Disclaimer: I do not own FB. I'm not following the Manga, and apologize in advance should I slip from Character.

Chapter 12: Arguments and Good Night Surprises

This must be the man she had been out with on the night she came to the house in tears, Shigure thought as he looked in shock at the man who so rudely seemed to insinuate that Mii's unwillingness to sleep around was misbehavior, "She most certainly is behaving splendidly." The novelist stated firmly, "And would never dare behave inappropriately."

"Oh, really?" The rude man said with a snort. Then he addressed Mii with a mild sneer, "Looks like you found someone as goody-goody as you are."

"You shouldn't talk like you know anything." The editor retorted, "It's a terrible thing to lie, after all."

The man blinked, taken aback by the insult to his intelligence, "You'd better watch yourself, woman!"

"You'd be wise not to speak to her that way." Shigure said softly.

"Oh? Are you going to come to her rescue? You want to fight?" The man was getting up in Shigure's face now, poking him in the chest.

The novelist simply sighed and pushed the hand away gently, saying, "Really now, I should think we could settle this without violence! We are both gentlemen, aren't we?"

"You scared?" Growled the other man, rolling up his sleeves, preparing for a fight.

"I'm a lover, not a fighter." Shigure said simply. People were stopping now to stare, "Honestly, must you insist upon making a scene? All I did was ask you to show the lady some respect."

"And if I don't?" The man sneered and poked Shigure again.

"Then you prove to this crowd you are quite a rude person." He took hold of his editor's hand, and turned to walk away, "Come, Mii. It's best to not stay in such poor company."

The man narrowed his eyes at the novelist and his editor. Reaching out he grabbed Mii's elbow, "By the way." He smirked at her, "We still have to finish our date."

"I was of the impression," Mii hissed trying to pull away, though he only tightened his grip, "That we had finished it, as well as any future ones! Now let go!" The man tightened his grip further as Mii continued to try and wrench he arm away, "You hurting me!"

"She said to let her go!" Shigure shouted, stepping chivalrously between them and pushing the man away.

"So now you want to fight?" The man continued to smirk cockily.

"If I must, I must, though I would prefer to avoid it." Shigure replied, remaining between the jerk and Mii.

The man threw a punch, and Shigure, though his reflexes were not as quick as those of a trained fighter, managed to put up an arm and block the blow. Unfortunately, he did not see the swing coming from the other side, and received a hard hit to the eye. Shigure put a hand over his eye and let out a small shout of pain.

The man reached around to grab Mii, "What could you possibly see in a weak man like that that you don't see in m-"

But he didn't get to finish his sentence, for a fist met with his mouth. The man spit blood and a tooth onto the pavement.

Shigure shook his hand, which was throbbing from the punch, "Don't touch her." He looked at the man as he continued to try and shake the pain from his fist, "Oww!"

Mii took hold of Shigure's arm, and amid a cheer from the crowd that had gathered, and shouts of, "Serves him right," she led the novelist to her car. Shigure sat in the passenger side and buckled his safety belt. Mii slipped in behind the wheel.

She smiled at him, "Thank you, Shigure."

"Not a problem." He grimaced and massaged his sore hand; the pain was beginning to ebb from it. His eye was already beginning to bruise.

"You're gonna have a shiner in the morning." Mii said gingerly touch the bruised flesh. With that she turned on the car, and turned onto the street, heading back to his house.

PdPdPdPdPdPdPdPdPdPdPdPdPd

It was late by the time they returned to the Souma house. The three teen were asleep in their rooms when the couple arrived. Shigure and Mii made there way from the car to the porch, and stood there for a short while, looking up at the stars, and the glowing full moon. A gentle breeze was rustling the trees, and the novelist and editor smiled contently.

"It's a beautiful night." Mii murmured so softly Shigure could hardly ear her.

"That it is." He looked at her, and smiled halfheartedly, wishing he could put his arms around her. How he longed to embrace her, and shout at the top of his lungs how he cared for her. But, sadly, neither was a possibility.

His eyes must have betrayed that something was upsetting him, for Mii asked, "What's wrong, Shigure?"

The novelist shook his head, "Nothing. I'm just thinking is all."

"Thinking? About what?" His editor blinked curiously.

"How lucky I am." He half fibbed, for he did feel like the luckiest man on earth just then.

Mii smiled, and leaned up to kiss his cheek. In the process, however, her foot slipped from the edge of the porch, and she fell forward against him. Shigure's eyes grew wide with surprise as he transformed in a puff of smoke.

The editor drew in a sharp, shocked breath, "Sh-Shigure!" Shigure looked frantically around for a way out of the situation, but it was too late. The memories of the time she had hugged him by the car raced back, "I knew it wasn't a dream!" She whispered, "I knew I really saw you become…" She let her sentence go unfinished and looked him up and down, "But…how? Why?"

Shigure sighed and sat at the edge of the porch, his tail swishing behind him, Mii sat at his side, "My family," He said softly, "Is cursed."

Viola! So, now she knows about the curse, and the jerk got what was coming to him. I couldn't picture Shigure just hauling of and kicking someone's ass. After all, he doesn't have the same karate training as his cousins. But he got one good punch in!

Chris P: I love Shii/Mii! They're adorable! Thanks for liking the story!

Prettypinkpeacock: Sorry I didn't use your name suggestions; I figured I wouldn't even dignify him with a name! Hope that didn't make things too confusing.

Erenriel the Elven Canuck: Baka indeed, he certainly is an idiot. Shigure managed to get a blow in, but you're right, he's a lover, not a fighter. In fact, I used that as a quote!