Shigure stood at Akito's bedside, and a few tears escaped. Then he turned and left the building. And his mind began to swirl.
Maki's ninth birthday party. Shigure waited in the basement with his parents and three of Maki's friends. They all jumped out and shouted, "SURPRISE!". Maki jumped and then began to laugh. It was a white cake.
Shigure left the Sohma house. He was tired of trying to write with Akito breathing down his back, and it physically hurt at times to watch his best friend's younger brother, Yuki, go through so much. So he moved a few miles off the estate and set up his home. He took Yuki with him, and Kyo showed up from time to time. Maki visited often.
Maki graduated with high honors, but didn't attend college. Instead, she opened a bakery.
Maki met Shigure's publisher, Mii. The two hit off and Maki reprimanded her brother for torturing the poor girl. Shigure protested it was all in good fun.
Maki got her own house on the Sohma estate. She invited the immediate family for an open-house shortly after it was remodeled. Shigure got lost in the basement, and Maki had to go and find him.
When Kyo disappeared, Maki started cooking for her brother and cousin. When Tohru arrived, she and Maki became close friends. Tohru loved spending time with another Sohma. Maki taught Tohru some recipes, and allowed the girl to "earn her keep". Maki and Shigure both knew that even if Tohru had turned out to be a lazy bum, Shigure would probably have allowed her to stay- especially since Maki would have taken her in anyway!
Maki was invited to attend the informal gathering at Akito's house, but declined. She had rarely spent time with the head Sohma, aside from New Year's, and didn't intend to start now.
Maki married Eiji Gifu. Tohru was the maid of honor, and Shigure was a bridegroom. Everyone was happy for Maki.
Shigure blinked. Those things had never happened! He ran down the street and knocked on a white house's door. A tall girl with long black hair and sparkling eyes opened it. "Gure? What's wrong?" she asked. Her voice had changed little.
Shigure stopped. She really was alive. "Akito's dead... and I wanted to see you. I thought you should know," he managed. Behind his sister, he saw a blonde Eiji. "Maki? Who is it? Oh! Hello, Shigure. Is Akito...?" the man asked. Shigure nodded. This was surreal!
"Just and FYI. I'll head back now," the dog murmured and ran back to the house. He had a sister again. "Thank you, Akito," he breathed. How had his whole life changed in one instant?