IT BLOSSOMS, hatori sohma [Fruits Basket]

Chapter Sixty Two

Ryu's gaze fixated on the slip of paper on the table, her mind lost in thought. She wasn't sure how long she'd been staring when she suddenly heard the sound of a sliding door opening nearby.

She quickly grabbed the paper and shoved it into her pant pocket, not wanting it to be seen.

Ryu sat there, trying to look casual, as she heard footsteps approaching her. The person who entered the room was none other than Shigure, who walked in without a word and took a seat near her, his silence speaking volumes.

The atmosphere in the room was tense as Shigure took his seat, his eyes silently watching Ryu before he finally spoke.

"You look lost in thought," he observed, his voice low and even.

"And you're here after going through so much trouble to avoid me." Ryu let out an exasperated huff at him.

Shigure chuckled at Ryu's bluntness, conceding her point. "Guilty as charged." He leaned back in his chair, a light smile playing on his lips. "I suppose I have been avoiding you, haven't I?"

"And why exactly have you been avoiding me?" Ryu countered, her gaze firmly on him. Her arms were crossed and her pose spoke volumes of her irritation.

Shigure sighed and leaned his head back, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as if searching for the right words. "It's complicated," he admitted. "It's not that I don't want to see you or spend time with you, it's just...I guess I've been trying to sort out some things in my own head."

"But why do you have to avoid me to do that?" Ryu retorted, her voice laced with a mix of hurt and confusion. "You could have just talked to me about it, instead of cutting me out completely."

Shigure sighed again, his eyes still on the ceiling. He knew Ryu had a point, but he didn't know how to explain his actions. "It seemed like the easier path at the time," he finally said. "Sometimes, it's easier to push people away than to face difficult conversations."

Ryu's expression softened slightly, a mix of hurt and understanding in her eyes. "Easier for you, maybe," she responded quietly. "Not for the person being avoided."

Shigure's head snapped down to look at Ryu, the guilt in his eyes evident. "I know it wasn't fair for you," he admitted. "And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have handled it the way I did."

Ryu met his gaze, holding back the myriad of emotions that welled up inside her. She felt a mix of hurt, but also relief to hear his apology. "Why did you decide to come here now, then?" she asked, her voice still subdued.

Shigure's eyes closed, and he took a moment to gather his thoughts. The events at the summer villa weighed heavily on him, making him realize just how willing he was to endanger people for his plans. But another thought nagged at him, one that he couldn't quite articulate.

"It was the whole situation with Akito and the others at the summer villa that made me stop and think," Shigure finally spoke, opening his eyes to look at Ryu. "It made me really look at myself and what I was willing to do to achieve my goals."