Chapter Four: Tai Ushida
"Um excuse me" Tohru interrupted the strange boy who was hugging her, "But what are you doing?"
He pulled away and put a hand to his head.
"Oh I'm sorry about that" he grinned sheepishly, "I guess it has been awhile."
"I'm sorry?" Tohru replied.
"Wait" he stopped smiling, "Are you saying that you don't remember me?"
She shook her head.
"Sorry I don't, but let me think for a minute."
Meanwhile the five boys who stood there eyed the stranger. After a few minutes Tohru still couldn't remember.
"Could you give me a hint?" she asked.
He laughed.
"That's okay that you don't remember me. After all we haven't seen each other since we were kids. I'm Tai Ushida. I used to live next to your grandparents."
"Oh that's right" she smiled, "We used to play together in the summertime. You lived right next to my grandparents summer home."
"Summer home?" Kyo said with confusion.
Uo shook her head at him.
"So how are you?" Tohru replied.
"I'm all right. I am surprised to see you though," he said, "Your grandparents said that you haven't been in contact with them for quite some time. I heard about your mom's death, so sorry about that."
"Thanks" she smiled a little.
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" Hana spoke up, "I could have sworn I have seen your face before."
"Yea" Uo agreed, "I think you're right."
He smiled and looked down, brushing his hair from his eyes. Megumi looked at him a little longer then he spoke up.
"You have seen him before Saki" Megumi replied, "He was on the cover of Tokyo Business last month."
"What?" they all exclaimed.
"You got a good eye kid" Tai said, "That's correct."
"What were you doing on a prestigious magazine like that?" Yuki asked.
"That's easy prince" Uo replied, "He is the youngest businessman in Japan today. He is still in high school but he also helps out with a big company."
"That's true too. In fact" Tai smiled at Tohru, "I work for your grandfather's company."
"Really?" Tohru replied in a hesitated voice.
"Yea. You know you should call him some time, I'm sure he would like to see you. In fact he is going to be in town next week."
"I'll think about that," Tohru said.
"Well" Tai replied picking up his skis; "It was good seeing you again Tohru. Maybe we can see each other some time in the future?"
"Sure" she nodded, "I would like that."
"Again" he replied to the two Sohmas, "Very sorry for that little mishap."
****************************************************
He walked away. For a few minutes all of them just stared at Tohru, waiting for an explanation. Then Hana and Uo walked over to her.
"I think it is time for lunch" Hana said, "Let's head back to the cabin."
Tohru nodded, said a quick goodbye to the Sohmas, and then followed her two best friends and Megumi back to the cabin. Kyo stood there watching with his arms crossed. Haru put a hand through his hair and sighed.
"That guy was a piece of work" he replied.
"If you ask me" Kyo said, "He seemed like a jerk."
"What do you think Yuki?" Momiji asked.
"I don't really know" Yuki replied.
But as he stood there and thought about it, the more he agreed with Kyo. Momiji started laughing.
"That sure was funny the way you both fell down the hill" he smiled, "I think you beat me by far in gracefulness. By the way Kyo, how come you didn't tell us you could ski so well?"
"I don't know. You all shouldn't have assumed that I couldn't. I learned to ski up in the mountains when I was training."
"And what have you been doing all this time before today?" Haru asked.
"I took some extra lessons to make sure that I could beat that damn rat, that's all. I almost would have won too, if it hadn't been for Mr. Too Friendly."
"Well" Yuki sighed, "We should held back to the cabin too."
Momiji and Hatsuharu followed him. Kyo stood there with his hands behind his head then looked up angrily.
"Hey wait a minute! You admit that I could have beat you, you damn rat!"
He ran after the three Sohmas yelling the entire way.
**********************************************************
That night, in the girl's bedroom, Tohru told Hana and Uo about the times she had spent with Tai.
"After my dad passed away, my mom's parents started talking to her again. We even started visiting them in the summer, at the main house. I met Tai when I was alone one afternoon. He was alone too. At first we didn't hit it off. He thought I was too quiet, and I thought he was too loud. However there were no other kids in the neighborhood back then so it was just the two of us. To be honest before I met you guys, he was the only friend I ever had. All the kids back home knew about mom's past and ridiculed me for it. He didn't know, so it made things easier."
"When was the last time you saw him Tohru?" Uo asked, her feet propped on top of a pillow.
"I was about eight years old. My mom and grandparents had gotten into another fight. They wanted her to come back home, but she wanted things to stay the way they were. In the end, my grandfather said some angry words and mom walked out. I said goodbye to Tai that afternoon. I think he thought at first that he would see me the next summer. I never got the chance to tell him otherwise."
"Poor guy. Anyway, he didn't seem angry at you at all" Uo replied.
"Yes" said Hana, "He was very happy to see you. Almost too happy."
A knock sounded on the girl's door and Megumi walked in.
"I'm sorry to interrupt" Megumi replied, "Tohru there's a delivery for you, at the front door."
"A delivery?" Tohru stood up confused, "I wonder what it is?"
Her two best friends followed her out of the room. She walked over to the door and took the medium sized rectangular box. She signed for it, and then read the card. It said:
It was good seeing you again. Here is a gift as a reminder of our days of friendship. I hope to see more of you soon!
Lots of Love,
Tai
Tohru opened the box and gasped. Inside wrapped in pink tissue paper were five long stem roses.
"Oh my Tohru" Hana's mom breathed in the scent, "Do you have a secret admirer? These roses are beautiful."
Tohru handed the card over to Hana and Uo so they could read it, while she placed the roses in water. Hana and Uo frowned slightly at the message.
*****************************************************
That night while Tohru was asleep, they discussed it further in the family room by the fireplace. Everyone else had gone to bed too.
"I don't like it Arisa" Hana said in the armchair, "I think this is all too sudden."
"Then again who knows Hana" Uo replied on the floor. She was sitting with her legs crossed. "This guy could have had a crush on her since they were kids."
"But they haven't seen each other since they were eight, no" Hana shook her head, "I get the feeling that there might be something more sneaky going on. His electrical signals were not entirely on the level."
"You and your electrical signals. Let's decide what to do later. We leave in the morning anyway. Time for some shut eye."
"Okay" Hana agreed, rising from the chair as Uo stood up from the floor, "But this isn't over."
*******************************************************
As the Hanajima's were packing up the van the next morning, Tohru walked over to the Sohmas cabin. They too were packing up to leave.
"I guess I will see you guys when we get back" Tohru said to Shigure, "We are stopping off somewhere on the way, but I should be home by this evening."
"Take your time" Shigure smiled, "Yuki is still in bed right now. I'll send Momiji in to wake him soon."
"Okay. Goodbye Hatori, Hatsuharu."
"Goodbye Miss Honda" Hatori nodded.
"See you tomorrow at school" Haru added.
"See you later Kyo" Tohru replied.
He was standing over in the kitchen drinking up the last of the milk from the carton. He placed it back into the fridge.
"Hold on, I'll walk you back" he said.
As they walked to the cabin Kyo had his hands in his pockets.
"Are you okay Kyo?" she asked, "You seem very quiet."
"I'm okay" he said stopping, "Tohru can I ask you something."
"Sure."
"Do you know that guy very well? I mean the one from yesterday?"
"Well to be perfectly honest I haven't seen him since I was eight, but it was good seeing him again. He really hasn't changed that much."
"I see."
"I'm terribly sorry that he tripped you guys. I had no idea that you were that good of a skier Kyo. I was quite impressed."
"Really?" he blushed slightly.
"Uh huh" she nodded grinning, "Any way there's the van. I'll see you tonight Kyo" she waved then took off.
**********************************************************
She climbed into the van and sat next to Uo. Kyo waved one last time as they drove off.
"By the way Tohru" Mrs. Hanajima replied, "I brought your roses with us. Saki is holding them."
"Oh thank you Miss Hanajima, and thank you for inviting me on such a wonderful trip."
"It was our pleasure Tohru" Mr. Hanajima smiled.
"Saki should invite you girls more often" the grandmother added.
Hana handed Tohru the vase. She held onto them tightly, a hesitant look on her face.
"Tohru you okay?" Uo asked her.
"Of course I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" she replied back.
Uo smiled then turned back to the window. Tohru stared out hers as only one thought entered her head.
"Now what?"
**********************************************************
Authors Note: That's it till tomorrow. To answer your question, Kyo is a good skier. He learned to do it in the mountains with his master. Taking the refresher course meant, that he was just making sure that he still knew how. He doesn't have a lot of confidence when it comes to facing Yuki. He needed a test. It turns out he even surpassed his instructor so, he can ski as well as Yuki can. Yuki has got more balance and patience. Just wanted to clear that up for you. And if you do think about it Kyo is very arrogant in a lot of ways when it comes to Yuki. In anything he wants to beat him. It's just his personality I guess. In this case however he almost did. Thanks again for the reviews and please don't hesitate to ask any more questions. I would be more than happy to answer them.
Next Chapter: The Letter
The arrival of Tai Ushida means an encounter with Tohru's grandparents. What will happen when she sees them again? Find out next time!
"Um excuse me" Tohru interrupted the strange boy who was hugging her, "But what are you doing?"
He pulled away and put a hand to his head.
"Oh I'm sorry about that" he grinned sheepishly, "I guess it has been awhile."
"I'm sorry?" Tohru replied.
"Wait" he stopped smiling, "Are you saying that you don't remember me?"
She shook her head.
"Sorry I don't, but let me think for a minute."
Meanwhile the five boys who stood there eyed the stranger. After a few minutes Tohru still couldn't remember.
"Could you give me a hint?" she asked.
He laughed.
"That's okay that you don't remember me. After all we haven't seen each other since we were kids. I'm Tai Ushida. I used to live next to your grandparents."
"Oh that's right" she smiled, "We used to play together in the summertime. You lived right next to my grandparents summer home."
"Summer home?" Kyo said with confusion.
Uo shook her head at him.
"So how are you?" Tohru replied.
"I'm all right. I am surprised to see you though," he said, "Your grandparents said that you haven't been in contact with them for quite some time. I heard about your mom's death, so sorry about that."
"Thanks" she smiled a little.
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" Hana spoke up, "I could have sworn I have seen your face before."
"Yea" Uo agreed, "I think you're right."
He smiled and looked down, brushing his hair from his eyes. Megumi looked at him a little longer then he spoke up.
"You have seen him before Saki" Megumi replied, "He was on the cover of Tokyo Business last month."
"What?" they all exclaimed.
"You got a good eye kid" Tai said, "That's correct."
"What were you doing on a prestigious magazine like that?" Yuki asked.
"That's easy prince" Uo replied, "He is the youngest businessman in Japan today. He is still in high school but he also helps out with a big company."
"That's true too. In fact" Tai smiled at Tohru, "I work for your grandfather's company."
"Really?" Tohru replied in a hesitated voice.
"Yea. You know you should call him some time, I'm sure he would like to see you. In fact he is going to be in town next week."
"I'll think about that," Tohru said.
"Well" Tai replied picking up his skis; "It was good seeing you again Tohru. Maybe we can see each other some time in the future?"
"Sure" she nodded, "I would like that."
"Again" he replied to the two Sohmas, "Very sorry for that little mishap."
****************************************************
He walked away. For a few minutes all of them just stared at Tohru, waiting for an explanation. Then Hana and Uo walked over to her.
"I think it is time for lunch" Hana said, "Let's head back to the cabin."
Tohru nodded, said a quick goodbye to the Sohmas, and then followed her two best friends and Megumi back to the cabin. Kyo stood there watching with his arms crossed. Haru put a hand through his hair and sighed.
"That guy was a piece of work" he replied.
"If you ask me" Kyo said, "He seemed like a jerk."
"What do you think Yuki?" Momiji asked.
"I don't really know" Yuki replied.
But as he stood there and thought about it, the more he agreed with Kyo. Momiji started laughing.
"That sure was funny the way you both fell down the hill" he smiled, "I think you beat me by far in gracefulness. By the way Kyo, how come you didn't tell us you could ski so well?"
"I don't know. You all shouldn't have assumed that I couldn't. I learned to ski up in the mountains when I was training."
"And what have you been doing all this time before today?" Haru asked.
"I took some extra lessons to make sure that I could beat that damn rat, that's all. I almost would have won too, if it hadn't been for Mr. Too Friendly."
"Well" Yuki sighed, "We should held back to the cabin too."
Momiji and Hatsuharu followed him. Kyo stood there with his hands behind his head then looked up angrily.
"Hey wait a minute! You admit that I could have beat you, you damn rat!"
He ran after the three Sohmas yelling the entire way.
**********************************************************
That night, in the girl's bedroom, Tohru told Hana and Uo about the times she had spent with Tai.
"After my dad passed away, my mom's parents started talking to her again. We even started visiting them in the summer, at the main house. I met Tai when I was alone one afternoon. He was alone too. At first we didn't hit it off. He thought I was too quiet, and I thought he was too loud. However there were no other kids in the neighborhood back then so it was just the two of us. To be honest before I met you guys, he was the only friend I ever had. All the kids back home knew about mom's past and ridiculed me for it. He didn't know, so it made things easier."
"When was the last time you saw him Tohru?" Uo asked, her feet propped on top of a pillow.
"I was about eight years old. My mom and grandparents had gotten into another fight. They wanted her to come back home, but she wanted things to stay the way they were. In the end, my grandfather said some angry words and mom walked out. I said goodbye to Tai that afternoon. I think he thought at first that he would see me the next summer. I never got the chance to tell him otherwise."
"Poor guy. Anyway, he didn't seem angry at you at all" Uo replied.
"Yes" said Hana, "He was very happy to see you. Almost too happy."
A knock sounded on the girl's door and Megumi walked in.
"I'm sorry to interrupt" Megumi replied, "Tohru there's a delivery for you, at the front door."
"A delivery?" Tohru stood up confused, "I wonder what it is?"
Her two best friends followed her out of the room. She walked over to the door and took the medium sized rectangular box. She signed for it, and then read the card. It said:
It was good seeing you again. Here is a gift as a reminder of our days of friendship. I hope to see more of you soon!
Lots of Love,
Tai
Tohru opened the box and gasped. Inside wrapped in pink tissue paper were five long stem roses.
"Oh my Tohru" Hana's mom breathed in the scent, "Do you have a secret admirer? These roses are beautiful."
Tohru handed the card over to Hana and Uo so they could read it, while she placed the roses in water. Hana and Uo frowned slightly at the message.
*****************************************************
That night while Tohru was asleep, they discussed it further in the family room by the fireplace. Everyone else had gone to bed too.
"I don't like it Arisa" Hana said in the armchair, "I think this is all too sudden."
"Then again who knows Hana" Uo replied on the floor. She was sitting with her legs crossed. "This guy could have had a crush on her since they were kids."
"But they haven't seen each other since they were eight, no" Hana shook her head, "I get the feeling that there might be something more sneaky going on. His electrical signals were not entirely on the level."
"You and your electrical signals. Let's decide what to do later. We leave in the morning anyway. Time for some shut eye."
"Okay" Hana agreed, rising from the chair as Uo stood up from the floor, "But this isn't over."
*******************************************************
As the Hanajima's were packing up the van the next morning, Tohru walked over to the Sohmas cabin. They too were packing up to leave.
"I guess I will see you guys when we get back" Tohru said to Shigure, "We are stopping off somewhere on the way, but I should be home by this evening."
"Take your time" Shigure smiled, "Yuki is still in bed right now. I'll send Momiji in to wake him soon."
"Okay. Goodbye Hatori, Hatsuharu."
"Goodbye Miss Honda" Hatori nodded.
"See you tomorrow at school" Haru added.
"See you later Kyo" Tohru replied.
He was standing over in the kitchen drinking up the last of the milk from the carton. He placed it back into the fridge.
"Hold on, I'll walk you back" he said.
As they walked to the cabin Kyo had his hands in his pockets.
"Are you okay Kyo?" she asked, "You seem very quiet."
"I'm okay" he said stopping, "Tohru can I ask you something."
"Sure."
"Do you know that guy very well? I mean the one from yesterday?"
"Well to be perfectly honest I haven't seen him since I was eight, but it was good seeing him again. He really hasn't changed that much."
"I see."
"I'm terribly sorry that he tripped you guys. I had no idea that you were that good of a skier Kyo. I was quite impressed."
"Really?" he blushed slightly.
"Uh huh" she nodded grinning, "Any way there's the van. I'll see you tonight Kyo" she waved then took off.
**********************************************************
She climbed into the van and sat next to Uo. Kyo waved one last time as they drove off.
"By the way Tohru" Mrs. Hanajima replied, "I brought your roses with us. Saki is holding them."
"Oh thank you Miss Hanajima, and thank you for inviting me on such a wonderful trip."
"It was our pleasure Tohru" Mr. Hanajima smiled.
"Saki should invite you girls more often" the grandmother added.
Hana handed Tohru the vase. She held onto them tightly, a hesitant look on her face.
"Tohru you okay?" Uo asked her.
"Of course I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" she replied back.
Uo smiled then turned back to the window. Tohru stared out hers as only one thought entered her head.
"Now what?"
**********************************************************
Authors Note: That's it till tomorrow. To answer your question, Kyo is a good skier. He learned to do it in the mountains with his master. Taking the refresher course meant, that he was just making sure that he still knew how. He doesn't have a lot of confidence when it comes to facing Yuki. He needed a test. It turns out he even surpassed his instructor so, he can ski as well as Yuki can. Yuki has got more balance and patience. Just wanted to clear that up for you. And if you do think about it Kyo is very arrogant in a lot of ways when it comes to Yuki. In anything he wants to beat him. It's just his personality I guess. In this case however he almost did. Thanks again for the reviews and please don't hesitate to ask any more questions. I would be more than happy to answer them.
Next Chapter: The Letter
The arrival of Tai Ushida means an encounter with Tohru's grandparents. What will happen when she sees them again? Find out next time!