Love Remains 8.

~~~~~~~

by girl_starfish

"Kids don't just vanish," Arisa said, tucking her long blonde hair behind her ear. "Someone must have seen something."

It was the second day of Momo's disappearance. The police had been over the entire house from top to bottom, Ritsu was a nervous wreck, Hatori was permanently irritated—and Momiji—

Tohru scrubbed furiously at her eyes. "I hope she's all right. But—Momo is a good kid. She wouldn't stay away like this if she could help it."

Saki put an arm around her. "There is still a chance that she will be found unharmed. Don't get upset now Tohru-kun."

"I don't have work today," Arisa said. "Look, we could take a photo of her round the houses in the neighbourhood, ask if anyone's seen her. There's always the chance that she's gone off to stay with a friend and hasn't told anyone, right?"

Tohru sniffed. Her friends were trying so hard to comfort her. "You're right. Thank-you, Arisa."

"I'll help too," Kyou said awkwardly. He hovered on the edge of the group, uncomfortable, but concerned for Tohru.

Tohru dried her eyes. "Don't you have a martial arts lesson?"

"I'll skip it."

He did too. Tohru could hardly believe that Kyou was standing with her, Saki and Arisa, in the drawing room, telling the Soumas of their plan.

"We really appreciate this," Hatori said as Tohru's explanation trailed off awkwardly. "Thank-you, Tohru—all of you."

"Not at all," Saki said softly. "It's the least we can do."

"Would you like to come with us?" Tohru asked.

"I've got to stay here," Momiji said. "She might ring."

He hadn't smiled since.

"I'm going to keep him company," Kagura said. "And Hatori needs to be here in case the police ring,"

Tohru nodded. "That's a good idea. . . We need to have someone here if—when Momo is found."

"Don't be too late," Kyoko said, hugging Tohru. "Be careful."

"I will," Tohru promised, following Arisa and Kyou towards the door.

"Wait."

On the front steps, Tohru turned to see Yuki pulling on a heavy jacket.

"I'll come with you."

It wasn't until it was dark that they quit. Saki and Arisu waved goodbye from their bus stop, Tohru promising to ring them if any new developments had arisen in the time that they had been out.

They headed back to the house in silence. At first the atmosphere in the little group and been hopeful and expectant—but as negative response added to negative response, a sort of despair had overtaken them. No one knew anything that might shed light on Momo's vanishing.

"There's the house!" Tohru said, as the lights of the Souma house came in to view. "I'm going to see if they have any news!" She broke in to a run.

Yuki and Kyou watched her go without word. They'd exchanged only the barest necessities of conversations in the course of the search, and they continued in silence until they reached the gates.

"I should head home too," Kyou said awkwardly. "I guess I'll see you."

"Wait," Yuki said, as the orange-haired boy turned to leave. "Kyou—we really appreciate what you've done to help us. I know this has meant a lot to Momiji."

"Yeah, well," Kyou shrugged. "It's not like it was of any use." He looked up at the house, silhouetted in shadow. "You think . . ."

"That it's the infamous Souma curse?" Yuki's purple eyes were expressionless, gazing up at the house. "I'm afraid so."

Kyou turned. "Let me know if anything happens."

Yuki nodded, stepping inside the gate without another word.

~~~~~

The shadows stretched out before her. Tohru stepped forward hesitantly.

She couldn't tell what she was stepping on. The hallway stretched on endlessly, no matter how many corners she turned she never seemed to go anywhere. She'd passed more doorways then she could count, nor had she met anyone.

But she wasn't alone.

There were footsteps up ahead, just ahead of her. Tohru hoped it might be Momo and it was that that kept her going.

The footsteps slowed and then stopped.

Tohru broke into a run.

She had to find them--had to catch up.

"Momo?"

There was no one there round the corner, nothing but the shadows--

Tohru looked around. She recognised the door on the wall beside her as the one to the master bedroom--the door that was always locked. She peered down the corridor, into the darkness but couldn't make out anything.

The silence seemed deeper suddenly, more hostile. Was it her imagination or was it getting darker?

Tohru took a step backwards. A creaking noise beside her made her freeze in place.

The locked door--was opening.

Slowly, inevitably, the heavy oak door inched open, casting more shadows in the already darkened hall. Tohru, backed against the wall, could only watch. Fear had her frozen, fear held her in place even though she wanted to run--

The door was over halfway open now and in the space beyond she could see something--or someone--

A hand touched her shoulder. "Tohru--"

Tohru did the most reasonable thing she could think of given the circumstances. She screamed.

~~~~~~

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!" Tohru shrieked swatting at the air around her.

"Gaah!"

Her hand encountered something cold and she screamed again.

"Geez, Tohru." The wry complaint sounded somewhere to her right. "You're loud enough to wake the dead."

The voice sounded familiar. "Shi-Shigure?"

"Metaphorically speaking, I guess, seeing we don't actually sleep--"

Tohru fumbled for the lamp beside her bed. Blinking against the harsh light she looked up to see Shigure standing by the foot of her bed. "Shigure," she repeated. "Y-you woke me up?" It had been a dream then? Tohru shuddered. It had been so life like--Shigure spoke, attracting her attention.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to scare you--but I needed to tell you something important."

He looked different--strained sort of. Tohru thought he looked paler than usual. If ghosts could look pale--Tohru screamed again. "You're dead!"

"Yeah," Shigure looked sheepish, running a hand through his untidy hair. "Kind of sucks, doesn't it?"

"Uh--" Whatever reaction Tohru had expected it wasn't this.

"I guess I should have told you--" Shigure continued. "But most people find it rather . . . uncomfortable to be talking to someone they know is--" He paused. "And I was lonely."

It was strange to see Shigure out of the library. For the first time since she'd known him, Tohru thought he looked like a ghost. Not only was he pale, but he was indistinct around his edges. When he moved in front of the light, she could see through him--

"What are you doing out of the library?" she asked. "I thought you said you couldn't leave it--"

"I said I wasn't supposed to," Shigure said. "And I'm not. The farther I get from the library the more difficult it is to hold together--but this is important, Tohru. It's worth a little discomfort. Momo's life may depend on this."

"Eh?" Tohru was shocked out of her nervousness. "Momo? You know what happened to her?"

"She's missing, isn't she?" Shigure said. "You've looked for her everywhere, I expect?"

"We've gone through the entire house from top to bottom," Tohru said. "She's not anywhere--even the locked room--"

"There's somewhere else," Shigure said. "When I talked to Ritsu in the hospital, he told me that Kisa and Hiro had a secret base in the attics somewhere--they were the only ones who knew about it." He paused and then said, "I think that's where Momo was taken."

"You don't know? Can't you--float through walls or something and find out?" Tohru asked.

"It doesn't work like that. It's rather hard to explain--but if I didn't do something as a human I cannot do that as a ghost--we cannot move forward--we can only repeat--" Shigure sighed. "Tohru--I never found that base. I need you to look for her."

"Eeeh?" Tohru gasped, clutching the blankets around her tightly. "You want me to go up to the attics by myself? At night? But--it might be haunted! Kyou encountered that ghost there!"

Shigure just looked at her. "Tohru--you're talking to a ghost right now."

"That's different though--" Tohru protested. "You're my friend."

Shigure stared at her.

"I'm afraid!" Tohru snapped into determined mode. "But we need to do all w e can to find Momo! Where's my flashlight?"

Feeling more determined than brave, Tohru climbed the grand staircase. "Why hasn't Ritsu mentioned this?" she whispered. "If he told you--"

"After . . . what happened . . . Ritsu . . ." Shigure shook his head. He was even more indistinct now, Tohru could see the wooden panelling through his shirt. "He went back into his memories before--it was like talking to his child self. He doesn't like to think about that time at all and if you push him--he goes back into his childhood. It's like he is a child--I suppose he's made himself forget."

They were at the attic door now. Tohru pushed it open cautiously.

"Maybe I should go in first," Shigure said, brushing past her.

Tohru shivered. The light touch of his shoulder as he'd passed had sent shivers down her spine--he was so cold-- "Be careful."

Shigure laughed. "What's the worst that can happen to me? I'm already dead!"

With that not entirely reassuring remark he seemed to melt into air. Tohru shivered at the attic door. The flashlight seemed woefully inadequate, seeming to cast more shadows then it dispelled. Could Momo really be up here? It didn't seem at all likely--

The lights switched on suddenly and she yelped.

"Sorry," Shigure said, from the vicinity of the light switch. "I thought you might like some light."

"Thanks," Tohru said. The attic looked much safer with the lights on, looming shadows that had seemed threatening in the dark being revealed as piles of boxes and old clothes. An old trunk sitting in the corner revealed a dainty glove--Rin's perhaps? Tohru moved towards it--

"There's something . . . strange here. I don't know if its one of us or not--" Shigure's voice sounded from the corner closest the garden, making Tohru jump again. "But it doesn't feel dangerous--"

"You can't tell?" Tohru asked.

"When the others do something I know about it, but when they're . . . I guess, dormant, is the right word, then I have no idea," Shigure faded slowly back into view. It seemed to take him longer than he had to disappear, and Tohru could just barely make his outline out. He looked tired too, even if he had not mentioned it . . . "They're not doing anything now."

"What about when Momo vanished?" Tohru asked.

"About midnight the night before the family was supposed to leave one of us was active," Shigure said, meeting her eyes seriously. "I can't tell you which one." He laughed suddenly. "Look at us, sitting here gossiping like old wives when we have work to do! I think Ritsu said it was somewhere near the boiler--over here."

Tohru wriggled into the hot water cabinet. It was an awkward fit, and she'd managed to get covered in dust in the process. She sneezed, sitting up.

"Bless you." Shigure pushed the flashlight in after her, then followed himself.

"How come you can come in here?" Tohru said as she shone the light around the small space. "You said you'd never been in here--"

"You came in," Shigure said. "You can move forward you see--" He pointed. "Tohru, is that--"

"Momo's ribbon! It's hers, I know it is!" Tohru slipped around the huge water container to the ribbon. It was caught on the edge of a piece of floorboard--"There's a trapdoor up here."

Holding her breath, Tohru pushed open the trapdoor. "Ow!" She winced as she hit her head.

"Are you all right?" Shigure asked below.

"Low ceiling--it looks like I'm in the roof." The flashlight revealed row after row of bare boards. "I don't see anything--wait."

The roof of the attic that they'd just come from had been boarded over, but behind the hot water cabinet was an area of bare boards, perhaps three by four metres, that had been left bare. A plank had been laid from the trapdoor to this patch, making it possible to climb over the ceiling boards to it--

It wasn't easy to hold the torch and climb along the plank, but Tohru crawled forward slowly and cautiously. A desperate exclamation almost made her fall off the plank.

"Who's there?"

"Momo?" Tohru could scarcely believe her ears. "Momo, are you in here?"

She'd just reached the edge of the ceiling boards and could look down into an open space, what was left of the gap between the hot water cabinet and the far wall. It had been totally closed off on either side, probably forgotten by the builders of the house--yet it had been filled with a broken looking arm chair, a shelf of battered books, cushions, a table made of an old crate, a pile of rags in the corner--and Momo, looking terrified, in the centre of the room.

"Get me out of here! Please!"

"It's okay, Momo, it's okay. I'm not going to leave you," Tohru promised, wondering how on earth she was going to keep her promise--she could see no way down the walls.

Something brushed the foot of her shoe and she looked up to see a length of knotted rope, one end of which was firmly tied around the ceiling boards--obviously the means of getting in and out of the space. Shigure must have hidden himself to avoid upsetting Momo further--

Taking a deep breath, Tohru lowered the rope into the small space and swung herself over the edge. The rope held, and after a long pause as she tested the rope, she lowered herself down. Whoever had put the rope there had done a good job of it--

"Tohru!" Momo flung herself at Tohru, the moment her feet were on the ground, clinging to the older girl as if she would never let go. "I'm so scared--I want to get out of here--"

"Shush, shush, I'll take you back," Tohru hugged Momo soothingly, rubbing her back. "It's okay, it's okay."

There were tear tracks around Momo's eyes, and she was covered in dust and cobwebs. "I thought I was going to die in here--there's no way out. And--it--" she gulped.

"We're going back to the kitchen right now. I'm sure my mother won't mind if we wake her up to make hot chocolate--and Momiji will be really happy to know you're all right. He's been so worried about you--we all have. We've been looking for you all over," Tohru said, patting Momo's head, and pulling away to grasp the rope. "Now let's get you out of here--if I climb up first and then I can give you a hand up--"

"No!" Momo cried out, tightening her grip around Tohru even more. "I don't want to be alone with it again! Please, don't leave me down here--"

"It?" Tohru asked, but Momo was crying too hard to answer. Totally at a loss what to do, Tohru hugged Momo tighter, murmuring comforting words as she stroked her hair.

A movement at the far end of the room attracted her attention, Shigure had faded into view again, and was kneeling beside the pile of rags. Tohru frowned at him—seeing him was about the last thing Momo needed right now—but Momo didn't look up.

"Take her home," Shigure mouthed. "Now."

Tohru nodded. "Momo, if I give you a boost, do you think you can pull yourself up onto the roofbeam?"

Momo seemed only too happy to be getting out of the forgotten hideout, crawling along the plank without a fuss. Tohru pulled herself up after Momo, looking back into the hiding space. Shigure was still there, sitting by the rag pile with his head bent.

Lifting up the torch, Tohru saw the pile clearly for the first time. They weren't rags, she realised, but old clothes, spread untidily over the floor. Something yellowed and hard protruded from underneath them—

It took a moment for her to realise she was looking at bone.

--oOo—

Arisa whistled. "So they finally found Souma Kisa then?"

"Well, they haven't formally identified her yet. The police are here, I think they're going to check dental records or something," Tohru said. Another police officer walked past and she pulled the phone back, as far into the corner as she could go.

"Weren't you scared?"

"Terrified," Tohru said. "I don't really remember much of what happened after that—Mother insisted I stay in bed all day today—that's why I wasn't at school."

"Saki told me you were okay, but I had to ring anyway to check," Tohru could just picture Arisa pushing her long blonde fringe out of her eyes as she replied. "Guess you can't take too many chances living in a house like that. What possessed you to go up to the attics in the middle of the night, anyway?"

Tohru looked around to make sure that there weren't any policemen nearby, and said "Shigure. He remembered Ritsu saying something about this old hideout in the attics—"

"So, he's back, is he? You have got to introduce us, Tohru."

"I don't know when I'll get the chance—things are really busy now. What with the murder investigation, the whole house is full of police officers—"

"Murder investigation?" Arisa echoed, shocked.

"Murder," Tohru repeated, taking a deep breath. "There's a crack on the skull—she was hit from behind by someone."

"Hell," Arisa whispered faintly. "And Momo? How is she?"

"They took her into hospital last night—dehydration and shock. Hatori insisted—she's being discharged this afternoon, and Ritsu and she are flying back home—she doesn't want to come back to the house again."

"I can imagine," Arisa said. "Poor kid."

A policeman coughed politely to Tohru's right. "Mind if I use the phone, miss?"

Tohru said goodbye to Arisu quickly and continued to the library. The corridor was full of police photographers and Tohru walked past them as quickly as she could, not wanting to disturb them. She was terrified that one of them would ask her how exactly she'd managed to find Momo—so far the muttered excuse that something she'd found in an old book had given her the idea to look in the attic seemed to have satisfied them, but she knew Hatori wasn't so certain. Luckily, he was too busy assisting the police enquiries to press the matter.

The library was quiet, the old photograph albums still lying open on the table from where the police had been looking for photos of Kisa. It had a dejected feel to it somehow. Books were left anyhow, the curtains fluttered limply in the wind—and not only was the room empty, it even felt empty.

"Shigure?"

There was no response, not even a rustling of pages.

"I came to say thank-you," Tohru said. "For last night. We wouldn't have found Momo if it hadn't been for you."

Still nothing.

"I don't know if you're here or not—" Tohru felt rather stupid talking to thin air. "But I know it took a lot of effort for you to help me—so I got you something." She took the book out of her bag. "It's a detective novel. Hatori said that you liked them, so—" she put it down on the table. "I hope you like it. I guess, I'll leave you to it."

She backed out of the library—and directly into something soft and warm.

"Eep!"

"Tohru," Yuki said. "I was just looking for you."

"I'm so sorry! I should be more careful where I walk!" Tohru said quickly, blushing profusely. She was practically standing on Yuki—

"Think nothing of it," Yuki said, with his charming grin. "Would you like to join me on a walk in the gardens? I'd like to talk to you."

--oOo--

"So, it was Shigure," Yuki mused, as they walked beside the lily pond. "I'd suspected as much—Tohru, you're a really bad liar. Your ears turn pink—it doesn't suit you at all."

"I'm sorry," Tohru said, her ears pinkening once more. "I shouldn't have said anything—"

"Don't apologise," Yuki said. "I think it's cute."

After that, there was no chance of Tohru's complexion returning to its natural hue. "At least Momo is back safely—that's a great relief."

"Yes—" Yuki said. "Although I wonder—" he stopped walking suddenly. "It seems awfully convenient that Momo should choose to vanish the very morning we were supposed to leave—and that in finding her, we should discover the skeleton—which at the least is going to ensure we remain here another week while the investigation and internment takes place."

"You don't think it's coincidence?" Tohru said, with a slight shiver.

"I don't think there are any coincidences in this house," Yuki said. "Someone didn't want us to leave."

Tohru frowned, her long brown hair falling over her face. "'About midnight the night before the family was supposed to leave, one of us was active'--that's what Shigure said. He couldn't tell me who."

"He didn't know?"

"I think he did. I don't think he could tell me," Tohru clarified. "I think there are rules--he said he wasn't supposed to be beyond the library--"

"But he went to the attic with you," Yuki pointed out.

"That was different!" Tohru protested. "I think it was difficult for him. And he couldn't go unless I went there--I can move forward you see--"

"I'm not so sure I buy his explanation," Yuki said. "I don't think he's telling you the whole truth--"

"But why wouldn't he?" Tohru asked.

"I'm not sure. There is so much we don't know," Yuki said, frowning as a policeman left the library, walking towards him.

"Souma Yuki? Could I trouble you for a statement please?"

"I'll talk to you later, Tohru," Yuki said, nodding to the policeman. "Be--be careful."

Tohru watched him leave, the floaty feeling that usually accompanied any interaction with Yuki undercut by a deeper feeling of consternation. What did Yuki suspect? He was more intelligent than she was, and kept his thoughts so well hidden--she had no hope of knowing what he thought. Did he think Shigure wasn't trustworthy? But--he'd found Momo for them--and he was always so kind--

--and dead. He hadn't mentioned that.

Frowning Tohru started walking. Maybe a stroll around the gardens would help her think.

--oOo--

While not solving her dilemma, the brightly blooming summer flowers managed to lift Tohru's spirits somewhat. The roses were full and their scent beautiful--while the water lilies turned the quiet pond into a spectacular riot of colour.

Seated happily on the bench that Ritsu had fallen asleep on so many weeks ago, Tohru thought of how lucky she was to live in such beautiful surroundings--and how she had to help her mother. They couldn't quit--no matter what--

There was a rustling sound behind her. Tohru looked around, but there was no one there.

Had she imagined it?

Tohru sat down slowly. A rose swayed gently--but there was no breeze. Someone had to have brushed against it--

Tohru jumped off the seat and ran to the path. It was empty--but just ahead she saw someone's back turning down a side path.

Slowly, taking pains to remain quiet, Tohru followed. Her heart was beating fast--and she had no idea why. The path was windy and she only caught occasional glimpses of the person ahead.

At last the path opened onto the riverbank. Tohru stepped forward, intent on seeing who it had been--but there was no one there. The bank was deserted.

Had they taken another path?

Tohru looked around. Just about to abandon her search, her eyes fell on the gazebo--and she froze.

Clearly silhouetted against the gazebo was the person she'd been following. She was instantly recognisable--the ruffled dress, the long black hair--she could only be Souma Rin.

There was something else instantly recognisable too--Rin paced up and down the gazebo, never remaining in one place long. She kept looking towards the house, anxiously, twisting her hands as she did so--the trepidation that she felt was instantly communicable.

The aura of sadness that Shigure mentioned--Tohru stared. "She is sad," she whispered. "So sad--" She could feel it--

"Well if you were murdered then doomed to be forever separated from the one that you love, wouldn't you be pissed as well?"

Tohru spun around. There was no one there. "Ah--"

"Up here," The voice said, sounding amused.

Tohru looked up, into the branches of the willow trees. Seated on a branch midway up one of the trees a boy of about her age was calmly wringing water out of his long hair--a white, silvery colour, as fine as Yuki's. His golden eyes were fixed on her, and Tohru felt goosebumps rise on the back of her neck.

He was pale--too pale--and his skin was faintly tinged purple. As if that wasn't enough, his clothes were wet, clinging to his form in a way that only accentuated his unnatural pallour. Tohru would have liked to have run, but his gaze held her in place with an intensity she couldn't escape--

"You must be Honda Tohru," he said. "You're not what I expected."

Tohru swallowed. "And you're Souma Ayame."