Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Strawberries and Skinny-Dipping: Hatori's Remedy ❯ A Midnight Treat ( Chapter 12 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: bugaboo107
He was thirsty and decided to get a drink from the kitchen. He entered the hallway and ambled toward the kitchen. The lights were off, and suddenly he felt a strange presence. Who was in the house?

Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 368 | Status: Work In Progress

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Hatori's Remedy presents:
Tohru felt the nod against her cheek and she planted a firm kiss on his clean-shaven cheek.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Everything, Ha'ri.”
Tohru looked up to his face and saw his eyes brim slightly, and smile forming on his lips, before she whispered, “You are so wonderful to me.”
“You are so wonderful to me too, Tohru.”
A single tear rolled down Tohru's cheek as she closed her eyes.
Chapter 12: A Midnight Treat
At that point, Hatori realized that nothing could stop him from loving Tohru. Nothing. Not ever.
They stood under the overhand of the bus station for a while, just listening to each other's steady breathing and the methodic chirping of the crickets.
Hatori finally pulled away to look into the iridescent eyes of his young lover.
An eleven year age difference really didn't matter, he thought. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I'm not going to throw it away. I know I am being selfish, but I need her. I love her like no words can explain.
“Can I hold those for you?” Hatori said, motioning his hand to the bags Tohru held on her wrist.
Tohru was too tired to object, slipping the bags into Hatori's grasp. It had been a fun, but tiresome day, and Tohru was ready to take a shower and dive into her bed.
They entered the forest and walked on the dirt trail. The moonlight filtered through the flora provided them enough light to find their way home. Even when Tohru was weary, her face illuminated ethereal beauty, something that Hatori found astonishing, as a doctor, and man.
Tohru's footing slipped while crossing a lattice of tree roots. Her right leg twisted slightly, but Hatori grabbed her waist to help her position herself.
“Thanks.”
Hatori kept his hand at her waist for the rest of the quiet journey home.
§§§
Tohru loved his protective side. He really cared about her. Even if he didn't always show this side. He was like her in many ways.
They reached the porch and walked up silently, the planks creaking underneath their feet. Hatori pulled out the key from his pant pocket and opened the door. A comforting rush of cool air welcomed them.
Tohru exhaled deeply.
“Thinking ahead, Hatori?”
“Yep,” Hatori replied with a smile on his face. He loved how she opened herself up to him. These past few days, she had truly opened herself to him. No one had been this free to talk to him before.
They entered the living room and removed their shoes. Tohru slipped her purse of her shoulders as if it were some heavy anchor weighing her down. She let out a small “oof”.
“How `bout I make dinner while you get yourself washed up.” He said, more of a statement than a question.
“Ah, Ha-san has done too much today, I will—“
Hatori put his index finger to her parched lips and shook his head slightly. “It's my turn.”
Tohru didn't object and started for the stairs.
“Oh, I almost forgot, Ha-san, I got you something, nothing special though.”
Tohru went over to the shopping bags by the doorstep and pulled out the bag. This is a replacement shirt for the one that you let me wear. I probably got it dirty, so I got you a new one.”
Tohru handed the bag to Hatori.
“Tohru, you didn't have to, I would very much have loved `soiled' shirt to a new one. Because Tohru's aura is one it, but thank you very much.”
Tohru blushed before heading upstairs. She went into her bedroom and grabbed the necessary things, before heading to the bathroom down the hallway.
One thing she loved at Shigure's house (among others) was the fact that she had her personal bathroom. It was all hers.
She tiptoed across the cold marble tiles to the shower and turned it on to let the water run as she stripped off her sticky clothing. She looked into the mirror and saw her messy hair.
Tohru stepped into the tile shower and let the gentle waterfall pour over her. The feeling was indescribable. It drowned out any noise of the animals, crickets chirping outside the house. It was a cleansing, inside her body, and outside.
She ran the loofah over the planes of her body and scrubbed until her skin was red.
§§§
Meanwhile, Hatori prepared dinner downstairs. He found and made use of the things he could.
He thought that a nice, simple okayu rice porridge would be good for such a hot day. He cooked the rice on low heat, allowing it to simmer. He went to the refrigerator and found some things to eat with the rice. Tsukemono (pickles), daikon radishes, and realized that he was going to have to cook something to fulfill their stomachs.
He settled on a Goya Chanpuru. Goya, also known as bitter gourd, would be great to beat the heat. He gathered the goya, eggs, tofu, already sliced pork, soy sauce, rice wine (sake…whoo!—of course nothing you can get inebriated from), salt, and vegetable oil. He diced and whipped everything before pitching it into the wok and stir-frying all the ingredients.
Just as he was bringing the last dish to the table, Tohru arrived. She stopped right behind him, making Hatori feel a rush of adrenaline through his body.
“Wow, you've prepared a banquet.”
“If you can call it that.”
Hatori pulled out her seat and gestured for her to sit down. She did.
He sat down across from her and watched her delicate movements. First, she closed her eyes and made a small prayer. He didn't hear what she said under her breath, but he wondered. As the good Samaritan that she was, probably wishing for world peace, and truly wanting it. Not just the clichéd answer that so many people responded too. Then she lifted her eyelids and smiled at him. Her smile was genuine, from her lips, to her clear eyes, which were sparking like diamonds.
She lifted her chopsticks, and said, “Shall we?”
“We shall.”
She closed her eyes as she tasted the warm stir-fry, her moan gave him a hard-on.
He was getting a lot of those lately.
“This is delicious Hatori.”
“Thank you,” he said, taking a bite of the porridge. Eating had never been so enjoyable. He took his time, and watched Tohru's animated movements as she tried a bit of everything and piled his bowl high with food. He could help but smile. She was so sweet.
After dinner, they brought the dishes to the sink.
“I'll wash,” Tohru offered.
“I'll help.”
Tohru turned on the faucet and used the natural sponge to scrub off the oil and residue. She lathered on detergent and scrubbed.
She hummed a jingly tune that was cheerful, yet melancholy. It was familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Where had he heard it?
Instead of racking his brain for something that would come to him sooner or later (or maybe not), Hatori turned all of his attention to Tohru.
They stood side by side, like an old married couple who had never lost passion through all their years by each other. He loved being around her. Being around her give him a meaning to live. With her love and support, he could do anything.
That night that he had thought he lost her, his soul almost left him. She was like his drug. His remedy. Panacea. The answer to all his woes. She had made him believe that there was still good in the world that he had grown up in. Despite the pains and mental torture he had endured as a child, all his hopes, dreams, and admirations had returned to him.
Even if they didn't spend the rest of their lives together, he would remember her and love her for eternity.
She was his light.
And he hoped she felt the same for him.
“Hatori?”
He looked back down at her, and she held a bowl up to him.
“Sorry I wasn't paying attention.”
“No problem.”
He dried the bowl with a wash-cloth. He asked, “Where should I put this?”
“On the second shelf in front of you.”
Taking a chance when Hatori wasn't looking, Tohru took a handful of bubbles and tossed it at his exposed neck. He cringed, and spun around, his expression lighthearted and jocose.
“Huh, you want a bubble battle?”
She smiled coyly.
He strode to the sink in two steps, grabbed a handful and did the same to Tohru.
She let out a squeal and they continued their soapy battle, until she lost her footing, again. But she had a legitimate reason, the ground was slippery!
Tohru landed on her butt, and giggled until her chest hurt. Hatori knelt down beside her with a clean washcloth and dabbed at her face.
“We'd better get you cleaned up.” He helped her up said, “You might have to take another shower.”
“Naw, I'm not too dirty. It's only a little soap.”
Hatori laughed at her sincerity. She was so sweet.
They cleaned up the kitchen together, and it seemed like a matter of minutes. Hatori looked over at the clock, and it was eleven-thirty.
“Wow, it's late,” he said.
“Yep. Uh, we'd better head to bed.”
Hatori looked at her wolfishly, not intentionally, his brow furrowed and his lips curled at the sides, making him look like a lupine creature of the night.
Tohru blushed, realizing the extent of her statement, “Oh, I don-don't mean together, I m-mean we should each go to bed, separately… of course.”
“Of course,” Hatori repeated, slightly disheartened.
Tohru bent her head down and said quickly, “Well then, good night Hatori. Sweet dreams.”
“Good night Tohru.”
Tohru slowly walked up the stairs, hoping a little, that Hatori would accompany her, but then thinking that it wasn't right, yet. They had been together for a few days. It wasn't right to impose and tell him to sleep with her. He had his own life. She reminded herself to thank him for staying with her.
§§§
Hatori went to Shigure's bathroom and turned on the showerhead. When the water ran steady, he walked in and did the usual `shower thing'.
He got out five minutes later clean and ready for bed. He put on his PJ pants and tee shirt.
He was thirsty and decided to get a drink from the kitchen. He entered the hallway and ambled toward the kitchen. The lights were off, and suddenly he felt a strange presence. Who was in the house?
Someone was in the kitchen, and he/she was opening the refrigerator. A million thoughts ran through his head. Were they back so soon? Was it a hungry robber?
He peeked over the corner of the wall and saw a small frame. Good, he could fight him off he need be. They he heard a familiar yawn from the dark mass.
Tohru.
Why was he so delusional? Thinking that it was some psychotic thief. Yikes, he needed to stop drinking coffee and reading horror tales from the newspaper. He let out a low guttural chuckle and shook his head at his stupidity.
Tohru let out a gasp and jumped back. “Who's there?”
Hatori quickly moved to her side and hugged her close to him. Her derriere molded into his front.
“Sorry I scared you. You actually scared me first.”
Tohru whispered, “Sorry. I was getting some warm milk to help me go to sleep.”
“I came here for some water.”
Hatori hadn't bothered to turn on the light. The darkness heightened his senses as it seemed. He could hear and feel every sound, motion. He was like Spiderman or something, minus the costume and webs. The dim light outside filtered into the kitchen so that Hatori saw Tohru's perfect silhouette, her perfect slim hourglass figure, as he held her at arm's length.
“Do you want some warm honey milk?”
Hatori hated dairy products, but didn't bother to object. With Tohru, anything was possible. The sky was limitless.
§§§
“Sure.”
Tohru flipped on the light switch and took out the gallon of milk, filling half a small saucepan. She went into the pantry and grabbed the bear-shaped container of honey, dispensing a sufficient amount of honey into the pan.
Using a wooden spoon to stir the contents, she looked like a chef. She was so cute.
Hatori watched, leaning against the wall. Suddenly, he wasn't so tired. Tohru made him alert.
When the milk began to boil slightly, she took it off the stove and filled to mugs to the brim.
She brought one over to Hatori and she sat down at the nook table. Hatori pulled a seat beside her.
They sipped silently next to each other.
They each purposely sipped slowly, each wanting to prolong the midnight tryst. Neither wanting to be the first to leave.
But at last, Tohru finished her share of honey milk. She slowly got out of the chair and dawdled over to the sink.
Hatori followed suit. When Tohru stood there motionless, he put his hand on her shoulder and turned her over to him.
“Are you okay, Tohru?”
“Yeah. I was just thinking, wondering when they were coming home. It's just, I don't want you to go afterwards. I want to spend the summer with you.”
There, she let out the things that had plagued her mind for the past night and day. She wanted to be with Hatori for as long as he wanted her to be by his side. She hoped that he wouldn't think that she was being clingy or anything.
She didn't need a proposal or promise. A diamond ring or a castle on a mountain.
She just wanted to be near him.
To be my his side.
Even if they would not spend the rest of their lives together like in a sappy drama, she wanted to keep the memories of this summer.
She wanted to live out a dream.
When he didn't respond, she added, “I don't mean to sound emotionally dependent or clingy or nagging, if you need room or don't want to spend the summer with—“
“Stop.”
Tohru stared back at Hatori with eyes the size of golf-balls.
“I don't want you to always put yourself down. Tohru, you are so special to me. I would be honored to spend the summer with you. I was just surprised that you needed to ask, because either way, I planned to spend the summer with you.”
“What are we going to do when they get back?”
They sat back down at the table and Hatori thought out-loud, “I'll be over for dinner to help and eat. We can go to the summer house together, if you'd like. You can always come to my office. We can go shopping together, to the park, jogging in the mornings, whatever we do now. Nothing needs to change.”
Tohru's tear ducts were trying so hard to hold back the tears. He wanted to stay with her!
Hatori came over to her chair and knelt next to her, placing her hand in his.
“Don't you ever think that I won't be by your side. I can only hope that you will always be my mine.”
“I p-p-promise, Ha-san,” she said, barely above a whisper. She could barely get her words out she was so elated.
“Good. Tomorrow, I have interesting for us to do. You'd better be awake by six, Miss,” he announced, waving his index finger at her.
Tohru nodded. She loved surprises.
She'd be up at five.
Her fluttering heart would probably keep her up for the remainder of the night. Oh well.
Hatori mussed her hair and said, “Go to sleep now.”
“Hai, you too doctor.”
Tohru fell asleep after an hour. Sweet dreams of them swimming at the water hole fulfilled her mind to the brim.
§§§
Separated by a wall, Hatori looked at the ceiling, a smile plastered on his face.
Would she be able to handle what he had in store for them?
Yes. She was Tohru.
He turned onto his side and fell asleep. The milk worked its magic.
Hatori didn't need an alarm. He'd be ready by five.
§§§
What are they doing in the morning? Hmmm.
Hey readers: I think I'm going to cut down each post to one chapter, maybe 2500-3000 words instead of two chapters, so I can post more often?
Do you think there is too much OOC-ness? (Is Hatori being too lovey-dovey?) If so, please tell me, and I will try to tone it down.
Thank you for reading; feedback is much appreciated.
Hugs,