Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Strawberries and Skinny-Dipping: Hatori's Remedy ❯ The Subtleties of Life ( Chapter 25 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: bugaboo107
¡°Wonderful, except I had a bit of a stomach ache from all that laughing. You¡¯re a great tickler.¡±

¡°Thank you,¡± Hatori said, with a twinkle in his eye.

They looked at each other for a few beats; each trying to memorize the others facial features-- the tilt of an eyebrow, the curve of a lip, the placement of a mole.

Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 292 | Status: Work In Progress

Standard Disclaimer applies.
Pre-A/N: Kudos to Kell-chan (Tsukiakage) for being such a wonderful beta!
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Hatori's Remedy presents:
Chapter 25 The Subtleties of Life
Hatori dried his hands on the washcloth and looked up at Tohru warmly, “Anything else?”
“Nope, you're free to go.”
Hatori looked at her wistfully. “Eh, would you like to go for a walk?”
“Uh—of course!” Tohru said, removing her apron and looping it through the handle of the refrigerator.
He smiled and opened his hand. She put hers in his, and followed him into the foyer. They put on their shoes and walked into the chill night air. The moon was a small crescent in the dark night sky and the air was fresh and breezy.
They followed the same path that they had taken a few weeks ago, to the garden and back, but they made a little detour at the watering hole.
“We haven't been here in awhile,” Tohru murmured.
“We haven't—“
Then they both said, “Would you like to come…” and then burst into a fit of giggles. They were thinking the same things and saying them too! This was rare, but with a couple like Tohru and Hatori, anything was possible. Hatori touched Tohru's cheek when they were finished reminiscing good times. He gazed into her dark eyes, which reflected the sliver of the alabaster moon.
His voice became a low growl, “I-I care about you so much. Please don't let anything ever make you doubt that. I'm sorry I ignored you for a week. I was so frustrated… I acted like a… jealous schoolboy.”
“Don't worry about it Ha'ri. I mean, I was frustrated too. That week was a bit hectic. It won't be like that for much longer.”
Hatori then said, sounding a tad helpless, “But when you start school…”
She smiled, “Don't worry. I will visit you everyday, if it's okay with you.”
“Of course, but what about Yuki and Kyo?” Hatori said, sounding like the vulnerable, proverbial love-sick Romeo.
“Love conquers all.”
“Does it?”
“Yes Hatori Sohma!”
“I just don't want to lose you.”
Tohru stepped into his path and pressed her hands flat against his chest. “You won't lose me. I promise. Of course, not like I will let you go, either. I love you too much for that, Ha'ri.”
She ran her index and middle finger down his temple to his jaw-line, where she replaced her palm.
The two star-crossed lovers finished their walk, and stood on the porch. Both shuffled their feet around on the wood planks, thinking the same thing. Hatori finally gave in. “Can I stay with you tonight? I-I mean just until you fall asleep.”
Tohru beamed brightly, almost glowed in the night. “Hai.”
The two of them tiptoed up the stairs to the second-floor landing like two teenagers who had come home way after their curfew. They let out a sigh of relief before padding into the pink themed room.
“I haven't seen this room in light. It's… well…”
“I know what you are going to say. It seems too childish, right? Well, Shigure and the boys did it for me, that's why it's special to me.”
Hatori felt a twinge of jealously. Of course, Shigure and the boys, they knew her longer than he did!
Hatori sat down at Tohru's desk. “I'm going to take a quick shower. Then we can chat.”
“Okay.”
Hatori looked around the room while Tohru showered. The room was a reflection of her, it was rosy and warm, like the shade of pink that splashed the walls. The accessories and trinkets were things that Tohru would buy. Then, his eye caught something shimmering in her open closet. It was a black one-piece swimsuit that was cut open in a lot of places, however it didn't seem like something that Tohru would wear, but then again…
The last time they had been at the water-hole, she hadn't exactly been…clothed. This was basically fairly close to that. The swimsuit was pure sexiness. He absolutely couldn't wait to see her in it.
The bathroom door creaked opened, and Tohru came out dressed in a cute yellow-duck print pajama set, with her hair tied in a loose bun. Hatori smiled, that was more like her.
“Do you need to use the bathroom?”
“Nope.”
Tohru sat down on the bed cross-legged and patted the bed beside her. “Sit down.”
“Let's talk.”
They did, for an hour of so. They skirted away from big plans for the future (both wanted to talk about it, but neither knew how to start the topic), and talked about subtle details instead. Tohru had tons of questions.
“What is your dream house, Hatori?”
“Well, it has to have a large wraparound porch. The rest can be whatever your heart desires.”
Tohru blushed, he wanted to live with her? Because she sure-as-hell wanted to live with him.
Hatori said, “What would you like?” backing up against the headboard for more comfort.
“I would love a nice four-bedroom, three-bath, two-story, two-car garage house. I want a bathroom with a Jacuzzi bathtub in it. I would love the master bedroom to have large bay windows with a wonderful view of the ocean, or a lake. I would like a large kitchen, so we can cook together. A humongous backyard, where the kids can play, maybe a pool, but no, never-mind, that's too dangerous, the children might fall in. Perhaps we could get a pool when they're older. I would like a large shed, where we can store all of our goodies. A twisty staircase, you know, where the princess comes down from…”
Hatori smiled as she listed off all the things she wanted; so, she'd already thought this through.
It was these subtleties in life that warmed his soul. Not fancy dinners, opera shows, shopping sprees, or expensive vacations to foreign countries, but rather—walks in the forest, homemade meals, and chatting.
When she finally finished, Hatori swung an arm over her shoulder, and pulled her up to him. Now both were leaned against the headboard.
“The future looks promising. I see a happy couple with two beautiful children.”
Tohru giggled, “You sound like Hanajima!”
Hatori opened one-eye and looked at Tohru. “Now do I? Hmm-mmm. I will get rid of that thought…”
He began tickling Tohru, starting at her flat stomach, and traveling up to her neck. How spontaneous. Tohru giggled as she returned the gesture.
The two finally collapsed heavily into the mattress, the springs creaking quite noisily.
“Stay tonight?” Tohru asked softly.
Hatori nodded, and then pulled Tohru into his embrace. He tucked her in his arms, her backside molded against his front side. They didn't even bother to draw up the blanket. They fell asleep, dreaming of that beautiful two-story house on the shore.
---
Tohru was the first to wake up to the warm light that flooded in through the large windows. She turned in Hatori's loose grip to gaze into his beautiful visage. It was handsome and calm. She traced her finger over his thin lips, which curled at the ends to her feathery touch. Her finger jumped away as one dark eye peeled open.
“It's morning already?”
“Yep, it's five.”
Hatori grumbled low in his throat. “I wish I could stay here with you until noon.”
“Me too.”
Hatori moved in and kissed her exposed shoulder.
“Did you sleep well, Hatori? I move around a lot at night and I hope I didn't cause you any trouble…”
“I had the best possible sleep, you?”
“Wonderful, except I had a bit of a stomach ache from all that laughing. You're a great tickler.”
“Thank you,” Hatori said, with a twinkle in his eye.
They looked at each other for a few beats; each trying to memorize the others facial features-- the tilt of an eyebrow, the curve of a lip, the placement of a mole.
At last, Tohru tumbled out of the bed. “I'll make breakfast!”
Hatori tumbled out behind her, and they made their way down to the kitchen. Tohru read the whiteboard hung on the wall next to the doorjamb:
I went out for a jog. Be back at eight.
Tohru said, “Great, we can prepare a big feast!”
The couple worked together cheerfully. “Hatori, you are such a fast learner!”
“I have a great teacher,” he responded nonchalantly. He continued to chop the carrots fervently. Actions demonstrated more than words.
Preparations for breakfast seemed to pass quickly. Before they knew it, they had prepared breakfast and a fantastic bento lunches.
“What are your plans for today, Tohru?”
“I going out to visit my mom's grave.”
Hatori was quiet as he rinsed the dishes. He finally said, “Would you like me to go with you?”
“Ah, no—it's okay. Hatori-san is a very busy man…”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Do you need me to pick you up?”
“No. It's okay. I have to go to work afterwards. Then I will ride the bus back.”
Hatori nodded. He didn't ask further. Even though he wanted to know, what `work' she did (was it at Momiji's dad's place?), he didn't want to sound pesky.
They cleared up the kitchen. Kyo returned, and they ate breakfast in a pleasurable stillness.
“How was the jog, Kyo?” Tohru asked casually.
“Great, but someone's frickin' sprinkler attacked me with recycled water!”
Tohru stifled a laugh. Kyo could be so adorably amusing in his irritable ways. Hatori couldn't help but smile. Anything that made Tohru smile made him smile as well.
Kyo looked at Hatori suspiciously. “Why are you always here now?”
Tohru interrupted before Hatori could defend himself. “Shigure wanted him to watch over me.”
Covering up their love, yet again. If only he could scream it at the top of his lungs that he loved her…
Kyo said, “Does the dog think I'm irresponsible?”
“Yes,” Hatori interjected.
“That nerve of that perv! I would never do anything!”
Tohru and Hatori looked at each other and smirked. Kyo could be so dramatic sometimes. Hatori knew he would never do any harm to Tohru, but he still liked to toy with the cat.
---
Kyo stormed to his room after breakfast. Hatori finished washing the dishes while Tohru wrote of the whiteboard:
I'll be out for the day. If you need me, call me on my cellphone. Love, Tohru.
She changed into a wide-strap canary yellow sundress splashed with bold white tulips and flip-flops.
“I'm ready,” she said cheerfully, holding the two bentos in her hands along with her green sling bag.
Hatori followed Tohru's directions to the cemetery, stopping at the supermarket for some flowers. “Thank you for the ride, Hatori. See you for dinner again?”
“Yep.”
Hatori watched her tiptoe through the graveyard. Looking at all the tombstones sent a shiver down his spine.
He had never once visited his parents' grave after the ceremony.
It wasn't that he didn't want to. He couldn't. The memories were too harsh.
His father's last words in the hospital echoed throughout his mind.
Hatori, don't except to ever be normal. You aren't capable.
---
Tohru walked over to her mother's stone. She apologized for stumbling over a few headstones.
She put down her bento and set down her knit-sack.
“Hello mom. I hope you are doing well. I will be here for a while today. I have lots to share with you,” she whispered, setting down the bouquet of daisies, her mom's favorite flower.
She sat down in the grass and began telling.
“Grandpa went to the hospital two weeks ago, but he's okay now, he's such a trooper. And Kyo's back. My birthday's coming up, and I want to celebrate it with you, the day before, I plan to bring a cake here to celebrate. I remember when the two of us would bake a cake and decorate it. We would spend more time making it than eating it in the end. I'm going back to work today. The company has been going through a renovation for the past few weeks, and they've finally finished. The girls won't be working over the summer; they have to take care of their kids, so it will only be me. Maybe a new person will help out. I'm doing the afternoon shift and the night one, from two to six-thirty, and then from eight to midnight. I work three times a week. It's really not bad. I know you would tell me not to hold up so many jobs, but I need the money. I'm sounding really desperate now, but college is coming up, and I can't expect Shigure-san or any of the Sohmas to pay for me. They've already done so much. I also found an ad for serving food at a small café. Maybe I can to that on weekends. Shigure's birthday is at the end of next month, and I plan to buy him something big. He's done so much.”
Tohru wiped the debris and foliage off the black granite of the headstone with a napkin as she continued. “Mom, do you remember when I told you about Hatori? Well, he is wonderful…”
Tohru told her mom everything about her favorite seahorse.
Tohru spent the whole morning their, and finally left at one, after finishing her lunch.
---
A/N: Thank you Virgil, for that sensation three-word quotation- Love conquers all!
Review please!