"So, did you two sleep alright last night?"
Kyo and Tohru nearly choked on their breakfast.
"Shigure, shut up." Yuki growled at the chipper man at his left. The young couple stared at each other in panic.
No.
"Yes, we did." Tohru replied softly, her voice weak. Shigure chuckled, giving Tohru a wink. Her eyes shot back to her plate.
"Well, good. You two had a late night. You needed your rest. Tohru, Momiji mentioned something about meeting you later at your house? Something about decor for the wedding?" Tohru smiled at the subject change.
"Oh, yes! I'm really looking forward to it! I haven't seen Momiji in so long. But he called and told me that he wanted to help, so I put him in charge of the decorations!"
"I think that was an excellent choice, Tohru. He has an eye for cute things." Shigure glanced at Kyo, who glared back at him. "Oh, and Tohru?" He spoke, moving his attention to her. "Would you mind coming with me after breakfast? I would like to speak with you in my study. Privately, of course."
Both Yuki and Kyo stiffened.
"Why the hell-"
"Of course. I don't mind." She gave Kyo a reassuring smile.
He didn't trust Shigure one bit. Shigure had always been a scheming, manipulative, and conniving bastard. There was very little he ever did that was not to benefit himself. Which was why Kyo found himself wondering what benefit saving his life in the snowstorm would have been.
Maybe.. Maybe he did it for Tohru. Or for the baby. Only a monster would be okay with a child growing up without a father, especially when they could do something to prevent it.
Yea, that must be thought strangely comforted him. Maybe he had misjudged Shigure.
"Can I help you?"
Kyo jumped at Shigures sudden words. "What?"
"You were staring at me. No need to be jealous, Kyo. I'll only need a minute of her time."
Kyo's glare returned. No, he certainly hadn't misjudged him. He was a condescending and selfish asshole.
"They can clean up in here, my dear. Shall we?" Shigure stood, extending his hand to help Tohru to her feet. She accepted, giving Kyo an apologetic glance.
Once inside the study, Shigure relaxed his shoulders.
"Those two are utterly exhausting sometimes. Here I thought the engagement would lessen the tension between them." He rubbed his fingers against his temple.
"Have a seat, sweetheart." He offered, taking a hand and leading her to a small brown recliner near his special cabinet.
"This is new." Her fingers traced the stitching of the chair gently.
"Yes, I got it for you. I can't exactly expect you to sit on the floor now that you are expecting, now can I?"
"Oh, Shigure, you really didn't have to! I don't mind the floor, really!"
He chuckled, sitting on the armrest and taking a lock of her hair between his fingers. "I know that, dear. I'm only worried about you."
"Worried?"
"Yes. I heard what Hatori was saying about the baby's heart rate. And I know that you have been stressed lately. Yuki didn't exactly help with that, did he?" He saw her face fall ever so slightly. "Well, that's partly my fault. I knew how he had been feeling lately. I should've asked him to give you space."
"He doesn't know about my pregnancy.."
"But I do. Which is why I'm worried about this evening." Tohru cocked her head in confusion. "Momiji. I'm worried your meeting with him today will only increase your anxiety levels. He's the reason you didn't want to announce the engagement personally, isn't he?"
Tohru's eyes widened. "Shigure, how do you know that?" He smirked at her amazement.
"No need to be in awe. I merely watch. I pay close attention to the clues around me. Momiji has never even bothered to hide his crush on you. I assumed he confessed when you were so hesitant to announce the engagement. Am I correct?" He brought the lock of hair to his lips.
"Yes. He asked me.. he asked if I could reconsider him if Kyo and I ever broke up.." Her face was heavy with shame.
"Well that wasn't very fair of him. That's an awful lot of pressure to put on you." Shigures smooth voice began to loosen her muscles.
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have promised him. I just.. He looked so sad and defeated. I wanted to see him smile again."
"Mm. You really are too kind to us, Tohru. But I believe that, just like Yuki, Momiji will move on from it." Her head was now resting on Shigures lap, as he ran his hand through her gentle waves. "I just want you to relax. Don't think about others. Your baby needs you to rest, my dear."
They sat in silence for several minutes, listening to the wind outside and dishes being washed in the kitchen.
"Did you.. hear us?" Tohru mumbled, finally getting the courage to ask. Shigure laughed, the vibrations of which tickled her cheek.
"Yes, my dear. I was writing and needed a break for tea. But when I got to the kitchen I saw that you had already begun preparing some. I went to go ask you if you still wanted it.. well, you certainly helped me finish the chapter I was working on. You two make the most erotic of noises.."
Tohru tensed, burying her red face into his knee. "Shigure.." she whined. He chuckled again, moving his hand to rub circles onto her back.
"Don't worry, my dear. I believe Yuki was asleep. And I don't really care where you choose to have sex. You could've done it in the living room for all I care."
She couldn't help but giggle at his suggestion. She wasn't sure when exactly she had grown so comfortable talking to Shigure about such things. Maybe it was just her maturing?
"I was a little surprised that you would risk getting caught. Kyo really can't control himself, can he?" He sighed.
"Well, I may have told Kyo that I've always wanted to do it there..." she admitted quickly, covering her face with her hand in utter embarrassment. Shigure smirked.
"I figured as much." He chuckled. "You have quite the naughty imagination, my sweet girl. Which is why I've made you the protagonist of my new book."
Tohru jumped from his lap, eyeing him in surprise and panic.
"What?!" She couldn't help but shout. Shigure stood up from the armrest in anticipation of what was to come. Just on cue, Kyo entered his study.
"Tohru! Are you okay? I heard you yell!" He rushed to her side. She waved her hands in front of her.
"Of course I'm okay. I'm sorry for worrying you, Kyo. Shigure just gave me a big spoiler for one of his books and I was a little shocked." That wasn't lying, right? Shigure sniggered at her attempt. Kyo seemed to buy her half truth, calming himself down and wrapping her in a tight embrace.
"It's okay. I was wondering what was taking you so long. Hopefully the book hes talking to you so much about isn't smut." He glared at Shigure, who smiled and waved in return.
"We had better head home, Kyo. Momiji should be at our house in an hour or so." Tohru politely interrupted. He nodded, helping her to her feet.
"Don't forget what I told you." Shigure whispered on her way by. Tohru nodded and smiled, giving Shigure one last warm hug before departing.
Once she was out the door, he collapsed onto the recliner.
"Why have I chosen to play with fire..?" He mumbled to himself.
XXXXXXXXXXX
An hour and a half later, Kyo entered the living room.
"Hey, I'll be in the, um, guest room if you need me."
Momiji sat excitedly across from Tohru, pointing to various colorful designs in the binder he brought.
"Oh, yes, of course!" Tohru replied, glancing up at him. "We will just be here." Her soft smile warmed ones heart and sunk another's.
Once Kyo had left the room, Momijis shoulders fell.
"Why is he spending so much time in the guest room?" He asked.
"Oh, he's repainting it."
"Really? How fun. What color?" Tohru noticed the lack of energy behind his words.
"Momiji.." she mumbled.
When he looked up, Tohru's heart stopped. She hadn't noticed when he came in, but there were dark bags underneath his eyes, ones that were now being wet with tears.
"No, Momiji." She whispered, earning a painted smile from her blonde friend.
"Oh don't worry about me, Tohru. I'm fine, really! I just haven't been getting much sleep lately. School started back and it can be pretty difficult to-" he stopped when she grabbed onto his trembling hand.
He moved his other hand to cover his face. A pitiful laugh escaped him, one only meant to hold back his sobs.
"Please Tohru, you don't need to worry about me. I've been such a child lately. Its just time for me to wake up already. Wake up and... move.. on.." He pulled his hand from her grip.
Her eyes widened. She could almost feel his heart breaking. She couldn't take it. Tears began pouring from her eyes, landing on her still extended arms. "Mo..miji.." she choked out beneath her breath. When he looked up his eyes filled with panic.
"No! Shit. Tohru, please don't cry!" He rushed around the table to her side. He tried to sit, but noticed something digging into his hip.
"What's this?" He wondered aloud, pulling the doppler from the cushions. His curiosity was interrupted by a deafening cry. He jumped, forcing his eyes to Tohru who was now clutching at her stomach.
"Tohru!" He cried, reaching for her.
"Son of a bitch, what happened?!" Kyo shouted at Momiji, rushing to Tohru's other side.
"I- I don't know! We were just talking and she screamed!"
Tohru's eyes screwed in pain as she toppled over onto Momiji's lap.
"What's going on?" Momiji cried out again, only to be ignored.
"Tohru, I need you to hang on a minute until Hatori gets here."
"Somethings wrong, Kyo!" She managed to shout through clenched teeth. Kyo pulled out his cellphone, hitting Hatori's number on speed dial. Not waiting for him to speak, Kyo shouted into the phone.
"Hatori, Tohru's in alot of pain. She thinks something is wrong with the baby."
Momiji dropped the doppler that was still clutched in his hand, his eyes growing wide.
Baby? Did he just say baby? Oh my God. Tohru is...
He looked down, his mind touching back to reality.
"Tohru, how can I help?" He grabbed onto the hand that he had pulled away from moments before. She squeezed it with all her strength.
She felt as if her entire stomach was collapsing in on itself. It was like she had no control over her body. She wanted desperately to open her eyes, but couldn't. She could vaguely hear Momiji's voice through the pain.
"Tohru, I'm here. I love you, it's going to be okay."
Its going to be okay.
She tried to focus on his words. Until...
"Shit! Hatori, hurry up! She's bleeding!" She had never heard Kyo so panicked before. She could hear that he was crying.
That's when she knew that, no, it wasn't going to be okay.