Love Remains 5.
~~~~~~~~~~
by girl_starfish.
It was very lucky that Arisu and Saki had chosen that night to sleep over—Tohru did not think she would ever have been able to get to sleep without their presence in her room, mutely reassuring her.
Kyoko had commented on her lack of colour at teatime and the tendency of even slight noises to make her jump hadn't helped matters. Despite the efforts of her friends and mother to distract her, Tohru was pretty close to being a nervous wreck.
It was much later now.
Shadows hung over most of Tohru's room, and the light from beneath the door was a pleasant reminder that she was not alone—as if the steady breathing of Arisu and Saki, in sleeping bags beside her bed, wasn't reminder enough.
Saki and Arisu had fallen asleep ages ago. Tohru hadn't, her mind kept returning to the discoveries of the afternoon. There had been a murder in her house. The house was haunted. Shigure was dead.
Shigure was dead.
She'd talked to him, laughed with him, liked him—and all that time he'd been dead. She couldn't resist a shiver. That scared her more than anything else—that Shigure who could be so lively could be dead aged 17 to cause or causes unknown.
It changed everything.
Tohru played over all their meetings in her mind. The way he'd looked, the way he'd said things—she knew now why he always wore the same suit and why Hatori wouldn't believe she'd seen him.
Hatori—
Tohru frowned. From what Kyou had said, Hatori, Ayame and Shigure had been best friends. It couldn't be easy loosing two best friends within days of each other—and from the sound of things, it wasn't easy for Shigure either.
Her bedroom door opened slightly. "Tohru? You awake?"
"Mother?"
"I seem to have a spare cup of hot chocolate," Kyoko said softly from the doorway. "You want it?"
The chocolate was warm and comforting. Tohru felt a bit braver after finishing it.
"How are you doing?" Kyoko asked, softly. So that they wouldn't disturb Arisu and Saki they had the table lamp on rather than the kitchen light, and the soft light accentuated Kyoko's light hair, infusing it with its own golden glow. She looked like the beneficent fairy from a children's' story. Tohru was comforted by her presence.
"You know?"
"I saw the books you left out, I knew you had to have found out. I'm sorry I didn't warn you, Tohru—"
"Why didn't you?"
"Well, you seemed so happy to have a friend, that I thought maybe it didn't matter—" Kyoko reached out to brush Tohru's fringe out of her eyes. "From what I learnt from you and Ritsu-san, Shigure seemed nice enough. Besides, ghost or not, nothing could prevent me from feeding him his own intestines if he harmed so much as a hair on your head." Kyoko kissed the top of Tohru's head. "Can you forgive me?"
"Of course!"
Kyoko hugged her daughter. "That's my girl! We'll see this job out yet!"
Her mother hadn't told her . . . because she thought Tohru might be afraid, Tohru realised suddenly. And if she asked, her mother would quit the job, no matter what anyone thought of her—but Kyoko couldn't afford to give up this job. No matter what—they had to see this out.
"Are you looking forward to meeting the rest of the family tomorrow?" Kyoko asked. "Hatori tells me that Yuki is your age, Kagura two years older and Momiji a year younger."
"It's those three, Hatori-san, and Ritsu-san, right?" Tohru asked.
"And another little girl—Momo I think. Quite a party," Kyoko drained her cup and put it on the bench. "You'll need plenty of sleep for tomorrow."
That was a hint.
Tohru kissed her mother goodnight and returned to her bed.
She was no longer so scared she realised. Now she'd had time to think about it, she could see that her mother was right about one thing—Shigure hadn't been threatening. She'd liked him, trusted him almost immediately. The thought that he was dead still made her feel cold and shivery, but when she thought about it, it wasn't Shigure himself that bothered her.
Tohru sighed, drawing the blankets over her head. It was too much to take in in one evening. Maybe things would be clearer in the morning . . .
On the edge of sleep, she frowned. Saki had said ghosts were souls trapped by unfulfilled desires. But Shigure seemed so nice—what could possibly be holding him in the house?
Unable to answer the question, Tohru fell asleep.
~~~~~~~
"Nice to see you managed to make it out of bed, sleepy head," Kyoko teased, as Tohru wandered out of bed the next morning. "Lucky we decided to leave you some pancakes!"
"They smell delicious," Tohru said sitting down at the table, trying to straighten her sleep-mussed hair. The others had obviously been up for some time, they were dressed and her mother was at the stove making the last of the pancakes.
"They don't just smell delicious," Arisu said, pushing the plate over to Tohru. "Have some cream, they're best that way."
Glancing up at the clock Tohru was dismayed to see that they were already well into the morning. "Oh no—the cleaning! We're not going to have enough time to finish before the Soumas get here—"
"Relax, Tohru. Uo-chan and Hana-chan have volunteered to stay and help us out," Kyoko laughed, passing the latest batch of pancakes to the table.
Tohru was not surprised to see her mother using her friend's nicknames. "Really? You guys are the best!"
"It was the least we could do," Saki said, looking up from the book she was reading—Paranormal Activity and You. "You have been so hospitable to us."
Saki and Arisu were as good as their word. Saki took care of the breakfast dishes, while Arisu and Tohru's mother started on the yardwork. Tohru was given the task of picking fresh flowers to decorate the inside rooms—she suspected she'd been given this task as the one that meant she'd spend the least amount of time inside. Her suspicions were confirmed when Saki finished the dishes in time to help Tohru put the flowers in vases.
"Saki?" Tohru asked as she arranged the roses in an oriental vase on the dining room mantelpiece. "I was wondering—does this room have any traces of the past? It always makes me feel so solemn—"
Saki considered the question. "Not strong traces, no. But this room has obviously been reserved for serious business—maybe you're receptive to psychic influences."
"I don't think so," Tohru said, finishing the arrangement to her satisfaction. "After all, I thought Shigure was just an ordinary boy—"
Saki turned her dark eyes on Tohru. "Are you all right this morning? Last night you seemed pretty upset—"
"I haven't quite decided," Tohru said with a smile. "But I think I'll be fine."
She was. In the hurry to get the house presentable, Tohru had no time to be scared, not that she would have been—the house looked warm and welcoming with all the dust covers removed and the curtains in every room opened. She also had the prospect of meeting the Souma family to look forward to. By the time Arisu and Saki left, Tohru was too busy getting into her best dress to feel remotely worried.
"Do you think they'll be friendly?" Tohru asked.
"I'm sure they will be," Kyoko said, straightening her hair in front of the mirror. "After all, Ritsu-san and Hatori-san have been very considerate."
All that was left then was to carry the lunch they'd made through to the dining room and wait.
Tohru sat at the dining room window, looking out over the garden. Every little noise made her think that they'd arrived—"What time did Hatori-san say they would be here?"
"Early afternoon, around lunchtime," Kyoko said, amused. "That's only the third time you've asked—maybe you should go for a walk, do something to calm yourself."
Tohru looked out the window. She could see the library across the garden. Maybe she should go visit Shigure—
It was just at that moment that the doorbell rang. The Soumas had arrived.
Straightening her skirt one last time, Tohru hurried after her mother to the front door. Hatori was first inside, shaking hands with Kyoko and Tohru. He looked more solemn then ever in a dark grey suit and coat. Ritsu followed him, looking rather anxious under his smile. Tohru greeted him politely, trying to restrain herself from peering behind him to see the last four members of the party.
At last he stepped aside and Tohru could see—
"Ah! She's so cute!"
Tohru looked down in some confusion, trying to work out why there was a blond boy wrapped around her. "Uh—"
"Momiji!"
Whining loudly the blond boy was hauled away. "Not fair—I was only saying hello—"
"That is not how you say hello!" the grey haired boy who had pulled the younger boy away, turned to Tohru with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about my cousin. He tends to be rather impulsive—"
"Yuki-kun is meeeeean!" the blond kid wailed.
"Hwah," Tohru said.
The boy facing her had to be the most beautiful person Tohru had encountered in her life. His hair was a silvery grey, smooth and fine, cut to fall over his face in a way that was both elegant and intriguing—half concealing, then suddenly falling aside to reveal his eyes. Violet and larger than usual for a guy, his eyes were captivating, hinting at depths of feeling yet revealing nothing. His skin tone was pale, and his frame slight, giving him a delicate, almost ethereal appearance. His voice was soft yet compelling.
"You must be Honda Tohru," he said. "It's a pleasure to meet you—"
"No, the pleasure is all mine!" Tohru said, flushing as she realised she'd been staring, and bowing clumsily and hastily. "I've been looking forward to meeting all of you for a long time!"
"Is that so?" he smiled again, gesturing to his companions. "You'll already have gathered that this is Momiji, but I'm Souma Yuki, and these are my cousins, Souma Kagura, and Souma Momo."
Tohru bowed hastily again. "Its nice to meet you at last! Kyou's told me about you—"
"Kyou?" Kagura stepped forward, her grey eyes alight with interest. "He's here?"
"Really?" Momiji let off complaining in order to bounce up to Tohru again. "Kyou's back? Are you friends with him Tohru?"
"Yes," Tohru found it impossible not to smile at Momiji. His large brown eyes and cheerful expression made him very cute—it would be very difficult to stay mad at him. "He's in my class at school."
"Really?" Kagura didn't sound very thrilled.
"It will be strange meeting old acquaintances," Yuki said. "I wonder if he's changed."
Momo hovered at the door. She was also extremely cute like her brother, but seemed to lack his impetuosity. Tohru smiled at her warmly.
"Momo-san, would you like me to help you carry your luggage to your bedroom?"
"We'll have lunch before we get settled in," Hatori decided. "Come on, let's not keep Honda-san waiting."
Tohru was kept very busy that afternoon, helping Momo unpack, finding Kagura an extension cord for her hair dryer, cleaning up Momiji's mess, making Ritsu a cup of tea and fetching Hatori a newspaper.
It was with relief then that she slipped inside the library door. It wasn't that she didn't like the Soumas, but it was a little overwhelming being confronted with so many new people at once—particularly when they, like Momiji and Kagura, wanted to cross-examine you on every aspect of your knowledge of Kyou. She was looking forward to being able to put her feet up and maybe chat with Shigure—
She paused on the library threshold.
The library was occupied—and not by Shigure.
"Oh," said Tohru.
Yuki looked up, his expression as politely surprised. "Hello again, Tohru-san. I'm not disturbing you am I?'
"N-no," Tohru said. "I was just surprised. I didn't expect to see you here."
"I didn't bring much with me so it didn't take me long to unpack," Yuki said, turning to the shelf he was examining.
He was obviously planning to be here a while. Tohru decided she would be better off going back to her room. "I'll leave you to it—"
"Actually, Tohru-san, before you go would you mind doing me a favour?"
He wanted a favour from her? Tohru felt her cheeks redden. "Not at all—anything I can do to help!"
"Thank-you," Yuki smiled, and Tohru felt her heart leap. "I'm looking for the family photo albums—not the official ones that we keep in the drawing room, but the one's taken for the family—when we still lived here."
"I haven't seen those—" Tohru said. "Although, I can remember seeing some photo albums somewhere—"
"If it's a bother, don't worry about it," Yuki said. "I'm sure I can find them myself."
"It's no bother!" Tohru said. "I'd be interested to see the photos too—"
She blinked. It looked as though the cupboard under the window seat directly behind Yuki had just swung open on its own accord . . .
"Tohru?" Yuki questioned.
"I know," Tohru suggested moving quickly over to the cupboard. "Why don't we start looking here?"
The cupboard contained a row of photo albums, neatly lined up.
"These are them," Yuki said, pulling out the albums. "Thank-you, Tohru-san. You're a marvel."
"It was nothing," Tohru said. "And no san-please—it makes me feel so old."
Yuki laughed. "In that case, please call me Yuki." He flipped through one album and quickly discarded it. "Too old," He explained.
"Are you looking for something in particular?" Tohru asked.
"My brother Ayame—he died ten years ago from Tuesday," Yuki said. "That's partly the reason we've come back you know—the family is having a commemoration service to remember all those we've lost."
"That's tomorrow, isn't it?" Tohru said. "Hatori-san invited my mother and I to attend but we don't want to intrude—"
"You won't be, though I doubt the ceremony will be very meaningful for an outsider," Yuki said. "Our family considers the past very important."
"I see," Tohru flicked through a photo album. "Hey, here's Shigure and Hatori—and if they're here then Ayame should also be around."
"That's him there," Yuki pointed to a smiling boy with silvery hair, even lighter in colour than his own. "That's Ayame."
"He's very handsome," Tohru said. "He looks like an interesting person."
"He was," Yuki said.
Tohru gasped at her thoughtlessness. "I'm so sorry! I forgot—I—I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay, Tohru. It was a long time ago," Yuki turned the page of the album, smiling sadly. "I was very little then—I didn't know my brother well. I was very sick when I was little, there was a good chance that I would not make it past ten and I knew it. I was very selfish back then—I only cared about myself, and I envied other people that weren't always sick. Ayame was the exact opposite of me—always lively, always full of energy." Yuki traced a picture of his brother waving energetically at the camera, one armed looped around the neck of a reluctant looking Yuki. "It was natural I suppose that I would resent him. Every time he tried to make friends with me, I turned him away. I never thought that—" Yuki paused. When he spoke again his voice was tinged with bitterness. "It's ironic isn't it, that of the two of us, the one that lived was the one that everyone expected to die, while Ayame—"
"No one could have known what would happen," Tohru said. "It's not your fault."
Yuki blinked at her. For a moment she thought he saw shock written in his eyes—as if he'd forgotten she was there. Then it was hidden, Yuki resuming his cool, collected expression. "You don't want to listen to all of this, Tohru," he said, with a polite smile. "I'm sorry to have troubled you—"
"Not at all!" Tohru said hastily. "I understand perfectly! My father died when I was very little—I hardly even remember him. I often wonder what it would have been like to know him and I wish things had been different. But I am very glad for the time I did get to spend with him and the memories I have of him! Uh—" she blushed, realising how silly she sounded. "I'm sorry, Yuki-san, I tend to get carried away—"
Yuki stared at her, then smiled slowly. "I don't mind," he said, turning back to the photo album. "How old were you when your father died?"
"Eight."
"I was seven when Ayame died," Yuki frowned at the page of photos he held. "Sometimes I have trouble remembering what he looked like—there are so many things I've forgotten. I can't remember what his voice sounded like anymore—"
"I can't remember what colour my father's eyes were," Tohru said. "My mother tells me they were blue, but I don't remember them."
"Can't you find a photograph?" Yuki asked.
"It was a house fire," Tohru said. "We lost everything." She paused a moment then said, "Have you asked Hatori?"
"Eh?"
"Hatori and Ayame were best friends—he can tell you what your brother was like better than anyone!" Tohru said. "Maybe—"
"There you are!" Momiji chirped, pouncing on Yuki. "What are you doing?" He peered interestedly at the albums. "Oh, photos!" He called out cheerfully, "Kagura, we're in the library looking at the old albums!"
Kagura joined them. "It's been a long time since I looked through these," she said. "Oh, look at this—Momiji's 5th birthday."
"I don't remember that," Momiji said, scooting in between Tohru and Yuki to get a better look at the photos. "What happened?"
"You had about half your class come over," Kagura said. "We had a picnic lunch in the garden."
"I don't remember half these people--Is there any reason why Ayame is wearing a dress?" Momiji wondered, turning the page over.
"Don't you remember? The magician who was supposed to come couldn't make it—so Ayame decided that we would put on a play for you. He was the princess, I was a good fairy, Shigure was a dragon and Hatori was the prince—see, here is all of us in costume."
"Wow!" Tohru was impressed. "You all look so cute—your costumes are terrific!"
"Ayame was very good at making things—he wanted to be a fashion designer. And Shigure was good at making up stories. The two of them used to get together and come up with stories and costumes and then bully the rest of us into putting on their plays." Kagura laughed. "Ayame always took the leading role, of course."
"Why was that?" Yuki asked.
"No-one else could do it better," Kagura said. "Ayame was so funny—he could make anyone laugh."
"Why am I crying?" Momiji said, pointing to a picture of himself bawling his eyes out, while Kagura, dressed in sparkly pink dress and wings attempted to comfort him.
"That was the bit where the handsome prince defeated the evil dragon," Kagura snickered. "You believed it. We had to stop the play so that Shigure could get up and show you he was all right."
"How cute!" Tohru said, lingering on a picture on the five cousins, still in costume. Ayame was in the centre, giving the camera a very unprincess-like peace sign. Shigure, the hood of his dragon costume slid back to reveal his smiling face, stood to his right, with Momiji, wearing the princesses' crown, lop-sided, perched on his shoulder. Hatori, looking relaxed and happy for once, stood on Ayame's other side with Kagura who was waving her fairy wand about. "It must have been exciting having such older cousins."
"It was," Kagura laughed, turning the page. "Oh, here's another story—Yuki, you'd remember this—"
"I'll make us some hot drinks," Tohru said. "You can tell us all of your stories, Kagura-san."
This suggestion was warmly received. When Tohru returned, it was to find the three cousins sharing the window seat, pouring over another of the albums.
"Shigure honestly thought that no-one would notice he was keeping a stray dog in his bedroom?"
"Well he was little then," Kagura said, smiling gratefully as she accepted a steaming cup from Tohru. "I only know that story from Hatori. He was babysitting me one night and told me about it as a bedtime story."
"Hatori giving bed time stories?" Yuki said, echoing Tohru's thoughts. "I can't see him doing that at all—"
Momiji blew the steam away from his mug. "Its hard to match the Hatori in these photos with the Ha-san we know—they're like completely different people."
"He changed a lot after they died, you know," Kagura said, tucking her black hair behind one ear. Her grey eyes were clouded as she continued. "He was gentler before, still quiet but not quite so unapproachable—of course he was still serious," Kagura laughed. "He had to be! Someone was needed to stop Ayame and Shigure from getting out of line!"
Tohru laughed. "That's not how Shigure tells it!" she said. "He makes it sound as though if it wasn't for him and Ayame, Hatori would never have done anything fun at all." She realised suddenly that all three of them were staring at her. "Ah—"
"That's not funny at all," Kagura said.
"I'm sorry," Tohru said. "But—I—"
"I'm going to walk in the gardens," Kagura said, putting down her cup. "Come on, Momiji."
"But—" Momiji looked from Kagura to Tohru.
"Come on, Momiji," Kagura repeated in a way that brooked no arguments. Resignedly, Momiji followed her out of the room.
Tohru hung her head. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean—I should probably go."
"Wait," Yuki said. He hesitated a moment then said, "how Shigure tells it? You've spoken to him?"
Tohru nodded. "You probably don't believe me but—"
"No—no, I do. It's just that—" Yuki hesitated then appeared to come to a decision. "Follow me."
Mystified Tohru followed him to his bedroom.
"This was Shigure's room once," Yuki said, pulling one of the drawers of his dresser out completely, much to Tohru's astonishment. "I found it a few years back when we'd come down here for the anniversary." He stretched his arm into the gap left by the drawer. "Ah-hah! Got it—" He drew out a battered looking leather bound book. "Here," he said, handing it to Tohru.
Confused, Tohru opened the book. "Private Property," she read. "If found, return to Souma Shigure—" she stared at Yuki. "Is this—"
"Shigure's journal," Yuki explained. "It's an account of his investigation of the house's ghosts."