Chapter 10: The Honest Truth Is Worth Telling

Some of this chapter is based on my speculation of the manga. DO NOT believe this…unless someone has read the volumes that were released in Japan and this has happened. If it has…then…I'm psychic. But…I strongly doubt it. Please READ AND REVIEW. I enjoy reading what you say good or bad. I like to know what people think and I'll attempt to improve. .

Tohru continues to blink, as she gets more and more dumbfounded by the second. How did Haru obtain the knowledge of something about herself, which she didn't even know? Yuki also stares at Haru curiously, wondering about the next words that may spill out of his blabbering mouth.

Meanwhile, though, in Tohru's mind she found herself re-contemplating her most recently spoken words, the ones she spoke to Yuki before Haru quietly approached them. What were they? Why was she having a hard time remembering such simple things that happened only seconds ago? 'Sometimes…I feel like I'm really a part of this family. The Sohma family' Those had to be the words…it just had to be those. What did Haru mean when he whispered those mysterious words. What was he even thinking? Was there something Kyo was supposed to tell her and he never did?

Everything became too confusing; her eyes began to scan the throng of mourning people, unintentionally passing up Yuki and Haru each time her eyes flutter by. Slowly, she places her hands on her ears and shakes her head, rattling and dismissing any unwanted thoughts. This was all she had to concentrate on now. Haru's strange mutter. It still didn't make any sense, and it wasn't going to give off any logic until Haru opened up his motionless lips to ease their minds of racing thoughts.

He smiles at her confusion and shakes his head. For some strange reason, Haru was beginning to enjoy their sudden perplexity. He found it…. entertaining! How fond he was becoming of their struggling minds, it was as if he were trying to mentally say he was going insane or something. Yet, his mouth stays practically stapled shut.

But, when he sees them struggling to come up with new thoughts he sighs and folds his arms across his chest tiresomely. "The thing is, Kyo was suppose to tell you something. Ya know, incase he was to ever get locked away like he is now." Pulling his arms out of the folded position, Haru scratches the back of his head with his left hand for a moment and then sticks both hands in his pocket "Have you ever really wondered why Akito hates you so much Tohru-kun?" Haru asks, trying to make it sound as if it is out of sheer curiosity; clearly, it didn't convince Yuki the slightest bit since -the moment Haru spoke his sentence-he shot an awkward stare at him.

Tohru stares at Haru curiously and shakes her head and replies with a gently spoken, "No."

Of course, she didn't know why Akito despised her. She was always told that Akito had a superiority complex, and so she just plainly went along with it as if it were no big deal. But, it was now obvious that whatever made Haru say what he said, had to do with Akito. What it was though, was continues to remain unrevealed to both Yuki and Tohru. Why hadn't Kyo-kun told me anything? Why didn't he tell me what Haru-kun is getting ready to tell me? H-How…important is it? These thoughts rush through her mind like bullets to a target. And still, no answers came to her. Her mind was blank and she was practically thoughtless.

A short smile limps across Haru's face. "Akito despises you, not only because you too are a female, but because…your mother was a part of the Sohma family." The jaws dropped instantly and without hesitation. Knowing he had caught them off guard, Haru gives them a couple moments to regain a little composure and to stop gawking at him and his previous sentence. It was pretty funny to Haru, how so few words can affect a person -a group of people- so greatly.

Tohru opens her mouth but the words became lodged in her throat so tightly that nothing came out. She begins to shake her head, feeling the confusion over come her. "But…no…my father. Wait… our families' last name is Honda. And…my mother…her maiden name was…Sohma? Are you sure Haru-kun?" Her tone was more curious this time and less full of shock. The soft expression on her face told him everything.

"I'm positive. We gathered all the information we possibly could and then one day it became clear. I was speaking to Akito in a whisper one day…and she confirmed this." His voice was stern and gave off the impression that if someone were to intrude -while he was talking- he'd kill them. That wasn't the case at all though. His face bore the expression of a solemn man whose life was practically torn apart, but aside from that, he was full of seriousness, and had a poker-type face on.

Her mouth, once again, opens but to no prevail. Nothing came out and it was the same each of the next three times she tries in consecutive minutes. Yuki looks from Tohru to Haru and back to Tohru again. Finally, he switches his attention to Haru and looks at him with strong bewilderment. "I don't understand… How did you come up with that assumption in the first place? Surely, something tipped you off. Who or what was it that gave you that impression?" He asks as if each of the questions were glued to Haru's forehead.

Another grin skips merrily across Haru's face. For some weird, Sohma-like reason, he was enjoying the fact that they were absolutely speechless. "Come, we'll leave this area for now. It's far too depressing." He says shortly, requesting to leave his lover's burial grounds even though the ceremony was still going on.

Nodding silently, they follow him past all the screeching and crying people that were occupying all of the space and reach a little alley that rested between an old abandoned house and a monstrous tree that practically consumed everything around it.

Haru tugs at his pants a little so that dirt doesn't get on them as he sits down on a large tree root. Yuki and Tohru almost do the same, except they sit on a rickety bench that was directly across from Haru. Without another movement, Haru continues on with his little 'story'. "Ya see, back during the time when Kyo's mother was still alive your mother lived here, Tohru-kun. But, Kyo wasn't allowed to ever leave the house because of the Juzu beads. His mother feared that the beads would break or slip off and what not. So, he was forced to live in segregation even with a family." He pauses for a short breather and continues on, " Your mother, Kyoko-san, would come to his house every so often because she was a friend of his mother. When your mother got married, Tohru, she began sneaking back into the Sohma Estate to visit her friend that also was preparing to have a baby. She spent years going back and forth between you two, may it have been taking you with her or leaving you at home with your father. She felt very bad for Kyo nonetheless because he was cursed with the vengeful cat spirit. Of course, being an inner Sohma, your mother knew of the Sohma curse and accepted it with open arms, unlike all the other parents. Though, she was quoted as saying she was happy you weren't born as any of the animals of the Juunishi."

After he stops again, Tohru couldn't help but open her mouth. "So... mom wasn't only out with her gang all those times. She was…taking care of Kyo-kun." Her eyes grew bright as she imagined her mom as a noble…gang member. What were the odds that her mother was actually one of the inner Sohma's, without a vengeful spirit, that new of the curse? It made her happy to know that her mother was almost exactly like her. "Please…. continue Haru-kun." She whispers eagerly.

"Very well then." He says plainly after seeing the transfixed expression on Yuki's face. "As I was saying, your mother used to take extra care of Kyo. She'd come to the house, talk with Kyo's mother for a bit and play with Kyo or talk to him about whatever he liked. Heh…she even made him promise that he'd take care of you when you both got older. She wanted you to see how kind Kyo was, but…once his mother committed suicide… things changed with him." The moment he spoke the word 'suicide' Tohru's mouth dropped. He ignores this and continues on, " He was hated by everyone here and that was when Kazuma took him under his wing. After that, Kyoko never really saw Kyo and you were never given the proper chance to meet him as she had wished. It's also said that Kyo was the cause of her death, and the guilt he holds upon himself is great. The truth is…. we don't know if that's true. We believe he is misunderstanding the situation and is blaming it on himself because he isn't sure what really happened." Haru stops for a second and smiles at Yuki and Tohru and whispers, in a raspy tone, "Any questions?"

Yuki opens his mouth to speak, but it is Tohru who is able to spit out words, "So…it isn't Kyo's fault my mom died?" This made her much happier knowing that it wasn't his fault. The only reason she could think of to why he'd blame himself is because Kyoko, her mother, was probably like a second, more caring mother for him and he wanted someone whom he knew that he could blame. The only person that he was able to blame at the time was himself, because he was frightened and running away from the accident.

Now he was locked up, almost like when he was forced to stay home when he was younger. It was horrible how bad his life was now. Everything seemed to be coming back to him and biting him for all his happiness; tearing all his enjoyable memories away one by one until there was nothing left to keep him alive.

This news begins to make Tohru think deeply about their situation. As a Sohma…she'd be able to have some sort of direct mental link or something right? What am I thinking…just cause they're cursed doesn't mean they have telepathic links? She sighs a little and looks at Yuki curiously. He was twiddling his thumbs but was in a deep, hypnotic trance; in deep thought. What was his mind currently set on and thinking about? Was he even going to speak up on this entire matter?

Finally, he does exactly what Tohru was asking herself; he speaks up. "Miss Honda, you …are a member of the Sohma family. Which is why Akito hates you? Your mother used to take care of Kyo and they created a special bond. She has him promise…. to take care of you." After saying that last repetition, he realizes what the last sentence was that he spoke. The thoughts comes to mind that… he was never meant to be with Tohru Honda, as much as he loved her, it just wasn't allowed to happen. Kyo and Tohru love each other and even her mother knew that was bound to happen. How can he knowingly go against her wishes to have them together? She hardly even knew Yuki if she knew him at all, so why should he love Ms. Kyoko's daughter? That, as well, didn't seem right. So, for the sake of Miss. Tohru Honda, he decides…to give up his love. I …can't love her when it was forever meant for her and Kyo to be with one another. She doesn't love me… as I love her. It's just like a brother and sister type thing between us. Her and Kyo. That must be true love.

Haru glances at Yuki, awaiting more words to come from his mouth, but nothing came. "Is that all Yuki?" he asks curiously, tilting his head to the left slightly. Watching Yuki nod, he gets to his feet and walks up to Tohru, slowly kneeling down in front of her and taking her hand. "Shall we…."

She knew exactly what he meant by that this time. By what he said. He wished to help her. Help her free Kyo from Akito's strong dungeon like house she locked him up in. Grabbing his hand as well, Tohru gets to her feet at the same moment as Haru. "Let's…. please go." Her eyes were on the verge of tears, but she was ready to help her love nonetheless. No matter what it took. No matter the strong, and difficult consequences.

Here is chapter 10 of the...um.. sad? amazing? I don't know. Here's the 10th chapter of Kan Yume! I hope you all enjoy(ed). Please read and review!