Chapter Text
It was not a good day for Hatori. The moment he opened his eyes, cursing the glaring light filtering in through the window, he was racked with violent coughs that shook his body. He was covered in sweat and his face was pink and flushed. Groaning, he forced himself to sit up, a wave of vertigo almost knocking him back down onto his bed. Shaking, he got out of bed and ventured towards his office.
I probably just need some fever meds... there's a lot of work I need to do today but it's mostly paperwork... it's not strenuous so it should be fine... besides, someone like me shouldn't have the luxury of resting when there's work to be done, he thought to himself, a little sadly, feeling a pang as he thought of all the people he had hurt in the past. He thought of Kana, and Momiji.
He thought of Yuki.
It's been a long time since I've fallen sick.
That was the last thing that crossed his mind before it went blank. A loud thud echoed through the house, followed by an eerie silence, as the doctor lay motionless on the hard floor.
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It had happened about ten years ago. Hatori had always fallen sick far less frequently than the other zodiacs, and Shigure often teased that the strength of the dragon spirit had not diminished despite the degradement of his zodiac form from a majestic dragon into a measly little seahorse. That's why it had been quite mysterious that he had suddenly fallen ill then.
Hatori barely saw Yuki. All he knew was how he had hurt him by erasing the memories of his friends, until his father began taking him on his visits to the deepest, darkest rooms of the Sohma Estate--the ones where the sun never shone, and where the Head of the House held the most authority.
His father was, of course, tasked with alleviating the issue of Yuki's weak bronchial tubes. The poor child was basically being held captive in Akito's chambers, though the old Sohma maids would never put it that way. Akito-san favours him, so he keeps the him near his side. Isn't that great?
Great, my ass! Thought Hatori, drooping his head so that no one would see the anger written on his face. He rarely ever showed emotion, preferring to adopt a face of stoicism around other people. But beneath that mask was a heavy layer of sadness... and rage.
He knew his father was only doing the bare minimum to keep Yuki alive. The visits were brief and often cold and clinical, with Yuki barely uttering a single word and his father never offering him a warm word of encouragement.
To Hatori, this was the bleakest doctor-patient relationship he had ever seen. In fact, he wondered why his father even brought him along on these visits when he wouldn't even let him assist in the check-up and administration of medicine?
Hatori felt like this was torture. Being forced to watch as Yuki slipped further and further away from the world. Being forced to watch his father patch up other members of the Zodiac who had been abused by Akito.
Being unable to do anything.
...being part of it all, having erased the memory of Yuki from his friends' minds. The one time he had let a word of resentment about Yuki's captivity and the abuse received by the other zodiac children slip out of his mouth, his father was quick to respond.
It's just the curse, son.
That infuriated him even more. That was when he made up his mind. If the adults wouldn't take action, he would.