My, My, Imai! Vol. I

Shigure:
After the Christmas Eve Party, everyone decided to stay at the Main Compound so that traveling back to it the next morning, for Christmas Day, would not be so hectic.

Normally, Shigure would join with Ayame and Hatori for their own little party; it was their own, personal tradition to stay up until their eyes couldn't stay open anymore to 'shoot the shit', remember old times, and smoke and drink. To generally be jolly with each other.

But before the Mabudachi Trio's 'Personal Christmas Party' began, it was Shigure's personal tradition to sit with Imai and talk. Never for too long, but just enough to have a good conversation before the festivities began again the next morning.

Shigure stayed with Imai for a little longer than usual that night, but eventually made his way back to Hatori's office where the Trio did just as they always did on Christmas Eve.

The hours dragged on, and the stories continued to be told (mostly by Shigure and Ayame, as always). But somewhere after two A.M. Ayame had excused himself to go to bed early; he'd had far too much to drink and couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.

But Shigure wasn't ready to go to bed yet... He had to talk with Hatori about a few things.

He sat with the dragon in the office, it being far too cold out to sit on the porch for too long this year. Sitting in the spare seat that was typically occupied by Imai, Shigure puffed on the last of a cigarette before putting it out. He'd noticed Imai's lack of spirit at the party, her personally induced seclusion in the middle of it, and Hatori's less-than-successful talk with her.

"Ha'ri... I've got something to tell you, but... You have to swear not to tell Imai about it, whatever you do."

Hatori:
Ayame had a wonderful idea and Hatori almost joined him. He himself had been feeling a little weary all through the festivities, but it would soon dawn on him that there would be no time for rest when Shigure got that serious look on his normally scheming face.

"Well, that will be easy to do since she's not speaking to me."

For now or for good, he wasn't sure. . . He only knew that he didn't like it a single bit. He had tried to find out in his own direct way that was indirect at the same time and it had failed. It had to be something he had done, he was certain of that.

Nevertheless, Shigure was given his undivided attention even though he was reading the back of the bag of Christmas coffee he had been given earlier that night.

Shigure:
Shigure sighed, bringing his hand up to rub his face. But he didn't look tired... He looked more tense than exhausted. One only had to wonder what had the dog so uncharacteristically tense on such a nice evening.

"... That's what this is about.. I was talking to her tonight, and..."

He sighed again...

"... How do I put this..?"

He wasn't sure if he should even be TELLING Hatori this, but he'd already started... So he might as well finish.

"... Hatori... I don't think you and Imai should be seeing eachother anymore."

Before the dragon could even ask, Shigure continued, bringing his eyes back up to those of his friend.

"She's... She's... (sigh)... Imai's falling in love with you. I know you don't want to hear it, and I didn't want to tell you... But, I think it would be the best for both of you if you both kept your distance, at least for a little while. I don't want... Either of you to get hurt."

Shigure grabbed another cigarette from his pack, lighting it up and taking a heavy drag. He hated to be the one to tell Hatori something like this... At a TIME like this... But it had to be done.

"She didn't want me to tell you... She didn't even want to tell you herself; she doesn't want to hurt you... But I know that if she continues to be around you like she has been, she'll end up hurting herself more in the long run."

Hatori:
The bag he had been holding fell from his hand and landed with a dull 'plop' on the top of his desk, eyes wide with brows lifted completely as he stared in open shock at the other across from him. It took a moment, but Hatori recovered and decided to himself that this Holiday season was having a strange effect on his even stranger family.

"Don't be stupid," he ordered flatly, disregarding the fact that the bit of information made everything make more sense now.

"Lay off the eggnog-- It ruins your liver AND your head."

Hatori stood from his desk, glowering the whole way to the window sill as he took his own pack of cigarettes with him to light one more for his nerves out of habit. That was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard! Imai falling in love with him!

There had only been one person that had ever felt that way for him before, and she was gone forever out of his reach. Love was something that didn't exist in Hatori's world anymore and it certainly wasn't reciprocated in that way for anyone else. Ever.

Shigure:
Shigure sighed again, shaking his head. He hated doing this... It damaged him on the inside when he realized that he had to do something about the situation or it would get out of hand without Imai OR Hatori knowing about it.

"... Even if I WERE drunk, I wouldn't say something like this unless I was serious..."

He took another hefty drag; his own nerves were shot. This was the last thing he wanted to talk about with Hatori on Christmas Eve.

"If you don't believe that she's told me herself, then put the pieces together and see how it fits: She's in here in your office all the time, she actually talks to you like she talks to me in less than a year, she lets Aya drag her into your office to show off a new outfit, she goes overboard with your Christmas, bolts out of your office like a bat out of Hell, and clams up at the party after not talking to you all day. Not even a 'Hello.'..."

Another drag, just as large as the others.

"She told me that she figured it all out last night while you two were having tea... That's why she ran off, Hatori. That's why she's distancing herself from you and acting like she used to... She didn't want you to know, and she doesn't want to hurt you by feeling the way she does..."

Hatori:
Hatori was never good in these sorts of situations. Not even when Kanna had opened her heart to him, accepting who he was right down to his Zodiac form. This. . . was no different.

The dragon said nothing, but continued to glare out the window at the falling snow while the smoke of his cigarette swirled around him like the heavy fog in his brain. It made sense in that aspect, yes, but it didn't make any sense to him for her to simply cut him out of her life so suddenly without a better reason than some out of control emotions that were no doubt misinterpreted anyhow.

Actually, the more he thought about it, the more it started to sting. It had been a long while since he had a friend other than Shigure and Ayame-- He had trusted Imai with that much, though it was something that evoked second thoughts in that mist.

Shigure was right. Hatori did not want to hear any of it.

Shigure:
"Right now, she's confused and she's scared. I think it might be best to keep your distance from each other for awhile and let things settle down."

The tone in Shigure's voice said that he was just as equally done with the subject as Hatori was. Stubbing out his cigarette, he stood up, his jovial mood returning for the brief moment of 'goodnight' before the dog disappeared out of the office.

**Good God Almighty... I hope I ruined everything for their safety... But I hope I DIDN'T ruin everything for their emotions. It sucks playing the middle man...**

Shigure sighed heavily as he retreated off to bed. He just hoped that Christmas morning would go without incident.