A/N: So long lasts this story. I believe we're near our ending. When is the ending of this story you ask? Soon, and very soon. Not too soon I assume. Well I have no right whatsoever to the piece of art owned and created by Natsuki Takaya. Therefore, I am just a fanfic writer. SHIGURE IS TERRIBLY OOC IN HERE! Well… Not really…
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Chapter 4: More, Than Just a Bond
"Shigure?" Akito blurted out in a whisper. She expected another person to stop Ren from behind, but instead he took her beating.
From behind Akito was a very perplexed and appalled Kureno. As he observed from behind he could see Shigure's angry eyes. Seeing how all the racket is over, he relaxed his grip on Akito and soon let go of her, as he watched everything unfold.
"I'm sorry Ren-sama," Shigure stated with uneasiness, "But I simply couldn't allow it."
The other three could tell Ren was about to give off her "I'm gonna kill you for that" look, but instead she quickly changed her expression to a sneer as her eyes beamed with a vicious sense. "You simply couldn't allow it. That is a very well thought answer. But by judging your expression it's not that you couldn't allow it. However the situation is that you wouldn't allow it. If it was the truth that you couldn't help it then maybe I would let you off the hook. But the real truth is, you let your own selfishness stop me because you simply wouldn't allow it."
Shigure did not glare nor give off any hint of anger, but he kept a calm composure. It was unreadable and inscrutable. Meanwhile Akito was perplexed and dazed along with a dumbfounded Kureno.
Ren was dissatisfied with the dog's reaction. "What a pitiful being you are. You really need to learn your place Shigure."
That bitch! Akito yelled in her mind. She felt this urge to defend Shigure from this wicked woman. Her body shook from aggression and uncontrollable fury. She was so blinded in rage that she didn't even notice when…
In a split second, Ren shoved Shigure aside, pushing him roughly to get to Akito.
She returned to that infamous smirk of hers and said very quickly, "What I believe is even more pitiful is someone who is hiding behind a man's back in order to protect herself from something she deserved." Gathering her power, Ren was about to strike her another blow to Akito but this time she bended her fingers to add in her sharp nails.
As Ren's hand (and nails) went in contact with Akito's left cheek, a few scratch marks tore her skin, revealing blood and a great amount of pain for Akito, causing her to shriek. Droplets of blood reached the wooden floor and stained Akito's yukata.
Akito fell backwards from this unexpected move but was (fortunately) caught by Kureno. He secures his arms around her weak body to let her regain her balance as he stared, horrified, at the scene. He held her close, thinking it would soothe her.
During the while, Shigure quickly stood up from his position and came to Akito's side, aghast at what her own mother had done.
"Very pathetic…"
Shigure ignored Ren for now and focused on Akito, who was covering her bleeding wound(s) with her hands, shutting her eyes tightly out of the pain.
"QUICK, KURENO! CALL HATORI!" Shigure yelled in panic.
Kureno nodded hastily and ran for Shigure's office. While Akito stayed with Shigure as he held her to help her numb out the pain.
"Akito-san! Are you alright?" Shigure asked demandingly. Akito didn't answer but liked the feeling of being in his arms while letting out tears of pain and harmful memories.
The intrigued Shigure was tempted to look at Ren's expression. She's probably smirking her ass off right now. Wait a minute… Had Shigure just thought something wicked? Somehow, he had expected this anger after seeing Akito get hurt…
To Ren's dismay, she could notice Akito was taking in comfort from Shigure. No matter what she does, that confounded dog is always there to comfort her. And so, she left the scene, walking back to her room, and closing her Shoji screen with a great slam.
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PYON TO THE NEXT SCENE!
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Hatori placed a square patched band-aid over Akito's scratched cheek which was rubbed with anti-biotic ointment by Hatori. "Akito-san, I suggest when you come near Ren's area, please take Kureno with you." He turned to Shigure and Kureno, "Was Ren injured too?"
Before Kureno and Shigure could answer a "no", Akito spoke up, "Even IF she was I won't let you." With that she left with a scowl towards her room. Kureno was about to follow but then he was stopped by Shigure who held him back to stay with Hatori and Shigure himself to follow Akito.
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After hearing two knocks outside her Shoji, Akito screamed, "GO AWAY SHIGURE."
He was very shocked to hear that. Had he been not the person who helped her in her situation just awhile ago? And since when did she not require him when she is troubled by that witch? Or maybe … he's been replaced by Kureno… A spark of jealousy has a-flamed. Though he felt a little intimidated to, he slid open the Shoji and went inside. He walked towards her…
Akito was there scowling her ass off at him. "I thought I said…" But before she could finish, Shigure crouched down in front of her, brought her chin up to face him and kissed her. Not on the cheek, or anywhere innocent but on her feminine lips.
She returned the kiss but realizing she was still angry at being disobeyed at, she slapped Shigure on the face.
He felt taken back as he sat on the floor, but instead, he just rubbed his hand on his reddening cheek and smiled in a goofy way like he used to back when…. "Akito-san, I didn't think that was necessary."
She countered him with a hostile retort, "I didn't think that kiss was necessary either."
He continued his silly façade. "I'm sorry Akito-san." And then he turned and to leave.
What was that? He just left… Before he could turn his back on her, Akito yelled, "WAIT."
He twisted back around to her wonderingly.
She continued where she left off, "Thank you Shigure-san. It's been a long time since you were there for me when that woman was there."
He nodded his head in response and sat back down in front of her.
"I thought you were going to leave," she hinted at.
Shigure smiled mischievously. There was a long pause before he can answer. "Was I?"
Akito gave out an exasperated sigh. Just a day ago, Akito had asked Kureno that why does Shigure keep coming back. Kureno was oblivious and answered as if he had no right to come back. Of course no one understands, except for Akito and Shigure. They both know why. Ever since they were children they knew. Her thoughts pondered more into old times.
Shigure was uneasy at the look of Akito. She looked sad and disappointed at the same time, obviously at her thoughts. What was she thinking about? It was also awkward to sit just there with silence. So with an unconscious temptation, he leaned forwards her again, kissing her once more.
Akito was bewildered after being disrupted from her train of thought… But this kiss… This kiss… it brought back a memory that was so sweet. His soft and welcoming lips were warm and loving to hers. Shigure had kissed her many times, but this one reminded her of her first. And it was very comforting to know he hadn't forgotten. (Of course he didn't)
Soon that kiss evolved into something more, something that brought both "lovers" a fond feeling of being together once more…
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Just like life, blissful moments would fleetingly pass. Yes, they had made love. And yes, they're both in each other's arms. But just like always, Shigure leaves. Before Akito could awaken from her slumber, Shigure headed off to exit the Main House and back into his own.
Meanwhile a dream of a past childhood…
"Shigure, do you like me?"
Shigure simply answered by whispering into her hear, "I think of you always, that's a fact."
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Yen's ramblings: YIKES ultra fluffiness. I am not good with romance. This fic is intentionally dark but I decided, "Hey! This is an Akigure, or Shikito, fic so why not put up a chapter dedicated to them? The last section was taken from the manga. HA Spoilers again. I am sorry for my chapters being short. When I type it up it feels like a few years passed...