When Katsuya arrived home Takara greeted him at the door and the two of them walked into the kitchen for a snack. Soon after he headed for his room to change out of his uniform. As he placed his shirt on his sister Sakura stuck her head in the doorway, startling him instantly as unaware he walked to the door.
"Sakura! You startled me" he replied catching his breath.
"Sorry" she grinned, "But I hurried home the moment I heard the news."
"What news?" Katsuya shook his head totally confused.
"Oh the news that a certain someone I know was walking with the new student this afternoon" she smiled even more.
"Uh" he stammered trying really hard to avoid her eyes, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh come on" she moved into the center of the door so he couldn't move past, " A lot of people so you escorting Miss Kamiya home. By the way you do know that she's the mayor's stepdaughter don't you?"
"Uh yea. I do now. How did you know? Who told you?" he asked worried.
"One of my friends told me after practice."
"Just don't read anything into this all right? It was nothing."
"Really?" she said placing her hands behind her back, not believing him for a second.
"Yes really. She's new in town. She didn't know where she was going so I took her home. It's not that big of a deal."
"Maybe, but it's not like you to go out of your way for a girl. At least a girl from our school."
"I'm telling you" he replied a bit exasperated at this point, "It's nothing. It was a one-time thing. I'm sure she can get home on her own now with no problem."
"Okay" Sakura shrugged, "If you say so. But I personally think that you might like her."
"Get out of here" he said roughly, " I got to start my homework before dinner."
She grinned even more as she saw his cheeks turn slightly pink and then nodded.
"Whatever you say, little brother" she replied as she departed.
"Mmm" he grumbled as he pulled a textbook from his bag and began his homework.
(Next Scene)
Later that evening Katsuya sat by the fireplace with Takara as they once more read one of her favorite princess stories. Kyo and Tohru had gone to bed early and Sakura also sat in the family room while Yuki did some work in his own room. Since Takara was young and started to talk she and Kaye had played the "Knight and the Princess game". Every night before bed Katsuya would read one of her princess stories. Tonight's story was Rapunzel.
"And then the Prince called up to the beautiful girl at the window" Kaye read as Takara listened elated next to him, "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair. The girl obeyed and let down her long golden hair, to which he started to climb, slowly but carefully."
"So he wouldn't pull it right?" Takara asked as Sakura listened in as she sat in one of the chairs reading a book herself.
"That's right" Kaye nodded, "Because you never pull a princess's hair."
"What next?" Takara asked as Yuki came into the room.
"Takara!" he said as he entered, "It's time for bed."
"It is?" she frowned, "All ready?"
"He's right little one" Kaye nodded again, "We can finish this tomorrow night," he said closing the book.
"Okay" she replied with a nod as she rose, "You promise."
"Of course" he grinned taking her left hand and kissing the back of it, "A knight never breaks his promise."
"In that case, good night sir knight" she curtsied.
"Till tomorrow fair maiden" he added as she ran over to her father and he took her hand leading her toward her bedroom.
Katsuya smiled and then got up from the floor to put out the fire. Sakura stretched in her chair and then turned to him.
"Good story as always" she replied.
"Thanks" he said keeping his eyes on the fireplace so she smiled again.
"Are you trying to avoid me?" she asked.
"No. It's just, you're not going to say anything tomorrow are you?" he said turning to her nervously.
"I won't have to, I'm not the only one who knows after all."
"I told you it's not that big of a deal."
"I know. I believe you. But if you want to avoid gossip then maybe you should be more careful next time."
"Maybe" he said with a sigh, "I'm going to bed."
"Okay" Sakura nodded as he departed and then crossed her arms, closed her eyes tight, and smiled to herself, "Please let this be it" she said to herself as she walked to her room, "Please let Kaye find what he's been searching for."
(Next Scene)
Fortunately for Katsuya since he remained the usual way he would at school there really was no rumor to worry about. Mariko Kuonji was a bit put out but besides that he was able to side step most of the gossip of the day. Like always after school he went to the library to check out a few books. When he found the two he was searching for, got the stamp for taking them out, and rounded a corner of one of the shelves heading for the door, he bumped into someone. Luckily for him he had a book in his chest so the female he had bumped into was simply knocked to the ground without him transforming.
"I'm sorry" he replied as he looked down at the brunette, "Are you okay?"
Stephanie Kamiya looked up from where she was sitting, the book she had been carrying right next to her.
Katsuya's eyes became wide at once.
"Miss Kamiya?"
"Mr. Sohma" she smiled as he helped herup, "Thank you. I see we keep bumping into each other."
"Literally" he nodded, "What are you doing here? School's out already."
"Well I needed to get a book before I headed home. And I heard the library has quite a good selection."
"Is this it?" he asked as he picked it up off the floor for her and glanced at the title.
"Mhm."
"Japanese to English?" he replied repeating the title as he handed it to her.
"Mhm" she nodded as she pressed it against her chest, "I'm afraid my ability to learn Japanese is going very slow. My brother Sam is having no trouble since he's very dedicated to learning. I asked him for his assistance but he said he was way to busy with his own studies and it would be better if I learned it on my own so, here I am."
"Well that's just silly" Katsuya said slightly frowning, "If he's your brother you think he would help you out."
"Yea. Well Sam's never been one for tutoring. And he's right, I should learn it myself."
"Some people learn better if someone teaches them though. You really that stuck?"
"Yea" she nodded somberly, "It may take me a month or two to get it all right. Maybe even a whole year" she added bitterly.
"Hmm?" Katsuya said as he saw the sad expression on her face and his heart melted, "Well I suppose if you need help, I wouldn't mind tutoring you in Japanese."
"Huh?" she looked at him surprise.
"What I mean is, I would be happy to help you learn our language."
"Really?"
"Sure" he nodded, "It's no trouble."
"You sure I am not taking over your time or anything?"
"Uh" he looked at her and then thought, "Oh shoot. I'm supposed to go to the dojo this afternoon. I got to do something about that. Uh yea" he said out loud, "It's no trouble. If you just wait at your locker a few moments, I just have to go talk to someone real quick."
"Okay" she nodded, "I will," she added with a smile.
"Okay" he said dashing off in a hurry heading out of the library and running towards the gym where he was sure he would find his sister.
Sakura and the other teammates were running themselves toward the gym when Katsuya called out for her to stop and she did as she told the others to go on ahead.
"Geez Kaye" she replied surprised as he caught his breath, "Where's the fire?"
"I need you," he said gasping, "To do me a favor."
"Huh?"
"I need for you to cover for me at the dojo this afternoon."
"Why?" she asked suspiciously and with a coy smile on her face.
"Something came up. I need to help someone this afternoon."
"Lie to dad for you?I don't know if I could do that for free, after allour practices are very important to dad."
"Sakura I will give you anything you want" he whined.
"Anything?" she asked her interest piqued.
"Yes anything. Just cover for me."
"I tell you what, you go help you friend, I will cover for you, and when you get home you will give me all the details. Deal?"
"Okay" he nodded, "I got to go. Thanks a lot" he added as he dashed off once more.
Sakura shook her head in amusement and then walked into the gym just as Kaye arrived back at the lockers where Stephanie was waiting for him.
(Next Scene)
When they arrived at the large estate Stephanie led Katsuya through the gates and into the house where they took their shoes off at the door. She pressed the answering machine that was on the table by the door and noticed that there were no messages.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked as he looked in awe at the place.
"Uh sure" he nodded.
"You can go set up in there" she replied pointing to the left, "That's where the sitting room is."
"Okay" he nodded taking his bag to the left and entering the large spacious room.
Inside the room was just like any typical sitting room, but with much fancier couches by the large windows, a table about the size of his family's table at home, and on the right side of a room a grand piano that Kaye was certain Reiji wouldn't mind checking out. Stephanie came into the room with the two cups of tea and placed them on the table as he sat down. Then she walked back out to the foyer to get her bag, walking back in and then sitting down as she pulled out her textbook and the book from the library.
"I really appreciate you doing this" she replied.
"Oh it's no trouble. Isn't there anybody home?" he asked looking around at the quietness of the place.
"My sister should be upstairs doing her homework" Stephanie replied, "Sam is still at school and we don't have any servants on this part of the house."
"And what about your parents?"
"They're hardly around at all" she answered, "My stepfather is very busy with all his political things and as for my mom she moved her own company here so she's quite busy too."
"You have a working mom?"
"Mhm. Doesn't your mom work?"
"No. My mom's a homemaker."
"It must be nice."
"It is" he nodded, "Well what do you say we get started?"
"Okay" she agreed and then opened the textbook.
For the next hour they went over as many of the smaller words in Japanese as they could. By the end of the lesson, Stephanie felt much more confident in her ability to learn the new language. She stretched and then looked at the clock, which read six o'clock.
"Oh my" she said, "Is it that late already?"
"Wow" he replied stuffing some books into his bag, "I got to get home. But you know you're doing pretty well so far. If we keep doing this for a few more weeks you'll be able to catch up in no time."
"You mean you want to keep continuing to tutor me?" she said a bit surprised.
"Why not?" he replied standing up, "I don't have much of anything to do in the afternoons anyway."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yea. No problem."
"Because I don't want to be taking you away from anything important."
"You're not," he said reassuring her as her younger sister Sophie came into the room.
"Steph" the twelve year old replied as she entered, "What do you want to do for dinner, oh" she said when she realized he was standing there, "I didn't know we had company."
"That's okay Sophie" Stephanie said, "Mr. Sohma this is my younger sister Sophie. Sophie this is Katsuya Sohma, we go to school together."
"Nice to meet you" she bowed her head.
"Same here" Kaye grinned at how cute she was.
"Well like I was saying, dinner?" she said turning to her older sister.
"Oh don't worry about that" Stephanie smiled, "We'll make something together. Sam's going to be home late."
"Okay" Sophie nodded, "I'll go get started in the kitchen" she replied dashing off.
"All right" Stephanie smiled again and then turned to Katsuya who was trying to figure out the whole deal, "I'll show you to the door Mr. Sohma."
"Oh okay" he replied following her to the door and then stopping as she opened it, "Miss Kamiya?"
"Mhm?"
"When you said. I mean I don't mean to pry but you said that you both are having dinner alone, is that right?"
"Yea. It's kind of normal actually."
"What about your mom and your stepfather?" he asked his eyebrows rising quite surprised.
"They're hardly ever here actually. Not since they got married. We're used to it though. Even back home mom was hardly ever around. It's been like that for a long time."
"Oh" he nodded, "But" he began.
"What is it?" she asked confused as she saw his sad expression.
"Never mind" he shook his head, "I'll see you tomorrow Miss Kamiya. You did really well tonight" he added as he walked out the door with a bow and then headed for the gate, while she closed the door still bewildered by his expression.
(Next Scene)
When he got home he immediately walked to his room and flopped onto his bed in confusion. He looked up at the ceiling and thought quietly to himself.
"How can it be all right?" he wondered, "To never have your family around? To eat alone with just your younger sister? That just seems so sad to me. It is different maybe that's why?" he thought as Sakura who had heard him come in peered into theroom, "I'm so used to having so many people around. Maybe that's why I can't understand it."
"Kaye" she replied as he rose slowly and faced her the worry still on his face, "Are you all right?"
"Sakura" he said, "Yea. I'm fine. Did everything go well at the dojo?"
"Dad didn't even know that you didn't show" she smiled, "So tell me where were you this afternoon?"
"I told you, I was helping out someone."
"C'mon Kaye. You promised."
"All right" he sighed and then began to tell her about the whole afternoon and ended with his thoughts about Stephanie's family life.
"Whoa that's got to be rough" she said as she sat next to him on his bed.
"That reminds me" he replied, "I need you to do me another favor."
"What is it?"
"Since I am going to be tutoring her in the afternoons, I would really, really appreciate it, if you wouldn't mention about my popularity status."
"Why?"
"Just don't. I'm begging of you."
"Well now" she replied slyly crossing her arms, "That's two times today you have asked me for a favor. I believe this time you owe me something for sure."
"Okay" he grimaced, "What do you want?"
"I will keep this a secret, about your popularity status as you put it and the fact that you weren't at the dojo for the day if you make me twelve rice balls all for me."
"A dozen rice balls?" his mouth almost dropped to the floor.
"That's what I want?" she added closing her eyes, "Take it or leave it."
"Fine" he said through gritted teeth, "You will have your rice balls by the weekend."
"Thank you," she replied as she sprung from the bed, "One more question before I go."
"What?" he said looking up at her dreading the answer.
"Tell me the truth, do you like this girl or don't you?"
"Huh?"
"This is the first time you have showed this much interest in any girl."
"Sakura I do believe that is none of your business. I think I will keep that information to myself."
"Fine. I'll find out anyway," she added with a smirk as she left the room.
"Uh!" he grumbled, "She gets on my nerves sometimes."
"Kaye" Takara said as she walked past, "What's the matter?"
"Takara" Katsuya stopped frowning and invited her in.
After filling her in Takara turned to him with her big eyes.
"She sounds nice Kaye" Takara said with a smile, "But Sakura's just trying to set you up again?"
"Yea."
"She shouldn't do that. Someday you'll find the right one for you. But when you do start dating will you do something for me?"
"What's that?"
"Will you let me meet her too, so I can tell if she's the right one?"
Katsuya grinned and then embraced her tightly.
"Absolutely. I can't think of anyone better to do that."
(To be continued..)
Authors Note: The first two-parter of Book Three! See you all in a bit!
Next Part: Katsuya has seen Stephanie's home life and now it's time for her to see his. See what happens next time in the continuing of chapter three!