03x02 - That's an Unwavering Truth

[bunniefuu]

Shigure, do you love me?

What?

Have you been walking around the
compound asking everyone that?

I'm the one asking
the questions, here.

So? Do you?

I care about you more
than anyone else.

I always will.

That's an unwavering truth.

Yes, Akito. I love you.

Ooh!

Nice. Making paper
flowers, I see.

That sure brings me back.
Are they for school?

That's right! I'm making them
for the graduation ceremony.

Our class is in charge of
the flower decorations.

Wow, it's graduation
season already?

And that means the three of
you will be seniors soon.

Time sure flies, doesn't it?

Say, would you mind terribly
if I opened one up?

Oh. No. Go ahead.
It's fine. Please.

We eldest are
the only zodiac members

who know the truth.

Um... I wanted to ask.

Yes?

It's-It's about A--

Hm?

Um.

Oh, dear! Are you thirsty?

I'll just go into the kitchen
and make some tea.

I can't blame her.

It is a difficult
topic to ask about.

It's too hard to ask about!

And I don't know if I should.

I don't want to interrogate him,
or pry into his personal life.

Besides, when I think about
the things Kureno told me,

it feels... like I'm
looking into a dark well,

with no bottom in sight.

My class is doing
paper flowers, too!

You know what that makes
us, right? Twinsies!

Um, right! Twinsies!

I'm having so much fun getting
things ready for the ceremony,

but I bet all the seniors
feel a bit sad

since they have to graduate.

Oh, I'm sure they're--

You don't know my sorrow!
Goodbye, Yuki!

Repeat the year.

I can't do that!

And what is it with you,
appearing out of nowhere

just to be snarky to people?

Oh, I thought about doing that.

Repeating a grade
to stay longer.

Because of Momo.

Papa said that she wants
to come to this school.

Of course, that had
him panicking.

Silly. She's a lot
younger than me.

I'll be long gone by
the time she's here.

Momiji.

Hm? What's up?

I don't think I
can tell Momiji, either.

Not even about
Uo- chan and Kureno.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what
I can talk about,

or how much I can
risk revealing.

What would people think if
they knew the things I do?

How would those secrets
make them feel?

Huh?

Halt, thieves, get back here!

We need those!

How sneaky,

waiting until most of the class
had already left to strike.

Um, I'm sorry, but what
just happened here?

They stole some flowers.

It seems they targeted the
ones Yuki made specifically.

Uh! Why would they do
like that, though?

Well, you see...

He's their prince.

They're ours! We did it.
We got them, ladies!

We overcame all the
obstacles in our path

and claimed this treasure!

Yes, a brilliant plan!

And with these disguises,
they had no idea who we were!

Maybe it would help if you went

and gave them a
talking-to, Hanajima.

Why bother? There's
no benefit in it for me.

Dumb fangirls. They
took a lot of 'em.

Guess we'll need more.
You'd better get folding, Kyon.

Huh? Wait. Why're you
draggin' me into this?

They stole that jerk's
flowers, not mine.

Yeah, but he already left
for student council stuff.

Well, I don't care.

I finally got my share of the
stupid things done just now...

They're all gone!

That's not my problem.

What the hell?

Where'd they go?

I did it.

Whoever gets Kyo's
flowers gets his love!

You think so?

She just made that up.

Hey, if it's true,
that means he'll love all of us.

Whoever did it...

...I won't actually k*ll them,
but they can go to hell!

His own unique brand of mercy.

Oh, is that what that was?

Well, either way, it looks like
you'll have to start over.

You're kidding me!

Really, though, what're we
gonna do about the prince's?

It doesn't seem fair to call him
back here to make more of them.

Yeah, you're right.

It's not like it was Yuki's
fault that they got stolen.

Wait, does that mean

we have to make
the replacements?

Like hell! We're not gonna let
'em get away with this crap!

We'll track them down
and take those flowers!

- -Heck, yeah!
- -Yeah!

Wait!

I don't know, you guys,

wouldn't making them ourselves
be a simpler solution?

We want the thieves

to be brought to
justice, don't we?

More like you wanna get
outta doing the work yourself.

Let's go! You, too, Hanajima!

I suppose, if you
require firepower.

Wha--?!

You hold the fort, Tohru!

You don't have to do anything.
Just wait till they get back.

Up a little, maybe?

A bit, yeah.

Can I help out with anything?

Oh! Hi, Soma- senpai !

No, it's fine, really!

I mean, thank you for
the offer, but we're good.

We couldn't
possibly ask the president

to help us!

Help with this?

Thank you, but we couldn't
ask you to do that, Yuki.

We've got it. Thanks, though.

That's right. We know you must
be busy with other stuff, Soma.

He's so handsome,
I can't take it!

I could help.

They don't need to be
so polite about it.

Looks like fun.

Machi?

You startled me.

What's wrong?
You're really out of breath.

It's your fault.

What?

You were roaming
around strange patterns.

I couldn't predict your route
and kept losing you.

Oh, I didn't realize that
you were looking for me.

I'm sorry. Did you need
me for something?

No, it's nothing.

Uh, I'm confused.

So you ran all over looking
for me for no reason?

Fine. I did want something.

Okay.

I... saw you before.

And, I don't know, I figured...
I would find you and say hello.

But...

...you kept going.

Wandering nonsensically
from one place to the next.

It's called
"patrolling," actually.

Anyway! I got stubborn,
that's all.

'Cause you were hard to catch.

Okay.

It didn't have to be now.

She would've seen
me again later.

But she chased after me...
just to say hello.

She sought me out. Just me.

Thank you.

What the heck? Pretty sure
I didn't deserve that.

And what's this?

A flower.

Oh. No way. Really?

It's even worse than
the ones I made.

Whatever!

Jeez, they're taking forever.

Do you think maybe
their investigation hit a snag?

Nah, I'm betting they
got distracted

by something more fun.

People like them just do
whatever sounds best

at the moment.

Oh. I don't know.

Unlike the others,
my curse... has broken.

Hey, Kyo.

Hm?

Well, I was wondering.

What would you think
if there was somebody

in the zodiac who was different?

Whose curse had... broken?

Broken? What do you
mean? I have no idea.

Anyway, I don't like "what ifs"
about that kinda stuff.

Hey, what's wrong?

Why do you look
all depressed now?

Wow. That was so thoughtless
of me. I'm really sorry.

No, wait, don't apologize.

I'm not mad or
anything, I swear!

What now? What should I do?

I don't want to upset him.

But if I look up,
I'm afraid I'll cry.

We apprehended the thieves!

It was exhausting.

Shall we go home, Tohru?

Yes, but what did you do
when you finally caught them?

Well, they probably
deserved worse than they got.

We were merciful--

just ordered them to make
replacement flowers.

They're lucky
we didn't confiscate

what they took.

Our punishment was humane.

How are you feeling today?

I took the liberty of
bringing you a present.

I thought you might never have
seen one of these before.

Hey. Do remember that day?

Which one?

Isuzu!

Uh. "Isuzu"?

What, is something up with Rin?

Oh, no, it's nothing!

My mind was wandering
and I just blurted that out.

Forget I said anything!

Sure. If you say so.

What's wrong with me?

I can't believe I'm only
thinking about Isuzu now.

She's like me. Desperate for
a way to break the curse.

Another person to
hide things from.

Or should I tell her?

Come to think of it,

I don't think I've seen
her since... New Year's.

Shigure says he's
gonna be out late.

Oh, really?

He's having dinner
with his editor.

I wouldn't think it
would take that long.

Gives him more time
to t*rture her, I guess.

I think... I'll go see her.

It feels like the
right thing to do.

You have to come
and rescue me!

Please, I'm begging
you. I need help.

I've done my best, but I'm
at the end of my rope here.

I won't make it
through the night

without incurring
permanent emotional

and psychological damage.

Mitchan, get it together.

Try to act like a professional.
You're his editor!

Poor thing. She seems so upset.

Do you think we should
go tell the manager?

Let's wait, give her some
space. It sounds personal.

Not anymore!

Don't you know the devil
pretends to be a castaway

before boarding the ship?

Wait, what?

Never mind. Business is
business. No running away.

I'm starting to think
I should just quit. Uh?

Got to go. My
companion's here.

Don't leave yet, Shigure.
At least greet Akito first.

Oh, no, thank you. That would
take far too much time.

Shall we?

Um, if you know those people,

shouldn't we have invited them
to come for a drink with us?

Absolutely not.

Why on earth would I want
to drink with my parents?

Are you kidding me?! Those two
back there are your parents?!

'Fraid so. Even I have a set.

Wait!

One sec, I need to go back there
and get a closer look at them!

You'll be wasting your time.

They won't have anything
to do with an outsider.

As it happens, there's
a dinner here tonight--

an exclusive gathering
for the main family.

You picked the worst
restaurant, Mitchan.

"The main family"?

Oh, wow. Guess you Somas
are real elites, huh?

Indeed, we are.

There's quite an immense gap in
status between you and Ritchan.

Oh, and look, the honored
family head arrives.

Hm?

Pale as a ghost, am I right?

Mm-hmm.

Uh. I mean, no! I was
thinking he looks so young!

Oh, I wouldn't say that.
Over now, I believe.

Uh! Are you kidding?!

Since when are people
over considered old?!

The Soma family head is
a beautiful young man!

Uhh... although, I guess
he might not appreciate

being called "beautiful."

Well, no sense standing around.

Let's go get that drink.
I'm parched.

Huh? Okay, fine.

I did tell him
to pay his respects.

Shall I fetch him back?

No need. Come, Kureno.

Leaving may have been
better for everyone involved,

including Akito.

And you know, it's not too late.

You... don't seem too surprised.

Did you already know...
that I was free from the curse?

Ahh, I would
sound so very prescient

if I could say yes, but I'm
afraid it was just a hunch.

Though I must admit, I feel a
bit better now that I do know.

That explains why she wants
to keep you so close.

She can't have other
people finding out,

so she clutches to
you desperately.

Listen, Shigure,

I believe I know how
you feel about her.

I realize you that
probably hate me, but--

You've got that right.

I hate you. I truly, truly do.

You really ought to thank me
for putting it so bluntly.

It'll make it that
much easier for you

to play the poor,
pitiful martyr.

Your favorite role.

Please.

Hate me, that's fine, but don't
abandon her. All right?

There's no need for
you to be so cold.

Like you said, she doesn't
cling to me out of love.

There's one person
she's always wanted,

and I think we both
know it isn't me.

Welcome home.

Welcome home.

I hope the dinner went well.

A moment please?

Stay here. Let nobody in.

Of course.

Did you have a good night?

Nothing better than
a fancy Soma soireé.

I have to say,
in that outfit,

you look even more
masculine than usual.

Wanna tell me what
you're doing here?

I came to apologize for not
greeting you at the restaurant.

That woman
with you, who was she?

Just somebody I know from work.

Slept with her yet?

Uh.

I would never.

Really? That surprises me.

And here I thought you slept
with every woman you knew.

Oh, come now, Akito.
You're being absurd.

Well, you did sleep with her .

Sorry, which
"her" would that be?

Ren, who else?

How dare you.

How dare you sleep with her!

That was a long time ago.

And if you'll recall,
you already punished me for it.

You told me to leave, remember?

You know that's the only
reason I live in that house

instead of here.

Yeah, is it?

Funny how you waltzed
right out of here

without even putting
up a fight, then.

You wanted to go
from the beginning!

You wanted to get
away from here.

From me!

Admit it. That's why
you slept with her.

It is, right, Shigure?

You like her more.
You want her more!

I care about you...
more than anyone else.

That's an unwavering
truth. Even now.

I thought that you'd forgotten.

I never said
anything of the sort.

Is that why you've
been so irritable?

A test?

Is that what this is, some kind
of warped test of yours?

No, Akito, I'm not testing you.

Don't you understand?

Haven't you figured out
why I slept with Ren?

I did it because you
slept with Kureno.

Because of me?

What the hell are you saying?
That it's my fault?

I did nothing wrong!
You can't blame me for this!

Now, Kureno,
don't get me wrong.

I love Akito.

I always have. I always will.

In fact, I love her so much...

...that sometimes I want
to spoil her rotten.

I'm not just anyone,
I'm special!

You're all mine. I can
do what I want with you.

Whatever I want! It's my right!

And sometimes,
I want to crush her to a pulp.

If you don't get it,

there's no point
discussing this further.

We're merely repeating the
same argument we always have.

Your mood is only getting worse
the longer we talk about it.

I should just go.

You deny your femininity,

and yet you're always ready to
use it as a w*apon against me.

Don't you know? It's here.

Eternity. It's right here.

I'm always thinking about you.

Before you came,
something was missing.

I'm here forever.

You just haven't realized it.

I was waiting that
day... and I never stopped.

Isuzu Soma?
Yeah, she's in our class.

Well, technically she is,

but she's on one of
her absent kicks again.

Huh?

I forget, did she wind up
back in the hospital?

She's out,
but still recuperating.

Oh, that's right! In some
far-away place or whatever.

Heh. I swear,
your mind is like a sieve.

Oh, I see.
Thank you for telling me.

Sure.

What do you think
the chances are

that Soma will graduate on time?

You know her family'll just

pay off the school.

Wonder who that girl is.
A friend of Soma's, maybe?

Since when
does Soma have friends?

Ha! You're so mean!

I've been here. Waiting.

All this time.

I've been right
here waiting for you.

"I hope it snows soon."