Maple
Saki: Hello and welcome to chapter 2! We hope you enjoyed our last chapter, And I hope you didn't find it too rippy-offy T^T Oh, yeah, I'm not writing it like a journal now because I couldn't keep it up… so yush :D
Chapter 2
Setting: It's been a few days since the incident at the Golden Week party. How will things shape up when Kyou decides to meet up with Kazuma?
Should I dial? Or not?
Hmm.
Oh crap, I dialed without thinking. Oh well. Guess there's no point hanging up now.
I pushed the phone up against my ear.
"…Hello, who is this?"
"Your son."
"…Kyou?"
"Yeah, I was just wondering… If I could see you sometime. It's been a while…"
"Wow. It has been a while since I last saw you, Tohru and Ushio. I've been so caught up with things, I just… I'm sorry. Perhaps I could drop by sometime when I'm in town?"
"Sure. That'd be great, Master."
"Haha, I can't believe you still call me that, even after all these years." I could tell from the tone in his voice that he was laughing.
"I can never stop calling you it, you are my master!"
After a while of talking we decided we'd meet on Tuesday. I hope Ushio will be okay on that day.
"Kyou? Who was that on the phone?" Tohru asked me. Well, she kinda shouted it from Ushio's room.
"Kazuma. He's meeting with us on Tuesday. I thought we hadn't seen him in years so we'd catch up. Er… that okay with you?"
"Um… Yeah, I guess. If Ushio is feeling okay by then," she replied.
"Yaay! Grandpa Kazuma is coming!" Ushio quietly said, but enough so I could hear her. Her chanting made me stop and smile.
XXX
The days came and went and Tuseday finally was here. Ushio was well enough to go out now, as she'd got the all clear from Hatori, who was pleased at her progress.
So, me, Tohru, Ushio, and Kazuma all went on a family trip.
These happy times reminded me of times in high school. I was so happy yet I never showed it. Why was I so stubborn and shy, dammit?
"Papa."
"Yes Ushio?"
"…Can I get a ride on your back?"
"Huh? Of course," I said, lifting her up. She was so light. It felt like she'd tear like paper unless I handled her with utmost delicacy.
"Kazuma-san? How are things with the dojo?" Tohru curiously asked.
"Ah. They're good. We don't get many members, but I love what I do, and I love all my students." He said, cheerfully.
"Can I come and train one day? With you?" It'd been so long. "Maybe we could teach little
Ushio here some tricks?" I looked up at her, and she smiled. "I can tell she'd be good at the Martial Arts."
"Sure, come by anytime you like!"
XXX
After stopping in various shops and markets, we decided to go to the dojo.
It was exactly the same as it used to be…
So many memories were here - training with Hatsuharu, Yuki and Kagura, it was awesome! Wow, I still get pumped about this sorta thing.
"I'm so pumped right now I could just punch something!" I clenched my fists with excitement.
"Go ahead, put your black belt on and lets get sparring." Kazuma was excited too, I could tell.
Tohru watched us. Cheering me on (obviously). Ushio was on her lap, she looked like she wanted to get up and spar herself.
He kicked me. I kicked back. He seemed to have gotten better at dodging me, when did he find the time to train with a schedule like his?
Oh crap. I was too busy thinking about meaningless things like that, I wasn't defending myself properly.
He hit me in the face. Hard.
"Well done Kyo, you seemed to of lost your touch a little though." He said, while I fell to the ground.
"Shut up." Was the only thing I managed to say.
"Grandpa Kazuma?"
"Yes Ushio?"
"Can you teach me?" I was as happy as Larry at this moment. My own child… learning martial arts! This'd be great!
"Of course, It'd be my pleasure." He ruffled Ushio's hair, chuckling.
Tohru suddenly became agitated, frowning and fiddling with her hands. "You're forgetting something, Kyou."
"What?" I was so engrossed in Ushio learning martial arts; I'd forgotten that one important thing.
"Ushio's health."
Everything froze. How could I forget something as important as my own child's life? I shouldn't be putting her through all of this, it would only get worse and worse.
"Ushio's health?" Kazuma was obviously puzzled.
"Ushio is the person holding the 'core of the Sohma family' She's being but under a lot of strain." Tohru's voice was so calm, unlike her in a situation like this. Ushio didn't take any notice of what she was saying, playing with her favorite doll.
Kazuma was silent for a few moments. He hadn't heard the rumors. Perhaps he'd been away from Japan for a while? That would probably be the case. He learned English a while back, he could of gone, just like that, without me knowing or even getting in touch with me.
"She was ill those many times when she was younger. This would explain it."
XXX
We decided to go back to our apartment; we wouldn't want Ushio getting ill again and it was late too. Kazuma and me agreed we'd meet up regularly from now and maybe practice martial arts. Not with Ushio, understandably.
Tohru still seemed a little on edge though – ever since we got back. It's really rare when she gets angry with me. Still, at least I find it sexy.
"Kyou. We need to talk this over."
She led me to the lounge, and sat me down.
"Why encourage Ushio to take those classes? You knew about her condition, it could worsen at any time."
"I just wanted to see her face lighting up. She'd have been so happy. Kazuma and her would have had a great time."
"But it's not about 'her having a great time'. It's about her being alive."
"I know. You're right. I'd never push her to do anything, I'd stop her if I had to."
At that moment, Ushio ran into us.
"Mommy! The pizza delivery man is here!"
And just like that, I was left alone in the hallway.
XXX
The days passed and Ushio's condition took a turn for the worse, once again. This time, I asked Hatori if he could stay with her all day. I was surprised he wasn't getting fed up by now.
She was becoming weak and less energetic. I hurt me greatly to see her like this. Every great time we had with her, I treasured in my mind.
"Hatori, you've worked so hard over the last few months, really, how can we re-pay you?" Hatori is one of the best guys I ever met. He helped me out in those hard times… I hope he got over Kana. I mean, it's been like 15 years. The only time I ever disliked him was when he considered erasing Tohru's memories, but still, that would have been for her own good. He really was a great guy.
"Really, I'm doing this for Ushio's well-being, not for mine." He said, while checking Ushio's temperature.
"P-papa… mmnn- Mom…my…" Ushio's words were slurred. She started to cough and splutter all over the place.
"Ushio, honey? Are you okay!" Tohru ran to her side, while Hatori patted her on the back, thinking it was a mere cough.
Everything went so fast from then on. Her eyes began to flicker, and her breathing became weak.
"U-U-USHIO?" Tohru's voice was trembling as she put her hands to her face.
"Ushio? Can you hear me?" He got some medical stuff out, that I wasn't really paying attention to at that moment.
"USHIO?" My eyes widened with fear as I squeezed her small hand.
"I-I love… you…" She mumbled her words. Then, her eyes beginning to close… her hand dropped from mine.
"USHIO? USHIO!" Tears began to stream down my face, everything was blurred. "USHIO! STAY WITH US!" I cried, grabbing her hand again, then feeling Tohru's hand quickly cover mine.
Hatori tried desperately, everything he could just to keep her there. I can't even describe how Tohru or me even felt at the time.
He started to do CPR, I couldn't bear it any longer.
XXX
~Flashback moment~
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Sohma! It's a baby girl."
"Wh-why isn't she cr-crying?" Tohru managed to say, exhausted.
"Kyou? Is she okay?"
The doctors and nurses spent a few unbearable moments with Ushio, before the sound of crying finally came. We both gave an enormous sigh of relief.
"She sure is. She's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen." I said while kneeling at Tohru's
~Flashback ends~
Ushio wasn't revived that day.
16th August 2020…
Ushio…
Passed away.
The most indescribable pain I've ever felt. Knowing you wouldn't see your child's face ever again.
The months spent grieving, not leaving the house, I felt like it was the end of the world.
Why did Ushio have to be put under that strain? Even at an age as young as 4? It was just too much on her. Even God must of known that.
Tohru staggered into the living room. I could tell she'd been crying all night.
"Kyou… I can't.. I can't go though this anymore!"
I raised my head from the table. It was the first time she'd spoke in months.
"Can't go through what? This excruciating pain? Did you ever take MY feeling into consideration, while you cried every single damn day in your room?" I shouted, not even knowing what I was saying.
Tohru fell to the floor.
"I.. I always took everything into consideration. Your feelings…. Ushio's feelings…"
"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU EVER TALK TO ME?" The words that flew out of my mouth… why was I so angry?
"I'VE BEEN WAITING… JUST WAITING FOR YOU TO COME OUT OF YOUR FUCKING SILENCE, BUT INSTEAD, YOU JUST LOCKED YOURSELF AWAY FROM THE WORLD!" I knew I was being a jackass, how could I let myself get this out of control?
I became a little agitated… then punched to wall with anger. The pain shot through my arm, like a bullet.
"Yuki?" Tohru seemed to be facing towards to doorway.
"Kyou… that could be serious…" Like he'd care. I could tell he was being sarcastic. "How can you treat Tohru like thrash? After all that she did for you." He slowly paced towards me.
"You were listening, huh?" How the hell did he get into our house? He's practically classed as a burglar now.
He didn't answer me… Instead, he decided to punch me in the face.
I staggered backwards… had he been taking martial arts again?
"Stop! Nothing will be solved if you start fighting!" Tohru screamed.
I wouldn't have been able to punch him back anyway. I stupidly hit the wall with my right arm, my strongest arm.
Tohru ran to me. I felt myself shrink into my form.
"Kyou… I love you. And I always will." Those were the words that reassured me the most.
"Tohru, w-why don't we…" I couldn't bring myself to say this. Would she be offended?
"Why don't we what?"
"Why don't we…. Try again?"
End of Chapter 2
Written by Saki-chan
Edited by Cha-cha
Thanks for reading!