Daydreams

Chapter One

It had been several years since the curse had been lifted, and things could not have been any better. Day by day, things started to improve and relationships blossomed. Tohru watched as Kyo slowly started to come out of his shell, and she witnessed the way he grew to become a strong man with compassion and a heart of gold. His temper was still there, of course, and it was actually comforting to the young woman. She sat on the porch of their small dojo near the mountains, listening to the wind chime sound musically above her head. Cradled in her hand was a small glass cup steaming with fresh tea. She smiled as a breeze blew by, and she closed her eyes. The peace and quiet of the early afternoon was very enjoyable, and it helped her to relax for a short while.

As usual, Tohru kept herself busy with chores about the dojo and their quaint home. She woke when Kyo did, just after the sun crept over the mountaintops, and she cooked breakfast for them. While she cooked, Kyo trekked along the mountainside, keeping himself in prime shape and maintaining his discipline. When he returned, they ate together and enjoyed each other's company. Afterward, Kyo trained with a master of his own in their dojo while Tohru swept, mopped, dusted, ironed, washed, and tidied up. When lunch arrived, she fed both Kyo and his master if his master stayed, and Kyo would rest before he taught his own evening classes. It kept them supported, kept their dojo running and a roof over their heads. Their routine was very comfortable, and Tohru was happy. She was happy just to see Kyo happy.

Be that as it may, though, Tohru did have one minor complaint. After high school, she and Kyo had moved to the mountains where they worked for and eventually inherited a dojo to further Kyo's training. She had refused to leave his side, had wanted to accompany him, and she never once regretted it. Uo and Hana were so far away with the rest of the Sohma family, though, that it made her sad at times. But when she opened her eyes to glance over the rim of her teacup, the familiar figure and orange hair brought a smile to her face.

"Daydreaming again?" His smooth, deep voice rang like music in her ears, and he watched her nod. She was beautiful. She had been since the day they met, since the day he first laid eyes on the awkward, clumsy girl who flowered into a tall, picturesque beauty. Even after so many years with her, just her simple smile or the look in her eyes made butterflies flutter about in his stomach. It was something he never thought he'd ever experience, and in the middle of the night while Tohru slept, he often whispered to her how thankful and how lucky he was to have her.

"Just reminiscing," was her simple reply, and she extended a hand with slender fingers, curling them around Kyo's as she guided him to sit beside her. It was a rare day in their schedule that they had nothing planned. Kyo's master had phoned them to say that some business came up and he had to leave town for the week. It was a good break for Kyo, himself, and he had, in turn, instructed his students to stay home that evening. It had made Tohru grin from ear to ear when she heard that they had the night to spend just with each other.

"I understand. I think about home just as much as you do." It was true that, as much as Kyo hated admitting it, he did miss Shigure's simple, comfortable home. He missed the hustle and bustle of friends and family coming and going, the constant repairs needed after a fight between himself and Yuki, and the warm, delightful smells of Tohru's cooking from the kitchen as they waited for dinner. It brought back happy memories, and Kyo slipped a long, toned arm around her small back. "I received a letter from Shigure; did I show you, yet? It came just this morning."

Tohru shook her head and smiled at him when she heard Shigure had sent a letter to them. It was easy to pick up a phone and call, and Tohru enjoyed the calls she received from Shigure and several of the other family members from time to time. However, a letter seemed to hold much more value; Shigure took the time to sit and write to them. Granted, he had been a novelist for quite a long time but had stopped years before. "What did it say? How are things at home?"

Kyo reached into his pockets and then hummed. "I must have left it inside; I'm pretty sweaty, anyway. Shigure said things are good at home, and he's really happy and comfortable to be living in the Sohma house again. He also said that Akito is doing much better than she had been when we left." He turned to Tohru as he stood again, helping her to her feet and kissing her forehead.

Tohru smiled. "That's nice to hear. We should visit them soon. It may be nice to see them again and see how everyone is." She carried her cup into the kitchen and washed it, setting it on the counter to dry before she wandered toward the door where Kyo was standing. He was looking through the mail he'd left on the small hallway table, and he released a sound of achievement when he found the beige colored envelope.

"Here, you can read it," he smiled, and he slipped it into her hands. "I'm going to go shower, though. I don't want to smell bad. What are you making for lunch?"

Tohru happily accepted the letter and nodded, looking up at him as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I was going to make soup and sandwiches. I thought we could have an early dinner instead of lunch…since we have the evening to ourselves."

Kyo's eyes darkened at the sound of those words, and he leaned down to kiss her softly. "That sounds like a good idea," he whispered, smiling at her before he turned and wandered down the hallway toward their room. She laughed when she saw that look, and she shook her head. Turning back into the kitchen, she sat down and pulled her knees to her chest. Unfolding the envelope she quietly read the letter.

Dear Kyo and Tohru,

I know I call every month, but I wanted to personally write to you this time. Things are well, here, but you are missed. I tell you that every month, though. Anyway, Akito is doing well. She is happier than she was, though sometimes it is hard to console her when she has nightmares or when Ren steps in. I stay close, though, which makes Akito feel better. She really does have a good heart, but growing up in the Sohma house like that confused her. I'm happy that things are finally better.

I'll get to the point, though. Everyone misses Kyo and Tohru so much, especially Kisa and Momiji. Of course, Yuki misses you, too, but he's finishing up his degree at college. We wanted to invite you to visit for a couple days, and we would be very happy if you accepted the offer. Yuki will be coming home for the spring holidays in just two weeks, so we thought it would be a nice time for you to come.

Also, when are you getting married? I have so many plans for your wedding, and you know that Ayame is adamant that he design Tohru's dress!

Love,

Shigure

Tohru giggled and folded the letter back into the envelope. Standing, she reached for her favorite apron and slipped it over her neck and tied it behind her back. She had made the soup the night before and left it to cool in the fridge, so she pulled it out and set it on the stove to heat. While it was warming once again, she began making sandwiches. She could hear Kyo moving around in their bedroom which meant that he was done his shower and would be arriving in the kitchen very shortly.

Her assumption came true when Kyo entered the room not five minutes later, and he slipped behind her to wrap his arms around her waist. "You smell nice," she said with a soft laugh, concentrating on slicing the tomatoes neatly and without harming herself. "Do you feel better?" "Much," was Kyo's reply as he rested his chin on her shoulder, watching her hands curiously. He had always enjoyed watching Tohru cook, and while he held her, he laid soft little kisses along the curve of her neck. "Did you read it?"

Tohru nodded her head, her bangs swaying with her movement, and she placed two tomato slices on each sandwich. "Of course I did. I'm glad to hear that Akito is happy now that she has Shigure at her side for the majority of the time."

Kyo made a little sound in the back of his throat, and he tightened his arms. She was so warm and soft against him, and the thought made him a bit sleepy. "He has to stay near to her or Ren might lose her temper. From what I've heard, when that happens, it's like Akito multiplied times five." He explained as if it were some everyday sort of thing. In reality, it had been. But that ended when the curse broke. "When do you want to leave?"

The smile that rounded her cheeks as it pulled upward at the corners was signal enough to Kyo that she wanted to accept Shigure's offer. "As soon as you want to, I'll be ready. But not tonight." She said, turning around to face Kyo and leaning up to kiss the side of his mouth. "Thank you."

Kyo wrinkled his nose playfully at her, and he nodded his head. "You're the only reason I'm going, you know. I hate having to put up with that damn rat." He offered her a grin as two large, crystalline blue eyes glistened up at him. He couldn't refuse her anything, and he found himself unable to stay angry with her if she ever frustrated him. It was rare, but it happened, of course. They were human, after all; they were normal.

"And Kagura, I'm sure," she returned to fixing their sandwiches with a laugh, and she heard Kyo groan. "You know she'll just be happy to see you, Kyo. She's long since accepted the fact that you don't love her."

Kyo remembered the day he told Kagura that he didn't and couldn't love her the way she wanted. He did care for the girl, but since the day Tohru ran after him instead of away from him when he transformed into that creature he was cursed with, he knew it was only her. It was only Tohru. It would always only ever be Tohru. He moved over to lean against the counter beside her, and he watched her quietly.

"Do you miss those days, Tohru?" He inquired, crossing his arms over his chest. She was such a perfectionist when it came to the food she made that it made him laugh. She lined up the slices of bread perfectly and cut a straight line down the center so both halves were equal. "Do you miss…the way it was when we lived with the curse?"

Tohru finished the sandwiches and carried the plates to the table before she reached for the bowls and scooped soup into each. She hummed, letting Kyo know she was considering his question while she set the bowls on the table by the sandwiches. "I miss the way it felt living with you, Yuki, and Shigure. I miss making breakfasts for everyone and eating together, and I miss the way it felt when I came home from work and everyone was waiting for me."

Kyo nodded, scuffing his socked foot against the cool kitchen floor for a moment. "It was a big part of our lives." He said softly, and he shifted again, turning to face her as she reached into the refrigerator to pour drinks.

"But," she began, smiling at him. "I wouldn't change anything to go back. I'm happier now than I've ever been, Kyo." She sat down, then, and waved him over to sit with her. She was surprised, though, when she felt a large hand slide into her hair and arms pull her across the mat they knelt on into his embrace.

"That's what makes me happy." He said, touching her cheek lightly as she looked up at him. When she smiled, he leaned down to kiss her. When he pulled back, he had to laugh because she grabbed him again to continue their kiss.