1
"Wow for as sociable a person as he is I am surprised he lives in such a secluded area," Nami thought to herself.
She tried to make her way through the dense forest, and prayed she hadn't already gotten lost. Why did her sense of direction always suck? When her emerald eyes spotted a clearing and a house it made Nami's heart jump. Even if it wasn't Shigure's house the people inside would probably know where he lived. She started running letting her ebony hair blow in the wind. Just as she got on the grounds and put on her most polite smile an all too familiar editor with a light blue suit ran by threatening suicide.
It was defiantly Shigure's house.
"Mi wait!" Nami yelled after her.
"Did they send you here too in desperation to get Shigure's manuscript? Did I really fail my job so badly?" She sniffled and pouted in Nami's arms.
Nami gave her most genuine smile, "not at all. Shigure invited me here today. Does he keep teasing you?"
"Mmm hmm."
"You are just pleading with Shigure aren't you? I thought after all these years you would know that doesn't work. Yet you are ignoring the most powerful technique. Shigure's one weakness."
"What is that?"
Nami knocked on the door, "Shigure are you here?"
Not at all to Nami's surprise Shigure came to the door for her, "ahh Nami you are here…and found Mi."
"Yes and do you know what she told me? You really won't believe it. That you hadn't given her your manuscript yet."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, but I completely understand if you can't. I mean after all you are writing in the most beautiful genre of them all, romance. Since your love life is so pathetic it's no wonder you can't get any creativity!"
"You really enjoy being harsh with me don't you Nami?"
"Harsh? Not at all. That wouldn't help write your manuscript," Nami walked closer and closer to him until Shigure was backed against the wall and she was a few inches before him. She let both hands slide down both of his lapels opening his kimono a little bit and put her lips right next to his ear, "now you will get to work right?"
Nami was twirling a strand of his hair and let a sly smile slip on her face when Shigure stumbled, "ye…yes! Of course! I think I need to write now!"
With that Shigure skipped off to a room and Nami turned toward Mi, "see it really isn't that hard. Just use what nature gave you! Gure is really a pervert through and through so it's really a sure fire way to get what you want."
"I think I may just call you," Mi was pale.
"Well of course you can. I don't mind helping at all! Of course it will take precious writing time away from me so extending my deadline each time you call is of course a necessity."
"You're as bad as him."
"You know Mi I can really get him writing faster and have him have his manuscript to you by the end of today. Of course we will need some alone time to uhhh…properly start his juices. Actually you should come back tomorrow morning. We may be busy tonight."
"I'm leaving. Don't tell me anymore. I don't want to know," Mi sulked off into the woods.
After a few moments Shigure came out of his room with a big smile on his face, "and she thinks I am the bad one."
"Only because you put her through all of this. I give my manuscripts right on time and she doesn't even notice how mean I am to her!"
"Interesting tactic…"
"Shigure you didn't tell me we were having a guest! I would have prepared something for her!" a young girl beamed up at him.
Nami exploded, "Shigure you disgusting pervert! I can't believe you would let a high school girl live in your house! What have you been doing to her? You sick disgusting old man."
The girl blushed, "oh no it's not like that at all! Shigure took me in out of the kindness of his heart and in return for room and board I clean for him. So don't worry Shigure is all yours!"
"You really are a sweet girl," Nami laughed, "but Shigure and I aren't really romantically involved. That was just a little tricked we played on our editor so she would leave us alone for the day. I haven't gotten to visit Shigure in quite some time. By the way what is your name?"
"Oh I'm so sorry! I am Tohru Honda," she didn't seem like she had any other emotion but happiness.
"Yes you can see why I just must have Tohru around the house. She just brightens it up so much our flower in this desert," Shigure was off on a tangent again.
"Please excuse me. I will make us some tea," Tohru bowed then scuttled off.
Shigure smiled, "this way. Let's snuggle by the table while we are waiting for Tohru."
"You're the same as ever Shigure," Nami smiled back.
Every part of Shigure's home was traditional. This really was the first time Nami got to visit Shigure at his house. Apparently his last place was not visitor friendly. Still, Nami had quite a few good memories with him at her place after gallivanting the town.
"You're awfully quiet over there Nami, and quiet smiley too. Something on your mind?" Shigure prompted.
"Oh just thinking of when we were younger and would go out on the town together then somehow make it back to my place," she confessed.
The door opened to reveal a boy with the most extravagant face and deep purple eyes, "oh I didn't mean to interrupt. I wasn't aware Shigure was having a visitor."
"No I promise I don't bite come sit with us for a while if you would like," Nami patted a spot next to her.
"Stupid rat! Why the hell do you gotta keep running away from," the owner finally caught up to his voice with bright orange hair.
"My my Shigure how many young people stay at your house?" I am glad there are a few boys to keep watch of that girl from you though," Nami laughed, "they must be your cousin's right? Let me introduce myself my name is Nami."
"My name is Yuki," the boy gestured behind him, "and the obnoxious one is Kyo."
Tohru came in the room bringing tea with her, "I see everyone is here! Kyo you will sit with us won't you?"
"Why do I gotta come over there? It's Shigure's friend…aww alright," Kyo sat next to Tohru.
"So how did you know we were Shigure's cousins?" Yuki inquired while sipping on some tea.
"I really just guessed. I mean you both have that same handsome faces which is a Soma trait I take it, and I know Shigure doesn't have and brothers so it was my only guess," Nami sipped on her tea, "Still as noble as ever Shigure."
"Noble you must not know Shigure that well," Kyo mumbled.
"He's letting you live with him right? It must mean you wanted to escape your home for some reason too. He's always been like that. When I was in my last year of High School I knew I wanted to be a writer and would do anything to get there as fast as possible. I ask this publishing firm to work for them and they offered me an unpaid internship. I was willing to accept to get my foot in the door and know my name. I don't think they realized I was in high school still and must have assumed I worked another part time job in the day. Shigure could sniff out high school girls anywhere even though he had just graduated two years before me.
"One day my internship let me off early, and being the hard headed kid I was I decided not to talk to my family and live on my own which meant staying on a park bench any night I could get sleep. I really didn't know it at the time But Shigure was running from his editor at the building and spotted me on the bench. I don't think he stopped laughing for five minutes.
"Once he was able to control himself he sat next to me and found out I had nowhere to go. He didn't try to push me as someone else's problem but apologized for not being able to take me in himself with his family. I of course objected, but being Shigure he took me by the hand and showed me these apartments he remembered were for rent, and offered to pay for me until I graduated and got some savings. I couldn't accept but the next day I was let off from work he was outside waiting for me and showed me to my new home. I don't know how a 20 year old managed to pay for his own expenses plus mine, but that's Shigure," Nami sighed her eyes far away as if they could see that time perfectly.
"Shigure I never knew you helped people so readily like that. You're so admirable!" Tohru gawked.
"Yes well I couldn't pass up a pretty high school girl like that when she was in such need," Shigure patted Nami's head.
Nami ignored the condescending gesture as she stared at Yuki more, "you know you look so familiar. I know we haven't met but still. I know this is just a shot in the dark, but Yuki you wouldn't happen to be Ayame Soma's brother would you?"
"As perceptive as always," Shigure confirmed.
Yuki's features darkened, "I am sorry you had to meet that bumbling fool."
"Yes well you don't really act anything like Aya I must admit. I guess that's why it took me so long to figure out, but your physical appearance gave you away," Nami smiled.
"The front door was open so I let myself in," a deep voice called, "so where is Tohru, Shigure?"
A tall man in a doctor's uniform with jet black hair looked at Shigure who wore sheepish look. The man assessed the rest of the table and saw Tohru sitting comfortably with everyone and turned to leave.
"Hari wait I can explain," Shigure pulled on his jacket letting Hari drag him.
"You know my time is very precious and I am very busy during this season so why did you decide to drag me down here for no reason?" He glared down at Shigure.
Shigure pointed toward the table, "you didn't notice I had a guest I wanted you to meet. I told her she could interview you since you are a doctor and she wanted to write a book about one."
"I…" he trailed.
Nami bowed, "let me apologize. I had no idea Shigure didn't tell you the reason why he wanted you down here although I should have guessed after knowing him for so long. Please if you have more work to go to you should get to it. I am sorry for any inconvenience I caused you."
"It was no trouble at all!" That familiar boisterous voice cut through the air, "Nami it has been far too long since you let your lovely gaze caress my whole body."
"Hello Aya it's nice to see you again too," Nami laughed.
"Hatori it is simply unacceptable you have not met Shigure's and mine friend for seven years yet. You simply must stay!" Aya pranced around him.
"Hari take that wretched thing out of this house," Yuki demanded.
"My brother! How I've missed you so. I know you have missed me more than you can describe too. Oh Nami this is…"
"Your little brother Yuki. I already got the chance to meet him and I could just tell that he was yours Aya," Nami smiled hoping to calm him down though she knew it was futile.
"You could tell by how he resembled my dashing looks, or his confidence, or did he just hope you knew my name?" Ayame went on his tangent and then proceeded to bother Yuki.
Nami went up to Hatori, "really I am sorry I bothered you."
"Really Hari you wouldn't be so cold as to leave now. I am just about to spend quality time with my little brother who I haven't seen in ages," Ayame was about to hug Yuki.
"Shigure do you have extra spaces to accommodate guests?" Hatori sighed.
Shigure beamed, "of course Hari! I didn't know you'd want to spend the night. It really has been too long since we had together."
"Good that means Ayame can bond with his brother tonight. I will be off and pick you up tomorrow," Hari grabbed his medical bag and walked out the door.
"I guess Hari can't stand the sight of a pretty girl like you Nami," Shigure sighed, "hey Yuki can you please not smash up the house?"
"It's ok Shigure he's so overjoyed to see me…"
Nami was out of the doors and grabbed at Hatori's sleeve. He looked back with a cocked eyebrow. The cool winter air swirled around them and it started to snow. It really looked nice against his black hair.
"Just be safe on your journey home. I didn't want you to leave without that. I just…I wanted to thank you for all of the time you have protected Shigure and Ayame when I couldn't. You seem to really worry about them and seem to be the responsible one. I'm sure you've helped them countless times when I couldn't be there. So thank you," Nami hoped she wasn't babbling.
"Take care," was all he said before he drove off leaving a flurry of flakes behind.
"Nami," Shigure called, "come on! The kids thought we were too loud or something so let's have a real party now they're gone."
"I even brought some saki!" Aya flashed the bottle out from nowhere.
This would be a long night.