Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Strawberries and Skinny-Dipping: Hatori's Remedy ❯ Of Warm Milk and Chilly Nights ( Chapter 20 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: bugaboo107
The darkness seemed to heighten Hatori¡¯s dragon senses. Tohru¡¯s distinct lavender, with a bit of coconut scent lingered with him. Hatori insisted that Tohru sit on the kitchen stool while he heated the milk in a saucepan. The girl was too overworked! Hatori added sweet honey as she watched lazily, her usually clear eyes now hooded and impish, like a cat¡¯s, watching its prey.

Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 325 | Status: Work In Progress

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Hatori's Remedy presents:
Chapter 20 Of Warm Milk and Chilly Nights
“Uh, Tohru?” Hatori asked. He felt her nod against his chest before he continued, “Your grandfather was going to show me photographs, but I was trying to find you. He won't be disappointed, will he?”
Hatori sounded like a worried schoolboy who had spilled soy sauce on his backpack or something of that petty nature.
“Don't worry. It's very hard to make grandpa angry, unless you're Masu. Grandpa is the eternal optimist. Kind of like the sun. It comes out every day, reading to shine and satisfy. Probably by now he's in bed reading a book.”
Even as comfortable as Hatori was, with Tohru's sleepy head (and great lavender-smelling locks) on his steady chest and her thumb rubbing circles at the center of his breastbone, Hatori said softly, “Tohru, you should get some real rest. I'll help you get settled after we pay your grandpa a visit. I need to apologize. We don't we bring him a warm cup of soy milk?”
“I think he'd love that idea, Ha'ri.”
Hatori loved his pet name when it came out of Tohru's mouth (out of Shigure… not so much). Hatori gently untangled his legs from Tohru's and got off the hammock. He held the net firmly so Tohru wouldn't flip when she tried to get off. They entered the basement. With the sliding down open during their romantic interlude, the basement was now cool. Without bothering to turn on any lights, they shuffled to the stairs, holding hands.
The darkness seemed to heighten Hatori's dragon senses. Tohru's distinct lavender, with a bit of coconut scent lingered with him. Hatori insisted that Tohru sit on the kitchen stool while he heated the milk in a saucepan. The girl was too overworked! Hatori added sweet honey as she watched lazily, her usually clear eyes now hooded and impish, like a cat's, watching its prey.
Hatori poured (with a quick steady hand) three large cups. When he finished, he and Tohru went upstairs together. Tohru knocked softly on her grandpa's bedroom door.
Tohru whispered, “It's Hatori and Tohru. Are you awake, Grandpa?”
“Yes, looking at some pictures. Come in!”
Tohru slowly opened the door and found Mr. Honda propped up against the headboard under the warm glow of the tall lamp nearby.
“Sit down, children,” he said, directing an open palm toward a worn couch.
Hatori brought over the warm cup to the nightstand.
“Ooo, warm milk? Thank you very much doctor.”
“No need to thank me.”
Hatori sat next to Tohru on the loveseat and Mr. Honda said, “Of you two have a moment, I'd love for you to look at a few pictures.” He passes Hatori a photo, before he continued, “Tohru is at the beach with my son and daughter-in-law. I remember one time you came over dressed in a swimsuit and shorts, and your mom said you just wouldn't take it off. You'd worn it for two days.” Mr. Honda smiled, his dimples standing out against the alabaster skin.
Hatori looked at the photo and immediately his heart warmed and a smile assailed his previously giddy expression. He couldn't help but be this way around Tohru!
Hatori looked over at Tohru. Her eyes were glossy and her face blank. This was very rare. He realized that she was thinking out her parents.
They didn't deserve what happened to them. Hatori felt it was wrong to interrupt her reverie. He instead asked Mr. Honda, “Were you there, Honda-sama?”
“No. I was I was, but I remember distinctly that I was teaching that day. I used to be a chemistry/physics teacher, and I got a acid burn when I was prepping that morning,” he responded, with a glint in his eye.
Tohru snapped back, and steadied herself by putting her hand on Hatori's thigh. She didn't intend to cause him any discomfort or anything, but Hatori groaned throatily. Tohru drew her hand up in surprise.
Hatori tried to alter the moan into a growl/scowl, hoping to hide the effect Tohru had on him. He was afraid that Mr. Honda might see his tented lap, so he moved his thighs closer together. Not a very comfortable position considering his erection.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, his cheeks turning pink, “my throat is really dry.” It wasn't a lie; his throat was dry as the Gobi Desert!
Mr. Honda didn't even realize as he yawned. “You kids should get some sleep.”
Tohru said, “Yeah, I'm sorry we kept you past your bedtime, grandpa.”
“Nonsense. You two have been nothing but constant joy. HAtori, I do hope you can come over sometime for a little tea and dessert. You are wonderful company.”
“That would be an honor, Mr. Honda.”
Tohru waved good-bye, and they left. When they reached downstairs, they heard the living room TV blaring. Riyo was watching a Japanese drama. A boy was chasing a female through a meadow of daisies. How very clichéd, Hatori thought, as they entered the kitchen.
Both cups had cooled to the perfect temperature, and they each sipped contently. Tohru peered over the rim of her large mug and met Hatori's mesmerizing eyes. After finishing, and setting the cups in the sink, Tohru said quietly, “I wish you didn't have to go.”
Hatori wished he didn't either. He wished the two of them could burrow into a bed and stay there forever.
“I will help you unpack.”
Tohru's eyes lightened. “Really? Okay.” She grabbed Hatori's hand and bounded into the basement. She pulled down the string and light the room with the single eerie bulb. The basement looked like an interrogation room at a police station. Scary.
But after Tohru flipped on her lamp, that she had brought from Shigure's house, the small area around the lamp was filled with a warm yellow glow. Plus the window and the sliding door to the backyard offered sight of the striking nightscape. Hatori fluffed up Tohru's pillow (again), unfolded the quilt and said, “Sleep well tonight. I'll see you tomorrow.”
He turned his body and proceeded toward the sliding door (he didn't want to meet Riyo upstairs). He was hesitate and a bit sad.
“Wait!”
He felt Tohru's soft body press into his back, and small fingers press into his stomach. Tohru buried her face into his shirt and inhaled the sweet masculine scent that she didn't want to let go.
Hatori pulled her hands into his, and looked at the beautiful delicate hand. Thin and immaculate. It seemed that even all the work that Tohru did around the house, hadn't marred her beautiful features.
He brought her fingers to his lips, and kissed her palm.
Then he turned over in Tohru's yielding embrace and brought his head down to hers. He placed a kiss on her forehead, and brought her head softly against his chest, to his heart.
He held it there.
---
At last Tohru pulled away to look into his eyes. He gave her a wistful smile and said tenderly, “I should get going.”
She nodded.
He opened the door, and walked away.
Tohru turned back and unpacked her bag, wanting to distract herself form the sadness that overcame her.
Why was she feeling this way? Hadn't he left her at night at Shigure's?
She finished, and changed into her pajamas—rainbow boxer shorts and one of her mom's old T-shirt.
She tiptoed upstairs to brush her teeth and check all the doors (Hatori demanded that she check all the doors… that `guy' was still out there)
She snuggled under the thin blanket and stared blankly at the grey wall. Thoughts of them at the park (the tree!), supermarket, Farmer's Market, the watering-hole, hospital-- flashed through her mind.
She fell asleep shivering.
---
Hatori drove home thinking about Tohru.
Why was his heart aching? They were only a few miles apart, yet it felt like they were an ocean's apart. She was becoming a drug.
He was `high' on her.
She was his euphoria.
He arrived at the estates, and went into his cold lonely office. He changed into his sleeping clothing, brushed his teeth, and burrowed into his bed. He laid his head on both of his hands and stared into the ceiling.
Tomorrow Kyo would be back.
These past few weeks had been indescribable. Every time he was around her, he felt so free and loved, a feeling he had encountered only once in his life. If the `boys' all returned, would Tohru and him break up? How would they keep their love under-wraps? Would she still love him?
He felt very selfish, but if they came back, wouldn't he (Hatori) just become another loved Sohma? Tohru's consummate affection was unwavering and universal, so would she just give him a small smidgen of that?
His chest felt heavy. He didn't want anyone to come back, his childish self screamed!
He wanted his dream, fantasy, to continue!
---
Hatori fell into a fitful sleep after an hour.
---
A chill woke him up. The windows were closed, yet he felt cold. He looked at his clock, it was 3:48.
He turned to his side and looked out the window, the stars sparkled at him.
Suddenly, he jolted up in his bed. He had to tell her that Kyo was coming back (or maybe it was just an excuse to pay her a night visit).
He put on his slippers (also grey like everything he was wearing), and shuffled to the adjacent office. He picked up his keys, and went to his car.
Hatori drove to Mr. Honda's house, his heart pounding heavily against his chest.
He opened the small wood door to the backyard and tiptoed to the glass sliding door. He felt a bit… evil, sneaking onto other people's properties, but this was for his heart.
His mind had betrayed his heart once, he wouldn't let it happen again.
If he wanted to see Tohru… god-dammit, nothing was going to stop him! (Okay, that sounded a bit impulsive, so unlike his usual docile self.)
Tohru was asleep, clutching the blanket close to her chest. He knocked softly.
Tohru immediately woke (she wasn't asleep. She couldn't fall asleep either). She looked at the sliding door, and rose from her bed. She slipped on her cute yellow slippers printed with bunnies (a present from Momiji) and hobbled over to the door.
“Hi Hatori,” she said with a small smile, as she rubbed her eyes.
All words slipped from his tongue as he stared at his awaken Sleeping Beauty. He finally uttered: “I-I wanted to tell you that Kyo is coming back tomorrow.”
She looked up at him with an expression of daze. She repeated, “Kyo is coming back tomorrow.”
Hatori nodded his head. She moved aside, and gestured for him to come in. Her face turned ashen, but in the moonlight, no one could see that.
She pulled him to her bed, and they both sat down.
Her heart pounded forcefully. Her hands turned cold. Her body froze as the cold air caressed her sensitive goose-pimpled skin. Was this the end?
Would Hatori remember there time spent together as a guardian taking care of a child? Her as just a child? Would he even remember all the evenings and adventures to town? All the meals shared? Would he remember the tender caresses and soft kisses? The jokes and laughs? The stolen glances?
“Are you okay, Tohru?” Hatori said, putting a comforting arm around her shoulder.
“Hai. I-it's just—I want to… to be with you, and when they are back, w-we won't be able to see each other. I mean—“
He turned her body so it was facing his. “Don't think that way, Tohru. I won't let that happen.” (She had just said exactly what was on his mind.)
She asked innocently, her eyes clouded with emotion, “Promise?”
“I promise Tohru.”
Tohru put her head against his shoulder and put her arms around his waist. She squeezed tightly to back sure that he wasn't just a dream.
“Hatori, I love you, and I don't want us to be apart. These past few week, I-I have been so happy.”
I love you, I love you, I love you Tohru! “I feel the same way.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Would I ever lie to you? Could I ever lie to you?
NO! NO!
---
A/N: Just wondering, does anyone read Hana-Kimi? If you do, isn't Izumi Sano so cute? (He reminds me of Hatori… a bit of a cold off-putting exterior but with a heart of gold). Nakatsu is not bad either.
If you haven't read it, I suggest you do, it's very funny and adorable.
It's about a Japanese girl who transfers to an all boy's school just to be friends with their star high-jumper! She ends up in his classes and his dorm…