HEY NOW! LONG TIME NO SEE!
Chapter 2: Picking Up Where We Were Long Forgotten
Kyo sat in his dark cabin staring out the window. A knock at the door made his ears perk up.
"Go away!" he snapped.
"Kyo, it's Mom," Tohru called.
Kyo rose off of his bed and walked toward the door in the darkness. Kyo opened the door and winced at the light from the hall.
"Kyo, you asked before why you had two beds in your room. Ichigo will be staying with you. Please get along. Good night," Tohru explained.
Ichigo stepped inside and Kyo flicked the light switch.
"You can have that bed," Kyo grunted, pointing at the bed diagonal from his.
"Thanks."
The two boys lay in their beds a few minutes later, both staring at the ceiling above them.
"So, why does your dad dislike you so much?" Ichigo asked.
"That's kind of personal," Kyo replied.
"Sorry."
"I remind him of someone he used to know. That someone died on the same day that I was conceived. I'm not sure how it happened but it did," Kyo explained with a sigh.
"I see. It's not that I can hate this family that much I guess. Do you like this family, Kyo?"
"No, they shun the cat. I'm like you in a way my father hates his family even though the man who tortured him is dead. He kind of cut ties with them."
"So, have you ever met this Hatori person?"
"Yes."
"Is he nice."
"I suppose. We don't talk much. Hatori likes to keep to himself, most Sohmas do. Why are you so open?"
"My mother always said that it wasn't good to keep your feelings locked up inside and you should ask many questions to gain appropriate knowledge."
"You're like my mother," Kyo laughed.
"Really? How?"
"She loves referring to my grandmother. My mom lost her mother when she was in high school. But, it appears that my grandmother never left. She lives in my mother."
"That's kind of nice. Your mother is so kind but, your father is almost the opposite. Was he always so bitter?" Ichigo inquired.
"According to my mother he was more like a sentimental man with a rare hot temper. My father used to be very strong."
"He's not strong anymore?"
"My father was maimed by his family before my mother himself, Hatori, and myself could escape. My mother struggled to take care of the two men. So many others have been affected by what happened. You'll probably meet them later. Let's sleep now."
"Yes, tomorrow's a busy day."
The two fell into a deep sleep until the sun awoke them the next morning.
"Good morning," Tohru greeted cheerfully in the dining room.
"Where's dad?" Kyo asked.
"Oh, he'll be here soon. He had to take care of something. Why don't you two get breakfast? We'll dock in a few hours. Are you packed?"
"Yes," the two answered.
Everyone sat down at the table with their meals. Yuki's was under a napkin so that it wouldn't get cold. The three of them sat waiting for Yuki. They waited ten minutes and Tohru decided to go retrieve him.
Tohru went back to her room and found Yuki sitting in his chair all ready to go.
"Yuki, how long have you been sitting there?" Tohru questioned.
"Long enough. Are they up?"
"You mean Kyo and Ichigo? Yes, they're waiting for you. Are you okay?"
"Yes, it's just that I shouldn't have yelled at him like that last night. Kyo's long dead but I see some of Kyo inside of him."
"I see it too. Maybe Kyo is watching over him making sure that he'll be all right."
"Tohru, I love him," Yuki choked.
"I know you do. He knows you love him deep inside himself. Don't worry about it."
Tohru took Yuki's head into her hands and gently moved it up to look at her. She then wiped away the small amount of tears that he had mustered. His son was the cat and he was the rat. Although his grudge was deep against the old Kyo the new one, his son was his son and nothing could change that. He used to hate the cat and now he needs to show the cat that he loves him.
"Tohru, I don't think I'd be sane if you were to leave me with him."
"Yes you would. Come on, let's go they're waiting for us."
"Yes."
Tohru pushed Yuki out of the room shutting the door behind her and entered the dining room.
"Good morning, Father," Kyo said bowing his head a little bit.
"Good morning, Yuki," Ichigo greeted with a smile.
"Good morning, Kyo, Ichigo. Did you sleep well, Kyo?"
"Yes."
"That's good."
"Aw, Yuki's really trying," Tohru thought happily.
"So, did you have a good night."
"It was all right I suppose."
"Meeting him half way," Tohru considered.
Soon the meal was complete and everyone departed for his or her own activities.
Kyo found a knack for beating his relative in swimming competitions. Yuki spent time with Tohru playing a game of Rich Man, Poor Man, Tohru being the victor.
The boat docked and they departed.
"So we're back," Yuki sighed as he looked at the boat docks of Japan. "This is the last place that Ayame was able to be a free man."
"Try not to think about it," Tohru reminded.
"Yeah."
A cab came and the four of them got in. Within a few hours they were in Japan's countryside and in front of their house. The driver was tipped and paid and they brought their luggage and themselves inside.
"Hatori we're home! Oh, and Ichigo welcome to our home. You'll be staying in Kyo's room," Tohru announced.
"Go ahead, his room is right over there," Kyo whispered.
Ichigo knocked on the door and it opened. Hatori's now very thin form appeared and he looked at the boy before him.
"Shigure?" he tried.
"No, I'm his son, Ichigo."
"It's like seeing a ghost," Hatori breathed. "Come in."
The chapter is short and I wrote it on two reviews.