Chapter Ten: Kazuma's Story
Tohru woke up early the next morning and stretched in her bed. She looked to her side and saw Kyoko snoozing. The sleepy kitten opened one eye, which made Tohru laugh.
"Good morning Kyoko" she replied with a giggle as she petted the top of her head.
She got up and dressed quickly. Then walked downstairs to make breakfast. Just as she was placing the food on the table Shigure came in.
"Good morning Shigure" she said with a smile.
"Good morning Tohru" Shigure replied with a smile of his own as he sat down, "This looks delicious."
"Thank you," she said as she sat down to eat.
"Where are the boys this morning?"
"I think they're sleeping in. After all they were up early every day this week for the festival."
"That is true" Shigure replied as he unfolded his newspaper that Tohru had lain at his plate, as she always did.
"Um Shigure."
"Hmm?" he looked up.
"I was wondering, would it be okay if I go out this morning?"
"I don't see why not. Visiting some friends?"
"Um yea."
"Sure Tohru. Go and spend some time with them. After all you spent all your time with us this week, you deserve a break."
"Thanks Shigure. I promise I'll be home in time for dinner" she replied as she picked up her plate and carried it into the kitchen.
"You take your time" Shigure said with a smile.
Tohru put two more servings of food on the table and then walked to the door.
"I'll see you later!"
"Have a good time and be safe!" Shigure called.
Kyo came into the room as she closed the door. He had a towel wrapped around his neck and was dripping in sweat.
"Where's she going so early this morning?" he asked.
"Oh Kyo you're up?" Shigure replied.
"I've been up. I went for a run. Answer the question."
"Tohru is visiting some friends this morning."
"Odd" Kyo said as he sat down, "I thought her friends were out of town this week."
Tohru walked along the sidewalk and contemplated her directions.
"Let's see his house is in that direction" she said a loud, "No wait" she replied as she thought back.
"Tohru it's this way" she remembered Kyo saying, "Master lives in the guesthouse. That's the way to the dojo."
"Oh right" she snapped herself out of the memory, "It's in the other direction."
She walked until she came to the small house that was on the corner. She walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. The door was answered by, of all people Kunimitsu.
"Oh Miss Honda" he replied as he opened the door, "Pleasure to see you again" he said with a smile.
"Kunimitsu?" she replied astonished, "What are you doing here?"
"I sort of live here now" he chuckled, "Any way come on in. You're here to see teacher Kazuma right?"
"Yea" she nodded, "And thank you" she said as she walked in.
He led her to the sitting room and told her that he would fetch the teacher. She nodded and gazed around her at the shelves lining the walls.
"So many books" she thought.
"Tohru" Kazuma said as he appeared with a smile on his face.
"Huh? Oh good morning Master Kazuma" she bowed her head.
"Tohru" he laughed, "How many times have I told you to call me Kazuma? I'm not your master after all."
"Oh right. I'm sorry," she said sheepishly.
"That's all right. You're just a polite young lady. Please sit down" he replied as he sat at the table.
"Oh okay" she said as she too sat at the table, "So Kunimitsu's living with you now?"
"Yes. To make a long story short, he needed a place to stay. He couldn't afford his apartment. And I don't mind the company. Besides" he leaned in forward, "He's also an excellent cook" he chuckled.
Tohru laughed along with me.
"So Tohru what did you come to see me about today? Although I could probably guess. It's Kyo right?"
"Um yea."
"What's wrong?"
"Well I wanted to ask you something."
"All right."
"Well let's see where to begin? Um. Well we all attended the festival this week."
"Yes I heard that was in town. Even Kunimitsu went for a day. He brought me back some souvenirs. Was it fun?"
"Yea" she nodded, "It was a lot of fun. However, Kyo bumped into somebody there that he wasn't expecting."
"Somebody?" Kazuma's eyebrow rose.
"It was his father."
"Kyo saw Rei?" Kazuma frowned.
"Mhm" Tohru nodded.
"I see. How did that go?"
"Uh not so good. Kyo didn't really respond to his father, the first time he saw him."
"How many times did he bump into him?"
"Two I think. The second time I saw his father walk off. I didn't really know what it was about. It was yesterday though."
Kazuma sighed.
"I ran into him as well" Tohru continued, "On the second day."
"What did he say to you?"
"He told me I would be better off not being involved with the Sohmas and he wanted to know what my relationship with Kyo was."
"Mhm. Well I'm not surprised about Kyo's reaction to his father. After all they have never been close. What is your question though?"
"Um well I" she stuttered.
"Are you all right?" he asked concerned.
"It's just. I wanted to know if Kyo's father is the reason that he's being locked up."
Kazuma's head rose a bit as he asked the next question.
"Where did you hear about that?"
"Akito told me last summer."
"Does Kyo know you know?"
Tohru shook her head.
"I can't tell him, although it has been very hard keeping it a secret. I've almost told him twice now."
"Mhm. Yes, in answer to your question Rei is the main reason that Kyo is being locked up. As much as I have tried to fight it, and tried to convince him otherwise he still won't be deterred. He is quite convinced that Kyo is dangerous."
"And he blames Kyo for his mom's death."
"Hmm?"
"Because she committed suicide."
"Who told you that?"
"Kyo did."
"He actually told you?" Kazuma asked surprised.
"Mhm" she nodded, "A couple of days ago."
"I'm surprised. Kyo never talks about that. Not with anyone. Not even me. When he even moved in here, he didn't mention it. He must feel really comfortable with you."
"I guess" Tohru blushed a bit, "But don't you think his father is being unreasonable? Locking him up? Blaming him for something that was completely out of Kyo's control?"
"Of course I do. Kyo deserves to be free just like everyone else. He's not like my grandfather. He is completely outgoing and hardly ever violent. He has changed so much these past few years. And it is because of your influence."
"Oh I don't think so," she said nervously.
"Oh I wouldn't doubt it" Kazuma smiled, "I knew. The moment I saw you, that you would be the one. The one who would accept him for who is. And you did. Despite everything. You did accept him."
"So it was a test?"
"Sort of. A test for myself really. And since that moment, I have been trying to convince Rei more and more that Kyo should be set free. He does deserve the freedom. As you say."
"I agree. I would hate to see him locked up. He's a free spirit. He should stay that way."
"Mhm" Kazuma nodded, "You are so much like your father, it's uncanny."
"Huh?" Tohru looked at him confused.
"I couldn't figure it out at first" Kazuma began, "When I saw your face I recognized it. And then I heard your last name and I just put two and two together. Your Katsuya's daughter all right."
It was a few moments till Tohru found her voice again.
"You knew my father?"
"Oh very well" Kazuma nodded with a smile, "You see we grew up together. We went to elementary, and middle, and even high school together. Him, Rei, and myself."
"Really?"
"Mhm. He was such a gentle man, and kind too. You remind me a lot about him. In fact I think I have something for you" Kazuma stood up.
"What's that?" she asked as he went over to the shelf on the left.
"I saved this, because I had a copy of my own" he replied as he pulled a small piece of film down from the shelf, "I never got the chance to give it to her."
"Her?"
"Here" he handed it to her.
Tohru gasped as she gazed at the figures in the object he had just handed her.
"I don't believe it" she replied.
Authors Note: Hi guys! So sorry this one is so late. I got tired last night and just decided to write it today. I know it's not very long but I hope you enjoy it anyway. More to be revealed in the next chapter tomorrow!
Next Chapter: The Photograph
Kazuma reveals to Tohru his relationship with her parents as well as Kyo's. You don't want to miss this one!
Tohru woke up early the next morning and stretched in her bed. She looked to her side and saw Kyoko snoozing. The sleepy kitten opened one eye, which made Tohru laugh.
"Good morning Kyoko" she replied with a giggle as she petted the top of her head.
She got up and dressed quickly. Then walked downstairs to make breakfast. Just as she was placing the food on the table Shigure came in.
"Good morning Shigure" she said with a smile.
"Good morning Tohru" Shigure replied with a smile of his own as he sat down, "This looks delicious."
"Thank you," she said as she sat down to eat.
"Where are the boys this morning?"
"I think they're sleeping in. After all they were up early every day this week for the festival."
"That is true" Shigure replied as he unfolded his newspaper that Tohru had lain at his plate, as she always did.
"Um Shigure."
"Hmm?" he looked up.
"I was wondering, would it be okay if I go out this morning?"
"I don't see why not. Visiting some friends?"
"Um yea."
"Sure Tohru. Go and spend some time with them. After all you spent all your time with us this week, you deserve a break."
"Thanks Shigure. I promise I'll be home in time for dinner" she replied as she picked up her plate and carried it into the kitchen.
"You take your time" Shigure said with a smile.
Tohru put two more servings of food on the table and then walked to the door.
"I'll see you later!"
"Have a good time and be safe!" Shigure called.
Kyo came into the room as she closed the door. He had a towel wrapped around his neck and was dripping in sweat.
"Where's she going so early this morning?" he asked.
"Oh Kyo you're up?" Shigure replied.
"I've been up. I went for a run. Answer the question."
"Tohru is visiting some friends this morning."
"Odd" Kyo said as he sat down, "I thought her friends were out of town this week."
Tohru walked along the sidewalk and contemplated her directions.
"Let's see his house is in that direction" she said a loud, "No wait" she replied as she thought back.
"Tohru it's this way" she remembered Kyo saying, "Master lives in the guesthouse. That's the way to the dojo."
"Oh right" she snapped herself out of the memory, "It's in the other direction."
She walked until she came to the small house that was on the corner. She walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. The door was answered by, of all people Kunimitsu.
"Oh Miss Honda" he replied as he opened the door, "Pleasure to see you again" he said with a smile.
"Kunimitsu?" she replied astonished, "What are you doing here?"
"I sort of live here now" he chuckled, "Any way come on in. You're here to see teacher Kazuma right?"
"Yea" she nodded, "And thank you" she said as she walked in.
He led her to the sitting room and told her that he would fetch the teacher. She nodded and gazed around her at the shelves lining the walls.
"So many books" she thought.
"Tohru" Kazuma said as he appeared with a smile on his face.
"Huh? Oh good morning Master Kazuma" she bowed her head.
"Tohru" he laughed, "How many times have I told you to call me Kazuma? I'm not your master after all."
"Oh right. I'm sorry," she said sheepishly.
"That's all right. You're just a polite young lady. Please sit down" he replied as he sat at the table.
"Oh okay" she said as she too sat at the table, "So Kunimitsu's living with you now?"
"Yes. To make a long story short, he needed a place to stay. He couldn't afford his apartment. And I don't mind the company. Besides" he leaned in forward, "He's also an excellent cook" he chuckled.
Tohru laughed along with me.
"So Tohru what did you come to see me about today? Although I could probably guess. It's Kyo right?"
"Um yea."
"What's wrong?"
"Well I wanted to ask you something."
"All right."
"Well let's see where to begin? Um. Well we all attended the festival this week."
"Yes I heard that was in town. Even Kunimitsu went for a day. He brought me back some souvenirs. Was it fun?"
"Yea" she nodded, "It was a lot of fun. However, Kyo bumped into somebody there that he wasn't expecting."
"Somebody?" Kazuma's eyebrow rose.
"It was his father."
"Kyo saw Rei?" Kazuma frowned.
"Mhm" Tohru nodded.
"I see. How did that go?"
"Uh not so good. Kyo didn't really respond to his father, the first time he saw him."
"How many times did he bump into him?"
"Two I think. The second time I saw his father walk off. I didn't really know what it was about. It was yesterday though."
Kazuma sighed.
"I ran into him as well" Tohru continued, "On the second day."
"What did he say to you?"
"He told me I would be better off not being involved with the Sohmas and he wanted to know what my relationship with Kyo was."
"Mhm. Well I'm not surprised about Kyo's reaction to his father. After all they have never been close. What is your question though?"
"Um well I" she stuttered.
"Are you all right?" he asked concerned.
"It's just. I wanted to know if Kyo's father is the reason that he's being locked up."
Kazuma's head rose a bit as he asked the next question.
"Where did you hear about that?"
"Akito told me last summer."
"Does Kyo know you know?"
Tohru shook her head.
"I can't tell him, although it has been very hard keeping it a secret. I've almost told him twice now."
"Mhm. Yes, in answer to your question Rei is the main reason that Kyo is being locked up. As much as I have tried to fight it, and tried to convince him otherwise he still won't be deterred. He is quite convinced that Kyo is dangerous."
"And he blames Kyo for his mom's death."
"Hmm?"
"Because she committed suicide."
"Who told you that?"
"Kyo did."
"He actually told you?" Kazuma asked surprised.
"Mhm" she nodded, "A couple of days ago."
"I'm surprised. Kyo never talks about that. Not with anyone. Not even me. When he even moved in here, he didn't mention it. He must feel really comfortable with you."
"I guess" Tohru blushed a bit, "But don't you think his father is being unreasonable? Locking him up? Blaming him for something that was completely out of Kyo's control?"
"Of course I do. Kyo deserves to be free just like everyone else. He's not like my grandfather. He is completely outgoing and hardly ever violent. He has changed so much these past few years. And it is because of your influence."
"Oh I don't think so," she said nervously.
"Oh I wouldn't doubt it" Kazuma smiled, "I knew. The moment I saw you, that you would be the one. The one who would accept him for who is. And you did. Despite everything. You did accept him."
"So it was a test?"
"Sort of. A test for myself really. And since that moment, I have been trying to convince Rei more and more that Kyo should be set free. He does deserve the freedom. As you say."
"I agree. I would hate to see him locked up. He's a free spirit. He should stay that way."
"Mhm" Kazuma nodded, "You are so much like your father, it's uncanny."
"Huh?" Tohru looked at him confused.
"I couldn't figure it out at first" Kazuma began, "When I saw your face I recognized it. And then I heard your last name and I just put two and two together. Your Katsuya's daughter all right."
It was a few moments till Tohru found her voice again.
"You knew my father?"
"Oh very well" Kazuma nodded with a smile, "You see we grew up together. We went to elementary, and middle, and even high school together. Him, Rei, and myself."
"Really?"
"Mhm. He was such a gentle man, and kind too. You remind me a lot about him. In fact I think I have something for you" Kazuma stood up.
"What's that?" she asked as he went over to the shelf on the left.
"I saved this, because I had a copy of my own" he replied as he pulled a small piece of film down from the shelf, "I never got the chance to give it to her."
"Her?"
"Here" he handed it to her.
Tohru gasped as she gazed at the figures in the object he had just handed her.
"I don't believe it" she replied.
Authors Note: Hi guys! So sorry this one is so late. I got tired last night and just decided to write it today. I know it's not very long but I hope you enjoy it anyway. More to be revealed in the next chapter tomorrow!
Next Chapter: The Photograph
Kazuma reveals to Tohru his relationship with her parents as well as Kyo's. You don't want to miss this one!