DISLCAIMER: I am just a penniless college sophomore so yeah, I don't own a thing.

Chapter 2: After Tea

"My goodness, Aya-chan!" Shigure chirped, placing his hands on the sides of his face, his eyes wide with shock and amusement. He tilted his head closer to the pale hand and shook his head. "You did not tell me –if I remember correctly –that you were engaged!"

Souma Ayame turned his gaze from his friend, grasping the teacup harder with his slender fingers. His eyes quickly went for the evidence of the dog's surprise and wonder.

But truthfully, he did not know why he chose to wear it after what he did.

He stopped seeing her after her work time. He was trying hard this past week, ignoring the clock, ignoring the twists of his insides –alerting him that Tohru's job was done and over with, that she needed an escort home. It was hard not to pay attention to her and his own need of her and for the shortest time of seven days, it felt like years and years to Ayame, very much like the long age gap between them.

But he knew he was fooling himself. The truth was, he was not the one at fault because of last week.

The ring, so it seems, intentionally broke his heart and it felt like molten metal in his hand, slowly amputating his finger off, hurting him ever so deeply. It was a double-edged sword, the ring. She did not say it –but he felt it. He knew her intentions too well. Just the way he tried to memorize every contour of her body, so did Ayame get to learn by rote her little heart and broad mind. What Shigure thought of as an engagement ring, which was supposedly a sign of trust and love, Ayame discerned that she was saying a sweet killing furtive goodbye. And it hurt like hell.

Maybe he understood the ring more than he should have.

Because it was also possible that Tohru meant it a gift but she knew that it would mean so much more to him, it was like she stabbed him face front in the heart.

"So who is the lucky woman?" Shigure asked him at first with a smile, then giving him a very sad pout. Pointing a finger at him, he balled his other fist on his waist. "You are a meanie. You know it's a duty to tell friends first."

He was called a woman because of his looks and gleaming personality most of the time but now he was sure Shigure just surpassed the girlishness of it all. The dog sounded nothing more of an eight year old too angry of a broken pinky-swear. Ayame rolled his eyes and sighed. "That is why I came here to talk to you, Shigure-kun. I came to confide…" A little, Ayame mentally added.

Shigure's childish moping came to a halt. Both of them knew that it must have been a serious matter. Usually, Ayame sought Kuramae Mine-chan's advice. "Why then? So I've sensed true that your visit isn't just a simple call."

Ayame nodded, gaze still averted from friend and cleared his throat. "Is… To-, I mean… Is Honda-san around?"

"Iie. She has been working awfully a lot these last few days. Coming home from over time every night," Shigure answered without suspicion, since he was so used to having so many ask about the girl, Soumas not an exception. He shook his head disappointedly. "I've warned her several times about going home late alone but the girl is very stubborn."

The concern in Shigure's voice couldn't have been more apparent and it took Ayame a whole lot of deal of guts to listen to him. He wasn't jealous of Shigure; it was really the truth that almost everyone who met Tohru Honda fell in love with her silly and Ayame accepted that. But what concerned him was the content of Shigure's statement.

Coming home from working over time every night? Ayame asked in his head. What was she thinking?

Yes, the Soumas fell for her helplessly but there were a lot of other men out there in the world who must have felt the same way about her! And most of those are without class! Ayame felt a slow motion of anger tickle his stomach, making his chest muscles tighten. Not only was it improper for a woman, wasn't she considerate enough of what guilt he would feel if anything happened to her?

"I see…" he trailed off nonchalantly, his eyes wandering about the place, scanning for any signs of Tohru. He was too relived to have found so many little things that belonged to her, like a hairclip and a pink hand towel. It simply meant that she was still here, alive and well. His eyes darted to the clock and then outside the screen. She was supposed to be walking home right now, with him.

"So what is it that troubles you?" Shigure asked, disturbing his thoughts. He frowned and held a hand to his forehead. "Are you okay? I've noticed that the moment you have set foot inside my household, you look too much of a tired sick man. Tell me, is your problem that big…? Or scandalous?" Shigure asked with a sheepish grin.

He should have blushed but he did not. Instead he kept glancing back at the clock.

Ten-forty-five. Where was she?

Ayame took one last sip of his tea.

"Aya-chan…?"

Ten-forty-six. Now he was really nervous.

"Ayame!"

"Ah!" he gasped, letting out a little tension that he felt somewhat stuck on his throat. Ayame shook his head quickly and took a deep breath. "Gomen… About what you were asking… Well, yes… My problem is very big..."

"How big?" Shigure asked, feeling every bit interested. "Fill me in."

Ayame sighed again. "You see, I've been seeing this lovely woman-"

"Do you love her?"

Frowning, Ayame glowered at him. "Of course I do! In fact, I've never loved another as much as I love her."

Shigure almost squealed with delight, quickening the pace of the paper fan he held before his face. "Go on."

"And well… things have been very intimate between us," he paused as an image of Tohru danced its way across his eyes, invisibly before Shigure, making his insides flutter inside out. "And so you see-"

"My god, you've made love to her!" Shigure exclaimed, mouth dropping open. The fan fell with a slight pluck on the floor.

"I am a responsible adult, Shigure!" Ayame scolded him at once as he detected the accusing glance the dog had on. "Besides, how else could I have showed it to her? Almost everyone around her says that they love her and those silly little childish nonsense."

"Ah…"

Ayame blushed unconsciously. "Not that I didn't shower her with those sweet nothings but… I had to be different. I am a man, not a boy."

Shigure nodded, touching his chin. He observed his friend intently.

"And so it comes to this. Just last week, we made love. As far as I knew, everything was fine and then the next morning, I wake up with this!" Ayame whispered hardly, raising his spread hand right in front of Shigure's face. He shook his head and then drew his hand close against his heart.

"I understand."

"You do?"

"Perfectly. I understand this common bachelor problem we all sexy hot men encounter every time a pretty damsel falls in love with us!" Shigure nodded at him, taking the ringed hand into his own. "I understand! Marriage is too much for us. We cannot –we mustn't. This life is too short to get tied down!"

Ayame's graceful posture drooped as he yanked his hand from his friend. "You are very irritating, Shigure! Have you not heard that I love her?" He groaned and pulled his hand away. "But what did I expect? Of course I am alone in this…"

"This woman –she is younger than you are, ne?"

Ayame's sagged eyes opened with a startle. "N-nani? Come again?"

"You said earlier, 'responsible adult'," Shigure stated with a smile. "It simply hints that your lover is younger than you are."

Ayame nodded, feeling exposed. Shigure could be a very poignant and smart sometimes. "Y-yes… younger than me. But she is not a child, I must assure you."

Shigure grinned and wiggled his brows. "Splendid, Aya-chan! I never thought you'd get way too advantageous! I give you a salute!" He bowed down to a hail on the floor.

"I don't exactly consider this situation an advantage for me…" Ayame replied with another depressed sigh, ignoring his friend's inane worship.

"So she's too young to marry?" Shigure asked, sitting properly.

Ayame shook his head. As much as he was legally allowed on her, Tohru was considered an adult in her own right.

"So she does not know about the curse –that is why you are hesitating?"

He knew coming here was mistake but now he knew he couldn't leave Shigure in the puzzle box. "No and yes. No –she knows about the curse and don't ask me how and why, yes –because you know why I'm hesitating!"

"The curse then?"

"No! I mean, yes but not because of the curse. Its… because I'm afraid." He wanted to say everything but he guarded his tongue. If he spoke more than he should have, they would be uncovered. He did trust Shigure, but Tohru and her image were much more valuable than Shigure's trust.

"Afraid that Akito will interfere again, is that it?"

"Partly, yes…"

"Let me tell you something. Akito…" Shigure swallowed hard. "If you're really determined to marry her, than you should probably fight the flow, Ayame. There are a lot of ways to get what you want. A snake should know that." He laughed at him.

Ayame stared at him. What else could he do? All he gave Shigure, after all, were half truths. He was indeed a snake.

His heart gave a loud thud as it reminded him of the time.

Eleven-twent-three.

He stood up to his feet. "I have to get going. I thank you for the time and the tea."

Shigure just sat on the tatami, watching Ayame's moves. "Okay… Don't you want to stay for supper? Tohru and I eat dinner even though she comes home late." He laughed. "I'm too lazy to cook my own dinner, haha."

At the mention of Tohru's name, Ayame's heart thudded louder. He was thankful that Shigure was in his human form. If he had been a dog, he was a hundred percent sure that those sensitive ears would catch the drumming of his heart. "N-no, thank you… I'd go ahead. Besides, I don't want to be a burden. I'll find my way out."

"Wait!" Shigure exclaimed, quickly gathering his feet and followed his friend.

Ayame went to the front door and opened it. To his shock, the love of his life stood on the doorway. She was fumbling with her keys as two young men behind her stared at him in surprise.

The mouse frowned at him for a moment and quickly looked away, excusing himself through the door.

The cat raised a brow at him and gave him a smirk. He took hold of the young woman's arm and motioned her inside the house.

Tohru stopped instantly as their eyes met, dropping the godforsaken keys to the floor. She gasped as she bent down.

Ayame beat her to the keys, clutching it firmly in his hands. He looked up at her blue orbs as he kneeled in front of her and took her hands, carefully placing the cold metals in her palms, giving her fingers a slight squeeze. He smiled at her faintly and he hoped dearly that even though it was dark already, she was able to see the longing and sorrow in his silver eyes. "Honda-san… your keys."

Tohru opened her mouth to speak and felt her lips dry with her quick breaths. Her heart was beating loudly in her chest. "M-my keys… thank you."

Ayame stood up, tall once again before her. He fought so much of himself. He was so used to having her close against him, against his body. Should he really keep it from the world? "Goodnight…"

"Goodnight to you, baka's brother," Kyo huffed, stomping inside the house, pulling Tohru along with him.

Their bodies clashed with sudden contact and Ayame swore that he could not help but nudge his body against hers a little bit longer, hoping to feel her warmth again after such a long week. He clenched his smooth jaw when he felt her heat and softness but she was snatched away by the cat and he was not allowed to step back inside the house and demand for her.

Though she was his.

"I've forgotten it was a weekend!" Shigure's cheery voice exclaimed behind him, Ayame completely forgetting his friend's presence.

Ayame nodded and took a step out. "Thank you again. Till next time-"

"I'm supposed to be angry with you, Aya-chan," Shigure said, pouting his pout again. He crossed his arms across his chest. "I never once thought that my little flower was a choice of yours."

His throat felt dry, his breath hitching. "I… don't know what you're talking about, Shigure."

Shigure raised a serious brow. "That look you had when you saw her? Priceless, Ayame. I actually saw you a man!"

"You read me wrong, Shigure. You know that I admire To –Honda-san long before I ever had this problem of mine!" he said under his breath.

"Crazy idiot. You're a beautiful bewildered male specie, I must say," Shigure added to his statement. "I don't know why you're scared. Though I am frightened right now having recalled that you –oh my goodness, Aya-chan. You've deflowered my little-"

"And you tell me to fight my way through this? Gods, my friend," Ayame said hardly. "I can't –don't even know how to get through you!"

Shigure put the back of his hand on his forehead and started to drag the tall man from the doorstep to the path that led to town. "Kami-sama… I am to faint!" He just sighed though but the color from his face drained to exaggeration. "I don't know what to tell you, Ayame… Tohru? Our Tohru…?"

"I suggest you start keeping your opinions and questions to yourself, Shigure. I am having a hard time myself of getting on with my life."

"But you should not leave her, Ayame!" Shigure whimpered, clinging to the sleeve of his suit. "If you do, she would change. Then, I assure you, everything would really change!"

Ayame turned away and groaned. "That is just it. She's the one who's planning to leave, Shigure. I can tell. That is why she left this ring to me."

Shigure shook his head. "But she could not leave. What about me –the boys?" He run his fingers through his hair and stared at Ayame's face. "What about…you?"

"I'm too confused, Shigure. I don't want marry yet but I will! I don't want her to leave but if that's what makes her happy-"

"Women never tend to be happy when they leave the one they love…"

"She fears for me. Just the way she pities all of us."

Shigure shook his head. "I do not think that is the case. Tohru will fight for anything that she believes in. The only thing that she could not fight for is herself. I'm afraid that she's madly in love with you, Ayame."

"But how… Shigure? How can she stay?" Ayame cringed. "I was stupid! I'm stupid to have thought we were for each other…!"

"Yes, stupid, stupid…"

Ayame turned around and took a step. "You know I can't be the one to leave. I don't have anywhere to go to. We're still young but you know that we're too tired of adventures, you and I. I can't… So we would just sit and watch her leave…"

"You're stupendous when dramatic," Shigure whispered, putting a hand on Ayame's shoulder. "But don't be too pessimistic. Think things out into order. I'll help you, don't worry."

Ayame just shook his head.

"I am loyal to Akito, yes… but you and Hatori are the only ones who I can run to, understand that," he said. "Just like you, I have nowhere to go. Your happiness is my happiness. I would gladly help you."

"What exactly can you do…"

"You have no idea."

A.N. Leave a comment? Thanks. Hope that was okay.