AUTHOR'S NOTES: I would like to thank all those who have read this fanfiction. Right now, these 3 chapters are inseparable, meaning to say, I can't upload this chapter without the other and the other without the next. This is going to be my last update, and yes, this story is coming to an end. So without any further ado…
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(Chapter 11 – Beloved)
27-year-old Sohma Kyo was waiting outside the gates of the school he attended with Yuki, Haru, Momiji and Tohru when he was a teen. However, he was there to fetch someone who's in the elementary level.
It has been 9 years after he knew about Kagura's sickness, but now, he's definitely satisfied with his married life.
Kyo peeked at the gates, raising himself a little on his toes, trying to see if the elementary level's building is releasing any 3rd graders. Hopefully, the bell rang in that particular building and kids started flocking towards the gates of the school.
He was looking for a brown-haired boy with the same eye color as his. He was getting confused at the many brown-haired boys getting out of the school.
"Dad! Dad!" a familiar voice rang through Kyo's ears as he turned to look for its owner.
Finally, his son, his only child, Sohma Takumi approached him, anyway, Taku was his nickname.
"Hey Dad! I got an A on my Science test! Isn't that cool!" Takumi showed his father his Science test paper, marked with a big A on the upper left corner of his paper in red ink.
Kyo took Taku by the hand as they got away from the kids exiting the school premises and into their guardians' hold. He also took the test paper with his free hand. Kyo took off Taku's backpack and lunchbox and placed it in the backseat of his silver Vios. He buckled the seatbelt on his son and gently closed the door. Kyo got to the other side of his car and buckled his seatbelt and gently closed the door beside him.
He looked at the test paper of his son and grinned proudly. He gave the test paper back to his son and patted Taku's head and messed up his hair, "Just like your Mom! Very smart! Great job, Taku."
Kyo got his keys into the ignition and started driving.
"Hey Dad!" Takumi called while his father was driving, "Are you gonna teach me Martial Arts later, huh Dad?"
"Yup." Kyo replied, "But only after you finish your homework!"
"Aww geez, Dad." Taku whined.
"Now, now Taku." His father smiled, "You know the rules."
"Finish homework before Martial Arts."
"Right again!" Kyo replied as he stopped in front of a flower shop, "Taku, you wait here. I'll be right back!"
After 3 minutes…
Kyo went back inside the car with a bouquet of purple and pink tulips in hand.
"Hmm?" Takumi said at the sight of those flowers, "Mom's favorite flowers!"
"Man, you are so wise!" Kyo gave the flowers to his son, "Please hold it for me for a while, okay?"
"Okay, well, I guess I know where we're going." Taku said as his dad was driving.
Next, they stopped in a parking lot near the Sohma Family Cemetery. Kyo and his son got out of the car and entered the Cemetery.
Kyo and Taku went on top of a small hill in the cemetery, and gave right respects for the dead as they knelt in front of the grave under the tree on that hill.
Kyo bought incense earlier and lit them; placing it on an incense holder near the grave and lit them up using matches, of which, he also bought earlier. Taku gently placed the tulips on the foot of the gravestone with care as he saw the name of the owner of the grave.
"Say your prayers, Taku." Kyo said as he closed his eyes, "Your Mom is listening."
Yes, the grave belongs to Takumi's mother and Kyo's wife – Sohma Kagura. She died 4 years ago and her son was only 5 years old when she passed away.
TBC…