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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.

Chapter List
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DECEMBER
The days had turned to weeks, and the weeks to months; Imai was certain to never bother Hatori with her presence. She always made sure her brother wasn’t around to catch her and she was always polite enough to knock, even when she had been told Hatori’s house was open to her.
Imai had begun to spend most of her nights in the safety and security of Hatori’s study. She spent most of her time reading Hatori’s books. Even the medical textbooks kept her attention for hours. She took very special care of every book she pulled from Hatori’s bookshelves, using a ribbon to mark her place instead of dog-earring pages, and she always put them back exactly where and how she had found them.
To Imai, books were precious as they often gave her a look into the world outside of the Sohma estate, a peek into the normalcy of the outside. With each medical book she read and each diagram she studied from Hatori’s textbooks, she also felt a growing sense of shame that she had always been so late to her appointments with Hatori.
Over the months of Imai’s visits with Hatori, she had become far more open with him; her voice was no longer flat, and she showed many more facial expressions than she ever had before. Even when she came to read after being injured by her brother, her mood always lightened. Imai was finally comfortable with the good doctor and it was better for her health that way; she finally had somebody who lived at the main compound that she felt safe with.
One cold evening, Imai sat inside Hatori’s office, splayed on her stomach on one of his comfortable couches—nobody could see her through the windows if she lay low. Typically, Imai didn’t like to bother Hatori with medical questions, especially when she knew she could find her answer in any of his books, but she liked to hear the sound of his voice; to Imai, Hatori’s voice was soothing.
“Hatori-san? Why do some peoples’ bodies react the same to a placebo as they would actual medicine? How does it work?” Imai asked, turning her face to Hatori where he sat at his desk.

Hatori didn’t mind the company as it was the quiet sort that still managed to make his place feel less lonely. Until Imai had started to spend hours upon hours with him in his study, Hatori hadn’t realized how empty it all had really been. It was breaking a few rules, however. Hatori had never gotten very close to any of his patients for many reasons and that was no exception to any of the Sohmas that weren’t Shigure or Ayame. Not much thought had been given to the danger inherent in Imai’s visits, however, as the pair rarely shared words much deeper than idle chat.
“The power of suggestion, I believe.” Hatori said, looking up from the book he had been reading himself to idly cast his attention to the rooster. He thought for a moment longer before continuing, “Depending on how one’s mind works and their will to overcome, perhaps it could make anything happen.”
At least, that’s the theory behind it. Hatori thought.
“Whatever works.” Hatori added.

“So…” Imai continued, giving Hatori a pensive look as she rested her chin in one of her hands. “If you give somebody a sugar pill but told them it was really medicine for whatever illness they had… And they believed you... They could get better again just because they believed in it?”
Imai seemed to think on it for a few more moments before continuing, “I mean, I guess that makes a bit of sense; people get hypnotized all the time into thinking they’re chickens and stuff. So, maybe if somebody really wants to believe that something is going to work, it’s like hypnosis.”
At least the fragmented conversations between Imai and Hatori were better than they had been; Imai now spoke with much more confidence, though this change had only showed when she was alone with Hatori. It was as though being in the safety of his office had brought out another side to Imai, but as soon as she left his office, the rejuvenating effect of Hatori’s quiet company wore off and she was back to being a zombie. When she wasn’t with Hatori Imai was just as she always had been: in the garden, alone, and silent.
Imai didn’t mind breaking the rules if Hatori didn’t. Simply being in his study with him would get them both a beating for sure, but she was always very careful about it; she never came to visit during the day where she could easily be seen, and she often came through a side entrance or even the front door of his house. Imai knew that most of the maids would never tell Akito about her secret visits, as most of them felt just as sorry for the poor rooster as anyone would; but Imai knew that there were a small handful that were fiercely loyal to her brother and were always quick to tattle.
Imai knew that her nighttime visits with Hatori wouldn’t—couldn’t—last forever, but she was more than willing to bask in the freedom his home offered for as long as it would last. She really only dreaded the idea of Hatori getting into trouble for it as well.
Imai wasn’t very close to Hatori, as they didn’t share much more than small talk—they never spoke about their private lives, secrets, wants, or desires—but Imai didn’t really mind. Being able to read with Hatori’s company was enough for Imai; she got more than enough socializing when it came to the periodical visits from Shigure, who was full of enough hot air to be able to talk for five people at once.

Hatori was ideal if you wanted to spend time with someone but also not have much conversation going on at the same time. Unlike his noisy cousins, Hatori didn’t seem to have enough breath for just himself, though he was doing considerably better when it came to talking to Imai. His tone wasn’t as cold when he answered questions, nor did his whole persona seem to be standoffish anymore. They were subtle steps, but big ones for Hatori.
“Something like that,” Hatori responded. “It doesn’t always mean that they’re actually cured; it just helps the patient along when things get a bit grim.”

“Hn…” Imai muttered softly, thinking on the subject a bit more before going back to the medical book.
Interesting. No wonder Hatori is a doctor; the human mind and body are so complex! Imai thought. She had never known some of the things she had learned in Hatori’s collection of books and it was like the doctor had given her a brand-new world to explore. She loved every minute of it.
Imai had noticed that changes in Hatori. She noticed that he spoke more often, and in softer tones even if he needed a bit of prompting to converse. She also noticed that he was much kinder; it wasn’t that Hatori had been mean before, but he had always been so much more aloof than he was now. Imai liked the changes, but she had been unable to notice any of her own.
Imai’s concentration on reading was broken by the sudden ring of the telephone. Occasionally Hatori received a late evening phone call, and like a good girl, Imai remained completely silent and still during those phone calls so as not to give away her presence. She also did her best not to listen in as none of those phone calls were ever any of her business anyway.

Imai’s changes had gone unnoticed by Imai, perhaps, but they hadn’t slipped Hatori’s notice, at least not entirely. Hatori wasn’t the open type to come right out and share those kinds of observations with others and then deliberate on them. Hatori was simply content with how things were.
It had been so quiet, that Hatori almost forgot he even had a phone. He gave it an odd look when it rang before he reached out to answer it.
“Yes?” was the simple greeting, as Hatori was the only one who ever took his calls.
If Imai was listening in, Hatori was entirely unaware.

It would have been impossible for Imai not to hear.
“HA’RI!” Shigure’s voice rang loud through the receiver and the dog half expected Hatori to immediately hang up the phone. Before the doctor could get the chance to do so, however, Shigure continued, “I didn’t think you’d answer on the first ring! Expecting a secret phone call?”
Shigure cackled on the other line, his laugh coming out like a bark.
“Say, Aya and I are going shopping tomorrow for Christmas. Would you care to join us? The Trio will be together again for the holida~a~ays!” Shigure sang the final word in excitement.
Imai was doing her best not to eavesdrop on the conversation, but Shigure made it virtually impossible not to hear him. Shigure was such a loudmouth, but his words got her excited about Christmas. Of course, Imai would be seeing a lot of people she didn’t know, just like she did on New Year’s, but Shigure would be there and he always bought her wonderful gifts.

Hatori’s eyes were closed and his brows twitched as he held the phone away from his ear. He could still hear Shigure as if he were standing right next to him.
Phones aren’t megaphones… Hatori thought, unable to figure out why people thought they needed to scream in order to be heard.
“I’m blind, not deaf, Shigure,” Hatori muttered irritably when Shigure had stopped talking long enough for him to squeeze a word in edgewise. “I’ll go if you buy me coffee.”
With as grumpy as Hatori may have sounded at the idea, there was a distinct sort of light about the doctor that only the promise of Ayame and Shigure’s company could bring, and it was only a moment before a half-smile tugged at one side of his mouth.
Christmas is coming this fast? Hatori thought. That meant that New Year’s Banquet wouldn’t be too far off and he idly wondered in the back of his mind how well that would go this year.

Imai suppressed a soft giggle at Hatori’s words, raising a hand to her mouth before turning her attention back down to the book she had been reading.
Hatori has a sense of humor! Maybe a little dry… But it’s there. Imai thought.
“You live off of coffee and cigarettes, don’t you, Ha’ri?” Shigure sighed dramatically. “A cup of coffee it is, then! By the way, how is Imai-chan? The change in weather gets to her, you know…”
It was often that Shigure asked on Imai; he was concerned about her and he hadn’t been to visit recently.

“Well, why don’t you ask her yourself?” Hatori said, suddenly pulling the phone receiver from his ear for a second time before holding it out to Imai. He wore an expectant look as he offered no explanation to Shigure for the sudden silence between them. He refused to play telephone tag, especially when the subject of Shigure’s questioning happened to be sitting two feet away.

“Huh?” Shigure responded into the silence.
Imai looked up, blinking a bit at Hatori as though she expected him to tell her that he was joking. When no punchline came, Imai carefully closed her book and padded quietly over to Hatori’s desk. She took the phone receiver in her hand and held it to her ear.
“Hello, Gure-ni-san.” Imai said, her expression one of worry.
“Imai-chan...! What are you doing in Ha’ri’s office?! Is everything okay?”
“Uhm…” Imai bit her lip. She was apprehensive about telling the truth, but she knew that Shigure would keep her secret. “I’m just reading. Everything is okay, I promise.”
Shigure was silent on the other end and it was impossible to determine what was going through the dog’s mind.
“His ugly old books? Really, you shouldn’t have to read boring stuff like that. I’ll get you some new books for Christmas. How does that sound?” Shigure finally responded, his tone as kind as always.
“You’re not supposed to tell me what you’re getting me for Christmas. It’s supposed to be a surprise…” Imai said, offering Hatori an apologetic look for how long the phone call was taking. She was certain that Hatori didn’t like his personal phone line taken over by inane chitchat.
“It is what it is. You know I get you a new book every year anyway. So, how are you feeling? Is everything going alright?” Shigure’s tone suddenly darkened; he wasn’t just asking on her health, but on how her dealings with Akito were going.
Imai talked for a few more brief moments with Shigure, reassuring the dog that everything was fine with both her health and with Akito.
“Hatori-san, Shigure wants to speak with you again.” Imai said, holding the receiver out to Hatori.

“Since when did Imai start spending time at your house reading your books, Ha’ri?” Shigure asked, genuinely confused and curious.
“Since when did that become any of your business?” Hatori quipped in return, making it quite clear that he wasn’t going to get into it over the phone that night. “Just be here to pick me up by nine. I’m not driving in the traffic.”
Honestly, Christmas shopping less than a week before the holiday? Gift giving is something for people like Tohru-chan anyway. Hatori thought.
The phone was hung up after that, as Hatori wasn’t going to give Shigure a second chance to blow out his eardrum on that subject. Then, as an afterthought, Hatori reached out and unplugged the cord from the receiver to stop any calls that might try to come through again. He picked up the book he had been reading before the interruption and leaned back in his chair to continue reading.

“But—” BEEEEEEEEEEEP. Whatever Shigure’s argument was going to be, it had been cut off by Hatori’s sudden hang up.
By that time, Imai had already made her way back to the couch, picking up the book she had been reading. She was trying her best not to laugh; Hatori, on his own, was very rarely funny and it was only in a dry way, but when Shigure was thrown into the mix, Imai honestly had a hard time not laughing. It was just the way Hatori smoothly brushed off Shigure’s ludicrous comments and questions. Once she was done laughing, Imai took the book she had been reading and carefully put it back on Hatori’s bookshelf.
“I think I’m going to go to bed, now. Thank you for letting me come by again.” Imai said as she approached Hatori’s desk with a smile.
“Try to get some sleep, okay? Good night, Hatori-san.” Imai said, offering another smile and a bow as she turned to leave.
She was going to bed earlier than usual, now, though she still kept late hours with Hatori. She seemed to be looking much healthier with each day that passed; she was eating more, and had gained enough weight to the point where she looked healthy instead of sickly, there were fewer days where she had bags under her eyes, and there was more color to her skin. It was clear that the simple act of reading quietly in the safety of Hatori’s home was having a positive effect on the young woman.

“Imai-san”, Hatori’s called suddenly before Imai could leave the room. He closed the book he had been reading and set it aside before turning his chair around to face her. “Thank you for your company tonight.” Hatori said kindly.
It was all Hatori said, nothing more, but it startled him where the sudden kindness had come from.
Oh, well. It’s been said. Hatori thought, simply pleased that things were going so well in the first place. He didn’t enjoy treating patients that were better likened to withering flowers like Imai. But that’s just what she was before all of this. Hatori thought idly before turning his chair back around, opening his book back up and continuing to read.

Imai stopped at the door, resting a hand on the jamb before turning to face Hatori. But, before she could ask what he wanted, he had thanked her. The sudden kindness had been just as startling to Imai as it had been to Hatori, but she offered him another soft smile and a nod.
“You’re welcome, Hatori-san” Imai responded.
It had been something that Imai never expected, but she liked it. Being thanked for simple company was something she had been deprived of for all of her life, and she found joy in such simple words. When Hatori turned his chair around with his back to her once more, she continued to smile at him for a few moments before she finally left.
Imai felt wonderful, and her futon felt warmer as she slipped into it for the night. Akito was, thankfully, sound asleep across the room and she was that she had gotten away with her secret meeting once again. Secrets were things that Imai was rarely able to keep; between herself and Akito, there were no secrets.
Except for now. Imai thought, rolling onto her side to look across the room at her sleeping brother. Even if it was a dangerous secret to have, it made Imai feel good to know that Hatori was keeping it as well.
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My, My, Imai! Redux (2019)