Chapter 25: Reminiscence

Princess Sango

4 days later…

Tohru sighed as she packed up the last of her things. She was moving back to Tokyo after all, and she had much to pack. Yuki had stayed with her so they could get everything done together, and Yuki and Tohru were in her room packing. The last box was just sealed, and she smiled at Yuki who was just getting up to go to the next room, "Okay, why don't we go to the picture room? It's going to be easier for us to pack up in there."

Yuki nodded, "Yes, that'll be fine."

Tohru smiled, walked out of the room with Yuki, holding onto his hand. Yuki didn't say a word but grasped onto her hand too. As they walked inside, Tohru started setting up boxes and Yuki started to bubble wrap the pictures carefully. Yuki stopped however, when he came across a picture of Tohru and himself, the one he first noticed when he came inside the room. Tohru looked over to him and Yuki noticed as she inched her way closer. "I know there's a gap between us still slightly. I like you being here though, with me."

Yuki looked up at her eyes and observed the kindness that they held, "I like it too, and Tohru, I know it's no use to dwell on the past but you didn't tell me about Kazuki until after you left. If you need to tell me anything, you know I can listen right?"

Tohru looked up at her confused, and that's when he pulled her close, "I just don't want to lose you again, Tohru-chan, I'll listen to you if you need me. To live in fear of you getting up and leaving again, is a painful thought. Promise me."

Yuki pulled her away slightly to see her face, which was glazed over by tears, "I promise Yuki."

He smiled and kissed her directly on the lips before pulling away, "That's all I ask for."

Tohru smiled at him, wiping away her tears with her dark purple sleeve before picking up a drawing that seemed like a little child's handwriting, "Just so you know, Kazuki's first word was dad. I thought it would be mom, but for some odd reason it was dad. When he learned what a dad was, from Tomiko, he asked me where his was. I couldn't answer him, and one day, when I looked in his sketchbook, I found a picture of one of these people in his sketchbook, and it was you Yuki. He's had a drawing talent, and he tried to draw you, and wrote dad under it. I never knew how he found out though, I still don't."

Yuki's face went blank for a second until he looked down at the picture his son had drawn in his little hands, "How old was he when he did this?"

"Just last year," Tohru answered in an audible whisper.

"So why didn't you tell him then?" Yuki asked curiously.

"I confronted him about it, asked him why he thought you were his dad. Kazuki answered me simply, that he just guessed. He told me the hair, eyes, it looked familiar to his, he only guessed. He did ask me about his dad too, and I told him I'm sure his dad loves him very much, and wished to see him right now."

"What'd he say to that?" asked Yuki interested, as he looked deep in her eyes, searching for the answer there.

"Kazuki-chan asked me why he isn't here; and I answered him by telling him that his dad didn't know where he was. Kazuki didn't stop asking, why, what, how, and most importantly when. I couldn't answer to his questions, and I kept my mouth shut. I was afraid that he would hate me too, and I don't think I could live with that. Tomiko, was the only one I could talk to, even though she is a lot younger than me, she listened. Heck, Tomiko knew about you, she knew about everything, and I guess she told Kazuki where his father was. Maybe she was the one who tried to bring all of this together even," Tohru answered with a sad smile.

"I'm glad she did," Yuki whispered as he looked at the drawing. It was colored in crayon, and detailed somewhat, and he also saw Kazuki's hand traced next to where his hand was, so small, as if he holding onto the hand, to be closer to him, as if this picture could get him to his father.

Tohru turned away as she started to pull the pictures into the box and took great care. She didn't say a word as Yuki placed the picture gently in the box and started to continue helping her. Soon this room was finished too, and Tohru suggested they take a break so they could eat. Yuki didn't say anything still and it didn't worry Tohru at all. As she set the table for the two of them, Tohru and Yuki soon were sitting at the table eating ramen, and then he spoke up. "Tohru-chan, will we have more children? Or is Kazuki the only one?"

"No, I think we definitely will Yuki, but not until we're both ready to take on the responsibility together. Is that alright?"

"It's perfect Tohru-chan, and when are you going to start the wedding preparations?"

"I think after we get into a new house. Are your parents going to be there Yuki?"

Yuki looked down at the table, "My parents want nothing to do with me. So they won't be going, as for Ayame, he will be coming. He actually will be making the outfits, since he won't have it any other way."

Tohru shook her head as if she didn't understand, "They're your parents wouldn't they want to be there? Didn't they raise you?"

"No, Akito did, and she's dead."

Tohru gave Yuki a sad smile, "It's funny you know? How almost none of you have parents that want to keep you cursed animals? Yet, I have a son who's cursed, and I love him, and I'm not too protective and I'm not upset."

Yuki smiled up at Tohru, "You're different, like Kana I guess, but you're always so accepting of us. I like that Tohru, and that's why I want it to stay like that."

Tohru picked up the empty ramen cups and threw them out as Yuki stood up and put his arms around Tohru's waist, "Let's pack up the house, and then we'll be able to move on. Let's do Kazuki's room next, after all that is the last room. Then the moving truck will arrive tomorrow and all the Sohma's will come to help load it."

"Okay," Tohru answered as she smiled at him and went to Kazuki's room to pack it up.

TBC…