P.S. I put the characters as the people I thought that they would fit as, so any Hanajima fans, don't hate me! I love Hanajima!
Chapter 1
"Kyo! Wake up, you lazy son of mine!" Kyo's stepmother Hanajima called. When there was no response, Hanajima crossed her arms and turned to her husband. "Kazuma, you have not raised that boy properly! Get him out of bed this instant! He has work to do!" Kazuma stood up almost knocking down the maid. "Oh, Tohru excuse me!" Tohru, the stepmother's maid jumped out of the way. A look of panic was on her face. "Oh! I am so sorry sir! It was all my fault, I was in your way!" Hanajima shook her head. "I thought we taught you better manners than that girl, get out of our way!" Tohru nodded and rushed from the house. Kazuma called up to the small attic where his son Kyo slept. "Son come down here! Are you awake Kyo?" This time, there was a reply. "Yes father, I'm up and I'm getting dressed!" Hanajima put her hands on her hips. "Sometimes I feel like he doesn't answer me on purpose..." Kyo came down from the attic with his usual grumpy expression. "Morning..." He muttered. Hanajima gave him a weak smile. "Yes, good morning Kyo. Sit down for breakfast. Tohru! Come here!" Tohru rushed inside almost tripping over herself. "Yes ma'am?" Hanajima gave her some cups and four plates. "Set the table for breakfast, Tohru." She ordered. Tohru took the cups and plates and nodded. "Yes ma'am." After setting the table, the four of them ate a breakfast of eggs, which was all they had. The family was very poor, and had very little belongings. They lived in a one bedroom cottage on a very small farm, and the only animal they owned was a donkey. About a year ago, when Kazuma lost his job, they found a poor orphaned girl and took her in. It was even harder for them after that, and Hanajima was upset, but the girl agreed to do work around the house in exchange for their hospitality. And the longer Tohru stayed, the more attached she grew to Kyo. She enjoyed watching him work in the fields on her spare time. She would talk to him if she had the chance to, but those chances came rarely. Hanajima looked to her husband. "Are you going to see if you can find work in the town today Kazuma?" Kazuma nodded and got up from the table. Hanajima shot a glare at Tohru who was staring intently at Kyo. "Tohru go wash the dishes." She said loudly, breaking her out of her trans. She nodded and was about to go over to the sink, when Kazuma stopped her. "No Tohru. Today you, me, and Kyo are going to have some fun. Go wash up, and put on your nicest clothes." Kyo jumped up. "Cool! Are we going to town with you, dad?" Hanajima's mouth dropped. "But Kazuma! They both have chores to do!" Kazuma smiled. "Well this can be their day off." Tohru's face brightened. She had only been to town once, and had loved every minute of it. "Oh, Mrs. Hanajima, may I go? Please?" She begged. Hanajima took one look at Tohru's and Kyo's excited expressions and sighed. "I guess you can go...but be back before lunch..." Tohru squealed, and kissed Hanajima on the cheek. "Thank you so much Mrs. Hanajima!" Hanajima waved her hand at them. "Just go get ready." Tohru and Kyo looked at each other, smiled, and rushed off to get ready.
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When they arrived at the town, Kyo and Tohru began to look at all of the tasty foods in the bakery, while Kazuma went to work, hoping to earn a little money to bring home with him. Tohru spotted a flower shop and rushed over, with Kyo following right behind. "Look at these beautiful roses Kyo!" She exclaimed. Tohru gently touched one of the ruby red roses. Kyo smiled. "I wish I had the money to buy you one..." Tohru spun around, and she noticed Kyo was blushing. "You don't have to waste your money just to buy me a rose..." Tohru said, blushing herself. Kyo grabbed her hand. "Let's go look around more, okay?" He asked grinning. Tohru closed her hand tighter around his. "Okay." After awhile Kazuma came back with a basket filled with a loaf of bread and some fruit. Tohru and Kyo rushed up. "Wow dad, how much money did you earn today?" Kyo questioned poking at the bread. Kazuma chuckled. "Just enough to get us through a few more days." Tohru smiled. "That's good. Shall we go home? Mrs. Hanajima said to be back before lunch and it's getting late..." Kazuma nodded. "Yes lets go home."
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When the three reached home, they saw that Hanajima was standing in the front yard with her hands on her hips, she did not look happy. When she saw them, she marched up. "Kazuma! I told you to bring them back BEFORE lunch! Look at the sun! It has almost set! The food I made for you has already gotten cold!" Kazuma handed her the basket of food. "I'm sorry honey, we were just so caught up in what we were doing-" She stomped her foot. "No more excuses! There will be no supper for any of you! And Tohru!" Tohru snapped around at the sound of her name. "Yes ma'am?!" Hanajima pointed a finger towards the little shack that they used as a stable. "Go take care of the donkey!" Tohru nodded and rushed off to the stables. Hanajima pointed a finger at Kyo. "And YOU! Go to the field and work on your chores!" Kyo looked over at Kazuma as if to say "Do I have to?" Kazuma nodded at his son. "Go do your chores Kyo. Your mother and I need some time to talk..." Kyo began to walk away but not before getting the last word in. "Hmph...She is NOT my mother." Hanajima's mouth dropped, and Kyo kept walking towards the fields. "Did you hear him Kazuma? How rude! I will not stand for that boy's rudeness! And I know exactly where he is getting it!" Kazuma shook his head. "Who would he get an additude from Hanajima?" She clenched her fist. "It's that stupid maid!" Kazuma looked shocked. "Tohru? But she is nothing but nice to us! She does everything we ask!" Hanajima scowled. "Who knows what she could be filling that boy's head with when we aren't looking!" She stopped yelling and took in a deep breath. "I won't stand for this any longer. We have no money, we have hardly enough to feed ourselves let alone that boy and that good for nothing maid!" Kazuma gave her a hard stare. "'That boy' is my son. And you shall not talk about him that way." Kazuma turned and went into the small bedroom he and Hanajima called their own, leaving his wife scowling at the kitchen table.
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While Kyo worked out in the field, Tohru cleaned the tiny stable and gave water to the donkey. She turned and watched Kyo as he worked and wished that he would embrace her with his big, strong arms. But what was she thinking? She was only a maid, he would probably fall in love with a rich townswoman or something. But she could still dream couldn't she? She ran her hand down the donkey's nose. He was way too skinny. "Poor thing." She whispered. "So how's it going Tohru?!" She jumped and spun around to see Kyo behind her. He grinned. "Sorry, did I scare you?" Tohru nodded, trying to calm her racing heart beat. He rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry 'bout that." Tohru chuckled. "Oh, no, it's fine." She looked at him to see that his eyes were locked on something. She turned her head to follow his gaze, but didn't see anything. "What are you thinking about?" She asked tentatively. He shook his head. "I just don't know what father saw in that Hanajima." She sighed. "Mrs. Hanajima can be grumpy at times, but then again, nobody is perfect. She was probably just having an off day..." Kyo smiled. "You know what? You are the most kindhearted person, I've ever met." She blushed. "I don't know what to say...." She gasped when she felt his strong arms pull her close to him. She never thought that he would hug her. "Tohru, I've been thinking about this a long time. And, I want to be with you." He murmured. Tohru felt her cheeks growing hot, but she didn't care anymore. She closed her eyes and hugged him back. "I...want to be with you too...Kyo..." Little did the two love birds know, Hanajima was watching them through the kitchen window. She scowled in disgust and spun around to face Kazuma, who was coming out of their tiny bedroom. "Look at that Kazuma! Just look at them! Hugging! When they are supposed to be doing their chores! I knew Tohru was up to something! I just knew it!" She said as she gestured towards the window. Kazuma sighed. "They like each other.....so what?" Hanajima scowled again. "Soon there will be more mouths to feed! Kazuma, we cannot keep them any longer! They have to go!" Kazuma's mouth dropped open, and he stood still, looking bewildered. But the shock that was splayed across his face quickly turned to anger. "What are you implying?" He yelled. "We are not getting rid of them! Kyo is my son! And the one that my son loves, will ALWAYS be welcome here!" Hanajima stepped back, dumbfounded by his anger towards her. "Kazuma-" He lifted his hand to cut her off. "No you listen to ME now. If you don't like how hard we are all trying then Hanajima, YOU can be the one to go! My son and Tohru are not leaving!" And with that, Kazuma stormed out of the house. Hanajima crossed her arms. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
A/N: Bwahahaha! Hanajima is so evil! (Don't hate me, don't hate me...) R&R and thanks a bunch! I love donkeys... (Haha! If you replace the word donkey with...you know...it sounds nasty! Blahahaha!)