My, My, Imai! Redux (2019) | By : VanillaToast Category: Fruits Basket > Het - Male/Female Views: 747 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story or any brands/names herein. The only character of my own making is Imai. |
The following afternoon, Imai sat with her brother, Akito, in their shared room. The pair sat on the porch that overlooked the Zen garden outside and despite the lovely scenery, Imai was nervous; she felt the tension between herself and her brother rising and she knew that Akito was angry with her about something, she just didn’t know what it was.
“You came in late last night. Where were you?” Akito asked, his eyes not leaving one of the rock formations in the garden outside. His tone was deceivingly soft.
“I had tea in the kitchen. You were asleep, so I didn’t want to wake you.” Imai responded simply, but cautiously.
Akito was quiet for a moment, but the tense energy surrounding him only worsened.
“You were with someone… I could hear you talking.” Akito finally said, only his eyes turning to peer angrily at Imai through the curtain of his shaggy hair.
Imai suddenly grew more nervous. Had Akito heard their entire conversation? Had he heard her apologize for him to Hatori? Their conversation had been innocent enough, but she was still terrified that her brother had overheard them. Terrified that her brother had followed her to the kitchens in the middle of the night.
“Hatori-san was with me in the kitchen. He happened to already be there when I got there.” Imai responded carefully, wondering exactly where her brother’s questioning was going.
Akito’s eyes finally went back to the Zen garden and Imai calmed a little.
“I don’t want you talking to him anymore.” Akito’s statement was flat, but it sounded like an order.
“Why not,” Imai questioned suddenly. “He’s very kind.”
Imai’s question was taken as one of defiance by Akito, and that angered him. Imai had only asked out of curiosity, but the anger from her brother was now like a palpable miasma that exploded from him as he reached out and slapped Imai across the face as hard as he could.
“You have no right to question me!” Akito screamed, shaking the walls with his thunderous cries. “You’re a filthy animal! You don’t deserve to walk the same grounds as Mother did!”
Akito shoved his shocked sister to the floor before she could even register what was happening and stood up.
“You’re disgusting filth! I should’ve strangled you in your crib as you slept!” Akito screamed, kicking Imai in the ribs and side with such force, that it forced her body across the room. Imai rolled into a vase, turning it over and spilling the flowers and water inside across the tatami flooring.
Maids now scurried in to survey the damage but were wary of speaking or getting too close to the fray as Akito flung himself at his sister. Akito wrapped his hands around Imai’s neck, straddling her frail body as he choked her. The expression on his face was concerning, as it looked like a wild cross between a blind fury and exquisite pleasure in the pain he was bringing to the girl.
The noise was something that anyone who lived on the Sohma estate would get used to; there was not a soul connected to the strange family curse that did not know of Akito’s tantrums or hadn’t experienced them firsthand.
It was through such noise that Hatori made his way down the halls of the main house calmly, as he was never one to be frantic no matter the situation. Akito rarely came to see Hatori in his office, so it had become routine that Hatori would bring his office to the family head. It was in the middle of Akito’s violent rampage that Hatori pulled open the bedroom door and announced his presence.
“Akito-san. It’s time for your appointment.” Hatori said, though it was perhaps the first time that anyone had interrupted such chaos in a long time.
If Hatori was worried about Imai, he didn’t show it or speak of it, acting as if nothing inhumane was happening behind the rice paper walls at all. In all honesty, it was for Imai’s sake, lest she receive more of her brother’s wrath.
In the split second that Hatori had interrupted his near success at cutting off Imai’s air supply completely, Akito was caught off-guard. His hands were still firmly set around the younger girl’s throat as she struggled beneath him. Akito turned wild eyes to Hatori.
Close. He had just been so close.
I’ll handle this garbage later. Akito thought, I have all the time in the world to make that maggot girl suffer for killing Mother.
For a moment, Akito looked as though he might lash out at the doctor for having interrupted his tantrum, but his face finally went back to an expression of cold indifference as he stood from over Imai’s gasping body. He kicked her again for good measure before making his way over to a nearby cushion to sit for his examination, pulling his drooping robe back over a pale shoulder as he eased down to sit.
“… Make it quick.” Akito muttered angrily.
Akito’s demand to make the exam faster either wasn’t heard or was completely disregarded by Hatori. It happened to be the latter of the two that afternoon. Hatori was in no mood to bend to Akito’s will all that much, nor was he apt to speed through any examination in case he overlooked something by accident.
It was better for Hatori to pay Imai no attention, for if Hatori gave any regard to her, a second beating from Akito would surely come later. It wouldn’t be surprising if Akito turned his anger onto Hatori, either. The maids helped Imai to her feet while Hatori performed his examination of Akito, scurrying quietly to remove her from the room and clean the mess that had been made. Imai pulled her arms angrily from the grip of the two maids and ran past them, disappearing into the gardens.
Akito checked out as usual, with nothing uncommon appearing during the exam, despite a rapid heartbeat and a cold sweat. Those could be attributed to the fleeing girl, who Akito watched with a sly grin through his peripheral vision. Good. The little brat got what was coming to her. He might teach her another lesson later, but for the moment he was suddenly very tired; too tired to deal with his ugly sibling. He just wanted lunch and a nap.
“You’re over-exerting yourself,” Hatori said casually, folding up his stethoscope and putting it away in his bag.
“I suggest the usual: hot meals and plenty of rest. Not too much activity.” Hatori continued, gathering the rest of his instruments and returning them to his bag.
“Have hot soup and tea brought up to Akito-san immediately.” Hatori turned his attention to the maids, who were nearly finished sopping up the water and picking up broken pieces of pottery.
Hatori moved to stand up as the maids bowed and rushed out to follow orders. Hatori said nothing more than he had to and Akito never had been interested in small talk with anyone. Neither had Hatori. Hatori had seen from his own peripheral vision that Imai had fled into the gardens, but he had not fully looked at her. Hatori was so detached and indifferent to the entire ordeal that it was impossible to decipher what he was thinking or feeling. He had one of the dirtiest jobs of them all to do, and it had nothing to do with being a physician.
Akito said nothing as he continued to sit. He paid little attention to what Hatori was saying, as he was still silently stewing over Imai. He had nothing to say to either one of them, and while Hatori was only partly responsible for his current level of anger, it was all directed at Imai. If Hatori had not come in for the appointment, Akito may very well have succeeded in finally killing Imai. When Akito’s lunch was finally brought, messes finally cleaned, and Hatori convinced Akito to get into bed, it seemed that the day’s ‘festivities’ were finally over.
Meanwhile, Imai sat by the koi pond. She was a little worse for wear. She had long wiped away the blood that had sprung from her lip, but nasty bruises were forming around her neck and her torso ached.
It wasn’t so bad, I guess… Imai thought, It could have been so much worse if Hatori-san hadn’t walking like that. … I might not have come out of it alive.
Imai silently thanked Hatori for being so prompt, but she still felt awful that he had been witness to one of Akito’s more bitter tantrums. She had come so close to pushing her brother away, so close to fighting back that she became afraid of that feeling and suddenly became more withdrawn. At least the koi weren’t judging her for feeling rebellious.
It was hard to say if Hatori felt bad or not with how his cold eyes and stoic expression never changed. He was always so blank and cool-headed when responding to chaos and it was no different when he made his move to take his leave. His work with Akito was through and he did not linger any longer than necessary.
His destination: Well, it appeared to back to his house, but he was going the long way through the walkways that connected his home and the main house. Hatori was trying not to look or act suspicious, but it sounded like a whole lot had gone on in that room before he had arrived and the wanted to make sure that there was no major damage done to the poor girl. She always had the right to refuse to see him, but Hatori wouldn’t let too much stand in his way when it came to doing his job and taking care of the people he was supposed to.
While passing through his office, Hatori was thoughtful enough to grab an ice pack from the mini refrigerator in his study. He kept the convenient device there for medicines that had to be in a cooler environment. Hatori wrapped the ice pack in a towel for the moment before making his way back out to the gardens. Quietly, Hatori crouched down next to Imai and held the ice pack to the girl’s swollen, bloody lip.
Nothing was said, though he tried not to startle her. His expressionless eyes were already surveying the damage. There was nothing that he could immediately see that told him anything was broken, but he knew it could be a different story internally. The only thing that came from Hatori was a soft sigh; he couldn’t fathom why things had to be this way. The sigh was the only sign of his turmoil, however, as he was not the type to angst even if he happened to be one of the only people with a good reason to.
Imai wasn’t startled by Hatori’s presence and simply sat numbly as he held the ice pack to her lip. The only sign that showed she had registered his presence was a hard, teary blink as the cold pack touched her face. There was blood smeared across her chin and tears, while their streaming had slowed, still streaked her cheeks.
“Thank you, Hatori-san. I’m sure the swelling will go down soon.” Imai said softly.
She only knew from experience that bruises and swelling and pain always ended, even though it always came back with fresh beatings.
Lifting her hand, Imai didn’t bother to notice the soft brush of her fingers to Hatori’s own when she took over holding the ice pack. She was clearly tired, and certainly in need of a bath and change of clothes; the sleeve of her kimono was stained with dried blood from where she had been wiping it away from her lip and it was certain to be ruined because of that. At least her bleeding had stopped, but the tears still flowed.
Imai said nothing more to Hatori for the moment, locking herself away in her mind in hopes of blocking out the horror of the world around her.
“I know we’ve already had your appointment,” Hatori spoke finally, his face still bland but something along the lines of concern hinted in the darkest gleam of his eyes, “but I could have a look at anything you think I may need to.”
It was Hatori’s roundabout way of asking to inspect for anything broken, cracked, or bruised on the girl’s small body; he wouldn’t force her into anything she didn’t want.
Hatori reached into the pocket of his vest and held out a silk handkerchief for Imai to use instead of her sleeves; those were far easier to clean or dispose of than entire outfits.
With the offer of an inspection, Imai inwardly winced, balking at the very idea of being poked and prodded, but she couldn’t really refuse him; she had been beaten pretty severely.
Besides… He’d offered her a hanky!
With the offer of the handkerchief, Imai’s golden eyes trailed up to Hatori’s own before lowering them to the handkerchief. She mustered a small smile, though it hurt to do so with a split lip, and lowered the ice pack into her lap. She normally wouldn’t feel so guilty as to use an offered handkerchief, but it was silk and even had his initials embroidered on it.
“… Are you sure you want me using this, Hatori-san? It’s a nice handkerchief…” Imai shyly said, still offering him a smile of appreciation.
Hatori shrugged in reply, looking like a spider as his long limbs folded up so he could remain at a crouch next to Imai; he was tall, bordering on lanky. Hatori’s strength was not to be underestimated, however, he was the dragon, after all.
“I have others.” Hatori said without hesitation, tipping his head to the side to examine the bruises forming on Imai’s neck. They no doubt looked worse than what they actually were, as injuries of that nature usually did, but her having complained before about a sore neck already had him wary of it.
“Where does it hurt most?” Hatori asked, hoping that remaining injuries Imai had were simply bruises; those would heal in less time than breaks or fractures.
Imai nodded faintly, as her neck still hurt, before taking the handkerchief and raising it to her lip and chin to clean herself a bit. She wiped away her tears with the initialed corner of the handkerchief as well before lowering it to her lap. She did not move aside from that but followed Hatori’s inspecting movements with her eyes.
He really is a good doctor… Imai thought.
“… My neck, around my shoulders. It hurts to move it.” Imai responded. She was silent for a moment before adding, “And my sides…”
“I don’t think it’s too bad,” Hatori said, his warm fingertips just barely pressing against the discolored flesh beneath the collar of Imai’s kimono. “At the most a strain. I have a brace you could wear, but I would like to make sure your ribs aren’t broken.”
The support for her neck was what she needed; with the help of holding her head up and limited mobility, any strain would heal faster and with fewer complications than if left alone.
Hatori never let his hands linger longer than they had to on Imai’s body, and he pulled them back when he was finished with his initial inspection. The pain killers she had already would take care of most of the dirty work of getting rid of her discomfort.
Imai didn’t like the idea of a brace, but she also didn’t want to have anymore damage done to her body than that which had already been done. She gave a faint nod, accepting Hatori’s offer of the brace before speaking.
“May I… May I stay with you for a while, Hatori-san?” Imai timidly asked. Her reasons were clear enough: she didn’t want to face Akito again, at least not for the moment. She wanted to give her brother time to settle down before she faced him again. Imai also wanted to lie down in a safe place, and the only safe place she could think of was Hatori’s office.
Hatori understood perfectly; he hadn’t exactly rushed back to see Akito after the debacle with Kanna. Even to this day, the time given to the family head was all business related. Hatori, as cold as he came off to be, had a soft spot in his heart that wouldn’t allow Imai to go back just yet, even if she wanted to.
Without a verbal yes or no to Imai’s question, Hatori’s actions were his answer. He scooped her up easily in his arms and stood with no effort at all. There was no sense in having her walk with the condition her body was in. Hatori also had broad shoulders that were perfect to rest one’s head upon should they be suffering from a sore neck.
In Hatori’s study, there were couches much softer and warmer than the examination beds he used for patients and there was one with Imai’s name written all over it.
Imai had only ever been carried by Shigure before, and that was very rarely. Imai’s instinct was to, of course, rest her head against one of Hatori’s broad shoulders. With her hands now tucked safely in her lap, Imai closed her eyes.
I’ve never been gladder to be cursed than I am now. Hatori-san is so warm, just like Gure-ni-san. Imai thought, finally feeling safe as she listened to Hatori’s steady heartbeat. Such a feeling of security was long missed by Imai, and if Hatori’s arms offered such a feeling, then she was certain that staying in his office for a while would be similar.
Imai’s breath puffed softly against the flesh of Hatori’s neck and before long it had evened out to a slow and easy pace; Imai had fallen asleep before they had even reached Hatori’s house. His arms had a tranquilizing effect on the rooster, just as Shigure’s had, and she could not help herself. She was so exhausted and sore, but safe. Even as Imai’s dead weight set in, she was still as light as a feather in Hatori’s strong and capable arms.
Hatori had not anticipated that Imai would fall asleep in the short distance between the garden and his house. He toed open the doors of his home until he finally got to his office, setting Imai down on one of the comfortable couches there. Once Imai feathery weight was deposited there, he set about getting a small pillow and a blanket to cover her before he poked around his office for the brace he had recommended.
After he set the brace down on the coffee table in front of the couch, Hatori headed toward his desk. He stopped himself before sitting down there. Instead, Hatori pushed the comfortable office chair toward the porch that led to the gardens, pulling apart the rice paper doors and rolling it outside.
From there, Hatori could have a much-needed cigarette without filling his office with smoke and bothering Imai with it. He lit a cigarette and took a steady inhale of the first, savored puff. He felt immediately at easy and took to watching the cherry blossom trees sway, sprinkling their petals onto the grounds like nature’s own blanket. Hatori simply relaxed, completely unaware of Imai’s sudden feeling of security in his presence.
Imai remained peacefully asleep, snugly curled into the blanket Hatori had lain over her. Her pale face was the epitome of calm and she slept for nearly an hour before she finally opened her eyes. Imai’s feathery lashes parted to reveal that she wasn’t laying on a sterile gurney, but a couch in Hatori’s office. Tiredly, she let her eyes take in the rather bland, but comfortable scenery before she found Hatori sitting on the porch.
Imai immediately felt embarrassed for having fallen asleep in the doctor’s arms so quickly and so easily, but Hatori had been so comforting and so gentle that Imai just couldn’t help herself.
“… Hatori-san...?” Imai called softly, meekly calling for his attention as she stood up and began to fold the blanket he had so chivalrously laid over her.
When Hatori didn’t answer right away, Imai stopped her task and padded over to where Hatori sat. She noticed the ashtray in his lap with a few crushed cigarettes in them and she could still smell the lingering scent of his last cigarette. Imai found that she didn’t really mind the smell as much as she originally thought she would; she still hated that Shigure smoked, and often chided him on the habit, but she loved Shigure like a brother and so the habit bothered her more when it was him.
Hatori didn’t answer; he had fallen asleep himself, tucked into his study chair comfortably with the warm sunshine of the afternoon as his blanket. The tranquility of his study was just too irresistible, and Imai’s soft, rhythmic breathing also helped to lull the doctor to sleep as birds chirped merrily outside in the garden.
Hatori had been there the entire time, however, only dozing lightly. Restless nights often led to Hatori sneaking naps in his office when he thought no one was watching, which was another reason why he spent so much time cooped up in there. Sleeping was one of the little things that made Hatori seem more human.
When Imai realized that Hatori was asleep, she smiled softly. He looked so peaceful when he slept, and he really did look far more human that he usually did; Hatori always looked so cold an uncaring, as though nothing else in the world mattered anymore.
I don’t think that’s too far from the truth,” Imai thought, He lost the woman he loved… He had to erase the very memories he helped to create. I don’t know if that old saying is really true; “It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.”
Imai doubted that such a phrase applied to Hatori. Even if he had been cold and different before he had met Kanna, he was even more so no because he had lost her.
Slowly, Imai returned to the couch to continue folding the blanket, taking it upon herself to straighten the cushions a little as well. Imai’s quiet movements cut through the haze that had settled around Hatori’s brain and his head lifted, cold eyes cracking open, but then closed as he sat forward. He never napped for very long. Imai, hearing the squeak of Hatori’s office chair, turned her head toward him as she straightened and folded.
“I’m sorry if I woke you, Hatori-san. If you’d like to get more rest, I can leave…” Imai offered.
Hatori leaned forward more, then, resting the ashtray that had been on his lap on the floor of the porch. He blinked as he became more awake and less fuzzy to the world around him and he turned his head over his shoulder to look at Imai with cold, blue eyes.
“You don’t have to do that.” Hatori said, though it wasn’t entirely clear if he was talking about straightening up or leaving. He never did clarify, even as he finally stood and started to wheel his office chair back towards his desk. Once he was done with that, and returning his ashtray to his desk as well, Hatori pulled shut the doors that led to the garden. It left the office in the gentle but unnatural light of the overhead fixtures.
Just as Hatori didn’t clarify what he meant, Imai didn’t understand what he meant. She stood by the couch for a few more moments, finished with her folding and straightening anyway; she was still a little self-conscious about being a burden to Hatori. Hatori may not have realized it, but the doctor gave Imai a newfound feeling of comfort and security; not just because he was the protective dragon of the zodiac, or that he was her doctor…
Imai simply couldn’t put a finger on it; she almost felt safer with Hatori than she did with Shigure, and it was confusing to her. Imai decided to break the tension she suddenly felt in the silence. She didn’t want to leave just yet…
“Thank you, Hatori-san… For letting me stay. I’m sorry I’m such a bother…” Imai said, her head hanging shamefully.
“It’s not a bother,” Hatori said in reply, appearing to have meant that Imai didn’t have to leave or put away any bedding as he turned around from where he stood at his desk.
He stood tall, black hangs draped over his impaired eye as his hands folded to tuck themselves in the pockets of his slacks. His face was just as placid as always; impossible to tell what he was thinking as he watched the young rooster from where she still stood at the couch. The cushions were perfectly lined and the blanket was meticulously folded, resting just on top of the pillow he had offered her.
The way he looked at her was eerie in its own way, though perhaps not as much to those who were accustomed to having his blank stare set on them.
At Hatori’s words, Imai raised her eyes to Hatori’s and offered him another faint smile; the second in as many days. The doctor should’ve found himself lucky on that account.
“I’m glad. You’re very kind, Hatori-san… I’m glad you’re my doctor.” Imai said shyly.
Imai was uncertain as to why she was being as outspoken with her thoughts as she had been over the past several days, but she felt that perhaps it wasn’t so bad when it was to somebody she should be able to trust. Shigure trusted Hatori, so why couldn’t she? Imai didn’t think that Hatori would laugh at her or run to tattle to Akito about anything she said or did; So far, Hatori had done nothing to make her distrust him, and she felt that her trust in him would only grow.
Suddenly, something caught Imai’s eye: a bookshelf nestled neatly in a far corner. There were many medical books on that shelf from what Imai could see, but she could also tell that a few others had nothing to do with the sciences. A few in particular Imai recognized right away, and what little energy she had suddenly sparked to life as the twisted her hands nervously. She was trying to keep her excitement in check.
“May… May I look at your books?” Imai inquired softly, still wringing her hands as if she were asking Hatori for a burdensome favor.
Imai looked as though she were suppressing the urge to simply run to the bookcase and look at every book he owned. It was a wonder the girl had any passion at all, but apparently books and writing had been Shigure’s influence.
Hatori seemed a little surprised by both the praising statement as well as Imai’s question. His fine brows lifted over his narrow eyes, but that was as far as the surprised expression went. It was questionable if any of the other muscles in Hatori’s face worked.
“If you wish.” Hatori said.
He had no idea what sort of interest Imai might have when it came to his collection of medical books, though the shelves were, indeed, home to other genres. Hatori also had one or two volumes of random mystery series and even a few novels of fantasy. One could only stand so much work at a time and Hatori was no exception. To Hatori, reading was a wonderful escape, especially when it had nothing to do with his occupation.
Hatori held his spot in front of his desk but pulled his hands from his pocket to cross his arms over his chest as he watched Imai.
Imai smiled again and this time is was much broader than before and filled with excitement. She eagerly made her way the bookcase to inspect the books homed there. Imai loved booked and she rarely got to read them; they were only given to her as gifts now and again from Shigure and she had treasured every word written on their pages. She was dying to read something new and exciting.
“Gure-ni-san used to bring me books from the library when he was in school. He sometimes let me read his schoolbooks, too.” Imai said as she looked at every title, her head tilting whimsically as she browsed.
It had been often that Shigure would check out multiple books from the library that often seemed entirely out of character for him to read. It had also been often that he would come to school without his required textbooks. The dog having loaned them to Imai to read explained a lot about Shigure’s schoolbook habits.
“You’ve got so many! Have you read them all?” Imai asked, looking over her shoulder at Hatori. A lively spark lit her golden eyes and her smile hadn’t faded with her secret love of reading having been revealed. This was quite possibly part of the reason Imai got along so well with Shigure; he liked to tell her stories and brought her things to read.
“Most of them.” Hatori answered after feeling momentarily disturbed with the realization that Shigure had been her introduction into reading. He was unsure if Shigure had lent her books of a more adult nature, but assumed that with the girl’s innocence, they couldn’t have been that bad. Or Imai just masked it really well.
Hatori leaned back on his desk, crossing one ankle over the other before he reached into his vest pocket to fish out another cigarette. Hatori was unaccustomed to having visitors in his office, aside from Shigure and Ayame, for any length of time that wasn’t dedicated to medical purposes.
“If you want,” Hatori said after he lit and took a puff of the cigarette, letting the sour smoke seep from his nose like an actual dragon. “you may read them, too.”
In other words, Hatori was opening his office up to Imai, since Akito may raise questions if she took Hatori’s possessions back to the siblings’ shared rooms. It was the least obvious with lesser punishment, though either route had consequences. It was just how Akito was.
“R—Really? You would let me ready your books?” Imai asked excitedly.
Imai’s eyes brightened when Hatori nodded his consent and her face lit up almost entirely in happiness. She finally showed the inherent beauty of the Sohma family now that she had opened up to the small, but no less appreciated kindness that Hatori offered her.
“Thank you so much!” Imai said, giving a low and polite bow to Hatori.
Things were starting to look up for the rooster.
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