Old muse coming out for new release

[brbwritingsmut]

You know, with all this talk of us returning, I had a feeling we'd be seeing each other again. I for one am looking forward to this little reunion of ours.

[But enough of that. On to more important matters:]

And to think, I spent all this time wasting away in the dark, only dreaming of new worlds and the chance to see the wonderful faces of my dear cousins again. No doubt Haa-san has spent endless nights staring at the sky and mourning over my loss! What has poor Tohru-kun done without a handsome and charming man like myself to help guide her along the tumultuous path that is adolescence? Oh, if only I could see her beautiful smiling face once again!

Comments

[snowfall]

"Mourning" isn't exactly the term I would use.

More along the lines of "enjoying the peace and quiet without having to keep tabs on an irresponsible novelist and his brood of teenagers".

[ ...Which is Hatori's way of saying he missed you, Shigure. ]

[brbwritingsmut]

Haa-san is so cruel! Here I am rotting away in a dungeon, starving until I’m nothing but bones, dwindling away like a ghost on the wind, and all you can think about is your peace and quiet!

[He knew you loved him.]

[snowfall]

You're pretty lively for a malnourished skeleton.

You should get something to eat. Something healthy.

[brbwritingsmut]

Perhaps I've already passed and you are speaking to my ghost.

But, I suppose you do have a point! Perhaps Ritchan will appear and he can get me some nice, tasty dango.

[snowfall]

Does this mean I'm destined to be haunted by you for the rest of my days?

Dango isn't a meal, Shigure. You need something with sustenance.

[ Cue the nagging! ]

[brbwritingsmut]

You know what they say: not even death can separate true love.

True. What I wouldn't give to have a taste of Tohru-kun's delicious stew! I suppose I'll just have to eat four dango then.

[snowfall]

If you don't take care of yourself now while you're young, it will affect you later on in life.

And I'm not Ayame, I don't want to hear that kind of nonsense.

[brbwritingsmut]

Isn't the secret to a long life being happy and stress free? You might want to try that yourself.

You can't deny it, Haa-san. I know your true feelings.

[notafruit]

Shigure-san!

[Oh no... all alone and wasting away and and--]

Are you okay!?

1/2

[brbwritingsmut]

[Oh! Ask and the angel shall appear!]

[brbwritingsmut]

Oh Tohru-kun, it’s horrible! I’ve been locked away for years with nothing but my own imagination to guide me. I can’t remember the last time I felt the sun beaming down on my face, the taste of your wonderful stew, the smell of fresh flowers in the spring time! No, I have been doomed to waste away and disappear with the ages!

1/2

[notafruit]

[It must have been so lonely...]

2/2

[notafruit]

Don't worry, Shigure-san! I, Tohru Honda, will make sure that you don't have to disappear like that again! The world wouldn't be the same without you! And now, all kinds of different people will get to meet you all over again!

You're so kind and selfless, and incredibly responsible! I'm sure everyone will be just as blessed as I have been to get to know you!

1/2

[brbwritingsmut]

[Oh, Tohru-kun. He missed your unwavering optimism.]

[brbwritingsmut]

No, no, it is no use. I can already feel myself fading away to the empty void! Slipping away into the darkness! Vanishing into worlds and minds unknown! If only I could have a taste of your amazing cooking once more, I am sure it would give me the strength I need to continue hanging on by your side.

[protectingfreedom]

[She's just going to give Shigure a long stare. What? She wants to know about Hatori and Tohru too!]

1/2

[brbwritingsmut]

[Well, this is a surprise. Not that he's not pleased to see her.]

[brbwritingsmut]

[He stares back, and then:]

I know, I know. It's hard to resist my roguish good looks after all this time.

[That's clearly why she's staring, right?]

[protectingfreedom]

[She frowns, then, and sighs, defeated before she speaks.]

You didn't ask about me.

[Then...] How are they?

[brbwritingsmut]

Oh? Is Akito-san jealous?

[There's no need to be, of course. He cares about her well being above all others.]

Haa-san is cruel as always, but Tohru-kun seems like her usual, cheery self. How is Akito-san? Doing well I hope?

[protectingfreedom]

...no.

[Yes. Always yes. But she doesn't like that side of herself.]

He is never cruel to me. [Maybe it's you, Shigure.] She...

[Tohru is a special topic.]

I met our son.

1/2

[brbwritingsmut]

[Oh, it's definitely him. He has a knack for getting on Hatori's nerves. Not that he'll say it.

More importantly:]

Our...

...You met our son?

[brbwritingsmut]

[That must have been interesting. He wishes he could meet their son. All those years dancing around each other, and then...]

I see. What was he like?

[protectingfreedom]

[She isn't trying to fool him - her expression is far too solemn, yet, somehow tender too. Shiki is beautiful - soft-spoken and kind, but there is strength in him too.]

He looks like me. [Or as she did when she was posing as a man.] His voice is sweet and he was...protective...of us. He seemed happy.

[brbwritingsmut]

[It's Shigure's turn to stare, and the look he gives is tender and thoughtful, imagining what it must have been like, the kind of person their son is. It sounds like--]

Perfection.

[He smiles.]

In that case, I look forward to meeting him soon.

[Either in the future, or here. He hopes he'll get the chance.]

[protectingfreedom]

[Akito was understandably smitten with Shiki from the moment she first saw him. She is excited for the future; if such a little boy exists, even the wrath of her mother can't bring her down.]

He told me he couldn't imagine having a better father than you.

[She has a feeling that will make Shigure happy.]

[brbwritingsmut]

Did he?

[That does make him happy. He can imagine it: days spent with her and their son in between them. It's everything he could dream of and more.]

I couldn't imagine a better mother for him than you.

[There was never any other choice.]

[protectingfreedom]

[She observes him quietly, wondering if he is telling the truth or not.

Her? A good mother? God knows she will try, but she hasn't had a good example, has she?]

I won't be like Ren.

[brbwritingsmut]

And besides, of course I'm a good father. I've had years of practice, after all!

[All those kids staying at his house! Who wouldn't be after that?]

[protectingfreedom]

That sounds...strange. [But it is true. She pushed the kids onto him, like so many puppies, and he had kept them alive.]

[naturomdemonto]

[There is a Yuki Sohma in this mun's headspace but his voice isn't that strong.]

Wasting time is horrible. She should do something productive. Our mun is creating a world, but she has doubts about how many will join.

[the2nd_kira]

Hello Writer-san! Misa's mun says that you write write dirty books.

Are you famous?

[quietempathy]

Father... [Don't pester poor Aunt Tohru, okay?]