"Boyfriend?!"
Shigure, Hatori, and Ayame jumped to their feet in shock. A fist slammed into the table, a gasp was let out, and eyes were wide. Lianu, on the other hand, just shrugged and sipped her tea.
"Chill, I know you guys would rather arrange her marriage, but yes, she's in a relationship."
"How can this be?!" Ayame wailed, sinking back into his chair. "Now my brother will wallow into the deepest pits of despair. Lost, alone, with no one to call his own-"
"She doesn't belong to Yuki," Hatori murmured, also sitting. "She's her own person."
"There we go," Lianu said cheerfully.
"Well, you are correct, my dear Hatori, to a degree," Shigure smiled, lowering himself into his chair. "Except she belongs with us."
Lianu groaned, leaning back in her chair. She rolled her eyes at the men across from her, and shook her head.
"Look, I get that you're protective of her, but she grew up. You weren't there for her! She learned to trust other people...Well, she'd probably trust a known terrorist, but that's not the point!" Lianu shook her head quickly. "Hojo was there for her, and the rest of her new friends. People do make new friends, you know. Tohru just learned to open up to people, and even though it took a couple tries on Hojo's part, Tohru finally decided to go on a date with him."
"So, what exactly are you trying to tell us?" Ayame asked quietly, leaning forward curiously.
"What Miss Jing is implying," Hatori broke in. "Is that Tohru is perfectly fine on her own."
"At least one of you is smart," Lianu snorted.
"I see," Shigure murmured. "Well, thank you for your time, I guess we best be going." the Dog Zodiac rose to his feet again, dark hair clouding dark eyes. "Ayame? Hatori?"
"Of course," Hatori nodded.
"Thank you for the tea, calmed the nerves," Ayame spoke evenly.
"Course," Lianu replied, getting to her feet to show them out. At the door, she turned to look at them again. "Do you want me to tell Tohru you were here?"
The three men shared a glance, a desire to have Tohru know they were here, but also realizing she left them for a reason.
"Don't tell her...Unless she asks," Hatori responded, and walked over the threshold into the front yard.
"Pleasure to meet such a beautiful young lady," Ayame said, and Lianu just snorted.
"Whatever."
"And the orange! Absolutely-"
"Ayame," Hatori said darkly.
"It was nice to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure was mine," Lianu replied politely. She watched the two walk down the sidewalk before she turned her attention to the still Shigure. His face was shadowed, and Lianu wondered if she had gone to far. She was just trying to tell the truth! After a moment, the man spoke.
"Take care of our Tohru, would you? She's..."
"I know," Lianu replied, a soft smile on her face. "I know."
"Come along, Shigure," Hatori called, standing beside an idle car. "It's time to go."
"Good bye," Shigure smiled sadly, nodding once, and then walked away. Lianu leaned against the door frame, watching the three drive away. It was obvious they cared about Tohru, but at the end of the day, you had to remember, the brunette had left on her own free will. She chose to leave the Sohmas...but she could also chose to go back. At the end of the day, it would always be Tohru's choice.
The only problem?
Tohru wouldn't be able to choose.