Chapter 37

Kyomi sunk to the floor with the news, hands covering her face as relieved tears fell. Shigure placed a reassuring hand on the top of her head as he talked on the phone. They had been searching for hours in the woods around the house. They were about to report him missing to the few officers that kindly were available to come help them look. Until Shigure heard the phone ring. It was Kureno.

"Did you know Luc was here?" Were the first words out of his mouth and Shigure yelled for Kyomi to come.

Shigure stroked his fiancée's hair as she let the tears she had been holding back flow.

"Is he alright?" Shigure asked through clenched teeth, anger radiating from him now that the fear and worry had passed.

"He's absolutely fine. I'm watching him sleep right now. Akito apparently took him to see a light display, ride a carousel, and bought him a stuffed animal. I really don't know what possessed her to do something like this. I'm so sorry. I wish I had known sooner."

Shigure felt something snap inside him as he learned Akito kidnapped his stepson. The little boy who brought so much light and life and energy into their lives. Who bounced up to him every morning for a hug or latched himself around his "Shi-gu's" leg to get a ride on his shoulders, or pulled him outside for their now routine explorations of the woods around the house. He felt a few tears trickle down his face. He had stopped listening to Kureno's lengthy apology and explanation.

"Goodbye…."

"We will be over as soon as we can to get him." Shigure slammed the phone down and stared at it blinking for a minute trying to come to terms with what had just happened. So many emotions swirled in his mind. His arms began to ache and without thinking, he sank to the floor next to Kyomi who still was wiping away tears but was regaining some composure now. In one motion, he sat and scooped her up and put her in his lap, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her with the most passion he ever had. Not holding anything back this time.

Kyomi responded hesitantly at first because she thought, 'this is not the time to be doing this you idiot'. Then she froze. He was still him. Her tears started again and her heart swelled. She threw her arms around his neck and held on, never wanting to let go. It had been a long road to get here. Years of friendship, they were never able to get closer than the few whacks and punches they dealt each other without Shigure turning into that adorably irritating black dog. Then as a couple, they had had to be so cautious about being affectionate around Luc in case they got too close and Shigure transformed. That's not even taking into account when they were in private and wanted to show affection to each other. They had had to keep their distance in so many ways for so long. Then on one of the most stressful nights of their lives, the distance disappeared in a puff of smoke and was gone. They reveled in being so close to each other. It felt awkward, but also so right. They both nearly immediately relaxed into each other's embrace trying to feel with every nerve ending they had to imprint this memory in their minds for the rest of their lives. When they did end the kiss and she buried her face in his shoulder, relishing the feel of him against her. They clung to each other for a minute before Kyomi spoke.

"When did it happen?" she asked quietly. He shifted slightly under her. His leg was starting to fall asleep. Kyomi just hugged him tighter.

"On the phone with Kureno of all things. Luc is just fine like I told you before, but Akito took him. Kidnapped him." Kyomi stiffened against Shigure. "As soon as Kureno said that, something snapped and I just felt it slip away." He pulled back from her a little to look into her eyes and kiss her much more gently this time. "Let's go get our son." She nodded with anger of her own in her eyes and they untangled themselves to go talk to the police and tell them the news.

…

Kyomi drove them carefully through the downpour to the main estate. She pulled up to the main house and saw Hatori running towards them. They all reached the porch at the same time. Hatori barely remembered to kick his shoes off. Kyomi looked at him concerned.

"What's wrong Tori?" She asked quickly since he was already headed down the hallway. He glanced back at them.

"Kureno was stabbed by Akito." And he disappeared into one of the rooms.

Kyomi looked wide eyed at Shigure whose face had hardened. "Let's find Luc." He took her hand and went to find a maid. They found everyone in Akito's room. A maid on the phone with an ambulance, another helping Hatori stop the bleeding. One of the younger ladies was standing near the door just waiting for something she could do to help. She heard movement behind her and saw Shigure with a dark look on his face and Kyomi with her eyes still red from crying. She immediately knew who they were and went to them and bowed deeply.

"Luc is just next door. I just checked on him and he was still asleep snuggling Mickey Mouse." She gestured for the couple to follow her. She quietly opened the door and then left to retrieve the bag of his clothes for them. Kyomi and Shigure crept into the room and saw Luc sleeping peacefully in a futon. Kyomi sat on the floor quietly next to him and Shigure went to go see Hatori. They heard the ambulance and knew Kureno would be taken to the hospital shortly.

Kyomi sat and gently rubbed the back of her son's hand with her fingertip and just watched him sleep. She wanted to let him get as much sleep as he could.

…..

"Did Akito lose her mind?" Shigure angrily questioned Hatori. Hatori blinked at venom in his friend's tone.

"You are different." Hatori stared his friend down for a minute. Shigure glared at the doctor.

"My bonds broke. Now answer my question. What is she thinking?" Hatori sat down hard on the chair behind him.

"How?" Was all Hatori said. Shigure sighed.

"When I heard she kidnapped Luc, it just snapped. Then it was gone. That connection we have felt out whole lives just vanished." Shigure said slightly sadly. As happy as he was it was gone, it's still an adjustment. Hatori just nodded, unsure of what else to say.

"How is Kyomi handling it? You both have had a stressful day." Hatori said.

"She seems to be taking it all in stride. A lot of tears, but I was able to hold her…" Shigure had to stop speaking or he would do something rather un-Shigure. He waited a moment and cleared his throat. "It's nice." Was all he could say. "Will Kureno make it through the night?" Shigure asked, changing the subject.

"It was nice? You have had a hard night if that's all you can say after all your perversion throughout the years. But yes, I think he will be fine. He will need some time to recover, however given that he should recover with only a small scar." Hatori responded. He heard footsteps in the hall and stood to go see what it was. Quick short steps came barreling down the hall, flew through the door and launched into Shigure's lap. Shigure smiled at the small boy snuggling into his chest and hugged him tightly.

"I'm so glad to see you! Did you have a nice evening?" Shigure asked keeping his smile in place and voice as calm as could be.

"Kito is so much fun! She held me on the carousel and got me Mickey Mouse and snuggled me. When can I play with her again?" Luc said happily and sleepily.

Shigure stood with the boy knowing he needed home and bed. "I'm not sure Luc, but we will talk about that later. Wait, She?" Shigure looked hard at the boy.

"Yes, Kito is a girl. She's nice, play again?" Luc looked expectantly at his step-father, but his eyes already blinking slower and slower.

"We will talk to your mother. For now, its time for home. Say goodbye to Hatori." Shigure said.

"bye bye Hawi…" Luc mumbled already half asleep.

"Speaking of, where is your mother?" Shigure asked. "She's asweep…" Was the tired answer. Shigure sighed and turned to Hatori.

"I'll take him and get my keys. You get your wife." Hatori smirked at Shigure as he took Luc from him and went to ask the maid for his car. It was pulled up in front of the building by the time Hatori came out. He got the toddler settled into his carseat and didn't have to wait long before Shigure was back carrying Kyomi bridal style, her arms wrapped around his neck. Hatori smiled, so happy at the peace he saw on her face snuggled into Shigure's arms like she was. Shigure settled her into the back seat and sat back there with her and Luc. She didn't want to let go of him so getting into the car was a bit of a challenge, but they managed it.

Hatori drove them home and dropped them off. All three went straight to bed. Shigure sent Kyomi dragging her feet to bed while he took Luc up to Kyo's room to sleep. Luc snuggled back up with his Mickey Mouse and fell asleep immediately. Shigure sat with the boy for a short time stroking his head, thankful he was safe and that he had actually had a good and fun time.

Finally, Shigure pulled himself away and went to bed himself. He changed into his sleeping clothes and snuggled into bed with Kyomi. She was already asleep, but she reached for him in her sleep which he gladly acquiesced to her request. He held her tightly as he drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face. While the small family was sleeping, they had no idea the chaos that was going on outside their home.

…

Shigure woke slowly and reluctantly to the sun shining right in his eyes and the sounds of an ambulance closer than he had ever heard it. Kyomi wasn't stirring so he gently untangled himself, threw a robe around him with his slippers, and went to investigate.

He found Akito sitting on his front stoop being hugged around the neck by Luc.

"Akito… what is going on?" he asked concerned, but also very wary.

"It's all my fault. I don't know what to do. I swear I didn't push her but she fell. And I am so sorry about Luc. I should never have done that. He's such a sweet boy. I talked him into coming without telling you." Akito all but sobbed. Luc patted her head kindly.

"Its okay Kito. I had fun! We should go again!" Luc said reassuringly hugging her tightly. Akito's arm snaked around the boy's waist and hugged him back.

Shigure had had too little sleep and not enough caffeine to properly process this that quickly. He carefully sat on the other side of Akito. "Start from the beginning, slow and calm as you can. Who did you not push?" He asked evenly, yet a bit coldly.

"Tohru, she fell. Yuki already called the ambulance and is going to the hospital with her." Akito's voice got smaller and smaller as she spoke.

"That's good. She will need that help. I'm going to call Hatori for you so he can come get you and look at you. Some of those cuts on your feet could get nasty if you aren't careful." Shigure wanted to take care of the small mourning girl before him, but also just wanted her back home where she belonged. He doubted anyone at the main house knew where she was.

He made the quick call to Hatori which proved his assumption correct. Hatori was coming right out to get Akito. Shortly after Shigure got off the phone with Hatori, the ambulance finally pulled up to the house and they were directed to where they needed to go. Shigure had snuck back into his bedroom to slip some headphones on Kyomi and tucked Luc in bed next to her to get a little more sleep. Yuki followed Kyomi to the hospital, Hatori took Akito home, and Kyo came in and disappeared upstairs without a word. Shigure just sighed and took himself back to bed for a few hours, leaving Kyomi a note to wake him when she did. There was too much he had to talk to her about.