Little Tiger

Brotherly love?

Shigure brought me back to his school after we finished eating. I hadn't realized what was happening until we reached the front entrance. 

I blinked up at the dorm building. "No---the estate---I have to get back," I said, turning away slowly. 

Shigure caught my arm. "Don't be silly. You'll have more fun here than that silly estate." He dragged me inside of the dorm then into the elevator. 

I was relieved to see Shigure lead me towards Hatori's dorm instead of his own. He knocked twice on the door and waited for Hatori to answer. Ayame's voice drew nearer towards the other side of the door; he was complaining to Hatori about something. 

"And then---" the door knob turned--- "I had to walk all the way back here because Akito was using the estate cars." The door slowly opened and Ayame's yellow eyes peaked through the crack. Once he saw Shigure, the door opened as wide as it could go. "Hello, Gure," he said pleasantly. His eyes widened when he saw me standing beside him. "And Ko! Come in!" he rejoiced, putting his hand on my shoulder and pulling me inside. 

"Don't invite them in here without my permission," Hatori muttered as Shigure threw himself onto Hatori's bed, putting his arm around Hatori's shoulders. 

"Oh, you're such a grouch, Tori," Shigure said, ruffling up Hatori's hair. "To think you would treat Ko and I this way after we nursed you back to health this afternoon." 

Ayame pulled me towards Hatori's desk and sat me down in the chair. It was like he knew that I was about to find a good time to take my leave, so he was holding me captive in this chair while he leaned on the desk beside me. It was not easy to relax when I knew that Akito might be angry with me if she knew I was here. 

"Nursed me back to health?" Hatori was saying. "You two just brought me back to my room and left." 

Shigure smirked at Hatori and leaned his head towards him. "Aw, were you hoping for something more?" 

Hatori put his hand on Shigure's face and pushed it away from him. "No. I just don't want to give you props for something you didn't do." Hatori folded his arms, angling away from Shigure. 

Shigure chuckled and sat back on the bed. "At any rate, how are you feeling now?" 

He clicked his tongue. "Better. I was asleep until Aya barged into my room." Hatori looked up at Ayame and scowled. 

"Anyway," Ayame said stagily, shaking his head at Hatori. "I was telling Tori about my outing with Yuki and Haru." 

I looked up at Ayame curiously. I had forgotten about those two. Even worse, I had forgotten that I was supposed to be the one taking them on that "outing."  

"You already explained this story to me three times, Aya," Hatori said, rubbing his temples with his index fingers. 

"Well, I haven't heard it yet. Go on, Aya," Shigure urged, propping his elbows against his knees and looking at Ayame intently. 

"Well, I took those goons to get some ice cream and Haru got lost!" Ayame lifted his chin up and sighed melodramatically. "I was looking for that little gremlin everywhere and do you know where I found him?" He looked down at me and slapped my shoulder. "Do you know where I found him?" 

"No," I said, assuming he needed an answer before he could finish his story. 

"I found him in the park, trying to catch a duck and almost falling into the pond." Ayame looked between Shigure and I, waiting for our gasps or something, before he moved to the next part. 

"Oh my," Shigure replied, aghast. "And whatever did you do after that, Aya?" 

Ayame nodded gratefully at Shigure's response. "Well, I had to pick him up and carry him like a football for the rest of our outing." He leaned back onto the desk and put his head down. "Meanwhile, Yuki followed me around like I was holding the key to his handcuffs." He groaned and ran his hand through the ends of his long hair.