Spread My Wings (Fruits Basket)

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Hatori's POV

I watched her, leaning my chin against my palm as she slept soundly on the futon couch, her eyelashes fluttering with the steady rhythm of her breathing. Mumbling incoherently in her sleep, she rolled over and buried her face into the blankets.

There was a loud rustle from behind me. Shigure was watching me from the staircase, his lips curled in a smirk. "She's an interesting girl, huh?"

"Why did you do that?" I whispered. "Fujikawa will be even worse-off if stays here. Akito could do anything to her when we're not here, especially since we didn't even ask for her permission. Bringing her home for one night was already crossing the line."

"You worry too much, Ha'ri," he chuckled, running his fingers through his dark hair. "It'll all work out. I'll convince Akito. She'll put the blame on me, yell at me, maybe throw a couple of things. She won't think it's your fault."

"That's not the problem here," I argued, biting at my bottom lip. "I don't really care about what she does to me or you or Ayame. We can handle it. We've been handling it for seventeen years. It's Fujikawa I'm worried about."

"Oh?" Another insufferable smirk. "That's a first."

"Now isn't the time for wisecracks," I snapped. "If you really wanted to protect her, you would have left her where she belongs. And that's with her parents. She's dealt with it for five years, Shigure."

"Yeah, dealt with it without anyone giving a damn," Shigure shot back, finally losing his composure. "Christ, Hatori, can't you just give it a rest? I said that it would be fine, didn't I? We can talk to Akito. Fujikawa doesn't know about the curse yet, so what's the harm?"

"Fine. But we talk to Akito first thing tomorrow morning. Keeping secrets from her is never a good thing," I conceded wearily. "Deal?"

"Whatever you say, Hatori." Shigure let out a yawn and stretching his arms above his head. "Let's just call it a night, okay? I'm exhausted." He padded up the stairs, his footsteps heavy and loud, leaving me and Fujikawa alone in the living room. I'd already lost track of the time when a loud knock brought me back to my senses.

An elderly woman was bowing to me from the doorway, tendrils of her flyaway gray hair slipping out of her bun. "I apologize for disturbing you at this late hour, Sohma-san, but Akito-sama requested that I bring you to him. He says it's urgent."

I swallowed back a gulp, hoping that the surprise didn't show on my face. I bowed to the woman, keeping my expression as blank as possible- a trick I had learned could very well save your life in the Sohma household. "Thank you, ma'am. Tell Akito-sama that I'll be there in a moment." Watching as she glided across the courtyard and entered the main house, I grabbed my cellphone out of my pocket and sent Shigure a quick text message. going 2 akito's. make sure f is ok.

Heart pounding, I began to make my way to Akito's residence, a million thoughts swirling around in my head. I knew bringing her back was a bad idea. I shouldn't have listened to Shigure. I should have seen this coming. What was Akito going to say to me? What move was she going to make next?

Was I going to have to erase her memories and lose the only friend I had ever made outside of the Sohma family?

It really was selfish, I knew it was. But then again, weren't we all?

I pushed aside the beaded curtain, holding my breath to keep from breathing in hte incense. The room was nearly dark, illuminated by only a couple of dimly lit candles. As was customary of the household, I fell to my knees, bending over until I felt the cool ridges of the tatami press into my forehead. "Good evening, Akito-sama."