Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Tainted Choices ❯ Cats and Dogs ( Chapter 8 )

Tainted Choices

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or its characters. They belong to Takaya Natsuki

Chapter 8
Cats and Dogs

After the ultrasound and check-up, Akito ordered Hatori to take Tohru home. It was pouring down rain. Hatori covered Tohru with a huge golf umbrella and ran to the car. Tohru climbed into the backseat and Hatori closed the door behind her, folded up the umbrella and put in the trunk. He got into the front seat and fastened his seat belt. In awkward silence he started the car and drove. The windsheild wipers "whapped" back and forth. Tohru knew this would be a long ride home and she wanted to clear the air with Hatori so she spoke up quietly from the backseat.

“Hatori? I'm sorry. It is all my fault, I agreed to Akito's plan. I really don't blame you. You didn't know what Akito would do. I forgive you. I consider you one of my dearest friends. I wouldn't want you to feel like you can't confide in me because of what happened. I love you. Don't shut me out.” She said with compassion.

Hatori pulled over to the side of the road and turned the car off.

“Tohru, I know you love me as a friend. I really care for you. But, I cannot forgive myself as easily as you are able to forgive me. I should have been more careful. Now, I don't know what to do…” he trailed off.

“Hatori. I don't know what to do either other than bring this baby up with as much love as I can. It will take all of us to raise this child well. And, I for one am looking forward to a long life with you and the rest of the Sohma family. I don't ever want you to think you need to be anymore than yourself to make me happy. I won't tell anyone about what happened between you and me. As far as I am concerned it never happened. Let me know if you need me for anything and I will be happy to let you cry on my shoulder or talk.”

Hatori wiped a single tear from his cheek and said quietly, “I will try Miss Honda. I will try for you.”

And he turned the key in the ignition and drove her home to Shigure's.

The rain had miraculously stopped about an mile away from Shigure's house and the ground as she stepped out of the car was bone dry.

"Hmm...Kyou will be happy." she thought as she stepped down the walk.

As soon as she stepped foot in the door with Hatori, Yuki was there.

“Miss Honda! Are you okay? Why is Hatori here? Is everything okay with the baby?” Yuki asked with concern.

Hatori stepped forward before Tohru could answer and said, “Everything is fine Yuki, she just needed a pre-natal check-up. The baby is doing well.”

Yuki sighed with relief, “Oh, okay…”

Tohru smiled at Yuki.

“Thanks for your concern…but we are doing great Yuki-kun!”

Yuki blushed furiously when he heard Tohru use his name. Tohru hurried past him into the kitchen.

“Everyone must be starving! I will start dinner! Hatori-san you are invited!”

Hatori blushed a little but quickly hurried into the restroom so no one could see. Up on the roof, Kyou heard the door slide open downstairs.

“Hmmm? I wonder if Tohru is finally home? I'm starving…”

He jumped down from the roof and walked into the kitchen. Tohru was standing in front of the rice cooker shaping onigiri. She turned when he came in the door.

“Oh, Kyou! How are you doing? I am making dinner. It should be done shortly!” she said cheerfully.

“Okay, I was gettin' kinda hungry…where have ya been anyhow?”

Tohru turned back towards the rice cooker so Kyou couldn't see her face…she wasn't a good liar.

“Ano…I was visiting Momiji and Hatori. Sorry I didn't call…”

Kyou was irritated because she knew it worried them when she was late ever since she was attacked.

“Well, just make sure you do next time.” Kyou said with a slight edge to his voice.

Tohru handed him a freshly made onigiri.

“Okay, Kyou. I am sorry to worry you. Here, take this…you must be hungry…”

Blushing, Kyou took the onigiri and said defiantly, “I wasn't worried…that much.”

And he took the rice ball and walked into the dining room to wait for the rest of dinner.


Hatori walked back to Shigure's office and knocked on the door lightly.

“Come in!” Shigure shouted happily from behind the closed door.

“Oh, hello Hari! Come to sample our flower's wonderful cooking tonight?” he said in that singsong tone of his and walked across the room to meet him. Hatori cleared his throat and looked very stern.

“Well, I actually drive Tohru home from the Honke. Akito wanted to see her and she needed a pre-natal check-up. She invited me to come and eat dinner with you. But, I have something I need to talk to you about before we eat.”

Hatori said in a serious tone that made Shigure want to sit down.

“What is it, Hatori? Is something wrong with Tohru?” Shigure said worriedly.

“No, no nothing is wrong with Tohru...something is wrong with me.” Hatori said sadly.

Now, in all of the years that Shigure had known Hatori (which was ever since they were babies practically) he had never seen Hatori so sad, with the exception of when he had to erase Kana's memories. So, Shigure knew that something serious was going on.

“Shigure, you have to promise me not to tell anyone, not even Aya, what I am about to tell you.”

Shigure shook his head yes and said, “Sure, Hatori, you don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone. I promise.” Shigure said seriously.

“Okay…I-I was the one…the one who r-raped her.” Hatori said stuttering with shame.

“WHAT!” Shigure shouted.

“Shhh…shhh…be quiet one of them will hear you…she already knows…Akito drugged me. I didn't know what I had done until tonight. I don't know what to do…please help me.” Hatori said pleadingly.

Shigure put his hand to his chin and thought this new information through. The dog in him wanted to tear Hatori's jugular out. But, the rational side of him knew it wasn't Hatori's fault and he had to help out his lifelong friend.

“Mah…this is some news…hmmm…Hatori, I think you need to tell the boys. If they find out later about it they will be homicidal. You know they love her and they would both do anything for her. If they find out from you, and you show you are not trying to hide it, they may not kill you. Of course, that would mean telling Kyou that Tohru was raped and impregnated in the first place, since he doesn't know yet.”

Hatori slumped forward.

“This complicates matters, and Kyou doesn't even know that Miss Honda is pregnant? I promised Miss Honda I wouldn't tell anyone about it. Not even you. But, I had to talk to someone about it. She would be crushed if she knew I told anyone after promising her I wouldn't.”

Shigure stood up and pulled Hatori to his feet.

“Mah…you'll just have to talk to her about your concerns and then she will let you tell the boys, I am sure. She probably said not to talk about it for your sake anyhow. Let's go have dinner and then we'll talk about it over a smoke and go for a walk.”

They all sat down for dinner. Tohru sat in between Yuki and Kyou. Hatori sat directly across from her and Shigure sat at his usual spot at the head of the table (Well, since the table is square there isn't a head but anyhow…).

“So, Kyou are you doing well at your martial arts?” Hatori asked politely.

“Well, Shishou says I am doing a lot better at keeping my guard up.” Kyou said proudly.

“Mah…not good enough to beat Yuki….” Shigure said teasingly.

“Shut up you Baka Inu! I'm going outside!” he stood and was about to rush outside but he tripped and fell right onto Tohru and with a “poof” he turned into a cat and scampered out the door, obviously embarrassed.

Yuki helped Tohru up and put a hand on her tummy.

“Are you okay, Miss Honda? Is everything okay?” he asked with concern.

“Yes…I think so…he turned into a cat quickly so I wasn't really injured. I should go talk to him. He seemed really hurt.”

Hatori stood up and said sternly, “Well, first Miss Honda I want you to finish your dinner. You need the food. You look a little thinner that I would like to see at this stage.”

Kyou who had already turned back into his human form and dressed from clothes on the clothesline poked his head in.

“What stage?” he said innocently. He had been lying outside on the deck boards for a few minutes listening.

“Ano…Kyou-kun…I didn't know you were there…you're so quiet…I guess that is just like a cat to step so softly…you know that is really amazing…I think tha-“ Kyou interrupted her, “Tohru what are you not telling me? Are you sick or something?”

Everyone at the table looked very uncomfortable at this point and they were not sure what to say.

“Ano…I think I need to talk to Kyou alone…” Tohru said quietly.


“Let's go up to the roof, Kyou-kun. We'll talk there.” Tohru said as she took Kyou's hand and led him outside to the ladder that went up to the roof.

They climbed up to the roof and sat at the peak. It was the same place they had once sat with Yuki watching the sun rise on a new year.

“So, what do you have to tell me? You're not dyin' are ya? Kyou asked with some apparent irritation in his voice because he was the last to know. “Ano…no I am not dying. I am definitely not dying. But, I need you to promise me one thing before I tell you what I need to tell you…you need to promise me that you will try and stay calm for me. Please, Kyou-kun?” She said with pleading in her eyes.

Kyou's heart melted when he looked into those limpid pools.

“Whatever you need from me, you'll have, Tohru.”

Tohru took Kyou's hand in her own and said as gently as possible, “Kyou-kun, I'm pregnant.”