Chapter Fifteen: Separate for Now

September 28

Yuki walked into the office after his lunch break and saw that Kyo was sitting in his chair with a distinct frown on his face, indicating that he was very worried. He kept staring at the monitor that was on his desk and then gazed down at the picture of his wife and children.

"Kyo" Yuki said slowly, "Is everything all right?"

"No" Kyo shook his head sadly.

"Are you worried about the dojo?"

"Partly" Kyo said.

Yuki nodded. For the past three months the dojo was becoming less and less able to pay to keep itself open. It had gotten so bad, that Kyo even had to let Kunimitsu go just a few weeks before, despite his protest that he would stick around to help. Tai Ushida's business however was thriving and getting more and more customers by the day, including several of the students who used to go to the Sohma dojo.

"So what else is on yourmind?"

"This" Kyo handed him a printed out sheet of paper, "I received that e-mail this afternoon. I don't know what I am going to do anymore. It's just getting worse."

Yuki took the piece of paper, reading it as his eyes became wider and wider at each sentence. Then he put the piece of paper back into his outstretched hand and Kyo stuffed it into his shirt pocket.

"Is he serious?"

"Whether he is or not" Kyo replied standing up from his desk and walking over to get his coat, "It's quite a threat. Listen damn rat, I need to go talk to my Master about this."

"Master Kazuma? But he is all the way in Kyoto."

"I know that" Kyo nodded, "Which is why I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"Tell Tohru that I am going to be late tonight, and if you could stick around for awhile."

"All right. But Kyo you really should talk to her about this."

"Oh I will" Kyo said as he put his jacket on, "But I need to talk to him first."

"I understand" Yuki nodded, "Don't worry. You take your time and I will be at the house when you get there."

"Thanks" Kyo replied appreciatively, "I'll be back soon" he tossed him the keys, "Can you lock up for me?"

"Sure" Yuki nodded again as Kyo walked out the door.

Kyo climbed into the car and buckled his seat belt before starting up the engine. He took a brief moment and sighed, thus turning the key and driving away from the dojo heading towards the city of Kyoto.

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile Yuki closed the doors of the dojo, locked them, and headed towards Tohru and Kyo's house. As he paused at thedoor he noticed the black sports caronce more parked close by.In the living room, Tohru was playing with Sakura who had just awoken from her nap. Lying in his bassinet Katsuya was still fast asleep with his arms tucked around a stuffed cat that had been given to him and Sakura by Shigure. As she played with her she heard the doorbell ring, so she picked up Sakura off the floor where she was laying, and walked over to the door. She was relieved to see from looking in the keyhole that it was only Yuki standing at the door.

"Yuki" she replied with a smile as she opened the door, "Come on in. What a nice surprise."

"Hello Tohru" he smiled back and patted Sakura's head that smiled a little at him, "I hope I am not disturbing you or anything?"

"Oh no" she shook her head, "I was just playing with Sakura. Katsuya's asleep in the living room."

"Oh okay" he nodded as they both walked back into the living room, and Tohru sat Sakura in her baby chair, "I mainly stopped by tonight, to let you know that Kyo will be working late, so he won't be home the usual time."

"Oh" Tohru said, "Okay."

"Also he asked if I could stay with you until he gets home so" Yuki replied averting his eyes a little.

"Yuki" Tohru said, "What's going on?"

Yuki sighed and took Tohru's hand. "Do you remember that thing I talked about with you months ago?"

"Mhm" she nodded, "About the business. It hasn't improved?"

"I'm afraid not" Yuki shook his head and stood up, "It's gotten worse. In the past three months, we have lost a total of ten students. Now that might not seem like much, but they were very important students. They came almost every day."

"How many do you have left?" Tohru asked with worry in her eyes.

"About seven."

"Seven? That's all?"

"Yep. They are the ones who have been with the dojo and have stayed, but I'm sure it will only be a matter of time, till they realize that the Diamond dojo can offer them more."

"All the other students left to go there?"

"I think so."

"So Kyo is busy working on the problem tonight?"

"Not exactly" Yuki shook his head as Tohru looked at him with imploring eyes, so he sighed again and told her everything.

(Next Scene)

By the time the sun was setting, Kyo finally arrived at the front of his Master's house in Kyoto. He climbed out of the car and walked up the path to knock on the door. He was surprised however to see that Kazuma didn't come answer the door, but Kunimitsu.

"Master Kyo?" Kunimitsu said.

"Kunimitsu?" Kyo replied back, "What are you doing here?"

"Well I had time so" Kunimitsu grinned, "I thought I would come down and visit teacher Kazuma."

"So he knows then?" Kyo asked a bit relieved.

"Yea" Kunimitsu nodded as he entered into the hallway, "He knows the trouble that the dojo is in. He will be surprised to see you though."

"I know" Kyo nodded, "That is partly the reason I came here tonight."

"Okay" they walked towards the sitting room, "Teacher Kazuma!" Kunimitsu called, "Master Kyo is here."

"Oh" Kazuma took his glasses off and smiled as Kyo entered in, "Kyo my boy. Come on in. This is a surprise."

"I know" Kyo said as he sat down, "But I had to see you. I really need some advice."

Kazuma nodded while Kunimitsu said he was going to make some tea. Kazuma agreed and then turned to Kyo.

"What's on your mind son?"

"Well first of all" Kyo replied with a sigh, "The dojo isn't doing so well. It's taken almost everything I can to make it stay afloat. And the damn rat says it will only be a matter of time, till it either goes bankrupt or we will have to close it down."

"Mhm" Kazuma nodded, "I am aware of the situation. Kunimitsu told me you had to let him go."

"I had no choice. He couldn't just keep working for me and not get paid. That wouldn't be fair."

"Go on."

"Well besides that I have another problem."

"I'd gather it has nothing to do with the dojo at all?"

"You're right" Kyo nodded pulling the paper from out of his shirt pocket, "Perhaps this will help you to understand. I got this e-mail today. And it's really the reason I came down here" he handed it to Kazuma who once more put on his glasses to read, "To talk to you."

Kazuma cleared his throat and read the letter thoroughly. It said:

Cat of the Zodiac:

I am writing to inform you that I have grown tired of our little game of cat and mouse, if you will pardon the pun. I am usually quite the patient man, but your stubbornness has driven me to a decision. I want to first and foremost inform you, that one I will either buy, or steal your business from you depending on your decision the next time I call. And two I will also steal all that you hold dear. A monster such as yourself has no right to have all the joys you have recieved. One way or another I will take her back from you. She will be mine. This is not an idle threat. This is a promise. I don't care how many members of your family you bring into this, or her grandfather. Ushida's will not lose to the Sohma family anymore. I will be the winner in the end!

Sincerely,

Tai Ushida

a.ka. : The future husband of Tohru Honda!

Kazuma finished the letter with a frown and removed his glasses. "Well he certainly has a high opinion of himself."

"The problem is" Kyo nodded, "I believe it. I don't know what to do anymore. He has me followed. He has her followed. The same stupid car has been following us for months. Every week he calls asking me to sell the dojo and it's property, always dropping hints about her. I can't call the police because they're on his side."

"What about her grandfather?"

"Won't do any good. Besidesif weget himinvolved, he'll found out about the Zodiac curse. I can't take that risk."

"What makes you think that?"

"Tohru's grandfather is the kind of guy who would need all information. The minute I threaten to use him, Ushida would just threaten to tell him everything."

"That is a problem" Kazuma nodded.

"I don't have many options. So I came down here, hoping I could get some advice from you. Not so much for the dojo, but for my situation with Tohru. I don't think this time that his threat is empty. He plans to do something. I just know it."

"You're right" Kazuma agreed, "You're absolutely right. And I do have an option for you. One that will help with both situations."

"Both?"

"Your fear is that the dojo is going to close, so let it."

"Huh? You want me to close down the dojo?" Kyo said confused.

"No" Kazuma shook his head, "Not close it down, but relocate it."

"Relocate it? What do you mean?"

"Do you know, that when I first started the dojo, it was originated in this town?"

"No."

"A lot of Sohma property is down here. In fact many of the Sohma's that we only see around New Years reside down here. They're not all on that one street. Though there are many up there too. The Sohma's actually were originally from Kyoto."

"I didn't know that."

"Mhm."

"But when you say relocate, you mean here?"

"Mhm."

"Where?"

"Next door to me, is another piece of my property. It's where the dojo used to be, and there is a house just near it. I bought this house when I moved back here since it was newer. But I still own the property next door. It hasn't been used in years. Would you like to see it?"

"Uh sure."

(Next Scene)

Kazuma led Kyo over next door to the dojo. When they opened the doors, Kyo coughed a little because of all of the dust.

"It needs a lot of work. But it's yours if you want it" Kazuma replied as Kyo looked around.

"I still don't understand."

"Well your biggest problem is Ushida. You are living in a place where he can bother you twenty-four seven. If you move out of the situation taking the business with you, you could eliminate both problems with one stone."

"But Tokyo is where we're from. I mean our kids were born there. I don't know if I could ask Tohru to do that. I mean it is a good idea but, still it feels like I would be running away from the problem instead of facing it head on."

"You're protecting your family, there's a difference. Kyo don't you want them to be safe?"

"Of course. But what about the house? We haven't even been in it that long?"

"It will still be yours. It's just you would move until the situation calms down. Kyo I know moving from the city foryou and Tohru is going to be hard, but isn't it worth it to protect them from him? Because if this note has any truth in it, they are in terrible danger in that city."

"That's true. I hate to think what would happen one day if I came home from work and they were all gone. But I'm not selling him the dojo. I may be closing the doors, but the dojo and it's property will never be his."

"Good" Kazuma nodded, "You go home and talk to Tohru about it first though. Because you are a team and you should make this decision together."

"I haven't exactly been telling her what has been going at work, but" Kyo sighed, "Now would be a good time."

Kazuma nodded.

"I'm also going to have tofigure out how to get everyone down here without Ushidaever figuring it out."

"You'll come up with something I'm sure."

"Yea" Kyo nodded, "I'll let you know" he moved towards the door, "I got to get home. Tohru will be worried about me."

"Okay. Call me when you make a decision. Like I said the place needs work" he looked around at the dust on the floor, "But it's yours."

"Thanks Master" Kyo managed to grin as he departed and headed for his car, climbing in, waving goodbye, and driving away as Kazuma waved back with an encouraging smile.

(Next Scene)

When Kyo arrived home he found Yuki asleep on the couch. Tohru had heard the key in the door and raised her head from the pillow. He walked into the bedroom and walked over to Sakura's bassinet and saw that she was fast asleep.

"Kyo?" Tohru whispered.

"Hey honey," he replied in a tired voice, "I'm back" he rolled onto the bed next to her.

"Is everything okay?" she asked as she brushed her hand through his hair.

"No" he shook his head, "I wish I could say that everything was okay. But it's not."

She nodded and then for about an hour Kyo told her about the problems at the dojo, the threatening note, and finally Kazuma's suggestion. Tohru listened silently till he was finished and then frowned a little herself.

"Leave Tokyo? That's what he suggested?"

"I know. It's a big step. Leaving everyone and moving to another city. But there's a house down there about the size of this one. Maybe even larger. And a dojo attached to it. I told him I would talk with you about it first."

"Wow. I never thought we would have to leave. I mean your family is here. This is where the twins were born."

"I know. It's a lot to ask. But in the long run I think, it is the best option."

"You think so?"

"I really do" Kyo nodded, "I hate to leave this place too. I mean we haven't even been here for very long. But Master says the house can stay empty for a while. We can move down there and come back here if we want to."

"Well it is a big step like you say. And we haven't been here for very long" she looked at the bassinets, "But I have to admit, I do feel kind of scared being home alone with the twins all the time. It would be better if that weren't the case. But Kyo" she turned to him, "Say we do move, what guarantee do we have that he won't follow us there too? I mean Kyoto is not that far away."

"I know" he nodded, "We're just going to have to come up with some way to move down there, and he will never find out. The question is, how?"

"Oh that's easy" Hatsuharu said the next day as he and Yuki sat around at the house with Tohru and Kyo at lunchtime discussing the previous days events, "I know exactly how to do that and Ushida will never suspect a thing" he grinned stroking his chin in a Shigure like fashion making Yuki and Kyo immediately nervous.

(To be continued…)

Authors Note: Sorry guys it's another two parter! You'll get the second part tomorrow. A total of five chapters this week though! So that will complete Book One!

Next Part: Hatsuharu's plan involves Tohru and Kyo being apart for some time. But how and what do they do to distract Ushida? Find out next time in Part two!