This is... the end.
Thank you, everyone, for the reviews. You've made posting and such worth it. Thank you, new readers! Hope you visit more of my fics (hint, hint). Gimme hasn't always been the most fun thing to write for me, but I generally loved writing it. As always, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Furuba.
"Ahhhhhh! Where is it?"
Music to his ears. He closed his eyes as if to savor his editor's frantic shrieks. She was scrambling around in that way of hers, throwing his study into chaos.
"You should help me look! I can't believe you'd lose something so vital! And you're not even finished!"
"Just have to type up the last chapter," Shigure remarked absently. Telling her a small lie, that his manuscript was misplaced, wasn't such a bad thing, was it? His brown eyes took in her weary irises framed with red veins, her disheveled hair, her wrinkled turquoise skirt and jacket. And she had arrived looking so pretty before! Full of optimism for some odd reason. But that was his Mii, the eternal optimist. Well, maybe the term didn't fit. Yep, he decided as he watched her mouth transfigure itself into a lipsticked growl. She was definitely more optimistic when she first came to work for me. And this is what I've reduced her to...
"Mii-chan."
The brunette looked up, shocked, as if unsure of how to respond to her name. "Y--Yes?"
Why not? He'd be nice to her. This time. He hooked compassionate eyes outlined with mischief on Mii and introduced a smile to his mouth.
"Well... You've been working so hard... And I wanna... Well, uh... Take you out somewhere, to reward you and all." Realizing that his last sentence was more of a statement than a request, he asked, "Well? Would you like to go out with me?"
A blink. "What?"
"I'm asking you out, Mii-chan!" He smiled, losing his former verbal clumsiness. "Let's go out tonight. If you're free," he added hastily.
Her eyes were augmented. "How... How could you ask me that?"
"Well, simply," he told her matter-of-factly. "I thought, Hey, I'll ask Mii-chan out, and I did so."
"But... We..." She nervously grasped for the right words to epitomize what her point was. "I'm your... employee. And... Relationships like that, I... It..."
"You trying to say you don't want to go out with me as just friends? Well, why didn't you say so? I've always loved you, you know." Hey, he could be nice, but that didn't mean he had to sacrifice his favorite hobby: teasing Mii-chan.
She slumped to the floor, eyes clouded with disappointment and tears. "Why do you always tease me?"
"Oh, Mii. I wasn't teasing. I'm serious! I love you."
"If you loved me, Sensei," she sniffled, "you would be prompt with your manuscripts and you wouldn't be so hard on me. I was trying to explain that love and work is a bad combination." She looked up at him. Seeing Mii on all fours, gazing up at him with tears dripping down her cheeks, he felt a pang of sympathy.
"I'll tell you what. If you want, you can go home now. I'll look for my manuscript. Then, later, should you decide to go out with me, I'll give it to you then. Sound fair?"
She released a breath in a shaky shudder. "Okay. But you'd better look."
Shigure laughed as he helped her up and offered her a handkerchief. She pressed the yellow cloth to her streaming eyes.
He watched Mii leave with a smile. That poor woman. He swiveled to face his PC and ejected the floppy his novel was saved on. If his eyes were to retrace the path Mii exited, he would've noticed a woman standing there with the most sorrowful gray eyes. But he didn't turn and the woman glided past, too hurt to make a visit to his study.
Why?
I don't know.
Why?
I told you, I don't know. Leave me alone.
Kagura looked down at the body of water before her. She normally loved visiting the family-owned hot spring. She had even talked to Ritsu, which was nice. But that was after she frantically pulled him out of the steamy water, a result of another suicide attempt. However, his talk of wanting to die and killing himself was less frequent. Perhaps he would see his worth someday and learn to truly love himself.
Now, she wondered if he hadn't had the right idea. Right now, she considered throwing herself in the water and drowning herself. Only for a split second, not a serious contemplation, but she felt as if she were dying, suffocating, and it wasn't just because of the steam.
Rising from the large boulder she'd perched herself on, a red-faced Kagura made her way dizzily to the bus stop. The wind cooled her blood-filled face. The nausea subsided and she sighed in relief.
A year had elapsed since the commencement of Kyou's and Tohru's romantic involvement. Kagura was fairly sure that she was finally over him and was glad, released from a terrible plight. No more drowning in self-pity. No more bursting into tears or enduring constant waves of compassion from her family. Gone were the dark days. Life had a purpose.
A sharp jab in the cardiac muscle reminded her that life may have a purpose, but she was still hurting, only the pain sprung from a different cause.
When she decided to pay her cousins and Tohru a visit today, she'd been bursting with joy and excitement. She couldn't wait to see Kyou. She couldn't wait to see everyone! Kagura even sang on her long trek there, something she ordinarily avoided at all costs due to her less-than-melodious singing voice.
She bounded in and rushed to Shigure's study since it appeared that no one else was home. She followed the shrieks of his editor and Shigure's lilting voice. And she'd been about to waltz in and reprimand Shigure for torturing that poor woman when she heard them (or maybe just Shigure) making plans for their nocturnal rendezvous. Something entered her then. It was pandemonium in her mind, her heart was tightening around an unidentified emotion...
Jealousy. That was it. How could she have not seen it? She was jealous.
Kagura pulled away from the actualization. No way. Jealous? Why?
You know, a voice in her told her.
I told you, I don't, she answered.
You do.
She took a deep breath and held it. Air immediately fell from her lips as if being rejected by her lungs.
Okay, fine, Kagura admitted. I am jealous. I'm jealous.
She ordered herself to focus. And she did, not scanning herself for superficial answers, but truthful ones as to the reason why.
Shigure has always been there, she thought. Even when flirting with Aya, he'd always been the unattached one. And if he were to enter a relationship with Mii-chan, I'm afraid he'll have no time for me. I'm anticipating how much I'll miss him.
No. There was another reason. What was it?
The bus swung gracefully beside her and the woman boarded it, more confused than enlightened. But she knew one thing. She was going to be braver. She was going to march right back to his house and do one thing and one thing only.
Try to convince him not to wear his butler suit when on his date with Mii.
"Ah! Just the people I wanted to see!" Shigure was all smiles as he bounded to the Cat and his girlfriend. Laughter threatened to burst from his throat but he suppressed it.
"What the hell do you want?" Kyou asked as he tightened his hand around hers. "We're about to go out."
"So I see," Shigure commented, taking in the blue and white summer dress Tohru wore, along with the sure-to-be-uncomfortable high heels she was in. Her hair was pulled back and her face was brushed with makeup, the transformation courtesy of Kagura.
Kyou noticed and shoved her behind him as if he could ward off his leering eyes that way. "Sicko! Don't look at my Tohru-chan that way!"
Pretending to be deeply hurt, he cried, "Your Tohru-chan? She's ours, not yours. And anyway, you can't own a person. Well, Kyou-kun?" Leaning in. "Are you implying that you can own someone? Where are you going, Tohru-kun?" he asked, looking at her.
"We're going out to dinner. There's this new restaurant that opened here and it's supposed to serve really good food."
"Not better than yours, I'm sure," he winked as he tilted her chin with his index finger.
"Just because you're lonely doesn't mean you have to move in on... Tohru," he growled as he slapped his hand from her face.
Shigure discreetly rubbed his injured hand, not wanting to let him know how much that hurted. "Well, that's where you're wrong! It just so happens that I do have a date! With Mii-chan." His voice stretched over her name. His eyes widened along with Tohru's.
Finally he unleashed a bark of laughter. "Some date! She'll just scold you. I really," voice dripping in sarcasm, "envy you, Shigure."
"Hey, you stick to your love life, I'll stick with mine."
"Since when have you ever not stuck your incredibly long nose in our business?"
"Ta-da!" He placed a small manila envelope about the size of a check in Tohru's hands.
Kyou gave him a bewildered, suspicious look. "What are those?"
Shigure kept a straight face for once. "Movie tickets. After all, a dinner isn't exactly a date, not a complete one anyway."
Her eyes grew in size as she placed them on the benefactor.
"I couldn't-- I mean, we couldn't accept these! These must've cost so much and you must've reserved them ahead of time, which would've cost you more! This is too much, I..."
"If you keep telling me how wonderful I am," he chuckled, "you'll miss the 9 o'clock show. So accept these tickets, Tohru-kun, Kyou-kun, and have fun watching--"
"Even Though I Love You!?" He tossed a scornful look his way. "This sounds like a chick flick! No way do I want to see this!"
"Well it's not up to you. It's up to Tohru. Well, Tohru? Do you want to see the movie?"
"Stop trying to sabotage her!"
"And stop answering for her. She is in the room. She has a voice, and doesn't need you to speak on her behalf."
"N--No, it's okay." Her eyes darted to the male beside her. "Thank you, Shigure, for the tickets. It was nice of you, generous of you to buy these and I'd love to accept them. But if Kyou doesn't want to... uh..."
"No, I want to," he said gently. "Even if it sucks, I want to watch it with you."
"It won't suck!" he protested, injecting an offended tone in his words. "It's the perfect blend of romance and action." Another giggle suppressed. "You'll love it. Really. Now go! The night won't last forever."
"...Thanks," he replied grudgingly before Tohru said goodbye. They left arm-in-arm, Shigure's eyes lingering on their vanishing forms. At least one pair in this house could find bliss. Swallowing his self-pitying, he spun around.
"Kagura!"
Shigure wasn't entirely sure of how to act around her. He knew that he was in love with her, and that changed how he saw her, spoke to her. She must've noticed, right? And at the same time, Shigure was a fantastic actor. He was fairly sure Kagura didn't know of her altered role in his heart.
This was odd. Why had her gaze dropped to the floor? She was acting like Kisa, with red cheeks and her toe nervously digging into the floor.
Almost immediately, she removed the color from her face and looked him directly in the eye. "I hear you're going out with Mii-chan," she said with a weakly held-up smile.
Shigure grinned. "Yep. I'm always so mean to her, so I thought I'd be nice for once." He didn't know why he had explained himself. It was almost as if he were reassuring Kagura that he wasn't romantically interested in his editor, as if her shyness was a result of her insecurity. He knew that she wasn't insecure. How could she be? But there was the explanation, standing in the air, with no way of him reclaiming the words.
"Well... I hope you have fun then." Damn, she thought. She'd fought so hard for control of her voice, but it wobbled and trembled without her consent. His puzzled look alerted her to his awareness of her erratic behavior. She had to do something, say something to divert his attention.
"Look, I'd stay and all, but I am beat." She created a pretense of lethargy by yawning hugely and grinding her fist into her eye. Kagura glided to the shoji and gave him a backwards glance. "Shigure."
"Yeah?"
"...Don't wear the suit. I know you ironed it and all, but..." Amusement in her voice, "it makes you look like a butler."
His laughter joined the jangling sound of her giggles, as soft and melodious as fingers dancing atop piano keys. It was only when his solitary notes of laughter prevailed that he realized that she had already left. He felt immediately somber. Empty, empty...
What am I doing standing here? he wondered. I have a date to go on.
"And you didn't even change. You're still wearing your yukata from this afternoon!" Mii's voice was shrill, and for good reason. She had gone all out. The woman was outfitted in a sunrise pink dress with a gauzy scarf twisted around her throat. She even wore makeup, which she rarely had time to apply due to her busy schedule. And here Shigure was, ten minutes late in picking her up, with wind-tousled hair and he hadn't even dressed up!
"Nice dress," he said after a while.
"Aahhhhh! You're impossible!"
"Impossibly handsome?"
She shot him a withering glare. "No."
Mii and Shigure were seated at a table in an elegant restaurant. Not exactly his taste, but anything for his wonderful editor!
She lifted the menu up, hiding her face. "Hey, this place is expensive. Don't get so angry," he wanted to say, but this was a night where there he'd play nice. As nice as he could be.
"Do you have the manuscript?" she asked dully, as if anticipating a negative response.
Shigure chuckled. "Can't you get your mind off work for one second, Mii-chan?" But he pulled out his floppy disk and slid it across the table. To his delight, she tossed her menu aside and dove for it, tears of happiness in her eyes as her fingers gripped the device as if it were made out of diamonds.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she sobbed. This was amusing, seeing as she was drawing attention to herself. There was something warm in his chest, the good feeling you get from doing something benevolent and noble, he guessed.
Mii slid the floppy into her purse and recollected herself as one gathers the pearls of a broken necklace. "Thank you, Sensei. This means the world to me. I really hope you'll be more prompt in the future. Well, compared to the other times, you're practically early right now!"
They laughed. He stared at her while asking, "Why?"
The waiter glided to their table, inquiring if they had made their selection. After Mii chirped out her order, and a lot of exaggerated moments of deliberation from Shigure, he made his choice. Placing two cups of water before them, he went to the next available table.
"Why what? Why you're so early? Well it's only taken you a week when usually, you procrastinate or whatever until past or even a week before the deadline!"
"Well, that. But why did you stay? You're a resilient person, and would probably enjoy working for someone less frustrating. Why me?"
The inquiry made her uncomfortable. Her cheeks reddened as she became suddenly enamored with the white table cloth dressing their table. "A... A lot of reasons, Sensei," she finally said. "I didn't want to give up on you when so many did."
"But there's another reason," he persisted as he forwarded his head in her direction. This was fun, seeing her get embarrassed. "Don't tell me you like me."
She shot him a glare as if this were absurd. "Oh, sure. I really do like you," she intoned with sarcasm.
"So you hate me!" he wailed. "Really, Mii-chan? You hate me?"
"At times like this, yes!" she shrieked. "I-- Don't... You... Dare... Tell... Anyone... This," she ground out.
"I could just leave you here to pay the check," he threatened smilingly, "the way you're speaking to me. But I swear I won't tell anyone," he promised with his hand up as if testifying in court.
Mii sighed. That man could get under her skin so easily. Why do I let him? she wondered as she took a sip of water. Would she regret telling him? But whatever. She was too weary to put up any more defenses.
"It started after... I ran out..."
"I don't want to work here anymore!"
"But Mii-chan! You're so entertaining! I have the manuscript here!"
Tears of helplessness and frustration expanded in her eyes, dripping down her cheeks. The male's proclamation might've made more of an impact if he were chasing her, begging her to stay. But within the first five minutes, she realized how futile compliance from Shigure was. Mii had made a respite to his place just as a frantic redhead rushed out of the entrance. But young, optimistic Mii had just smiled. Surely he wasn't as bad as so many editors said. He had to have his good points as well.
Mii was sure she'd never be such a hopeful optimist again.
He claimed he didn't have his manuscript, that he hadn't even started it. Hell, he didn't even have a premise. 'Brilliance, Mii-chan, true brilliance can't be pinned down by deadlines, and certainly can't be rushed.' That's what he had said from his infuriating mouth.
'That may be so, but there are expectations from you, Sensei,' she'd scolded him gently. She wasn't eager for the conversation to evolve into a screaming match.
There was no need to worry. Shigure wasn't one to scream. The argument was in actuality a one-sided campaign to give him impetus to write. And that man had just smiled and said the most off-topic things!
"Ow!" Her vision was severely handicapped, causing her to fall from the porch. Her new skirt and blouse, ruined. Seeing the spring green material mingle with the mud made Mii burst into tears. Hopeless! She had come here, wanting to prove to herself that she could tame the notorious Shigure-sensei every editor avoided, and she had failed miserably. She might as well kill herself right now.
"Are you all right?"
Her amber eyes were attached to the most handsome face she had ever seen. She had to admit, grudgingly of course, that Shigure was good-looking. But this male was different. His maturity, his voice... She wanted to faint when hearing his smooth voice.
"Y--Yes," she stammered as she got up and brushed the soil from her skirt. She tossed out a carefree laugh as if this matter weren't of any consequence to her. "I'm fine. Uh… May I ask your name?"
He looked a bit surprised at the random question. Mii herself was surprised. She accepted the gray and black handkerchief he offered her and pressed her eyes to it.
She was relieved when he responded with, "Sohma Hatori. I'm Shigure's cousin. You must be his newest victim."
Mii laughed. "I was hoping he wasn't going to be difficult. But that would be like asking a baby never to cry." She attached to her sentence hastily, "But he isn't so bad! He is a... vibrant man and seems to be a lot of fun." She hoped she hadn't insulted him. She had implied that his cousin was a terror after all.
"Vibrant," he spat with a touch of contempt in his voice. "That's putting it mildly. You're bleeding."
"Oh." She blushed. First she had stumbled, looking like a fool, and now she was bleeding in front of him. "Where?"
He was about to point, then, seeming to think that that would be impolite, rubbed his thumb lightly over her temple. "Here." A pause. "I'm going to have to talk to him about this."
Could a person die from a touch? Mii sure felt as if she would. "Th--Thank you," she stuttered as she held the handkerchief to her wound. Right there and then, she decided something. She couldn't give up on Shigure! After all, first impressions were sometimes wrong.
"Then Sohma-san-- your cousin-- went back inside with me. And he chewed you out," she said with a touch of smugness in her voice.
Shigure created the pretense of being upset. "So it had nothing to do with me! It was so you could drool all over Ha'ri! How conniving you are, Mii!"
"No!" she denied with a red face. "I suddenly felt empowered! It had nothing to do with Ha-- Sohma-san! I found the strength to stay!"
"Suuuuurrrrreeeee," he drawled. Aw, Mii-chan was in love. How cute.
Their orders arrived and the two ate. Mii stuffed her face with food, as if she could ward off any more embarrassing comments from Shigure with an occupied mouth.
"Mii-chan."
She looked up and gulped. "Yes?"
"The reason I wanted to take you out was... Oh, look who's here!" he exclaimed. He waved to the two people he'd indicated.
Hatori looked at Shigure and was considering not going over there, but Ayame waved back and dragged him across the room.
He looked at her slyly, but she didn't notice due to the menu hiding her face.
"Hiiii!" Ayame greeted Shigure. Mii instantly died when seeing Ayame cling to Hatori's arm. Of course he has a girlfriend, she thought sadly.
"What're you guys doing here?" Shigure asked in false surprise. He knew full well why they were. Ayame somehow got his working stiff cousin to join him for dinner. He'd been bragging about it to Shigure earlier that day. "Mii, dear," he cooed as he lowered the menu from her face. "It's rude to ignore our guests."
"You were ignoring me," she murmured before launching a giant smile across her face, looking at the new arrivals. "Hello," she greeted as she introduced herself.
The males did so in turn.
Shigure rose from his chair. "I gotta go," he announced. "It was lovely, Mii-chan, being with you."
Panic raced across her features. "Wait. You-- You're leaving?" she squeaked, shooting Hatori a furtive look.
"Yes. Aya, dear, do me a favor, please?"
"Anything, anything!"
He leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Mii-chan likes Hatori," he giggled. "I know how you hate sharing and all, but I'll tell you what. The two of us'll go to Chinatown, pick up some coconut buns, grab some sake and dance in the streets, singing. Let's leave the work-obsessed lovers here."
Ayame giggled. Going to Chinatown and dancing in the streets while intoxicated was a tradition of theirs, accomplished only on Ayame's birthday and out of Hatori's company. To be doing this when his birthday was months away was something special. "I should be pissed off at you, playing matchmaker like this." He looked at Mii and winked, who dropped her gaze with a blush brushed on her cheeks. "But whatever. I'll let it slide."
"See you!" they cried, hands joined.
"But Sensei--!"
"Thank you, Mii-chan. You're a wonderful editor."
Stunned with silence, Shigure and Ayame found their chance to leave.
"Wait!" she cried, but it was a weak protest. They were already gone. Mii looked at Hatori.
"I think I know why I stayed," Mii said, more to herself than to Hatori. It had just occurred to her then. She squinted in concentration, focusing on the memory. "I remember telling him I was going to quit... And his eyes got all... sparkly. And his voice was sweet as he convinced me to stay."
Hatori sweatdropped. "The Sparkly-Eyed Technique." He sighed. "I know how that goes, unfortunately."
The night was young and Kagura was feeling old. It was ridiculous. She was a young adult and instead of doing fun things like going on dates and hitting the clubs, she was at home watching T.V. with her mother. And knitting. Knitting!
She frowned at the jumble of pink and yellow yarn that was supposed to be a sweater. Why she was knitting, she didn't know. All she knew was that she saw a basket of yarn and some crochet needles. She'd asked her mom if knitting was hard. Her mother simply shrugged and told her to find out for herself.
She pressed her cheek to the cooled surface of the wall behind her. Her stomach churned. It had to be eleven o'clock. Was Shigure dropping Mii off? Did he kiss her goodnight? Was he kissing her at this moment?
She sighed.
"Something wrong, dear?" Her mother frowned slightly, looking at her daughter. "Your sighs are drowning out the sound from the T.V."
The program was duly noted with a shifting of her eyes to the screen. Kagura barely read the subtitles racing below the scene taking place. As of now, a short-haired woman was slapping the handsome male lead. Her mother was a Korean drama fanatic. Kagura had to admit to liking them too, but the one that was on presently was boring to her.
But she had to admit, the bitch slaps on that show were amazing.
She got on her feet. "I'm going out, Mom."
She nodded as she focused her attention on the screen again. A barely audible sigh, then she allowed the nocturnal realm to envelop her.
Shigure stumbled into his study, the effects of the alcohol ebbing from him, but still feeling as if he were intoxicated.
Oh, wait, he thought while giggling and looking at his watch. It's only... nine. He blinked. So early. What was he doing here so early? Or was his watch slow or broken?
Further inspection revealed that the actual time was midnight. Where were Tohru and Kyou? Were they asleep?
His head blossomed into a dull ache. He'd be incredibly hung over in the morning. But he hadn't even drank that much! Ayame had consumed enough alcohol for two and still had the coordination to dance.
Papers, papers... Mii had really done a number on his room! He curved his spine over the floor as if seriously considering cleaning up, then said, "Later," and allowed his back to be upright once more.
He'd been planning on waiting until Tohru and Kyou got here, playing games on his computer, then going to sleep, but a lilac envelope caught his attention.
It was easy to see why his eyes had missed it. It was tiny on the cluttered desk and shoved along the edges of a haphazard stack of papers as if eluding discovery. He pulled the corner towards his person, causing the collapse of the tall stack, but wasn't concerned about that at the moment. The envelope simply showcased his name in silver pen, almost as if it were an invitation. He didn't need a fancy envelope to draw his attention; the mystery of the content inside it was enough of a welcome for him. He tore it open and drew a piece of cream-colored paper from it. The scent of plum blossoms vaguely hit his nose as he unfolded it and read.
Shii-kun,
Near my old elementary school is a grove of ume trees. I want you to meet me there at ten. If you don't, I'll kill you. Just kidding, but be there!
Please?
Kagu-chan
He laughed softly. How could he resist such a sweet and in no way demanding offer? His eyes scanned the appointed time... Ten! Crap, it was way past!
Placing the letter in his yukata, he rushed out of his domain into the dazzling spring night.
There was no need to panic, right? Right?
There isn't anything to panic about, she reassured herself. He probably hasn't even read it. I know how he is. He's probably still out. I placed the letter on his desk before I knew of his plans with Mii-chan, so... What should I do?
"I know," she told herself as she paced in front of the line of plum blossom trees. "I'll lie to him. I'll say that... No, that'll sound dumb. I'll tell him it was a joke! Or I might be able... To go into his house and get the letter back! Yeah, that'll be the best course of action."
"You're planning on breaking into my house? Honestly, Kagura, I'm so ashamed of you."
She turned haltingly. The moonlight fell on a head of coal black hair and spilled onto his shoulders. Shigure.
A fragrant spring breeze wafted past and the woman finally took in the lovely scenery. The flowers blooming on the branches of the ume trees were a delicate moon-white shade. The shadows were partly sloped over the blossoms, painting fushia crescents on the petals. The full moon smiled on them, gauzy silver clouds shrouded around it as if forming a glorious halo. Tiny pricks of light studded the satiny blue sky.
"Spring is a time of second chances," he said softly, approaching Kagura. A smile blazed on his face. "And an excuse to get blitzed!" He held up a bag holding a heavy glass bottle. "I got some umeshu to celebrate. It isn't everyday when a pretty girl singles me out for her company, not one as lovely as you anyway. Do sit next to me." He rested under a plum blossom tree and waited expectantly for her to follow suit. "Or are you trying to get out of it? I heard you rambling, you know."
"N-- No! Not at all! I was just... um... I made you come out here and you're probably tired..."
"Nonsense, girl. I'm raring to go. I'm very curious as to why you've summoned me here." He took out a plastic cup and poured the plum-flavored liquor for himself. He looked at her sheepishly. "I would've gotten glasses, but I was in a hurry."
"It doesn't matter." She resigned herself to her fate, plopping herself on the slight incline under the trees. He poured her a generous amount of umeshu and handed her the cup. Now that he was here, she was confused. Why had she summoned Shigure?
Her pulse was thrust into overdrive when she laid her eyes on him. The moonlight cut into his profile, giving him a dramatic air. He was handsome and she had always known this, but now that she realized how she felt for him, her indifference to his good looks had transfigured itself. It suddenly mattered that he was handsome and kind and funny. Not to say that she hadn't treasured these things. But she used to be filled with so much love for Kyou that she hadn't focused on his aspects so intensely.
Shigure had to admit, the attention she was giving him was nice and all, but the way her eyes were attached to him was a little nerve-racking. But he relaxed his muscles and looked her directly in the eye. Blushing, she looked away, giving him the pleasure of gazing at her with discretion. With the pale light of the moon on her, her gray eyes had transformed into a gentle silver. This silver was unintimidating, so unlike the ones he had faced as she told him how much of a Gimme she was. Her eyes had been hard, angry then, and also had revealed her damaged soul. He felt his heart accend in his chest. So much had occured and now Kagura could laugh again, smile again. I hope she finds happiness with someone someday, he hoped as he took another sip of his beverage.
Looking back, he realized how selfish he'd been, even when telling Hatori how much he loved her. He'd said that he would lie to himself, try to convince himself that he wanted her to be happy without him. But had that really been love? Months later, he didn't care if she never loved him the same way he loved her. It was enough knowing that she had exited the storm. Yes, he felt he must've matured. Not too much though. I'd have ended up like Ha'ri then, he thought.
That was a lie. He did care that she wouldn't love him romantically. However, that was so small in comparison to what had happened to Kagura. She'd actually moved on! She was happy! And in that same flash of occurence, he knew that he was happy because of her repaired heart. A stab of pain dived into his heart, but he closed his eyes and smiled. Loveanguished him everyday, but it was a sweet pain. As long as I'm hurting, I'm not hurting her. She doesn't have to know how I feel.
"Shigure."
Opened eyes. "Yes?"
She looked into her half-empty cup. "Spring is the time for second chances, correct? That's what you said."
"Yes. Plants that perished in the winter have their chance at life again in the spring. Even when their remains fade, their roots extend underground. As long as the roots are there, there's another chance for them. It's the same with people. Kagura, you gave up on Kyou, which showed your strength. But losing him was like a form of death for you, I'm sure. But through this, you never lost... your ability to love, even though love was the cause of your sorrow. I really admire you. I wonder if I can ever be as amazing."
She faintly smiled as she placed the cup on her right. "I have grown," she admitted hesitantly. "I think my method of showing Kyou my affection was dangerous, to say the least. In order to truly love someone, you have to not... beat the crap out of them. I mean, I shouldn't have kicked his ass."
"You couldn't help it! It was a part of your character. Maybe the way you went about it was odd, but you should never lose your enthusiasm for someone like that. I admired that, you know. How no matter how many times he pushed you away, you had the strength to try again, all with exuberance."
"One time I came to his school in a cheerleading outfit," she reminisced laughingly.
"I remember. And you even made up a cheer for him and decorated the outfit with orange kittens. I remember thinking how cute it was. Kyou didn't share my sentiment, sadly."
Kagura looked into the shining moon. "I wish I could take it back. What I did to Kyou. But I shouldn't have regrets. Regrets are useless to have. The past is the past. I have to look ahead, not behind. And if I do look behind, I want it to be with happiness, not regret. I did apologize to him, but I'm going to really make it up to him."
"I'm going to change," Shigure promised. "You're not the only Gimme, Kagu-chan. In truth, you aren't one."
"How can you say that? I'm the most stubborn,bossy person you know," she insisted. "I made you come meet me."
"If I hadn't wanted to meet you, I wouldn't have. I do what I want. And I wanted to see you. You're one of my favorite people to be around."
She reddened. "Even if you didn't feel like it, you would've! I know you, Shigure."
He leaned in. "Do you?"
Kagura looked into his eyes. Do you? A teasing question, but almost like a challenge.
"I am a Gimme. Please just admit it," she told him.
He laughed. "Okay, Gimme Girl. You are! But is that such a bad thing? Everyone wants things, demands things. It's human nature to want, just like the sun rises and sets. Do you know what I want?"
He had to reel himself in. No, no, hepleaded withhimself. Don't do it, don't. You promised. You're going to hurt her.
But he had to convince her somehow that she wasn't the only Gimme. He had to.
He leaned in closer, the scent of ume dancing about. There was something in her eyes. A want. As if she were pleading with him to do something...
He blinked and it was gone, gone as easily as the curtain drops over the final scene of a play. Crazy as it was... He had to.
"Kagura?"
She nodded faintly.
And then the oddest thing happened. The most wonderful.
"Gimme!" they shouted in unison. A split second of confusion, then both moved at the same moment.
They had shared the same thought, shouted the same word... And at the same time, their lips collided.
Happiness, relief, and giddy excitement entered her all at once. She recalled the time when she was five and he had told her to endure, to not give up. Back then, she had envisioned herself yelling, "Gimme!" and kissing him. It hadn't made sense to her then, but perhaps it'd been a premonition. Kagura didn't care. Her mind had shut down, with only her heart racing and shrieking in glee. She loved him.
"I love you," he murmured when their lips parted ways. Was it possible to die from a kiss? He felt as if he'd suffer from a heart attack, but at the same time didn't want to die. There was no moment that he'd wanted to live more than in this moment.He felt so warm despite the cold whip of air that snapped past them.
"I love you, Shigure," she whispered. She'd wanted to shout it but the kiss had rendered her voice unable to go above a whisper. He weakened her vocal cords. She didn't have to worry if he had heard her or not (but the knowing smile of his indicated that he had). He knew without needing words.
She fell deeper into his chest, tying her arms around his waist. They were going to change together. It was human nature to have a Gimme side. She knew that now. But she was going to be more giving, starting with her beloved.
"I'm going to give you... everything," she vowed.
He nodded. "And I'm going to give you everything."
With the word they uttered in unison, gimme, they were tied to each other.
Let's always stay like this, Shigure, she thought as her lips sought out his again. Let's be together always. We'll change together.
Let's stay like this until forever.