Chapter Twelve: I Will Do It On My Own
While Kyo was changing, Tai had already finished and had brushed off the news crew who was looking for a comment. When they couldn't get anything out of him they decided to pack up and leave. Yuki, Momiji, and Hatsuharu had been more than generous to give a short comment on Kyo's performance however. They figured that was enough. Tohru was waiting outside with Uo and Hana when Tai approached her.
"I'm sorry you lost today Tai. It was a good match" she replied.
"I don't care" Tai spat, "I'm not done yet."
Tohru sighed then turned to her friends.
"Uo, Hana would you give us a moment please."
"Sure Tohru" Uo nodded, "We'll be right over here."
Hana and Uo walked over to the side of the building and stood there keeping an eye on her. Tohru turned back to Tai.
"Tai. I think it is very sweet, that you think of me in such a way and that you want to marry me, but I'm sorry. I am not ready to make such a choice. Right now I am just trying to get through high school. Marriage is the last thing on my mind. And I can honestly, truthfully tell you my feelings will never change. I don't want to, I mean I don't love you like you love me. So please leave my friends alone. And find someone else who can make you happy."
Tai clutched his fist.
"Find someone else? What? You're turning me down?"
"I'm sorry" she replied.
Kyo came out at that moment and overhead them. He walked over in concern.
"You really are naïve, no stupid. So stupid that you don't even know what you have in front of you."
"Hey!" Kyo shouted, "You have no reason to talk down on her like that! She is not stupid! I will not allow you to talk to her like that!"
Uo, Hana, and Yuki walked over and stood by Tohru and Kyo.
"Whatever" Tai turned around, "You'll be sorry Tohru. In the end you will wish that you had made the right choice. Farewell losers!" he walked away and gave Yuki an angry glance as he passed.
"Oh yea!" Kyo shouted starting to go after him but someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
He was surprised when he looked back and saw Mr. Miyoshi.
******************************************************
"Grandfather?" Tohru replied.
"There is no need for that son" Mr. Miyoshi replied, "Tohru can I speak with you?" he asked.
"Of course."
He walked over and looked her directly in the eye. He eyed Tai from afar with an angry look on his face. He would speak to the boy later he thought. Tohru saw the angry look on her grandfather's face and began to speak.
"I'm sorry grandfather, that I have been such a disappointment. That I didn't live up to the expectations that you wanted of me, please forgive."
"Just stop," he said harshly, "I am the one who needs to make the apology here."
She looked up.
"Tohru. I wanted what was best for you. That's all. It was the same with your mother. Kyoko was my only daughter, and though I didn't always have time for her I loved her dearly. I have made a lot of mistakes along the road, and once again I was repeating them. I thought I was doing a good thing for you with Tai Ushida. But I was wrong. I was so wrong. I feel absolutely foolish and terrible about the things I have done. I have hurt your grandmother in the process and you as well. Tohru can you ever forgive me? Give me the chance to be the kind of grandfather I want to be to you."
Tohru had tears coming down her face as she rushed over and embraced him tight.
"Of course. Of course you can. I forgive you."
"My darling. Thank you."
"Grandfather" they pulled apart, "I do appreciate it, everything you tried to do. And I know mom felt the same way."
"I should have realized that the best thing for both of you was whatever made you happy. I can see such happiness in your face. Even though Kyoko is gone, you have managed to find some."
"Yes I have. The Sohmas. They have been so wonderful to me. Like another family that I've gained. I will finish High School. I will graduate like mom wanted."
"I know she is proud of you. And whatever makes you happy makes me happy. You can even go back to work if you want. I won't interfere. Just promise me that you will continue staying in contact with us."
"I will grandfather. I will."
"Mr. Sohma" he turned to Kyo.
"Yes sir" Kyo came over.
"I was quite impressed with your match today. I hope you can forgive me as well for my transgressions, and take care of my granddaughter" he held out his hand.
Kyo took it and shook.
"You can count on it."
"And you as well Mr. Sohma, Ms. Uotani, and Ms. Hanajima. Take care of her."
"I promise we will" Yuki nodded with a smile.
Uo and Hana also nodded.
"I'm afraid I must be going now. I will talk to you later Tohru" he hugged her one last time then walked to the parking lot.
"Good bye grandfather!" she waved.
"Well I'll be" Uo stood next to her, "The old man has a soft side after all."
"Yes" Hana nodded joining them, "This just goes to show you, that you should never judge a book by its cover."
**********************************************************
That night Tohru helped Kyo with his bruises. Yuki meanwhile told Shigure what had gone on that afternoon, including the part about Tohru's grandfather.
"I am so happy for Tohru" Shigure said with a smile.
"Yes thank you Shigure" she replied, "That's not too tight is it Kyo?" she asked after she had wrapped up his shoulder.
"It's all right" he replied.
"Tohru is such a wonderful nurse isn't she? Any man in their right mind would be lucky to have an angel like her watching over them" Shigure said.
Oh I" Tohru replied nervously.
"That's enough of that talk Shigure" Yuki said angrily.
"Yea or I'm gonna knock you threw the roof!" Kyo shouted, "How many times have I told you not to talk about her that way?"
Tohru sighed with a contended smile. Everything was back to normal.
**********************************************************
Later, Kyo was sitting on the roof as usual contemplating on the day's events. Tohru climbed the ladder and spotted him.
"Kyo?"
"Hmm?" he looked her way.
"I just made some dessert, do you want any?"
"I'll be down in a minute."
"By the way, I never did get to say thank you" she replied.
"Huh?"
"For everything, not just today."
"Oh it was no big deal. At least it's over right. Now things can go back to the way they were."
"You must be relieved to say so" she smiled.
"I guess. Aren't you?"
"Mhm. I'm happy that my grandfather and I could work things out. That now I can see him and my grandmother and not have to feel so uneasy."
"That's why isn't it? That's why you didn't want to live there?"
"Mhm. I was afraid of the things my mom said that could happen were gonna happen."
"What about now? Now those things aren't gonna happen. You can go live there and never have to worry about anything ever again," he said with a slight frown."
"No Kyo" she shook her head, "I knew from the beginning I wasn't meant to go there. My mom always said that I should do things my own way. To take it one day at a time. I'm going to be fine. I will do it on my own."
She smiled again and Kyo found that he was smiling with her. They stared at the stars in complete silence till she went back down the ladder.
"That girl" Kyo thought with a grin, "She is one amazing human being. That's for sure."
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Authors Note: Okay, guys that's the end of Book One. Look for Book Two on March 9. See you guys until then!!! Send Reviews!
Next Book: The Greatest Gift
Tohru Honda has always been kind to the Sohma family. She has done so much for them. It is time they return the favor. See how a small little event changes so much for the young girl and for the Sohma's as well.
While Kyo was changing, Tai had already finished and had brushed off the news crew who was looking for a comment. When they couldn't get anything out of him they decided to pack up and leave. Yuki, Momiji, and Hatsuharu had been more than generous to give a short comment on Kyo's performance however. They figured that was enough. Tohru was waiting outside with Uo and Hana when Tai approached her.
"I'm sorry you lost today Tai. It was a good match" she replied.
"I don't care" Tai spat, "I'm not done yet."
Tohru sighed then turned to her friends.
"Uo, Hana would you give us a moment please."
"Sure Tohru" Uo nodded, "We'll be right over here."
Hana and Uo walked over to the side of the building and stood there keeping an eye on her. Tohru turned back to Tai.
"Tai. I think it is very sweet, that you think of me in such a way and that you want to marry me, but I'm sorry. I am not ready to make such a choice. Right now I am just trying to get through high school. Marriage is the last thing on my mind. And I can honestly, truthfully tell you my feelings will never change. I don't want to, I mean I don't love you like you love me. So please leave my friends alone. And find someone else who can make you happy."
Tai clutched his fist.
"Find someone else? What? You're turning me down?"
"I'm sorry" she replied.
Kyo came out at that moment and overhead them. He walked over in concern.
"You really are naïve, no stupid. So stupid that you don't even know what you have in front of you."
"Hey!" Kyo shouted, "You have no reason to talk down on her like that! She is not stupid! I will not allow you to talk to her like that!"
Uo, Hana, and Yuki walked over and stood by Tohru and Kyo.
"Whatever" Tai turned around, "You'll be sorry Tohru. In the end you will wish that you had made the right choice. Farewell losers!" he walked away and gave Yuki an angry glance as he passed.
"Oh yea!" Kyo shouted starting to go after him but someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
He was surprised when he looked back and saw Mr. Miyoshi.
******************************************************
"Grandfather?" Tohru replied.
"There is no need for that son" Mr. Miyoshi replied, "Tohru can I speak with you?" he asked.
"Of course."
He walked over and looked her directly in the eye. He eyed Tai from afar with an angry look on his face. He would speak to the boy later he thought. Tohru saw the angry look on her grandfather's face and began to speak.
"I'm sorry grandfather, that I have been such a disappointment. That I didn't live up to the expectations that you wanted of me, please forgive."
"Just stop," he said harshly, "I am the one who needs to make the apology here."
She looked up.
"Tohru. I wanted what was best for you. That's all. It was the same with your mother. Kyoko was my only daughter, and though I didn't always have time for her I loved her dearly. I have made a lot of mistakes along the road, and once again I was repeating them. I thought I was doing a good thing for you with Tai Ushida. But I was wrong. I was so wrong. I feel absolutely foolish and terrible about the things I have done. I have hurt your grandmother in the process and you as well. Tohru can you ever forgive me? Give me the chance to be the kind of grandfather I want to be to you."
Tohru had tears coming down her face as she rushed over and embraced him tight.
"Of course. Of course you can. I forgive you."
"My darling. Thank you."
"Grandfather" they pulled apart, "I do appreciate it, everything you tried to do. And I know mom felt the same way."
"I should have realized that the best thing for both of you was whatever made you happy. I can see such happiness in your face. Even though Kyoko is gone, you have managed to find some."
"Yes I have. The Sohmas. They have been so wonderful to me. Like another family that I've gained. I will finish High School. I will graduate like mom wanted."
"I know she is proud of you. And whatever makes you happy makes me happy. You can even go back to work if you want. I won't interfere. Just promise me that you will continue staying in contact with us."
"I will grandfather. I will."
"Mr. Sohma" he turned to Kyo.
"Yes sir" Kyo came over.
"I was quite impressed with your match today. I hope you can forgive me as well for my transgressions, and take care of my granddaughter" he held out his hand.
Kyo took it and shook.
"You can count on it."
"And you as well Mr. Sohma, Ms. Uotani, and Ms. Hanajima. Take care of her."
"I promise we will" Yuki nodded with a smile.
Uo and Hana also nodded.
"I'm afraid I must be going now. I will talk to you later Tohru" he hugged her one last time then walked to the parking lot.
"Good bye grandfather!" she waved.
"Well I'll be" Uo stood next to her, "The old man has a soft side after all."
"Yes" Hana nodded joining them, "This just goes to show you, that you should never judge a book by its cover."
**********************************************************
That night Tohru helped Kyo with his bruises. Yuki meanwhile told Shigure what had gone on that afternoon, including the part about Tohru's grandfather.
"I am so happy for Tohru" Shigure said with a smile.
"Yes thank you Shigure" she replied, "That's not too tight is it Kyo?" she asked after she had wrapped up his shoulder.
"It's all right" he replied.
"Tohru is such a wonderful nurse isn't she? Any man in their right mind would be lucky to have an angel like her watching over them" Shigure said.
Oh I" Tohru replied nervously.
"That's enough of that talk Shigure" Yuki said angrily.
"Yea or I'm gonna knock you threw the roof!" Kyo shouted, "How many times have I told you not to talk about her that way?"
Tohru sighed with a contended smile. Everything was back to normal.
**********************************************************
Later, Kyo was sitting on the roof as usual contemplating on the day's events. Tohru climbed the ladder and spotted him.
"Kyo?"
"Hmm?" he looked her way.
"I just made some dessert, do you want any?"
"I'll be down in a minute."
"By the way, I never did get to say thank you" she replied.
"Huh?"
"For everything, not just today."
"Oh it was no big deal. At least it's over right. Now things can go back to the way they were."
"You must be relieved to say so" she smiled.
"I guess. Aren't you?"
"Mhm. I'm happy that my grandfather and I could work things out. That now I can see him and my grandmother and not have to feel so uneasy."
"That's why isn't it? That's why you didn't want to live there?"
"Mhm. I was afraid of the things my mom said that could happen were gonna happen."
"What about now? Now those things aren't gonna happen. You can go live there and never have to worry about anything ever again," he said with a slight frown."
"No Kyo" she shook her head, "I knew from the beginning I wasn't meant to go there. My mom always said that I should do things my own way. To take it one day at a time. I'm going to be fine. I will do it on my own."
She smiled again and Kyo found that he was smiling with her. They stared at the stars in complete silence till she went back down the ladder.
"That girl" Kyo thought with a grin, "She is one amazing human being. That's for sure."
**********************************************************
Authors Note: Okay, guys that's the end of Book One. Look for Book Two on March 9. See you guys until then!!! Send Reviews!
Next Book: The Greatest Gift
Tohru Honda has always been kind to the Sohma family. She has done so much for them. It is time they return the favor. See how a small little event changes so much for the young girl and for the Sohma's as well.