Chapter 4

Kyomi woke the next morning to Luc playing with his stuffed bear and snake and talking to himself. She laughed to herself as she realized even though the snake had been her husbands as a child, Ayame would think Luc had the snake because of him. She could hear the boasting already. She had only woken up once in the night when Hatori had closed the door behind him a little loudly. She heard the kettle squeal that water was boiling which prompted her to get out of bed with a slight groan. She hadn't slept on a futon since she was a child since she had been sleeping on a Western style mattress since her adoption. She talked to Luc and made faces at him while she got ready for the day. Then had to chase him giggling around the room to put his clothes on. The promise of a hug and breakfast got him still long enough to pull his shirt over his head and pull the socks on his little feet. As she set him down, Hatori opened the door to let them know breakfast was ready. Luc squealed and ran past Hatori towards the kitchen. Hatori chuckled a second, "I wasn't sure what you normally eat for breakfast, so I just, made some simple fried rice."

"That should be just fine, thank you. I haven't been great about cooking more Japanese food for Luc so he needs to start sometime!" Kyomi gave a soft smile and followed Hatori to go find the toddler and get him sitting to eat breakfast. They found him playing with the door that led to the backyard. Since Kyomi lived in a more western style apartment, the traditional Japanese of Hatori's home was a whole new world to the toddler. Everything needed explored! Thankfully, he was good about listening when he was told to not get into things he shouldn't. Kyomi looked around at the home, memories flooding back of their time spent there as children. They didn't spend many days there since Hatori's parents were more strict than Shi's, but there were some days she and Hatori had spent studying trying to beat the other's grades. Shigure and Ayame weren't as concerned about such things so Hatori's house was the natural place to go to study.

"It seems like yesterday that we were sitting here studying our English. Who would have thought I was going to need it so soon." Kyomi remarked as they sat down to eat their breakfast.

Hatori got lost in thought thinking about just how much had changed since then; how much each of them had gone though. He finally replied, "Thankfully you always had better grades in that subject. One of the two you consistently bested me at." He gave her a smirk much like she remembered him giving her every time they got their grades back.

"Ha ha. At least I made good use of those two subjects. I went to college for music and my English is better than my Japanese now." She flipped her long hair over her shoulder mostly for show, but with some indignance as well. "I graduated with honors too."

"Music isn't a real degree or a real job." Hatori quipped back at her.

"Oh, excuse me, Mr. Tone Deaf. You have never been able to carry a tune in a bucket and you are just mad I was always better with music than you were."

"And now you are using your degree to sing Baby Shark to your son?" He raised an eyebrow at her clearly goading her on.

Her face lost its indignance which was replaced with a soft, proud smile. "I teach preschool music actually. I never thought I would find something to fit me so perfectly, but its definitely what I'm meant to do."

They were interrupted by the sound of an empty plate hitting the floor and a toddler's voice, "Dowww!" They looked over to the boy who was almost falling out of his chair pointing down to the floor signaling that he was ready to go back to exploring.

Hatori cleaned up the table as Kyomi finished cleaning up her son. She got him down from his chair and let him run around in the backyard. Hatori came back in with his bag. "Sit down please."

She sighed slightly and then sat down on the back porch with him so she could watch Luc play and he could examine her. "How have you been feeling?" He asked as he felt the lymph nodes in her neck.

"My back is a little sore from not having my own bed, but otherwise nothing out of the ordinary this morning." She replied grateful that it was true. She hadn't felt any different once the initial migraine had passed. Hatori continued his examination down her back and ended with pushing on a few of her vertebrae to make them pop.

"Oh! A little warning would have been nice!" She stretched her arms above her head. "But wow does that feel better. That must be a magic trick. Do I pass inspection Doc?" She teased him.

"So far I don't see any warning signs that you would have any negative side effects from your returning memories. However, if you start having any physical issues, call me immediately. If there's anything psychological, only you would be able to tell that."

Kyomi sighed quietly and pulled her knees up to rest her chin on them and looked out at her son running back and forth. "I am surprised that my brain is staying as straight as it is. It's a weird sensation knowing that over fifteen years have passed since I lost these memories, but they came back so vivid that it feels like most of them just happened. There are still a few blank spots, but the important events are back at least."

Hatori had her file and was making notes of her comments.

"You really already have a file on me?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"Do you have a family doctor?" He asked without looking up.

"I do actually. Why do you ask?" She was curious as to why he was asking.

He handed her his business card. "Have them fax both yours and Luc's medical history to me. I'll take over your medical issues from now on."

She raised her eyebrows and looked at him over her glasses. "Really? I have no say in this."

He returned the over the glasses look. "If you want to explain to your doctors how childhood best friend's father erased your memories as a child, then don't take me up on my offer. It would all be paid for by the family. I'll talk to the family head and explain the situation."

Kyomi pouted a little at his sarcasm and Luc came over and poked her bottom lip and started giggling. She lifted him up onto her lap and tickled him for a second while she weighed her options. I guess when he puts it like that, I really don't have much of a choice. Plus free doctor who, if I know Hatori at all, is very skilled… She let Luc run back off and shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "I guess I really can't argue with your logic. Though I would never betray your secrets, you know that. And how am I supposed to turn down free medical care?" She suddenly straightened with her next thought. "Does this also mean I'm good to go home?"

Hatori took off his glasses and shut his folder before and saying, "As long as you feel well enough then you should have no problems. However, I wouldn't drive for a week or two just to be sure. Seizures or sudden migraines can be fatal if you're driving." He stood up to return her folder to its file cabinet. "None the less, you can go home."

Kyomi stood with him and bowed, "Thank you so much for everything Hati. I really can never repay your kindness neither now nor when we were children. You, Shi and Aya were everything to me then. I don't expect us all to be as close as we used to be, but I do hope we can become friends again."

Hatori was shocked at first, but as Kyomi finished speaking, he smiled and put a hand on her head which made her jump and look up. Hatori held out his hand to her. "Hello, I'm Hatori Sohma. I would love to know the new Kyomi."

She was still a little shocked that he initiated physical contact and shook his hand before getting a glint in her eye and launched herself at him for a hug. He was faster though and held his hand against her head to stop her. "Not in front of your son." He said barely containing a grin and a laugh at her antics. "Have you grown up at all in fifteen years?"

Kyomi let her arms drop and pouted for a moment. "I'm a mother and the same age as you. Of course I've grown up! I just choose not to act like it sometimes because life is boring if you are serious all the time." She stuck her tongue out at him to emphasize her point before running after Luc and chasing him around to wrangle him inside to collect their bags. When he started crying because he didn't want to go inside, she crouched down in front of him and quietly and firmly told him it was time to go and gave him a hug. When his tears had quieted, she asked him to go tell Hatori thank you. Luc took his mother's hand and when they got to Hatori the boy did the sign for thank you. Hatori smiled and returned the gesture. They collected their bags and bid Hatori one more farewell and thanks. They walked the short distance to their apartment. It was still fairly early in the morning, so they decided to go to Ayame's to finish their errand that got interrupted the day before.

As soon as they walked through the door, Mine was there tackling Kyomi with a hug. "I can't believe you were Bossman's old friend! You will have to tell me everything about what he was like as a child!" Kyomi just laughed and promised to set up a lunch date with her soon. "I'm actually here about the orders I was supposed to pick up yesterday and forgot about in the chaos. Do you have them on hand? I'm almost finished with the last one now." Mine and Kyomi chatted about the customer's specific wants in each item while Luc ran to the back room where Ayame was working and where a few toys for Luc were housed. Ayame swept into the showroom as soon as Luc was settled with his toys.

"Kyomi! I'm so glad you are doing well. I called Hatori this morning but alas, you had already left for home. How are you feeling this morning my dear?"

Kyomi smiled at her old friend. "I feel very well all things considered. I remember just how uncomfortable I find futons, but other than that I feel no different than usual." Her smile gained an empathic look. "How are you doing with the realization that I'm not dead and am back home?"

Ayame lost his extravagant air for a moment. "I am truly overjoyed that such a dear friend has all but risen from the grave. It was hard on all of us when we were told of your passing then however false it proved to be. Tori probably took it the hardest. Gure and I were always partners in crime and you and Tori were the rivals who kept us in line, or at least tried. He was quiet for a long time after you were gone." He regained his normal demeanor before announcing. "You must come to Gure's with me to meet my dear brother Yuki! I just know you will be fast friends!"

Kyomi stopped for a second. "Wait, doesn't my brother live with Shi? Aya, I can't just barge in and announce myself like that! I'll scare the poor kid to death! No, I need a little time before I can figure out how to spring this on him. Is he on good terms with his father? Is his father even still alive? Is Shigure his guardian?" Kyomi could barely get the questions out in time for the next one to come to mind.

Ayame stood with his weight on one foot, ticking the answers to her questions off on his hand. "I don't think he is, unfortunately yes from what I've heard, and definitely not. Kazuma took the poor boy in after your mother died."

"Kazuma, why does that name sound so familiar?" Kyomi wondered out loud.

"I'm not sure where you would have learned it, but he runs the dojo on the Sohma estate. His grandfather was also possessed by the cat spirit." Ayame answered.

Recognition dawned on Kyomi and she quickly schooled her features. "I must have heard about him from someone at the estate then. We were always overhearing stories and gossip we probably shouldn't have heard." She got a mischievous look in her eye remembering all the things they learned and a few rumors they started themselves when they had gotten bored. Ayame joined in the reminiscing until Luc wandered back into the showroom. "Mama, eat! Cheese!" Kyomi picked him up laughing at him. "Well, I guess that means its time for lunch then nap huh buddy?" He responded with, "No nap. Cheese!" This elicited a laugh from all the adults present. Kyomi collected the orders previously forgotten and had one final question for Ayame. "I want to speak with Kazuma about how to approach Kyo and even if I should right now. Does he live at the estate?"

"He does, not on the inside like Tori, but he is there, and his dojo is as well." "Thank you so much Aya. I'll see you in a week with a few of these complete!" Kyomi hugged Mine before taking her son's hand and leading them home, mind running a mile a minute thinking about how to go about introducing herself to a brother she didn't even know she had until yesterday. She got Luc home, fed them both lunch, and then put Luc down for his nap. She laid on the couch mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted and let the tears flow. She had been through more than she ever thought she could endure and now she has a chance at having family again. The prospect both filled her with great longing and great fear. If she messed this up, who knows if she would ever be able to repair the relationships so she could build them in the first place? She decided that speaking with Kazuma about Kyo before anything else was the correct course of action before she drifted off for a well deserved nap herself.