Yuki walked into the main house and headed for the tearoom where he knew he would find Tohru. Sure enough when he arrived he saw that she and Kandis were sitting down at the table. As he walked in they both raised their heads in his direction.
"Yuki?" Tohru said in surprise.
"Hi" he tried to smile but she knew it was hard for him.
"Um" Kandis replied rising, "I'm gonna go check on Akito. I'll be right back," she told Tohru as she left the room.
"Okay" Tohru nodded also standing up as Kandis moved past Yuki slowly and out the door, "Are you all right?" she asked him in concern as she moved towards him.
"No. But I will be. I told her. I said everything I wanted to say since I was a child. Mostly" he lowered his head.
Tohru nodded and then moved forward to embrace him. Yuki held her for a few moments and then broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I just miss him so much" he cried, "I didn't really know him, but I wish I could have. Especially since I'm not cursed anymore."
"It's okay" she said in a comforting tone, "I'm right here."
"Tohru" he smiled as he removed his face from her shoulder, "I can't tell you what a comfort it is that you're here with me right now."
"Of course" she smiled back, "I'll always be here for you when you need someone to talk to. After all you are my big brother."
"Right" he smiled even more as he sniffed.
"Would you like a cup of tea? I can go make you some."
"I would really like that" he nodded appreciatively.
"Okay. You wait right there" she said as she walked towards the kitchen, "I'll be right back."
He nodded again and stared around at the tearoom, gazing at everything he had seen as a child. Quietly Akito Sohma entered the room. So quiet in fact that Yuki didn't know that he was there until he spoke.
"Yuki?"
"Akito" Yuki replied as he spun around.
"What are you doing here?" Akito asked curiously.
"I uh. I'm back in town for a visit" Yuki said simply his eyes staring at the ground.
"Oh. I guess Kandis forgot to tellme."
"She said she was going to look for you. But I think she wanted to get out of the room for a minute" Yuki walked away a little his back to Akito.
"Well how are you?"
"I've been better."
"I can tell you don't look so good."
"I saw my mother."
"I see" Akito nodded gently understanding, "How did you find out?"
"Haru sent me a letter. I also heard that my brother didn't know either."
"No" Akito said as he moved over to the table and sat down slowly, "He was on his honeymoon when it happened. I met the girl he married. She's nice."
"Yea. I know."
The two of them were silent not really sure what to say to one another. Akito looked up and stared at his cousin who was still trying to hold back the tears.
"I told my mother goodbye" Yuki blurted out, "I said I didn't want to have anything more to do with her."
"Did you?"
"Yea. I got so angry I almost couldn't contain it."
"I see.
Once more they were silent as Akito contemplated on what to say. Finally he cleared his throat and looked directly at Yuki.
"You know Yuki, when you left I had a lot of time to think."
"About what?" Yuki said staring at the wall with the Japanese print.
"You and me. And I realized that maybe, no that most certainly shouldn't you be lashing out at me too?"
"What?" Yuki looked at him confused.
"Your mother wasn't the only one who caused you pain back then. It's taken months but I finally realized what a selfish, inconsiderate brat I really was. And I don't know if it's possible for you to forgive me."
"Akito" Yuki said slowly.
"I did some pretty horrendous things to you and the others. But to you mostly. I look back at everything I did and I am ashamed of myself. I'm sorry" Akito stared into his eyes, "It might not matter anymore but I am sincerely sorry and I wish I could make it up to you, but I probably can't."
"Akito" Yuki replied coming over and sitting down, "Stop right there. I know something about your behavior and when I found that out, I couldn't hate you anymore. I did for a time hate you I won't lie about that but when I found out why, I just. How can I say it, I already forgave you."
"What are you talking about?" Akito looked at him quizzically.
"You were taking orders from someone else weren't you?"
"What?"
"I learned from Kureno when I was about fourteen that I should give you more credit, of course I didn't believe it at first but then I saw it for myself" Yuki paused and then continued, "It was a rainy afternoon and your mother, my Aunt Ren was visiting. Usually on those visits no one was allowed to be with you guys."
"That was a visit that no one knew about" Akito said suddenly realized as his eyes became wide.
"What?"
"The last time anyone knew that she came was when I was about eleven years old. But she came once and no one knew about it. Not Hatori. Not Kureno. No one."
"What did she come for?"
"I don't really remember, but you were saying?" he turned back to his cousin.
"Oh right. Well I overheard her screaming at you. And as I approached the door I squinted in and saw her. I listened to what she said. She was saying all sorts of things, but mostly she asked how everything was going with me."
"Oh" Akito said with a sigh as the realization hit him, "You heard that conversation?"
"Yes" Yuki nodded, "I mean I hated you for carrying it out but I also know that she was the one who told you to treat me that way."
"Yes" Akito agreed, "She was."
As Akito was speaking Kandis and Tohru arrived back and stood outside the door listening to the two of them talk.
"For some reason she thought, you were nothing but my own personal thing to do whatever I wanted with. I did as she asked because."
"You don't have to tell me why" Yuki replied interrupting, "You were terrified of her. Just like I was terrified of mine."
"For some reason the fact that you were a member of the zodiac irritated her. She wanted you treated like an animal. Like you were my own personal play thing" Akito shuddered.
"Yea. Well I know that. So that's why I don'tharborso much resentment toward you as much as my own mother."
"But Yuki" Akito shook his head, "I still shouldn't have treated you that way. The abuse I caused you was terrible.. As I got older I should have made my own choice. By that time though I was so sick and bitter I didn't care. I hurt so many people. All of you. Even Tohru. I hurt her too. And Kandis. It's any wonder that any of you still talk to me."
"Akito" Yuki replied, "We're not kids anymore and if you are man enough to admit and apologize about whathappened in the past then I can be man enough to accept it and try to move on."
"How can you?"
"It's easy. And it's because of one person. The one person who has believed in us all along. The one person who wanted more than anything to save, protect, and make sure we were happy. That person is Tohru."
"Yes" Akito nodded with a smile, "You are right."
"Besides" Kandis said appearing with Tohru right behind her, "You both are far too nice to be holding grudges" she replied as she walked over and kissed Akito on the cheek.
"Kandis" he said softly, "Where did you come from?"
"No where" she grinned as Tohru came over.
"I brought you your tea Yuki" she handed it to him, "Hello Akito" she replied gently.
"Tohru I didn't know you were here" he smiled slightly.
"I came with Yuki," she said as she sat down.
"Yea" Yuki added angrily, "She's having some trouble."
"Trouble?" Akito's eyebrows rose as Tohru and Yuki looked at each other and Yuki took a deep breath, preparing himself to tell all he knew.
(Next Scene)
Kazuma pulled the one page letter out of the envelope and held it in his hands for a few moments.
"Now before I give you this. I want you to remain calm."
"Master what is going on?" Kyo said nervously, "You're really starting to freak me out."
"It's nothing that we can't fix. It's just the circumstances I feel uneasy about. Here. Read the letter" he handed him the paper.
"Okay" Kyo nodded taking the paper and clearing his throat, "Dear Mr. Sohma. I am informing you of a recent development in your area. Since we are going to be neighbors I thought it would be prudent to be the first one to tell you about our new facility. Having said that however you should know that you're property is highly desirable. I am sending this letter to offer you the chance of a lifetime to buy your dojo and property for a generous sum of" Kyo stopped here and read the price silently to himself, "Please consider my offer and let me know. Sincerely the Diamond Company" Kyo flipped the paper to the other side, "Diamond Company? What does this mean?"
"It means we might have trouble."
"What do you mean? They only want to buy the property. You can always say no."
"It's more complicated then that Kyo" Kazuma shook his head with a frown.
"What do they mean by neighbors?"
"Well if you haven't noticed that piece of property that's being built on for the past three months is nearly finished."
"Yea so?"
"Kyo it's going to be a dojo."
"What?"
"A very fancy and big place. He's asking for us to sell our property so we won't lose any profits. Basically he's challenging us or asking us to give up."
Kyo shook his head furiously and then looked up his right eyebrow raising.
"You keep saying he? Who's he?"
"Well that's the complication" Kazuma sighed, "Here" he handed him the envelope, "This might clear things up."
Kyo snatched the envelope angrily and flipped it over and stared at the heading. His eyes became even wider as he stared at it and then back at Kazuma, who merely nodded.
"Ta Tai Ushida? Is the owner of the Diamond Company?"
"Yes. I have even talked to him on the phone to make sure it's not a joke."
"Oh it's not a joke. It's a fricking nightmare!"
"Kyo?" Kazuma looked at him concerned.
"Okay it's one thing to go after me personally but another to go after someone I care about. And you know why he's doing this. He's trying to make me lose my livelihood."
"What are you talking about?" Kazuma asked confused.
"He figures it's the only way he can get Tohru from me."
"What?"
"He's moving very slowly but that's what he's doing."
"What do you mean Kyo? You're married to her."
"He doesn't care. He doesn't care so much that he's sending my wife flowers" Kyo replied angrily as he began to walk back and forth.
"What?" Kazuma said incredulously.
"That's right. As we speak the damn rat is with her as her bodyguard so he can't stalk her anymore. And now this" Kyo looked at the envelope and then chuckled bitterly, "Well if he thinks he is going to beat me like this he's got another thing coming. We're not selling the dojo" he ripped up the envelope and letter, "No matter how much he offers. We'll survive somehow" he grabbed the knob of the door.
"Are you sure Kyo?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. And if this continues I have no problem waltzing down to his office and confronting him personally. And not just about this dojo thing" he added furious.
"All right Kyo. This is going to be your dojo someday after all. I want you to make this decision. If he is going after you personally which it seems he is, then we will fight."
"Damn right" Kyo nodded as he opened the door, "I got class so I am going to work off some frustration."
"Okay" Kazuma agreed walking over and taking the doorknob as he departed.
He watched him head to the main part of the dojo and he sighed as he closed the door halfheartedly.
(Next Scene)
"What?" Yuki replied surprised after Kyo had revealed to him and Tohru about the letter, "He what?"
"That's right. Now he's even attacking the dojo," Kyo said popping the top of his soda can and taking a sip.
"As" Yuki began as he shook his head, "And I thought he couldn't stoop any lower."
"Yes. Just when you think he's rotten to the core. You find out he is even worsethan that."
"Why attack the dojo though?" Yuki replied as Kyo poured the remainder of his soda into a cup.
"Because it is where I work."
"Huh?"
"It's my livelihood. It's the way I can pay for bills. Think about it. If I were to become unemployed I would no longer be able to support my wife and my family."
"Oh that's just low" Yuki grimaced shaking his head again.
"He probably thinks that if I can't take care of my wife that maybe through some miracle he can get a hold of her."
"That's not going to happen" Tohru suddenly spoke up surprising the both of them since she had been silent up to that point.
"Tohru?" Kyo looked at her concerned, "Are you okay?"
"It's not gonna happen" she repeated standing up and placing the dinner dishes into the sink to wash them, "It doesn't matter if you lose your job or not. I would never leave you."
"I know that" Kyo replied placing his hands on her shoulders, "He's wishful thinking."
"Tohru" Yuki said, "Kyo's right. He's fool of himself if he thinks this is going to work."
"I just feel so bad that he's taking my rejection out on you."
"No no no. He's doing more then that. He's trying to get back at me. This is not totally about you. And maybe the damn rat is right about the fact that he knows we are not cursed anymore. But I don't want you to worry about it. I will deal with this problem. I can handle him."
"You're not going to do it by yourself" Yuki spoke up.
"What?" Kyo said turning to him.
"That dojo is a part of all of us. It's like a second home for me, Haru, Rin, and Kagura" he looked at Kyo straight in the eye, "And there is no way in hell that any of us are going to let that place go down so easily" he added determined.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! Here's the third chapter! Hope you enjoyed it!
Next Chapter: Chapter Six: A Secret Too Good To Keep
Tohru's appointment to the doctor's office holds the news to another surprise, but will this one be a thing that Kyo can handle or will it be the best news he has heard all week! See what happens next time!