The Sohma Dojo, Tokyo

January

Almost 29 years after graduation

Five days had passed since Kazuma's accident, when he'd been knocked down the stairs at a subway station and badly injured his left arm and shoulder. Though everyone had been relieved to know he was going to be ok, that healing would take time, and Kazuma had been grateful to accept Kyo's assistance at the dojo for the duration of a twelve-week sabbatical.

Even if Kyo hadn't actually given Kazuma a choice.

But Kazuma did intend for Kyo to train during his time at the dojo; yes, Kyo might have decided to use his 'training sabbatical' to take over for Kazuma while he was injured, but that didn't mean he couldn't still train. Kunimitsu was an excellent instructor himself, and even if Kazuma couldn't physically participate in any training just then he could still observe and offer insights.

That was all the plan, anyway. But Kazuma had only been home from the hospital for three days, and the three of them were still figuring out their new routine. It never failed to lift Kazuma's spirits, listening to Kyo and Kunimitsu discuss their plans and their days; he just wished he could be a more active part of those discussions.

That was the problem with recuperating: It was so very, very boring...

Kazuma, Kyo, and Kunimitsu were sitting at the living room table, just finishing up their lunch when the doorbell rang. Kyo promptly glanced at the other two, both of whom shrugged, then rose to his feet.

"Probably someone else coming to check on you, what do you think?" he asked, grinning at Kazuma, and Kazuma smiled.

"I imagine you might be correct." Considering how many visitors Kazuma had already entertained since coming home to the dojo, that seemed like a very safe bet. "Though I once again have no idea who it might be!"

Kyo headed down the hall to the entryway, wondering who it might be himself. He knew Kazuma had had a lot of visitors, which made Kyo himself very happy; Kyo and Kunimitsu were pretty busy out in the dojo currently as Kyo got used to his new routine, and they both understood that Kazuma was bored. The steady stream of visitors had been a boost to Kazuma's spirits, and it made Kyo's heart happy to know how many people cared enough to come make sure Kazuma was ok.

Some of those people were admittedly unexpected, though.

"Saki?"

The former Saki Hanajima was waiting on the step to Kazuma's house but entered the moment Kyo opened the door. "Ah, good afternoon, Kyo. I had hoped my timing would be such that I'd be able to see you as well." She handed him the bag she'd been carrying, which he took almost automatically, as she slipped off her shoes and hung up her long black cloak. Close to thirty years had passed, but very little about Saki Mosca had changed, certainly not outwardly: she still wore all black, and still had the same serene expression. Her hair was even still the same glossy black, though Tohru's hair had long since started to mix with grey.

And she still had the same power to unnerve him, ever so slightly.

"Thank you," she said, taking back her bag and smiling at him. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I considered calling first, but I thought it would perhaps be more enjoyable for Master Kazuma if my visit were to be a surprise."

"Oh, you're here to see Dad?" Kyo said, suddenly understanding. Though over twenty-five years had passed since Saki had left her job as the dojo's cook, he knew the two of them had stayed cordial; Kazuma always asked after her when Tohru visited her, and every time Kyo himself had been around Saki, she always asked about Kazuma.

He hadn't realized they were on visiting terms, though, and at first he was admittedly surprised to see her.

At first.

"Tohru told you what happened, then?" he asked, and Saki nodded.

"It was a shock, and I can only imagine the stress and fear you must all have initially felt. Still, it's a wonderful thing, knowing he's expected to recover fully."

Kyo gave her a grin. "You can say that again. Well, come on; Dad's in the living room."

They headed down the hall, Saki's dress grazing the floor at her feet. And as they turned into the living room, Kazuma's face broke into a wide smile as well.

"What an unexpected pleasure, it's so kind of you to stop by, Saki," he said, automatically attempting to rise.

Saki held up a hand to stop him, walking around the table and settling herself on his good side. "Of course, Master Kazuma. I wanted to satisfy myself that you were indeed doing well."

Kazuma ruefully looked down at himself, at his sling and cast, multitude of bruises, and the large bandage covering the stitches on his forehead. "I hope you intend to be generous with your definitions," he said, and Saki smiled.

"'Well' in the ways that most matter. How are you feeling, all things considered?" she asked, and Kazuma thought for a minute.

"Acceptably. Obviously there is a lot that could be improved upon, and I look forward to the day when I can take all of this off," he said, gesturing to his cast and sling and bandages. "But I'm alive, I'm home, I have people who care about me...I have no complaints," he said, smiling at her.

Saki returned the smile. "Well, I'm glad to hear all of that, Master Kazuma, truly. Though I do have a suspicion you're not being entirely truthful," she continued.

Now Kazuma was amused. "Oh? In what way?" he asked, and she continued to smile.

"I suspect you do, in fact, have a few complaints."

Both Kyo and Kunimitsu laughed at that, and Kazuma's expression became rueful once more.

"Yes, well, it's admittedly difficult, to go from doing so much to doing so little. I'm sure you can understand Kyo and Kunimitsu's caution, and I do agree with it-"

"-But you're bored," she said, and Kazuma laughed.

"Yes, when I'm left to my own devices...I am admittedly bored," he said, and Saki smiled once more.

"I assumed that would inevitably be the case, which was part of the reason for my visit," she said. And as she spoke, she lifted the bag she'd set beside her and placed it beside Kazuma. "I selected almost all of these for you personally, though Lorenzo sent a few suggestions, as well," she said, referring to her husband.

Kyo should have realized right then, but he didn't. Kazuma, however, did, and his entire face lit up in a beaming smile as he looked from Saki to the bag and back again. "You're far too generous, Saki, I couldn't possibly accept!"

"Please do," she said, smiling. "I know how tedious a long recovery can be, and I can only imagine how much worse it must be for a person as normally active as you."

Kazuma reached into the bag, and Kyo watched curiously as he lifted out a book, studied it, and turned it around to the read the back. As he did so, Kyo was able to see and read the cover: 'In Dreams We are Together.'

…

Kazuma took out another book. And another. And another. Soon he had a few neat stacks, all of them completely and obviously romance novels. And based on at least a few of the titles and the fact that one of them had what Kyo knew to be one of Shigure's pen names...they were likely to be romance novels of a particularly...risque nature.

Saki gave Kyo the most angelic of smiles when she looked his way. "Isn't it wonderful, Master Kazuma and I sharing similar literary tastes? I've always thought it a fortunate circumstance, and now more than ever."

"It certainly is useful," Kazuma agreed, smiling as he perused the back of the last book. "I feel I shall be well-occupied with these, Saki, thank you so very much for thinking of me. And please pass my appreciation on to Lorenzo, as well."

"Of course," Saki said serenely. "He'll be glad to know you approve."

"As you say, sitting around has never been a strong suit of mine. Having these to read is sure to make the time pass much more pleasantly."

Saki reached out and carefully removed a book from one of the stacks. "If I might offer a suggestion, this one," she said, "is an excellent choice to begin with. It's part of a series, and I've included them all."

"Ah, yes, I saw that; it certainly sounded like a very interesting storyline."

"Would you like to read the back, Kyo?" Saki asked, once more giving him an innocent smile. "Perhaps you'd be interested, after Master Kazuma is done."

A glance at the title was more than enough for Kyo, and forty-seven or not he could still feel himself blushing right up to his hairline.

"Nope, I'm good, thanks. You guys know I've never been a huge reader."

"True," Kazuma agreed, his attention on the book that he'd now taken from Saki, but Saki was still smiling at him.

"Perhaps you've just never found the right sort of book. You never know, Kyo, perhaps you'd actually enjoy it, were you to consider it with an open mind."

Kyo's mind would never be open enough to share racy books with either his father or Saki, certainly not both of them, and he was very much ok with that.

As it was, he'd reached his limit.

"Well, I oughtta get back out to the dojo before the afternoon students start turning up. Thanks for stopping by, Saki, good to see you," he said, rising to his feet.

Kunimitsu stood up too, though he was grinning. "Yeah, nice to see you, Saki. On behalf of those of us who have to make sure he sits still," he said, gesturing at Kazuma, "I appreciate it."

"Of course," Saki said, smiling at them both. "Have an excellent afternoon; I thought I'd stay a little longer, if you have no objections, Master Kazuma?"

"I'll always welcome your company, Saki," he said, smiling at her.

"In that case, I wanted to tell you about a new series I heard is being translated. It features a male lead who-"

Kyo was already out the door before Saki had a chance to finish, and he took a deep breath of the cold January air as Kunimitsu, laughing, stepped out after him.

"That still bothers you, after all this time?"

Kyo gave the older man a glare. "No, it does not bother me. Dad can read whatever he wants, he can take gifts from whoever he wants-"

"And it'll still bother you and make you blush like a high schooler," Kunimitsu teased, and Kyo felt himself blushing once more.

"Ok, yeah, fine, I think it's weird. You don't think it's weird he reads stuff like that?"

Kunimitsu shrugged. "They're just books, Kyo."

"Dirty books," Kyo said, grimacing, and Kunimitsu grinned.

"Don't you have three children, Kyo?"

"So?" Kyo said demanded with a scowl, and Kunimitsu chuckled once more.

"So, I'm just saying I think it's funny you're still such a prude."

"I'm not a prude," Kyo barked, and the grin widened.

"You're not, huh? You gonna expand on that?"

Kyo promptly punched him, which Kunimitsu blocked. And Kunimitsu was still laughing, but he calmed down and became more serious as he said, "he enjoys it, and it makes him happy, Kyo. I imagine you and I'll both be glad he's got something to entertain himself these next couple months, as much as he can be."

Kyo sighed, thinking about Kazuma's collection of broken bones, contusions, and cuts. "You're not wrong," he admitted, and Kunimitsu nodded. Then Kyo made a wry face.

"But I'd still really, really rather not think about Dad getting dirty books from Saki."

Kunimitsu grinned and patted Kyo's shoulder. "Yeah...good luck with that."