Chapter 16 Summary

The chapter opens with what seems to be a young Shigure sitting up in bed, gazing out of a window, thinking "I dreamt of my most beloved person, but, I can only feel that it cannot be helped."

Present time Shigure, wearing a pair of spectacles, is sitting in his chair listening with an oddly grim expression on his face to his editor's message on the answering machine, ordering him to stay put and saying that she'll come over to get the last 20 pages of his manuscript.

As the message ends, Yuki and Tooru come in to tell him that they're going out on their double date with Kagura and Kyou. (Meanwhile, Kyou's watching the television with an annoyed look on his face as it reports that "The weather today is great, it's a good day for going out on a date." ^_^;;) Shigure gives the two boys some "advice" before they leave, causing the two to sweatdrop and Kyou to shout "Stupid!"

Meanwhile, Tooru says she's worried about asking Shigure to deliver the Valentine's day chocolate to Hatori and the others. Shigure reassures her that there's no need to worry, he won't eat the chocolate, but Tooru protests it's not that, she's just worried about troubling him since he has work to do. Yuki tells her that it's okay to leave it up to Shigure and that it's better if she doesn't go to the Souma household. (Shigure sweatdrops and thinks "She's already gone there." while a side note tells us that Yuki and Kyou still don't know about her going there earlier to see Hatori. ^_^) Shigure pats Tooru on the head and tells her not to worry, and sees the trio off to the bus stop where they'll be meeting Kagura.

As Shigure re-enters the house, his answering machine clicks on again, and the editor's shout can be heard, "I forgot to tell you this earlier, pretending you're not at home is fine, BUT DON'T RUN AWAY!" To which Shigure takes off his glasses and with a wink says "To hear you say that, won't it make me want to do it even more?"

Meanwhile, the trio have met up with Kagura who is now glomping Kyou, saying that "I was waiting so much for this day that I couldn't sleep." To which a visibly annoyed Kyou says "Oh, is that so? Then go back and sleep." Yuki notices Tooru looks worried, and she tells him it's because she really is worried about causing trouble for Shigure. She comments that it's often hard to tell what he's thinking, since he always puts on a cheerful front. Yuki replies that very few can truly understand Shigure, one of them being Hatori. He says that once someone, though he can't remember who, said that "Shigure is like the ripples. Once you go near them, they move away, even though they're originally near your feet, just when you feel like touching them, they move far away." But then Yuki follows up by saying that he thinks that metaphor's too flattering - Shigure's more like a jellyfish that floats wherever the waves take him. Tooru sweatdrops and she seems to remember someone else who said the same thing... (That someone being Hatori) At that moment, Kagura says that they should go now as the movie might start soon. As they leave, Yuki thinks to himself that even though Shigure often puts on a cheerful face, he might be plotting something else behind it...

Shigure appears at the entrance of Hatori's house, and the dialogue goes something like this (It was so cute I just HAD to put it here. ^_^:

Shigure: Hi! Hatori! *heart*
Shigure: I've brought you some Valentine's Day chocolate!*heart*
Hatori: .........
*Abruptly closes the door in Shigure's face. :)*
Shigure: *tears streaming down his face* Sorry, I lied. It's from Tooru.
Shigure: *The words are all jagged* Let me in...
Hatori: *vein* Idiot...

Anyway, after that cute little scene, Shigure and Hatori are in his house talking. Hatori comments on how kind hearted Tooru is, and Shigure agrees, saying that she made some for Momiji and Hatsuharu as well and even wanted to give it to them herself. He tells Hatori about the double date, and the topic turns to Tooru's effect on the boys.

At the same time, the double daters are in the movie theater watching a very weird show called something like "Mo Tai's last holy battle". (Motai is in Chinese, btw... don't know the Japanese equivalent) Yuki sits on the left, followed by Tooru, Kagura and finally Kyou on the right. The two boys (Is it me or did they purposely choose to sit as far away as possible? ^_^) are sweatdropping while the girls are crying as they watch the show. ^_^;;

The scene turns back to Shigure and Hatori. The two are still talking about Tooru, and Shigure recalls the time when he said something to Kyou that distressed him, and he ran out of the house, but when Tooru went out and fetched him back he seemed to have calmed down considerably. Hatori comments that everything seems to be going according to Shigure's plan, and when Shigure asks him why he seems so unsatisfied he says that Shigure is actually very much like Akito in that he sees Tooru as a pawn to be used. Shigure then reminds Hatori of that time where they dreamt that beautiful dream, where they actually cried, and says that although to Hatori and Ayame it is a sad memory, he himself has not forgotten it. It flashes back to young Shigure who thinks "Cute... that warm feeling... that makes people drunk on sweet beauty..." (That translation is VERY inaccurate. ^_^;;) Young Shigure, sitting atop a wall, tells young Hatori that he wishes to keep that feeling forever, and definitely wants to be able to (metaphorically speaking) grasp it in his hands again. Present time Shigure, with a very disturbing look on his face, then announces that no matter how much he has to lie, or use people, even if he hurts anyone, he still will not care. Hatori says nothing. Shigure owns that sometimes he hates that kind of him, especially when he sees Tooru. To him, Tooru is too pure, and this makes him understand that he is the one who is the most polluted.

But then, (as usual) Shigure breaks the tense atmosphere by saying comically, "No, I'm just dirty!"

However, he lapses back into seriousness and says, "So, Hatori, that's why sometimes I feel like I envy you. Maybe I'm... the one who's the most cursed." Hatori has nothing to say that, and only looks at Shigure with an expression that seems slightly (Only slightly, this is Hatori after all) pitying.

Right then, one of the servants comes up and says that the doctor (Hatori) is needed. (I think he needs to check up on Akito, or something) Shigure (rather amusingly) offers to help him take over that duty, and Hatori goes "I knew you'd say that." He tells Shigure to help him thank Tooru for the chocolates. As Shigure is getting ready to leave, he advises him to prepare himself, because if anyone, be it Tooru, Kyou or Yuki, knew about his plan, they would surely punch him. Hatori, sweatdropping, says that even though he hates pain, it can't be helped, and adds that eh doesn't even like it when Hatori gives him an injection. Hatori says that he won't help him then, but that neither will he become his enemy. Hatori smiles gratefully. Just as he leaves, though, Hatori reminds Shigure not to let Akito get a cold. ^_^ Once Shigure leaves, Hatori remarks that he, like Shigure, is also "polluted".

The scene changes and we see Akito who says "Shigure... You've come." Shigure replies that it's because he wanted to see him, and Akito says that isn't it to be expected? Shigure bends down towards Akito and says "Of course... because you're my... most important person." as he repeats his earlier words to himself: "No matter how much I lie and use people... I want that dream to become forever."

The scene changes and we once again see the double daters who have just reached the entrance of Shigure's house. The two girls are both discussing how great the movie was as the boys simply sweatdrop. Kyou is thinking to himself that it doesn't matter as long as he can get away from Kagura. The two girls seem to have become exceptionally close as Kagura comments that she would love to eat dinner that Tooru has cooked. Of course, Kyou freaks out and yells out that she's being thick-skinned, and that she should go home. Kagura happily concludes that Kyou is just shy and gives him a VERY painful rap on the forehead as she says "You shy person. *heart*" Yuki, looking disinterested, glances at his watch and wonders if Shigure is back yet.

As an evil looking Kagura chases Kyou in the background, Tooru notices a woman prostrating herself in front of their door. Tooru tries to ask her what is wrong when the obviously distressed woman, shocking the two, suddenly whips out a knife and declares that it doesn't matter anymore, her life is over! At this crucial moment, Shigure appears and says, "Don't die in front of other people's house!" (At this time, Kagura has caught and is hugging a clearly irritated Kyou in the background) The woman says, "Shigure, you're back!" and proceeds to cry very loudly, as Shigure, smiling, introduces her to Tooru as his editor.

Back inside the house, the editor is still crying and reproaching Shigure for running away when she told him not to. Tooru offers the poor woman a cup of tea, and asks Shigure worriedly if it was really no trouble. (Referring to the fact that she asked him to help her give the chocolates to Hatori) Shigure says no, and relays Hatori's thanks. (There's a cute scene which shows Hatsuharu and Momiji holding the chocolates and going "Tasty! Tasty! Tasty!" to Hatori, who says "You shouldn't say that to me.") Tooru is delighted and when Shigure comically asks where his share is, Tooru smiles very sweetly and says "I'm doing it now... the fact that you want to eat them makes me very happy!" Shigure says nothing as he looks at both Kagura and Tooru happily chatting away to each other.

His editor screams at him "Hands! Hands! Hurry up and move your fingers!" as he soothingly says "Yes yes yes." to placate her. She pleads with him to be more serious, because isn't work very important? To which a surprised Shigure says "Really? To me, not matter what time, my own self is always the most important!" Making the editor cry even more. ^_^;; She then vows that she'll never let him run away again - no mater where she goes, she'll always catch up with him! To which Shigure says "That's frightening."

The chapter ends with Shigure smiling to himself as the narration says "If you can catch, then try catch and see!"

(Note: I think the last sentence refers to both the Editor's wanting to not let Shigure run away, and also the fact that Shigure wants to "catch" his dream. The original Chinese version didn't add any "it" or "me" to sentence, so I didn't put it in the translation. I admit it DOES sound weird, though. ^_^)