Chapter Ten: Training All Over Again
Kyo walked ahead of Yuki and Tohru that afternoon with a furious look on his face. Yuki and Tohru remained silent. Neither one of them knew what to say. Kyo just kept thinking back to earlier that day.
"You're challenging me to a Martial Arts match?" Kyo had asked.
"That's right. You vs. Me. I have heard of your love of the sport. Now I want to see how good you are, that is unless you're chicken?"
Me? A Sohma? Let me tell you something Ushida. A Sohma never runs from a challenge. I accept."
The whole hall had cheered. Announcements were made. By the end of the day everyone was talking about the match that would take place on Sunday. Kakeru Manabe wanted to print a story in the paper but Yuki had urged him not to. He had had enough of all the publicity thus far, since Tai Ushida's arrival, and he certainly didn't want the Sohmas to end up as the center of attention. This was the very thing that was on his mind at this moment. He stared at the back of Kyo's head angrily. He couldn't believe it. Was there no end to this charade?
******************************************************
"You've accepted a martial arts challenge?" Shigure asked as they sat down to dinner.
"Yea" Yuki nodded, "The stupid cat accepted the dumb challenge!"
"Hey don't get mad at me!" Kyo yelled, "Sohmas don't back away from challenges you said so yourself."
"When did I say that?"
"At Tohru's grandfathers house."
"So now you decide to listen to me? You will not stand a change against him Kyo."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Yuki on this. Tai Ushida is a very well known martial artist. Almost one of the best in the area" Shigure replied.
"Oh thanks you're making me feel a whole heck of a lot better."
******************************************************
Tohru once again was quiet. She silently ate her rice and then she carried the dishes into the kitchen. Kyo saw her sigh heavy as she stood up so he guiltily followed her. She had her back turned but she heard him come in.
"Is there something you needed Kyo?" she said in a small voice.
"Um no."
"Okay" she turned back around.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Well everything actually. And it's all my fault."
"How the hell is it your fault" he walked over.
"I'm the one who started this. I'm the one who's let it go on. And everyone I care about is getting hurt in the process, especially you Kyo. I don't like myself for it."
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa" he said "Tohru I'm the one who decided to stick with it. I'm the one who accepted the challenge."
"You accepted a challenge over me. For my sake. And as much as I admire that Kyo. I can't let you do it anymore. I can't. I won't."
"Tohru" Kyo turned her around, "Listen. I am doing this because I want to. I will be fine. In the end. I will be fine."
"But you have your own worries to deal with" she replied but then stopped herself when she realized what she said.
"What?" he said with a confused expression.
"I mean everyone has their own problems to deal with. I don't want myself to be an added problem to you. That's all" she recovered.
"Oh. The last thing you are is a problem to me Tohru," he said looking her straight in the eye, "Don't look away. I mean it. I have accepted the challenge and I will follow through with it. Afterwards things will go back to normal I promise you."
She sighed again.
"If you're really sure?"
"I am" he nodded, "I'm very sure. I have to go see my Master tomorrow and get some extra training."
"What about what Shigure said? About Tai being a good fighter."
"He may have had the finest teachers in all Japan" Kyo smiled as he stood by the door, "But he didn't learn from my Master, so I'm not worried."
"Okay" she finally relented.
**********************************************************
On Friday afternoon Kyo walked to the dojo where Kunimitsu greeted him.
"Master Kyo? Does Teacher Kazuma know that you are coming?" Kunimitsu said surprised.
"No. I came unannounced."
"Okay. I'll get him for you."
After a quick hello to Kazuma, Kyo sat down and told him everything that had been happening. Finally he finished with the challenge.
"So that's why I'm here. To practice."
"Are you sure that you can beat him Kyo?" Kazuma asked concerned.
"No. I'm not sure of anything. Except one thing. I'm doing this for a good reason."
"Ah yes. For a lovely girl. That's always a good reason."
"Whah? I didn't say that" Kyo retorted his face turning a light shade of pink.
"You didn't have to Kyo" Kazuma smiled "C'mon let's get started."
They practiced every move Kyo had learned as a child. He was still the best student Kazuma had ever had, but he never told him that. He figured it would make him cocky. And he rather liked that it was unknown to him. By the end of the day they were both perspiring with exhaustion. Kyo changed his clothes and promised that he would be back the next day.
On Saturday he came back and Hatsuharu was there to watch and help out. Of course he had heard about the fight, and wanted to show his support by helping Kyo by acting as his opponent. Kyo beat him in every match.
"I think you're more than ready to kick his ass tomorrow Kyo" Haru said with a grin as he left the dojo, "Good luck! Momiji and I will be watching, cheering you on."
"Thanks" Kyo said breathing heavily.
Kyo dressed then walked out into the sitting room and collapsed in a chair. Kazuma brought in a glass of water and sat down opposite of him, handing the water over in the process.
"Thanks Master" Kyo replied gulping down the water.
"Well, you have done everything I taught you. Now all you have to do is apply it in tomorrow's match. I only wish I could be there Kyo."
"It's okay. I kind of rather that you weren't. It'll make things easier if I somehow lose."
"Kyo have you thought perhaps there are more ways to get your point across then fighting?"
"This guy won't do anything but fight. He won't listen to reason" Kyo shook his head and put the cup on the table.
He stood up and grabbed his duffel bag.
"And Miss Honda? How does she feel about all this?"
"Well she's against it. Most girls would be" Kyo stood up.
"I imagine. No one wants to be a trophy Kyo."
Kyo looked up at that last line.
"Remember that. And good luck tomorrow my boy" he shook his hand.
"Thanks" Kyo nodded slowly as he left.
"That boy" Kazuma shook his head amusedly, "He never ceases to amaze me."
*******************************************************
Kyo walked quietly home contemplating what Kazuma had said.
"I'm not treating her like a trophy am I?" he thought, "If I am then I'm no better than him."
He walked into the house and found a smiling Tohru waiting for him. She was sitting at the table by herself with a plate of dinner at his seat.
"What's this?" he asked.
"I just thought that if you're gonna win tomorrow, you will need your strength. So eat up."
"It's codfish."
"I know. It's your favorite right?" she said with a worried frown.
"Yea" he smiled as he sat down, "But why did you wait for me?"
"I wanted to tell you something. That win or lose tomorrow Kyo, you are the sweetest most generous guy I have ever known."
He stared at her stunned for a moment then turned to his plate so she wouldn't see him blush.
"Would you like some tea?" she said standing up.
"Mhm" he nodded.
He smiled a little as he watched her go.
"I am doing the right thing," he told himself, "I just know it."
**********************************************************
Authors Note: Well that's it till Saturday. The last two chapters of Book One. I know it is short. But the last one was so long and I know the next one will be pretty long too. So you have that to look forward to.
Next Chapter: Martial Arts Challenge
The day has come. Tai and Kyo square off. Who will be the winner? What is Tohru's grandfather doing at the match? And who is doing the annoying commentary? All these questions will be answered and more next time! See you then!
Kyo walked ahead of Yuki and Tohru that afternoon with a furious look on his face. Yuki and Tohru remained silent. Neither one of them knew what to say. Kyo just kept thinking back to earlier that day.
"You're challenging me to a Martial Arts match?" Kyo had asked.
"That's right. You vs. Me. I have heard of your love of the sport. Now I want to see how good you are, that is unless you're chicken?"
Me? A Sohma? Let me tell you something Ushida. A Sohma never runs from a challenge. I accept."
The whole hall had cheered. Announcements were made. By the end of the day everyone was talking about the match that would take place on Sunday. Kakeru Manabe wanted to print a story in the paper but Yuki had urged him not to. He had had enough of all the publicity thus far, since Tai Ushida's arrival, and he certainly didn't want the Sohmas to end up as the center of attention. This was the very thing that was on his mind at this moment. He stared at the back of Kyo's head angrily. He couldn't believe it. Was there no end to this charade?
******************************************************
"You've accepted a martial arts challenge?" Shigure asked as they sat down to dinner.
"Yea" Yuki nodded, "The stupid cat accepted the dumb challenge!"
"Hey don't get mad at me!" Kyo yelled, "Sohmas don't back away from challenges you said so yourself."
"When did I say that?"
"At Tohru's grandfathers house."
"So now you decide to listen to me? You will not stand a change against him Kyo."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Yuki on this. Tai Ushida is a very well known martial artist. Almost one of the best in the area" Shigure replied.
"Oh thanks you're making me feel a whole heck of a lot better."
******************************************************
Tohru once again was quiet. She silently ate her rice and then she carried the dishes into the kitchen. Kyo saw her sigh heavy as she stood up so he guiltily followed her. She had her back turned but she heard him come in.
"Is there something you needed Kyo?" she said in a small voice.
"Um no."
"Okay" she turned back around.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Well everything actually. And it's all my fault."
"How the hell is it your fault" he walked over.
"I'm the one who started this. I'm the one who's let it go on. And everyone I care about is getting hurt in the process, especially you Kyo. I don't like myself for it."
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa" he said "Tohru I'm the one who decided to stick with it. I'm the one who accepted the challenge."
"You accepted a challenge over me. For my sake. And as much as I admire that Kyo. I can't let you do it anymore. I can't. I won't."
"Tohru" Kyo turned her around, "Listen. I am doing this because I want to. I will be fine. In the end. I will be fine."
"But you have your own worries to deal with" she replied but then stopped herself when she realized what she said.
"What?" he said with a confused expression.
"I mean everyone has their own problems to deal with. I don't want myself to be an added problem to you. That's all" she recovered.
"Oh. The last thing you are is a problem to me Tohru," he said looking her straight in the eye, "Don't look away. I mean it. I have accepted the challenge and I will follow through with it. Afterwards things will go back to normal I promise you."
She sighed again.
"If you're really sure?"
"I am" he nodded, "I'm very sure. I have to go see my Master tomorrow and get some extra training."
"What about what Shigure said? About Tai being a good fighter."
"He may have had the finest teachers in all Japan" Kyo smiled as he stood by the door, "But he didn't learn from my Master, so I'm not worried."
"Okay" she finally relented.
**********************************************************
On Friday afternoon Kyo walked to the dojo where Kunimitsu greeted him.
"Master Kyo? Does Teacher Kazuma know that you are coming?" Kunimitsu said surprised.
"No. I came unannounced."
"Okay. I'll get him for you."
After a quick hello to Kazuma, Kyo sat down and told him everything that had been happening. Finally he finished with the challenge.
"So that's why I'm here. To practice."
"Are you sure that you can beat him Kyo?" Kazuma asked concerned.
"No. I'm not sure of anything. Except one thing. I'm doing this for a good reason."
"Ah yes. For a lovely girl. That's always a good reason."
"Whah? I didn't say that" Kyo retorted his face turning a light shade of pink.
"You didn't have to Kyo" Kazuma smiled "C'mon let's get started."
They practiced every move Kyo had learned as a child. He was still the best student Kazuma had ever had, but he never told him that. He figured it would make him cocky. And he rather liked that it was unknown to him. By the end of the day they were both perspiring with exhaustion. Kyo changed his clothes and promised that he would be back the next day.
On Saturday he came back and Hatsuharu was there to watch and help out. Of course he had heard about the fight, and wanted to show his support by helping Kyo by acting as his opponent. Kyo beat him in every match.
"I think you're more than ready to kick his ass tomorrow Kyo" Haru said with a grin as he left the dojo, "Good luck! Momiji and I will be watching, cheering you on."
"Thanks" Kyo said breathing heavily.
Kyo dressed then walked out into the sitting room and collapsed in a chair. Kazuma brought in a glass of water and sat down opposite of him, handing the water over in the process.
"Thanks Master" Kyo replied gulping down the water.
"Well, you have done everything I taught you. Now all you have to do is apply it in tomorrow's match. I only wish I could be there Kyo."
"It's okay. I kind of rather that you weren't. It'll make things easier if I somehow lose."
"Kyo have you thought perhaps there are more ways to get your point across then fighting?"
"This guy won't do anything but fight. He won't listen to reason" Kyo shook his head and put the cup on the table.
He stood up and grabbed his duffel bag.
"And Miss Honda? How does she feel about all this?"
"Well she's against it. Most girls would be" Kyo stood up.
"I imagine. No one wants to be a trophy Kyo."
Kyo looked up at that last line.
"Remember that. And good luck tomorrow my boy" he shook his hand.
"Thanks" Kyo nodded slowly as he left.
"That boy" Kazuma shook his head amusedly, "He never ceases to amaze me."
*******************************************************
Kyo walked quietly home contemplating what Kazuma had said.
"I'm not treating her like a trophy am I?" he thought, "If I am then I'm no better than him."
He walked into the house and found a smiling Tohru waiting for him. She was sitting at the table by herself with a plate of dinner at his seat.
"What's this?" he asked.
"I just thought that if you're gonna win tomorrow, you will need your strength. So eat up."
"It's codfish."
"I know. It's your favorite right?" she said with a worried frown.
"Yea" he smiled as he sat down, "But why did you wait for me?"
"I wanted to tell you something. That win or lose tomorrow Kyo, you are the sweetest most generous guy I have ever known."
He stared at her stunned for a moment then turned to his plate so she wouldn't see him blush.
"Would you like some tea?" she said standing up.
"Mhm" he nodded.
He smiled a little as he watched her go.
"I am doing the right thing," he told himself, "I just know it."
**********************************************************
Authors Note: Well that's it till Saturday. The last two chapters of Book One. I know it is short. But the last one was so long and I know the next one will be pretty long too. So you have that to look forward to.
Next Chapter: Martial Arts Challenge
The day has come. Tai and Kyo square off. Who will be the winner? What is Tohru's grandfather doing at the match? And who is doing the annoying commentary? All these questions will be answered and more next time! See you then!