Audrina was back at the estate the next day after visiting Rin. She sat at a table in Hatori's place looking out from the open view. Hatori was sitting there as well, him doing his own work. Peacefully they continued there own tasks until Hatori was the one to finish first signing off his final paper.
Audrina didn't pay him no mind and instead continued on. Kieran was visiting his mom and despite him asking her to go, she wasn't ready. Simple nerves holding her back. So she opted to stay at the only place she tolerated at the estate.
"Are you both.... official?"
Audrina didn't stop typing as she glanced up at him for half of a second and returned her gaze back to the screen. "Guess."
She didn't want to confirm or deny. There has been to many close calls. And even if Hatori has seen enough, there is still the confirmation part that he was missing.
Audrina trusted Hatori. He was quiet and concerned. But he held too much power. Not that he would ever use himself, but Akito loves to put to use. Amren; She knew Hatori felt as he had no other choice. They were all still young and vulnerable to her demands. But, she didn't want to risk it.
"I won't do anything to his memories Audrina", he spoke clearly. He heard the sharpness in her tone. And he wanted to make it set that he wouldn't want to ever destroy her relationship as he done before. He never got to tell her the guilt that ate at him when he found out what happened to Amren. Never admitted the loss he felt when Audrina left.
"Thanks", she scoffed.
Hatori watched as she continued to type, and with no one around. Him understood that it wouldn't last long. Shigure was bothering Akito some where, she taking the silence he spoke up once again.
"I'm..... sorry"
This made Audrina stop typing. She glanced up, to see his face turned to looking outside. He wore his typical black suit; the sun bouncing off that and his hair. She closed her laptop and feasted her head on the palm of her hand.
"For everything dealing with....him."
"Amren.", Audrina sighed. Hatori looked at her. There was no flinch in her tone. Nothing that indicated she was on the verge of tears just from the name alone. "Did you say that you were taking him to see me? The second time."
Hatori nodded, involuntarily averting his focus. Audrina pulled her lips in and nodded. She took a minute to process her thought before finally speaking, "You don't have to be sorry."
She didn't wait for him to deny.
"I don't blame you. I used to keep it in me and think you purposefully didn't try to disobey her just to keep me from being happy I guess? But I hadn't realized how much I depended on him, till he was gone. Amren had that type of effect. If people were to give him chance, they'd see he was just as broken as us. What's different is, we were so used to masking our pain, he showed it. I'll never forget him. But, it's different now. Don't be sorry. I should apologize for how I acted when you told me; I wasn't fair to you. So", she realized a sigh, "I forgive you."
Hatori blinked at her. This was the longest she spoke and to be in such a calming tone, took him by surprise. She had her hair in two braids, crowing her head, and a black romper. The gold jewelry gleam against her skin. And the brightness to her; the change in demeanor he had no doubt it had to do with not just Kieran but breaking away from a burden that's been weighing her down for so long. And Audrina could confirm. She felt lighter.
He didn't take to words. Instead he nodded ended the underlying tension that was between them. Audrina softly smiled before she looked back down to open her laptop. The room fell back into a comfortable silence that is until, the door behind Audrina swung open causing her to flinch.
"Audri! What have you done to poor Akito!?"
"Clearly nothing effective if she's still talking about me.", Audrina closed the laptop with a little more force.
Shigure walked around to the other side of the table, and sat a playful smile on his face as he looked at Audrina. And immediately he could tell a difference in her. A subtle change is only noticeable after getting used to something for so long. And he was so used to her looking defeated, sad. But he saw something else. A change.
"Your name was brought up a few times correct. Apparently you haven't visited her since Rin."
"Mhm", she nodded, holding a tight smile. "What else."
"Couple of insults and a demand to come retrieve you."
Audrina shook her head, "can't I have plans tonight, and I don't want her ruining my day, I'll visit her tomorrow."
Shigure pretended to be shocked and stood to move to the steps. Hatori too watched as the male sat on the steps. "Another round today. Don't you ever get tired of taunting Akito?"
"Ugghhh; you're so mean doc."
Audrina again rolled her eyes as she opened her laptop one last time, to try and ignore their conversation.
"Seriously, she seems to withdrawal into her self every time you visit."
"Oh you don't say! That's terrible."
And that alone confirmed that she wasn't going to be doing any work. She placed two fingers on the side of her temples and tried to soothe the rising headache from being in Shigure's presence alone. "You're too old to be acting like this.", she groaned.
"Try being honest about your feelings for once.", Hatori sterned. Audrina came up behind him and leaned against the edge of the door. "The longer you do this, the more stubborn she'll get."
"Ahhh, you make it sound easy. Like my feelings are straight forward."
And just as she was willing to partake in the conversation and put in her own input. Her phone buzzed. Both of the men looked as a small smile played on her lips. She didn't even bother looking at either of them before she turned and walked off answering the call.
"Hey", she spoke.
And before the door closed a faint voice came from the other end.
Hey, Kayla's here and wants to hog your attenti-
Shigure looked back and watched her every move until the door shut. Hatori noticed and looked back from the door to the man. He narrowed his eyes and stepped in way of his line of sight.
"Don't tell me......."
"No...", Shigure sighed. "Unfortunately."
"And what do you mean by that.", he crossed his arms.
Shigure stood and placed a hand on his chin, "I've tried. Tried to find it in me to love her on the romantic scale. But no matter how much I wish to conjure up such feelings. Nothing compares."
Hatori's eyes widened at the confession. He didn't expect his assumption to be true. He just thought it would be something Shigure would laugh it. But instead, he admitted it. The times they were together.....
Whenever Shigure and Audrina were together, there was tension. But clearly only from one party. Hatori never took into consideration that. Shigure would ever even develop feelings for her. Neither did her think it's be as point blank. But the entire thought behind the concept was his feelings for Akito.
But the longer he thought about it. Loosening from the shocked grip, something clicked, "You told Akito about Amrin..... and Kieran.", his eyes widened. "You-."
"Tried to buy myself time yes. A cruel take but yes Doc, you are as smart as they make you out to be."
"She blamed herself for years. Thinking she did wrong with Amrin. Do you understand that?", his voice now more angry than ever.
Shigure didn't move a muscle at his tone, "Never do I wish to hurt her. But your feelings work diffeeent than mine. You see I don't feel anything when I see her in pain. Her nor Akito. It's strange the way my heart functions. I never craved my parents love. If this is what you call being twisted, then I suppose that's what I am. And the fact is I can't even find that sad.", and quietly out of the hearing range he mumbled to himself. "Should I have dreamt of someone else instead."
"I don't suppose you plan on telling her?", his tone still just as sharp.
"No bother, it seems like everything is falling into place. I wouldn't want to disturb that no matter how much I'd like.", Shigure spoke.
And when Audrina returned , she froze at the sight as both of them were looking at her. One with the same annoying smile that she has developed a response to completely ignore, and Hatori who was... mad?
"What happened?", she stepped up, positioning herself to lean against the frame. And then she looked back at Shigure, "What did you do?"
"I'm innocent. Swear!", Shigure put both of his hands up. "And I hope you said my hello to Kieran."
Audrina gave him a warning look, not having to speak to get her word across.Shigure didn't so much as back from the expression, contrasting that he smiled.
"Well I should be off. Care to join me?"
"Are the children there?", Audrina asked. Indirect warning that nothing else's was to happen. Akito and Shigure could hash it out all they want but she wasn't going to continue whatever her and Shigure had going on. He lied about his reasoning for doing it and she was not going to fall for another one of his tricks.
He took notice and lifted his chin, "I believe so, it is about time they get out of school."
"Ok then", was answer enough. She stepped down and before following after Shigure, she turned and said goodbye to Hatori. When her and Shigure were side by side, she didn't notice when he leaned back to glance at Hatori. Him still standing on the top of the steps watching his every move. But Shigure played into his defensive stance by giving a teasing wink and turned back around to go back to the house.
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As they ascended the steps to his house, Audrina didn't as much as say a word. She kept to herself, still slightly upset about their last conversation. Shigure kept on side eyeing her until she felt it was enough.
"What", she spoke.
"Oh nothing", he rose his hand in defense. "Something's different about you. That's all. Is it bad I want to know what promoted this change."
"Will it help you sleep at night?"
"Yes I believe it will.", Shigure answered back. His quick response forced her to look in his direction. They made it to the top of the steps, the kids just a distance away. None of them noticed the pair, so Audrina didn't bother to hold back her annoyed expression.
"You know something about this curse. Something that you've refused to tell me for years.", she stepped closer placing a finger on his chest. "I can't believe I had an ounce of trust in you to begin with for it now to be completely shattered. I'm not telling you a damn thing."
And like that she turned and walked up to the thick aroma of food. She closed the distance between her and what looked like to be everyone of the Zodiac children.
Momoji was the first to turn, and by her surprise, the little boy had grown up to be just as tall as her. She wasn't prepared, but nothing stopped him from still acting the same. Upon seeing her, Momoji ran, ignoring whatever he was doing and fell into her arms.
"Audri!"
She chuckled and wrapped her arms around him. "How have you gotten so big!", she squeezed.
He let go from her grasp and smiled brightly, "I have! Just as tall as you now. Tohru called me handsome."
She smiled and nodded, "You are very handsome."
He returned the smile just as everyone else saw Audrina. Shigure walked up behind her to witness the oddscene laid out infront of them. There was a pot, she assumed they were fixing curry by the smell.
"I guess stranger things have happened. Home to a soup kitchen in my yard is an odd experience."
"We made curry for dinner.", they announced simultaneously.
"What thoughtful children you all are; Papa is so proud.", he opened his arms. Audrina only rolled her eyes as she stepped up to greet everyone else.
Kisa and Yuri were the next too excited to see her. Yuki smiled softly and spoke, "What are you doing here?"
She hummed while wrapping her arms around Kisa. "Just wanted to stop by and say Hi. How are you doing."
"Better", an indirect confirmation to the underlying past. When she looked past him she saw Kyo and Hiro. Clearly avoiding her.
It was due time she spoke up.
"Hiro?", she called. The boy jerked at his name and turned. He saw Kisa in her grasp and felt a hint of jealousy, but he didn't know which one it was coming from. A mix of both parties.
Audrina gave a simple wave of acknowledgment, not wanting to go to anymore lengths that'd make him uncomfortable. If she just continued to approach slowly, than eventually he'd warm up. What she didn't know was that Hiro had. He just didn't know how to express himself.
Kyo was the next one who accidentally met her eyes. He turned away making Audrina sigh out. "Hi Kyo."
"Hi", he said with clear distance.
She hummed not wanting to continue further in front of everyone. Once letting go of Kisa, both Shigure and Audrina moved to sit on the steps, Audrina one step below him. She smiled at the sight when she looked down at her recent text messages.
Can you come over tonight? She had asked.
Yea; what's the occasion.....
Is there need for one?
Not one... I'll see you later
And of course the man I've ever shoulder saw.She closed her phone and watched the kids laughing and enjoying each other's presence as silence fell behind her.
"You're not talking.", Audrina announced. Shigure hummed and to look down at the back of her head.
"I was thinking......"
"About?"
Shigure shrugged turning his attention back out at the kids, "Maybe...... all those years ago. It should've been you I dreamt about."
Audrina's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she whipped her head to him. But he stayed calm, still glancing up, "You're kind. Too kind. We wouldve balanced out together.... The author thinks."
Audrina knew well enough about his dream. dream. He described it as a source of peace that went away as quickly as it came. She never mentioned it to him, but his feelings for Akito had nothing to do with the fact she was apart of the dream. It simply dealt with the sensation he developed for that dream.
"What the hell am I suppose to say to that Shigure?", she mumbled.
He finally looked down at her. His eyes lids narrow. And before she knew it he leaned in. His eyes searching hers with true curiosity. "Nothing, merely a what if scenario."