Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Strawberries and Skinny-Dipping: Hatori's Remedy ❯ The Morning Work Out ( Chapter 13 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: bugaboo107
Tohru went back to her room and pulled on a pair of gray knit shorts and a green tank top. She went into the bathroom and put her hair in a messy bun behind her. She took a deep breath and said aloud, ¡°I¡¯m going to keep up with Hatori no matter what. If I collapse, I will get right back up again. Be strong.¡±

Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2008 | Updated On: 03.08.2008 | Pages: 5 | Words: 6.7K | Visits: 340 | Status: Work In Progress

Standard Disclaimer applies.
Thank you for all the lovely reviews. I appreciate each and every one.
§§§
Hatori's Remedy presents:
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.
Hatori didn't need an alarm. He'd be ready by five.
Chapter 13: The Work Out
Tohru woke up at a quarter past five to the beautiful sunlight that filtered through the blinds.
She stretched and got out of her bed.
She went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, fixed her hair, and trudged downstairs.
She heard feet scuffling in the kitchen and decided to sneak up on the morning intruder.
Hehe, she thought to herself. It was her turn to give him a scare.
She peered over the corner of the wall at the figure and grinned.
Hatori was on the phone with someone, so he hadn't heard anything.
Tohru listened quietly.
“Yes, Tohru is doing fine.”
“Shigure, for you information, Tohru was out with Mii-chan yesterday, comforting your editor. You really need to stop teasing her.”
Listening intently, she heard the Shigure's animated voice say, “Debauchery”.
The nerve of that dog! Hatori was too reticent too do that! It would be expected for a romance novelist author like him to come up with new ideas for his books. Humpf!
Tohru noticed a blush creep up Hatori's face.
“Shigure, we did no such thing!”
“We didn't!”
Tohru chuckled to herself, finding it very cute to see the doctor blushing.
“Shigure, I'm hanging up.”
Just as Hatori was putting the phone back in place, Tohru jumped out and bellowed a loud good morning.
Hatori jumped back, his shoulders tense. But they instantly slackened.
“Good morning to you too, Tohru.”
“Ha-san, you're up early.”
“I've always been the early bird. You too.”
“I'm an early bird too. So, would you like to back breakfast first?”
“I'd actually take you somewhere first before we make breakfast together. It's a surprise a few miles down the road. Are you up for jogging?”
Jogging?! Tohru's only exercise was at the school track, but this sounded like fun. She knew Hatori stayed fit (very fit as she noticed) by jogging every morning, so this was a privilege.
“Of course.”
“Good, suit up, and I'll meet you by the door in five.”
“Okey-doke.”
Tohru went back to her room and pulled on a pair of gray knit shorts and a green tank top. She went into the bathroom and put her hair in a messy bun behind her. She took a deep breath and said aloud, “I'm going to keep up with Hatori no matter what. If I collapse, I will get right back up again. Be strong.”
Tohru met Hatori on the porch. He was wearing track shorts which seemed oddly tight on him, and a green tee. He looked young, like someone on a high school or college track team.
“We're matching,” Tohru said, very pleased.
“Um. So, first, we are going to do some stretches, so we don't sprain anything.”
They walked onto the grassy front lawn and Hatori did his routine stretch. Tohru did some unusual stretches that she and her friends did before timed runs. They consisted of swing the arms clockwise and counter-clockwise simultaneously. It really had nothing to do with helping to run, but it felt… effective.
Hatori watched and smiled. He knew this morning jog would be fun.
Tohru did some other `real' stretches, and finally, they were ready.
“We're going to jog down this path, and we'll meet a fork and go left for a mile, and then we'll meet some rocks. We'll do some light climbing to the top.”
“Hai.”
The sky was hazy and the air was cool.
Tohru thought to herself, this was going to be fun.
They started to jog, slowly. Tohru kept a steady pace, and didn't feel tired. It felt really good to have the breeze tickle her skin.
Tohru remembered what she had promised herself that she would do. “Hatori?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for staying here with me. I mean if it weren't for me, you could actually get work done at the office, and not have to be my clumsy side. I really don't want to be a burden, I think—“
Hatori stopped and started jogging in place. Tohru did too. He thought to himself,
TOHRU, do you know how much you mean to me?
I am the one being selfish for staying here with you, I am the one imposing, and I am the on poaching your altruistic love. There are so many people out there for you, yet you have chosen me. Or at least allowed me a small spot in your vast heart. You have changed me. You are the summer sun melting away the ice that has built around my heart.
My heart quickens to your touch. To your voice. You have allowed me to live.
You are myreasonto live.
I smile.
I laugh.
I dream.
I am so lovesick.
I've caught love's fever and I you are my remedy. I love you so much. I love you. I love you. Can you not see that? Am I not showing it to you in enough ways? I would do anything to tell you that, but I can't. I'm so sorry. I can't. Something is always holding me back from saying those three words. I have never been superstitious, but I think that if I say those words…
Someday I will be able to tell you. Will you wait for me? Can I stay by your side? Can a small part of you, love me? Just a little?
My heart aches every time I see you frown or cry. I want to give anything to comfort you. I want to help you as you have helped me in so many ways.
When will I be able to tell you that? When?
But he didn't say any of that out-loud. Wow, was he being really ramble-y. Someday he would be able to tell her.
Someday.
“Tohru, don't ever say that. I want to be here. I want to be with you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You… have mended me in so many ways. I hope you can understand that you are so special to me. I-I—“
“Yes Hatori. I understand. I love you too,” she reassured him.
Yes Tohru, I love you too. Please understand.
§§§
With Hatori by her side, the time went by her fast. Before they knew it, they were at the rocks.
“'Kay?” Hatori asked, with concern written over his face. He knew Tohru could do it, but he didn't want to wear her out too much.
“Yeah.”
“So, there are rungs secured in the rocks, so it should be easier. You should go first, I'll be behind you.”
“Uh hum.”
Tohru inhaled before grabbing the iron rung tightly and reaching her foot for the one below it. She climbed up the series of rungs, reached a rock platform and continued up the windy steep climb.
She didn't know exactly where they were going, but had a feeling it has meaningful to Hatori. The look on his face, unlike hers, was calm and wistful. Hers was ruddy and blotchy.
After a quarter of a mile or so, Hatori said, “Put your right foot on the rung on the right and pull yourself up.”
Hatori gave Tohru a boost with his hand to her butt, and she reached to top of the summit.
Tohru's jaw dropped. It was beautiful.
The city looked so picturesque and peaceful. Without the sun casting its warm glow over everything, the city seemed to be under a spell. There were few vehicles on the streets, and everything was so… idyllic, like something out of a magazine of “Most Pristine City in the World”. It was like the set of a movie, except that everything was real and running, it was just all sleeping.
It was as if time had stopped long enough for Tohru and Hatori to see their home.
Tohru was speechless.
She had never felt so much respect and reverence for something this big.
One day ago, she had been traversing up and down the crowded streets of the city, and now she was looking down at it from a whole different perspective.
Hatori broke the silence.
“What do you think?”
“It's-it's beautiful.”
Hatori resisted saying something clichéd and trite like, “Not as beautiful as you”. He wanted the words that came out of his mouth to be meaningful and eloquent as his everlasting love for her. He wanted to express his love in such a way, that he would never regret a word, an action. With Tohru residing in his heart, he needn't look to the past and be remorseful. She was the light in to his dark tunnel.
They stood abreast, and Hatori placed his arm around her neck and drew her head to his torso.
After a few minutes, Hatori said, “Let's sit down.”
Tohru nodded and they sat down, like the evening at the waterfall.
“So, how did you find this place?”
“About ten years ago, I got into a big fight with my dad. I ran into the forest and wanted to find somewhere quiet to think and forget about everything. I climbed up the rocks and found this place.”
Tohru didn't know the relationship between Hatori and his parents, and didn't want to break any shallow open wounds.
“I wish I had somewhere special to hide out.”
“You do, Tohru. The waterfall, and here.”
Tohru wrapped her arms around his slim torso and squeezed it tightly. “Thanks.”
Hatori bent down his head and placed a kiss on the bridge of her nose.
After he moved away, Tohru raised her lips to his cheek and gave him a full kiss.
“I love you, Hatori.”
As much as he wanted to say those three words back to her, because his heart was ready to scream them out, he couldn't. He just couldn't.
Before he could contemplate anymore, he noticed dark clouds set into the sky. A spell was really cast on the city, eh?
“We'd better head down the cliff before it starts raining.”
He helped Tohru up and they started down, him first.
Tohru exclaimed, “Be careful.”
“You too.”
Half-way down the precipice, it started drizzling.
Hatori yelled, “It's going to be slippery, hold on tight.”
Tohru's footing slipped, but her hands gripped the rung tightly, so nothing bad happened.
Slowly but carefully, they reached the ground and both let out a sigh of relief. As she started to walk on her left foot, she felt a stinging pain. She took in a sharp breath. It was really painful.
Hatori looked back and saw Tohru's contorted brow.
He was by her side in a second.
“What's hurting?”
“My ankle, but it's okay, I can—“
Hatori noticed that one ankle was significantly `larger' than the other one, it was swelled. He crouched down in front of her and said, “Get on.”
“Umm—“
But Hatori interjected firmly, “Get on.”
Tohru wrapped her arms around his neck and got onto his back. He got into the upright position, holding her legs in the crooks of his arms and started for the path.
“Tohru, did anything happen on the cliff?”
“Nothing really, my footing slipped once.”
Thank goodness. Not saying that the sprain was good at all, just relieved that it wasn't anything that a cold ice pack and a bath couldn't fix.
The rain started to fall steadily, the fat drops sliding down their faces.
“Thank you so much Hatori.”
“You don't have to thank me.”
They finally reached Shigure's porch, and Hatori let Tohru off. “Can you stand?”
“Yay.”
Then Tohru collapsed against the railing. Hatori was by her side as she said, “It's nothing, my feet were just numb.”
Hatori grabbed her waist, and picked her up, cradling her in his arms like a baby. “We need to get you into the shower, you're freezing.”
Her skin was cold and she was injured. Nice going, Hatori, he said to himself.
He carried her over the threshold (newlyweds!) and up the stairs to her bathroom. He placed her gently on the toilet and turned on the water in the tub.
Tohru watched him with curious eyes. His expression was cold and emotionless. This must be his doctor mode.
It was nice to see a man with a multi-faceted personality. One who was serious when he needed to be. Silly. Smart. Patient. Loving.
“Tohru, take off your clothes and take a warm bath. This should help you. I'll be outside if you need me, okay? Don't hesitate to call me in.”
“Okay.”
After Hatori closed the door behind him, Tohru sunk into the comfort of the tub. She looked down at her ankle, and the swelling seemed to go down.
The Goosebumps were gone, now replaced with prune-y skin.
After half an hour or so, she drained the tub, and turned on the showerhead. She grabbed the bar of soap off the side of the tub and scrubbed her skin all over.
When she finished, she tucked herself in a fluffy white towel Hatori had placed on the hanger. Hmmm.
She put on her slippers and got out. She tiptoed to the sink and wiped the mirror free of water vapor, drawing a large heart with the letters HS & TH in the center.
She giggled to herself and stepped into the hallway.
She limped over to her room to the closet to pick out clothes.
“Are you okay?”
She spun around and saw Hatori at her desk. His lips were blue and his clothing splayed across his hard chest, accenting all the planes and surfaces.
Tohru never answered him, she rushed to his side and give him a half-hug with her standing and him sitting. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Thank you so much for waiting for me.”
Hatori hadn't taken a shower yet. He had been waiting for her.
She hadn't even noticed that her towel had slipped down her torso. Hatori grabbed to towel and wrapped it around her body to prevent any `indecent exposure'. He pulled her into his lap and murmured, “There's nothing to be sorry about. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
She nodded and placed her head against his heart. She loved the sound of his heartbeat.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It created a melody with the rain against the windowpane.
It lulled her to sleep.
§§§
Hatori laid her on her bed and tucked the blanket around her chin. She looked so peaceful and innocent. She was so perfect in every way.
A hug from her was as meaningful to him as all the money in the world.
No material or money could surpass how much he wanted Tohru to always be my his side.
She melted away his sadness.
His loneliness melted with the rain outside.
He placed his head in his hand as he slept on his side, watching her sleep.
He watched her small chest heave up and down, breeding a wistful smile in his face. Time seemed to stop when he was with her. Nothing mattered, not even the fact that he was half freezing to death in the summer.
Hatori finally got up and went downstairs to take a shower.
§§§
Tohru woke up an hour later to the birds chirping outside.
The rain had finally stopped. So fickle.
She turned on her side to look outside, and noticed on her nightstand and note.
She picked it up and read:
Sorry Tohru, I had to go to work (Hatsuharu is sick). I'll call you at lunch. If you need anything, call me on my cellphone.
Love,
Hatori
Tohru got out of bed, and went to her closet to find a pajama set. She was still in her towel!
He chose her sea-critter patterned pajama pants and one of her mom's old shirts. Something about a worn, old t-shirt that brings back memories.
Her stomach called her downstairs to the refrigerator. She retrieved a red-bean filled pastry and sat at the nook. She looked around, her hands itching to do something, but with the house clean and nothing much to do, she decided to go outside.
She put on some green rain boots and went onto the dirt path parallel to the front of Shigure's property. She followed the path down to the garden, all the while humming the whimsical theme song to her favorite childhood cartoon. Like Little Red Riding Hood on her way to her Grandmother's house, Tohru had a bamboo basket in hand, and strayed off the path many times to look at an interesting specimen or two. A symmetrical fern with two rows of spores on the back. Or an asymmetrical flower that looked like a smiling face. Or crimson berries on a bush that she dared not eat, only look at from afar.
Thank goodness her love for Hatori didn't have to be that way. Thank goodness she could be near him.
To feel the warmth of his body radiate onto hers.
To feel this touches.
To hear his words.
To see his smile.
To see him run his long fingers through his untamed hair.
She thanked Kami again, as she had for the past few nights.
They were together.
She and Hatori were together.
Thanks for reading. Comments, constructive criticism, future adventure ideas, questions are welcome.