My, My, Imai! Vol. I

Imai:
Imai emerged from the bath feeling completely refreshed. She'd finally been able to rid her face of the blush... Or at least blame it on the hot water, either one. She noted that Shigure had already made himself comfortable on the couch, and the lingering smell of cigarettes told her that either Hatori or Shigure had enjoyed an after-dinner 'desert'.

But she did note that Hatori wasn't still in the room. Maybe he'd gone to read without the disturbance of the television that would soon be turned on?

"Gure-ni-san..? Where did Hatori go..?"


Shigure:
"Mn... If I'm not mistaken, I think he's gone to bed."


Imai:
"Oh.. He must've been really tired."


Shigure:
"Nah.. I think he was playing possum. Why don't you go in and check on him?"


Imai:
"Well.."


Shigure:
"Go on! It won't hurt a thing! He stays up later than we do, anyway... Even if he IS on vacation."


Imai:
She decided that she could at least go say 'good night'... Besides... They hadn't really shared words with eachother since the walk... Since the kiss. Maybe he didn't want to be disturbed? Or maybe he was even feeling that he'd actually led her on and was hiding out?

What better way to find out than to go and check in on him?

Imai stopped in front of the bedroom door, taking a breath before raising a hand to knock softly.

".. Hatori..?"


Hatori:
It had been expected.

Hatori knew from the knock who was behind his door and he closed the book he had been reading and laid it against his chest. His feet were bare, shirt untucked and unbuttoned a few comfortable notches with pillows propped up against the headboard of his bed to keep his body upright as he relaxed. His hair seemed a little less combed than normal, still draped over that useless eye.

"Come in, Imai-kun," he said softly, watching the door handle intently as he awaited the her entrance with a distinct ball of anxiety deep within the pit of his stomach. The unavoidable confrontation had come and for once, Hatori wasn't completely prepared.


Imai:
Since when was anybody ever completely prepared for situations of the sort? Days, weeks, months, years... No matter how much time was given, nobody could ever truly be completely prepared for it.

Slowly, Imai turned the knob, slipping inside and shutting the door behind her. Her face was still flushed, but was it really from the hot water or was it the fact that she was now confronting the man who'd given her her first kiss? A rather romantic kiss, to say the least... If not a bit awkward before and after... But still romantic whether he'd meant it to be or not. Whether he'd meant the kiss ITSELF or not.

Imai's hair was still wet, freshly combed and left little droplets of water to slither down her cheeks and patter on the shoulders of her night-robe. Even now, it still drooped... Always looking as though everything she wore was too large for her.

Her voice was soft, almost shy when her golden gaze finally found him. Her face flushed further... Why did he have to look so handsome, even when he was doing nothing at all? She smiled, however, trying to hide the heaviness in her belly as she made her way over to his bedside.

"Gure-ni-san told me you'd gone to bed. Of course, I knew better than to think you'd be asleep at such an early hour. I should know better than to think you sleep at all.."


Hatori:
This time, both his brows were lifted and Hatori only gazed back at the girl for a moment in what was his own sort of expressionless surprise. But after that, there was a visible warmness that came to his features as his went soft.

"Did you come in here to get a good night from me?" he wondered, setting the book to the side on the night stand before patting the empty space on the bed beside him.

Shigure couldn't possibly be right, could he?


Imai:
Still smiling, Imai carefully crawled into the bed next to Hatori.

".. Yeah.. I.. Well.. I figured you wouldn't want to come out of your room to interrupt the movie-- Not like I really would've minded or anything.. I don't care too much for zombie movies myself. And by the time the movie was over, we'd both probably be asleep... So..."

Well... So far, so good, right?

Now came the awkward part. She wasn't sure if she should give him a kiss good-night or just say it without doing anything. She wasn't sure where Hatori's heart stood on the matter of her... Or even affection. If his kiss had meant anything, then it shouldn't matter if she kissed him good-night or not...

But if he'd only been testing the waters, and had been honestly sorry about kissing her as he'd stated...

She didn't really want to think about that.


Hatori:
Hatori himself was a little unsure of where his heart stood, though while it wasn't exactly love, the doctor couldn't deny feeling a small something. Whether he wanted to or not.

"What kind of person would I be if I were to interrupt 'quality entertainment'? Shi-chan would feast on my brain... More than he already does."

Hatori was joking with her, that same warm expression still steady on his face as he opened an arm for her to pose the invitation for her to lean against him if she wished. It was a step just below the kiss they shared that afternoon, but still a good sized one for Hatori to climb. He had seen Shigure hug Imai in good night, so why couldn't he do the same.
"Anyhow, I won't keep you. Enjoy what's left of the night."


Imai:
Imai's face flushed, but she moved closer to him, letting her chest rest against his side as her head took respite on his shoulder. Hands had little other place to go than around his waist. She lingered, closing her eyes against the feel of him so close. She could still smell the his cigarettes... And never before had she enjoyed the smell as she did, now; it gave him personality. Not like he needed anymore than that which he already had.

"Can I stay awhile, Hatori..? At least... Until Shigure gets tired of waiting? He can eat his own brain for awhile.."

Shigure had been right, at least mildly. She did want to cuddle.. Maybe not play footsie or coo or make kissy faces... But she wanted to hold him, and maybe be held as well. For her, it was still a strange feeling. She'd been held before, but never by Hatori. It was something she wanted to savor, at least for a short while. She didn't need a kiss in the sunset... Just a small token of affection that showed she still meant something... Anything... To him.


Hatori:
Hatori didn't make a move until she settled down against him, the arm that had been held out folding at the elbow to drape around her form casually. Despite the bath water that dripped, she was warm while being so close and it was impossible for Hatori not to notice.

A moment after, his other arm came around, hand fumbling for the book before he retrieved it from the stand without squishing her, opening it on his lap as he flipped for the page he left off on.
"Would you like for me to read to you until then?"

Hatori had a feeling that Shigure might not be bothering them any time soon, but he would send her to bed when she became drowsy. The zombies just weren't having any luck that evening.


Imai:
The sound of his voice from her head on his shoulder was so soothing that she had almost forgotten the fact that he had asked her a question. The faint smile on her lips remained as Imai opened her eyes, still snuggled close to Hatori. Drawing her feet up closer to herself to get comfortable, she answered.

"Please..? You've always read faster than I do.."

This was so much different than the nightly readings they had shared together before.. This time, she felt as though she could stay awake forever, just to be with him. Hatori was warm, comforting and inviting as always, and she realized that even if this was as far as their relationship ever went-- cuddling with a good book-- that she would forever be happy.

Hatori wasn't a knight and had no shining armor.. He had no white horse to ride in on and carry her into the sunset with... But he'd managed, without even really trying, to sweep Imai off of her feet.

**This... Is the best birthday present ever. Thank God for Hatori... Even if I never step foot from the estate again, he's the one thing that truly makes me free.**


Hatori:
For once, the book that he had to read didn't have a thing to do with his occupation even in the slightest bit. It was a classic novel, something that had been different he picked up randomly while packing to prepare for the vacation. Honestly, he didn't know what it was exactly, just that it was different reading material than what he was used to.

His voice was soft as he read, book braced on the top of his thigh with one hand splayed over the pages to keep them open until they had to be turned. His other arm remained comfortably tucked around Imai, sharing the warmth of his body along with the stuffed pillows they were snuggled up against along with each other.

Shigure had been forgotten and as the moment carried on, Hatori even started to believe that they were the only ones in existence; an even warmer feeling gathering in his chest as his mind wandered while he read on.


Shigure:
Shigure knew better than to bother the pair of love-birds, and he had no qualms against watching the movie on his own. He didn't bother calling for Imai, and made sure that the television was turned low so that they could have their peace.

If he didn't know better, then they were probably cuddling up with a book or having a nice little chat with eachother. Shigure could never have planned a better vacation for the two in a million years.


Imai:
Imai continued to remain snuggled close to Hatori, listening to his voice in time with his heartbeat. She was barely paying attention to the words he was speaking or the words on the page as she looked on, only letting her mind linger on the warmth and comfort he offered. To Imai, they WERE the only ones left in the world, and nothing else mattered.

Her mind never once traveled to the future; to her inevitable return to the Main House... Her prison with her own cruel brother as her jailor. But if Hatori was still there, it no longer mattered if she died in that place. The love she felt for him was too deep, and she had long ago started weighing the pros instead of the cons of being with him forever. Maybe it was the thrill of having such a huge secret with him?

Her breath huffed softly against Hatori's neck, lashes fluttering against his flesh as she continued to look on, but allowing her mind to drift. She had long forgotten whatever plans she might have had with the other man in the house, long forgotten the popcorn that might be waiting or the sound of sloshing corpses and hungry moans. It was just her and Hatori.


Hatori:
The end of the chapter came not long after he had started reading, his soft voice trailing off on the last fading word of the text before he finally flipped the book closed and tipped his head down just a little bit to better see Imai's face as best he could from that vantage point.

"Are you tired, Imai-kun?" he asked, even though it was still pretty early for himself. Though despite that, the good doctor wasn't making a move in the least to end the quiet time they were currently sharing together. Shigure might not have admited to what he was doing, but Hatori had caught on-- And he couldn't have been more grateful.

However, that was something that he would keep to himself, too. Shigure had a big enough head as it was.


Imai:
Yes, it was a surprise that he could fit it through a doorway, sometimes...

Imai looked up to Hatori after he closed the book, smiling as she tilted her head up to look into his face. The warmth of her expression made her seem to glow, as though brand new life had been breathed into her entire being. Golden eyes glittered, cheeks still slightly flushed, flesh as clear and smooth as milk. She looked like a new woman.

".. No, I'm not tired at all, Hatori."

She paused for a moment, her heart having taken a sudden leap into her throat. She wasn't sure just how he did it, but he always seemed to make her heart flip-flop about inside of her with the most simple things. Don't forget the butterflies. Oh, God, the butterflies!

"But if you're tired, I can leave."

She had almost kept herself from saying, fearing that if she even SUGGESTED it in passing that he would take up on it and shoo her away for the evening. She didn't want it to end; she was too comfortable, and being held by him was the greatest feeling in the world.


Hatori:
"No, not in the least. I'm just unsure if I care for this book or not, yet. I suppose I have to still get used to material that doesn't revolve around hospitals."

And then it was quiet, because Hatori had that feeling that he didn't have to say anymore and that Imai's presence was warm enough on its own to keep him content. He wondered if she felt the same, letting his head loll back against the propped up pillows as he closed his eyes. It wasn't from fatigue, but rather in relishment. All too soon this would be over and they would have to return to their 'normal' way of life once more back in the main house. They would have to sneak around to have a conversation and there wouldn't be private sunsets anymore.


Imai:
Imai only smiled, resting her head back on his shoulder. She said nothing in reply to him, feeling the same as he did; just being with him in silence was enough for her. She shifted for a moment, bringing her arm from around his waist to rest her hand against his chest, fingers idly toying with one of the buttons he'd freed from his shirt. Her mind was still drifting, floating carelessly in the clouds.

She knew that it would end all too soon... But for the time being, she was content to have the freedom, now, to be with him; even if it was only for a few more days, she wasn't about to let them go to waste. She wanted to spend the luxury of her freedom with Hatori, to be with him as she couldn't when they were back home. For the moment, they didn't have to worry about being caught... They didn't have to sneak around, and could actually spend the daylight hours in eachothers' presence. For the moment... Imai didn't have a care in the world. She hoped Hatori felt the same.

Breath continued to flutter, puffing from thin lips as half-lidded eyes found their gaze on the button she played so carefully with. She could still hear his heartbeat and steady breathing, and while her heart still fluttered from time-to-time, she was far more relaxed and at ease now than she had ever been in his presence before.


Hatori:
It was in warm and comfortable moments like the one Hatori was in with Imai did it really feel like a vacation. For the first time in days-- perhaps even months-- he felt completely relaxed. There was no desire to work, no desire to look through appointment books... No desire to move.

With his eyes closed, the doctor tipped his head back against the pillow and exhaled softly, enjoying the feel of innocent fingers playing at the collar and button trail of his unkempt shirt. No words were exchanged just yet, but there was a particular expression upon his face, despite the closed eyes, that left him appearing lost in thought. Which he was. And as he thought, he let his head loll just enough to one side so that his brow could rest upon the crown of Imai's, fingers to the hand of the arm around her curling gently about her shoulder.

There was nothing lewd. In fact, it was bordering on the more affectionate side as the warm moment carried on. Hatori wouldn't be the first to end it, either.


Imai:
Of course there was nothing lewd, and though her mind never drifted to the movie that Shigure had promised... She just hoped that he THOUGHT nothing lewd was going on. Despite what the dog liked to think, sometimes, this wasn't one of his smut novels.

Imai's heart fluttered again in her chest with the tender affection from the doctor, and her eyes slowly shut as her fingers stopped playing, splaying across his half-exposed chest to rest there. No, she hoped that Hatori wouldn't end their warm and comfortable moment together, feeling that, for the first time, she was closer to him than she had ever been. For all intents and purposes, she really was in more ways than just one... And she wanted it to last for as long as it could.

She said nothing, only shifting her legs back out from beside her to tangle her ankles with one of his own as she grew more comfortable. This was all she had ever really wanted; to be close to Hatori without a worry in the world. Never before had she felt like a real, uncursed human being than she did in this moment; feeling as though the curse had been lifted for just that night, as though her brother didn't exist to ultimately ruin what she wanted so badly with the man she now lay with, as though they really were the only beings in existence.

She loved that feeling.


Hatori:
Hatori had fallen asleep not too long after the snuggling session had started. Shigure had been completely forgotten, and the book that he had been reading from had flopped over against his abdomen with the pages parted. His hands were spread neatly over the cover while his head kept its tilt to the side against the pillows.

Seeing Hatori sleep was a rare sight, though it wasn't as rare as being lucky enough to allow another person to cuddle to him. He had to admit, however, that being so close to Imai had been one of the warmest nights in a very long while.

So comfortable that even when dawn broke and the sun started to peak over the terrain, the good doctor didn't even think about stirring from his peaceful slumber. His breathing was even, long and slow through slightly parted lips. If he dreamed, then the night was full of sweet ones.