"Did you hear?"
"I didn't know she was coming."
"I thought she hated being here?"
Hatori leaned back in his chair and stretched his tired arms. A lit cigarette swirled smoke into the air from a nearby ashtray. He had spent all of his morning signing papers and filling in prescriptions. A knock on a door echoed in the room.
"Come in."
A young servant appeared in the doorway. She held a bundle of towels in her arms.
"M-master Hatori?" A small smile almost appeared on his face. Her timid voice reminded him of Ritsu when he first meets someone.
"Yes?"
"Um…well, uh, I hope you think I'm not prodding into things that aren't my business, but I wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"I-is it true, Master Hatori? Is Mistress Ren here?"
"…Yes, it's true." He shifted uncomfortably.
"Oh. Okay. I'll be getting back to work now." She bowed in respect and closed the door.
Fumika's nerves were on end. Master Hatori confirmed it. Mistress Ren was here. Her eyes flitted to the visible scar. It ran from her wrist to the middle of her arm. She remembered when it happened. Fumika accidentally broke some vases when she first started working at Sohma House. Mistress Ren found out and her temper reached its boiling point; she grabbed a piece of one vase and attacked her with it. So much blood…
She shook her head and pushed the memory back to the darkest corners of her mind. But what really plagued young Fumika's mind was why Mistress Ren had come back in the first place.
"Ha ha! I win! I win! Take that, Kyo!" Miya stuck her tongue out at him. "Another game of Rich Man, Poor Man won by the great Miya." She bowed dramatically. The others laughed.
"You cheated!"
"Face it, orange top. You're a sore loser," Uo said.
"No one asked you, Yankee!" Kyo crossed his arms and grumbled under his breath.
"So do you guys want to play another game?" Tohru asked while shuffling the cards.
"Nah. Let's do something else," Uo said.
"I have an idea. Why don't we go to the movies?" suggested Yuki.
"That is a great idea," Hana stated. "We can go see that new scary movie."
"What are we waiting for?" Miya said as she stood up.
Shigure hummed as he made his way to the kitchen. Yuki informed him an hour ago that he and his friends were going to the movies. With a crooked grin and the house all to himself, he thought of the many wondrous and forbidden ways to enjoy himself while the kids were gone.
"Ah! Yes! Yes!" Shigure sighed in content. It's been a long while since he'd done it. He looked at it in admiration. "Nothing like sake to make my day."
He refilled his cup and brought it to his lips before a knock on the front door got his attention.
"Not there. Not there," he sang and brought the cup to his lips again.
Another insistent knock sounded. Shigure sighed and walked over to the front door. If it was another salesman, he couldn't be held accountable for his actions. Instead, he was met by the stern face of Hatori, the happy-go-lucky smile of Momiji, and the shy eyes of Ritsu.
"Hi, Shigure!" Momiji said happily.
"Hello, Momiji. Hatori." Hatori nodded back. "Nice to see you too, Ritsu."
"Hi," Ritsu whispered.
Shigure shifted aside so the others could enter the house.
"Hey, where are Tohru and Miya?" Momiji asked.
"They went to the movies. They should be back soon."
"Oh, okay," Momiji said downhearted.
"So Hatori, what brings you to my house this fine day?"
Hatori glanced at him with an ominous look before strolling towards the kitchen. Shigure knew that particular look quite well. Whatever brought Hatori to the house, it certainly wasn't good.
A faint laughter soon became thunderous as the front door burst open. Kyo marched through first and ran to the nearest bathroom. Miya nearly dropped on the floor laughing while Yuki and Tohru tried to politely hide the chuckles caused by Kyo.
The quartet had bid goodbye to Uo and Hana after the movie. While walking home, they passed by a brick wall from a house. The bushes along the top started rustling and shaking. Kyo, being the macho bighead that he is, decided to check out the bushes. As soon as his face almost touched the bushes, the rustling ceased. Suddenly, a black blur flew out of the bushes. Kyo started screaming bloody murder and scratching at his face.
"Get it off! Get it off!"
The black blur got off his face and appeared on top of his head. He swiveled around and showed the others what happened. A black cat now sat atop Kyo's head while Kyo had little red lines across his face. All three burst out laughing at the same time. It was too much.
Kyo grabbed the little critter and tried to pry it off his head. It wouldn't budge. It had a good hold of Kyo's head. The harder Kyo tried to force it off his head, the more it dug its claws to hang on. He finally gave up and let it stay on his head. The black cat mewed in content. A few hours after the incident, the cat decided it had enough of Kyo and jumped from his head, but not before leaving a complimentary new mark on his forehead.
Miya couldn't help hearing Kyo's grumbles when she passed the bathroom on the way to her room. Giggles threatened to erupt, but she managed to contain them. Grabbing the door, she wondered what Tohru would make for dinner.
She gasped in surprise. There sitting on the edge of her bed was Hatori.
"Hatori? What are you doing in my room?"
"Shigure informed me that you would be home soon so I waited. I needed to speak with you on an important matter." She nodded and sat down beside him.
"What's up?"
"Oh, you're back. How was the movie?" Shigure asked as Yuki and Tohru entered the dining room.
"Tohru!" Momiji yelled before engulfing Tohru in a hug. POOF!
"Momiji…" Yuki said warningly.
"It's okay, Yuki." She hugged Momiji closer to her body. "Oh hi, Ritsu!"
"Um… hi. Hi to you too, Yuki."
"Hello, Ritsu. When did you get here?"
"Not so long ago. We came because Hatori wanted to talk to Miya and we asked if we could come along to say hello."
"Where is Hatori by the way?" Yuki asked.
"He's in Miya's room," Shigure answered. "So what are we having for dinner tonight, Tohru?"
Tohru set to work on cooking chicken lo mein. Yuki and Momiji offered to help her and she accepted with a smile. Shigure and Ritsu patiently waited for the food, with Shigure whining every ten seconds for them to hurry up. That is, until Kyo came down and smacked his mouth shut to which Shigure felt he should stop complaining.
"I wonder what's taking those two so long."
"I don't know, Shigure, but I think it's important."
"Why do you say that, Ritsu?"
"Well, I can't explain it…but Hatori had a strange look on his face when we left. I didn't know what it meant, but I knew it was something bad."
Kyo understood what Ritsu meant because he'd seen that look on Hatori many times before. His curiosity was sparked. He usually associated that look with-
"WHAT! NO, NO, NO! HELL NO! I'M NOT HEARING THIS!"
Immediately all of their heads swiveled towards the stairs. An angered Miya tromped down the stairs and into the dining room. Kyo had never seen her so mad. He could almost see smoke coming out of her ears. Hatori entered a few seconds after her. As soon as he did, she distanced herself from him as much as possible.
"HATORI, GET OUT!"
"Miya, I'm sorry, but-"
"I SAID GET OUT!" Miya yelled louder, pointing towards the door.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Miya, what's wrong?" Shigure inquired.
"What's wrong? What's wrong! I'll tell you what's wrong! Akito wants me out of the house!"
"What? Why?"
"I wasn't done, Shigure! Akito wants me out of the house and into his!"
"Wait. He wants you to live…with him?" Kyo asked in shock.
"That's what I just said, Kyo!Do you have cotton in your ears?!"
"I'm sorry, but this is what he sent me to tell you. You are to immediately gather your belongings and I'm to take you to the Sohma estate."
"Like hell, I will! Now GET OUT!"
"Miya, Akito said-"
"Akito can kiss my ass!"
"You don't have a choice. You're not of legal age yet and Akito is ready to send you to the authorities if you don't come."
The truth of what he spoke sent shocks throughout her body. She was still at the tender age of eighteen. The age at which a teenager was considered an adult was twenty in Japan. By their laws, she was still a child. A child that could be sent back to her family. Back to a father she never wanted to see again.
Through overwhelming heartache and tears, she trudged up the wooden stairs and began to pack all of her belongings. Hatori had given her boxes he brought along with him. One by one, she filled them all up until six boxes remained on the floor.
The silence that engulfed the room almost ripped her heart in two. Sitting on the edge of a bare mattress, Miya couldn't help but remember every single memory she had of the place. Her favorite hat stolen by Kyo. Yuki helping her with chores around the house. The cooking lessons she received from Tohru. That one time she accidentally walked in on Shigure in the shower. She still hadn't lived that one down.
A sad smile forced its way onto her face. Now she would never be able to create new memories with them again. At least not in the way she wanted to. It wouldn't be the same, even if she visited them. With a heavy sigh, she grabbed one box and took one last, long glance around her room. All she had to do now was say goodbye…
"This isn't goodbye. It's not like you're leaving us forever, you know. You're just moving to a different place and we'll visit you whenever we can. I would hug you, but I don't think Hatori would appreciate all of us turning so imagine me hugging you." Miya laughed as Shigure pretended to hug her. She did the same.
"He's right. You'll visit us too. We know how stubborn you are," Yuki said. He settled for a kiss on the cheek.
"Don't even think about it." She rolled her eyes. Same old Kyo. He rolled his eyes. "Remember to come over so I can finally kick your ass at Rich Man, Poor Man." Miya answered with a smile. But there was one person she could hug.
"Bye Miya," Tohru sniffled as she engulfed Miya in a tight hug. She returned it with just as much fervor.
"See you later, guys."
Those words left a hollow feeling in her heart. She climbed into the back seat of Hatori's car and watched as Yuki, Kyo, Tohru, and Shigure became mere specks on the horizon.
"This will be your new room."
Hatori slid open the door to a space not much smaller than her room at Shigure's house. Miya thanked Hatori and he left to gather up the boxes in the trunk. Stepping into the room, she examined what was her new room. The walls were painted a stark white, something she would change as soon as she had a chance. A single window provided for much of the natural light. Black curtains hung from the rod above it. Pushed up against the left wall was a mahogany dresser with a vanity mirror. A closet door stood right next to it. Her bed was to be put under the window in front of her. She scoffed at the sight.
Kind of reminds me of Akito's room when we took that trip...
A red bean-bag chair rested in one corner next to the bed. Opposite the dresser was a small entertainment center that contained a TV, DVD player, and a stereo. A red shag rug was planted smack dab in the center. Overall, it wasn't so bad. Miya would be satisfied once she made the room her own. But whoever was Akito's decorator seriously needed a smack to the head for coming up with this arrangement.
Hatori had finished putting all of the boxes in her new room. Whatever was left at Shigure's house would have to be picked up later. Miya waved her hand under her face. This room was far too stuffy. Walking over the window, she unlatched the hook and slid it open. A cool breeze curved into the room and she sighed in relief.
"Much better."
Today had been a beautiful day, despite the earlier events that occurred. A crisp wind blew, signaling the coming of Fall. She took notice of the many houses nestled in the surrounding areas. How many of these families were extended families? How many relatives were there? She sat on the mattress. Most likely, a cool hundred, she figured.
Her bedroom door banged open. Miya gasped her heart racing at the sudden intrusion. A familiar face greeted her and it was the last one she wanted to see. She turned her attention back to the scenery, obviously ignoring the intruder.
"Do you like your new room?" He swept forward and took his place beside her. "Oh, don't be mad at me."
"Get out, Akito. I don't want to talk to you."
"But I want to talk to you."
"Just go away."
"You're not in a position to give me orders."
Her fists shook. What she wouldn't give to sock him one right, but she couldn't risk Akito handing her over to the police. Instead, she opted for something else.
"…Why?"
"Why, you ask? It's simple. I think you've gotten too close to Yuki and them. I wouldn't want you to forget where your loyalties lie."
"Loyalties? You said yourself I'm not part of this family and that I wouldn't understand you. And now you take me away from the only real family I've ever known." She shook her head at him. "And you're right. My loyalties lie with Tohru, Kyo, Shigure, and Yuki. Only with them."
Akito's dark chuckle resonated in her ear. She hadn't even realized he'd gotten that close to her. His hot breath on her ear caused her to shake as he whispered slowly:
"Not anymore, my dear. Not anymore…"