As Azem, their relationship was a love triangle and unrequited to the end. She left to try to find an answer before Hythlodaeus sacrificed himself. She was unable to deal with the grief when she learned she was too late and gave up. It was not a heroic death, and she failed to keep her promise to save him. Hades saw it as a betrayal that she wasn't strong enough to stay for all of them, and for him.
Hatsu started to recognize some of her memories as Azem after spending time in the recreation of Amaurot. It was the place she remembered, the place she had been searching for all this time. She began to want the Rejoining more than ever and hid away as a half-turned sin eater for a time. She struggled with her guilt, her attachments both past and present; but in the end, she chose to fight back for those she could yet save.
During the events of Elpis, Hatsu faces her friends and tearfully apologizes to Hades and Hythlodaeus for selfishly running away. Secretly, she intended to end her life after everything was done so she could reunite with them in another life. At Ultima Thule, she finally accepts her responsibilities as a Warrior of Light/Azem and chooses to live for a new promise that she made. From then on, she lived in the present and no longer carried the distant look in her eyes.
Hatsu specialized in restoring antique jewelry and often needed Tataru's knowledge in the lapidary arts, thus becoming business partners and childhood friends. They used to be as close as sisters before Hatsu awoke as a Warrior of Light. Tataru pushed herself to learn spell casting not only to be more useful to the Scions, but it was also an attempt to bridge the gap between the two of them. The distance saddened both of them greatly.
When the world is once again at peace, Hatsu insists that she be the one to repair Tataru's necklace for returning it to her also symbolizes the bonds they share.
Although Hatsu collaborates with the Scions, she is not particularly close to them and spends as much time away as possible. She knew they could easily be friends, had she allowed herself to be close. She is no champion, not one worthy enough to follow anyway. She feels guilt for putting distance between them. A part of her knew she would betray them in favor of the past she had been seeking. If they knew how she felt, would they still be friends?
In front of the Scions and the public, she plays the part of the hero they expect her to be.
Hatsu met Hancock during the events of the Bloody Banquet. It was "all hands on deck" for Lolorito, leaving Hancock around to observe the proceedings. His eyes were obscured and he was dressed as an Ul'dahn, giving him a sinister presence. One of the Crystal Braves attempted to hide the poison on her but during the struggle, Hancock stepped in and warned him that the plan would fall through if there was evidence she was mishandled. Hatsu looked at him desperately for help and asked him to wait but Hancock gave her a look that was hard to read and left.
Hatsu recognized him as "the man from Ul'dah" when they met again and although she felt uneasy, her curiosity was piqued.
Shortly after the Scions moved into the East Aldenard Trading Company as their temporary base, Hatsu began to study maps of housing districts in her spare time. She intended to find places to live all over the world in the hopes of finding the home she remembered. By now, the obsession to return "home" has preoccupied much of her waking thoughts.
Hancock offered help but she was hesitant to accept, suspecting an ulterior motive. He smugly continued anyway and provided information on what sold best, demolition patterns, and market rates. Though when asked why she was interested, Hatsu wouldn't fully tell him, for who would believe her story? "A sense of fulfillment," was her reply. And he smiled his cryptic smile.
"We may be cut from the same cloth," he said, and gave her no more details when she asked what he meant.
And so their relationship began. She crafted him exclusive designs while he wrote out her contracts. Hancock also eventually accompanied her during housing negotiations, occasionally bailing her out of trouble if a deal went south. Of course, the "business proposal" came with a price.
They found camaraderie in each other and often stayed up talking late into the night. She went overboard; overworking herself, quickly amassing wealth and properties in many locations. They begin to spend more time together in and out of the office.
Hancock wanted to keep his distance; trust doesn't come easily. He understood little of how he felt about her and to trust his feelings to anyone was a risk he never needed nor wanted to take. Relationships are not for those who have to worry that even gifts may be bribes. He'd rather curry favors than pursue deeper connections. However, being needed was gratifying and putting the Scions in their debt would most assuredly be beneficial. After all, it was on Lolorito's orders that he assisted them. What better way to keep the Warrior of Light under their control? That was what he told himself anyway, and helping Hatsu in her foolish housing venture was just a part of that...right?
But the more time they spent together, the more excuses were needed to justify his actions. When there was no longer any need to keep an eye on the Scions, it was under the guise of using the Warrior of Light's image to enhance the company's reputation. This was a calculated game of push and pull, lest his improprieties be raised to Lolorito's suspicions. And so, they kept their friends-with-benefits relationship a secret for many years but spent so much time together that they were a couple in every way but name.
There was another matter that intrigued Hancock -- her use of an alias. Being familiar with Hingan names, it was immediately obvious that Hatsu was a fake name and the hole in their dossier bothered him. How her family escaped Lolorito's grasp was a mystery and he would go through great lengths to delve into pasts unknown even to her.
***
Hatsu put much of her energy into restoring the Doman Enclave. Having never known Doma before the Garlean Occupation, she set out to make a difference for the past that was her own. It came as a shock to everyone, Hatsu notwithstanding, when a shipment of heavy canvases arrived. It came with a message, "Repair their ships for trade and the awnings of their shops for businesses". What few people knew was who arranged the donation; Hatsu suspected Hancock himself was instrumental in its inception. Hoping for correspondence, Hatsu carefully checked the shipment. Hidden within the cargo was a sizable amount of gil, alongside another message, "For the restoration efforts," all written in Eorzean. Even with no name and no emblem, Hancock had intended his message to reach her.
Once restored, she performed for three days and three nights as part of the celebrations. Although Hancock's donation was anonymous to the Enclave, he surprised her with his attendance and brought with him a gift that could never be repaid — a connection and legacy once thought to be long lost.
The celebrations were one of the last that they would see each other for a time and Hancock would continue to make donations on her behalf in her absence.
Sometime later, they sat in the gardens of the Ijin district and Hatsu revealed to Hancock that she had come to understand why she pursued acquiring homes in many places -- she was instinctively looking for someplace she felt was "home". It wasn't until she saw Amaurot underwater that she understood she had been chasing something long gone. The interior of her houses were built to reflect memories of past lives even though she didn't understand it at the time. With this realization, she resolved to spend her resources helping people who have been displaced return home. This resonated with Hancock and even though he wasn't ready to tell her about his past, he had her promise to try not to put herself in harm's way. After all, how could she help anyone if she wasn't here? She began to feel hope there may still be a place for her in this world.
When all was said and done...
The two embarked on a memorable adventure at Mount Rokkon, spanning many weeks, sharing personal stories, and undertaking their research together. Both had missed the time they spent together when they were apart.
When Hancock snapped at her and pushed himself to act braver than he felt, risking harm to keep apace, all at once Hatsu understood him. She smiled and told him truthfully, she didn't mind if they took their time and though she wished this adventure could go on forever, she had something important to tell him...
Later, the pair found themselves once again sitting in the gardens of the Ijin district where Hancock opened up to her about his childhood and how he came to work under his chairman. She listened to his stories about his past, dreams both old and new, all the while finding certainty in the fact that she did wholly accept him and prepares to do everything she can to support his aspirations for the future. With his help in preserving artifacts across stars for all to see, would she finally be able to let go of the past without fear of it being forgotten? She recalled to him his earlier sentiments of them being "cut from the same cloth". In both visits to the garden, each person confessed their dream to help people across every star, that was compassionate to the other without realizing it. "Wealth without purpose makes poor men of us all," embodies a lesson they both learned. They have come from different paths and reached the same understanding.
