Chapter 2: A Man's Promise

AN: Heh, this chapter's a long one. Enjoy:P

Kyo and Tohru stepped into Master Kazuma's house. Tohru thought she knew why Kyo preferred it here. It felt like home…kind of like Kyoko and Tohru's old home. Kyo paused, and looked left to right before stepping into the corridor. Then he raised his head and sniffed.

"Doesn't seem like he's burnt anything this time," Kyo commented with relief. Tohru silently agreed, and followed Kyo. They could hear soft chatter in the tea room.

"Master?" Kyo called out, "We're here." He slid open the door.

Master Kazuma and an unfamiliar woman, his girlfriend no doubt, were seated in plush coffee armchairs.

"Ah, Kyo," Master looked up in surprise and smiled, "And Miss Tohru." The woman sat up a little straighter. Tohru gave a small bow. "How do you do! I'm Tohru… Tohru Honda."

"Ah, hello Tohru," the woman smiled at her. She had short brown hair and a soft, cultured voice. "My name's Masuda. I'm very well thanks."

"Please, sit down," Master Kazuma offered, gesturing to the chairs. He smiled at Kyo's look. "Masuda's choice of colours, of course."

"Such uncanny resemblances…" Miss Masuda meanwhile, was murmuring. She looked up at Tohru's blank look.

"Ah," she murmured, "Maybe I should introduce myself properly. I am… Masuda Honda."

Two collective gasps rang out at the end of her sentence, while Kazuma just nodded knowingly. Masuda Honda smiled at Tohru's confused look.

"You won't have heard of me much though… maybe once or twice from your father…" Masuda tipped her head to look at Tohru in the eye. "You see, my dear Tohru, I am your father's sister."

"I'm sorry?"

"I'm Katsuya's younger sister, Masuda Honda."

"Oh… oh… I have… an aunt?!?"

"Two actually. But I'll talk about that later. The most important thing right now… is to tell you some things of importance."

"Oh…"

Kyo gently nudged Tohru into a seat. Masuda turned to Kazuma with a smile, "Darling, the lunch."

"Ah, yes," Kazuma got up from his seat hastily, and winked at Kyo. The three sat in silence until Kazuma entered the room once more, balancing on a tray some homemade snacks.

"As you can see," Kazuma said jokingly, flourishing the tray's contents, "My culinary skills have improved since a woman came into my life."

Masuda smiled benignly while Kyo gave a tiny snort.

"So how have you been Tohru, all this time?"

"Oh! Fine I've been! Really good! And it's all thanks to the Sohmas who've taken me in so kindly!"

Kyo raised an eyebrow at this. He wasn't all sure Shigure's motives had been purely sincere.

"Because… if you're not happy, because I'm your closest living relative… you could always come live with me." Masuda suggested hesitantly.

"Oh, no! I'm real happy! Truly I am! I'm so grateful that so many people care about me! I'm truly touched…"

"Well, if you're sure…" Masuda continued doubtfully.

"But we have more important things to discuss… How's your school life? And how's living in a house full of men? I hope they haven't been working you too hard…"

"Oh, no! Not at all! I'm fine, really. Please don't worry about me! This is the right place for me!"

"Well… alright. Now, you'll probably be wondering why I'm choosing to see a niece for the first time in her life… You see, not only am I your aunt, I'm also your"

Kazuma gave a tiny cough and they exchanged a glance.

"Wait…" Masuda continued, "Why don't you two just pop along to some shops while Kazuma and I discuss something."

"Yes," Kazuma spoke up, "Perhaps a little something to congratulate Kyo on the karate contest."

"But I have no money!" Kyo protested.

"Don't worry, I still have some from my wages," Tohru beamed at him.

"No! You already need cash as it is. We'll just shop around." Kyo was quick to respond.

Kazuma and Masuda exchanged looks, each trying hard not to grin.

"Ah, oh…ok…" Tohru agreed.

Kyo shot one last confused look at Kazuma, whose face revealed nothing.

"C'mon," he muttered to Tohru, and pulled her out of the room.

"So… that was a little weird," Kyo commented once they were on the streets.

"Totally… it's not everyday you discover you actually have a living relative…"

AN: In this story, Tohru has no knowledge of her grandfather or extended family.

"Must be exciting, huh…" Kyo looked at her sideways.

"Well, yeah… I mean, think of it. Someone who knew my father really well! And perhaps the only other person (apart from Uo and Hana) who was so close to my mother!"

Kyo was silent.

"Kyo, do you think… do you think there might be other members of my family I don't know about?"

He shrugged, "Probably."

"Wow! A real family! Of course, my family wouldn't be nearly as interesting as yours…"

"Hmm…"

"I wonder what it is she wants to tell me." Tohru pondered aloud.

Kyo smiled down at her.

"And what's this? Oh my, another is with the princess!!!" a light and cheery voice greeted the pair around the corner.

"Aah… Ayame! You"

"Eh? Hello Ayame!" (Tohru bows, of course)

"Why, fancy seeing you two here! No Yuki, either… Strange… real strange…"

"Shut it, you snake. Just shut it. And did Shigure send you to spy on us or something?"

"Shigure? No, of course not… Although… aren't you two supposed to be at Kazuma's? Ayame insinuated innocently, "Or are you two just sneaking off somewhere else…? Eek!"

Kyo had shoved his fist perilously close to Ayame's nose. "You'll stop that nonsense if you wanna keep your pretty face, you girly man!"

"Alright, alright," Ayame backed away, "But then again, you wouldn't want Miss Tohru seeing that not-so-charming side of you now would you?" Ayame flashed a devilish grin.

"Why, you…" Kyo growled.

"Oh, and I think Kagura's on the rampage!" Ayame tossed his hair back as he strode away, and waved goodbye at them flamboyantly.

"Let's just go back now," Kyo muttered, yanking her arm forward.

"Oh… ok," Tohru said, as always amused how easily Kyo could be annoyed.

"Well, you have proper family now," Kyo said.

"Hmm."

"You could even go live with her if you liked."

Tohru's head snapped up, "Kyo! Don't be silly! I like living with you guys… (Not to mention you need me) and besides, live with her? Wouldn't that mean living at Master Kazuma's place?"

Kyo grinned, "Oh yeah. Anyhow, I won't let anyone lay a hand on you." He patted her on the head.

"Are you sure she's safe at the Sohma side residence?" Masuda Honda frowned over sips of tea.

"What do you mean by that?"….

"Just relax," Kyo told her, "And whatever it is, don't let it shock you too much."

"Just relax," Tohru repeated hesitantly, "That's right… I mean, it's just a secret, right? No big deal. Not at all…" it sounded as though she was trying to convince herself. Kyo looked away. If her family's secrets were anything like the Sohmas', then she did have reason to be anxious.

"I mean, what more is there about my parents that I don't know? Will it change the way I see them? They're honestly great, in my eyes…" she mused.

"Just get in there and show them that you're not afraid of discovering any secrets about your family. After all, they can't be as bad as mine, now can they?" Kyo urged her encouragingly, gently pushing her towards the door.

She smiled bleakly, "But Kyo… I am afraid," she whispered, and their eyes locked.

"Tohru? Is that you?" a voice called out from within the room. Their gaze was broken as Tohru replied, "Y-yes, I'm here." She darted one last furtive look at Kyo before sidling meekly into the room. He watched her go. So there you have it… so Tohru really was insecure when it came to herself, to her own family, her own life. How could Kyo ever hope to measure up? But perhaps… when Tohru was so busy worrying about others, it would be his job to worry about her.

Kyo paced outside the window anxiously. There was a particular spot near the huge rock in Master's garden where her had a clear view of the back of Tohru's head. He took a step backwards.

"Oh Kyo!"

Kyo spun around so quickly his body was a blur, only to find a pair of small yet strong arms envelope him in a crushing hug that squeezed the end out of his protesting "Whaaaa"

"Kagura! Argh!!!" Kyo freed himself from Kagura's arms of steel. She beamed up at him expectantly.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he yelled, on the verge of exploding.

"I-I… well, Shiggy told me you had come here, so I decided to drop by…" her triumphant grin wavered, then steadied again. "Aren't you supposed to be in the dojo with Master, instead of here?" she inquired sweetly.

"No, I- arghh! Will you just mind your own business!" Kyo turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving Kagura's smile to sour into a pout.

"Kyo! Kyo!" she called out to his retreating back, but he ignored her.

"KYO! You will come back here… NOW!!!"

"Argh… what, dammit?" he growled, turning around. Having Tohru see him all bashed up while she needed the most moral support was not top of the list for him right now.

"That's better…" she said sweetly, "Now seeing as you don't have anything to do, why don't you and I go for a little stroll?"

"Whaa—NO! I do have something to do! I mean, I am doing something! And it's important! Just go away, can't you!"

He regretted saying all that when Kagura's face creased up, and tears began streaming down her face.

"Kyo…" she sobbed, "You're so heartless and cruel… no girl but me would ever like you!"

"That's not true…" Kyo thought to himself, "Tohru doesn't seem to have a problem with me…"

The uncertainty must've shown on his face, because Kagura decided to take advantage and start crying even harder.

"Kyo… you're so mean…"

"Arghh! Alright alright! Just shut up already!" Kagura brightened up at a miraculous speed.

"Alright!" she cheered, "So… what do you want to do?"

"The queen of crocodile tears…" Kyo muttered to himself, "And I said, I'm busy!"

"Oh? So whatcha doing?"

"So… Kyo?" Kagura spoke in a sickly sweet voice that reminded Kyo of the Lovers' Web perfume/deodorant he had been forced to inhale in just hours earlier.

"What?"

"I was just wondering… (giggle) Kyo, are you going with anyone to the local community prom that's coming up? (Not that I would ever allow you to go with anyone else)"

"What?!? NO!!! (As if I would go to such a thing!!!)"

"Ah! Goody!" Kagura squealed, ignoring his last comment. "We'll go together! I've already made reservations for a special gown!"

"You Whaaat! And you did this before asking me to go with you?!? What makes you think I would even want to go with you anyway?!?"

"Well… I knew without a doubt that you'd agree…!"

"Arghh! And… wait a minute… does this mean I have to wear some kind of… tuxedo?" Kyo uttered the last few syllables of the sentence in a mixture of shock, horror and disgust.

"But of course!" Kagura giggled, "I think you'll look absolutely gorgeous with a tie on!"

Kyo heaved a huge sigh, but was in no mood to argue with her. Perhaps Shigure could get him out of this one…