I just noticed the series of ones left near the beginning of the previous chapter. That is a note from my toddler who loves pointing out the numbers on my laptop and very adamantly telling me what they are LOL. School is getting ready to start in a few weeks for me so I'm trying to get as much written as I can before life gets a little more hectic and I lose a writing day:)

Chapter 24

Kyomi and Luc had bundled up against the cold to go to Luc's class at the dojo. They talked as they walked, Luc commenting on almost everything they saw, and Kyomi making sure he was learning his Japanese along with his English. He had been doing very well with it considering only the adults were able to understand his English. The teens spoke Japanese with him so he had been learning that quickly. Luc was even teaching them some English because he would repeat the word in that language as a game sometimes.

Luc started pulling Kyomi's hand to get her to let go. "What do you need buddy?" She asked him. He pointed ahead of them, "Ko Mama, Ko!" She looked up to see her brother walking towards them. She wasn't sure he had seen them yet, so she let her son run to tackle him. Luc ran and wrapped his arms around the orange haired boy's legs. Kyomi could have sworn she saw cat ears pop out of his messy hair because the boy jumped a mile. Further proof he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings.

Kyo ruffled the toddler's hair and lifted him up to ride on his shoulders. Luc squealed, happy as can be to be with his uncle. Luc plunged his hands into Kyo's hair to use as reins. "OW, watch it kid. Don't pull so hard!"

"Luc, be nice to your uncle." Kyomi said as she reached them. Luc patted Kyo's head. "Sowwy Ko hair, Sowwy." He said kindly.

"Sure, he listens to you." Kyo huffed under his breath.

"Of course he does, I'm mom." Kyomi said with a grin as they walked up the steps to the dojo.

"Is Luc still in the two-year old's class?" Kyo asked.

"He's not turning three until after the new year so yes." Kyomi said a little confused.

"Kunimitsu is out for the day so Master is making me step in for that class…" Kyo said pouting like it was the end of the world.

"Really? Oh you will be great! Just play and teach the kids like you do Luc. You'll be fine. Plus if you really get stuck with keeping them in line, you do have a teacher for a sister in the room with you who can help if you absolutely need it. I don't think you will though." She said smiling, hoping to help put him at ease.

"You stay in there with the class? Not many parents do." Kyo said.

Kyomi held up her craft bag. "I work on things for Ayame's shop while I watch. It's probably better for your nerves that not many adults are there. I always do better with just kids in front of me. I always worry about the adults judging me in the back of my mind even if I know they aren't." Kyomi shrugged.

Kyo just glared at her. "Thanks… I hadn't been thinking about that…" Kyomi smiled sheepishly as Kazuma walked up to them.

"Kyomi, if you would like to go have a seat. Kyo, Luc, your class is should be arriving soon." Kazuma said kindly, searching his son's face for signs of nervousness. Finding it, he told him, "Kyo, I would keep Luc close if you can. A familiar face always helps relieve some of those nerves you have." He ruffled the teen's hair. "You'll do just fine." He said as he continued on to his own class.

Meanwhile, Kyomi had found her usual spot on the sidelines. There was a mother already there and a few kids who had been dropped off. This class was timed in the evening so that working parents would be able to bring their children more easily. Kyomi chatted with the woman next to her as they waited, the proud mother pointing out her son and they were comparing developmental milestones their boys had accomplished. Kyomi was able to give the mom some advice on teaching her son letters and numbers since the boy was having trouble getting them in order. Putting things to song or rhythm always helped that. Kyo came in with Luc on his shoulders.

"Oh, there's my son." Kyomi said as Luc waved at her.

"Oh, Isn't that the dojo master's son? He's so handsome! Too bad he isn't a few years older." The mom commented appreciatively.

Kyomi inhaled too hard and choked on her spit. She coughed for a minute laughing.

"Are you alright? Why are you laughing?" The mom said confused.

Kyomi finally stopped coughing enough to answer her still chuckling. "I'm fine thank you and I didn't mean anything by laughing, but that's my little brother." Kyomi started laughing again as the woman's eyes widened in shock and she started laughing herself.

"Oh my, I understand now! I'd react the same if it was my little brother someone made a comment about. So is the master your father as well?" She asked conversationally, truly not trying to pry but not knowing she was stepping on a landmine. Kyomi paused for a second trying to figure out how to truthfully explain without raising more questions.

"Well, he's definitely like family, but no. I was actually given up for adoption before Kyo was born. Our mother was in a very rough spot and thought I would be better off in the US. So that's where I spent my teen years. I got very lucky and had an amazing second family as well." Kyomi said with a smile.

The mother's face expressed her sympathy. "I'm so sorry if I brought back any bad memories, but I am glad you had a wonderful family."

Kyomi waved away her apology. "Don't worry about it. Family is a common topic of conversation, so I am used to fielding this question. It was a closed adoption, but I knew my family was from this area and by a miracle, found my brother who I didn't even know I had." Kyomi said smiling at her brother who was starting the class and having an easy time of organizing the toddlers. He shot a small grin back at her before turning back to his class.

…

Kyo did use Luc a lot that class for exampling moves and as a helper mostly because he knew Luc could do what was asked of him because they played like that all the time, and he knew Kyomi would quickly step in if her son wasn't listening. Luc's little chest all but puffed in pride at being such a big helper. At one point on of the other kids complained about Luc being singled out so much, but Kyo simply explained that Luc was the helper for him today and that someone else would be his helper when he taught again. That pacified the class and the class ended without a hitch. They were a good group of kids but Kunimitsu had also set a great groundwork in them for class expectations. Kyomi waited until all the other kids were gone before metaphorically pouncing on her brother.

"You did so good! You're a natural with these kids! And that's coming from a teacher so you know it's true." She said ruffling his hair so hard she was almost giving him a noogie. Kyo was blushing redder than his hair is orange and struggling to get out of his sister's hold without hurting her or transforming. Kyomi finally let him go when Kazuma came in.

"So how did it go?" He asked the siblings.

"It was alright. Luc was a big help though." Kyo said laying a hand on the toddler's head.

"He did very well and all the kids loved him. He got tackled with hugs at the end. Kunimitsu doesn't even get that." Kyomi said pride in her voice.

"I gave him an all boys class on purpose and it just so happened that Luc is in this class too." Kazuma said.

"Did you plan all that on purpose knowing that you were going to make me teach?" Kyo asked suspiciously.

Kazuma laughed. "You think too much of me, Kunimitsu did coincidentally have the day off and I gave it to you because I knew you could handle it and because it was all boys." He ruffled Kyo's hair this time who huffed at his father.

The two father and son went to go get changed, bringing Luc with them. Kyomi sat back down to wait, humming a song and crocheting.

When the boys were done, Luc came running into the room and launched himself at his mother. "Mama cookies!"

Kyomi looked at her son confused. "Where did you get that idea? We don't have cookies very often." She looked questioningly at the father and son who were following her son and they pointed at each other to lay the blame. Kyomi glared at them both.

"Tohru was making cookies today and I told Master I would bring him some tomorrow." Kyo admitted sheepishly.

"Cookies mama cookies! And Ko and Toh-u and Shi gu and Uki!" He was still working on getting everyone's names correct.

Kyomi sighed shaking her head at her son but really she was so happy her son had family that he wanted to see this badly, even if cookies were sweetening the deal. She gave him a big bear hug and asked him, "Do you want to go see Tohru, Shigure and Yuki?" The toddler raised his little fists and said, "Yes mama! Alright!" Kyomi and Kazuma laughed at his antics. Luc had taken off running for the door so Kyo went to grab him shaking his head at the little boy. Kyo swung him up on his shoulders again and waited for his sister to grab her bags. They bid farewell to the dojo master who waved them off with a huge smile at the family his son was gaining, and they walked to Shigure's house. Kyo and Kyomi chatted about school in between Luc talking about what he was seeing. They walked up the hill to the house to find Yuki scolding Shigure who had dramatic tears running down his face. Luc struggled wanting down from Kyo's shoulders. He let the boy down and Luc ran over to Shigure and tackled him, knocking him over. Shigure tickled Luc while Kyomi walked up to Yuki.

"What did he do this time Yuki?" Kyomi asked smiling at the kind teen.

Yuki sighed and put a hand to his face, "He ate cookie dough that Miss Honda was going to make cookies with."

"He ate all of it?" Kyomi asked.

"Not at all." Tohru said giggling behind them. She had a spoon in her hand. "I was going to make another batch anyway so I just doubled it."

Kyomi shook her head, flicking some hair out of Yuki's face. "You're too dramatic kid. And don't worry, I'll finish punishing him later." The look on Kyomi's face told Yuki she could do worse than he ever could. Shigure only hid behind Luc. Kyomi looked back at them to grin at Shigure and saw him hiding behind her son. "You should know by now that won't help you." And she went to go help Tohru finish the cookies. Shigure just watched her long skirt sway with her hips as she walked away. He sighed, resting his chin in his palm.

"Pervert…" Was Kyo's comment as he went to keep the girls company.

"I have to agree with you on that one." Yuki said as he left Shigure and Luc. Luc took advantage and knocked Shigure over again and jumped on him eliciting more laughter from the older man.

…..

Shigure was in his office actually writing for once when he heard his door open quietly and close. He heard quiet feet on the floor cross to his bed. He glanced over at Kyomi who had laid down on the bed on her side, her head propped up in her palm, staring at him.

"Were you trying to be quiet? You know that doesn't work with me." Shigure said in his semi-evil voice.

"Were you trying to avoid me? You know that doesn't end well for you." She returned with the same inflection and semi-evil grin on her face.

"I would never avoid you. I worked too hard to catch you." He said taking off his glasses and slinking over to the bed to lean over her. She fell over onto her back to stare him in the face. "Are you here to administer my punishment?" He said grinning at her.

"Why yes I am. Everyone, including my brother is in bed well on their way to being asleep and I'm sleeping here." She said with a maniacal grin on her face.

"You may look like the cat who ate the canary, but I feel like the cat in this situation. How is that a punishment?" Shigure asked.

"You aren't allowed to take human form all night. You must sleep as a dog in my arms or right next to me all night long, not allowing yourself to change forms." She grinned at the look of consternation that crossed his face.

"Isn't that also a punishment on yourself?" He asked curious.

"It is a little, but you know how quickly I fall asleep so it shouldn't bother me long." She said as she rolled out from under him and took her bag to the bathroom. "Dibs!" She said as she walked in. She barely crossed the threshold when she felt breath on her ear and a voice whisper, "dibs…" as his lips hit her neck and arms wrapped around her. Of course, a puff of smoke followed shortly after and the now black dog stalked back to the bed and hopped back up and curled up contentedly. Kyomi shook her head and went to take her bath.