AN: (saddened face) Hello everybody! Dunno why I'm kind of sad…well, I do kinda know why…life has been being a bitch…but hey, in the words of our beloved Shigure: "Que será será!" ne? This chapter is kinda the aftermath of Shigure's decision on how to deal with Akito. Mostly a filler to build up to some really important stuff that's coming up. ((And I got it up in JUNE!! That's WAY before September! Go me!!))
Watch the following lovely video on Shigure's serious side. It's not by me, but I think it's lovely and kinda fits in with the story. I'm working on one of my own though. Type this into your browser (replacing the appropriate things in the parenthesis):
http(colon)(slash slash)youtube(dot)com(slash)watch?v(equal sign)WLtEs-axJ-4
Features the song Tears and Rain.
Hatori's Hidden Heartache
Chapter 17
I'd Still Love You
.:. Yuki's P.O.V .:.
An unbroken, albeit, quite disheveled, Shigure enters the dining area. I seem to be the only one to see him at first, Hatori is sitting at the table, facing the opposite direction. Kyo is helping Honda-San bring over the stew and other things she prepared.
Suddenly, Honda-San turns and sees Shigure. With a surprised gasp, she promptly drops the pot of stew she's holding. Before she can think to apologize, she's running up to Shigure's side.
"Shigure-San! There's b…b-b…bl—BLOOD! There's blood on your cheek! And…and running down onto your chest!" This certainly catches Hatori's attention quickly; Kyo's attention too, as he runs to stop Honda-San from "flailing."
Hatori scrutinizes Shigure, looking him up and down. He then motions to the table. "Sit. Now."
He looks to Honda-San, to find her somewhat calmed. "Honda-Kun."
"H-Hai?"
"Grab my medical bag for me. It should be in Shigure's room."
"I'm fine…" Shigure tries to intercede. We all turn to tell him off, but Kyo speaks first.
"Shut up." He growls, releasing Honda-San to let her get the medical bag. "You're hurt. Akito was mad, right? So just shut up and let Hatori treat you."
Shigure seems to be struck speechless with surprise, and sits.
A moment later, Honda-San arrives with the medical bag.
"Thank you, Honda-Kun." Hatori says, sitting down next to Shigure.
"Um…Um…Um…"
"I think what Tohru's trying to say is…"
"Yeah, Kyo, I get it, let's leave them alone."
I follow Honda-San and the cat out of the room amidst wailings of "AIEEE! But I should clean up the stew!"
.:.Hatori's P.O.V .:.
I start to treat Shigure's cuts and bruises, neither of us saying anything for quite some time.
Finally; "Aren't you going to say anything? Ask anything?" Shigure asks me.
I sigh, looking to the floor. "It's anyone's guess really what Akito all did or didn't do to you. I figured I would give you time to decide what you did or did not want to tell me."
Shigure chuckles softly. "Aya's right. You were always good at saying whatever it is someone needs to hear." He pauses. "Even if we don't want to hear it."
I put away my medical supplies and pause in thought, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Sometimes I wish I was good at something else," I sigh, "like interacting with people."
Shigure looks up at me. "If…If I told you what all went on, I mean, you may be surprised…or upset…and I don't want it to turn out that you…that is…" His eyes shimmer, and I'm taken aback. How do I respond to that?
I sigh again, thinking, and finally I respond. "No…no matter what happened, what happens; I'll always love you. No matter the circumstance, I'll still love you. And…well…I suppose that's all that should matter."
Shigure looks up at me, leaning in as if to kiss me. Then his head falls back down, almost into my chest, and he whispers, "I slept with her."
I swear my heart stops for a moment. I don't know what I was expecting to hear, but this definitely wasn't it. This wasn't anywhere close.
"You…you what?"
Shigure gets up from the table and moves across the room. "Well, that isn't the whole truth. 'Cause you see, I've been sleeping with her…it's just…"
I'm taken aback. Sure, I figured Shigure had a sexual history but…but Akito? And well, truth be told, Kana and I had gotten close but we had never actually—I mean, well, Shigure was my first.
"I…see…" I begin, but Shigure turns and interrupts me. He's close to tears.
"I love her, Hatori. And I just feel like such an ass because I love both of you. And now that I've finally realized you're the one I'm supposed to be with, you'll probably leave me."
I take a moment, breathing deeply. "I said…that I would love you…no matter what."
Shigure's quiet for a moment. "I didn't know what to do…the way she reacted caught me so off guard…but we made a deal." He looks up at me then, determination in his eyes. "Today was our…our last time. I promised to be only hers today so that she would never bother you…or me…again. We're free, Hatori. Free from the zodiac and free from Akito's wrath. You never have to go back again."
I hear a sharp intake of breath, betraying the children's presence.
"Oy! Children, come and see Daddy Shigure!"
I smirk at Shigure as the children walk in.
"We, we didn't mean! That is uh…um…" Honda-Kun starts, blushing madly, looking to Shigure, and then myself, and then Shigure again.
There's a moment of silence and finally Kyo yells out—
"Oh, screw it!" And takes Honda-Kun in his arms.
Nothing happens…
Shigure and I look to each other, eyes open wide. Yuki seems mildly surprised, but not altogether taken aback.
Shigure looks to me and then smiles. "Actually, that explains a lot."
I smile and end up laughing. It's been awhile since I really laughed. It feels good. Soon everyone is smiling and laughing and just, well, happy. I watch a very embarrassed Honda-Kun yell at Kyo for a bit before melting back into his arms; I also watch Shigure and Yuki engrossed in discussion in the corner. I smile, content to watch over them, happy to see that nothing could truly wipe those smiles away. They, we, will all keep shining…because no one has enough force to re-freeze all the melted snow. I sigh, laughing a bit again, and know that tonight I will dream of a dog, a seahorse, a rat and a cat, all celebrating together under the sun.
AN: Okay….so this chapter was a LOT different in my head. This like major-ly changes how I was setting up the story…hm… But I like it XD So screw my original plan. After all, the best laid plans of mice and men… It doesn't change the really important stuff. So see y'all in chapter 18 XD