Author's Note: I'm sorry that I this took so long. I didn't really have the creativity to start right away and I wasn't sure what to do next. But, it's finally finished. I don't know when Chapter 5 will be finished, but I am thinking that I will put it off until after school and driving lessons end. I need to concentrate on those. They are after all, first priority. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Remember to read and review. I will be giving out cookies. Hehe.
There, standing right in front of Tae, was someone she almost knew so well. The person in front of her was the only relative she knew of before-hand or even had a picture of. He had the familiar features of her father, but this man's hair was much longer. His hair was a pale brown that matched her and her father's own pale eyes. Almost at the very moment she laid her eyes upon him, she knew who he was. He was her father's brother, her own uncle. Tae stood there, looking up in amazement at the uncle she never met. He smiled at her in return. As Tae was about to say something, Tohru interjected.
"Kazuma-san," Tohru said cheerfully as she quickly made her way over to the doorway. In a matter of moments, the three of them were standing a triangle-like formation in the middle of the entry way. "What a pleasant surprise! I wasn't expecting you today. Come in, come in!" she said, once again in a cheerful tone. Kazuma bowed, and with much care made his way into the dining room, were all guests were received in the house. Tae made a fuss over Kazuma, trying to make sure he was settled and comfortable. Tae just sat across from the man and did not say a word. She was speechless as the moment.
Tae paused for a moment and turned her head to Tohru, who had entered the kitchen once again to finish making dinner. Then, Tae slowly turned her head back to the man that was sitting in front of her. She still did not know what to say, even though she had so much to ask about him and about her own father. Kazuma sported his slightly weak, but charming smile once again. She smiled lightly in return. She was about to introduce herself, but Kazuma got to it first. "Tae, I trust that your flight to Tokyo was pleasant? I don't think that your father would be pleased if it wasn't," he said to her, in a tone she could barely describe. "It was pleasant. I slept most of the way though," she replied meekly. She was usually never meek, timid, or anything of the sort but she was meeting the closet relative she knew of in Japan for the first time.
"That's good. Have you met all of the residents of this house yet?" he asked Tae. Tae wasn't quite sure, but she knew that she had met four, plus another member of the Sohma family. "Well, I have met Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo. I also met Kagura as she arrived with Kyo. It was quite an interesting event," she said, trying her best not to laugh about meeting Kyo and Kagura. She almost lost it. Kazuma smiled and said, "Yes. Interaction between Kyo and Kagura is entertainment within itself." Tae sighed to herself, analyzing the similarities and differences between her uncle and her father. They both had extremely similar appearances and what seemed like the same dispositions, but her father was not quite as serene and peaceful in personality.
They sat in silence for a minute or so, until Tohru came out of the kitchen, looking halfway exhausted. "All finished!" she said cheerfully, sounding relieved, "Now, we just have to wait for everyone. Kazuma-san, are you staying for dinner? You are welcome, if you'd like!" Kazuma shook his head slowly with a smile. "I'm afraid I cannot. I have something important that I must attend to, but thank you for the offer," he said, as he gracefully got up from the red cushion that he was sitting on. "Take care you two and tell the others I said hello. Oh, and Tae, would you like to visit me at my dojo sometime? I'd really like to have a chat with you," he said, then looking towards Tae. Tae nodded and waved goodbye to him as he exited the house. Tohru then called out her goodbyes.
Moments later, Tohru sat down next to Tae, with a smile on her face. "So, Tae, what did you and Kazuma-san talk about?" she asked. Tae looked at Tohru and said, "Oh, we just chatted about my flight and if I've met everyone in the house." Tohru now sported a confused, questioning look. "Do you know him or have you met him before?" she asked. Tae sighed and shook her head. "No, but he and my father knew each other quite well. See, Kazuma is my uncle, my father's brother," he said to Tohru, answering her question. Tohru seemed to become really excited. "Oooh! I did not know that before. So, you haven't met him before, but he's your uncle," she said, still a bit confused. Tae readjusted her seating position and replied. "Well, years before I was born, my father left Japan and came to San Francisco. I don't know why though. Whenever I asked him why, he would change the subject quickly. I assume it is something that he would rather not discuss," she said, shrugging her shoulders as she sighed once again.
Tae and Tohru sat and chat for a little while until they were interrupted by the opening of the front door. In the door way stood Yuki, school bag in hand. He smiled at the two of them, stepped in, and closed the door behind him. "I'm sorry if I'm late. I was at a student council meeting. Some of the members wanted to get started early before the school year begins," he said placing his bag carefully on the floor near the door. He seemed to be smelling the air and paused. "Tohru, may I ask what is for dinner? It smells delightful," he said, beaming. "Oh! It is fish and miso soup. I'll bring it out once Shigure and Kyo come in," she said.
"That sounds alright. I guess I'll join you two until they arrive," he said, not really showing any noticeable emotion at the moment. Tae drummed her fingernails, a habit she had acquired a long time ago, quietly on the tabletop. "So, how was the meeting, Yuki?" Tohru asked in her usually cheerful tone, breaking the awkward silence. A moment later, Yuki responded. "It was okay. We just started brainstorming ideas for fundraisers next year and for the fall festival. It wasn't anything new or exciting," he said, shrugging slightly. Tae chimed in. "Oh, in San Francisco we had a student council as well. Last year I served as treasurer," she said, feeling a little more like she was contributing to the conversation.
"That's interesting, but we have the council completed now, but you should really run for class representative. The elections will be held in the first week of school," he said, with a semi-hopeful tone. Tae grinned once again and said, "I think I will." The three of them remained calm and chatted for about ten minutes until the front door slide open. In stepped Kyo with a harsh, furrowed look on his face. And at that moment, Yuki turned his head away. Tae suddenly got the feeling that there was some sort of grudge or wall between Kyo and Yuki. She knew that she was probably correct when she assumed this. Tae shrugged off the thoughts of the tense air between the two. She tried to concentrate on her stomach, which happened to rumbling at that very moment. She had eaten since the sparse lunch on the airplane.
It seemed that Yuki decided not to let Kyo's presence phase him, and he started a conversation. "Tae, what did you and Tohru do while I was gone," he said purposely not using the word "we." Tae sighed, trying to shrug off her hunger for the time being. "Well, Tohru and I talked a bit and I helped her out with putting dinner in the oven. Afterwards, someone I didn't expect stopped for a quick visit," she said smiling, glad that she finally got to meet her uncle. Kyo and Yuki both looked at Tae. A moment later, Yuki broke the short silence. "Oh, and who was that?" he asked with a curious tone. She didn't know how well they knew her uncle, but she wasn't going to assume. "Well, my uncle visited. I was quite surprised because I never have met him, living in America all my life. But, I'm not sure if you would know him all that well," she said, shrugging.
"We might. What is his name? There are so many Sohmas that it is sometimes hard to keep track," Yuki said to her. Tae smiled and replied. "His name is Kazuma Sohma," she said happily. Kyo and Yuki seemed to freeze, like they were on a video and someone had pressed the pause button. For many moments, they stayed like this, but they soon returned to reality. Then, Tae swore she hear Kyo mutter something that sound like "master". Yuki was the only one to speak. "Oh, we do know him quite well, actually. He taught me and Kyo, here, martial arts. But, Kyo will never beat me no matter how much he trains," he said, in a satisfied manner. Kyo suppressed a deep, soft growl. He was about to retort but something stopped him.
Shigure finally came out of his office. "Aw, you waited for me! I feel so loved!" he said in a sing-song voice. Tae looked over at Kyo and it seemed that a vein in his forehead was about to pop. "Shut up, Shigure!" he said, sounding fairly annoyed. "Aw. Did I make poor little Kyo angwy?" Shigure asked in a mocking baby-talk tone. Kyo's only response was a pouting grunt and a crossing of his arms. Tohru then quickly got up. "I'll go get dinner then, now that everyone is here!" she said, practically skipping off to get dinner. Shigure soon sat down and moments later, Tohru came out with a few dishes and then went back to get the rest. Soon, they were all eating and chatting. Tae soon started to feel at home.