𝐀𝐙𝐔𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄 | Fruits Basket FF

(5)

unrevised.
/ chapter 5 /

"Right, it looks like the bruising will lessen as long as you keep putting cold compresses onto it." Hatori stated, closing his suitcase. "The colour of your skin is back to normal as well. Just make sure to drink warm fluids and keep warm."

Ichika nodded. "Thank you," She quietly said.

Hatori took a seat besides the coffee table. He held the cup of tea Tohru had freshly made in one of his hands. A silence enveloped the both of them. Ichika wondered what was going through Hatori's mind. She had many questions for him.

As if reading her mind, Hatori answered. "As you may have been informed, I was the one who found you and had taken you to Shigure's house for recovery. I believe the Estate is not of the best interest for you at the moment."

Ichika immediately straightened her back. "I-I'd like to explain— I—" She said, but before she could finish her sentence, Hatori had cut her to it.

"There's no need for explanations, Miss Ichika. I've already seen more than enough evidence to know what kind of environment you were in."

Ichika swallowed. She nervously balled her fists and dropped her head.

The thought of someone else knowing about her situation other than herself, Akito and her parents made her queasy. It was almost as if every passing day, more and more of her secrets were spilling out.

This was bad. She was forced to lead a quiet life away from prying eyes and had always been taught to keep hush about anything that happened at home. What will she do now knowing what her parents would do to her because she had let another secret escape again.

She could already imagine what they'd say to her.

"Are you trying to humiliate us again?! After everything we've done for you! We gave you a home, gave you food, raised you!"

"Seriously, I don't know why you would blabber on such rumours to people, of course we'd never do anything of the such! You make it out like we're bad people! We're just trying to protect you, how could you say that of us?!"

Chills ran down her spine.

"They'll never accept me now.." She muttered to herself, trailing off.

Hatori stayed silent as she zoned off, assuming she was daydreaming about every negative possibilities that could happen to her.

A thought occurred to him. He couldn't let her return home. She was in the worst state when he had rescued her. God knows how long she had been outside, alone, trapped and in the darkness. What parent would—

No. He shouldn't be so surprised. The root of the trauma among the Cursed Sohma's are usually stemmed from their own parents after all. He knew how much everyone suffers, and somehow coping only by relying on each other. But what scares him the most, though, is who did Ichika rely on?

This was another thing that surprised him. Was he just being concerned as a doctor would to a patient?

"I-I have to go!" Ichika abruptly exclaimed, pushing the covers and trying to get on her feet.

Her legs wobbled and before she could register what was happening, she found herself falling forward. A pair of arms caught her as she gasped. When she looked up, her eyes accidentally met Hatori's purple orbs staring down at her with his expression barely changing.

Her face flushed in embarrassment as she froze up. Hatori carefully moved her back towards the bed where she sat with a plop.

"If you're thinking of going back home, I cannot let you." He said nonchalantly.

"Please, Hatori-san. I must return to them, I'm sure that there is still a chance they'd accept me. I've only made a couple mistakes with the secrets.. but I'm sure—" Ichika paused her little rant. Her tired eyes met Hatori's face but this time, he didn't hold his usual stoic gaze. Instead, he looked at her with an unusual expression. One of sympathy.

Her eyes stung as she fought back her tears. She didn't want to cry for the second time today. She didn't want to show her vulnerability that way. She didn't know why he looked at her like that and why it shook her to her core.

Hatori sat beside her on the bed with his elbows on his thighs and his hands enclosed together.

"Aren't you tired, Miss Ichika?" He said.

She looked at him questioningly. "Tired of what?" She asked.

"Tired of living like that."

Ichika was speechless. How was she living? How was everyone else living? Was there something wrong with the way she was living? Or did she already know, but continued to give it chances upon chances and excuses upon excuses? Half of her hated the way her parents treated her. The other half begged for them to love her.

If there was a Kami-sama, why did they give her life? She didn't know the meaning of her own existence.

"I have spoken to Shigure. He says you're more than welcome to stay here, although it might be a little cramp. And as I have said before, returning to your home and the Estate is not of your best interest right now," Hatori stated, standing from the bed and dusting down his clothes, "I'll leave you to your thoughts."

"Wait, Hatori-san!" Ichika called, stopping in his tracks as he was making his way towards the door.

He turned his head to the side questioningly.

"If I may ask.. why are you doing this?"

Ichika had wondered this for quite some time now. She didn't know why he had saved her not once, but twice when he could have left her to die or continue the norm of her life. He could have walked away or turned a blind eye like majority had. She wanted to kid herself to even think she could feel a hint of protectiveness. It was unlike him, or maybe she just didn't know him that well enough.

She could tell Hatori hesitated to answer. He turned his head back forwards, as silence engulfed them for a few minutes.

Finally, he answered.

"A long time ago I couldn't properly protect someone and in the end I hurt and lost them. I just don't want my past repeating itself. I want to protect people with the confidence of my own power."

His reply was short, but that was more than enough of an answer for Ichika. Although she had many questions by what he meant by that, she didn't want to pry.

Ichika nodded, and before she could thank him, he was quickly out of the door with his briefcase in hand.

The corners of her lips curved upwards and her eyes softened. Hatori is a lot kinder than what she initially thought.