All my readers! I am SOOOO sorry. You probably hate me by now since you've been waiting since like April because that was my last update... I think. Well, anyways here's the fourth chapter which I have to admit kinda goes pretty fast especially at the beginning, but if you still remember about this story lol, please read and review. I would really appreciate it. Thank you for sticking and waiting for this chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 4
Hatori made his way downstairs, surprised to see a weary but still smiling Shigure standing there, waiting for him.
" What are you doing, still up?" Hatori said in his usual monotone voice.
" I couldn't sleep," he said simply.
Hatori raised an eyebrow. " You? The one who sleeps in everyday and doesn't wake up until the afternoon?"
Shigure laughed quietly," No, I'm just worried. I can't get that poor girl lying up there out of my mind. How is she doing?."
" Alright, I suppose. I'll be back tomorrow to check up on her and come in every two days or so after that. When I examined her, she seemed to suffer from mild malnutrition and her body looks like its gotten a few beatings. Take care of her, Shigure, at least when I'm not here," Hatori explained, glancing at the dog beside him. Shigure looked at him with a dark gleam in his eyes.
Hatori gathered his things and was about to leave but paused beside the door when Shigure spoke up. "Hatori… did you know about her?" Shigure asked slowly. " Do you know something I don't?"
Hatori opened the door silently.
" I've never met the girl, Shigure… If she was with Akito, he didn't mention anything about it. I thought you would know since you are the one Akito trusts the most but maybe that still isn't enough. " he answered gravely before stepping outside and closing the door behind him, leaving Shigure staring after him with a frown.
Morning came, sunlight streaming through the window as Tohru hummed while making breakfast and cleaning around the kitchen. While she was steaming some rice, Shigure came in, giving an exaggerated yawn and sniffing the air.
" What is this absolutely delicious aroma I smell? My blossoming flower is cooking up a wonderful storm " he said, looking over Tohru's shoulder.
" Good morning, Shigure!" Tohru said smiling," I'm making riceballs for everyone if that's ok. I wanted to take some with me to school for Kyo and Yuki since I don't think they're going to get up right now."
Shigure returned the smile, placing a hand on her head. " Alas, my precious Tohru, always thinking of others as always" he sighed.
A blush crept up Tohru's cheeks as she packed up some riceballs in a separate box. " Oh I… I don't know about that… I wouldn't be earning my keep if I didn't help out and…and well…that wouldn't be fair…and… um I'm not really doing anything special… I'm sure you guys could get along without me… really! I'm actually being very sel…selfish," she stammered. Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Oh no… I forgot to put a extra scoop of soap in the washer again!" Tohru ran down the hallway in a hysterical rush. "Shigure I'm done with breakfast so please go ahead and help yourself!" she shouted from the hallway. Shigure looked around the kitchen and discovered a bowl filled with all different kinds of riceballs.
"Tohru, Tohru, Tohru no matter what you say… I still don't know what we'd do without you," Shigure said, a delighted expression on his face as he chewed on one happily.
Later afterschool…
" Hana! Uo!" Tohru yelled, waving her hand to her two best friends trying to catch their attention. She caught up with them soon enough, as they turned around.
" Hey, Tohru," they both greeted.
" Hey, where's the prince and orange-top? They're usually with you." Uo said.
"They're with Mommiji and Haru. They had something important to tell Yuki and Kyo and I didn't want to be rude by eavesdropping so I decided to walk to work and get there a little earlier," she said cheerfully.
"Is one of them still going to pick you up?" Hana said.
" Mmmhmm" Tohru replied," Well, see you guys tomorrow. I better be going. I wouldn't want to be late to work." She smiled and waved them goodbye. " Be safe, Tohru," Hana said. "I will" Tohru nodded, smiling before running off to work.
A figure sat quietly on the porch, gazing at the scenery around her. Layers of white clouds blanketed the deep ocean-blue sky. Rays of sunlight shined through the trees' branches and lit up the ground, casting glowing rainbows in scattered puddles from the light drizzle a few hours ago.
A light breeze blew, ruffling her hair as she.glanced, from where she was sitting, at the three birds a few feet beside her chirping happily and drinking from the edge of the bird bowl. A lone, bold snow-white bird made its way to where she was. The black-haired figure held out her hand. The bird stretched its wings and landed gently on her finger, pecking on the flesh affectionately.
Se was oblivious to the sound of the door sliding open and close quietly as soft footsteps padded their way towards her until her hair stood up on end and the prickly feeling of eyes watching her from behind started to irritate her.
"Akito,"
The bird, startled from the sudden noise, soared into the sky, twittering as it flew away, causing the other two to follow them, leaving her hand in midair. She soundlessly put her hand down, staring at the spot where the birds had vacated a few moments ago.
"What do you want?"
Shigure plopped himself down beside Akito, his robes rustling. "I'm here to see you."
Akito tilted her head sideways, locking eyes with Shigure and looked at him expectantly.
"I'm curious… We, that is me and Hatori, found a girl resting on my front porch. Do you know anything about it?" he continued cheerfully.
A frown replaced Akito's cool expression and her eyes narrowed.
"I knew you would come around here, poking your nose around where you're not supposed to. Remember, curiosity killed the cat," she said.
Shigure smiled. " I can take care of myself, thank you. I'd just like to know what you're up to."
"It's none of your business, Shigure. I don't think I gave you a right to put your nosy self in my affairs."
Shigure looked at Akito, an amused expression on his face. "I'm sorry."
Akito held Shigure's gaze for a long time before her own eyes traveled down Shigure's face to the collar of his robes. She fingered the soft material. "Hmmm….Why do you want to know so badly, Shigure?'' The dog leaned, his hands on the floor supporting his weight. "I don't really know myself either, now that you asked. Maybe my protective side is coming from hiding?" Shigure guessed, flashing another smile at the head of the house beside him.
Akito laughed. She continued wrapping the loose cloth around her finger, a coy smile on her face. She looked back up, meeting Shigure's intense gaze. It sent delicious shivers up her spine. Her eyes glittered with mischief.
"She has been living here at the main house for a few years since her father's death. Her father had found out our little secret while wandering around here for no apparent reason… He had come across our property somehow. I assumed those stupid children had been chasing each other across the yard again and that naïve girl, Kisa had bumped into him, causing her to transform."
"Hmm... I wonder… what was he doing around our property?" Shigure asked, a thoughtful look on his face
She paused, a malevolent smile spreading across his lips at the question. " All I know was the fool was scared out of his wits when I confronted him.."
Shigure flashed a half-hearted grin as he cupped Akito's face with one hand. " You do tend to intimidate people with your presence," he reminded her. " But that doesn't stop you from visiting me, does it Shigure?" Akito murmured, looking into the dog's eyes. Shigure's smile disappeared and he stared back at her. "No, you're right, Akito-san. It doesn't."
" Still…You should have seen the look on his face, Gure-san," she whispered," He was terror- stricken when I had called Hatori to erase his memories. He begged me not to, begged and cried that he had a loving daughter who was waiting for him at home. I was still tired from a fever I was running the other night so I was tired and demanded that the idiot give me something in return for that. He had nothing worthy and offered the very daughter he had pleaded to escape unharmed to go home to. I took up the offer nonetheless figuring she could be some use of me. We made a deal, then agreeing that after he dies, I was to come for his daughter and take her away."
She chuckled darkly," I got tired of waiting eventually so I sent some of my men after him while I abducted her. I made sure to tell them to make the incident look like an "accident" He probably never knew what laid in the near future for him after that day. Tell me, did he really think he could escape that easily without a scratch?" Akito sneered.
Akito leaned towards him, clutching Shigure's robe, and snickered.
Her snicker soon turned into a chuckle and then transformed into a cold hard laugh. Her shoulders shaking, her laughter grew louder and louder until it echoed around the room. Shigure stood still, his face solemn as he waited for the moment to subside.
One hand still entangled in the warm material, Akito placed her hand at the nape of his neck and caressed the tender skin near there absentmindedly, causing Shigure to stir slightly.
"It was so easy bringing her here," she whispered in his ear," " Kureno pricked her with one of those hypodermic needles Hatori left carelessly in his office and brought her here. I tormented her day and night… I told her over and over again that she belonged to me and that if she loved anyone, they would die and I would kill them right in front of her." She smiled. "It's unbelievable how vulnerable people can be when you break down all their barriers and leave them alone and helpless."
Akito removed her hand and stood up, crossing the room and looked out the window, watching the leaves falling down from the trees and dancing in the wind that blew now and then, a smirk on her lips. " The little brat probably escaped after I foolishly left her in the room alone. After all these years, who would have known she would have the guts to leave her new home? Nonetheless, she did and I'm sure she knows her punishment once she returns." Shigure nodded. "One more thing, Akito. Was Hatori or any other member involved with her?"
Akito froze for a moment as if unsure what to say. She recovered when she saw Shigure raise an eyebrow. "She was only a lowly patient Hatori treated sometimes but besides him, no. I didn't want to bother you with that scum so you shall be grateful," she answered as if reading Shigure's true intentions behind his question.
Shigure snickered as he made his way to leave. "I've always liked that about you, the way you read my mind sometimes."
" Oh yes… Shigure?"
Shigure stopped, looking back at Akito.
" Say hi to Yuki for me,"she said, looking at Shigure out of the corner of her eye.
The corner of Shigure's mouth curved upwards, giving in to a crooked grin before he left, closing the door quietly behind him.
'Shigure!" Kyo yelled. "Shigure!"
Kyo stomped into the kitchen. "Damn it, Shigure! Where the hell are you?"
Yuki stepped into the kitchen, his backpack slung on his shoulder and an annoyed expression on his face.
" He's probably not here, you stupid cat."
Kyo turned around, glaring at Yuki. "Who asked you, you damn rat!"
"He's most likely visiting the main house or went somewhere else to avoid his editor again." Yuki explained calmly, ignoring Kyo's remark.
Flashback 30 minutes beforeMii walked cheerfully to Shigure'shouse, a bounce in each step. "Let's see. I'll pick up Shigure's manuscript, look it over quickly, turn it in to the print shop and spend the rest of the day relaxing and eating soba noodles," she recited happily. She sauntered to the front door and was about to knock when a piece of paper taped to the side caught her eye. Her eyes widened as she grabbed the paper and read it aloud.
Dear Mii,
I've decided to go out when I suddenly had this irresistible urge to eat some delicious inspiring jelly buns. While I'm out, I might as well tend to some other errands so don't wait up for me. I'll be gone till late evening. Have a nice day and please don't try to find me.
Love, Shigure
" Don't try to find me? Don't try to find me?" Mii repeated, panicking.
She fell on her knees, crying and tearing her hair out.
"SHIGURE!"
End Flashback"Do you think I give a damn? For the last time I didn't ask you! Shigure keeps leaving his sick romance novels lying around everywhere and its getting on my nerves…." Kyo answered hotly," I'm going to show that dog some fist if he doesn't quit annoying the hell out of me."
" Who would want to listen to your constant whining?"
Kyo pointed his finger accusingly at Yuki. " That's it, rat boy! Me and you right now! I've had enough of your damn attitude. Right here, I'm going to wipe the kitchen with your pretty boy face and-"
"Shut up," Yuki interrupted coldly," or have you already forgotten we have a guest suffering upstairs?"
Kyo blinked and then scowled, casting a dark this-ain't-over-yet look at Yuki before leaving the kitchen.
Yuki shook his head and let out a deep sigh. He leaned against the doorframe, a hand entangled in his silver hair and closed his eyes.
Kyo, Yuki and Tohru walked down the hallway, among the noisy chatter of enthusiastic students. Tohru had her usual smile on her face, as Yuki looked out the window beside him and Kyo walking straight ahead, his hands behind his head.
" Yuki! Tohru! Kyoooo! Wait up!"
Kyo stopped, clenching his fist, recognizing that annoying voice while Tohru and Yuki turned around.
Mommiji waved happily as he came toward them, Haru a few steps behind and a hand in his pocket.
" Hello, Mommiji." Tohru said cheerfully.
"Hi, Tohru! Hi, everybody!" Mommiji greeted, a wide smile stretched across his face.
"Hello, Mommiji," Yuki answered.
Haru's cool expression instantly lighted up at the sound of Yuki's voice and casually inched his way to Yuki's side and tugged at his arm. Yuki sighed, shaking his head.
"Hello Haru," he added.
Tohru looked back at Kyo. "Kyo, aren't you going to say hello?"
Kyo gritted his teeth and turned around reluctantly. "What do you want, Mommiji?" he said, a irritated tone in his voice.
"Nothing, really. Just wanted to say hello!" he said cheerfully.
A thud sounded as Kyo's fist met with the top of Mommiji's head. Mommiji blinked and then tears began to well up in his eyes as he started to cry.
"Waaaaaa... Kyo hit me!"
Nearby chatter stopped and heads turned and stared them.
Tohru moved to comfort Mommiji while Yuki glared at Kyo.
"Idiot. The last thing I need is for you to cause a scene." Yuki said.
" If the annoying brat wouldn't stop us for stupid reasons, I wouldn't cause a scene, you damn rat," Kyo shot back.
"Saying hello is a bad thing?"
"Shut up!"
The last bell rang, interrupting the argument.
Kyo and Yuki turned their heads, ignoring each other as they moved to leave with Tohru before Mommiji intervened.
" Oh, yeah Kyo? Yuki, I need to ask you both something. Would you mind staying for a minute?"
They paused and looked at Tohru.
"Sorry, Tohru," Mommiji apologized.
"Oh, that's all right. I need to go to work anyway so don't mind me. See you later." Tohru said, waving as she walked down the hallway as other students began to clear the hallway as they left for home.
Both of them turned around and looked expectantly at Mommiji.
" This better be a good reason." Kyo warned.
"Uh huh… Me and Haru wanted to ask you guys something." Mommiji said quietly, looking around the now empty hallway before he spoke another word.
"Haru said he had heard rumors spreading around the main house that someone Akito had with him secretly, was found at Shigure's house last night. Is it true?" he said, his eyes big and wide with a hint of fear in them.
Kyo looked away and Yuki stared at Mommiji as if he was a complete stranger.
"She was with Akito this… this whole time?" he stammered.
"Yeah… we didn't even know someone not part of our family was even living in the main house to begin with," Haru said grimly.
Yuki's eyes flickered to Haru.
"How long?"
Haru focused on the silver-haired boy. "We don't know, Yuki. She could have been living there for years and we still probably wouldn't have noticed. Akito had mentioned her name one time when the maid found a girl sitting at his porch during the New Year's Banquet but I assumed it was probably just a visitor." He paused, smiling sadly. " Figures. No wonder Kisa would tell me she would hear someone crying sometimes while she would walk past his room at night…"
Yuki stared down at the floor while Mommiji played with his hat, blowing his blond bangs out of his face.
The uncomfortable quiet loomed around them contrasting with the eerie and still hallway.
Kyo broke the thick silence as he spoke.
"It's getting late. We… we should go already," he said.
"Kyo's right for once," Haru said.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kyo retorted, his temper flaring.
Haru ignored him and turned to Yuki, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Get some rest for me, ok? Wouldn't want you to get another relapse. Come on, Mommiji." They started their way down the hallway. " See you guys later!" Mommiji said, joyful once again before they turned around the corner. Kyo glanced at Yuki before turning away. "Come on," he said gruffly, " Let's go home already."
Yuki opened his eyes and looked out the kitchen window and saw Shigure walking with Tohru, her laughing at something Shigure said. His eyes softened at the sight.
Despite the tragedies in Miss Honda's life, she is still able to smile that sweet smile of hers every day. I should learn a thing or two from that… to appreciate all the memories and keep them close by even if they're painful ones. We learn that way, to forgive and forget…
Yuki moved away from the window and walked to the door to greet them but before he moved to open it, a thought struck him. He realized just until now Haru hadn't mentioned the girl's name and his mind being clouded with thoughts, had forgotten to ask.