Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ The Sohmas' Visitor ❯ An Outsider ( Chapter 2 )

“You're in luck, Erika,” The man said as he picked me up and started to carry me over to the sliding door of his house. “I'm the Sohma family's doctor.” He seemed to be carrying me awkwardly, like he was trying to keep his distance.

 

I felt nervous. This stranger was taking me to his obviously valuable household to help heal my wounds without any further questions. I also managed to catch the words he said, though I was almost too tired to listen. He said he was the Sohma family's doctor, and I'm not a Sohma, so why was he helping me? I was awfully grateful, but would he have to suffer any consequences for helping me, an…outsider?

 

Even though I was confused, and I still wasn't sure if I should trust this doctor, I felt safe with him. He had a mysterious presence to him, but it seemed like he was actually going to help me. I didn't struggle, and I didn't say a word until we reached the house. It was empty. Even though I felt comfortable with him helping me, I began to worry. There was no one else here, and I wasn't sure if he was actually going to help me or not, until I saw him open a first aid kit and pull out some antiseptic medicine and bandages and cotton balls. I had a feeling of relief as soon as he started talking.

 

“This won't hurt a bit,” he said, as he let the antiseptic soak into the cotton ball before gently dabbing my scratched knees. “Do—”

 

I didn't hesitate at all. I had a lot of questions, and I wanted the answers. “Who are you?” I said, lifting my head up from my knees and at his right eye.

 

He looked me in the eye. He took a few seconds to answer my question, as if he didn't want me to know his identity. “I'm Hatori Sohma, I'm the Sohma family's doctor. Don't worry, I'm a professional.”

 

Once again, I didn't wait to ask questions. “If you're the Sohma family doctor, why are you helping me?”

 

He didn't make eye contact with me this time. Once he was finished dabbing my scratches, he turned around back to his suitcase full of medicine. “I'm going to put some bandages on your knees. They'll help you walk a bit better—”

 

“You're evading my question,” I said. I was starting to lose my patience. Hatori looked at me. He didn't look at me with a face that said `stay out of my business,' or `who do you think you are, talking to me like that?' He looked at me like he knows I deserve to be told an answer. “I'm afraid that I might be getting in trouble,” I said. I kinda wish I hadn't said that to his face.

 

“Don't worry,” He told me. “You're no trouble at all.” He gave me a slight smile. I didn't smile back. I looked at him, confused, as he looked back down at his first aid kit to collect the bandages. After Hatori bandaged me up, my legs felt stiff, like they couldn't move.

 

“They may not be very comfortable at first, but they should help you walk.” He helped me down off the cushioned bench for me to try to walk again. My legs were sore, and I ended up falling forward, right into his arms. “I'm sorry,” I said nervously, “my legs are still a little unsteady,” I leaned against the bench for support.

 

“Hm,” Hatori said, and picked up his cell phone. I watched him as he started to dial a number.

 

“Ah, I'm sorry, I'm not in trouble, am I? I'll leave right away, don't worry, I'll pay for the supplies you used to heal me!” I grabbed my bag and looked for some money. I just didn't want to get in trouble again, and I didn't want Hatori to have to take the blame for getting involved with me.

 

He put his hand on my bag and set it down. I looked up at him. “You don't owe me a dime,” He said sweetly, with a smile on his face. “I'm just glad you're okay.”

 

“B-but I'm not a Sohma, you're not supposed to help me! I owe you something, don't I? Urgh, I'm such a troublemaker—first I get lost, then I make you get all your stuff out of the way to help me—I'm so stupid! I—”

 

“Calm down, Erika,” He said, still with the sweet voice, “It's not you're fault you got lost, don't worry. Besides, I'm happy to help. You're no trouble at all. Now, would you please excuse me for just a moment? I promise, you're not in one bit of trouble. Trust me.”

 

He continued to dial his phone. The bubble of fear in my heart deflated slowly as I felt a feeling of relief come over me. I was just glad neither of us was in trouble, and I hoped Hatori was telling the truth about what he would do if someone had found out that he aided and outsider.

 

A while later, I was stuck waiting in Hatori's office for him to finish speaking on the phone. I was still a bit nervous. He was in a different room next door, and I couldn't hear whom he was talking to, or what he was talking about. All I knew is that it was something regarding me.

 

Minutes later, Hatori returned to the office. I was nervous about the news he was going to tell me. He asked me a simple question. “Are your parents home?”

 

“No,” I responded right away, “they left me to take care of the house while they went away for a few days.”

 

“Then I guess I have no choice,” Hatori started, “but to have you stay with my cousin Shigure.”

 

I was stunned. “What? First you helped me when you weren't supposed to, and then you ask that I stay with your family? I'm such a burden; I knew I would be nothing but trouble to you. Please, I'll be fine; you don't have to.”

 

“Don't feel guilty, Erika, Shigure and the others are more than happy to take you in for a while.” Hatori said in a positive voice.

 

“The others? There are others?” I was very confused. More people to worry about, trying not to bother them. “If there are more than one or two people, your cousin has to take care of them and me?”

 

“Calm down. They're happy to have you here. In fact, Tohru, Yuki and Kyo have already volunteered to come pick you up. They should be here any minute. I'll walk you to the door.” He took my hand and walked me toward the front door to meet `the others.'

 

I was surprised. They looked so much younger. They probably go to that Kaibara high school where I ran into those Yankees. There was one girl—kind of short, very skinny, looked very healthy, long, silky brown hair, same color as mine. She had blue eyes that looked like starlight, and they stayed that way as she ran all the way over to greet me. There were also two boys, about the same height—one had gorgeous orange hair, and stood strong, with light brown, almost orange, eyes like a cat, and he was very muscular. That must've been Kyo. The other boy had shiny, grayish silver hair, much longer than the other man's, a little above his chin. His eyes were blue and soft, like the girl's, and he didn't seem as unaware as the other boy, though he wasn't ecstatic either. That must've been Yuki Sohma. They were both very handsome, and even though they weren't running to keep up with the girl, they still stayed close. They seemed very protective of her, and I had a feeling that I wouldn't have any trouble living with the three of them…plus Shigure Sohma, who didn't come with the trio. I stared at the girl running toward me. All I hoped was that she didn't come up to me and treat me like a kindergartner just because I was a few years younger than the three of them.

 

As the woman reached the door, I looked her in the eye, trying to smile as best I could without laughing. She was adorable, I had to admit, and I liked her upbeat atmosphere, but she was rather dorky. I liked her, though.

 

The first thing she said was “Hello there!” she had a wide smile on her face. She bowed down to me. “Erika-chan, I'm Tohru Honda, and I'll be your new roommate!”