[Fruits Basket]Vol. 2; Chapter 9. Here is your friendly reminder that when Hatori Sohma was first introduced in the series, he was portrayed as a villain! …Until the very next chapter, when his romantic, lost-love sob-story begins. Neat.
“Yes. Of course.” Yuki replied with a soft pleasing smile, one he had practiced many times before but did not often use on his cousin. The answer to his first question was truthful. But, allowing him to assume the later was also accurate was a partial lie as he had only just gotten out from council a half-hour ago. There had been little to no time to begin working on his homework.
But, there seemed to be no other choice. Knowing his Hatori’s rigid nature, he would likely make him sit down and awkwardly do his work in front of him before he agreed to the dance lessons he had promised. And he was too excited to focus on anything else at the current moment.
Taking off his shoes in the doorway, he made his way inside, setting his bookbag on a hook near the entryway.
“I almost forgot which house it was. It has been so long.”
⊰ ♞ ⊱ —— “Yes, it has been many a month since you last came to my humble little home. It is usually my office where we meet at,” Hatori murmured, grey gaze trained on the rat as he hung his backpack up and made his way over to him.
Hatori sighed softly, knowing that despite the utter mortification he was experiencing, this was for the best. Yuki was not blessed with a family head like Akira; Hatori and the others had lucked out by having such a kind and caring previous leader- one who graciously prepared them for their lives with every resource they could ever need.
Dance lessons included.
There was not a chance in hell that Akito would provide Yuki, or any of the other younger cousins with such lessons- thus, Hatori would be the stand-in. Best to just go ahead and get this over with, then. With any luck, he’ll be adept at the waltz by the week’s end.
Moving into position, his heels met as he held a hand out towards the rat. “Shall we begin? For the time being, Yuki, I will lead. I will do so until you have learned the steps and feel comfortable with taking on the male role. Take my hand; your other should be placed on my shoulder. Move in closer, we will be chest to chest.”
Lavender eyes stared forward, refusing to look at his elder cousin as he spoke. And spoke he did, for what felt like a painful amount of time before the boy was finally able to decipher the outcome of his cousin’s rather long-winded speech.
“R-really?! Ah. Yes. I am sure I could be there by 5:30!” Yun said with an unusual air of excitement in his voice as he slid off of the examining table his lengthening legs meeting with the floor more quickly than they had even a year ago. He felt suddenly energized at the thought of being able to do something… well, normal for a change. Such opportunities were few and far between until recently. And now, life seemed much brighter.
Yes, that was the word.
“Thank you.” Gracious words escaped his lips, his smaller limbs wrapping around the taller man in a thoughtless fit of gratefulness.
It took only a few seconds for Yun to pull away worrying a bit about whether he was perhaps overwhelming him. They did not often express such casual physical affection or had not in the past except when circumstances were less carefree. Tucking a few pieces of hair behind his ear, he smiled somewhat apologetically.
“I– should be going. I will see you later then.” And with that he quickly scurried off past his cousin and through the familiar office doors.
⊰ ♞ ⊱ ——Yes, all physical affection was few and far between for the Sohma family. Hatori did enjoy a bit of tactile touch every once in awhile, but he often avoided it as every cursed family member did. As Yuki wrapped his arms around him, Hatori went tense and rigid, holding still until Yuki himself decided to let go. The small moment of intimacy hadn’t been bad, per se, in fact- Hatori was more or less stunned into silence. Other than a smile or a brief pat on the head, the two didn’t often touch outside examinations.
This was odd, but comforting and endearing all the same.
Yuki’s rush of excitement hadn’t been lost on Hatori, though, he was a bit concerned as to why the rat was so overjoyed to take dancing lessons from him. Hatori was a tad embarrassed by the whole thing, but the rodent was quite jovial. Perhaps this was something that had been weighing on him for awhile now?
Hatori couldn’t be too sure.
By the time Yuki left, Hatori quietly went back to work, waiting until around 5 PM to head home for the day. It had almost slipped his mind that they made plans for the evening- that was, until his evening of nursing of a glass of scotch was interrupted by a knock at the door. There was Yuki, seemingly ready to learn. Taking a deep breath, the dragon nodded and moved aside to let him inside his home graciously with a wave of his hand.
“Are you ready, Yuki? Have you finished your homework?”
⊰ ♞ ⊱ —— Such a handsome boy, Hatori mused silently to himself, watching the rat roll over a bit, shifting. Just like his father. Nuzzling his pointed little nose into the dragon’s stomach, Hatori sighed happily. This banquet had been a trying one, and as they were paired off and sent to their rooms, Hatori was pleasantly surprised to be paired with the rat this evening. Last year, it had been Ritsu who was his bed-mate, and that in and of itself was something Hatori disliked having to remember. Ritsu always meant well, the poor thing was just too anxious.
…And headache inducing.
No, tonight he would have the company of the rat, a cousin Hatori very much likened to that of a younger brother, or perhaps even a son. His fatherly instincts always showed themselves when around the boy, and tonight was no different. By the time the rat let down that carefully crafted facade and admitted to being tired, Hatori understood. There needed to be no elaboration- no, the tiredness Yuki spoke of was something only the other zodiac members could understand. It wasn’t mental exhaustion, nor the fatigue after a long day.
No, this weariness was one only they could feel.
Hatori sat down on the edge of the bed, patting his lap and the mouse responded without hesitation. Laying his head down in his lap, he curled up on his side and sighed, closing his eyes. Hatori went still and quiet, gently carding his long fingers through the silken, silver locks of his young cousin, unknowingly lulling the boy into a light slumber.
Hatori wouldn’t dare move; not now, right when he was just beginning to get some rest. The physician sighed happily, just happy that he could, in some way, give Yuki a but of a reprieve. He knew the turmoil that lay just underneath the skin of the rat, no one could soothe those churning waters. At least, not for awhile. For now, this was all he could do. Sleep well, Yuki.
Rude. You’re his wife and you aren’t even concerned that he has a gross dad-mustache and a dick on his face. R U D E. H E L P H I M.
^ Please, listen to the sage advice form the adorable little rat. Just let him keep at least one eye. Just one, he’s not greedy. Don’t take this one out too.
Akito is the creepiest, almost worse than the four chanting demons. Yes please, I tried to work on a Halloween theme tonight and rage quit.
“I happen to think that would be a lovely way to ask a young lady out on a date, it’s the proper way for a little gentleman to court a young woman. You are interested in Miss Honda, yes? Then by all means, Yuki, you should try and woo her. While you think giving your phone number out on her coffee cup is lame, I’m sure she would very much appreciate the gesture. Truly, Yuki, it is rare for love to bloom in this family. You should not waste this special opportunity. Why are you letting your nerves get the better of you?”
34. What do you masturbate to (porn, smut, imagination, etc.)?
Porn or smut of any type absolutely disgusts Hatori- he finds it all very forced and uncomfortable to watch, he has no desire to see anyone he does not love naked, nor is he amused by the fact that there are actually actors who will not only have sex on camera– but do so without love between them. They are all but strangers to one another, and Hatori cannot physically imagine a worse situation.
If he has to relieve himself, it will be shamefully in the shower (for easy clean up, Hatori finds it entirely degrading to act on such primal desires, and he’s a bit touchy about the clean up afterwards, so the shower is the best place for him), and it will be his imagination he uses. Needless to say, they are very tame, vanilla fantasies, but he doesn’t need much.
A Grumpy Little Dragon 