A/N Onward!!

The Onigiri and the Inu

Chapter 3- Kind Words From the Snake

"Ah Tohru, it's so good to have you home!" Shigure exclaimed the next morning at breakfast. "It was getting so lonely without you here."

"Yes, I'm sorry to keep you here all alone," Tohru apologized. "It's just, I…" tears came to her eyes.

"It's all right Tohru," Shigure said. "You don't have to keep going. I can only imagine the amount of pain you're still in." Tohru nodded and let her tears fall.

"Oh," she brought her hand up to her mouth, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying like this."

"Tohru, Tohru, Tohru," Shigure said in his calm tone. "You're being too hard on yourself. It's all right to cry. You're grieving, it's only natural." Comfortable silence enveloped them for a few moments. Then Shigure suddenly said, "If you don't mind me asking…why were you running from Yuki when I came home that day?"

Tohru shifted uncomfortably and the tears she was trying so hard to hold back came out full force. She broke down into uncontrollable sobs. "He was cheating on me!" she cried. "When I came home, I went upstairs and saw him having sex in our bed with another woman!" Shigure's eyes widened.

'What the hell was Yuki thinking?!' he thought to himself. Suddenly, unexpected anger and hate welled up inside of him like white-hot fire. But it subsided as soon as it came when he looked back at Tohru. Taking her into his arms, he whispered soothingly into his ear. She buried her face in his shoulder.

"I wasn't thinking," she confessed. "I just lost it and ran…and look what happened because of me."

"Don't blame yourself," he said quietly. He pulled her out from his shoulder and held her at arm's length. "None of this is your fault so don't think for a second that you're the reason Yuki is dead. Look at me." Tohru kept her eyes downcast. "Look at me," he said a little firmer but still gently. She still didn't look up.

Shigure took her chin tenderly into his fingers and lifted her head up. Her turquoise eyes were sparkling with tears and her cheeks were red and puffy but to Shigure she was the most beautiful thing in the world. "I know it's painful now but I promise, the pain will subside with time."

"I'm just so confused," she said. "I still love him." That hit a nerve deep in Shigure and he abruptly let go of her shoulder and chin.

"What's this?" a voice said from the doorway. Both turned to find Ayame standing there with his usual dramatic look on his face. "Here Yuki's been gone only three days and the sneaky dog has already entranced the lovely princess in his steadfast gaze!"

"Ayame!" Shigure said cheerfully, although he seemed a little distracted. "What have we done to deserve a visit from you? You haven't come here to tell that you've cheated on me have you?" Shigure asked in his seductive.

"Of course not Shigure, how could I ever do that to you?" Ayame asked in a tone equally as seductive. "Actually," he said quickly and in his usual voice again, "I've come here to see Miss Tohru."

Tohru, who had been ignored up until this point, perked up and said, "Oh I'm sorry, where are my manners? How are you Ayame?"

"You truly amaze me Tohru," Ayame said, striking a dramatic pose. "You've just lost the love of your life and still as eloquent as ever! The news that I've brought today is that of utmost secrecy." He turned to Shigure and said, "I'm sorry Shigure, but would you mind terribly if I spoke with Tohru privately?"

"Of course not," he said. "Just don't do anything dirty while I'm gone." Then he retreated to his study and left the snake and the rice ball alone.

"Would you like me to make some tea?" Tohru asked politely, wiping the rest of her tears from her eyes.

"Oh no, it's quite all right," Ayame said with a wave of his hand. Then he whipped an envelope seemingly out of nowhere and handed it to Tohru.

"What is this?" she asked.

Ayame sighed and the entire mood in the room darkened. "I got a phone call from a woman yesterday. She told me her name was Mitsuki Urameshi. Apparently, she was the one who Yuki cheated on you with." Tohru gasped. "Naturally I was curious about her so I invited her over to my shop and the two of us had a nice, long chat."

"She told me that she worked with Yuki and that she had fallen in love with him. The two went on a few dates together and well you know what else they did. But she swore that she had no idea that Yuki had a girlfriend. I had a hard time believing her at first but when she broke down into tears I had feeling that she was telling the truth."

"So now I'm very skeptic about my younger brother. Although I love him no less from this, I feel very sorry for you and I would like to apologize for his actions."

"It's all right Ayame," Tohru said kindly. "You don't need to apologize for Yuki's actions. You had no control over them. I just feel sorry for Miss Urameshi. To be in love with someone and then to find out that that someone already is in a relationship, how painful that must be. I can't even imagine what that's like."

"Well yes I do feel sorry for her about that," Ayame said, "but that brings me to my next order of business here." He pointed to that envelope. It was signed by "Mitsuki Urameshi" and addressed to "Miss Tohru Honda". "I believe it's a letter from Miss Urameshi. She asked that only you see the contents of it."

Tohru looked down at the envelope and shakily opened it.

Miss Tohru Honda,

I'm sure by now you know who I am. I know that no matter what I say, it won't help at all but I just want you to know that I am truly sorry for what I did. I honestly had no knowledge that Yuki was dating someone and if I had I never would have confessed my feelings to him. I truly loved Yuki but I would never have sabotaged your relationship with him if I had known.

Miss Tohru I hope that one day you will be able to forgive me for what I've done but I understand if that day never comes. I only hope that you don't have bitter feelings towards me and that you will accept my apology.

But there is something else you should know as well. I got sick yesterday morning so I went to the doctor's. It kills me to say this but I am pregnant with Yuki's child. I'm so sorry.

I know I have no right to ask this but I was wondering if we could possibly meet sometime. I wish to apologize to you in person and answer any questions you might have for me. My address is on the envelope. I understand if you don't to have anything to do with me but please at least consider it. I am truly sorry.

My deepest apologies,

Mitsuki Urameshi

Tohru finished reading the letter and looked up at Ayame with a blank expression. "Miss Urameshi wants to meet with me," she said bluntly.

"I see," Ayame sighed. "Are you going to?"

"Yes," Tohru said, her eyes gaining emotion again. "I want to make sure she and her baby are doing okay."

Ayame gasped. "Did you say 'baby'?! You mean one who has been born already?"

Tohru shook her head. "No, the one she's carrying. It's Yuki's."

Ayame's eyes widened and disbelief ran through him. "She's carrying Yuki's child? But that's impossible…"

Shigure, who had been listening to the entire conversation, gasped and the anger that had come before welled up again only even stronger.

"Oh Tohru," Ayame said sadly. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea something like this would happen."

Tohru moved closer and then fell into Ayame's chest. "No…I'm the one who should be sorry, not you." Ayame then wrapped his arms around Tohru and pulled her even closer to him.

He let his tears fall. "My brother is gone…and he's left behind a child," he said, his voice broken. "I'm that baby's uncle."

Tohru looked up into the snake's eyes. She stroked the side of his face and said, "Yes you are. I think if Yuki were alive…he would want you to be apart of your nephew's life."

"Tohru…" Ayame breathed out. "No matter what my brother did to you, he loved you. And you don't need to bear this pain alone…because all of the Sohmas love you."

Tohru gasped, "…thank you. I needed that right now."

A/N Kinda confusing I know, sorry!