiji asked courteously.
“Oh, I just came to say hello. I haven't seen you this past weekend, I've, uh, been busy.” Hatori responded under Momiji's inquisitive eyes.
“I tried to find you at the office and at your house, but you weren't there. Where were you?”
“I was, uh, at Shigure's house, with, uh, Tohru.”
“Tohru? Tohru? How is she? I haven't seen her in ages, I need to pay her a visit right now, Ha'ri.”
Momiji said brightly, his hair standing up straight on end, his hands and legs in action, ready to walk toward the door.
“Not so fast,” placing a firm hand on the little boy's shoulder, “Tohru is busy and plus, Momo and I are waiting for you to finish your piece.”
“Humpf. I was gonna bring Momo too, but if you insist.”
Momiji returned to the instrument and began playing another song.
Hatori found a comfortable seat on an adjacent sofa to Momo's chair. He leaned back and lost himself in the song's delicate melody, which he believed to be Johannes Brahms Third Symphony in F Major (Op. 90: III. Poco Allegretto, for those who care, because it is my favorite classical pieces of all times, it is so melancholy and sad, my favorite kind of music; not really into the happy, ballroom-dancing classical music…)
He dreamed of Tohru and himself at the beachside, with there two young beautiful children, a boy and a girl. He and Tohru were sitting on a large beach towel while the children were playing in the sand, the wet sand oozing through their tiny toes, angelic in their movements. He imagined the sun setting the mountains across the coast, while they sat by each other. No words needed to be said between them because the sea breeze lick everything away—fears, hopes, ambitions, everything but their love for each other and their children. The sky was an alloy of blues, pinks, purples, and orange flickering in Tohru's eyes. They lit up with bliss when Hatori looked at her. They were passionately in love. Tohru called out their son and daughters' names and they came running to them. Hatori caught their daughter in his lap and snuggled her close against him, while Tohru grabbed a hold of their son who sat down beside her. They looked beyond the horizon and the children pointed to the seagulls circling overhead. For once, they seemed to fit into the panorama perfectly, creating a halo above them.
Beautiful.
“Hatori? Did you like my piece?”
Hatori nodded subconsciously, awaking from his dream. An illusion.
“Yes, it was very beautiful. Thank you, Momiji.”
Momiji muttered something like: You were sleeping, what would you know?, but Hatori didn't hear, his mind told him to hurry with today's work so he could get home to Tohru quickly.
“Uh, Momiji, could you postpone your meeting with Tohru today? She is kind of busy today. Could you visit her tomorrow?”
“Okay Hatori, anything you say.”
Momiji saw an unusually flicker of passion in Hatori's eyes, but made nothing of it. Tohru had that effect on everyone. That's why Momiji loved her as a sister, because she was a great role model, a great motherly figure to everyone. Even someone as… different as Hatori. One who others did not quickly understand because of the pain he had gone through earlier in his life, and was still enduring everyday. Hatori was like his second dad. Momiji went to him with all his problems, and if Hatori asked him to do something, he would obey.
“Thank you,” Hatori said, embracing the smiling Momiji before running out of the house.
Before he would return home, he went to his office and grabbed all the Sohma patients folders to sort out and classify. He didn't have to be away from Tohru when he did this. He wanted to be near her at every moment possible.
Something shiny caught his eye. He squinted under the sun's burning strokes and saw Kureno on his porch. Kureno was the first Sohma ever to be freed of the curse. Something Hatori tried to study whenever he could. How was it possible?
Kureno made eye contact with Hatori and nodded, “Hello Hatori. Akito wanted me to ask you if her birth control pills have arrived yet. She says she's feeling cramps again.”
Hatori was disgusted that Akito would tell Kureno her `personal problems', but he said nothing. Kureno seemed fine about it. Strangely.
Dammit! Another task before I can return to Tohru!
“I have to pick them now, tell her I'll have them back in the afternoon.”
Kureno looked to Hatori's different, more sanguine visage and asked, “Hey, are you okay? Akito hasn't done anything to you, has she?”
Kureno knew what Hatori had gone through before. Kureno wasn't as dimwitted as the other thought. He was keeping his relationship with Arisa under-wraps.
“Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“Um, you look different. Your face is brighter than usual, if that makes any sense.”
Hatori stepped toward the doorway to his office and Kureno stepped aside.
“I haven't been, uh, as busy.”
That sounded like a plausible enough explanation.
Hatori opened the door with his key and slipped in quietly before Kureno could question him anymore.
Kureno looked back at Hatori before turning away down the porch. He needed to comfort Akito to her afternoon nap so that he could visit Arisa at the supermarket. They had been seeing each other for some time now. They met weekly and went out for a stroll in the park, a little lunch, a movie, shopping, but never anything too close. They were friends, for now.
Hatori went to his files and picked out the ones he would sign off on tonight. He took off his “laboratory white” coat and set it on the chair beside the wall.
He flexed his arms before leaving the office with the files.
---
Tohru sighed deeply. She had dusted Shigure's bookshelf, did the laundry, folded the clothing (boxers and all), watered the plants around the house, gave the windows a wash, and swept the porch—but mostly thinking about Hatori.
It was around noon and she wasn't feeling too hungry. Breakfast was delicious, she thought. She looked down at her finger and saw the dark crimson-dyed bandage. She went into the downstairs bathroom and got a clean bandage out of the medicine cabinet and changed.
Knock, knock, knock.
Tohru's heart fluttered for a second before it settled. Hatori?, but he had lots of work today and she had told him to finish. Tohru took off her apron and hung it on the sofa before going to the door. Through the screen she saw Shigure's editor, Mit-chan.
She opened the door swiftly and exclaimed, “Hello Mii-san. How are you?” To Tohru, Mii-chan didn't look well. Her short hair was disheveled, her silk blouse was wrinkled, and her knee-length gray-wool skirt was askew. Tohru put her in her early-twenties on her “good-days” and late-thirties on her bad days. She looked like she had been crying, with the mascara running down her face.
“Hai, is Shigure-san here?”
“I'm sorry, but he isn't here right now. He went on a business trip, but he didn't tell me when he would be back. I'm sorry.”
Tohru saw Mit-chan's eyes rim with tears and decided that the rest of the afternoon would be a girl-girl bond. Tohru knew Shigure liked to tease his editor, sometimes to the point where she cried. With nothing else to do for the rest of the afternoon, maybe spending some time with Mit-chan would be good. The poor girl looked like she needed someone to help her settle her nerves.
“Please come in, Mii-san.”
“Oh no, I shouldn't impost on Shigure-san's friend. You probably have better things to do.”
“It's all right, it wouldn't be imposing. I have some tea and desserts already waiting.”
Truth was she did. She always had a kettle of hot tea on the stove. The refrigerator was full of snacks after shopping with Hatori yesterday.
Tohru moved to the side of the door and allowed Mii-chan entrance into the house.
“Sit down here,” signaling the sofa, “I'll go get us some tea and food. Are you hungry for lunch or some snacks?”
“Ah, the one that takes the shortest for you Tohru-san.”
Tohru bustled into the kitchen and quickly grabbed filled two cups and filled them with fragrant jasmine tea; it had a soothing effect.
She carried the tea and red bean mochi out of the kitchen to the living room.
Mit-chan graciously nodded her head and took the cup into her shaking hands.
Tohru sat down beside her and looked at her pleasantly, “So, what brings you here.”
“Well, you see, Shigure-san promised me that he finished the manuscript last week. He said that I could come back this week and get it. He promised that his latest story included the more, um, romantic elements that the audience had been urging him to write, rather that his sexual relationships. He said he was serious this time, but he doesn't seem to remember the conversation,” frowning slightly.
“Shigure is probably getting someone to proofread it on vacation so that you won't have too much trouble.”
“Maybe.”
Tohru chewed on her bottom lip before coming to the final decision.
“Do you want to ride the bus to the city and go shopping?”
For a second, the older girl's eyes lit up, but soon dimmed, “I should be getting back to the, um, office. I don't want to bother Tohru-san. You have already been too kind to me.”
“It wouldn't be any bother, plus, I'd like to get a couple outfits for myself too.”
`Well, okay, if you're okay with it?”
“Definitely. Let me change and we'll be off.”
Tohru ran to her room and changed out of her pajamas into comfortable clothing— pastel orange linen cropped pants with a white tank top. She grabbed a ponytail holder, her knit-sack and went downstairs.
Mii-chan was already waiting at the door; her eyes looked brighter and more lively already (minus the blotching-tear stained cheeks).
Tohru remembered, “I have to write a letter to Hatori-san before I leave.”
Mii-chan nodded and said, “I should use the bathroom before we go.”
Tohru pointed down the hallway and headed into the kitchen.
She grabbed a pen and paper from the nearest drawer and wrote: Hatori, Mii-chan (Shigure's editor) came over and we decided to go shopping in the city. We're taking the bus, so no need to worry. I'll be back to make dinner. Don't start anything! (Or else!).
When Tohru finished, she met Mit-chan on the porch, locked up, and left. They walked through the forest, Tohru initiating friendly conversation.
“So, when did you meet Shigure-san, Mii-san?”
“I met him at a writers' convention and we hit it off. I guess I was the only one who was easily manipulated by him.”
Tohru quickly changed subject to something general, “I haven't been shopping for a while. I'm happy that I finally have someone to do it with.”
“Me too. Thanks for offering to shopping with me. I feel much better already.”
They passed by the garden, reminding Tohru of the night spent with Hatori at watering hole. Tohru could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks and other places.
They reached the streets of the city, empty now because it was late morning. They reached the bus stop and Tohru offered the spot on the bench to Mit-chan (the other seat(s) were occupied by a portly white-haired gentleman). Mii-chan accepted graciously, bowing multiple times.
“It's okay, I sit a lot at home,” Tohru said, sounding slightly awkward with the other people around her.
Tohru looked to the sky and saw that it foretold a good afternoon. Good. They planned to do a lot of shopping at the fashion district. Tohru hadn't been out since months before finals rolled in. She was too busy studying, remembering her promise to her mom. She was going to graduate with honors! Tohru also managed to work at the building at least twice a week, clean the house, and cook for Shigure, Kyo, and Yuki.
The bus finally rolled up and everyone lined up to board. Mit-chan and Tohru each swiped their monthly bus-pass and found two seats in the back while the bus rumbled off.
Two companions.
They didn't speak to each other most of the way because they were both busy contemplating the recent toll of their individual lives. Tohru couldn't wait for Hatori to come home. It seemed kind of selfish that she `desired' him so much, but she couldn't help it. He made her feel something she had never felt before. She also felt selfish because she was seeing a totally different side of Hatori that the others had never seen before. It was like layers of pain and obstruction being peeled away. Slowly and meticulously, but that was what made it wonderful. Every smile, blush, `thank you' made Tohru blush uncontrollably.
Even with all the intimate touches and kisses, she felt shy around the dragon. Was this a side effect of love?
It was like the first day she met him personally at his office. She had blushed at the sight of the handsome, enigmatic doctor—especially when he transformed. She remembered that Hatori was really self-conscious about his form—the seahorse, but Tohru loved it. It had touched her heart immediately and she had sought thereafter to make him crack and show that vulnerable, sympathetic side; but she didn't need to. He was truly caring and compassionate. She saw through the “iciness' as the others called it when he chastised his cousins.
He was wondrous in every way, especially now that he wasn't afraid to show his `other' side. Love.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo
Hatori drove into the city to pick up the birth control pills. He hated the situation that he was Akito's obtuse puppet, one who couldn't do things for himself. He hated getting the strange stares by people seeing him pick up the birth control pills.
But since a young age, he had been able to swipe off the negativity around him. He had prevent the hurt and pain around him from penetrating his visage, especially the pain he felt when little Yuki cried. Hatori's heart clenched every time he `suppressed the children's memories', but he was able to brush the pain away. However, now he realized the pent-up pain was affecting him, as he aged. His mind flashed back to the collapse under the waterfall. He had tried to look it up in his medical book to see what it was, but he hadn't been able to find out what it was.
It didn't matter now though because he had Tohru. She erased any pain that burned in his chest.
There was hardly any traffic in the late morning.
He pulled into the parking lot of the supermarket, the same one he had brought Tohru to a few days ago.
He parked and went into the supermarket, going directly to pharmacy in the back. Hatori saw Kazumi and sighed in relief. Good, no one would ask questions and tease him about the pills. With no one in line, Hatori asked, “Good afternoon Kazumi. Have the pills come in yet?”
“Oh, hello, Doctor Sohma, yes, you are in luck, they just came in this morning,” he responded nonchalantly, “Akito's not feeling well again?”
Kazumi was a Sohma, but not a Juunishi, so he knew about Akito's `under the weather'-type personality.
“Yep.”
Kazumi went to the back of the room and opened the package of birth control pills, returning to the counter. Hatori paid and thanked the older gentleman.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, and hey, you look good today.”
Hatori gave him a half-smile and left.
The weather outside was perfect; partly cloudy suited him well.
Now, one more thing before he went home.
These chapters were mostly a reflection about how Tohru and Hatori feel about each other. The separation breeds more love and passion for the couple. Everything reminds them of each other ::sighs:: Tsk, tsk… the lovesick dragon and pining riceball. I can't help it, I love Toriru!