To Love's End | Shigure Sohma

Chapter Nineteen

It was just after 11pm and Amai was fast asleep. She didn't go back to her apartment that night. Falling asleep in the bed they used to share together was so nostalgic. And Shigure insisted on dropping her off to the school in the morning so she didn't have any reason to say no.

The lamp on Shigure's side table was on as he wrote down some notes for his book. With the way she slept so angelically, he couldn't help but be motivated to write. Suddenly, his phone began to ring. He quickly answered it as Amai stirred slightly, not even checking to see who had called.

"Hello?" he whispered.
"Shigure, it's me," came Hatori's voice.
He sighed softly. "Why are you calling me so late?" he asked quietly.
"It's Akito. She wants to see you."
Shigure closed his eyes. "I'll be there tomorrow after I drop Amai off at the school."
"No. She wants to see you now."
His brows furrowed as he looked at the clock on the wall. "Now?"
"She's gone crazy."

Shigure turned his head to look at Amai. She was deep into her sleep. If she woke up and saw that he was gone, it wouldn't be good. He had always promised to be open and honest with her.

"Are you coming?" Hatori asked after getting no response.
Shigure breathed out. "Yeah, I'm coming."

He hung up and sighed, rubbing his forehead. Putting his notepad and pen down, he leaned down to Amai and gently held her arm.

"Amai," he called softly as he stroked his hand up and down her arm. "Amai."
She stirred slightly, turning her head away from him. "Hmm..."
He couldn't help but smile. "Amai, I need to go out for a while."
She moved around a bit more and struggled to open her eyes to look at him. "What..?" she asked tiredly as her eyes closed again.
"I need to go out. I might be a couple of hours."
"Where?"
"To see Akito."
She forced her eyes open again but she squinted as she looked at him. "Akito..? What time is it?"
"Almost ten minutes past 11. Tori just called. She's going crazy."
Amai sighed deeply and lifted her hand to hold his face. "Okay. Just please be careful."
He smiled. "I will." He leaned down and pecked her lips. "Go back to sleep now. You've got work tomorrow."
"Okay, baby. I love you."
"I love you, too."

He kissed her again as she closed her eyes. She fell asleep again instantly and was breathing softly. She trusted him to deal with Akito and so she knew she had nothing to worry about. She was just grateful that he had told her the truth about where he was going.

Shigure got out of bed and put his kimono on. Before leaving, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and covered her properly with the blanket. He couldn't help but find it adorable the way she snuggled into it.

He didn't want to leave her but he knew he had to deal with Akito before she did something dangerous. He hated what she had become but he didn't want her to hurt herself or anyone else. Leaving the house, he got into his car and drove to the Sohma estate.

Upon arriving there, he got out of the car and reluctantly made his way to Akito's room. Hatori was standing outside the room with his arms folded. Before either of them could speak, they heard Akito scream from inside.

"HATORI! WHERE IS HE?!"
Hatori sighed. "He's here." He walked past Shigure. "Good luck."

Shigure sighed deeply. He wasn't scared of Akito's outbursts because he was the only one she listened to. He slid the door open and found her sprawled across the floor, her clothes a mess and practically hanging off her body.

He refrained from rolling his eyes as he closed the door behind him. Walking over, he looked down at her.

"Akito," he called.
She didn't move. "Where were you, Shigure?" Her voice was weak. "It's been so long..."
"I've been busy with my writing," he said before lowering to sit cross-legged on the floor beside her. "You know already that I have a deadline. You can't behave this way."
She slowly turned her head and opened her eyes to look up at him. "What if you never come back to me?"
He sighed. "If you continue to behave this way, I'll have no choice but to never return. Do you truly want that?"
"No..."
"You need to learn to go on even when I'm not here. Do you understand?"
She lifted her hand and held onto his. "Kiss me..."
"Uh..." He coughed a couple of times. "I'm starting to get a cold. I can't kiss you right now."
"Please..."
"I can't... Your immune system is incredibly low and Tori's forbidden me from getting too close."
"Does... Does that mean you have to go now..?"
"I can sit with you a little while longer. Okay? So, get some sleep."