Chapter VIII: Shigure's Busy Line

Shigure

I answered the phone after the seventh ring.

"Souma resident, Shigure speaking," I said while admiring myself in the mirror, hmm, should I cut my hair?

"Gure-san!" a very familiar voice said.

"Aya!" I said with enthusiasm when I heard who it was.

"Oh, Gure-san how I've missed you!"

"Hoh hoh hoh, not as much as I've missed you!" I gestured dramatically while speaking and got a weird look from Yuki. I winked to him and he turned away annoyed. I shrugged and turned my attention to Ayame again.

"I'm so happy, Gure-san!"

"Mm-hmm, so what do you want?" Might as well get to the point.

"Tori-san just told me about the wonderful beach party you are having for Tohru-san, I just wanted to tell you that I'll be there!" Beach party? Ah, what the hell, why bother telling him the truth?

"Yes, that's right!" I sang.

"What a lovely idea Gure-san, I wonder what I shall wear? Hmm...." Shigure couldn't help yawning when Ayame started to chatter about different type of clothes. "So what do you think, which should I choose?"

"Eh, how about the third one you mentioned?" I said a bit confused.

"The third one? I'm not sure... It is not quite that unique... I guess I'll give Tori-san a call and ask him, he has much better taste!" I wasn't offended when he said that, true, I wasn't in clothes, hell I wore almost the same thing all the time. Hi hi, poor Hatori, I don't think he'd care that much either.

"Fine, well later, Aya!" I said and hung up.

I was getting a headache... Maybe I should rest...

Yuki

Hmm, what should I get for the picnic tomorrow? Perhaps some fruit...

I picked some apples, a melon, peaches, oranges, ah, strawberries! But those I do not need to buy, I'll just pick it from my field. What should we drink? Lemonade sounded good.

I couldn't help feeling excited about tomorrow. Honda-san must remember then! Everyone would be there, surely she would remember. Though my not so lovely brother would be there I still was longing for tomorrow. Perhaps Honda-san and I could walk on the beach together and... I blushed slightly.

Don't get to big expectations, I told myself. Perhaps nothing would happen; perhaps she would remain the person she was now...

I reached for the bread, this would do.

I wondered if Akito knew about this. I bet he doesn't like it... Or? Why hadn't he done anything?

Shigure

I answered the phone after the eight ring.

"Souma resident, Shigure speaking," I said while looking at myself in the mirror, hmm, was I getting fat? Perhaps I should start exercising... no, I did not have the time.

"Umm, am I disturbing you in something? If that is the case GOMEN NASAI! GOMEN NASAIIIIIIIIIII! I will hang up right now!"

"Hoh hoh, Ritsu how nice of you to call." I glanced at Kyo who looked irritated; he rolled his eyes at me.

"R-really? I am not troubling you?" he asked carefully.

"Well, I was just-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA! SUMIMASEN!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I will hang up right now and call you later. AAAAAAAAH! GOMEN NASAIIII!! I am not worthy of talking to you on the phone!! AAAAH! I am sorry!! Why didn't I come to visit you? This surely shows what a lazy worthless pathetic no excuse for a human being I am!! GOOOOOMEN NAASAIII!" I sighed. This was without a doubt Ritsu.

"No, I was just bored, glad you called," I lied. My ear was really hurting by now, please let him stop yelling...

"Y-you are? Thank you! I am not worthy of your praise. I am so sorry it was me who called instead of someone more interesting..."

"Aha, so did you want something?" I studied my nails, I should probably cut them.

"Yes, I would like to go to the picnic... But perhaps I am not welcomed? I understand if that is the case, I'm so SORRY I bothered then. GOMEN!" he sniffed.

"You are welcomed there, I'm glad you will make it, sure you're up for it? She's not acting quite herself..." I said gently. Perhaps Ritsu would do more harm then help? I hoped not.

"Oh, yes I am! She comforted me, made me feel a bit better... I want to do the same..." I smiled. Why had I ever thought he would bring bad vibes to the picnic? Ritsu truly was a gentle soul.

"Great, well see you tomorrow!"

"Ah, ye-yes! Thank you for letting me be there. I hope I will not bring any of my bad luck to the picnic that would be awful! O-oo, I-I probably will! OH DEEEEAR! AAAAAAAAAH! I shouldn't attend there!!! GOMEN NASAI FOR SAYING I WOULD GO THERE!! I shouldn't come! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! What to do, what to do?!?!"

"Just be there, OK!" I hung up before he could say anything.

My headache was getting worse... Maybe I should rest...

Kyo

The wind blew through my hair and yawned. Training had been hard today; I had to beat that kuso nezumi soon. I put my arms behind my head and my head rested on them.

What was Akito doing? He surely must know about Tohru's condition by now. I bet he was thrilled about it. I shivered. Hope Tohru doesn't run into him, I wonder how she would handle it... A little tiny part of me was really curious how she would act. But no, that wouldn't be good.

Shigure

I answered the phone after the ninth ring.

"Souma resident, Shigure speaking," I said while admiring myself in the mirror, hmm, I had a stain on my kimono, I should wash this...

"Yo." I smiled; one by one they were calling.

"Yes, Hiro?"

"Is that all, 'yes Hiro?' What kind of response is that, you are almost thirty you should know more polite ways," the brat said.

"I am sorry..." I said while yawning.

"Everyone can say they are sorry, nowadays saying sorry is like saying hello. The elders should make this their responsibility to fix this. If you are a human being who can think I assume you know you are an elder to me?" I looked around; wouldn't someone save me from this?

"Eh, yeah, so what do you want?" Jeez, get to the point little lamb!

"Hmph, you really don't know? I guess I couldn't expect more from a dog..." I took up the newspaper from the floor and started flipping through it.

"Uh-huh, you are right, so what do you want?"

"Keh, just 'cause you can admit your wrongs you think that makes you far superior?" I took a deep breath, let the boy finish... "Well, since you obviously don't have a brain I just have to say the obvious. I'm coming to the picnic."

"Really? May I ask why, I thought you didn't like Tohru."

"I don't, OK, so don't get the wrong idea, dog. I want to see how she has changed, keh, so pathetic, besides it would make Kisa happy." Ah, so there it was.

"OK."

"OK? Is that all, what is it with the word-" I hung up.

God, my head hurt so... Maybe I should rest...

Tohru

I reached for the diary and opened to the first page, I was feeling calm today, I wonder why... Perhaps it was Yuki's words? What he had said was true, I was the only one in the way, I was hindering myself.

There it was, hmm, was that my writing style? I could hear my heart pounding clearly in my ears. The first entry started about one year ago.

Hello there! I finally filled up the old diary so I bought a new one, might as well start writing the same day I got it. Today has been a lovely day, but Kyo almost ran into a girl, how horrible that would have been! Yuki came in time though and pushed him away. How relieved I was, I'm sure Kyo was as well but didn't want to show it.

I stopped reading, huh!? What did she mean by that? I closed my eyes and saw Kyo as that orange cat again... somehow it seemed like it was connected with that image, but that was just stupid... Or could it? No! People didn't turn into animals. I continued reading the first entry but it didn't explain why it would have been horrible if Kyo did run into that girl. There were other things as well, but boring things, such as how wonderful the day was and that she had finally found her school book again.

I flipped through some pages and started reading another entry.

Hello there! I feel a bit sad today... I don't like this feeling. I had a dream about Mother, I can still remember it.

I stopped reading a second time; did I really want to find out? Yes, I must...

We were so happy... When I woke up I could feel the dream lingering within me and then the sudden realization struck me, she was gone. I remember the smile I had on my lips as I thought, what will she make me for breakfast? I cried in the shower, I hope nobody heard it, I'm pretty sure they didn't. Why do I still talk to her picture? Why do I think she is there with me? I know she will always remain in my heart but somehow that isn't enough, I lost her too early.

I put the diary gentle down, I couldn't continue reading. I looked at the picture of my Mother for a long time and then turned it around so it faced the wall.

Shigure

I answered the phone after the tenth ring.

"Souma resident, Shigure speaking," I said while tiredly admiring myself in the mirror. I was just about to fall asleep when this phone call woke me up.

"Hi, Shigure."

"Hey, Haru..." Please, let this be the last one, please!!!

"I assume you know why I am calling, I want to come tomorrow."

"Great..." I rubbed my head wearily.

"Oh? You don't seem so happy about it, is there something wrong with me being there?"

"No, just wonderful..." I yawned.

"Sarcasm!! YOU! I AM NOT IN A GOOD MOOD TODAY!"

"What? I-I'm sorry, I'm just tired!" I said and sniffed. Oh, bed, why, oh why am I not in my bed?

"Keh, aren't you the little pathetic crybaby? To think that a man of your age is still just two years old in his mind. I bet I've done better with the ladies then you," Haru rambled on. Better with the ladies? Please, that was one huge lie.

"Really?" I mumbled.

"Hah! Can't find a decent respond, huh? That's 'cause you know it's true! CRYBABY!" I winced. No, no more! I can't continue to listen to this! I hung up before he could say more and then I unplugged the phone. Quiet, finally.

At last I could sleep...

Before I went to bed I opened a drawer in my room and took out a paper and started scribbling:

LIST FOR THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING THE PICNIC: Shigure, Tohru, Yuki, Kyo, Hatori, Momiji, Kisa, Ayame, Ritsu, Hiro and Haru.

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Arrei: I'm glad you liked it! I'll try to include Akito more. Thanks for all of your support so far!

Rem: Lol, yes.

Siegfried's Girl: Ok, you did! Thanks.

Faol: Thanks! So glad you loved it! Yes, I will include Ayame. ^_^

Kewie: Thank you! Wow, another one put me on their favorite list, I'm so HAPPY!!! Thanks for the cookie and the review!