AN: I think I like this chapter, but I can't really tell one way or another if I'm satisfied with it... Oh, and don't worry, Shigure isn't done with quite yet. For those of you that like him. Heheh. ... Look! I'm updating early/on time! Yay! (I forced myself to finish typing it up this morning) Also, a shoutout to my friend (how mortified, I suppose) who bothered to come and read the story. Not that we speak of the story at school (too many "questionable" subjects)... Anyway, I'm sure you know who you are. -waves-

Chapter Thirty- Inu's Farewell

Groaning, Kyou simply opened the door.

"Tohru-kun..."

"Shi-shi-shigure-san..." She tried, futilely, curl into a ball inconspicuously.

The Inu stumbled into the room, staggering over his new crutch, looking at Tohru with pleading eyes. "Tohru-kun, forgive me..."

The Onigiri looked at him, as if to say "How could I?"

"I know... I'm not worthy of your forgiveness... and would like to apologize like the hopeless fool that I am... but..."

Kyou, still quite frustrated at the Inu, raised a brow, "'But?'"

"But..." continued Shigure, "I love Akito-san. I do, truly."

"You're..." the former Neko said in disgust, "homosexual?" (AN: I have nothing against them...)

"You are naïve, Kyou-kun..." Shigure shook his head in distain.

Tohru spoke up, feeling some of the tension, if only a little bit, life, "Akito-san is... a woman; isn't she, Shigure-san?" (AN: That bit where Kureno told her didn't happen in the story because of where it starts...)

The Inu nodded solemnly.

"First of all," said Kyou, "gross. Second of all, how in the hell did she manage to keep that under wraps?"

"Exactly that; wraps."

There was a very called for awkward silence.

"I think, mind you, I think, that I meant that rhetorically."

The Inu shrugged indifferently, "In any case, I love Akito. This fact alone justifies my desire to vie for her attention. If she wants something, and I can be of help in any way, then I most certainly will do anything I possibly can."

"So you say, simply put, that you're loyal? Okay... But why, Shigure-san, would you bother to do something that you knew you would regret?" Tohru couldn't really see the logic.

"Because I love her."

"But... why?" the former Neko couldn't see eye to eye with anyone, even a slime like Shigure, that could love the God.

"Because..." the Inu began, "Oh, this is complicated..."

"We have time." Tohru gestured at herself and the former Neko, and their clearly visible injuries. They certainly weren't going anywhere.

(AN: This part is mostly Shigure, like mentioned, portraying the "birth of Akito" story)

"Well," began the Inu, recalling the tale of the day Akito was conceived, "The day that Ren-san," he paused. "Not Isuzu-san, a different Ren, Akito's mother. In any case... the day that Ren-san became pregnant with Akito, Ayame, Hatori, Kureno, and I woke, crying. Ritsu, we assume, was too young to be aware of anything. The others were scared, upset. But I..." he stopped for a moment, "I couldn't wait for Akito to be born."

"Wait," said Kyou, disgust written clearly across his face, you... are you saying that you've loved Akito since before she was born?"

The Inu nodded, ashamed.

"She's always been your goal, hasn't she, Shigure-san? Always just out of reach..." Tohru sympathized.

"Whatever," the former Neko said, "whatever the reason... I cannot forgive you for even thinking to hurt Tohru..."

"I... understand," Shigure's expression certainly wasn't surprised, "I... I'm going to lock myself into the cage... alright? I... just want to repent, now..."

Tohru gasped, nearly simultaneously with the former Neko, "What?" she asked, shocked, "Shi-shigure-san! You don't have to do that!"

"Really!" exclaimed Kyou, "I may still hate your accursed hide, but no one deserves that imprisonment!"

"No," he said, solemnly, "I'm resolved to do this. And I will."

"then," the Onigiri saw that she could no longer influence the Inu's decision, "let me hug you, if only once more."

Shigure looked shocked at the fact that she was sympathizing with him, and then asking to embrace him. After a long moment, though, he said, "Alright."

It would be the last hug for ten years that Shigure would receive.

AN: Ten years, eh? A lot can happen in ten years... Bwahaha... -insert witty authors note- Review, please!