.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
.
.
Whispers of cruelty. This is what surrounded a young boy as he tried to mourn and process what had happened.
Voices that Kyo didn't recognize, but the words they spoke struck at his heart like arrows.
"I heard she committed suicide" An adult whispered to another, clothed in black like everyone else attending.
"Although it looks like they can't prove it..."
'She's gone... I wanted her to stay, but...'
"I guess having a son possessed by the cat was too much for her." Kyo heard all the cruel words and gritted his teeth. Anger filling his tiny body.
"Poor woman..."
'Enough... Stop it'
"This never would have happened if her child hadn't been born possessed by the cat..." A man noted, and Kyo could feel their eyes on him, even as he stared at the ground.
"Shut up..." The little boy let out under his breath. No one heard him, and they continued on.
"The boy doesn't even cry."
"Even though his own mother died..."
"He's the one who drove her to suicide!"An older woman spat, and Kyo felt like something burst.
"Shut your mouths... It ain't my fault! I didn't do it!" The orange-haired boy screamed at the people attending the funeral.
"Yes. I know." A kind voice broke through, and he looked up to see someone he didn't recognize. A man with long brown hair wearing a kimono. He knelt down so he could speak with Kyo at his level.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kazuma Sohma." He had eyes that weren't filled with hate and Kyo was unsure how to react.
"It ain't my fault..." Kyo told him as he stared back at the ground, clenching his little fist, ready for more cruel words because why else would someone talk to him.
"It ain't my fault... It ain't," He repeated, it wasn't, this is wasn't what he wanted to happen. He didn't do it.
"It's all right." Kazuma consoled.
"I know.. It isn't your fault." The man stated, and Kyo felt his eyes burning, and his lips trembled.
And Kyo finally shed tears and stood there, bawling his eyes out while the stranger comforted him, consoling him.
"Kyo? Would you like to move in with me...?" Kazuma asked, choosing to take in the boy whose own father wouldn't even look at him.
.
'Why?'
" I may not look like it... but I run a Karate dojo. If you're interested, you should try it." He encouraged as they walked through the cherry blossoms side by side.
'Why did he... take me in? Out of sympathy? Was he ordered to do it? I didn't know.'
"Look, there's Kyo. Kazuma-Kun really did take him in?" Old women gossiping, their whispers were not quite enough.
"Still, his own father found him unmanageable, so I feel sorry for poor Kazuma-Kun."
"I know... he's still young, but now he's saddled with that brat of all people..." This statement made Kyo stop in his tracks and glared at the ground beneath him. He then felt strong arms lift him towards the branches of the falling cherry blossoms.
'I didn't know, but...'
"From now on... you'll have to breathe the air of a much higher place," Kazuma told him as he held the small boy high off the ground on his shoulder. Kyo felt like his heart was a little lighter.
.
'For the first time in my life, someone showed me the outside world.'
The two walked along the bridge, side by side and Kyo heard the screeching of metal on metal, and in his surprise, he jumped and grabbed onto Kazuma's robe before looking over to see where the sound had come from.
"Wh- wh-what is that?" A young Kyo stared through the metal bars and down on a giant moving object on silver tracks, loud unfamiliar sounds emitting from it.
"A train." Kazuma answered, and Kyo still couldn't believe his eyes at what he was seeing.
"T-train." Kyo repeated the word nervously. He wondered how it worked and what it was used for. Kazuma just smiled and suggested taking one for a short ride, and Kyo's little heart raced as he rode, watching the world go by in an instant as he smashed his face into the window.
'Led me by the hand'
.
"Kyo... you're staring." Kazuma chuckled at the boy who was slightly hiding behind him while staring at the houseguest. She was something he had never seen, with deep skin and long curly dark brown locks.
"Ah, no, I'm not!... It's just... why is her skin like that? Did she stay in the sun too long?" The eight-year-old asked as he spoke to Kazuma.
He only chuckled and spoke to the woman sitting across from them in English, most likely telling her what Kyo had asked, and she giggled. Kyo was still in shock that Kazuma was able to hold a conversation in a different language.
' Never got mad at me for asking questions'
The woman gestured Kyo over, and he shyly walked over before kneeling in front of her. The strange woman gave him a gentle close-lipped smile, and Kyo couldn't help but notice how large and pretty her big brown eyes were.
She reached for his little land and took it in hers. Kyo was entranced by her deep skin tone, he had had never seen anything like it, and her hand seemed to covered in strange, intricate drawings. And his curious side came out.
"What's on your hand?" He asked as he grabbed her hand with both of his, inspecting her hand and then she laughed, and he blushed, immediately letting go and looked to the side. He assumed Kazuma repeated what he had asked, and she made a sound of acknowledgement.
"Henna." She answered.
"Hen-na?" He repeated the word.
The woman nodded and showed him both of her hands, both had matching designs, lines of dark orange. Small geometric patterns and it looked like a flower on the top of her hand. Some parts looked more faded than others.
Kyo continued to look at her hands as she seemed to ask Kazuma something; he heard his name come up in the conversation, which made him look from his caretaker and back to the woman.
She smiled at him, her large, rich brown eyes looking into his orange pair.
" It's nice to meet you Kyo, My name is Chandra." She clumsily spoke simple Japanese and Kyo just blushed and looked at the ground, not used to be looked at with kindness, and she was undoubtedly the most beautiful person he had seen, even if Kyo thought she was odd-looking.
"Nice.. to meet you.." He shyly mumbled as she shook his hand.
" I come from India." She spoke again, slowly, and it was Japanese, but it sounded weird somehow, Kyo didn't even recognize one of the words she used.
"India? What's that?" He asked as he tilted his head at the woman, his curious mind at work.
The woman paused, trying to think of words before becoming flustered and turning to Kazuma and saying a few words before he chuckled and explained to Kyo about the faraway country, the woman even showed him a few pictures on her phone.
'introduced me to people who were kind rather than hiding me away from the world'
This led to Kyo asking more questions and Kazuma teaching him about people of the world, that Japan was just a small country part of the wide world. Sights he would never see for himself, but the pictures were nice to look at.
.
'Patiently taught me'
A young Kyo was kneeling on the hard floor in front of Kazuma, trying to stay perfectly still.
" Strengthening your will is also part of training. It takes patience." He advised, and Kyo strained to keep still, but he wanted to make his teacher proud.
He wanted to be strong like Kazuma, and patient, and kind.
'Stayed by my side'
"Hey, you're a Shishou, right?" Kyo asked as they were in the bath.
The karate master raised an eyebrow at the child.
"I saw on TV they called the Karate teacher 'Shishou', then you're a Shishou too, right?" The boy asked again, looking up at Kazuma, hoping the T.V was right, and he wasn't making a fool of himself by asking.
"I suppose I am. But... None of my pupils call me that." Kazuma revealed, and Kyo hid the lower part of his face under the water and blew some bubbles, getting an idea.
'I can't even begin to say how much Shishou saved me.'
Kyo peeked around the corner into the dojo, where Kazuma was talking with some of his students.
"Sh...Shishou.." Kyo shyly called as he stepped out. Kazuma turned to him and smiled
"Welcome home... Kyo."
'I only wish he were my real father.'
'I wonder how he'd react if I told him that. Would he laugh? Would it bother him? Maybe he wouldn't say anything...'
'He may have raised me only out of sympathy and kindness.'
.
'What if he laughed at me and said I had the wrong idea? What if I just made things awkward between us?'
He sat in the principal's office, getting scolded for fighting. Again.
"Why do you always try to solve things with violence?" His teacher spoke to him, but Kyo just stared out the window, ignoring him.
"All he did was make fun of your hair colour... Your father is on his way." The principal tsked, and Kyo glared at the window when they referred to Kazuma as his father.
"But just how is he raising you?" The teacher shook his head at Kyo, and the teenager had to hold himself back from throwing the chair. He didn't want anyone to speak badly of Kazuma.
Kyo thought of those women talking about him and Kazuma. They were judging him... for taking in the boy possessed by the cat.
'If I hurt him...'
"The hell with that! Master ain't my dad!" Kyo yelled at his teachers, hoping to save Kazuma from bad judgment.
'Even through all the slander... slander that was obviously because of me... Master accepted all of it... and still raised me..'.
'What more could I want?'
'I don't want people talking trash about him anymore... I don't want to be a burden on him.'
'He doesn't have to be my Dad.. if it means he'd get hurt.'
.
Bright light shined on his face, and he opened his eyes, squinting slightly at the harsh sunlight pouring into his room. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, everything was in place.
He raised his head, and his eyes wandered to his wrist with the multicoloured beads, safely secured.
Events from last night flashed before his eyes.
"Are you afraid of losing her?"
"Let's see if your life is truly over.." His Shishou hand was still latched on to his wrist as footsteps were heard around the corner.
Kyo jumped up and slipped on the first clothes he saw and raced down the stairs. Kazuma was nowhere to be found... and neither was Marley. Panic set in as he rushed through the house to find them.
Kyo slid open the door to Shigure's room, the dog was sitting at his desk, smoking a cigarette.
"Morning." Shigure greeted him as he adjusted his newspaper.
"Where's Shishou...and-" Kyo asked as he continued to look around, seeing no trace of either of them.
"Left."
"Wha-" Kyo started to say something else, but Shigure kept talking.
"Marley-Chan is walking with him back to the Estate." The Dog informed him casually as if he was just commenting about the weather.
.
We didn't get to talk after that. I didn't even get to thank him!
.
" Wh.. What the hell.." Kyo didn't waste another second as he ran out the door. Shigure took another drag from his cigarette and looked out from his office to Yuki sitting on the porch. Looking strangely pensive.
"Hmm... I didn't even get to mention the breakfast Marley-Chan made for us." Shigure said, but Yuki didn't budge.
Just glared at the floor in front of him.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
.
The white-blond girl walked along the path with Kazuma, who was being a gentleman and holding her duffle bag. Marley had a million questions for the man and he had been answering her questions without much fuss. She learned that he was Kyo's foster father and had taken in Kyo after the passing of his mother and his father was unfit to take care of the young boy.
She hadn't even known that his mother had died. Marley thought about young he must have been, how terrible it must have felt.
He had explained the beads that Kyo wore and why he wore them. To conceal the Cat's 'True Form.'
" Thank you for walking me back, I might have been a little lost without my contacts," Marley told the Karate master as the two came to a bridge at the end of the trail.
"It's not a problem, I was heading out anyway." Kazuma insisted as he smiled down at the girl.
"Are you going back after?" Marley asked, genuinely surprised he hadn't stayed behind to wait for Kyo to wake up.
"hmm?"
"I just... I thought you might want to have a talk or something with Kyo. After everything that happened... I'm sure he wants to." Marley stopped at the bridge and gestured back to the way they had come.
" I.. I don't know..." Kazuma turned away from and instead stared at the waterway.
" I took Kyo in... to atone." He revealed, and Marley tilted her head, confused by the statement. She wondered what he wanted to atone for.
"My grandfather, like Kyo, was possessed by the cat." Kazuma began to tell his story. One he was not proud of.
" He was estranged from his immediate family. Slandered by relatives.. and treated terribly. I was...one of them." He admitted, shame in his heart.
"I met my grandfather only once, but..."
.
A young Kazuma hopped along the stones, pretending the ground was water and hopping from stone to stone. He came upon a strange little house hidden away by the trees. It had an eerie feeling to it, and it made Kazuma pause and stare. There was an open window, and the boy decided to peek in.
An old man was sitting inside, he had food in front of him, but he wasn't eating. Kazuma tried to get a better look and stepped forward, crushing a stick and alerting the man inside. Kazuma knew who this man was.
The tired man looked at Kazuma and smiled. It was a sad smile, but he smiled none the less and picked something up off the table and came to the window. The young boy took a few steps back as the old man's hand reached out from the window and held out a daifuku.
"Come here, Kazuma. Have a treat." He said while Kazuma only stared at the beads encircling the man's wrist.
"I... I don't want that.. 'cos you're cursed!" He spat at the man, but instead of getting mad, he just lowered his hand and brought it back inside and smiled.
"The cruel words... just slipped out." Kazuma said, and Marley watched him with intensity. He couldn't tell if she was judging him for his past mistakes or just simply taking in the information.
"I see...". He said softly, forgiving the child for his ways.
His grandfather had been a kind man, especially considering the way he had been treated.
"Then Grandfather passed away, I grew up... and Kyo was born." Kazuma thought back to the first time he really saw Kyo, people parted ways when the young boy walked, not event wanting to get within close distance with the cursed child.
"As an onlooker, I saw for the first time the cruel environment that surrounded him.. and it hit me," Kazuma admitted as he stared at the ground, feeling Marley's gaze on him. The girl herself was imagining a young Kyo. An innocent child born into a cruel curse and her heartstrings felt like they were being strained.
How foolish we'd been... how cruel...
.
"It was no different from how we'd behaved years before. So I took him in as an act of atonement... maybe what I wanted... was to erase my guilty conscience...but.. " The Karate master looked to the sky and thought about all the time he had spent with Kyo.
...living together... being together...
"at some point...I grew to love him." Kazuma confessed.
Every time I saw him smile... my heart swelled
Kazuma looked to her and Marley saw it. The small smile filled with love, love for the son he had raised. Even if it had been out of obligation, circumstances, or guilt. He had the smile of a father. Marley recognized that smile. Maybe she hadn't truly understood it when it had been in front of her. But Marley knew that smile, she missed that smile. But she was so happy that Kazuma was smiling like that over Kyo.
Kazuma just kept thinking of all the ways Kyo had affected his life... for the better
I cherished him... worried about him...
And wanted him to be the happiest boy in the world
"I felt like I had become his father. Just like this time... when I ignored his will and stole his beads... I pushed my one-sided feelings on him."
Kazuma was reminded of the time he had to go to Kyo's school because of a dispute. Kyo had yelled about Kazuma not being his dad, and that had hurt more than Kazuma could explain.
To Kyo... My feelings are a burden
"That's why... I don't know... What I could have said to him. After imposing my ego on him.. saying something like 'good for you'..."
.
"Besides, I just created the circumstance. You're the one... who saved Kyo.. because you were there for him."
" I.. I don't think I did all that much... I wish.. there I things I could've done better.. but.." Marley started denying that she really did anything, and Kazuma just continued smiling at her. Words would not be enough to tell her how grateful he was to her.
Marley looked to the water flowing under the bridge, trying to find the words to explain the complexities of fatherly love and bonds.
" Bapu once threw me in the water." She started.
Kazuma gave Marley a blank face and raised his eyebrow at the white-blonde.
"Bapu?" Kazuma repeated the word.
"Ah! I mean.. My dad... I mean.. he wasn't my real dad, but he married Mama and became my dad and.. wait .. let me explain." Marley rambled as she waved her hands, a little embarrassed at how she started the story.
" When I was little I nearly drowned in a river by the village... and after that... I was terrified of water." Marley looked down at the water flowing under the bridge, fidgeting slightly with her fingers.
"Then Bapu and Mama moved us to Las Vegas, and I had to get a signature for a field trip to a pool and then Mama said I didn't have to because I can't swim. I never told her about the drowning incident but made it well known that I had no interest in going in the water."
.
" If she doesn't want to go, then we can't make her." Chandra insisted as she argued with Yuuto.
"But... she does know how to swim, right?" Yuuto asked, raising an eyebrow, and the two girls in the household kept quiet.
"..."
"No, and I don't want her being pushed into something she doesn't want to do." Chandra as she took out the laundry from the dryer and passed it to Marley to fold.
"I don't want to go swimming.. please," Marley whined as held a clean t-shirt to her chest, hoping her large eyes could end the argument for good.
" Bapu thought that every kid should know how to swim, just in case there was some sort of emergency, and that convinced my Mama. So he took me to a community centre to a pool, and I refused, absolutely refused to even touch the water." Marley thought back on the experience, she could still smell the chlorine in the air and laughter of children as they enjoyed the water slide.
"The water is fine, and I'm right here." Yuuto looked up at her from the pool, the water came up to his chest, and Marley knew that she wouldn't be able to stand in it. She was tall for her age but not tall enough.
"No."
"But-" Her Bapu tried to debate, but Marley left no room and cut him off.
"No."
" I promise I won't let anything bad happen to you." He smiled up at her from the water and Marley looked at everyone else swimming, enjoying themselves.. but she also remembered the last time she entered a large body of water and clenched her fists.
"...No."
Marley heard the sloshing of water and then footsteps out of the pool approaching her. She opened her eyes and Yuuto was standing behind her.
" We'll just go home then." The large man leaned down and smiled at her, his five o'clock shadow showing itself.
"... fine..." Marley said softly as she fidgeted with her hair as she stared at the tile. She felt terrible for letting him down, but she was scared and didn't feel brave enough to jump in.
"After this."
.
"Then... he tossed me in," Marley explained to Kazuma as she continued to look into the water flowing under the bridge, a small smile on her face and the karate master only raised a brow.
.
Marley felt like her heart stopped, and she swallowed a giant gulp of chlorine. The panic set in and all she could think was, 'How could someone do this?' She had felt so betrayed.
Another splash happened, and large arms lifted Marley up out of the water, and she clung to the figure for dear life.
" I'm right here, and I won't let anything bad happen, not while I'm around." Yuuto consoled as he held Marley in his arms, keeping her head out of the water as she caught her breath.
" I cried like a baby. In the middle of a community pool. But Bapu just waited. And waited. And eventually, I calmed down, and Bapu held my hands as I learned to tread water. Only letting go when I asked him." Marley couldn't stop herself from smiling at the memory.
"He had told me... that a mouth full of water would not harm me, but panic would. He only wanted to give me the tools to survive. Even if it meant that I might be... upset with him." Marley laughed as she fidgeted with a lock of her hair, almost embarrassed at how mad she had been with him in that moment.
She wished it was possible to go back in time and thank him, not only for teaching her how to swim but for all the lessons he would gift her.
" Sometimes... I imagine parents have to do very tough things to help their kids. Even if it made them look like the bad guy in their child's eyes. Mama and Bapu... They weren't perfect, but they were the best I could have asked for because they loved me." Marley looked over at Kazuma and smiled, hoping she was getting the point across.
"Bapu wasn't my dad by blood, but he ... he loved me. Even if he only came into our family because he loved my Mama. I'm sure at first I was just... Mama and I were a package deal, and Bapu loved my Mama enough to promise to treat me like his own. And while maybe it started out of obligation... he became my Bapu. Because of love."
"The way you speak of Kyo... it gives me a very warm feeling, and I couldn't help but start thinking of Bapu. I don't know how you feel, and I don't mean to be too forward or anything, but right now, you remind me of a father." Marley placed her hands on her heart, truly thankful that Kyo had someone special like Kazuma looking after him.
" Even if you did it out of guilt or pity... you've raised a wonderful person, and I'm so grateful that I know him." Marley told him with a small blush lining her cheeks.
Kazuma looked too shocked for words and a few moments passed, it looked like he wanted to say something, but a loud yell interrupted.
.
"SHISHOU!"
The two looked back down the path to Shigure's house, and there stood Kyo, catching his breath as he stared at the two.
The girl was without her glasses or contacts, so she had to squint a bit and really, all she saw was a bit of a blurry figure with an orange head standing maybe twenty feet away.
"Kyo.." Marley called out while smiling at him, but the boy started running down the path at full speed towards them.
Kyo raised a fist and tried to strike Kazuma, putting space between the Karate master and a stunned Marley.
"WHY!?" Kyo yelled as he jumped around the older man, throwing punches and kicks, and Kazuma just evaded while dropping Marley's bag to the ground.
"Why... did you leave without sayin' anything?! Why would you... JUST RUN AWAY LIKE THAT?!" Kyo looked like he was about to get a punch in, but Kazuma brought his arm and hit Kyo in the end, causing the spar to come to a pause as Kyo was pushed back a few feet.
"Kyo.." Kazuma uttered as he waited for the boy to move again.
"Did you.. think I was.. mad at you or somethin'?!" Kyo asked as he stood up straight but kept his face towards the ground. Marley only looked back and forth between the two, a part of her was happy that Kyo had caught up to them but wasn't sure what to think of the fighting.
"Or are you.. disgusted by me? For being nothin' but a pain in the ass for you..." The orange-haired boy continued as he clenched his fists.
"I'm sorry.. you looked after me... and now I try to take advantage. Sheesh... I'm sorry for treatin' you like a retreat I can just run away to, Shishou.. but still... Look, I know I got.. a long way to go." Kyo took a breath, really wanting to spill the words he had been keeping inside.
"But someday... Someday I'll be able to stand on my own two feet... without hurtin' anyone.. or bein' a burden to 'em. Shishou... I'll.."
" I'll become... someone worthy of calling you my Dad!" Kyo proclaimed as he raised his head and met his Shishou's eyes.
"For sure... I'll become that guy!" Kyo promised as he rushed forward again with his fist in front of him, and Kazuma caught it in his palm.
.
All this time... we've been passing each other by.
We took a roundabout way... but we have just.. made a connection
.
Kazuma recalled the first time teaching Kyo karate, his small fist aiming for Kazuma's palm, the determined look in his orange eyes.
He couldn't stop the small gentle smile on his face as he looked down at the boy he considered his son, the boy who was growing into a fine young man, his heart overflowing with affection.
.
It must have been...
.
Kazuma did a simple move and threw Kyo to the ground feet away from him. Marley let out a squeal and immediately went over and knelt by Kyo's fallen form, her caring soul acting on instinct.
"You're still...my troublesome son... Kyo." Kazuma watched as Kyo looked to be in some sort of shock as his face became a little red and Marley rubbed his back, and he turned away from her, rubbing at his eyes.
"That's no reason to throw me like a doll!" Kyo yelled, covering up his happiness over being referred to as Kazuma's son as he got up and dusted himself off.
"If you weren't on guard from that... I suspect you've gone a bit soft." His Shishou teased, and Kyo went back up to him, and Kazuma only ruffled his hair as Kyo half-heartedly tried to push his hand away.
Marley just enjoyed watching the two together, it seemed there were no bad feelings about last night, and the two really seemed like father and son. Kyo just seemed... different this morning. A good different. Something had changed.
"Yo, Marley!" Kyo called out her name, and the girl felt her cheeks warm a bit as the boy helped her off the ground.
"Oh, um, yes?" She answered.
"Were you watching all that?" Kyo asked as he gestured to Kazuma.
"Huh?"
"The fighting? He's my karate master, after all." Kyo asked again.
"Oh, yes! It was like something out of a movie! My heart's still racing!" Marley gushed.
"See! Like a said, way better than that Karate Kid stuff. My Shishou is the best!" Kyo boasted, very proud of his Shishou
" Until I see him break bottles with his hand, the jury is still out." Marley teased, not being able to help herself and Kyo reached out and tugged on a lock of her hair.
"That's not Karate!" Marley only laughed, and Kyo smiled at her while shaking his head before loosening his grip on her curl and letting her hair gently slide out of his hold. Kazuma watched the two joke around.
" I still would love to see another demonstration, both of you in those cool outfits." Marley looked like she had stars in her eyes as she got excited about seeing a proper demonstration between master and student.
" It's a uniform! Not an outfit.." Kyo corrected.
" Ah, sorry! But I bet you look really handsome in it, Kyo!" The boy started blushing at Marley's enthusiasm and had to hide his face from her.
Kazuma chuckled at the scene, and this only caused Kyo to blush more as he sent a soft glare to his mentor.
"So.. you're heading back home?" Kyo asked as he put his hands on his waist and looked away from both of them.
"Yep, but just to change and grab a few things. Then I'm coming back." Marley revealed.
"huh? Why?" Kyo asked as he turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, Tohru still needs her rest, so I figured I could help around the house, and she has her make-up exam tomorrow, so I was going to help her study." Marley said as she began making a list in her head about what to bring over.
"Wait? What's up with her?" Kyo asked, he really had no idea what had gone down last night after he had run away. He was still wasn't sure what Marley had been doing running around the forest but found himself not wanting to question it at all. The boy was just happy she had been there in the end.
"Just a small fever. She'll be fine after some rest." The white-blonde girl commented, but she also worried that someone like Tohru would try and get despite not feeling well.
Kyo didn't say anything and looked at the ground. Marley smiled softly at him and grabbed his hand.
"Can you do me a favour?" She asked as she gently rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand, and he let her.
" Depends..."
" Can you keep an eye on her for me. Make sure she doesn't push herself." Marley asked, subconsciously fluttering her long eyelashes.
" Maybe you should get someone else to do that." Kyo muttered, looking away from the large pretty amethyst eyes.
Marley only shook her head and squeezed his hand.
"No, you're the one I trust." The girl insisted, and a small blush made it's across the boy's face.
"Fine... but don't take too long." He gave in, unable to tell her no.
"I won't, I promise I'll be quick." She said as she smiled at him and he returned the smile, it was bright and pure. Kazuma couldn't express how grateful he was to see that smile again.
.
Yes.. it must have been.. because Marley was here for him.
.
"Well, shall we?" Marley asked as she grabbed her bag from the ground and came up beside Kazuma and smiled at him.
"Yes, lets." Kazuma grabbed the bag from her, insisting he carry it for her and bid Kyo goodbye, and the orange-haired boy mentioned he would be back at the dojo soon.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.
.
As they walked along the street to the Sohma Estate, Kazuma would glance down at the girl beside him. They walked in silence, but Marley didn't seem to mind. She had a small smile on her face and would look around at the stuff around, just enjoying the walk.
The Karate Master took this chance to look over the girl and got lost in his own thoughts. Thinking it was strange how life worked out.
He remembered more than a year ago when he and Kyo attended the funeral of her parents. He had known Yuuto, the two went to the same school and ended up growing up together, but he would admit he wasn't all that close with the man. Yuuto was a kind and generous human being, but he wasn't the one he found himself close with.
It was Chandra, the strange woman he had caught crying while trying to get something out of a vending machine. She was a woman he had found himself thinking of often. The young mother had been feeling overwhelmed by the move to Japan. Chandra hadn't felt welcomed by the Sohma family in the slightest but wanted to try for the sake of Yuuto, her husband.
He had offered her a cup of tea, some tissue and someone to talk to. The foreign woman ended up staying for dinner and they had made promises to meet up again. Chandra had mentioned that she would bring her daughter next time, in hopes of her becoming friends with Kyo. Kazuma smiled as he remembered his shy son being utterly enamoured with the young woman and was looking forward to meeting her daughter.
Then there had been an incident on the Sohma estate involving her daughter and Chandra and Yuuto packed up and left. Immediately.
It wasn't until years later they had returned to the Sohma Estate but not in an ideal situation. Kazuma was hoping to run into Chandra again, but she was always at the hospital, and they never seemed to cross paths.
It was heard that they were planning on living in Japan for the long haul.
But. It was not to be. And March of the year before now, Kazuma and Kyo were attending a funeral. Even Kyo had been very sombre about the death of a woman he had only met once, but it seemed she had touched both their lives.
.
" I heard there was actually nothing left to bury." A few people talked amongst themselves as the service finished.
"So, they're just empty tombstones?"
"She never even took his name, but Tetsuo-Sama had someone engrave her name in Sanskrit on the tombstones instead of Kanji."
"I'm surprised, it seems Tetsuo-Sama really came around about her then. He must have really fought for her to be included in the Sohma cemetery." An older woman in a long black dress spoke with her husband.
"Where's the daughter? What was her name again?" the man asked, crossing his arms as he looked around.
" Don't know her name, but she's still in the hospital. I heard she had a heart attack or something when she heard. Been in and out apparently."
"Poor thing. Couldn't even attend her own parents' funeral." An older man sighed and shook his head.
"I doubt she'll make it." Kazuma heard this and couldn't help but have a heavy heart. He didn't know Chandra's daughter, but it was still heartbreaking for a child to go through so much, and now she was alone.
"Shishou.. can we leave now," Kyo asked as he stared at the ground and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Kazuma looked over at him, his orange eyes were glaring at the ground, and his shoulders looked tense.
Kazuma nodded, and they made their way back home. On their way, they walked to the shrine, giving a few prayers for the hospitalized teenager who he had yet to meet. Praying that she found the strength to carry on.
.
But here, Marley stood, and to Kazuma, she looked like a strong young woman, one who had been through so much and still had a smile on her face and light in her large eyes.
While Marley did not share her late mother's dark hair or brown eyes, she still strongly resembled Chandra. She had the same large almond eyes that were almost catlike, had her height and figure the curls in her hair were the same.
He wondered if he should mention knowing Marley's parents.
"Gimli!" Marley yelled as she stared up at a wall. Kazuma followed her eyeliner and looked up at an overly large orange and white cat who seemed to be glaring at the girl, swishing its tail back and forth. The cat meowed while Marley started apologizing to the cat.
Kazuma noted that maybe he would wait for another opportunity to share the story. Maybe over a cup of tea.
" I'm so sorry, baby! I didn't forget about you! A lot of things came up, and I couldn't come home last night. I promise I'll buy you a treat! Please forgive me." Marley put her hands together in a begging motion. The cat turned their head up, and Kazuma couldn't help but raise his eyebrow at the expressive cat.
" Gimlii! My handsome baby! I'm sorry! I love you! I'll pick you up some shrimp!" Marley tried to reason with the giant cat, and at the mention of food, the cat turned back to Marley, and she held out her arms.
The Cat took a position and leaped down from the wall into Marley's waiting arms. Kazuma was surprised, he didn't think he'd ever seen such behaviour from a cat. 'Gimli' must have trusted Marley a lot.
It was also a comical sight to watch Marley carry the cat like a baby as she nuzzled the giant cat.
"Kazuma, this is Gimli." She explained as she held the cat and smiled at Kazuma.
"Gimli, where do you come up with that?" He asked, questioning the name.
" From Lord of the Rings? You know, Gimli, Son of Gloin... " Marley mentioned as if it was obvious, but Kazuma just gave her a blank look.
" Huh...well, this explains Kyo's lack of movie knowledge." Marley giggled, getting a clearer picture of Kyo growing up.
"He's one of my favourite characters from my favourite movie series. He's a little determined ginger dwarf and when I found this kitty, it just seemed to fit." Marley explained as Gimli rubbed his face under Marley's chin.
The Karate Master smiled and reached out to the cat, Marley looked like she was to say something, but Gimli only sniffed his hand and nudging his head into the man's hand.
"Huh..."
"What is it?" Kazuma asked as he took in Marley's bewildered face.
"Oh.. it's just... Gimli has a bad habit of biting and scratching people who try to pet him.." Marley explained as he just watched Kazuma give Gimli scratches under his chin.
"Really? Seems pretty friendly." Kazuma noted as he heard the cat purring.
" I mean, he is, he's a great cat but when it comes to people, I dunno. He actually even scratched Kyo." She explained and Kazuma was surprised to hear that. The Karate master was very familiar with Kyo's ability to attract cats, and a few strays had snuck into their dojo over the years because of it.
Gimli meowed, causing Marley only hugged him tighter and laid a kiss to the top of the cat's head.
"Okay, okay. We're going home." She cooed at the cat who jumped out of her arms and started rubbing himself on her legs.
"Here, I can take this." Marley took her bag back from Kazuma, and she wished him a good day.
"Try not to burn your kitchen down or anything." She joked as she smiled at him and started walking away, the large orange and white cat meowing as he walked beside the girl as if telling her to hurry up.
Kazuma waved at her, and she didn't even make it a few steps before the cat decided he wanted to be carried and leapt up into her arms, the sudden weight nearly causing her to topple over before she caught her balance and wrapped her arms around the large feline.
A voice emerged into his head as he watched the girl turn the corner.
.
" My treasure, my Titali. Isn't she just the cutest. Maybe Kyo and her can be friends!"
A young woman showed off a picture on her phone. Chandra appeared to be in her early twenties, so he imagined her daughter to be a toddler. Instead, she showed him a picture of a girl, maybe around 7 or 8, wearing bright clothes and holding a chicken in her arms as she smiled at the camera.
Kazuma looked up to the heavens, smiling at the blue sky, and he imagined Chandra's large brown eyes filled with love as she gushed over her daughter. She had just wanted her daughter to be happy and worried that she did enough for her.
Chandra... you raised a wonderful young woman...thank you.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-
.
Kyo peeked out from his bedroom just in time to watch Marley flyby with a load of wet laundry, heading towards the porch to hang it on the line.
As soon as Marley returned from the Sohma Estate, she went right to work on house chores and had been checking in on Tohru. This must have been her third trip from the washing machine to the porch. The laundry really had been building up with all the rain they had had recently, but today was a beautiful warm day.
Her long hair swung in a high ponytail behind her, held in a purple scrunchie, and she wore a simple grey-T shirt as a dress that went to her mid-thigh, and a long-sleeved blue denim shirt was tied around her waist.
Kyo didn't know why he felt all nervous Marley being there, but she was really here, in his home. Even after everything that happened, she was here.
.
"As long as you let me stay by your side! Because...I want to be with you!"
.
Marley's voice echoed in his head, and Kyo rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly while his heart drummed loudly in his chest as he watched Marley from the hallway.
Kyo found himself venturing out to the porch where she was hanging laundry on the line, he went intending to maybe help by helping her hang stuff or something. She didn't notice him, her earphones blocking out any outside noise. Marley sang along with the music and Kyo admitted to himself that it sounded pretty, even though he could barely understand any of it.
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancin' in the dark
Marley was happily singing along as she hung up the laundry, her back was to him, and she knelt down, again and again, to grab more clothes to put on the line. Kyo shook his head and approached, tapping her on the shoulder.
She immediately turned around and smiled at him.
"Kyo!" She yelled, probably louder than she needed to, and he gestured to her earphones. She slightly blushed and took them out, letting them hang around her neck.
"Sorry. Do you need anything? I'm just hanging what I guess is your laundry." She asked as she held a shirt in her hands before placing it on the line with some pins.
" Oh ya? what makes ya think it's mine?" He decided to play along, smirking at her.
" It's almost all athletic brands and v-necks. Plus..." She reached down in the laundry basket and showed off the find.
"You're the only one in this household who could pull these off." She lightly teased as she held up a pair of orange boxer briefs. Kyo felt his entire face blow up bright red and snatched his underwear from his hands.
" Gah! Why the hell do ya have these?!" Kyo yelled at her as he hid the underwear behind his back.
"... well, I'm doing laundry..." She told him, slightly confused at his question as she tilted her head. She really did think they were cute, and she couldn't picture Yuki or Shigure wearing orange. It wasn't their colour.
" Don't worry, I like them, they're cute! I'm not judging, I'm wearing some bright pink ones today!" She mentioned, thinking that if she told him, then they would be on a level playing field, and he wouldn't be so embarrassed.
Kyo's entire body felt hot, and his heart started racing radically fast.
"How can you things like that so casually!" He yelled at her, this girl was gonna give him a heart attack, and he imagined his face couldn't get any brighter. He couldn't help but look at her figure, and his eyes quickly traced down from her head to her waist and to her...
" I'm going out!" He yelled as he stomped off, Kyo couldn't even remember what he had come for, but now he knew he needed to get away before she said anything else embarrassing.
"But Kyo! Your underwear?" She called after him as he tried to ignore her and threw his underwear into his room before leaving the house to go for a run.
" I think... I might have embarrassed him..." Marley said to herself as she put her earphones back in, she made a mental note to apologize later.
She continued on with the laundry, but her mind wandered to Kyo and all she had learned, not only about him but the curse of the cat's place in the Sohma family in general. Thinking back to the conversation she had with the most important person in her orange-haired friend's life.
.
"As an onlooker, I saw for the first time the cruel environment that surrounded him.."
.
How much had Kyo suffered do to something that was out of his control? To judge and mistreat a child like that. She wondered what Kyo felt in those moments and what was his mother like. She was reminded of Momiji and what he had told her about parents of those cursed the Zodiac. Had Kyo had a mother who was overprotective? Or had she rejected him? Who and where was Kyo's birth father?
Kyo getting upset with her the first time he had met her made more sense, she understood it a bit before. Or at least she thought she did. She couldn't imagine being on the outside for so long and just watch someone new be let in with ease.
Marley wasn't even related by blood, yet Akito always welcomed her. The head of the Sohma family could be delicate, she could see that Akito struggled with something, but Marley wasn't entirely sure what it was, but maybe... just maybe Marley could campaign to Akito let Kyo into the banquet. It wouldn't make up for years of being uninvited, but it could be a step in the right direction.
The girl immediately started thinking of desserts to put Akito in a good mood when she brings it up. Better safe than sorry.
" Maybe some coconut laddoo... jalebi might be a bit too sweet..." She clipped on a black v-neck t-shirt to the line.
The white-blonde made a side note to maybe make some simple dinners that Kyo's Shishou could heat up in the microwave. So he could eat without burning down the neighbourhood. She wanted to do something for the kind man, and at the moment it felt like it was the only thing she could do for him.
Marley also wanted to ask if he could help her understand the Sohma curse a bit more because it seemed she was only touching the surface.
.
I was really happy to learn about Kyo's true feelings and his situation with Kazuma... but I have this uneasy feeling in my chest... Kagura left before I woke up this morning, and when I texted her, she just gave me a happy emoji...
Shigure is acting like nothing happened.. and Yuki... I'm not sure what it is, but it seems like there is a dark cloud around him...
.
The white-blonde decided there was nothing she could do at that moment and finished up hanging Kyo's laundry as she enjoyed the early summer sunshine and hummed along to her music. The last day had been such a whirlwind, from her showcase, the discovery of Kyo's true form and learning more about the Sohma's in general, Marley wholeheartedly welcomed the simple house chores.
She slightly felt the clothes that she had hung first, Tohru's, and with the sunshine, they had dried quickly, so she figured she would be able to take them down and place the bin of clothes in Tohru's room.
" I'll just check on Tohru before getting started on some lunch." Marley thought out loud as she closed the door to the porch behind her as she rested a laundry basket on her hip and walked down the hall to peak into Tohru's room.
.
Marley opened the door and slipped into quietly. Tohru was asleep, but the water next to her bed was empty, and the medicine was gone, so she must have woken up at some point to take them and polished off the glass of water.
She felt Tohru's forehead while the brunette continued to sleep soundly, and Marley was relieved that the fever had come down a lot since this morning. Marley placed the laundry basket by her closet, not wanting to invade the girl's privacy by going through her drawers.
The white-blond girl simply refilled Tohru's water glass and was about to leave to get started on some lunch when the girl in bed woke up and softly called to her.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Marley asked as she sat down on Tohru's bed and smiled at her. Tohru sat up a bit and hung her head.
"... pathetic..." Tohru muttered, and this only left Marley feeling confused.
" I saw it... and I couldn't... I tried to follow him... to bring him home... but I was too pathetic to do it." Tohru admitted as small tears started to gather. Marley let out a sigh and patted Tohru on the head.
" I'm sure if you had been in full strength and not fighting a fever that you would have been able to tackle Kyo down and drag his butt back home." Marley tried to cheer Tohru up, but her frown remained.
" I doubt that... now I'm stuck in bed and " Tohru's eyes started to water, and soon tears were flowing down her cheeks.
"I'- I'm sorry for causing so much trouble..I've let s-so many people down, and now people have to take care of me." She apologized as tears fell down the side of her face. Marley let out a small sigh and brought out a tissue wipe away the tears.
"If I got sick... would you think I was pathetic?" Marley asked as she rubbed Tohru's back, trying to offer some comfort.
"What? No never -"
"And if needed you to help me, would you think that I was a burden?" Marley continued.
" No!" Tohru shouted and had a very determined look on her face.
Marley laughed at Tohru's outburst and wrapped her up in a comforting hug, causing the girl blushed a bit.
" See? You getting sick is not pathetic, and I would never think that helping you is causing me trouble. Friends and family, they look out for one another. Your very strong Tohru. You do so much and work so hard and are an amazing person. But your also a human being, and we're still kids. No one should have expected you to go out in the rain when you weren't feeling well, and no one blames you. " Marley insisted, wishing her friend wouldn't beat herself up so much.
" But, you were able to do it.."
" I wasn't sick. " Marley insisted.
Marley thought the world of Tohru, she was kind and hardworking. Tohru Honda was far from pathetic.
"I almost wasn't able to do it... I got scared and almost ran away from..." Marley admitted, she wasn't proud of the fear she felt last night, but it was the truth.
" If it weren't for you, I never would have found Kyo. So it's really because of you that he came home." Marley consoled Tohru, giving her credit for finding Kyo and Tohru just continued to sniffle, the flow of tears had slowed down a bit.
" Now rest up because I'm sure I'm a poor replacement in this household, and they're all waiting for you to better... Do you think you'll be able to eat something?" Marley asked, and Tohru softly nodded. The brunette watched as Marley gave her one last smile before heading out the bedroom door to get started on something for Tohru.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-
.
Marley looked through the cupboards and the refrigerator, everything was very well stocked, but she let out a big sigh when she realized that something was missing.
"Is something wrong, Marley-San?" Yuki asked as he heard the sigh from the living room and peeked into the kitchen. Yuki had kept to himself for the time that Marley had been there, but seeing her distressed made him want to see if he could help at least a little.
"Oh, just that there are no vegetables... I mean there are but none that I could use for the porridge... I guess I'll just pop out to the store. Do you mind telling me where's the closest one?" Marley asked as she closed the refrigerator.
"I can do it, just tell me what you need," Yuki mentioned and after some back, and forth Marley gave in and gave him a small list of vegetables to bring back.
While she waited for Yuki to get back, she got started on prepping the kitchen and preparing the other ingredients for a simple vegetable rice porridge. Marley placed a pot on the stove and bringing the chicken stock, a bit of ginger and rice to boil and then kept it on the low setting.
While the soup base cooked, Marley looked for ingredients for lunch for the rest of the household.
.
" Here you are, Marley-San. Do you need anything else?" Yuki asked as he placed some beautiful fresh vegetables down on the counter.
"Wow, that was quick." Marley looked over the vegetables.
" I didn't have to go far..." Yuki admitted
"Wow, these vegetables are gorgeous and so fresh. Your supermarket must be nice. And really close by."
"Actually... I didn't go to the supermarket. I have a small garden.." Yuki had a small blush as he said so, feeling bashful over Marley giving the vegetables such praise.
"You have a garden! Yuki, that's amazing! And these are beautiful! You must be a very diligent gardener." Marley gushed and complimented the grey-haired boy.
"It's nothing really. Just a hobby." He insisted, but Marley just shook her head.
" Being a vegetable gardener is impressive. I grew up around farmers, and they were some of the hardest working people. My Naniji would be so impressed by these." Marley thought back on the vast fields and the people who worked on them season by season.
"Oh, you grew up on a farm?" Yuki asked and recalled that yesterday Marley had mentioned having chickens as a child.
"Sort of, my Naniji owned the farmland but had helpers doing most of the work. I got to do some chores, but it was mostly just feeding the animals and helping to pull weeds now and then. But after a few times of pulling the vegetables instead of the weeds, I was... um.. dismissed from that position." She joked as she washed the vegetable that Yuki had given her.
"Is.. is there anything else you need?" Yuki looked like this was the last place he wanted to be as he stood there awkwardly.
.
"actually... I wanted to apologize." Marley started as washed the leeks in the sink.
"Apologize? For what?" Yuki asked.
" I .. I was frustrated last night, and I blamed you and Shigure for Tohru being sick and out in the rain," Marley explained, slightly embarrassed that she had let her emotions get so out of hand. The Sohma's were so complicated, and she didn't mean to step out of line as often as she did.
" There's a lot I still don't really understand about what happened last night... but I shouldn't ... I can't pretend to understand what you were going through. I'm sure you were struggling too, and I shouldn't have attacked you like that." Marley really wasn't sure what say or how to get her point across.
"You... you thought that you.. were attacking us last night?" Yuki asked, looking very confused, and Marley nodded.
Yuki turned his head and covered his face while Marley asked if he was okay.
The grey-haired boy didn't answer but just started... laughing.
"Sorry... Marley-San... it's just... I don't think you know how to 'attack'." Yuki said through his land as he covered his face as he laughed.
"Wh-... I do so." Yuki only shook his head and gave Marley a smile once he removed his hand. It wasn't like his other smiles, this one was different.
"No... I don't think you have it in you. Especially if you believe looking out for Honda-San by telling us off is 'attacking,' then I invite you to do it more often." Yuki admitted, and a sad look came across his eyes.
" I should actually thank you for looking out for her." Yuki admitted, and Marley could feel his sincerity through his eyes.
"Should we call it even then?" Marley asked as she wiped her hand on her T-shirt dress and held it out to Yuki, who lightly took her hand and shook it.
"... still, I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings... I should apologize to Shigure as well." Marley thought out loud.
"No, I invite you to do the exact opposite, you should always be rude to Shigure." Yuki insisted with a deadpan face.
Marley couldn't help but laugh at the look on Yuki's face at the mention of the dog, and Yuki found himself slightly blushing at the sight.
"I'll... get out of your way," Yuki muttered as he looked to the side.
"Lunch should be in an hour or so," Marley mentioned as she went to the cutting board and finished up Tohru's vegetable ride porridge.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
.
An orange-haired boy found himself wandering through the forest, almost tracing his steps from the night before.
He found the claw marks he made in the trees and even came across his broken cell phone, stuffing it in his pocket. When he had knelt down, he had actually found another set of footprints next to the large monstrous prints left by him.
" Marley..." Her feet looked so small next to the paw print, and he found himself starting to follow her steps, most of them were faded, but due to the ground being soft due to all the rain, the footprints were easy enough to find.
He came upon a large clearing with the body of water, his eyes overlooking the area. At night, the clearing had seemed empty and nothing special, but as Kyo looked upon in the daylight, he found himself enjoying the beautiful landscape.
Kyo stepped to the water's edge and took a breath, looking over the area. A glint by the tree line caught his attention, and he made his way over to inspect.
"What?" Kyo muttered to himself as he knelt down and picked up a small silver pendant, inspecting it further he turned it and found two pictures smiling at him. Marley's parents. This was her locket, he had seen Marley wearing it around her neck, holding it in her hand now and then.
"But how is it here?" Kyo thought out loud as he held the piece of jewelry, noticing it wasn't connected to a chain. Then it hit him.
.
Marley reached out for Kyo's arm, hoping to comfort him, but Kyo, blinded by his rage and heartache, took his paw and pushed at Marley to keep her away, claws ripping through fabric, skin and a delicate silver chain.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Kyo screamed, baring his fangs at the struck girl. Marley stumbled back from him, her body falling backwards, and she rolled down the hill and into the murky water below.
.
"Dammit..." Kyo muttered as he stuffed the piece of jewelry into his pocket. He needed to get it back to her, it was the least he could do.
Kyo slowly made his way back through the forest and soon stepping into his house, immediately noticing Marley working away in the kitchen.
He hung out in the doorway, and Marley grated a few vegetables and added them to a bowl, stirring it slightly before going into the fridge to grab a carton of eggs.
"What's for lunch? I'm starving." Kyo asked as he finally stepped in and inspected the bowl.
It was a simple vegetable rice porridge, but it smelt really good, hot steam rose from the pot.
"Ah, that's for Tohru actually, but the quiche should be out the oven soon, maybe another 30 minutes till lunch is ready," Marley explained as she cracked an egg with one hand emptied its contents into the bowl, whisking it in with her free hand.
"How.. how is she doing," Kyo asked as he leaned on the kitchen counter.
" She's starting to look better, and her fever is down. " Marley couldn't help notice a sad look on Kyo's face at the mention of the bed-bound brunette. Then an idea popped into her head.
.
" Actually, I still need to work on lunch, so would you mind bringing it up to her for me?" Marley asked as she put a lid on the bowl and transferred it to a tray, placing a spoon and napkin beside it.
" Bring it to her yourself..." He muttered, not wanting to face Tohru yet.
"Please, I think it would make her really happy if you did." Marley tried to insist, but he just glared at the ground. So Marley tried again.
" She was really worried about you, and I think she would be relieved if she saw you back home with her own eyes." Marley tried to get him to go.
Nothing.
Marley let out a sigh and decided that if he didn't want to, then she couldn't force him.
"Alright.." Marley only tried to give him a small smile before attempting to lift up the tray herself. The clay pot filled with the heart porridge ended up being heavier than she expected, and pain shot from her shoulder.
"Ish.." She exclaimed, dropping the tray back down on the counter, and Kyo saw the grimace on her face.
"Woah, Hey! What wrong?!" Kyo yelled as he stepped closer to her, Marley's eyes were still shut, but she just shook her head and insisted she was fine.
"Your obviously not fine now wh-" Kyo's eye's travelled to Marley's neck and saw the beige bandages.
" Here, I'll take it." Kyo huffed, making Marley step aside and pick up the tray.
"Oh that-"
"Just let take it before you hurt yourself!" Kyo yelled as he headed out the kitchen ad towards the stairs.
"At least let me-" As Marley spoke, Kyo kicked down the door in front of him and continued on.
"-get the door..." Marley finished her sentence but then just started giggling over the fallen door. She could now see why Shigure's house was always calling for more repairs.
" Don't kick down Tohru's door!" She teasing called, and he only yelled back something unintelligible as he went up the stairs, and she only giggled more. This household was undoubtedly exciting.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.
.
Kyo could hear her giggled as he went up the stairs and was thankful she couldn't see his red face as he made his way to Tohru's room.
He balanced the tray with one arm and knocked on the door.
"Oi! I've got lunch." Kyo yelled at the door.
"Um, yes, thank you, come in." Tohru's voice called out, and he took a breath and opened the door.
The brunette was carefully getting out of bed and smiled at him as she went to take a seat at her table.
Kyo placed down the tray and was about to head out, but Tohru's voice stopped him.
" Did you make it, Kyo-Kun?! It looks delicious!" Tohru exclaimed as she lifted off the lid and picked up the spoon.
"Marley made it... Just eat up already." Kyo scoffed as he looked to the side.
"Oh, right. Please tell her thank you! And thank you for bringing it. Itadakimasu!" Tohru cheered as she dug in.
"It's delicious..."
"Whatever.. after you're done, leave the dishes in the hall." Kyo made a move to leave, he was happy she seemed to be doing alright, but it felt awkward in the room. He didn't know what to say. Had she been scared last night? Was she okay with seeing him now?
.
"Um... I'm sorry... for everything..." Tohru softly said.
"huh?"
Kyo looked back, and Tohru was crying as she held the spoon in her hand. Kyo couldn't handle the tears and crumbled to the ground.
"Don't cry..." He grumbled as he looked down at the ground. He had already had his shares of tears this weekend, and he really couldn't handle it anymore.
"I-I'm sorry.. that I couldn't... I'm sorry." Tohru cried. She continued blubbering, and Kyo finally had to say something.
"It's not your fault. It's my curse, and I don't blame you... I get it." Kyo tried to console the girl.
"But I-"
" I know you tried, I know you tried your best or.. just.. It's fine. I don't blame you for anything, and I'm fine now. Alright. So.. just get better soon or whatever." Kyo muttered as he looked at her, really wanting her to feel better soon.
"Kyo-Kun.." Tohru called his name, and Kyo got ready for her to start crying again.
"What?" He groaned.
"I'm glad your home..." Tohru told him, and Kyo could tell she was being truthful, and he felt relieved that their friendship hadn't been harmed.
"Yeah...just hurry up an' eat, or you won't get better." Kyo scolded as he rested his elbow and the table and rested his head, hiding his face.
"It really is tasty, Marley-Chan is a really good cook. Have you tasted it before?" Tohru mentioned, and while she couldn't see his face, she could see Kyo's ears go slightly red.
"It's alright..." He muttered, and even Tohru could tell he was trying to lie, so she just smiled while she continued eating.
Seeing Kyo at home and acting like himself made her feel better already.
.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.
.
"Itadakimasu!" Everyone around the table said before digging in.
"This quiche is the stuff of angels Marley-Chan, how about becoming my wife?" Shigure teased, causing both Yuki and Kyo to yell at them.
"Don't bother her with your nonsense. I am so sorry, Marley-San." Yuki apologized on Shigure's behalf.
"Sorry, Shigure, while I am a dog person, I'm not quite ready for marriage yet." Marley decided to play along, which only aggravated Kyo.
"Don't play along!" Kyo shouted, not wanting Shigure to continue 'flirting' with Marley.
.
" So Marley-Chan, how was the showcase?" Shigure decided to ask.
The entire table went a little quiet.
"Oh, it was fine, the bodysuit Ayame made me was beautiful. I'm fortunate he was able to help me out. And Hatori and Akito gave me beautiful bouquets. I felt very blessed to have them there." Marley didn't want to go to much detail as the topic just felt kind of awkward.
"The damn flowers!" Kyo yelled as he slapped the table.
"Stupid cat." Yuki muttered as he continued eating, and Kyo glared at him.
"Shut up!"
Kyo jumped up from the table and looked like he was searching around the house before returning with a beautiful bouquet.
"Here..." Kyo muttered as he held the bouquet out to the surprised white-blonde.
It was basically shoved into Marley's face. The bouquet looked a little rough like it had been... tossed around.
"Kyo picked it out himself!" Teased Shigure causing Kyo to basically hiss at him.
" I D-I DID NOT! WHO TOLD YOU THAT!?" Kyo yelled, and Shigure just giggled like a schoolgirl as he continued to poke fun at the teen.
"..I love it... thank you," Marley said softly as she lightly felt the petals on the colourful bouquet. The mix of white roses, lavender and bluebells were beautiful, but there was one flower that really stood apart from the rest.
"I love marigolds, they use to grow everywhere back home, thank you so much." Marley lovingly touched the soft orange petals off the marigolds. She thought all the other flowers were beautiful too, but the marigolds held a special place in her heart.
.
Marley noticed a flower fell on the table and went to reach for it but was beaten by two others. Yuki and Kyo had reached out at the same time, and their hands touched. Marley could see the moment they made contact, both of them froze, she swore she saw a shudder go through both of them and the air went still.
They ripped their hands away from each other and glared ferociously at the other. The grey-haired boy simply got up from the table and marched into the kitchen and started running the tap, washing his hands.
"YOU'RE WASHING YOUR HANDS!" Kyo yelled, insulted that Yuki had gone so far.
Even Marley had to admit it was a bit overboard but couldn't help the giggle that erupted.
"I don't want to catch your stupid germs.." Yuki simply stated as he turned off the tap and dried off his hands.
Kyo looked like he was about to counter but simply clenched his fist and tried to take a deep breath.
"Sticks and stones you sarcastic rat... I ain't gonna scream over each and every insult no more...I'm gonna change." Kyo pointed out.
Marley tilted her head a bit as she watched Kyo, who looked like he was using every ounce of will power to not lose his temper.
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Oh! Kyo is trying to live up to his promise to Kazuma... even though he's already technically yelled a few times.. at least he's trying.
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" What are you smiling at Marley-Chan," Shigure asked as he leaned over to the girl.
" I'm just happy is all, Kyo's trying to be better, it's admirable." She simply put.
"Not so fast, Marley-Chan. He's already yelled this morning... are you even listening to me?" Shigure asked as Marley had already returned to admiring her flowers, a soft dreamy smile on her face.
"Huh? I'm sorry, did you say something, Shigure?" Marley asked, and Shigure only shook his head, looking back to the interaction between cat and rat.
Yuki returned to the table and picked up his fork to continue eating.
"...Well, good luck with that." Yuki stated.
All seemed calm.
"Stupid Cat."
"YOU GIRLIE MAN! I'VE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOU! MAN, YOU PISS ME OFF!" Kyo erupted, and Marley could almost envision the flames of anger around him.
"Kyo-"
"Don't bother Marley-Chan, here, a flower for our flower." Shigure picked up the marigold that had been on the table and tucked it behind Marley's ear, giving her a wide smile as he did so.
"YOU MORON!" Kyo slams his fist down on the table and then rushes through the house and up the stairs.
"Kyo..."
"Makes you think 'geez, you violent son of a bitch!' doesn't it?" Shigure couldn't help himself; he was used to the destructive Kyo.
"... No..just makes me kind of sad..." Marley said softly as she looked where Kyo disappeared to and to his half-eaten portion of quiche.
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At least it didn't end in a fight... it seems like it'll take some time before he can achieve that 'change'.. but I know he can do it
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" He stole my line. Except I'll continue to hate him.. even from my grave." Yuki spat, and with that, Marley's appetite was gone.
"Umm, I'm just going to put these in some water. I'll come down later to clean up." Marley said as she got up and put on a polite smile while picking up a few plates with the bouquet tucked carefully under her arm.
"Not hungry, Marley-Chan?" Shigure asked as he raised an eyebrow at the girl.
" I tend to snack while I cook." She joked, hoping they wouldn't worry about her and just continue on with their lunch.
"Plus, Tohru seems to be feeling a lot better, so I was going to help her study for her English re-take," Marley explained as she left the living room and disappeared into the kitchen.
Unknown to the other two, she had taken Kyo's abandoned plate and ventured up the stairs with it in hand. Marley first tried Kyo's room, but he wasn't there.
" Where in the world..." Marley asked herself as she looked around, wondering where the Cat of the Zodiac could be. She wandered down the hallway to see if there was something she was missing.
She came back to the balcony with Kyo's plate of quiche and side salad and finally noticed the ladder that led to the roof.
"Kyo?" She called out as she tried to climb the ladder awkwardly with one hand.
"What?!" Marley heard footsteps, and soon Kyo's head popped over the side of the roof, looking down at her trying to climb the ladder.
"What the hell do ya think your doin'?!" He yelled as Marley just smiled at him.
"You really do like high places, don't you?" Marley simply mentioned as she continued to try and awkwardly climb, and Kyo just huffed and told her to pass him the plate.
" you comin' up?" He asked as he held the plate in his one hand and looked at Marley while raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, no, I just wanted to bring you your lunch, you barely touched anything because..." Marley wasn't sure what she could really say about Yuki and Kyo's... interaction. The look on Marley's face spoke volumes to Kyo as he rubbed the back of his head.
" Looks like I still got a lot to work on... " He spat, looking annoyed with himself.
"Well... as they say... it takes two, right?" Marley pointed out, she couldn't exclude Yuki's poor behaviour in the scenario. Kyo still had a distressed look on his face, and all Marley wanted to do was make it better. She just wasn't sure how to go about it.
"Umm.. if you don't like the quiche, I can always make you something else!" Marley asked, wondering if maybe the vegetarian dish was compatible with the orange-haired boy's taste.
"Wh- no, no... it's fine. It's good..." Kyo muttered as he blushed. Marley let out a massive sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. I was really worried I'd made something you didn't like." She smiled up at him as she placed her free hand on her heart
"You shouldn't worry about stuff like that..." He started as he turned away from her
"Your cooking is always really good." He had said it so quietly and under his breath that Marley wasn't sure she was meant to hear it. Marley was left speechless by Kyo's compliment and felt her face go flush.
"I- I should go help Tohru!" The blushing white-blonde explained as she stepped down the ladder and disappeared into the house.
Kyo just plopped down back on the roof and dug into the savoury pie, enjoying the mixture of the vegetable, fluffy egg and baked cheese on the top.
"... It really is good..." He muttered and hoped that next time they would be able to eat together.
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.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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Day turned into evening and Marley was sitting on the floor of Tohru's room, sitting next to her as they went over her failed exam.
" I arrived in New York Shity 5 day ago" Tohru said while also writing it out on the notebook.
"Close. I arrived in New York City, no sh on City and then the day is plural, so day ends with an 'S' so 5 days ago." Marley decorated Tohru's notes, correcting here and there and trying to explain the English language the best way she could.
Tohru had all the information she needed, and Marley was just trying to fill in a few blanks here and there.
" Go over past versus present tense, and I'll start a bath for you," Marley said as she got up and stretched.
" Oh, Marley-Chan, you don't have to go to all this trouble." Tohru shook her hands, blushing at being fussed over.
"It's no trouble, honestly. " Marley insisted as she just smiled at her friend and made a quick escape before Tohru could argue. Marley went into the hallway and headed towards Tohru's bathroom.
.
"Oi.."
Marley turned around and noticed Kyo walking up to her from the other end of the hallway. Before she could ask if there was something he needed, he reached into his pocket and opened up his palm. As Marley looked at the locket in his hand, her hand rushed to her chest and realized she was, in fact, not wearing her necklace.
I completely forgot!
" I couldn't find a chain, so I just put it on a string for now.. ya can get something better I'm sure..." Kyo started, but Marley was just thrilled to see the locket in the first place and a little embarrassed she had left out in the woods in the first place.
"Thank you so much! I can't believe I left it out there. Can you tie it on for me?" Marley asked as she turned around and waited, lifting her ponytail with one hand to keep it out of Kyo's way.
"..Sure..." Kyo lifted the necklace over Marley's head, the locket fell to the centre Marley's chest, and she held it in place, delicately tracing the silver pendant. Kyo fingers gently tied the thin black string, his fingers lightly brushed against the nape of her neck, careful not to touch the bandages.
"There, should do for now," Kyo said as he finished the knot. Marley turned back around and smiled at Kyo, and he couldn't help but notice the small blush on her cheeks in the low light of the hallway or the way her large eyes seemed to slightly sparkle like gemstones and Kyo felt his breath get caught in his throat, his own face going slightly red.
"It's perfect. Thank you." Marley tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and Kyo just rubbed the back of his neck, thinking of what more he could say to those bright amethyst eyes without looking like an idiot.
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"Oh, I almost forgot!" Marley reached for the marigold that was still neatly behind her ear and pulled it out, comparing the warm orange petals to Kyo's saffron locks.
"Pretty close actually, though I think I have to admit... your hair is much prettier." Marley marvelled as she tucked the stem carefully behind Kyo's right ear and smiled. She was about to bring her hand back, but Kyo caught her hand in his, gently holding it in place next to his cheek. The girl raised an eyebrow at the boy's unusual behaviour but didn't want to ruin the moment and found herself gently laying her palm on his face. Feeling like time had stopped, and the simplest movement could ruin it.
Saffron eyes looked into hers with so much gentleness and care that she was brought back to the night before, where he had called out her name with such care, and she hoped he would say it more. The way he had started to embrace her, carefully cradling the back of her head.
"You really are something else..." He mused as he tilted his head to the side and smiled at her, a genuine smile that didn't grace Kyo's face enough and it was truly a shame because that smile made her heart race in the best of ways.
.
Do I-
.
"Kyo has heart eyes!" A cheerful voice announced from behind Marley as he grabbed onto the hem of her grey T-shirt dress and winked at his fellow Zodiac member.
"Where the hell did you come from!" Kyo yelled at the unexpected guest.
Kisa and Hatori soon came up the stairs behind him, and Kyo couldn't believe his luck as he tried to look for an escape in the cramped hallway...
"Marley-Onee-Chan..." Kisa greeted in her sweet voice as she stepped forward and grabbed onto one of Marley's hands.
"Hey, Honey Bee, what are you guys doing here?" Marley asked as she ran a hand through Kisa's amber-gold locks.
"We figured we could bring dinner and drive you home after," Hatori explained, and Momiji held up a bag in free his hand, which Marley assumed was the takeout food they had brought. Marley took the bag from Momiji and thanked him before noticing that Hatori was holding something as well, his doctor's bag.
" And to check on Tohru?" She asked Hatori, and he only nodded.
" I was about to start a bath for her, but I'm sure she should use a friendly visit. But she does need a good rest tonight, so no crowding her or anything." Marley said, mostly looking at Momiji as she did so, and he just got up on his toes and gave her a kiss on the cheek before disappearing into Tohru's room with Kisa close behind him.
" I'll just perform a quick check-up and make sure the two don't disturb her too much," Hatori explained.
"Sounds good. I'll just get dinner set up first." Marley smiled and went down the stairs, Kyo following her down. Hatori looked at the two as they left, shaking his head over how complicated things had become in such a short amount of time.
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.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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"Marley-Chan! My cute little housewife! Don't leave me with these ruffians!" Shigure whined as Hatori was trying to usher everyone out of the house.
Marley couldn't help but giggle awkwardly at Shigure's attitude while Hatori looked like he wanted to slap the Dog upside the head.
"Knock it off, Shigure." Yuki shook his head as he crossed his arms.
" Ya damn dog! Enough!" Kyo hissed at Shigure as he went ahead and grabbed the back of his kimono to keep him far away from Marley.
"You've kept Marley-Chan for long enough Shii-Chan!" Momiji pointed out as he stuck out his tongue at the older man.
"I've missed her too much to let you have her!" He announced as he wrapped his arms around Marley and then in-place of the high school student was a yellow rabbit. Marley only held the boy in her arms as he cuddled into her chest.
"That damn rabbit is no better than Shigure..." Kyo muttered as he glared at Momiji and crossed his arms, freeing Shigure from his group.
"Alright, enough's enough. Marley, let's go." Hatori insisted as he lifted up Marley's bag and gave her a look that said, 'get in the car.'
" Thank you for having me." Marley slightly bowed her head as she carefully held Momiji in her arms.
" No, no. Thank you. You're welcome here anytime." Shigure put on his adult face and properly talked to Marley, and she gave him a sincere smile.
It had certainly been an unexpected way to spend her Saturday, but she felt like she had learned a lot about Kyo's household and looked forward to learning more and more.
"Safe Travels." Shigure waved them off, and Marley took Kisa's free hand as Kisa's other arm was occupied with the colourful bouquet Kyo had given her.
" Oh and Kyo...look here." Hatori instructed, and the boy looked up to the doctor who quickly snapped a photo.
"You look very nice with the flower in your hair." Hatori pointed out with a straight face and Marley immediately asked for him to send her a copy. Kyo screamed at him to delete the picture, calling Hatori a bastard in the process, the marigold still tucked behind his ear.
Definitely a Saturday I won't soon forget
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notes:
jalebi- popular sweet in India, made by deep-frying maida flour batter in pretzel or circular shapes, which are then soaked in sugar syrup.
coconut ladoo - delicious sweets in the shape of balls made with sugar, coconut, cardamom powder and condensed milk
Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
Hello... this chapter was .. everywhere lol I have no self-control, someone please stop me
Hope you enjoy reading this obnoxiously long chapter. I actually kind of rushed this because time just flew by and I was like 'yikes... I should post the next chapter' so forgive me for the few (many) grammar and spelling mistakes that escaped me.
Thank you so much for Littlecosma001, Demona Evernight, Infernoinside and RubyGemGreen for leaving reviews. I really appreciate it and am so grateful to readers like you.
To Littlecosma001: I am so ready to jump more into Kyo and Marley's relationship and I hope this chapter has enough Kyo/Marley interactions to make up for how this slow this slow-burn is going. Also, I plan on Akito showing up the next chapter, I was going to put her in this chapter but... it was getting pretty long XD Thank you for the review!
To Demona Evernight: Kyo's still got some training to do before he can beat up his Shishou but I think Kyo was able to land a few punches right into Kazuma's soul ;p a few shots right at the feels.
To Infernoinside: Oh my goodness, I only ever expected Fruits Basket veterans to read this story :O I hope my story wasn't the one to spoil a few things for you and welcome to the Fruits Basket fandom :) and thank you for liking my fanfiction!
To RubyGemGreen: Thank you for the review and the kind words.