IT BLOSSOMS, hatori sohma [Fruits Basket]

Chapter Fifteen

A few days later, Ryu leaned back, her palms supporting her, and sighed once more. It was clear that it wasn't the best scenario to share her secret with one of the younger Zodiac members. After some consideration, she decided that calling one of the older members, Hatori, would be the most reasonable choice. He was known to be more level-headed and capable of hearing her out before bombarding her with questions.

Just before calling Hatori, Ryu received a call from the teen she'd encountered in town, requesting if he could come to the dojo the next day. The timing seemed oddly fortuitous, yet it also added to her anxiety. She almost forgot about her initial unease and the reason for her preoccupation until the memory of the encounter came flooding back. All in all, she wished she had been more mindful and hadn't inadvertently hindered the male as she attempted to assist him. Despite the rushing civilian accidentally bumping into her, she couldn't bring herself to blame him.

Ryu was grateful that Hatsuharu, the teen who had recently introduced himself, was patient and willing to wait for Hatori, as Hatori had made a pitstop at Shigure's home. Unfortunately, both Kyo and Shigure had fallen ill the same day and ended up playing cards with one of Tohru's friends at school, completely sidelining their original purpose for going there—which was to collect Yuki and Tohru's possessions.

Ryu forced a smile, as Hatsuharu had been gazing at her for quite some time now, leaving her feeling rather intimidated. She composed herself before asking, "Hatsuharu, when Hatori arrives, could I ask that what we discuss here stays between the three of us?" After a brief pause, she quickly corrected herself, "Well, I mean the other Zodiac members, that is." In an attempt to avoid explicitly bringing up the topic of Akito, she tried to keep her words purposefully vague.

Hatsuharu nodded in agreement and finally broke eye contact with Ryu, providing her with a sense of relief. Instead, he redirected his attention to the central courtyard.

Hatsuharu spoke, barely above a whisper, his voice almost foreign to Ryu's ears. His eyes slowly closed, and his fists clenched, "For a brief moment, I almost believed my curse was gone. But then, the moment I saw the look on your face, it hit me—I realized that I knew this feeling all too well."

Ryu lowered her head, feeling a sense of futility as guilt washed over her. She knew that her words would do little to reassure Hatsuharu, given that she shared the same cursed fate. Despite the fact that it made no sense, she understood the bittersweet feeling of any fleeting moment of freedom all too well.

Both Ryu and Hatsuharu felt a deep sense of unease in their hearts, and she discreetly looked up, her lips poised to speak, even if only to offer a futile attempt at reassurance. However, the sound of a bell shattered the silence, robbing her of the ability to speak.

Letting out a sigh at the fortuitous timing, Ryu was undeniably relieved by the interruption. She stood up in a hurry, her impatience evident, and walked briskly towards the front entrance. As she approached, her palms grew clammy, and her heart raced, yet she mistakenly attributed this to the situation with the teen. She remained ignorant of the true cause, unaware that it was the approaching figure who was responsible for her heightened state of anxiety.

As Ryu descended the steps of the deck and reached the lower level, her body was engulfed in a wave of intense heat. Her throat grew dry, and her skin was covered in goosebumps. This feeling was not unfamiliar to her—she had experienced it before at the Main Estate. However, unlike previous occasions, this time the burning desire within her was far more ardent. It was as if her very soul was yearning to be drawn to the magnetic force on the other side of the door. Her hands trembled, her legs buckled, and she reached almost desperately for the thin door, her own hands acting on their own accord as they grasped

Behind the door, standing in a state of breathless disarray, was Hatori, his eyes locking with Ryu's in a gaze that burned with unspoken intensity. Their hearts screamed in their chests, their silent plea yearning to be filled. The two adults held each other's gaze, the powerful yearning between them building with each passing second.

As the soul-deep yearning within their hearts was temporarily sated, the intense urges subsided, leaving Ryu and Hatori both feeling flushed and embarrassed by the hungry gazes they had once shared. It was an unfair predicament, and no matter how much they may have tried to understand or make sense of what had just occurred, they knew that the answers they sought would not come easily.

Ryu struggled to maintain her composure as she stepped aside and spoke, her voice strained. "It's nice to see you, Hatori. Please, come in." She intentionally averted her gaze, determined not to let her emotions get the better of her.

Ryu, preoccupied with the task of maintaining her composure, found herself unprepared for Hatori's unexpected action. In an instant, he had seized her wrist, pulling her against him forcefully. Caught off guard, she stumbled into his chest, unable to react as his free arm encircled her back, holding her tightly in his embrace.

Hatori's voice was deliberate and quiet as he held her securely in his arms. "I knew it," he repeated, his words creating waves of distress within her.

Despite her alarm, Ryu managed to ask in a trembling voice, "How?" Her body quivered as she grappled with the weight of that single word. The question hung heavily in the air, and she braced herself for the answer that was sure to follow. The fact that he knew about her curse was already shocking enough, but how long had he known?

Hatori admitted, "I've known for a while now." He loosened his grip on her wrist, permitting her to take a step back. Yet, his hand remained on her back, maintaining a subtle connection between them as she looked up to meet his gaze.

As Ryu caught a clear glimpse of Hatori's left eye, she couldn't suppress the slight gasp that escaped her lips. His usually vibrant eye had lost some of its color, now bearing a faint scar that was barely visible to the untrained observer. As she examined him more closely, an unexpected sensation coursed through her—a phantom ache in her own right eye, triggered by the sight of his. Instinctively, she reached up to touch her eye, and suddenly, fleeting images flashed in her mind.

In a fleeting vision, Ryu witnessed Hatori and a woman seated across from each other on the floor. The woman was weeping, while Hatori fought to maintain his composure as he placed his hand upon her head. In the instant before the vision abruptly ended, she noticed the woman slowly collapsing to the ground.

Ryu's gasp for air was sudden, and the hand on her back withdrew. In a moment of realization, she snapped back to consciousness from the intense vision she had just experienced. Looking up at Hatori, she observed a strained expression on his face, as if he had witnessed the same scene she had.

Hatori's voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke, "Did...did you just see that?" Ryu confirmed his question silently by lowering her head. Hatori's hand trembled involuntarily, the memory too painful for him to bear. In a moment of instinct, he extended his hand towards her, but her reaction was quicker, and she stepped back. Despite her efforts, Hatori's hand still found its target, touching her forehead. Her eyes widened in surprise as an immense power surged into her, immersing her in darkness. All she could hear was a distant apology echoed in the distance.

As Ryu slipped into the depths of darkness, a scoff echoed in her mind, unmistakably the voice of the dragon within her.

In the depths of the darkness that engulfed Ryu, Dragon's exasperated voice echoed through her mind. "This damn fool," she remarked, her frustration evident.