Chapter 7

Bunnies are so cute :3 This chapter IS slightly tragic, please don't get too emotional over it or you may not want to continue reading the fanfiction (That means you The_Goth_Girl) except by the ending you should be very happy. So read the whole thing BEFORE deciding to ditch the fanfiction.

"Hrmmm" murmmured Nodoka getting up to the morning. She looked around and no one was there, it was Sunday at around noon according to her bedside clock. Trey must have been practicing with his father outside she thought. She walked to her window, no one was there. She thought Trey was downstairs cooking lunch with Tohru maybe. She slowly crept downstairs, the house was so quiet, and so dark, the house was silent enough to hear the analog clock on the wall tick. Each tick. She found herself at the bottom of the stairs looking at Trey sitting in the living room, the atmosphere was dead. Trey looked dark, like that look she saw one night when the robbers came. But much, much darker this one was. Something caught her attention, it was Kyo gesturing Nodoka to the den, she walked across the living room trying to be as quiet as humanly possible. She slid into the door of the den and saw Taylor and Tohru crying... What was going on?! Kyo beckoned Nodoka to a
seat beside him.

"Whats going on?" Nodoka asked her dad softly

"Tristin-senpai" he answered coldly

"What about him?" she asked softly, she was starting to feel fear grip her heart.

"Tristin-senpai... Tristin-senpai ... Is... Dead." lulled out Tohru then returned to weeping with Taylor. Nodoka could feel pain, she never thought such a man could die. Ever. Tristin was always so cheery, so strong, unshakable, only by his own son. It was too early for him to go, how did this happen?

"H-How..?" Nodoka stuttered

"Murder" weeped Tohru

Who could kill Tristin? Why would anyone kill Tristin? He was also so jolly and pure. She just realized how much more pain Tohru,Trey, and Tohru were in.

For Taylor to lose the love of her life. Tristin was Taylor's husband. He was always so nice to her, and she loved him for it. It was like if Nodoka lost Trey... What would she do?! She wouldn't be able to handle it, for Taylor to live widowed. It's not supposed to be this way.

Trey... Tristin's only son - only child. Only person in the world he could relate to so easily. Trey loved his father almost as much as he loved me. How could he cope with such a devastation? To be without anyone he could relate to? No one to practice against. No one to tease him. No one to teach him the way of the world. How could he go on?

Tohru... Her mother. She lost one of her very best friends. She slept with him and shared romantic moments with him that she cherished forever. She lost one of her lovers. She knew Tristin so well. She was taught so many things by Tristin. He served her like he would serve Taylor. How could Tohru bear this feeling?

But who would kill him?

"Who?" asked Nodoka softly

"Yokoshima Gyofu" Kyo answered

Gyofu...Gyofu... Ninjin Gyofu! A girl in her school was named Ninjin Gyofu, her father was Yokoshima Gyofu... Yokoshima was an industry fisherman. He must have killed Tristin for business. Bussiness. Such a disgraceful reason to kill someone. No justice can be held for someone killing for 'business'. Nodoka thought of going to see how Trey was doing, it was the thing to do, as his girlfriend. Nodoka walked out of the den on the verge of tears, she slowly retreated to sit beside Trey, she tugged his arm and leaned on it.

"Please excuse me, I'm going to the Gyofu's" Trey got up and walked to the door, he departed without another word. Nodoka looked frantically around for his sword, it was on the rack on the wall, she was relieved, Trey wasn't going to be killing anyone. Nodoka tried to be strong, be the sane one in the house, the mediator, for Trey atleast, he was always there for her, she let him down too many times, she was going to be there when Trey needed her most. Nodoka went upstairs slowly to change, she thought about what she'd do when she arrived at the Gyofu's. She got changed swiftly and walked downstairs, opened the door, and started her way to the Gyofu's.

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"Knock , Knock" sounded the door

Nodoka was at the Gyofu's. The door was slowly opened by her school friend, Ninjin Gyofu, she wore a sad expression. Nodoka saw to her right Yokoshima and Trey sitting across from eachother talking in a formal manner.

"Why?" asked Trey maturely

"To eliminate competition, it was a very stupid decision I admit, I deeply apologize for your loss, I could not ask for forgiveness for such a deed I commited. I wish to do anything for you to aid you in your healing, please, let me help you, Tristin-chan was a good friend of mine, but greed got the best of my meek mind, and I killed him, I'd do as much as I can do make up to his son" apologized Yokoshima

"Answer my questions, and attend the funeral is all I ask, as a friend"

Nodoka could detect the despair in Trey's serious tone, Trey was trying to be reasonable with the man who killed his father, actually, Trey was his father in almost all aspects of his life. One critical one too. He was too nice, he cut this killer too much slack.

"And..." started Trey

"Imprisonment" finished Yokoshima

Nodoka looked at Ninjin, Ninjin was always so just, she believed her father deserved imprisonment, she didn't let her emotions crowd her need for justice. Ninjin was so cool thought Nodoka. Nodoka stepped over the threshold and went to sit beside Trey, Trey noticed her, but couldn't think of anything to say, so he simply held her. Nodoka was losing grip on her sense of strength, Trey was going to be the strong one in this situation, for her and his mother.

"I do not object to these requests, I support them and thank you for your generosity in the manner, many other men would have done rash things in this situation, I appreciate this, but, may I ask something?" said Yokoshima

"Yes?" said Trey slowly, his voice like iron.

"What of my daughter, my house, and my daughter's pet rabbit?"

Nodoka, Ninjin, and Trey all exchanged easy to understand looks, and they came to a conclusion after a few whispers.

Trey spook up "With your permission, the decision suggested by us is that Ninjin-san is to sleep with Nodoka-chan at the Sohma residence, I will sleep in a completely different area of the residence. The bunny is to come with us, Nodoka-chan and I care for rabbits of our own, we will take good care of it" Trey paused a second to wait for Yokoshima's reaction before continuing, he looked agreeing, Trey continued "The Gyofu residence will be maintenced and paid for by me, we may use this house in certain circumstances if the need arises, but I asure you, this house will stay maintained by the time you come back" finished Trey

"I have no objections" blurted out Yokoshima. He was at Trey's mercy, he wanted to keep it that way, he also didn't want guilt to kill him.

"Then I am satisfied" said Trey getting up and departing. Trey was going to fix this family fast and efficiently... Alone... Nodoka didn't want this, she wanted to help. Nodoka slowly said to Yokoshima "Senpai, I'd like to say Trey-chan and I appreciate your understanding-"

"I have no right to object to anything anymore, I took away a large part of Trey-san's life, I want to repay him" interrupted Yokoshima

Ninjin beckoned Nodoka upstairs to pack all her stuff and ready the bunny to be transported. When they finished packing everything, Nodoka came downstairs and said to Yokoshima "Tuesday is the funeral" and with that Nodoka and Ninjin left with the bunny in it's cage. When Nodoka opened the door she found Trey waiting there, Ninjin handed Trey her things to carry, then they walked to the Sohma's.

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The sleeping arrangements turned out well, and Trey did all the cooking and cleaning for Tohru who was grieving. Trey slept in a large tree outside Nodoka's window, the tree was lush and green, this was the tree in Nodoka's constant visions.

One day Kyo was sent on a long business trip, leaving Tohru to grieve alone, Trey was there for her alot these days Kyo wasn't around. Tohru was the next thing on Trey's list that he'd help fix.

On the second night of Kyo's trip, Trey heard Tohru crying in bed, Trey couldn't believe anyone could cry so much, he really pitied her. Trey was listening to her cry from outside her bedroom door, he heard Tohru get up out of her bed and walk over to the door, Tohru opened it and bumped into Trey. She grabbed on to Trey and said "Oh, Tristin-chan..."

"No... Trey" said Trey remorsefully. Trey picked up Tohru, she was in her pajamas. Trey carried Tohru outside, he walked to the tree where he usually slept. He climbed the tree with Tohru on his back, she stopped crying! Trey laid Tohru down on a hammock, and hummed a tune to put her to sleep, it worked quickly. Trey sat on a branch slightly above to the right of the hammock. Trey was in an easy position to stroke Tohru's hair, so he did. Tohru moaned in her sleep "Tristin-chan... I miss you"

Trey kept humming the seductful tune. Nodoka was watching Trey, she was tired, but she wanted to stay up long enough to see Tohru wake up happy again, everyone loved to see Tohru happy.

The night continued the same as it began, Tohru had dreams about Tristin-chan and Trey just sat there stroking Tohru's soft brown hair. He sat there humming that romantic tune. Then in the early morning, Tohru awoke with a much brighter face then the night before, she turned to Trey.

"Good Morning Trey-chan" said Tohru

"Good Morning Tohru-senpai" said Trey "You slept well, didn't you?"

"Yes, Thank you Trey-chan"

"For what?"

"You replaced what Tristin-chan made, thank you"

Trey hit his goal, Tohru was healed, all she wanted was Trey's loving touch, almost the same as his dads. It was Tohru's most nostalgic night.

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One night during dinner, Trey knew how he could help Nodoka cope with Tristin's death, she made a food for her she'd always remembered, ever since her childhood her favorite food was - Herring, cooked by Tristin. That's what Trey made for Nodoka that night, but Nodoka was being stubborn, she didn't want to need healing, she wanted to be strong, she ate the herring hastily trying her best to look unchanged by her favorite food, but after the herring came her favorite soup. She tried to seem unchanged but the soup impressed her, she broke into tears at the dinner table and ran to Trey and hugged him tight, even though Nodoka was trying to be strong, she still loved how Trey wanted to help her, and in the end, she did need healing.

That night they slept together, in the large yew tree. Trey treated Nodoka just like he did with Tohru, but he did everything more lovingly, more gentle and he did more things, they kissed, he held her, everything she loved he did. Even though Nodoka pretended like she didn't want it, and was trying to be strong, Trey healed Nodoka and replaced Tristin well, Trey made up perfectly for his father, but Nodoka still missed the jolly man who wasn't the sweet boy holding her.

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Next on Trey's list was to give the bunnies a proper home and heal Hiro. Trey was striking things off his list, he still grieved and hated himself deep down for trying to replace his father, he also cries sometimes at night when noone is with him. But he wanted to help the people close to him, he wanted to make up for Tristin's absency, he just wanted everything to be normal again, where they played Poker and he snuggled with Nodoka while watching a movie, he loved Nodoka.

On Monday Trey got up slightly later then he usually did, he picked up Nodoka and jumped down from the tree. He quietly carried her to her bed to sleep beside Ninjin... Oh ya Ninjin, another thing to help. Trey retrieved a piece of paper and pen from his pocket and wrote on the page "Heal Ninjin"... She temporarily lost her father, it was similar to what he was feeling, besides him losing his father forever... Not temporarily. He'd help her.

Trey walked downstairs and went to the living room to see the four fuzzy bunnies sleeping on a pillow. The father, mother, child, and new playmate from Ninjin. Trey carefully picked up the pillow and placed it in the corner of the room, he filled the food bowl and placed it beside the pillow. He sewed in yellow thread in the pillow "Bunnies :3" The bunnies had something to their own now Trey thought. Trey crossed bunnies off his list and went to the den. He knocked on the door when a kiddish voice sounded, "Come in Trey-senpai!". Trey opened the wooden door and saw Hiro playing a Western card game called "heart attack" Trey sat down on the futon beside Hiro, he pretended that he didn't care about Tristin's death, but it was clear, Trey could see through the large eyes of the chubby boy, Hiro knew he knew.

"You can't replace what he's done for me" said Hiro about to cry

"No, he gave you a home, and friends, I can't replace that" said Trey

"But I can be your friend, let me cheer you up, please." said Trey

"I'm sorry, I can't, I'm planning to leave here tommorow, I can't stay here on a dead man's promise." cried Hiro

"Then let me help you leave, anything I can do for you?" asked Trey

"My possesions are packed, but maybe a snack to calm me down? Please?" asked Hiro

Trey got up and walked to the kitchen, he opened a cupboard and retrieved an oatmeal bar from a box on the top shelf of the cupboard. He walked back to the den and gave Hiro the snack.

"Thank You" said Hiro taking the snack

"Anything else?" asked Trey

"Just say good-bye to everyone for me, I'm leaving in 3 hours, I doubt anyone gets up at 5 AM."

"Tohru-senpai sometimes does"

"Then I'll leave at 4 AM"

"Okay, I'll say goodbye to everyone, I'm sure they'll understand"

Trey wasn't going to tell Taylor or Kyo yet, they were still distressed, telling Taylor that one of her card friends left would devastate her even more. Trey couldn't do that to her mother, he didn't want to.

Trey retrieved the list from his pocket and crossed off Hiro.

"Whats that?" asked Hiro

"Things to do, to help people recover from my fathers death, and finish whatever he started" explained Trey

"Your a good man Trey-senpai"

"Im only 13"

Trey and Hiro spent the rest of the two hours playing spades, the had a great time, Hiro was very cheered up, he couldn't be sad when he played games, but 4 AM came so soon.

"Ill be going now" said Hiro while getting his bag and another snack.

"Okay" said Trey

Before Hiro left he gave Trey a friendly hug, Trey walked with him to the door and watched as he walked off property, Hiro had a smile on his face, Trey realized, he helped someone start a new life.

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"I can't keep crying" said Taylor

"I'm happy" responded Trey

It was 8 AM the same day, Trey found Taylor in a much better mood that morning, Taylor promised herself she'd get over Tristin's death, crying for three days made her tired, and she couldn't bear it anymore. Trey didn't need to help her, Taylor managed it herself.

Trey retrieved his list and crossed off Taylor.

"Whats that?" asked Taylor across the table

"Hard to explain, take a look if you want" Trey tossed the paper on the table and went to thinking.

"You don't need to" said Taylor

"What?" awoke Trey from his deep thoughts

"Kyo-san is fine, I took care of him"

"How?"

"Let him kick my ass in cards, Tristin-chan was only good at playing "Wizard" that card game he mastered. But he always lost in every other game, Kyo-san just missed someone to beat"

The jackass thought Trey, he really was an airhead. Trey struck Kyo off the list, all that was left was Ninjin, but how could Trey replace a man who gave her everything? That would be tricky thought Trey.

"Haaaaa~" screamed a shrilly voice

Ninjin and Nodoka both pounced on Trey unexpectedly, they laughed as they watched Trey scramble off the ground like a wet cat. Ninjin didn't seem sad, and even when Trey looked deep into her eyes, he knew why.

Yokoshima abused her.

Her own father did horrible and perverted things to her. Such bad memories to bear. But, Trey already healed her.

He never knew people were helping Trey heal people and help people get over Tristin's death, he never knew, what good people he lived around.

"Hey, dweeb, come out here, bring your sword!" called a arrogant voice from outside

Trey felt a surge of excitement, he jumped to retrieve the steel blade from the wooden rack on the wall, her burst open the door and found Kyo a few yards away holding a machete, Kyo was healing Trey! Kyo could relate to Trey!

Trey ran at Kyo and they started practicing, it was just like Tristin was right there, trying to hit him, lovingly.

After all Kyo was Trey's only father now.

Life was normal again.

Trey, loved it.

That night he snuggled with Nodoka.

All was right with the world.

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"I see... Totally understandable" said Taylor

The family was eating dinner and Trey just told everyone about Hiro, Tohru looked a little sad, she missed a cleaning buddy. Kyo also looked a little blue, the chubby kid was so easy to tease, and he responded well. Taylor was sad too, she lost an ace heart attack player. Nodoka and Trey were thinking the same thoughts, the lost someone who they played with their pets.

"Oh well, we can visit him whenever." said Kyo

"What?!" blurted out Trey

"I knew before you Trey-san, he's going to an apartment building down the street" explained Kyo

"Why didn't you tell us?!" fumed Taylor

"Thats boring" said Kyo cooly

"Jackass!" yelled Trey playfully

Trey was the only angry one, everyone just laughed along.

"Dammit Kyo-san! Your such an airhead" scoffed Trey

"No you" joked Kyo. Kyo was bugging Trey like his father did, Trey loved this deep down.

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"Stop that Trey-chan~"

Trey was sleeping with Nodoka again, Ninjin slept in the den now that Hiro was gone. Trey was tickling Nodoka, she laughed so hard that she was losing breath. Trey stopped and hugged her, they fell on the bed and fell asleep quickly, Trey was holding Nodoka, Nodoka could never love anything more then when Trey held her, she felt like she belonged in his arms.

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"Hrmmm, such a good man, 'tis sad he left us so early in his life" finished Hiro's speech

They were at Tristin's funeral, the atmosphere wasn't of mourning, but of pity, they missed Tristin so much.

"Wow, pretty kickass speech you guys got there" said a familiar male voice

"YOU! ARE! FUCKING! KIDDING! ME! AREN'T YOU?!" shouted Kyo

"Calm down, sit down" said the voice

The whole assembly at the funeral turned around, spurting questions like a fountain.

"How the damn!" yelled Ninjin

"Good Question, funny story too, my bracelet had a peculiar heartbeat, and the doctors revived me in a jiffy after a few days" said Tristin

Tohru and Taylor hugged eachother tightly, they knew why that heartbeat was still there.

"Then the casket!" yelled a girl from Trey's and Nodoka's school

"Empty, but a spider might be in there" joked Tristin

"Yokoshima-senpai?!" yelled out Ninjin

Yokoshima looked dumbfounded, he just waited for Tristin's answer.

"Still jail for epic fail at attempted murder" chuckled Tristin

The second everyone was done with their questions Taylor, Tohru, Nodoka and Ninjin attacked him, they hugged and kissed him, like cats fighting over catnip.

"Im dieing here! Kyo-san! Help! I'm being attacked even by a girl I don't know!" yelled Tristin in bits

"Nah" mumbled Kyo cheerfully

The girls quickly switched targets to Trey, they leaped on him and hugged him, then, Pop! Ox Trey-chan!!! Transform!!!