A month went by, and nothing happened. Tohru seemed to have slipped beneath the radar, and even with the Sohma's connections it was like their favorite Honda girl had completely disappeared. Her grandfather didn't know where she was either, she had just told him she was being 'transferred', whatever that meant...
The Sohma's were slowly growing despondent, and their house was returning to its original state of a garbage dump. All traces of Tohru's existence were slowly being wiped out, almost like their memory of her was being erased...
Shigure really wasn't sure what to do, with their favorite flower gone Kyo was acting even worse than when he arrived, Yuki was turning mute. Shigure was trying his best to act normal, but this wasn't something the Master of the House could just brush off. Sohma's one by one felt the effects of the gentle presence gone...In one way or another...So when Shigure's editor Mitsuru begged him to go to a book signing in another city, Shigure jumped at the chance. It was a way to get out of the house, away from the depression that had become so tangible. And his editor, for once, was shocked beyond words at how easily he said yes. He was immediately sent off to another town a few hours from their city, and the book signing went off without a hitch. The editor and the author went back to their hotel happy, and Mitsuru was gushing about future planes.
"It was a success! A monumental step forward, Shigure. Considering how well this one went off, I think we should plan to have three more-"
"Whoa, whoa, slow down." He chuckled at her exuberance. "Absolutely not." Her face crumbled into a million pieces, and she started to cry.
"After all the things I went through for you! This is how you repay me? Oh the humanity!"
"Don't be such a D.Q., Mit-chan." Shigure admonished, smiling.
"D.Q.?" Mitsuru faltered.
"Drama Queen." He grinned. "Goodnight!" He spoke, then closed the door to his room in her face. "Ah Mitsuru...what am I going to do with you?" He thought aloud fondly to the sounds of her grumbling outside the door. He chuckled. He loved playing with her, it was always funny to see her reactions. "Hm, I wonder how the boys are doing? Oh well, they can fend for themselves." He sighed, and settled in for bed.
The next morning came early for the author, and after being bored decided to see the city. Afterall, what's the point of a vacation if not to have some fun? Humming happily, he left the hotel...and his clueless editor.
"I wonder if she'll worry..." He mused, then shrugged. "Oh well, I did leave her a note.."
"Where did he go? Where? WHERE?" Mitsuru was bemoaning. She eventually found his note..A few hours later underneath her pillow.
His wanderings brought him to an indoor market, and he carefully went inside to explore. He was careful about not being touched, and then he froze in the building. He sniffed the air delicately, that smell...
With the dog in his blood, Shigure smelled things most humans couldn't. He could detect minute traces of something in the air, could smell a person's scent. And it was this difference about him that allowed Shigure to smell a very familiar scent he hadn't smelled in a long time. Strawberries and Love...a very interesting combination. He followed his nose, knowing he would find what he had subconsciously been looking for.
Her hair had been cut short, almost shoulder length. She was wearing jeans instead of her usual skirt, and a bright purple shirt. Her eyes were still a bright blue, that twinkle still there, and her smile, as soft as ever. She was talking with a girl about Kisa's age, and with a smile the girl ran off. Shigure watched Tohru wave, calling out her usual 'Be safe!', before walking forward to the brunette girl.
"Tohru, long time no see." He said, and she gasped.
"S-Shigure..."