Chapter Ten: Kyo's Master
Hana and Uo met Tohru back at her room that evening. They embraced her tight and insisted on knowing everything that had happened to her the past few months. She told them all about the Sohma family, everything except the curse of course, she told them about the temple, and even about why Akito was angry.
"Man I wish I could have been there" Uo said angrily, "I would have torn that king limb from limb for hurting you."
"Yes" Hana agreed, "Pulling your hair like that was most uncalled for."
"Oh I'm okay" Tohru grinned, "Say would you two like to accompany me to the mountains tomorrow to fetch my things? Grandfather has already agreed that we can go."
"Sounds like fun" Uo agreed.
"I'd love to" Hana replied.
"Good" Tohru said, "Well we'd better get some sleep so we can have an early start in the morning."
****************
The sun rose slowly that morning. Kageru watched as the girls saddled up and rode out of the gates. He grimaced as he saw them depart.
"I hope that whatever that old fool has planned for me is important," he snarled to himself.
He turned on his heel and walked back inside.
****************
Tohru led the way up the mountain since she had been several times. As they rode, she told them more about the temple and the strange book that she had found. She had been able to look it over on the way back from the temple, that day when she was caught, and had discovered a lot of strange writing in it.
"You know what Tohru?" Hana interrupted her thoughts, "I think I know of someone who can probably help you."
"You do? Who?"
"He lives in these mountains. He is known to be a translator of many different kinds of languages."
"Wow" Tohru smiled, "Then maybe we can stop there on our way back."
"Sounds good to me" Uo grinned, "But first let's see Kyoko's old cabin. I've been dying to glimpse that place."
They arrived at the cabin at about eleven o'clock. Tohru hopped off her horse and showed them in. They explored the cabin for a few minutes, and then Tohru grabbed the bag with the book in it, which was still outside in the backyard, where she had left it. Strange enough it was propped up against one of the logs. She grabbed her other bags and placed the Zodiac figurines in it.
"I got everything" she replied walking back to the front door, "Lead the way to this translator Hana."
It only took them an hour to find the cabin. A sign was posted nearby that said:
KAZUMA SOHMA
TEACHER PHILOSOPHER TRANSLATOR
RING THE BELL PLEASE!!!
THANK YOU!
Tohru followed the instructions and rang the bell.
A young man answered the door with a grin on his face.
"How can I help you beautiful young ladies?" he said.
"Hello there, My name is Tohru Honda, and I would like to speak with Kazuma Sohma."
"Oh yes. Would you come in please."
The girls followed him into a small sitting room.
"And who might you be mister?" Uo asked.
"I'm Kunimitsu. Teacher Kazuma's assistant. Wait here. I will fetch him."
The three girls complied and sat down around the table. Tohru gazed at all the books on the shelves around her. A lot of the titles had to do with the Chinese Zodiac.
"And how may I help you?" a deep voice spoke.
Tohru looked up and saw a middle-aged man with a ponytail enter the room. His hair was in his eyes and he had a kind face. Tohru asked for her two friends to exit the room. They were a little bit wary, but agreed. He watched as they left then turned back to her.
"I am Kazuma Sohma."
****************
Tohru bowed.
How do you do it is very nice to meet you. I am Tohru Honda."
"Oh so you're Tohru Honda. I have a heard a lot about you."
"How?" she asked then she realized, "Sohma? You're related to the Sohma family aren't you?"
"Distantly related, but yes. I have heard a lot of good things about you Miss Honda. But I guess the question is what is it that you have come to see me about?" he smiled.
Tohru pulled the large book out of the bag. He stared at the cover in awe as he ran his fingers over it.
"I was hoping you could translate some of the writing in this."
"Where did you find this Miss Honda?" Kazuma asked.
"I found it in the Zodiac Temple, which is not far from here. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the Zodiac Curse?"
"I heard that you had come to learn of it. And yes it does indeed have a lot to do with the Zodiac Curse. However at this time, it will be difficult to translate. I will need more time to research what it says."
"Then you may keep it with you" Tohru replied, "And if you need to get in touch with me" she lowered her voice, "Forgive me Teacher, but I am the Tohru Honda you have heard about but I'm sure it is also important that I reveal to you who I am."
"All right" he agreed.
"I am Princess Tohru Honda Shinobi. The only place you can get in contact with me is ShiraNobi itself."
"I understand" he nodded, "You want to keep this a secret."
"Please."
"Of course."
"Hey Master! You in there!"
*****************
To Tohru's surprise into the room came Kyo carrying a book of his own. His mouth dropped when he saw her.
"Tohru!" he exclaimed, "You're all right?"
"Yes" she smiled, "It's good to see you again Kyo."
"What are you doing here at my Masters?" he asked.
"This is your master?"
"Yes, he taught me how to fight, and he is my guardian most of the time."
"Isn't it a small world" Kazuma continued to smile, "Princess" he replied standing up and holding onto the book, "I will research and will have it translated for you soon."
"Thank you" Tohru replied.
Kazuma bowed then walked out the door.
"Princess?" Kyo said.
****************
Kageru walked down the hall toward his chamber grumbling the whole way. Some job the king had given him. He slammed the door shut and flung himself on his bed.
"What ails you my boy?" a deep feminine voice replied.
On the side of the room, a medium-sized cauldron bubbled to life. The purple liquid oozed inside as he approached it.
"I don't know how much more I can take Mistress" he said angrily, "When will it be time?"
"Soon, Just keep an eye on that Princess. She may be more trouble then I originally first thought."
"Don't forget our agreement" he replied.
"Have no fear my boy. You'll get what you desire."
The liquid bubbled some more as the sun began to set outside.
************************************************************
Authors Note: Once again the chapter became to long. Akito's Ultimatum will happen in the next I promise!!
Next Chapter: At the Riverbank
Tohru and Yuki meet in secret to discuss the Zodiac Curse.
Hana and Uo met Tohru back at her room that evening. They embraced her tight and insisted on knowing everything that had happened to her the past few months. She told them all about the Sohma family, everything except the curse of course, she told them about the temple, and even about why Akito was angry.
"Man I wish I could have been there" Uo said angrily, "I would have torn that king limb from limb for hurting you."
"Yes" Hana agreed, "Pulling your hair like that was most uncalled for."
"Oh I'm okay" Tohru grinned, "Say would you two like to accompany me to the mountains tomorrow to fetch my things? Grandfather has already agreed that we can go."
"Sounds like fun" Uo agreed.
"I'd love to" Hana replied.
"Good" Tohru said, "Well we'd better get some sleep so we can have an early start in the morning."
****************
The sun rose slowly that morning. Kageru watched as the girls saddled up and rode out of the gates. He grimaced as he saw them depart.
"I hope that whatever that old fool has planned for me is important," he snarled to himself.
He turned on his heel and walked back inside.
****************
Tohru led the way up the mountain since she had been several times. As they rode, she told them more about the temple and the strange book that she had found. She had been able to look it over on the way back from the temple, that day when she was caught, and had discovered a lot of strange writing in it.
"You know what Tohru?" Hana interrupted her thoughts, "I think I know of someone who can probably help you."
"You do? Who?"
"He lives in these mountains. He is known to be a translator of many different kinds of languages."
"Wow" Tohru smiled, "Then maybe we can stop there on our way back."
"Sounds good to me" Uo grinned, "But first let's see Kyoko's old cabin. I've been dying to glimpse that place."
They arrived at the cabin at about eleven o'clock. Tohru hopped off her horse and showed them in. They explored the cabin for a few minutes, and then Tohru grabbed the bag with the book in it, which was still outside in the backyard, where she had left it. Strange enough it was propped up against one of the logs. She grabbed her other bags and placed the Zodiac figurines in it.
"I got everything" she replied walking back to the front door, "Lead the way to this translator Hana."
It only took them an hour to find the cabin. A sign was posted nearby that said:
KAZUMA SOHMA
TEACHER PHILOSOPHER TRANSLATOR
RING THE BELL PLEASE!!!
THANK YOU!
Tohru followed the instructions and rang the bell.
A young man answered the door with a grin on his face.
"How can I help you beautiful young ladies?" he said.
"Hello there, My name is Tohru Honda, and I would like to speak with Kazuma Sohma."
"Oh yes. Would you come in please."
The girls followed him into a small sitting room.
"And who might you be mister?" Uo asked.
"I'm Kunimitsu. Teacher Kazuma's assistant. Wait here. I will fetch him."
The three girls complied and sat down around the table. Tohru gazed at all the books on the shelves around her. A lot of the titles had to do with the Chinese Zodiac.
"And how may I help you?" a deep voice spoke.
Tohru looked up and saw a middle-aged man with a ponytail enter the room. His hair was in his eyes and he had a kind face. Tohru asked for her two friends to exit the room. They were a little bit wary, but agreed. He watched as they left then turned back to her.
"I am Kazuma Sohma."
****************
Tohru bowed.
How do you do it is very nice to meet you. I am Tohru Honda."
"Oh so you're Tohru Honda. I have a heard a lot about you."
"How?" she asked then she realized, "Sohma? You're related to the Sohma family aren't you?"
"Distantly related, but yes. I have heard a lot of good things about you Miss Honda. But I guess the question is what is it that you have come to see me about?" he smiled.
Tohru pulled the large book out of the bag. He stared at the cover in awe as he ran his fingers over it.
"I was hoping you could translate some of the writing in this."
"Where did you find this Miss Honda?" Kazuma asked.
"I found it in the Zodiac Temple, which is not far from here. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the Zodiac Curse?"
"I heard that you had come to learn of it. And yes it does indeed have a lot to do with the Zodiac Curse. However at this time, it will be difficult to translate. I will need more time to research what it says."
"Then you may keep it with you" Tohru replied, "And if you need to get in touch with me" she lowered her voice, "Forgive me Teacher, but I am the Tohru Honda you have heard about but I'm sure it is also important that I reveal to you who I am."
"All right" he agreed.
"I am Princess Tohru Honda Shinobi. The only place you can get in contact with me is ShiraNobi itself."
"I understand" he nodded, "You want to keep this a secret."
"Please."
"Of course."
"Hey Master! You in there!"
*****************
To Tohru's surprise into the room came Kyo carrying a book of his own. His mouth dropped when he saw her.
"Tohru!" he exclaimed, "You're all right?"
"Yes" she smiled, "It's good to see you again Kyo."
"What are you doing here at my Masters?" he asked.
"This is your master?"
"Yes, he taught me how to fight, and he is my guardian most of the time."
"Isn't it a small world" Kazuma continued to smile, "Princess" he replied standing up and holding onto the book, "I will research and will have it translated for you soon."
"Thank you" Tohru replied.
Kazuma bowed then walked out the door.
"Princess?" Kyo said.
****************
Kageru walked down the hall toward his chamber grumbling the whole way. Some job the king had given him. He slammed the door shut and flung himself on his bed.
"What ails you my boy?" a deep feminine voice replied.
On the side of the room, a medium-sized cauldron bubbled to life. The purple liquid oozed inside as he approached it.
"I don't know how much more I can take Mistress" he said angrily, "When will it be time?"
"Soon, Just keep an eye on that Princess. She may be more trouble then I originally first thought."
"Don't forget our agreement" he replied.
"Have no fear my boy. You'll get what you desire."
The liquid bubbled some more as the sun began to set outside.
************************************************************
Authors Note: Once again the chapter became to long. Akito's Ultimatum will happen in the next I promise!!
Next Chapter: At the Riverbank
Tohru and Yuki meet in secret to discuss the Zodiac Curse.