Yuki opened the door that afternoon when Tohru came home. He helped to carry in the wet bags while she took off her coat and closed the umbrella.
"You okay Miss Honda?" he asked as she came in and removed her shoes.
"Oh yes we had a good time."
"Sorry you got caught in all that weather."
"Oh that's all right" she smiled.
"Where's Kyo?" he replied.
"Um he wanted to stop by the dojo on the way home. So I dropped him off and came straight home."
"By yourself?" Yuki said with a concerned look on his face.
"Oh I don't mind. He said he had to talk to his master about something" she walked into the sitting room.
"Oh."
"Hello Shigure" Tohru replied as she entered, "I'm back."
"Welcome back Tohru" Shigure smiled putting down his paper, "Did you have fun?"
"Mhm. Lots of fun. So sorry I'm late though."
"Oh no that's all right. Where's Kyo?"
"He's at the dojo. He'll be home soon. I'm going to get dinner started."
"Okay" Shigure nodded with a bit of a curious grin and picking up his paper, "If that's what you want."
Tohru smiled again and walked into the kitchen, just as Yuki who had placed the bags upstairs came strolling in. He sat down at the table and sighed.
"What's wrong with you?" Shigure asked looking over.
"Nothing" Yuki said simply shrugging his shoulders.
"Hmm" Shigure replied casually.
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile at the dojo Hatsuharu was leaving for the evening. He had a training session that afternoon with Kunimitsu and it had gone well. Kunimitsu had left before him so Haru figured he was the only one there. As he was walking towards the entrance he spotted Kyo sitting in the practice area. He frowned a bit as he approached him.
"Kyo?" he replied.
"Haru" Kyo looked back equally surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"I had practice this afternoon. What are you doing here?"
"I uh came to see my master, but I see he's not here."
"Yea he left a while ago. You okay?"
"I'm fine" Kyo stood up, "I got to get home anyway."
"Wait a minute Kyo. Hold up" Haru put down his bag, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Okay. Nothing. I'm fine."
"No you're not."
"Look Haru. I'm fine and I meant I'm fine. I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay" Haru held up his hands as Kyo snapped at him, "But it seems to me you came all this way to say something and you didn't get to, so I am giving you the opportunity."
"I know. But really I don't need to."
"Didn't you go on a trip with Tohru this weekend, to her family?"
"Yea."
"You didn't bump into Tai Ushida again did you?"
"No" Kyo shook his head sitting back down with a huff, "That's not what this is about."
"Then what is it about?" Haru sat down next to him.
"It's just. When I was there. I did things. Things I never thought that I would ever do."
"Okay" Haru replied in a tone urging him to go on.
"And I felt things too. Things I never thought I could ever possibly feel."
"You know Kyo. You're being kind of vague. You have to be more specific in order for me to understand."
"I don't know" Kyo stood up angrily, "I mean. I hate water right? You know that about me."
"Right? So?"
"Well I swam in a swimming pool for two hours and it didn't bother me. I ran through the rain, through wet puddles and I didn't feel sick. And I can't explain why."
"Was Tohru with you during these instances?"
"Yes. So?"
"Alone?"
"No her family was with us in the pool, but in the rain yea."
"Hmm?" Haru smiled as he stood up.
"What?"
"I was just thinking. I knew this was going to happen. I knew months ago. Of course I didn't have it pegged that you would be the first person to say it."
"Say what?"
"You love her Kyo. Just admit it."
Kyo turned his back to Haru.
"I have admitted it" Kyo said slowly.
"What?"
"I have admitted it" Kyo repeated, "To my master."
"Then you are in love with her?"
"Yes!" Kyo shouted, "Yes I am. Are you happy now? I am. But it doesn't change a thing. It never will."
"Kyo. Listen it's getting late. I would like to talk to you more about this. Do you think you can meet me at my house tomorrow? After all we don't go back to school until Wednesday."
"I don't know about that" Kyo shook his head.
"C'mon. What could it hurt?"
"All right" Kyo nodded, "I'll be there."
"Great. I got to get home and I know you do too. So see you tomorrow" Haru picked up his bag and left.
"Bye" Kyo replied then sighed following shortly after.
(Next Scene)
The next morning Kyo got up early as he always did to go for a run. Shigure was already awake and in the sitting room.
"Good morning Kyo" Shigure replied, "We missed you at dinner last night."
"I wasn't hungry" Kyo said shortly heading towards the front door.
"Where are you going?"
"For a run. I'll be back later" he walked out the door.
"Hmm" Shigure thought, "I wonder what he's up to?"
A couple of minutes later Tohru appeared from out of the kitchen with a tray of food.
"Good morning Shigure" she replied with a smile.
"Good morning Tohru."
"Where's Yuki and Kyo this morning?"
"Yuki is at the school this morning working on student council things. And then he's got to go by the main house for a check up with Hatori. Kyo just left for a run."
"Well maybe I'll see Yuki there" Tohru said, "I have a singing session with Hatsuharu today."
"Hmm?" Shigure smiled as she placed some food in front of him, "I was actually thinking about dropping by to see Hari myself. Perhaps we'll see each other there."
"Perhaps" Tohru nodded with a smile of her own as she sat down to eat.
(Next Scene)
Kyo walked slowly toward the main house and stopped at the gate. It always unnerved him to come to this place. Behind the walls he felt unwelcome, and the only time he ever really found himself there was New Years. However he took a deep breath and opened up the door. He walked quietly inside and looked around at the area. In the distance he could see his old house. As he walked he felt like people were watching and it almost made him turn around, if not for Hatsuharu who showed up.
"Hey Kyo. You're right on time" Hatsuharu smiled.
"What are you doing out here?" Kyo grumbled.
"I figured you be uncomfortable walking around here."
"You said it. I don't know how I let you talk me into this."
"C'mon it's only a few feet to my house" Haru said leading the way.
They walked into the house and the first thing Kyo noticed was the piano.
"Take your shoes off and stay awhile. Mom made some refreshments" Haru replied as they walked over to the sitting area and sat down.
"For me? I doubt it" Kyo frowned.
"Now despite what you think Kyo, not everybody hates you. My parents think it's kind of stupid the way everybody treats you. That they think you had anything to do with your mom's suicide."
"Hmm. They don't know the half of it."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean. I'm not the one responsible" Kyo said looking Haru directly in the eye.
"Yea I know Kyo. I just said that. I mean so what you were cursed by the cat. You were still just a kid."
"No you don't get it" Kyo shook his head standing up and heading for the window, he faced it and spoke again, "My mom didn't commit suicide because of my curse."
"Huh?"
"She had leukemia. And she killed herself so I wouldn't watch her die slowly before me. So I wouldn't see her pain."
"Are you serious Kyo?"
"Yea" Kyo nodded, "And the real kicker of it all. My father knew. He knew and he still blames me for her death."
"How do you know about this?" Haru asked eyes wide, "How did you find out?"
Kyo sighed and walked back over to the couch. He sat down and began.
"Tohru's mother received a letter from my mother telling her everything."
"Tohru's mother?"
"That's right. You might as well know. Tohru's mother and my mother knew each other. They were friends. And not only that, I knew Tohru's mother too, and she met mine once. So now it makes sense. To a point."
"Wow? So go on. The letter?"
"Yea well. Tohru found the letter in an old box of her mothers. And it just came out. Everything."
"Wow that must have been really difficult for you Kyo" Haru said sadly.
"You have no idea. But anyways it made me see that I was not responsible. That I was never the reason. And that makes me feel better, somewhat."
"Does anyone else know about that letter?"
"No" Kyo shook his head, "And no on is gonna. It's better that no one knows."
"I suppose."
"There's no way I can use it Haru."
"True. But that is not the reason we came to talk today."
"No it's not," Kyo admitted.
"So you want to talk about it? How long have you felt like this?"
"It's been awhile. But it doesn't matter just like I said yesterday" Kyo stood up once more and walked over to the window.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter?" Haru replied as he stood up and stood behind him, "It does."
"It doesn't. It would never work out Haru."
"Why? Because of a little competition?" Haru frowned.
"It has nothing to do with that damn rat! I mean it does a little but not really. Haru I am really, you know what I am!"
"So?"
"I am the cat. You know the form. You know what is going to happen to me after high school? I can't put her through that! I can't. I can't, I can't talk about this right now" he ran towards the door, slipped on his shoes, and flung the door open dashing out in the process.
"Wait a minute Kyo come back!" Haru shouted following him, forgetting to put on his shoes, "Kyo!"
(Next Scene)
Hatsuharu chased Kyo to the main gate.
"Kyo stop!"
Kyo obeyed, breathing heavy as he turned around.
"Now look" Haru began, "I'm not an expert. But I have to tell you. I have to tell you this."
"What?"
"Kyo. I will not let you pass up an opportunity like this. Those feelings that you were talking about, do you hate them?"
"No."
"Then that's a sign. That's a sign that this is right. I have felt that way before Kyo."
"Haru I have to go."
"Kyo hear me out!"
Kyo stopped again as Yuki appeared from around the corner of the main house. He saw the two of them and went back around, still listening.
"I know what you're going through. And I know it's difficult. It was never easy for me either. But I would never take back the experience I had. Never. Because I had it. Kyo when I was with her. I was the happiest I had ever been. For the first time in my life, I felt accepted. Now I know my parents love me, but it was different with her. I felt special. I felt needed and wanted for me. For who I am. Granted we are both cursed and it's a completely different situation, but not really Kyo. Not really. I will say this again. You're right you don't have much time. But you do have time."
Kyo looked up at him surprised.
"You have more then enough time. And even if it's a short time, it's still something you will never forget. Ever. Kyo I don't want you to look back at this decision and regret not following through. You don't want that. Trust me. You don't. You have a year left. Make the most of it Kyo and tell her how you feel. You don't know how she'll react and you don't what she'll say. But don't you think you at least owe her the chance to know how you feel about her? I think she deserves that. I really do. And I also think you do too. Forget all the bad things that could happen. And think about the good things instead. Trust me. They are so worth it."
Kyo stared at his cousin and turned his back.
"I understand what you're saying Haru" he said slowly, "I'll think about it" he walked slowly to the gate and left.
Hatsuharu sighed and placed his hands in his pockets. Then he strode back inside his house. Yuki came from around the corner and frowned a bit. Then he himself headed for the exit.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey everybody! Back again for four more chapters this week! I just wanted to let you know, that each book is actually going to be ten chapters each, because there are a lot more books in this series set! So this book will be done by the end of the week! Hope you're still enjoying it!
Next Chapter: Tohru Makes up her Mind
Kyo has admitted how he feels to Haru and Kazuma. Now it's Tohru's turn. What will her choice be? Find out next time!