Tohru hugged the furry body of Shigure to her, silent tears slipping out as she tried to stifle her cries. The dog didn't say anything, and finally Tohru broke away, picking up his discarded clothes like it was normal. The two continued walking, stopping when they reached a bench and the brunette sat down.
"I can't tell you why." She whispered.
"I didn't ask." Shigure replied calmly. "Everyone is allowed their secrets." He chuckled, thinking of what her employer had said. "Have you been well? Happy?"
"How could you ask if I'm happy?" She murmured, looking at the furry black dog sadly. "I had to leave my family, do you think I'd be okay?"
"Ah, yes. That word. 'Had'. It wasn't a choice." Shigure mused. "It was decided for you." He said, looking the blue eyed girl in the eyes. "Would you like to tell me now?" Tohru looked at the ground, sighed, and looked up towards the sky.
"Mr. Jing has been so kind to me, he took me in when I had no where to go." She said instead. "Lianu and I are in class together, she's been helping me with my studies. It's funny, she hates leeks too." Tohru laughed quietly. "In some ways, nothing has changed when absolutely everything has." Shigure looked at the girl, waiting for her to say everything she wanted to. "Lianu's a lot like Uo-Chan, she got into fights...only she was the victim. They bullied her...it wasn't right." Tohru said angrily. "Mom would've done something, and I knew I had to help somehow...I fractured my arm." Tohru winced, looking at her right arm. "It wasn't that bad, I'm fine, really. Mom would've wanted me to help."
"I'm sure she wouldn't have liked you to get hurt." Shigure responded.
"No, but she would've gone in anyway. I'm like mom in that way..." Tohru trailed off sadly. "That's how I met the Jing's, because I helped Lianu get home. Her mom is so nice! She made me feel right at home, and when she found out I was practically homeless, she wouldn't let me leave. That's how I got my job at Mr. Jing's stand, he offered me a place on his staff. He's been so nice to help me."
"I bet you've helped them too." Shigure responded.
"Oh, of course! I've been helping with the chores, the stand, Mrs. Jing has even let me help her as a teacher's assistant at the elementary school she works at. The children are so sweet!"
"That's sounds like you." Shigure smiled a doggy smile.
"Oh, I've been talking all this time! What about you? How have you been, Shigure? How are Kyo and Yuki? Are they still fighting?"
"I've been fine, to a degree. The boys don't fight as regularly, I think they only go at each other to try to recapture the good old days." Shigure sighed. "It's funny, I think they're waiting for you to suddenly appear and plead them to stop fighting." Tohru lowered her head, looking her folded hands in her lap.
"I don't mean to cause trouble. Really, I didn't mean for this to become so..." She trailed off, not being able to find the words she wanted.
"I understand." Shigure sighed. "So when are you moving back?"
"W-Wha?" Tohru stuttered, looking at the dog shocked. "How could you ask-"
"Well obviously you miss us." Shigure broke in. "And you want Kyo and Yuki to be happy, right? And you left poor Arisa and Hana without saying goodbye. You at least owe them that, don't you? And, more importantly, no take out is as good as your home cooking!" Tohru giggled, and then laughed, and then hugged the furry dog as she started crying again.
"I can't, you don't know what you're asking." She whispered.
"Then why don't you tell me? Make me understand." He replied solemnly. Tohru bit her lip nervously, how could she tell the truth? Well, one word at a time...
"There's a girl at school...who knows about the Sohma curse." Tohru said hesitantly. Shigure went still, then looked Tohru in the eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me this?" He demanded quietly.
"I-I-" She was at a loss for words.
"Do you know what's at stake?" He hissed.
"She said she wouldn't tell-"
"Tohru," Shigure began calmly. "people lie." Tohru looked at the ground, fighting tears. A pop sounded, and a full grown, naked man stood beside her.
"Eek!" She gasped, turning away, leaving Shigure's clothes on the bench behind her.
"Tohru, who is this girl? Her memory will have to be erased." Shigure sighed.
"That's why I didn't want to tell you." Tohru whispered. "I didn't want her memories to be erased."
"This girl could potentially destroy everything my family has worked so hard for." Shigure responded. "She has to forget."
"People deserve to keep their memories, no matter how bad they are." Tohru replied, standing up and walking down the path. "She made a deal with me, she wouldn't tell your secret if I left. I left, she has no reason to tell the secret."
"This is more than a simple memory. It can brings misfortune to my whole family!" Shigure said.
"I know." Tohru said stubbornly. "I know the Sohma curse, and your family hasn't had any 'misfortune' befall them, has it?"
"You are a unique circumstance." Shigure responded. "This girl...Another matter entirely."
"Shigure, I trusted you when you wanted me to. I'm simply asking the same of you." Tohru replied quietly, her brown eyes resolute.
"Not unless I know who this girl is." Shigure replied darkly.
"And that's why I can't tell you." Tohru sighed. "You'll wipe her mind, and that's not right. If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the Jing's." Tohru said firmly, getting up and moving away from the Sohma. "Tell Yuki and Kyo...Actually, can you just not tell them about me? It's better this way, trust me." Tohru didn't have to everything else, how if they came she would break down, if she saw the rat and cat zodiac she wouldn't be able to stand her ground, if the other Sohmas found out Tohru would find herself kidnapped in the middle of the night...
"It was nice to see you again, Tohru. You're just as lovely as ever." Shigure finally replied, and Tohru blushed.
"It was nice catching up, Shigure. Bye."
Within seconds, the brunette was gone. Shigure stood still, thoughts swirling through his mind without pause. He had found her. He found her. Tohru was still alive and well. She was fine. She was protecting someone, but who? Yes, it was true she was denying herself for the Sohmas, to keep their secret safe, and she switched towns and schools to ensure the Sohmas safety. She was truly one of a kind...Shigure picked up his phone, and dialed a number on speed dial.
"Hatori, I found her."