Title: Needed

Summary: Tohru makes a wish to be able to hug the Sohma member who needs it the most. But what happens when the Sohma who needs it most isn't the one who Tohru expected?

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, no money is being made with this fiction. Only waste of time which could be spent reading Harry Potter fanfiction.

A/N: So many petitions to make thm kiss, argh! Tempting. But we shall have to stick to the plan, I'm afraid. So my dear readers, onwards. To chapter 6.

vi. seasons change, seasons leave

"Love is the only flower that grows and blossoms without the aid of seasons."

Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

"You're leaving again, Hatori."

"Hai."

"Going to see your patients? Or are you going to see her?"

"I don't know who you're talking about, Akito-sama."

"Don't be an idiot. You think I'm blind?"

"No, that would be my case."

"It is a reminder. A reminder that you do NOT defy me."

"I remember it every day, Akito-sama."

"Good. Now. Where are you going?"

"For a walk. I need some air."

"Go out in the gardens then."

"Do you wish to keep me as your other bird, Akito-sama? Or am I just a substitute for the cousin you couldn't cage?"

"Take your walk."

"Arigatou."

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"It will only be for a little time, Honda-san. You'll be fine."

"Hai."

Their walk was slow, almost foreboding. Tohru was not afraid; she had seen Akito-sama a lot of times. But she was weary, anxious…as if she knew something would happen that day. But she couldn't quite say what.

"It will only take a few minutes. Long enough for Yuki and Kyou to see what he wants from them. I promise you nothing will happen to you, Tohru-chan," Shigure said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She smiled and nodded. The four of them, gathered like this, taking a walk. It should have been a beautiful day, because they rarely went on walks anymore. She had recently recovered from her bronchitis. Hatori had passed by yesterday, with news from Akito. Their ruler wanted to see them. All of them. Hatori offered to come and watch Tohru, but she had refused. After all, after two weeks of being inside one room, it would be nice, the walk.

If it wouldn't be for the puddles. If it wouldn't be for the rain.

"Tohru-san? We're here."

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"You can wait outside, Tohru-san."

"Hai. I'll go for a walk. Maybe…maybe I'll visit Kisa-chan, or Ayame-san…"

"Be safe."

"Hai. You too."

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I remember the first time I came here. It was to see Hatori-san. I was so scared of him then…

The umbrella almost fell from her grasp when she found him. Tohru was walking nearby Kisa's house, when she found him standing in the rain, sitting on a bench. His face was lowered, his gaze probably glaring at the ground.

Silently, she made her way to the bench, and placed her umbrella over him.

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Hatori had walked for two hours, endlessly wandering around the Sohma mansion. He wanted to go out, to get out, but something inside him told him to stay there. To stay in the Sohma house, because something was going to happen.

He had just settled down on a bench, to sort out his thoughts, when it started to rain. He knew he should get inside, go back home, but he stayed his ground, remained there.

Not five minutes later, the rain stopped hitting his head. He looked up to see the reason. To maybe thank whoever brought an umbrella for old Hatori.

And there she was.

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The rain stopped short after they found each other. Tohru had insisted that Hatori should go home and change (he was soaking to the bone). Hatori had insisted that Tohru should not worry, and that Tohru should also not be outside after just having recovered. Thus, they found each other on their way to Hatori Sohma's house.

"I'll bring you a towel, wait here," Hatori said, once they were inside the house.

"Hai."

Hatori disappeared behind a door, and Tohru remained alone. Everything here is so familiar. I've seen very little of this house, and yet it's like…like I belong in it.

Tohru didn't even realise when her feet had carried her to Hatori's desk. Her eyes settled on the sole picture on that desk, the photo of a smiling woman.

I wish I could remind him what spring is like. I wish I could show him how to melt the snow…

The sliding of the door woke her up from her thoughts. She looked up to find Hatori standing there, a towel around his neck, and two tea-cups in his hands.

"It'll do you good," he said, giving her the towel from around his neck. She noticed his clothes were dry. "They shouldn't have brought you here."

"Akito won't know I'm in his house. Besides, now, I'm not in his house, ne? I'm in yours."

"Hmmm…"

She sipped on her warm tea, and observed him. Does he ever smile? Will I ever be able to melt the snow? What if the snow is now a block of ice? What then? What heat can I offer? What heat do I have, to melt away his hurtful past?

"Hatori…"

"Hai?"

"You're my friend, aren't you?"

"Hai."

"Can I tell you something?"

"Something?" he asked, looking at her. "Okay…"

"Ano…how to start this…" Tell him. Melt the ice away, you can do it.

"The beginning."

"Hai. Um…ever since I've met the Sohma family, I've found people who hide some amount of pain behind their mask. I first met Shigure-san, who's always so happy, but I know it was hard for him to break away from all of you. He hides it behind a smile, his pain. But Shigure-san isn't sad always. He's learnt to smile now, little stand in his smile's way. He has who to take care of, he has friends, and cousins like you and Ayama-san. So Shigure isn't as sad as the rest.

"I met Yuki at school, but I found about his secret later. Yuki-kun has something hidden deep in his soul, this need to have people accept him. He has been letting that dark place be lightened up by friendship, by the love of a family he recently discovered. By the love of an annoying brother who is trying his best to make peace.

"Kyou-kun is hard to explain. He has a rough attitude going; he tries hard to beat Yuki. But now I think he doesn't want to beat Yuki anymore, because they've grown out to be friends…somehow. Even as the outcast, Kyou has people who love and care for him, like Kagura-chan. Kyou isn't sad all the times, and even if he pretends Kagura bothers him, I know he enjoys it, deep, deep within.

"It's hard, it would take a lot of time to explain how every member of the Sohma family has its problems. Like Ayame, who's trying to get his brother back. Like Kisa, who is trying to make friends. Like Hiro, who is trying to protect his own friend. Like Haru, who is struggling between two personalities. Like Momiji, who needs the love of a mother. Like Ritsu, who needs to stop being ashamed. Like Akito, who has such a big burden on his shoulders, who is ill all the time, who has lost his mind…

But none of them…none of them are as sad as you."

If Hatori hadn't been listening to her before (which was doubtful), she surely had his attention now. It's harder to do it when you're looking at me like that…

"Long ago, after you saw and felt Spring in your heart, something hurt you. Spring was warm to your touch, she made you smile, but you couldn't keep her forever. The Wind took Spring away from you, and blew Ice into your eye, leaving you half blind. The Ice from your eye spread through your body, your soul, until it reached your heart. And there it stayed, making it Winter inside of you. Spring can't come back to melt the Ice, because you might not want it…"

It made him smile, really, her metaphoric way of explaining his situation. Kana was Spring, Akito was the Wind, and he was the Winter.

"I thought you were cold inside, that you were hurt. But you're not cold, you're frozen. And you've build those iced walls around your heart. Hatori-san…who do you want to protect from yourself?"

He looked at her, looked at her, for the first time in days. And he smiled. "Spring ran away…Summer will do the same."

I'm not Spring. I'm not Kana. I'm Tohru, I'm Summer. I may look like Spring, I may do the same things as Spring. But I'm warmer. Summer can melt away the Ice.

"Summer will stay," Tohru said, walking to where he stood. She lifted her hand, and brushed away a few strands of hair from his face. "Summer will stay. She'll help you melt away the Winter, until you know what Spring is again."

Hatori caught her hand in his and squeezed. "Will Summer leave when the Ice has melted?"

"No, she won't. She'll keep the Ice from returning."

"Will Summer leave if I asked her to? Would she leave if the Wind came to blow her away? Would she leave and turn into Autumn?" he asked as he lowered his head a bit.

"No, Summer will stay."

"Good," he said, cupping her chin, and bringing her face close. "Remind me how it felt…" he whispered, and kissed her.

Tohru felt as if the gravity had ceased to cause effect on her. She was floating, she was warm inside, full of life.

The Ice started to melt.

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A/N: Kawaii! Sorry, had to be done. So, I do hope you're al satisfied; you deserved this kiss, because of what good fans you are! 104 reviews, in 5 chapters, oh Gosh, I'm so flattered! I hope I haven't let anyone down with this story, please tell me if I did. (Course, that doesn't invite flames, but if you wish, go ahead, everyone has the liberty to an opinion.)

Someone asked me how OLD Tohru was in this fic. The answer is: Secret. Actually, the answer isn't really there, since I never mentioned it till now, and don't plan to mention it anyway. They say LOVE DOESN'T KNOW AGE. Well, this is true. This is a story about love. I doubt the age matters, since it's still the same Tohru (maybe slightly more mature). So you can give her whatever age you wish (of course, keep her in high-school age, because of chapter two, and such). It's all up to you.

Furthermore, I am considering writing one-shots in the Furuba fandom(can you tell by that how much of a Harry Potter freak I am?). Maybe a Yuki/Tohru, then a Kyou/Tohru. You know, be versatile, don't just stick to one pair. What do you think?

Till the Next Update! (capitalized, since it seems to be important, ne?)