Shigure met Hatori and Akito on the porch. "My, what a surprise", he said genially with his arms outstretched. Akito just glared at him, "why didn't you call me at once?", she hissed. Shigure grinned as if he had been caught doing something devious, but he didn't back down. He stood in the doorway and kept her from passing. "Get out of my way!", Akito shouted at the dog. "I will after you agree to hear me out", Shigure said firmly. His eyes were steady as he looked at her. "Hmph!", Akito sniffed, but Shigure let her pass, accepting that as her answer in the affirmative.
Akito stepped into the foyer with her lips pursed and her arms folded. Shigure gestured with a bow and an outstretched arm towards his office, and she followed his lead with a frown. Once inside he closed the door.
Shigure was silent at first and he studied his shoes. Akito looked at him expectantly, but had little patience for the whole thing. "Well, what is it?" she snapped. Shigure sighed heavily. "Yuki, Tohru, and the baby are all upstairs", he began. "Tell me something I didn't already know!" she retorted sarcastically. "The thing is", Shigure hesitated knowing he broached a delicate subject, "you don't own him anymore", he said quietly, but determinedly, and he looked into her eyes. Akito's face went scarlet while Shigure continued. "Yuki isn't a child. He's a man now- with a wife and a baby", he reasoned. "He has betrayed us!", Akito exploded. "No, he hasn't" Shigure said calmly. Akito shot him a death glare. "You forced him to make a choice, and he did" Shigure continued, "and no matter how often you force the issue, he will continue to make the same choice, you know this". Shigure searched her face for acknowledgement. She started to come back with a retort, and then thought better of it. "So what are you suggesting?", Akito said solemnly, and she looked at the floor. "I'm suggesting it is time for you to let him live his life", Shigure said, "let him go". His eyes met hers with a look of firmness, but also of sympathy. Akito smiled wryly up at him, "if I let him go then I will have no one", she said quietly. The vulnerability she so rarely showed surfaced, and she seemed suddenly very small and helpless. Shigure finally saw his chance- the one he had waited for through all these years; the chance he had dreamed of since he was ten years old. He took her tiny hand in his, "You'll have me", he said quietly.
Meanwhile, Tohru and Yuki sat calmly talking together, knowing they were trapped, and that it was only a matter of time before they would be separated again. Yuki bounced Ichiro on his knee, and the two of them just conversed about simple things- enjoying the time they had together; in denial of Akito's impending wrath. "Tohru", Yuki said softly, "no matter what, please know that I love you, and I always will". He looked at her warmly. "I know", she smiled, and they kissed, almost shyly- it had been so long. "I didn't mean the things I said in that letter", he added with a pleading look. "I knew that all along", Tohru smiled; "not that it didn't hurt". They looked into each others eyes and a healing took place inside each of them. Wounds were replaced by the strength they shared as a couple. Yuki sighed; "I don't know what is going to happen now, but…" he stopped short. He could hear footsteps on the stairs. "Someone's coming", he said briskly, and handed Ichiro back to Tohru. Their eyes met one more time and they renewed their commitment to each other in that glance. "I love you", Tohru said in a frightened whisper. Yuki looked at her resolutely, "just stay back and let me deal with this", he said, and he turned to face the doorway, his body square to it; shielding his family from harm.
The door burst open with a loud thud. "Yuki! You won't believe this!" It was Haru, out of breath and very excited. Yuki and Tohru went from looks of alarm to incredulousness. "Shigure just proposed to Akito!", Haru grinned.
Down stairs there was a clamor of voices and posturing going on. As Yuki, Tohru, Ichiro, and Haru descended the stairs, they could hear Shigure spouting off, and Akito yelling. "Congratulations", Hatori said flatly, and he had the slightest glimmer of a smirk on his face. "Yes, I think if we hurry we can still have a June wedding!" Shigure quipped enthusiastically, "I've always wanted a June bride- they say they are the most beautiful", and he winked at Akito. "I haven't agreed to this yet!", Akito shouted perturbed, but Shigure and Hatori weren't listening. "Let's call Aya. I'll bet he could pull something really elegant together in no time", Shigure continued, and he picked up the phone. "I said hold on!", Akito countered to no avail. "I think Akito has met her match", Haru smirked as he watched the antics. Tohru smiled warmly, and Yuki raised an eyebrow and grinned.