Shigure's house was filled with the usual folks. Shigure was in his office working on yet another fantastic piece of "literature". Yuki was in the garden harvesting. And Kyo was outside doing his daily workout. Tohru was inside sitting in front of the TV with Hiro, who had come early to wait for Kisa because they were going to the park later that day with Tohru. And that was why he was in a particularly bad mood that day. Well not completely true. He was also ticked off because he had had a bad day at school. He failed a test, and had to deal with his classmates giving him crap about how he liked the "strange orange haired mute girl" from Class B. He made it a policy to teach a lesson to anyone who said anything bad about Kisa, even though he didn't really know exactly how he felt about her. Still it was the principle of the thing, and despite his best attempts to explain that to the principal, he still got a detention for the next week. Still he didn't mind because he had given those guys a good fight and it made him feel a little better. Great, now I'm taking enjoyment out of beating the crap out of people. I've been hanging around that stupid cat and that moronic cow for too long. They're starting to wear off on me.

Kisa of course was worried when she found out about what had happened, and that was something he couldn't stand. He hated to see her worry, especially over him, since he didn't feel worthy of it. It was out of guilt that he had agreed to join her for a trip to the park that afternoon, despite the fact that "Sissy" was coming as well. He hated having to share Kisa with that dim witted girl, but he knew that she made Kisa happy. And so he would hide his feelings, and do his best to get along with her. He had to admit that he even liked her sometimes. He hadn't thought she was anything special when he had first met Tohru, just some dim witted outsider who couldn't possibly understand him or any other cursed member of the family. He couldn't understand what the others saw in her. And yet somehow, simply by talking to her, it became clear. They appreciated the fact that she treated them like people, like friends. She simply wanted to try and make them happy, and so when they had chatted about his relationship with Kisa and his desire to be her prince, he actually felt happy. It was nice to be able to share those feelings to someone, and have them understand. And so he decided he would do his best for Kisa, and prove to her that he was worthy of her love. He would become the prince he wanted to be, for her. And if spending time with her and Tohru was part of it, he would simply grin and bear it as best as he could.

Right now though, he was having trouble simply grinning and bearing it. Kisa was late. The girl was hardly ever late, she was usually very responsible. But it had been over an hour since she was supposed to meet them at the house, and there had been no sign of her. It was the stress of wondering what was going on that made him snap more harshly than he intended to.

"Wow" said Tohru, "I wonder where Kisa could be. She's over an hour late"

"Why do you think I wouldn't know that? Do you enjoy stating the obvious? Do you think I'm in capable of reading a clock? Do I look like an illiterate fool to you? Do you enjoy acting superior around children?"

He ranted on and poor Tohru was simply overwhelmed and attempted to apologize, when Shigure walked in

"Now Hiro, I know you're upset, but that's no reason to take it out on Tohru" he said.

Hiro simply grunted and mumbled an apology. Tohru smiled. She knew he didn't mean what he said; he was simply worried about Kisa. Shigure seemed to pick that up as well.

"I can understand why you would be upset though. Kisa is over an hour late. Perhaps she's having a secret rendezvous with a cute classmate…" but before Shigure could finish his lewd joke Hiro snapped back

"Cut the crap you damn dog."

Shigure was taken aback by that. Hiro hardly ever called another Sohma by their Zodiac animal. He was used to being called a dog by Yuki and Kyo on a regular basis, but Hiro practically never did that. He knew he had hit a nerve for him to react the way he did. He walked over and put his hand on the steaming boy's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Hiro." he said. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you and Tohru take your bikes and go down to the park. Perhaps she misunderstood you and thought you all were going to meet there. Meanwhile I'll make some phone calls and see what I can find out. Perhaps she got held back at school or had to head home for some reason. I'll call around and see what I can find out."

Hiro sighed. He really didn't want to go out with Tohru, but he knew she would come along anyway. She cared about Kisa as much as any blood related family member, and he felt better knowing that someone like that would help with the search. So he sighed again and said "Fine come on. Just don't get too far behind. I bike fast."

Tohru smiled and said" Don't worry about me. I'll keep up"

Hiro couldn't help but chuckle considering how badly her first few biking lessons had gone after Yuki and Kyo had bought it for her as a birthday girl. Still sheer persevered and was getting quite better. So they walked outside, snapped their helmets on and started heading out towards the main road. Shigure sighed as he watched them leave. He could hear the sound of two arguing boys approaching the house as he turned around to go in. "Hey where are Tohru and Hiro going" said Yuki, ignoring Kyo's comments. Shigure sighed and said "Come into the house, I'll fill you in as I make some calls."

Meanwhile in a dark room somewhere, two gentlemen meet.

"So the package has been picked up?"

"Yes, the item you gave worked perfectly"

"Yes I had no doubt it would. So now we move the plan forward"

"Yes, I am planning to deliver the disc to the target soon. I will call ahead and make sure they know it is coming and that they should have all involved prepared to watch it. After they know the truth, there decision will be obvious"

"Yes, it should be obvious to them that she is a liar, a tramp up to no good. They will do as you say. Soon your family's honor and reputation will be restored, and I will rid of a problem that has threatened to tear us apart"

"Yes I must say, this has been very beneficial"
"Do not sound so triumphant yet my friend. Let us wait and watch."
"Agreed. Well with your permission, I will take my leave. I have dinner plans with clients in Osaka tonight and must prepare."

"Of course. Take care Mr. Onigawa"

"Take care Mr. Sohma"

The man bowed to the other figure and made his way to the door. The other man cracked a smile, and chuckled. It was almost too easy. Soon she will be gone and he would have control again. And it would be her own ignorance that would turn them against her. Her own stupidity will drive them against her and I will have my Junishhi back again.