(Chapter 1 – Happy Together… Or is it?)
Kyo and Kagura were married at age 18. How? Well, Akito's words are indeed firm and final, so when he said they have to get married, well, that's that and voila! They're married.
Anyway, Kyo is working as the Sohma family's accountant while Kagura stays at home, doing chores. Oh, and they live together under one roof. They were able to buy a new house for the two of them. Kagura was satisfied getting married to Kyo. And obviously, Kyo didn't like her company.
How about the others?
Tohru was engaged to Yuki. She fought for her loved one in front of Akito. Seeing that her love was constant for Yuki, he agreed to let the two grow old together. He also gave her the curse of the Sohma, and now she was under the zodiac of the Rooster. But since she's a female, whenever a man with no relation to the Sohma hugs her, she becomes a hen.
The future couple is still living with Shigure. But he told the two of them that he's going to take part in buying a new house for the two. He's going to contribute enough money for the new house; the duo also contributed their share. Right now, the money wasn't enough but it will soon be.
"I'm leaving." Kyo told his wife.
"Bye-" but just as Kagura said that, Kyo shut the door to her face.
It was always like that – Kyo was bitter and cold to her. Even so, she remained kind to him, despite all his maltreatments to her goodness. She lost her rough-girl attitude upon hearing that Akito already decided for them to get married. She just went back to her chores
"Hmm… What would I cook for lunch and dinner today?" Kagura talked to particularly no one as she hummed a song on her lips, opening the cupboard.
Upon opening the cupboard…
"I forgot to do the groceries yesterday!" she gasped and went to her (and Kyo's) bedroom. She got dressed up and got her purse, and then she rushed out of the house, locking the front shoji.
As she was walking her way to the supermarket, she saw a familiar orange-haired man. She felt her already broken heart pulverize into infinite specks of dust when she saw Kyo walking with Tohru. He was laughing with her, which he doesn't do with Kagura. His right arm was draped over her shoulders.
Kagura hid behind a tree while she watched them.
"C'mon Kagura! Don't think negatively about Kyo-kun! I mean Tohru-chan works in the Sohma Bank like Kyo-kun. Ever since Tohru moved into Shigure's household, she, Kyo-kun, Yuki and Shigure are always in good terms. They're good friends! So… It's natural for them to be like that!" Kagura thought.
And another thing saddened her the most – Kyo just kissed Tohru on the forehead.
When was the last time Kyo kissed Kagura? Oh right, on their wedding day… just one light kiss on he lips and then no more afterwards. Hell, even a kiss on the forehead, on the hand, on the cheek, nothing. That's the only kiss Kyo gave Kagura. Imagine how many kisses Tohru received from Kyo if they've been together like that for so long!
"And I already promised to him in our younger years… even if he goes with another woman, I won't hold anything against him. If he's happy then… I guess I'm happy, too." Kagura thought.
When they were far away, Kagura continued walking her way to the supermarket, this time; her walking was much slower.
While she was walking, she felt a sudden pain in her chest and her airways locking up. She dropped to her knees and a teenage boy and girl who were in their school uniform helped her up.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" the girl asked.
"Yes, yes, thank you very much." Kagura sighed in relief.
"Are you sure?" the boy finalized.
"Yes, I assure you! Now, run along little ones! You're going to be late for school!" Kagura smiled.
"Oni-chan! Let's go!" the girl tugged the sleeve of the boy.
The boy and the girl bowed and so did Kagura.
"Take care of yourself, Ma'am!" the girl waved goodbye as she, and her brother continued walking to their school.
"Yes, thank you!" Kagura waved back at her.
"What's happening to me?" Kagura thought.
After a few minutes of thinking as she walked, her eyes narrowed in great fear and thought, "C-could… Could I have the same disease from my mother?"
After 1 hour…
Kagura returned home and placed the groceries in the kitchen counter. She grabbed the wireless phone on the wall and pressed '4' on the speed dial.
"Hello!" a voice of a cheerful boy rang through Kagura's ears as someone answered the other line, "Who's this?"
"Hi Momiji! Is Hatori-san there?" Kagura said as she sat on a chair.
"Yeah, he's here. Wait up, I'll just call him." Momiji replied.
"Hello." A deep voice of an adult man greeted in the other line.
"Hatori-san, this is Kagura. Can you please come over? I need you to do a checkup for me."
"Why? Are you sick?"
"Well… I… I think so." Kagura answered with that tone of uncertainty.
"What kind of illness, to be exact?" Hatori questioned as he reached for a piece of paper and tried to take down notes, "Can you tell me the symptoms?"
"Well, I feel like my heart is getting constricted… A-and my airways locking up… Hatori-san, I'm sure you know how my mother died… right? I mean, the whole Sohma clan should know how painful the death of my mother was." Kagura sobbed.
He dropped his pen, "Kagura, you mean… you-"
"Well, my mother got it from my grandmother… And Grandma's death was also harsh… I must've inherited 'it'."
"I'll be there. Just wait." Hatori hang up.
After another hour…
"You are… very sick, Kagura." Hatori said in a sorry voice as he placed his stethoscope in his medical bag.
"How much time do I have left to live here?" Kagura said sadly.
Hatori eyed her and told her, "What are you saying? As long as you don't worry too much and if you don't exhaust yourself, you may still outlive your mother. Well then, I have to go now."
Kagura stood up with Hatori and opened the front shoji for him. Hatori got out and Kagura bowed, "Thank you very much, Hatori-san."
"Just remember not to worry about unnecessary things, Kagura. You'll be fine. Don't think about your sickness." Hatori advised.
He was about to leave when Kagura spoke, "Hatori-san, could you do me a favor?"
"As long as I could do it." He turned to Kagura.
"Don't tell anyone about my sickness, unless it's an emergency. Like, when something happens to me." Kagura said in a whisper-like tone, but loud enough for Hatori to hear.
"Rest assured, Kagura. This is only between the two of us. Wait, won't you tell your husband?" Hatori asked.
"I… I don't want Kyo to know." Kagura looked away.
"Okay, then." Hatori concluded and walked back to the main house.
That night…
Kyo and Kagura were silently eating their dinner in the dining room of their house.
"Kyo-kun, if you don't mind me asking…" Kagura broke the silence, "What would you do if there will be news that my life is shorter than you think it is?"
TBC…