Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Fruits Basket.

What does it take to set the Sohmas free after Akito's death?

---

A/N: Enjoy! Thank you Angie.

Warning: Foul language.

The Puppet Master's Last Testament

---

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Repentance

Four days went by. Shigure was still restless and withdrawn. At two in the afternoon, he decided he was going to end this tension between them. He shot his hand up in the air and said slurred, "I'm going to save her!" He could not be alone, sitting in front of hte computer typing out smut and angst-ridden drama. He could not be without his little flower. He cared for her. He needed his muse. Her beautiful smile. Her naiveté. Her silky hair. Her honest eyes. Her colorful spirit. Her faith. Her simplicity. Her good-hearted nature.

He loved the way her eyes grew big and doe-like when he told her something surprising or intellectual. He loved the way she felt in his arms when their lips touched. He loved how she molded into the crook of his arm when they were sitting together. He loved her way she laughed when he told her a funny joke.

Now, he needed her to erase the pain inside him. He missed her so badly.

She was like a good drug.

He took a shower and brushed his teeth in an attempt to rid the stink of the alcohol and cigarettes. He put on his favorite brown yukata and walked to the nearest bus station.

He arrived in front of her school and waited on a bench near a fountain. This is where he had picked her up a few times. He saw two teenagers ravaging each other. In broad daylight.

Today's society. Tsk, tsk.

The bell rang and students poured out of the classrooms. A girl plopped herself down next to him and took out a sandwich. She dug into the sandwich like a rabid raccoon. Someone was having some stress. Shigure craned his neck in an attempt to find Tohru in the flurry. He saw her and called out. She did not turn her head. He ran up to her and touched her shoulder, "Tohru!" The girl turned and looked at him in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"Ah, sorry."

He looked around, desperate. That was when he caught sight of the pink satin ribbon. She was talking to a shy looking, bespectacled boy.

Shigure strutted toward the two people. He heard his sweet flower's voice, "When is it?"

"The study party is at seven tonight. Everyone will be there."

Absolutely not! Studying party my ass! My little flower is not going to any 'study' party to be ravaged like a common prostitute!

He stood behind Tohru with his arms crossed over his chest. The boy pressed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and gulped. "Uh, I have to go. Maybe we'll see you there?"

"Sure," Tohru said, bowing, "Thank you for asking me."

She immediately turned toward the fountain and sat down, very deep in thought. She still had not noticed Shigure. He sat down beside her and watched her.

She looked up and saw him. She gasped.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" She said, alarmed. Her lower lip quivered; she was not sure how to proceed or what to say.

"I came to pick you up."

"Pick – me up?"

No you imbecile, I came to pick four eyes up and carry him over the threshold and make love to him all night fucking long! Of course I came here to pick you up!

"Hai."

Tohru had not expected such a meeting. She had been afraid that he had not acknowledged their relationship.

Shigure acted as if nothing had happened between them, ignoring Hatori's advice. "I'm hungry. Do you want to go grab a bite?"

"I have work in an hour."

"That's enough time."

Tohru gave him a smile, but still did not look into his eyes.

Shigure decided to tease her. "I really miss your cooking."

"I'm sorry." Did he even see her at the hotel that day? She wondered.

"Where have you been?"

"I've been –um- staying at my friend's house."

"Why?" Look at her blush. Look at those pretty red lips.

I want.

So badly.

I'm sorry.

"I-I wanted to give you some time."

"For what?" He said with a false smile. His conscience told him to stop, to stop torturing the girl, to stop forcing her to answer questions.

She stumbled over her words. "For me being -- so bothersome and immature."

"I'm over it. Why don't you come home?"

"I'm staying at Saki-chan's."

"So?" Don't you miss me?

"I can't." Tohru said. Shigure watched her drag her sensual lips through the fence of perfectly white teeth.

"Why don't we talk about it over a snack?"

"Okay."

Tohru grabbed her book bag and followed Shigure five blocks to a casual noodle house.

"So, why are you so shy today?"

Tohru so badly wanted to confront him. "I-I know you are a grown man. I saw you at the hotel with another girl."

"So?"

"I am so sorry for not being at home to take care of you. I have school and all --. I will understand if you want to break up," she said, looking at the napkin on the table.

"I don't want to break up." I'm sorry I'm such an ass.

I can't change that fast.

I am willing to try though.

She didn't have anything to say to that.

After the snack, they still had twenty minutes together.

"I need to by some A-4 envelopes. Can you come with me?"

"Sure."

Shigure paid for the both of them. He was rewarded with Tohru's profuse gratitude.

On the way to the supermarket to buy the envelopes, Tohru kept her distance, five feet from him. She wanted to give him space. They reached an alley. Shigure pulled her into the alley and pressed her against the cold cement wall.

"Why are you ignoring me?"

"I'm not." She said timidly.

"Well you want to hear it, don't you? I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've been such a fucking asshole. I had to do it! You are right that I want to distance myself from you. Seeing you wearing you little tops without a bra and wearing short shorts makes me hard. I can't sleep at night. I lie awake in my bed! I want so badly to not care about you, but I do! I fucking do! Sometimes it makes be angry and pained, but I want you! That's why I hired that prostitute. I couldn't even look into her eyes when I pounded into her. It wasn't even enjoyable! Do you know how guilty I felt afterwards? The past week has been miserable. Don't you understand?! I can't sleep. Or eat. Or do anything but hope that you are coming home! Every doorbell makes my heart thump, because I think it's you! Are you happy now? That was what you wanted; you wanted me to break down and tell you! Happy that I'm a shitting deer in the headlights?" I've just flung my heart onto the pavement in front of me. Happy?

She scuffled her feet.

"Say something! I don't fucking expect any fucking prose from you, just something!"

She looked at him. She murmured, "I didn't mean to hurt you." Then she bit down on her lip until she tasted copper-y blood in her mouth. It didn't even matter. Nothing else mattered when she was with him.

I did. I've never broken down before. Things are changing... I don't know if I can handle it. You are throwing my perfect world into a boiling, dizzy pit of chaos. I don't know what I'm feeling. He nodded, with his arms crossed.

She continued, "I thought it was my fault."

"Partly."

Tohru turned away from him. "I'm really sorry."

"Come home. Please. Just forget everything that has happened in the past few week." I need you, Tohru. You are my drug.

I can't. I can't forget so easily,Shigure, but I will try. For our sake. Because I love you.

I have come to terms with my feelings for you, Shigure.

"Okay."

"Good. Let's go get those envelopes."

---

Tohru made dinner that night. She was exhausted from work, but showed no sign. It was as thought nothing had happened. Shigure was his smug self.

"Do you take me back?" He asked.

"Yes," she responded bashfully.

He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "Honestly?" It's my fault. Yell at me. Throw a chunk of squash at me. Make me feel guilty. Do something. Don't sit there like nothing happened. Relationships aren't about facades.

"Yes."

"I will say that I made a mistake." A terrible one. I hurt you. It took a while for my thick, moronic self to realize that. It will never happen again. It hurt me too much to be away from you. You brought me to such great heights. When you left, I fell. I descended into the depths of emotional hell.

"Hai."

Something in his nagged. He wanted her to burst out and yell at him. Tell him that he was bad, evil, a sinner, a cold heartless bastard. He did not like the easy way out. She was too kind. He wanted her to be angry with him. He wanted some kind of repentance, so he could promise her that he would do better next time and never betray her. He wanted her to see his change, his obedience.

As the fallen angel. He wanted her to give him a chance to repent.

She was quiet.

"You think this is what I want?!"

His stern voice startled her. Her fork clattered against the ceramic bowl. "What?" she said in a small voice.

"You think I want you to just forgive me this easily? I want you to fucking show some emotion and not act like a fucking stone statue. You are angry with me, why don't you say it? I did something horrible, and you just sit there like everything is fine! It fucking isn't!"

She murmured, "But I forgive you."

Silent, and still, and so fucking forgiving. Not an ounce of hateful emotion. Why?

"Dammit! Don't forgive me!" He hissed, his hands gripping the edge of the table. He hoped that his loud booming voice would spark some kind of indignation, fury within his little flower.

Hatori would have killed him.

He watched her squirm with discomfort. This was all new to her. This angst. Drama. Mental torture. Even in such a muddled situation, she sparkled like a pearl in the murky depths of the ocean. It was painful, yet glorious to watch her. Just like a gladiator duel in the Roman coliseum. You wanted to turn away – knowing that the men were fighting to death, yet you watched with adrenaline rushing through your veins – cheering, clamoring, clapping.

Seeing her so torn up made all of his anger disappear. He was so glad she was back. "Don't leave me again." His voice was soft and gentle. It was my fault, but I don't want you to go. You made me a fucking mess. I was like a powerless doe. You were my captor.

She nodded.

They finished dinner. Tohru brought the dishes to the sink.

"Let me help you with that."

"Okay." Her voice was still shaky from his sudden outburst during dinner.

Shigure rolled up his sleeves and puffed up his chest, like a male bird during mating season, to see if he would get a response from Tohru – maybe a smile, a quirk in the brow, a giggle. Yes, he was a greedy little son-of-the-bitch. He wanted her badly. Everything.

She washed the dishes and handed them to him to dry.

After they finished, Shigure gave her a peck on the cheek. He did not feel her flick against his unfamiliar touch. Shigure went to his bedroom to write. He had something new for the book.

Later that night, Tohru hugged herself to sleep. I do forgive him.

Everyone makes mistakes.

She woke up at three and took out an empty notebook. She wrote down her thoughts.

I'm back at home. During dinner, Shigure burst out and asked me why I forgave him so easily. I love him, that's why. I am really in love him. I've been trying to deny my feelings, because I do not know if he will ever acknowledge my feelings for him. But while I was at Saki's, I realized that I need him. I want to be with him. He hurt me, but I forgive him.

I think I always will in any situation where he is involved.

Love is not for the faint-hearted, is what they say. I will be strong. I won't let anything break me down.

I love him.

After this, she yawned and went to bed, thinking of what happened today, falling asleep with a bittersweet smile on her lips.

A smile because of him.

---

They had been playing the game for one month, two weeks, six days, three hours, and thirty-nine minutes.

---

A/N: Shigure is so strange! He seems to have split personalities. Thanks so much for being so supportive of the story! I love you all dearly!