Holy moly I've missed writing! We moved which has been amazing. Little larger of a space for the toddler and dog to run laps and wear themselves out LOL. But holy crap its exhausting. Okay, hakuna matata now. Time to gear up for the fun! Hehehehe…. Also, if you haven't noticed, I've more or less been following the anime final season episodes and I'm kind of skipping most of episode 7 since it's all background so you know what's coming right? Hehehehe…..

Chapter 36

Shigure walked around the side of the building, enjoying the rain slowly falling around him. He was wandering the main estate knowing Akito was holed up with Kureno for the evening. He was just taking a walk reminiscing about the conversations the five of them had had as children playing here. Some conversations were about fun things. Hatori and Kyomi discussing schoolwork, Ayame and Shigure teasing the studious duo mercilessly until they retreated to Hatori's home to study and left the playful best friends to search out Kureno to play with and tease. Sometimes however, the discussion turned to heavier, darker things. Something happened some days and a girl would almost bump into one of the boys. Kyomi would always jump up and inspect whoever it was that almost got hurt even if nothing had actually happened. The scare would stay with them for some time whenever it happened. Of course, Kyomi was the exception. Ayame and Shigure hugged her whenever they had a chance. She was one of them. She was safe. She was their home.

Shigure smiled as he walked thinking of how foolishly he tried to win her affections so long ago by doing the exact opposite of what he should have done. He was in elementary school, how was he supposed to know? Playing cool and hard to get, she would just ignore him right back and then whack him upside the head when it would go on too long. He would try, at Ayame's insistence, gifting her extravagant flowers her had picked especially for her. She would pick her favorite out of the bunch and tell him to give the rest to Ayame since she knew that's where the idea came from. The only thing that even sort of worked was when he shared his books with her. She was just as much an avid reader as he and Hatori, if not more so. He would catch her trying to covertly figure out the title of the book and then would toss it to her as soon as he was done reading. When she would finish it, she would bound up to him and start chatting away all about what they read. He always managed to turn a little pink when she would talk to him, eyes sparkling and excitement showing plain on her face. He had been the one to give her the book that made her so happy after all. He continued listened to the rain falling around him and his smile widened when he thought of that same little girl who had turned into a fully grown woman. One who also happened to be waiting for him at home.

He stopped when he felt a tug on his hem. He hadn't worn a yukata out in awhile so he thought he had snagged it on a board. However, when he looked back, it was a hand that had caught him…

…

Shigure sat and talked with Ren. As their conversation went on, he knew she was trying to get something from him. She always was. She also always tried to use her feminine wiles to get what she wanted just like she had with Akira. Not that he would ever tell anyone else that.

"It was bliss. We had each other and we didn't need anybody else. I was the center of his world, and he was the center of mine. We were happy. That was enough for me. Though… it didn't last." Ren continued her soliloquy. Shigure sat, cheek in palm, watching her act out her little play for his benefit. He knew she wanted that box. Not that he cared about that box much anymore. He only cared because it might be somehow related to breaking the curse, or maybe at least play a role in helping that goal along. He bit off a groan and a sigh so as to not interrupt her. He wanted to be able to hold Kyomi so badly it made him ache.

"You poor, unfortunate thing." Shigure commented staring out the window talking as much to himself as to her.

"What about you? Don't you deserve pity?" Ren asked, running her fingertips up his thigh. "You're at Akito's mercy. Shackled by the curse and its so-called "bonds". Face it. Whatever you think you might feel for her, it isn't actually love. You're just caught up in a child's fantasy. Haven't you noticed? That look in your eyes. I've seen it before." She said cupping his face with both of her hands. "You want me now just as you did back then." She finished seductively.

"Hmm," Shigure smirked at her. He spoke softly and affectionately. "Yes, I've noticed. Looking at you and hearing your life's story only makes me think what a loving relationship would be like for me. One where both parties truly loved the other." She gasped as he slapped her hands away from him and rose to his feet as he spoke. "Unfortunately for you, there is a very different woman in your place. That's my fantasy." He looked down on her with pity and contempt, eyes almost glowing from the shadows across his face. "You're right. I did indeed want you to take that box. I can't think of anyone who would be more deserving. If someone is going to be haunted by Akira's ghost, let it be you and you alone. Akito doesn't need that thing." Shigure walked out leaving Ren behind.

"Come back! There's something wrong with you, all of you! You should be thanking me. I'm the only reason that child was born in the first place. I'm the one who saved Akira when he was on the brink of death. Don't you see? It's all because I was with him!" And she broke down in tears as Shigure walked away. He stopped just long enough to glance over his shoulder. "I don't really care about Akito anymore. You should find someone else to bother with your nonsense." Then he was gone. Ren left in shock. He had been so obsessed with Akito for so long, how had Ren missed this development? She went to find her maid.

Shigure walked home thinking. When he got home, no one was around. The teens were off somewhere and he wasn't sure about Kyomi and Luc until he heard a thunk and a pair of giggles above his head. He smiled and decided to shower before she came down. He went to let the hot water calm his racing thoughts into a plan. He had a feeling something was coming.

…..

Back at the estate, Akito heard whispers from the maids as they passed her door.

"He actually said that he didn't care about him anymore?" One said as they slowly walked by.

"I can't believe Shigure of all people would stop caring about Akito like that. He always seemed so dedicated to him." The other said.

"Ren told me herself. He found someone to love supposedly. He is going to spend the rest of his life with her and somehow that means he has no more time for Akito." The first maid said sadly. "It's sad. They were so close."

Any more conversation was lost in the rain as the maids continued down the pathway. Meanwhile, Akito was seeing red. She was throwing clothes on as quickly as she could and yelled for the car to be brought around. She stormed out of the estate to the car and got in. She told the driver, "Shigure's house." And off they went.

The car pulled up to the house shortly after Shigure got home and was in the shower. Kyomi was playing piano so they couldn't hear much. Unbeknownst to both of them, Akito was standing outside their home. However, a toddler upstairs who hadn't gone to sleep yet, heard the car approach. He had gone out on the balcony to see who was standing there staring at his house.

"Who are you?" He asked from the edge of the balcony. His little face pressed up against the slats in the railing.

Akito smiled as kindly as she could. A plan finalizing in her mind. "I'm good friends with you mom, and Shigure, Hatori, and Ayame. What are you doing still awake? Wouldn't your parents be upset with you?" She said feigning concern in her voice.

Luc sunk a little knowing Akito was right, but his curiosity held him in place. "What your name? I'm Luc!" He said conspiratorially.

"Hello Luc, I'm Akito." She answered smiling. She had him.

"Kito. Wanna come and play Kito?" He asked excitedly.

"I can't come up there, but I do have an idea…"

….

Kyomi walked down the stairs shortly after Shigure got home. She had finally gotten her crazy son settled for the night and now it was time for her to relax. She silently bounced down the stairs in her excitement to play some piano before bed. She opened their bedroom door and heard the shower already going. Assuming it was Shigure, she went to her piano and started playing a few warm-ups before diving into some songs. She chose her Pride and Prejudice music with a grin and opened it to "Liz on top of the world". She continued on with "The secret life of daydreams" and then finally "Dawn". She played for awhile before she heard the water stop.

Shigure had been enjoying the concert as he bathed. He was still drying his hair when he came out. Kyomi shot him a grin over her shoulder and continued since she was in the middle of another song. He walked over and gave her a kiss then went and grabbed them some tea to drink while Kyomi played and Shigure sat and wrote. They passed the time happily, each working at their own task, pausing to discuss difficulties they were having, and just enjoying each other's presence. Kyomi finally stood and stretched out her back and arms.

"Gure, it's time for bed for me. I'm going to check on Luc one more time before showering." She pecked a kiss on his cheek before heading upstairs.

He first felt the pit settle in his stomach when he heard Kyomi calling for Luc. He went upstairs to see what was going on. When he got upstairs and asked Kyomi her reply was,

"He's not in bed Gure. Can you check downstairs for me? I'll finish checking up here. He's probably just playing hide and seek." She hide the growing panic well, but not knowing where your toddler son is, even if you know where he probably is or can't find him for only a few seconds, can be a very harrowing experience. The panic that automatically sets in makes you want to always keep a leash on them.

Shigure quickly went downstairs to search and searched the patio as well. The pit getting bigger and heavier by the minute. He had just checked the kitchen cabinets when Kyomi bounded down the stairs, nearly slipping on a step.

"Gure, have you found him? He's not upstairs." She looked at him expectantly, hopefully. He hated to say it, but had to.

"He's not here Kyomi." Then the panic fully set in on her face. She wrapped her arms around her waist to hug herself and breathed for a second to collect her thoughts.

"Where else would he have gone? Are you sure you checked everything? You can't find what's right in front of your face sometimes you know…" She tried to push past him, but he stopped her and grabbed her face in his hands to force her to make eye contact with him.

"He's not in the house. Go check your car. He might be hiding there since you leave it unlocked all the way out here. I'm going to call the police to have them send someone to help search." Tears welled up in Kyomi's eyes and she quickly shut them to stem the flow. She didn't have time for that right now. She needed clear eyesight. She laid her forehead on Shigure's to take one more breath then backed up, nodded and flew out the door.

Shigure nodded at the empty space she left behind and called.

….

Meanwhile, Luc was sitting happily in the back seat of a luxury car, favorite cookie in hand, staring wide eyed out the car window. They were driving through a Christmas lights park, full of displays. There were favorite characters, moving pieces, horse and car races, fight scenes, famous scenery and buildings of the world, and more. Luc was absolutely fascinated. Even the stoic and formerly enraged family head was impressed with the displays. She was also slowly warming up to this adorable and cuddly ball of energy. He had been hesitant around her at first, but he quickly snuggled up next to her in the back seat and promptly fell asleep snuggled against her. Akito had frozen in shock, not wanting to wake the sleeping boy, but she had stared at his relaxed little face as he napped. He looked so peaceful and happy there with her of all people. What in the world had she done to deserve that? She had kidnapped him for heaven's sakes!

"Kito look! Mickey Mouse! Oh goody goody goody!" Luc said quoting the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. His pronunciation of the word got worse with each repetition and Akito's heart melted a little as she stifled a laugh. His speech had been pretty good considering he was learning two languages at once. He still mixed the two, but she had enough knowledge of English that she got most of what he was saying.

He suddenly crawled over the back seat to sit on her lap, settle his head against her chest and give her a hug.

"Fank you Kito. Fis is cool!" He said before turning back around and sitting in her lap to watch out her side of the car.

Akito was frozen in shock again. This child was so trusting and kind. She felt guilty because of his innocence, but was determined to help him have a good time with her even if she never gets to see him again.

There was a small shop and some food stands at the end of the tour and they stopped to get out. Luc bounded out and started to run away, but something told Akito to do something to stop him.

"Luc come back! Hold my hand alright? You don't want to get lost do you?" She said in her typical slightly cold manner, but his happiness never waivered. He bounced back to Akito and pulled her back towards where he was originally going.

"Come on Kito! We gotta go see it!" He said excitedly. Akito was very confused about what he was talking about until she saw it. A carousel sat in the middle of the lot, happy music playing and horses slowly spinning and bobbing along. The line was short and Akito bent down to talk to Luc.

"Do you want to ride it?" She asked hesitantly.

The excitement on his face as he spun around to face her told her the answer even before he flung his arms around her neck and shouted, "Yes pwease!" in her ear.

Next thing Akito knew, she was holding Luc in place so he wouldn't fall as he sat on the horse inching up and down as they slowly spun on the carousel. Luc grinning ear to ear and happy as could be, making horse noises as he shook the reigns in his hands.

Akito got lost in her own thoughts. What would it have been like if she had had a mother or a father who did things like this with her? Would things have turned out differently? Would she have turned out differently? She started to feel jealousy rear its ugly head for what Luc had that she didn't when the carousel slowed to a stop and everyone started getting off. Luc threw himself into Akito's arms and held on tight. He settled his head into her shoulder and yawned. Akito silently carried the little boy off the carousel and back to the car. On the way she spotted something in one of the stalls and directed her bodyguard to go buy it. When he returned, gift bag in hand, they all got in the car and headed to the main estate where Akito helped the half-asleep toddler into some of her old pajamas and settled into bed.

Akito snuggled his new stuffed Mickey Mouse in next to him and he grabbed it and snuggled it tightly against him as he drifted deeper into sleep.

Akito walked slowly back to her room next door and changed clothes. She curled up staring out the door, her father's box in her arms, thoughts whirling around in her head.

….