Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Strawberries and Skinny-Dipping: Hatori's Remedy ❯ Dinner with the Hondas ( Chapter 19 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Then she said bluntly, "Let me get straight to the point. I like you. You��re smart and sophisticated. And very handsome. I'd like to go out with you."

Wow, was this girl persistent and annoying, Hatori thought. He usually never said that about anyone (except Shigure and Ayame, and sometimes Momiji), especially outside the Sohma clan.

He responded bluntly, "I have a girlfriend."

Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.3K | Visits: 292 | Status: Work In Progress

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Hatori's Remedy presents:

Chapter 19 Dinner with the Hondas!

Tohru fretted with her apron on.

“Tohru, there is no need to worry, a little burnt rice is fine. We won't eat it,” said her grandfather calmly as he diced up the daikon (radish).

"But I hate wasting food," Tohru whispered under her breath.

He brought the stew to a simmer, and added the necessary ingredients with he stirred. Mr. Honda didn't want Tohru to get hurt in the kitchen in her `state', and told her to set the table. He had not `conformed' to the Western style tables yet, and still had a chabudai (low tables where one must sit on a mat). Tohru laid six mats for seating, and brought the steaming bowls of rice to each one's setting. She put that on the left and a bowl of miso soup for each person on the right. Each person also had a small bowl of picked vegetables. The chopsticks were placed on a small fish-shaped ceramic holder parallel to the diner (any other way, for example sticking out of the rice, symbolizes death!).

Tohru returned to the kitchen, and her grandfather said, “Why don't you start boiling water for the tea?”

“Okay.”

At promptly seven-oh-five, Hatori arrived. He brought along a bottle of sake. Tohru opened the door, and smiled graciously. “Welcome, Ha-san!”

“Good evening, Tohru.”

Tohru took the bottle gently and said under her breath, “You shouldn't have.”

Hatori was welcomed into the foyer, where he removed his shoes under the observant eye of Riyo. She had her arms crossed, and she was leaning against the kitchen door jam. “Are you two seriously dating?”

Hatori responded firmly, “Yes.”

“I just think that you're, well, too good for her.”

“That's your opinion and no one else's. Now, if I may,” Hatori said, gesturing toward the kitchen. She moved aside, and sighed as he passed her. She thought Hatori was gorgeous.

Hatori went into the pleasant-smelling kitchen and offered a hand. “Need a hand, Mr. Honda?”

“Not at all, but you can help Tohru. She's a bit antsy tonight.”

Hatori shifted over to the girl and nodded to her. Tohru said, “I'm glad you're here.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

You can bring get the tea leaves from the top shelve of the cabinet by the refrigerator.”

Hatori swiftly retrieved the can, and poured some into the kettle.

---

Thirty minutes later, they finally seated themselves at the table. They said the itadakimasu, and began eating. Tohru emitted her usual `hmmmm', which at Hatori at a crossroad. He was afraid that someone might see his tented trousers.

Masu, who was sitting across from Tohru and Hatori examined them closely. What would a respectable doctor what with the likes of Tohru Honda, his ditzy cousin? It wasn't love was it? Yuck.

Probably lust, he told himself.

Tohru's grandfather filled the silent air with some simple questions. “So, Masu, have you been doing your chores? Did you paint the back door, yet?”

“Not yet,” the boy grumbled under his breathe.

“It isn't going to paint itself.”

“I know. I was, eh, out the whole week.”

“Being perverted, of course,” Riyo added.

“I was not!”

“I saw you with your sunglasses and cap!”

“It was sunny at the pool! I don't want a major tan and skin cancer, like you!”

“Today was hazy, and if you were swimming, you won't need any of that.” She had a good point, of course, for someone so... dim-witted in studies.

“Well, the rays are still out there.”

“Oh yeah, that's why I wear lotion.”

Hatori looked over to Tohru, who gave him a smile. They shook their heads at the cousin's constant, childish bickering.

Hatori ate with the perfect eating etiquette. Just like Tohru. Her grandfather watched in astonishment, comparing both sides of the table. Back and forth. Same.

Tohru's aunt finally pitched in, “Stop it Riyo and Masu. Where are the manners I taught you?”

“Up Riyo's ass!”

“Masu!” his mother cried in shock. She immediately grabbed his ear and pulled him out of the dining room much to Masu's dismay and “owws!”

The dinner table all of a sudden became peaceful. Mr. Honda asked Hatori, “So, how long have you been a doctor?”

“Almost a decade.”

“WOW, what a dedicated young man. I hope Tohru-kun and Riyo find a young man as dedicated as you.”

Tohru blushed. Hatori blushed.

Dinner finished quietly with Masu eating in the living room, alone.

Tohru offered to wash the dishes and clean up, and Hatori followed suit.

"Grandpa, you should really get some rest. It's been a long day."

"Nonsense. I have to show Hatori some pictures of you as a baby."

Tohru blushed deeper than before. She pulled her sly grandfather aside and whispered (quite loudly), "Not that one with me at the zoo eating animal crackers and scratching my butt, okay? And nothing else embarrassing!"

Her grandfather gave her a sweet (but evil) smile and said, "Don't worry sweetheart."

Tohru sighed in relief as her Grandfather went into the attic (after she yelled, "Be Careful!") and she met up with Hatori in the kitchen.

"So, baby pictures?"

"Yep. Don't laugh."

"I would never," Hatori said, feigning shock, praise-worthy of Shigure-san. Washing in the same sink brought back memories of a few weeks before. Hatori smiled at the thought of them throwing soap suds at each other. They were almost as childish as Riyo and Masu.

"Tohru, I have some news to tell you."

"What, Hatori?" Tohru responded, looking deeply into his dark eyes.

Just then, Riyo interrupted. "Do you have anymore of that jelly that you served for dessert, Tohru?" Riyo knew perfectly well that it was in the garage, cooling, but decided to divert Tohru away so she could get some privacy with a certain doctor. After all, she was closer to his age and more sophisticated, as she thought.

"Ah, Riyo, it's in the garage, I will get it for you. I'm sorry I didn't have it already prepared. Excuse me," she said, wiping her hands on her apron before hurrying out.

Riyo leaned against the sink, with her boobs thrust at Hatori, who saw that she pulled her shirt lower to show cleavage, something that his Tohru would never do. She licked her lips before asking, "So, will you be settling down soon, Hatori-san?"

He knew exactly what she was asking but pretended to be confused by her question. "What do you mean?"

"Like grandfather said, someone like you will be bound to get settled soon-- with a wife, a wonderful house, cars, and kids. Have you thought about it, yet?"

"I have to some extent," Hatori responded. He never lied.

Then she said bluntly, "Let me get straight to the point. I like you. You're smart and sophisticated. And very handsome. I'd like to go out with you."

Wow, was this girl persistent and annoying, Hatori thought. He usually never said that about anyone (except Shigure and Ayame, and sometimes Momiji), especially outside the Sohma clan.

He responded bluntly, "I have a girlfriend."

"You do?" she asked innocently, her eyes wide, trying to create the 'doe-eyed effect', to no avail, as she began to run her hand down Hatori's chest.

"We already told you. We're dating."

"But grandpa said--" she said, her hands now on his biceps, to keep him focused on her, with no where to go.

Tohru returned with a big smile on her face, but that soon changed. "I'm sorry to disturb you guys." She watched for a few more beats before setting the mango jelly on the counter and turning. Hatori caught sight of a her tear-glistening eyes. Oh Kami, he had made her cry. The girl he loved was crying because of him! Ai-ya!

Hatori flung Riyo's hands away from him and spat, "You have no idea what you are doing. I do not want to be with anyone but Tohru. Please leave us alone."

Riyo suddenly pouted her lips and said, "But I don't think grandpa knows about this arrangement. I don't think he would like it very much. Tohru with an older guy."

""Go ahead. Tell him."

She looked back at him, shocked. No guy had ever talked back to her like that! Hatori Sohma was going to pay! Who was this stunningly sly guy who looked so innocent? Maybe not today, but sooner-or-later. (Right now, she wasn't on good terms with Papa Jiisan, and had told a few 'white' lies in the past few weeks. She didn't have good credibility right now. She needed to build that up first.)

Tohru had put on her sandals and ran blindly outside. She took a deep breath and went to her favorite childhood hideaway. Her grandfather had planted a dwarf red maple tree the first day he moved into the house, more than thirty years ago. It always seemed to stay the same size-- ageless, immortal (in the 'human' sense). When she was little, she hid in it's mushroom-like dome. She had put a wood-chair in, and even grew some of her own things, which were most likely dead.

Her grandfather's backyard was tiny, with the tree, and a hammock.

She moved into her secret garden (swiping aside the 'curtains' of thin willowy branches) and sat on the mulch, it didn't matter that she was going to have a prickly butt. She sat 'Indian-style' and put covered her face with her hands. She felt miserable.

Her own cousin was trying to 'get' Hatori. How was she ever going to 'fend' off these women? How could she, simple Tohru Honda be good enough for Hatori Sohma? She moved herself so that her back leaned against the trunk, and she cried herself to sleep, dreaming of wasps-- with Riyo and the female doctor's stunning visages, and herself, a runt wasp hidden behind a daisy, with the other two flew around Hatori the bee. It was a stupid little dream (or nightmare, for Hatori), but it spoke of so many of Tohru's emotions.

It had been a long day.

---

Hatori slipped on his shoes and rushed outside. "Tohru?!" he called. The streets were empty except for the occasion car, lit my the citrus hues of the sky.

"Tohru? Where are you?"

Hatori saw a flicker of skin in the corner of his eyes on the opposite of the street, and he crossed. He went into the alley, but found an old woman. Where was she? Hatori felt his heart pound heavily against his ribcage. Everytime he 'lost' her, he felt a part of himself dissipate into debris and dust. Without her, he felt miserable. (Sometimes at work, he just closed his eyes, and pictured Tohru. She was his remedy for anything.)

Why were all these women pursuing him? He hadn't done anything to deserve their affection! He only wanted Tohru's!

He ran up and down the streets until eight thirty. Maybe she went back, he told himself, unconvinced.

He returned, and looked around. "Hatori-san, are you finished with the dishes? If you are, come and look at the pictures," Mr. Honda asked, blowing the dust off the cover of the photo album and coughing a bit. The cousins had disappeared (Thank Kami), and Hatori was left broken and fearful.

"Where is Tohru staying? Upstairs?"

"In the basement. She didn't want to bother Riyo." he said, pointing to a door near the entrance of the house, across from the bathroom.

Hatori was a bit surprised. Basement? Wasn't it dark and damp (and moldy) in there?

Hatori picked up the pillows and sweater he had brought off the foyer bench. He opened the door and went down. He found a solitary bulb and pulled it. The basement was dungeon-like and dusty. The things Tohru would do for someone she loved and cared about. Boxes filled every corner, and the only furnishing was a clean cot, a foldable table, and a lamp. Tohru's duffel bag was beside the bed.

He placed the pillows on the bed and fluffed it a bit. He put her sweater on the pillow and looked around. Deplorable conditions, yet he knew nothing he said would persuade Tohru to return home. She was as stubborn as him sometimes.

He soon felt that it was a little to musty to his comfort and opened the sliding door to the back-yard. He look a deep breath of fresh air. "Tohru? Are you out here?"

He heard rustling in the bushes near the house, and looked Tohru, as thought she was going to emerge from the small scrubs.

He went to the hammock and said down, his feet firm on the ground so that he wouldn't flip over.

He ran his long fingers through his hair, a habit he had acquired when he was stressed and weary.

Did Tohru know what she did to him?

She made his heart pound hard when she was in his presence.

She made his heart pound hard even when she wasn't, and he thought of her.

She made him ache all over sometimes.

She made him laugh. Smile.

Tohru was the sun, water, and love to his wilted flower. Why didn't she understand that? It made him so angry at himself when she didn't understand that he couldn't say the three stupid words that meant everything. Would it make it alright if he did say them?

Argh, love was so complex.

"Tohru, why don't you understand?! I want to tell you so much, but I can't!"

---

As he stared blankly at the house, he heard another rustle, from the tree behind him. His mind was probably playing tricks on him, but he checked anyway. He found a sleeping girl, with her head lying softly on her knees, with her legs parallel to the ground.

"Tohru?"

She stirred, moaning. "Hatori? Is that you?"

The sky had darkened quickly, and she felt around with her hands. "Yes, it's me."

"How did you find me?"

"I heard you."

"Oh."

He waddled over to her and sat beside her. He stretched out his legs in front of him just as she did the same."Are you alright? I've been looking all over for you."

"Yes."

He decided that this wasn't going anywhere and decided to solve the issue quickly. "Tohru. You know that you are the only female who means anything to me. Don't you understand?"

Tohru bit her lip, but didn't respond. Hatori looked over at her, but she turned away. She looked so... small. So distant, even thought she was right next to him.

Impulsively, Hatori pulled Tohru into his lap, both of her legs swung to oneside. "Tohru I lo--, I can't say it. And you want to know why? It's really stupid, but I think it will jinx everything we have. Don't you understand?" he said softly.

"I know, Ha'ri," Tohru whispered as she tucked her head under his chin. "Can I say it and you nod?"

Hatori nodded against her. "Do you love me Hatori Sohma?"

He nodded. Alot.

Tohru giggled.

"I love you so much, Hatori Sohma. More than I love myself."

Hatori's heart fluttered before it settled back down in his chest. He wasn't able to speak. He held her until the sky turned pitch black and the lightning bugs came out.

Tohru crawled off his lap and pulled him to his feet.

"Let's go sit on the hammock."

He reached for her hand, and she pulled him to the hammock.

They laid there until ten o'clock, in each others' arms.

---

A/N: Thanks for reading. I love you all.