Chapter 3 - Halcyon

Halcyon/ˈhalsēən/ - denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful

In front of the huge gates of the Sohma estate stood Tohru. Her legs were shaking from intimidation. Wh-What a big place. I came here without telling Sohma-kun and the others, just as Hatori-san instructed, but...

"Hallo!" A cheerful voice calls out, shocking Tohru from her monologue.

At the top of the shingled roof is Momiji, waving at her with an equally cheerful expression. "Tohru! You came right on time!"

Momiji's dangerous stunt makes Tohru frantically wave around with strange sounds coming out of her mouth, scared for the small boy. What if he fell from the tall place? What if he gets hurt and she can't help him? These questions race around in her head, but when the large doors open, she stops. Momiji pops out from beside the frame, acting as a guide for her. "Welcome to the Sohma estate!"

"Th-Thank you."

He turns around to the path that leads straight, pointing a finger in that direction. "Harry's house is this way!"

Once they reach Hatori's place, Mayumi also shows up from behind him. She sweat drops as Tohru was bending at the waist, placing her hands on her knees.

"Welcome."

Tohru was still panting, even after Hatori's greeting.

"Was the walk here exhausting? I made sure to tell Momiji to take you here through the most direct path. Did he wander off?" Mayumi steps over to Tohru, placing a hand on her back and one on her shoulder.

Tohru looks up, shaking her head. "No, no. Thank you for your concern."

Hatori turns around and heads into the house. "Well, come in. Momiji, Mayumi, bring us something to drink."

"Ja!"

"Thank you for inviting me!"

Mayumi sighs at his behavior. "At least let her catch a break," she mutters under her breath. She pats Tohru's back before setting a hand on Momiji's head. "Come on, let's go get something to drink for all of us."

"Ja, Schwester!"

While pouring the tea into the cups and setting them on the tray, a servant comes in. "Oh, this is where you are, Mayumi-sama!"

She looks up at the call of her name. "Yes? Has something come up that needs my attention?" Momiji has a grasp on her white dress as he peers at the woman who has appeared. She nods hesitantly in response. "I-It seems that A-Akito-sama has called for your presence."

Mayumi lets out a small sigh before nodding. Just her luck. She turns around and bends down, cupping Momiji's face. "Can you deliver the tea and tell them where I am if they ask, Momiji?" He nods silently, leaning into her touch before she lifts her hands away to ruffle his hair affectionately and leaves to head to her destination.

As she saw Kana and her friends walk past Hatori from behind, Mayumi immediately knew what he had heard, based on the melancholic and almost relieved expression that his face conveyed. She made her way to sit on the bench beside him, making him look up to see her by his side. "So, you heard the news then?"

He nods, facing forward, a small smile on his face. "I'm glad she found someone who can make her happy."

Hearing him speak like that was enough to bring forth the tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Hatori looks at the blond haired woman in surprise. "Why? Why are you sorry?"

She shuts her eyes, the tears flowing down. She turned away, not wanting him to see. "If I had been able to hold back Akito, you wouldn't have gotten hurt. Kana wouldn't have blamed herself like that." She opens her eyes, deciding to look at him. Mayumi wasn't a person that would cry often, so seeing her like this was rare and unexpected. Her eyes were overflowing with tears, trailing down her cheeks like a steady stream. "You could've lived a happy life with Kana! And I... couldn't protect that dream."

He hadn't known of the guilt that was consuming Mayumi. After the incident, she hadn't seen him for almost half a year, and when they did meet again, she had acted okay. Of course not like it was before, but he had assumed she had already recovered. His hand trailed to the hidden scar on her neck. She had received it the same night he had almost lost sight in his left eye. Feeling his unexpected touch, she flinched slightly, but Hatori didn't pull away. Instead, he pulled her into a hug. Her chin was pressed against his shoulder and her arms were in between their chests.

"It's not your fault. It was never your fault. I'm sorry... I didn't notice how it was eating at you. You barely got out of it alive that night."

Indeed. That same night, while Hatori had his left eye go almost completely blind, Mayumi had also been flung against the mirror. A bigger shard had just barely missed her carotid artery. If that cut had been true, she would've been dead and not here with him right now.

"Thank you."

Mayumi's eyes widened. "Why are you thanking me?"

"If you hadn't sent Kana over, I would never have experienced true happiness. So, thank you."

At his gratitude, the tears started falling again and her eyes closed. Why was he thanking her for something like this? He wouldn't have to suffer from this misery and his memories that were once filled with love, wouldn't have been tainted. So she doesn't answer. All Mayumi did was cling onto Hatori, her quiet sobs ringing out into the cold air.

After calming herself down, she lets go of Hatori and stands up. Patting his shoulder in silent thanks, she leaves with a goodbye. She looked up to see Tohru with Hatori's shoes, a little surprised.

"Tohru?"

"Ah, hello again, Mayumi-san!" She greets with a bow.

She lets out a chuckle when Tohru straightens back up. Her hand comes up to pat her head and notices that cute expression on her face when being pet. "Make sure to not stay out too long. It's pretty cold today and I don't want you to get sick, okay?"

"Hai! Thank you, Mayumi-san!" The pure smile that Tohru gave her reminded Mayumi of the ones that used to appear on her own lips.

"See you later, Tohru," Mayumi bids her goodbye.

"See you later, Mayumi-san! Please come to our house if you have the time!" Tohru says before jogging over to Hatori. She didn't witness the sudden tensing of Mayumi, the sudden change of atmosphere after her wish. After all, it wasn't a matter of having time, it was a matter of having permission.

"Thank you for walking me to the gate," Tohru says, once they reach the border of the Sohma estate.

"Sorry I put you through some trouble," Hatori tells her, feeling just a bit sorry for Tohru.

"What, are you still here?" Hatori's mood dampens when hearing the familiar voice.

"Shigure-san!"

"Haa-san, have you been sexually harassing Tohru-kun?"

Ah, typical. Why was he friends with him again?

"Eh? No, nothing like..." Tohru tries clearing it up.

"Well, goodbye then," Hatori says, bidding them farewell.

"Let's see each other again soon!" Tohru calls out, waving goodbye.

Hatori doesn't look back but he also gives them a wave, indicating his acknowledgement.

"It was a pain for Hatori to summon you here like that. But he's not a bad guy, really." Shigure clarifies, not wanting her impression of Hatori to go down after this experience.

Tohru agrees with him. "Yes, he is a very kind man."

Shigure turns towards the opening of the estate. "Okay, let's go home. I'm hungry!"

Right before she follows him, she turns around to see the people inside the black car. As if in slow motion, Tohru could see the people sitting in the back. A dark haired person on the very left was leaning against Mayumi and glanced at Tohru, keeping eye contact with her until the car passed.

Shigure hadn't noticed that the brown-haired girl didn't follow after him, instead, standing at the one spot. "Hey, Tohru-kun, what's for dinner?" he asks casually.

"Shigure-san." He turns around upon hearing the tone Tohru used when calling him. "What's the 'curse'?" His face is rid of anything but a serious expression. "Shouldn't... Shouldn't I do something to help?"

Shigure softens his face at her question, a small smile appearing. "You can help by being yourself. I don't think it's the right time to tell you about it. I'm sorry."

Tohru can't help but reflect on what happened in this strange place. I feel like I understand more about the Sohma's today... and also like I don't understand a thing. It's a strange feeling. I wonder if I'll officially meet Akito someday. One thing stuck with her though.

Earlier today, Hatori-san hugged Mayumi-san, and he didn't transform. Then which zodiac could she be? Was there another zodiac like the cat where they weren't included in the banquet? No, that would be strange. Didn't the zodiac of this generation only have three females? All of these questions were starting to get to Tohru, but she didn't feel like now was the appropriate time to ask them.