Family Matters(Even if they're not the same species)

Tohru is sitting beside Kobayashi's grave. The smell of incense is very strong. Too much incense.

The sticks for lighting incense are on the floor and overflowing the small pot.

"Tohru...Isn't this overkill?"

She taps me on the head, "Shh, I need to speak with Kobayashi…" she pauses, thinking about what she will say. "Your son is really smart. Most likely from your side of the family. Takiya isn't nearly as bright as you"

I imagine my mother staring blankly at Tohru right now for insulting my father. The same face she would make when I get caught in the act of eating one too many sweets…Or that one time I tried her beer.

"I will try my best to take care of him. Don't worry, Kobayashi-kun," she finishes her speech and cleans the place up.

Tohru's talk about my father made me realize something. I remember my mother in my life, but I can't remember a thing about my father. She told me that he vanished. Though…She never mentioned anything about Tohru, either.

"Tohru…"

"Hmm? What is Shiro?"

"Do you know what happened to my father?"

Dead silence.

"I don't remember what happened. We parted ways before she gave birth to you, "she hesitates, but knells next to me, "Did your mother say anything about him?"

I shake my head. I couldn't remember. I only remember his absence from my life.

"I-I see…," her eyes trail for a while, "Right. I have work to do! I need to go, Shiro. Please take care of Kotori for me," she pats me on the head and runs off.

I rub my head. I'm a first year in high school, but she still treats me like a child. How frustrating.

"You take care of me? Pfft," she rolls on the floor laughing hysterically.

I sigh, "It's not that funny, you know," I wiggled my finger and imitate Tohru's voice, "You two should really avoid fighting. If the knights see you again, you run, okay?"

Kotori taps me on the head, "She doesn't speak like that. Besides. I put those knights under my spell."

"What if we run into knights who can't be put under your spell?"

Kotori thinks about it, but scoffs, "The odds are a thousand to one."

"You mean a million to one."

Kotori shrugs, "You really worry too much. You almost sound like mom."

"Hey…I don't look that old," I look at myself, "Do I?"

Katori shrugs.

I type on my tablet and browse the web.

Katori leans over my shoulder.

"Yes?" I stop typing.

"What's this thing?"

"A tablet."

Katori pokes the screen, "Is this a magic tome?"

"It's not a to-…Actually it works like one. You can search for information with it," I give her the tablet.

She taps everywhere on the screen and scroll through several pages.

"I'm looking for information on a…Takiya Kobayashi."

She finds an address, "Takiya Systems. Located 30 minutes from here. Alright! Let's go!"

She grabs my hand. "Wait!" I shout while struggling to free my hand from her grip,

"What about the house? If Tohru comes back-"

Two clouds of smoke explode. When the smoke clears duplicates of us stand in front of us.

"Take care of the place while we're gone!" she waves while dragging me to the city.

The building "Takiya Systems" wasn't hard to find. Being one of the tallest buildings in the city, it obviously stood out from the regular apartments and convenience stores.

Once we entered the front doors we could see a bald man with sideburns sitting at the front desk.

He gives a nasty look, "Who the he-"

Before he could finish his sentence a person in a very expensive look suit gave him the death stare. The secretary immediately changes his tone and forces a fake smile.

The smile is horribly distorted. His lips looked like some sort of empty, bottomless blackhole.

"… Welcome. May I help you?" he tugged on his tie as if he was choking.

"We're here to see Takiya," I finally manage to say.

The man in the suit approaches me, "Yes. That's me," he nods and gives me a tight handshake.

"Takiya, do you remember me? I'm Kobayashi's son."

He steps back for a second. What I told him may have overwhelm his mind.

He gives a pat on the shoulders, "Shiro. Where have you been? I haven't seen you in ages. Please, come inside my office."

He directs into his office. Books were on the floor. Mountains of paperwork were scattered across the desk. His passport even stuck to the window(somehow).

"What?! This is your office? It looks like a hikkikimori slept here!"

Takiya scratches the back of the head, "Hahaha…Yeah it's pretty messy. You should see what my actual room looks like."

"No thanks," I stare blankly at the mess.

Takiya clears his throat, "You probably know this already, but I was never there for you. I'm really sorry."

"Takiya- …Dad, why did you leave mom?"

"I wanted to be there for you. But I must take care of the company, too. I married your mother and we gave birth to you. Working for the company and having to raise you at the same time was too much for me."

Tick tock tick tock

My heart felt heavy. I can hear It beating.

"Is that why you left her?"
He nods. I could see in his eyes small drops of tears.

"Mom is dead, dad. Grandma had to take care of me. Where were you then?"

"Son. Please. I can't quit my job. It's difficult for most couples to raise a kid. A lot of them refuse to have children. I gave grandma checks so she could afford to give you warm meals and a roof under her head."

I slam the desk and point at him, "I needed more than just food and a home, Takiya! I needed someone to be by my side," I breath heavily. Please don't cry in front of them. Katori opens her mouth, but no words come out. She's at a loss for words.

"I did want to take you in. I have butlers who can attend to your needs. I do come home every now and then. You wouldn't be alone. Though…When I heard grandma died. I couldn't find you. I was worried, Shiro. Worried you ran away."

I shake my head. Drops of water dripped from my ears. I sniff my nose, "No. I didn't run. I'm staying with Tohru."

His eyes change from concern to anger, "Shiro! Tohru is dangerous. You can't stay with her."

I get out of my chair, "I don't want to hear another word from you. Goodbye," I swing open the door and walk out. Behind me, I hear Takiya's distant voice shout, "She's a dragon, Shiro! A dragon can't be a mother!"

Me and Kotori sit outside in the rain for a few hours. We don't speak, but we don't have to. I scoot closer to her.

Splash drip splash

The clouds blot out the son like closing curtains. The rain tapped roughly on the surface. Several drops of rain water create ripples on the asphalt.

"Shiro," Tohru holds up her umbrella. She tries her best to smile, "You went to find Takiya, didn't you?"

I nod.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want you to know he abandoned you. You are already hurting from losing mom. If I told you what happened to dad-"

I shake my head, "It doesn't matter anymore."

Tohru wraps her fingers around me and Katori. She pulls the two of us closer to her chest.

For the first time since the accident long ago, I wept.