Notes:
I still only own Michiko, Kishi, Akira, and the Yankees. :)
~Tali
Chapter 18 - Leaving
Haru walked through the door and started pacing around the living room.
"Anata, what's wrong?" Michiko asked quietly.
Hatsuharu ran a hand through his white and black hair in distress. "Omea, I just spoke with Hatori and Akito has realized how close Yuki, Kyou, and Tohru have become and the good it is doing us all to have her around. He wants to put an end to it by bringing Yuki back to the main house, locking Kyou up, and wiping Tohru's memories in the next few days. If any of the rest of us argue, he'll make us return as well." he replied seriously as he led her outside and down the street.
"What are we going to do?" she asked.
He held out his wrist while checking to make sure they were alone and unobserved. "Tell them." he replied.
"Shigure's?" she asked. He nodded and they disappeared with a pop. They reappeared in the clearing outside the house. Haru reached out to take her hand and held onto it until he led her inside. He led Michiko over to the table where the three teens were having tea. "Yuki, Kyou, Tohru, we need to speak with you." Haru called.
Tohru smiled cheerfully and went into the kitchen to get two more teacups. "Hello Haru, Sato-san." Yuki said with a small smile.
"You finally ready to fight again, Haru?" challenged Kyou jumping to his feet. Haru narrowed his eyes and took a step forward to meet the challenge. Michiko huffed and stepped between the two boys.
"Anata, Kyou-kun, there are more important things right now. Please." She looked between them and waited for them to back down. Haru backed down first, gracefully moving to sit at the table and accepting a cup of tea from Tohru.
Michiko turned her gaze to Kyou in time to see him open his mouth, "Kyou-kun. Akito wishes to punish the three of you. We must decide what to do."
Kyou's expression hardened, "What are you talking about?"
"Please sit and Haru will explain."
He stalked over to where Tohru was sitting. He crowded close to one side while Yuki did the same on the other.
Yuki turned his attention to Haru while Michiko sat down and accepted her tea. "What's going on?"
"Akito found out that the three of you have become very close and he wants you permanently separated. He is going to call Yuki back to the main house, lock Kyou up early, and have Hatori erase Tohru's memories within the next few days."
He watched Yuki pale and his eyes go glassy while Kyou jumped up and punched the wall.
Tohru rested one hand on Yuki's back in support before saying, "He can erase my memories if it will keep Yuki and Kyou safe and happy."
"NO! Stupid, that won't make us happy. He's not going to erase your memories or lock us up. Go pack some stuff, we gotta go." Kyou yelled.
Yuki's head snapped up at that suggestion while Haru and Michiko quietly watched them, waiting for their decision.
"Do you think we could ever get far enough out of reach that Akito wouldn't find us?" he asked with a slight hysterical edge to his voice. The "Prince" was gone for the moment and only the boy was left.
"Of course we can, but only if we get moving now, nezumi."
Tohru looked between the boys, "But Kyou-kun-"
"I told you to go pack. Hurry up!"
She bowed quickly and ran out of the room.
"Are you certain that is your decision?" Michiko asked.
"Why do ask, Sato-san?" Yuki asked quietly.
"I'm going to help you." she replied firmly.
Haru's head snapped around at that announcement but he held his peace, waiting to see where his wife was headed.
"How can you help us?" Kyou asked.
"I can get you a very good head start for one thing. For another, none of you has ever lived in the real world and have no idea of what you're up against. I know a place you can stay for awhile while you sort out what you're going to do and I can help make sure no one realizes you're gone for at least a few days."
Kyou glared at her. "Why would you do that?" he demanded.
"You're my family. I'll do everything I can to help you."
The boys eyes widened before Yuki whispered, "Anata." He paused then asked, "Are you going to be safe?"
"Are you going to tell?" Haru asked casually.
The two shook their heads. "Then we will be. For a while at least."
"Silly, you have been my family for a long time now. Why don't the two of you please pack some things and we'll leave? Hurry, we don't know how much time we have left." Michiko suggested.
The two teens left the room and Haru waited until they were gone before turning to Michiko, "Omea, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to take them to my grandfather's cabin until we can figure out what to do. My parents hated it and last time I was there, it was clear no one had been by in years. Then I'm going to wander around town a bit looking like each of them in turn for as long as I can get away with. Will you let me change your appearance so we can move about as two of them at a time?" she paused, "How do you think they're going to take it?"
He tucked a strand of purple hair behind her ear, "I think they'll be fine once they have a moment to take it in. After all, we do know a little something about magic."
They looked up as Tohru bustled back into the room with a duffle bag packed to the brim. "Where are Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun?" she asked.
"Right here." Kyou said as he bounded down the stairs, Yuki a few steps behind him.
"Before we leave, I need to tell you something, please." Michiko said quietly.
Yuki, Kyou, and Tohru looked over at her while Haru stood beside her with his fingers entwined with hers. She looked away as she spoke, "I have a secret of my own."
"Well? Don't leave us hanging. Spit it out already." was Kyou's impatient response to her hesitation.
She gave him a glare before changing her appearance to match him exactly.
Tohru let out a small gasp and then a delighted giggle. "You look just like Kyou-kun!"
Yuki's eyes narrowed and he stepped closer to her. Kyou's face took an almost comical look of surprise, which Michiko duplicated exactly much to Tohru's delight.
Kyou's brows drew together and he stared at her for a moment before recovering himself. "How did you do that?"
Michiko smiled and changed back to herself. "I'm a metamorphagus. I can change shape at will. That's how I'm going to make Akito think you're still here after tonight. I can also do magic. That's how I'm going to get you out of here. It will be a little disorienting, but it's untraceable so it will be nearly impossible for Akito to find you."
"How will we be travelling, Michiko-san?" Yuki asked. No one missed the fact that Yuki had switched to her first name and Tohru looked pleased but confused. Probably because he still insisted on using her surname and he'd known her much longer.
"It's called apparation. I can concentrate on a location and go there instantly. I'll show you."
They watched as she disappeared with a pop and came walking in from the kitchen a moment later.
"How did you do that, Mi-chan?" asked Tohru.
Michiko smiled, "I told you Tohru-chan, magic. I can take people with me as well." She reached for Haru's arm when he held it out and they both disappeared. This time they came in from outside.
"Are you ready to go? Do you have everything you need for now?" she asked.
Tohru nodded immediately, and the boys followed after a slight hesitation.
"Great. Who wants to go first?"
Kyou, never one to show fear, grabbed his bag and walked over to her. He glared at her for a moment then held out his arm the way Haru had. Michiko smiled up at him before taking his arm in one hand while standing next to him so that they were hip to hip and she had her other arm tight around his waist.
"What the hell-" he spluttered before they disappeared.
A moment later they were standing in a clearing in the mountains with a ramshackle cabin at the edge. A stream burbled happily nearby and the wind blew gently through the trees and tall grass.
"-do you think you're doing?" he exclaimed before nearly falling over. Kyou looked up and saw they were on a mountain top with nothing but forest around them. "Where are we?"
"I didn't want you to fall. It's safe here." Once she was certain he was steady on his feet, Michiko released her hold on his waist. "As I said, it can be disorienting, even for a cat and I didn't want you to get hurt. We're very far from home. I need to get the others." She sketched a circle in the grass, "Don't go in there, okay? I don't want to get splinched."
She was gone before he had a chance to ask what the hell that meant.
She reappeared in Shigure's house and asked cheerily, "Who's next?"
Tohru stepped forward and held out her arm. Michiko chuckled at the sweet, but klutzy girl. "Come here, Tohru-chan. This way will work better for you, I think." She wrapped her arms around the girl in a firm hug and they disappeared as well.
"How were you able to get permission to marry her?" Yuki asked curiously.
"She can do other things as well. We gave them paperwork from my 'guardian' stating his agreement to the marriage and she made sure they didn't look too closely at it. No one knows besides you and Kyou so please don't mention it where others can hear."
Yuki nodded thoughtfully and Michiko returned, startling him slightly.
"Sorry it took so long. Tohru was really disoriented by it and it took us a couple minutes to get her sorted out. Who's next?"
Haru tilted his head towards Yuki and she turned towards him, "Ready?"
He nodded slowly and she went around to his side like she had with Kyou. He stiffened when she took hold of his waist but didn't step away.
"Pick me up in the clearing so if Shigure comes back he doesn't see me here alone." Haru requested
"All right. See you in a couple minutes." she responded. A moment later they were gone and Haru turned off the lights on his way out the door.
Yuki looked around as soon as he was certain he would be able to without getting sick and saw Kyou and Tohru sitting on the steps of a ramshackle cabin. "This place is safe?" he asked as he headed towards the pair to check on Tohru.
"Yes, and I'll make it safer before leaving. I'm going to pick up Haru and will be right back." She disappeared and reappeared moments later with Haru in tow.
"Why doesn't it bother you, Haru-san?" Tohru asked when she saw them come back and immediately head towards the small group instead of looking ill.
He shrugged, "I'm used to it. She takes me around like this all the time. It bothered me the first few times but then it was fine."
Kyou turned towards Michiko and with his usual impatience asked, "We're supposed to stay here? There are holes in the roof large enough to put the ushi through. What if it rains?"
Michiko smiled, "A moment if you would and I'll have everything repaired. It's been a long time since I was last here."
Kyou stared at her in disbelief as she pulled out an elegant wand and started waving it at the cabin. "What the-" was as far as he got before he saw the windows repair themselves and the holes in the roof disappearing.
Once the exterior was fixed she waved it again and lights went on inside giving off a homey glow and a fire lit in the hearth. Michiko stepped in and looked around critically. "This place is a disaster." She shook her head and conjured some cleaning supplies. Tohru hurried over to help but she waved her off and set the supplies to cleaning the cabin on their own. The teens watched in amazement while a few mops and buckets followed brooms and dustpans across the floor. Michiko started adding furniture to the place, cold storage box, cutting block, table and chairs, couch, rugs. She moved to the other rooms after the broom and mop were done and added beds with bedding, night tables with lamps, and rugs to the bedroom. She was really enjoying herself because she hadn't used this much magic outside of work since she graduated school. She put up a privacy curtain between one bed and the other two so that Tohru would have some privacy while sharing a room with the boys. Building another room was out of the question. She didn't have any of those spells mastered and didn't want to risk a cave in if it didn't go right. She checked on the washroom but it was in good shape now that it was clean. She added towels and supplies and it was set.
"The water heater runs on gas so I'll need to pick up a few tanks tomorrow. There is no electricity but plenty of lamps. I'll bring more oil for them as well. I'll grab food from my place tonight." She faced them and the three just stared at her. She glanced over at Haru who was also staring at her. He hadn't known she could repair a house with magic or create so many things out of thin air. "Are you okay?"
Haru gave himself a small shake and walked over to check out the couch. It was a lot like the one in her apartment. "This is why your parents rejected you?"
Michiko's eyes widened in surprise that he would say that in front of Yuki, Kyou, and Tohru when they didn't know the details of her situation. She realized he must be more surprised than she thought if he was speaking so freely, and she didn't want to discuss this in front of the other three as she felt they already knew too much. Michiko looked down and nodded.
She was startled when arms came around her and then she realized it was Tohru. "I'm sorry, Mi-chan." she said as she gave her a tight hug. Michiko pressed her face into Tohru's shoulder as she worried that perhaps Haru was not as comfortable with her magic as she had thought. When Tohru pulled away Michiko's eyes were damp.
Kyou was watching them and when he saw her tears he went over to Haru and cuffed him upside the head hard enough to knock him over, "Make her stop, stupid."
Haru was already on edge from what had just happened, and the unexpected blow from Kyou pushed him right over into Black. Fortunately, his Black side was as enamored of Michiko as his White side and neither could stand to see her cry. He shoved Kyou into the wall before walking over to Michiko and pulling her into his arms but not against his chest.
"As much as I don't want to agree with the neko, don't cry Kitten. I was being stupid." He nuzzled her neck. "We can go back home and I can make it up to you." he offered suggestively.
She looked up at him, her hair going to it natural auburn shade. "Are you sure you're okay with this? I thought you understood."
He shrugged, "I didn't realize you could do so much. You do a lot by hand and I thought it was because you couldn't do it by magic, not because you choose to do it by hand."
"I can do almost anything with magic: cooking, cleaning, furnishing, repairs, healing, defense. Whatever I can find a spell for, I can do."
Yuki, whose mind was always far ahead of everyone else narrowed his eyes as something occurred to him, "That's what you did when I had an asthma attack the day we met, isn't it Michiko-san?"
Michiko looked over at him, not able to read his tone. "Yes, Yuki-san. You needed help right away and that was the quickest solution."
Yuki bowed to her, "Thank you for risking your secret to help me even though we were strangers."
"I am happy to help any Sohma when they are in need." she replied.
Kyou glared at her, "You said you could use magic in defense. Does that mean you cheat when we spar?"
She stared at him a moment before starting to chuckle. "I don't use magic when I spar. I can repel or harm people if I don't think I can fight them. I don't mix them over much. I am going to do some things around the perimeter of the clearing to help keep you safe."
"What about when I hit you? Did you use magic then?" he asked.
She looked up at him, "Yes. But that's why I knew I wouldn't have a bruise. I healed it while I was in the bathroom so you wouldn't see it and then not spar with me anymore."
"So I did hurt you?" he asked.
"Of course you did. That was a very solid punch. I'm surprised your knuckles didn't hurt afterward."
"They did. It's been driving me crazy, how I could have hit you hard enough to hurt my knuckles yet you didn't have a mark on you."
"Being able to heal yourself almost instantly does a lot for your pain tolerance. It hurt, but I knew it wasn't permanent and I didn't want you to worry about it." She glanced at Haru, who was staring at her again, then back to Kyou. "I should probably get started on those defenses if I want to get any sleep tonight." She turned and walked out the door without further comment.
Haru grimaced. "I really upset her, didn't I?"
"I'm sure she will forgive you Haru-san. Michiko loves you very much. Would you like some tea?" Tohru gave a tiny frown, "I'm sorry, I forgot we don't have any tea."
Just then there was a pop from outside and Haru went to look for Michiko. He came back a few moments later with an unreadable expression, "That was her. She must be really upset if she left without saying anything." he sighed and sprawled onto the couch. "Damn." He gave another sigh and closed his eyes while turning his senses outside so he would know as soon as she came back.
Yuki and Tohru sat down on the couch beside him and Kyou prowled the room restlessly. Several minutes later there was another pop outside and Haru was out the door before it had even registered with the other occupants of the room. It always surprised them to see him move so fast since he so rarely did.
Michiko was walking towards the door with a small box in her hands. Haru glanced at it curiously before looking into her face. He saw her distress and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Omea, I'm sorry. I didn't think." He rested his forehead against hers and cupped her cheek,
"You looked at me the same way my father used to. It hurt."
He watched her tears slide down her cheeks and rubbed them away with his thumbs. "I've never seen you do so much magic and it surprised me. Please forgive me?"
She melted into him, "For a kiss."
He smiled down at her and gave her what she asked for. When he straightened a couple minutes later he looked at the box curiously. "What's in there?"
She looked at him uncertainly for a moment before answering, "Groceries?"
He lifted a brow at her "Is that a question or an answer?"
"Answer. Let's go inside. I'm sure Tohru would like to make tea."
Haru wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked with her into the house.
"I brought some groceries for you." she said as she walked in. She went over to the dining area and placed the small box on the table. She pulled off the lid and started pulling things out of it. Bags of rice, containers of tea, fruits, vegetables, milk, meats, spices, and everything else needed for a well stocked kitchen. The others crowded around to watch her pull everything out and Tohru started putting everything away.
"How does that box work?" Yuki asked.
"It's filled with wizard space. It magically expands it so that you can fit as much as you need into a container. My grandfather gave it to me and it is one of my most treasured possessions."
Haru smiled over at her, "I always wondered how you fit all of your jewelry into such a small box."
She smiled over at him, "I'm surprised you never said anything about it."
"Well, so many other things happened that I kept forgetting to ask you."
Michiko's eyes widened at that revelation, "It could be it is charmed so it no one can think about it long enough to steal it." She looked over a Tohru who she saw swaying slightly from the corner of her eye.
"Kyou-kun." she flicked a glance to Tohru and he followed her gaze. Startled, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders before she fell over.
"Perhaps we should go to sleep instead? We can have tea in the morning." She flicked her wand and everything was put away.
Kyou walked Tohru into the bedroom to settle her into bed.
Yuki turned towards them, "Were you able to finish the defenses you were talking about, Michiko-san?"
She sighed, "No. I was too tired and distracted. Haru and I will stay here tonight and I'll set them up first thing in the morning instead. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry, Michiko-san. I'm sure we'll be fine. No one even knows we're gone yet. Thank you for helping us. Good night." He bowed and left the room.
Haru turned towards her, "Where do you want to sleep?"
"Outside. I haven't slept under the stars in a long time and I've never slept with you under the stars." she smiled flirtatiously.
"What are we waiting for? Lead the way." he teased.
She walked outside and picked a likely looking spot. She pulled something out of her pocket and tapped it with her wand. It drifted to the ground and grew until a small tent was set up in front of them.
"Nice trick." Haru said as he pulled back the flap and climbed inside. He let out a long whistle as he looked around and realized that what looked like a tent on the outside was more like a cabin on the inside. It had a kitchen, dining room, bedroom and bathroom and was fully furnished. He poked his head back out, "Bed looks comfortable. Why don't you come in and we'll see if it's as comfy as it looks?"
She grinned and climbed in after him.
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Michiko opened her eyes when she heard Kyou yelling at Yuki. She shook her head and decided that since she was awake, she may as well be up. She dropped a kiss on Haru's bare shoulder and climbed out of bed. After cleaning up and dressing she stepped out into the brisk mountain air.
"Good Morning Kyou-kun, Yuki-san. Did you sleep well?"
"Probably better than you. What's with the tent?" Kyou responded.
"Yes, thank you. Why did you two sleep in a tent instead of the cabin?" Yuki asked.
"I like sleeping under the stars and there's more room in there." she replied before smiling and heading into the kitchen to see if Tohru needed any help with breakfast. The two boys shared a look and shook their heads. More room in a tent?
"Good morning, Tohru-chan. Did you sleep well?".
"Oh, yes Mi-chan. Thank you." the girl replied happily.
"Do you need any help with breakfast?"
"Oh, no. It's fine."
"Here, why don't I help with the chopping? Then you can concentrate on the cooking. You're cooking is so wonderful I'm tempted to come here everyday for breakfast." Michiko said as she took up the knife.
Tohru smiled in delight and instructed her on what she needed for breakfast. When breakfast was almost done Michiko called to Yuki, "Would you please go wake up Haru while we finish this up?"
He smiled graciously, "Of course, Michiko-san."
He left and went out to the tent. He tapped on the flap and called Haru's name a couple of times to no effect. Getting impatient, he pulled back the flap intent on dragging Haru out by the ankle and gaped.
Kyou saw him and wandered over. "What's wrong?" he demanded.
Yuki gestured at the inside of the tent and Kyou leaned over to look. "Huh." He stepped inside and started wandering around. After a slight hesitation, Yuki followed.
"This magic stuff is pretty handy." Kyou noted.
Yuki nodded thoughtfully as he peeked into another room and spotted Haru sound asleep on a large bed. He sighed. Hopefully, the ushi would not start teasing him the moment he opened his eyes this morning. He walked over to the foot of the bed and called Haru's name again. No response.
He took hold of his foot and shook it briskly, "Haru. Get up. Breakfast is ready and we're hungry." This finally elicited a grunt as he rolled over and made himself more comfortable.
"You're not very good at this, nezumi." Kyou observed as he strolled over to stand next to Haru. He tilted his head in thought for a moment before leaning over and saying quietly, "Mi just left to go skinny dipping with Yuki." He stepped back as Haru shot of out of bed.
Haru looked around and the first thing he spotted was a horrified looking Yuki. He walked towards him menacingly.
"Kyou was just trying to wake you up. As you can see I'm standing here and Michiko is nowhere near me." he said soothingly. Not thrilled about warding off Black Haru this early in the morning, he shot Kyou a look that promised retribution.
Haru raised his brows speculatively and reached up to play with one of his necklaces.
In the kitchen of the cabin, Michiko abruptly abandoned her task and looked over at Tohru. "Haru is calling me, I'll be back."
She apparated into the tent and looked around. He couldn't possibly be lost - was as far as she got before she was tackled. She reacted on instinct and sent her attacker flying across the room before she had taken a breath.
She turned her head slowly when she heard the sound of laughter. Kyou was sitting on floor laughing as if he had just seen the funniest thing in the world. Her eyes travelled the room and she saw Yuki standing not far from him wearing a look she could not identify. He was looking in the direction she had tossed her attacker and she snapped her head around as she realized who it was.
"Haru!" she called as she ran over to him. "I'm so sorry. What's going on? Are you okay? You're bleeding!" she ran her hands over his head to heal the cut from hitting the wall.
He shook his head slightly, "What's going on?"
"I don't know. You called me and then tackled me when I got here. I thought someone must have found us so I attacked." she turned back towards the chuckling boy on the floor and her eyes narrowed. "What exactly happened here?" she asked icily. "I nearly put my husband through the wall and you're sitting there laughing. Explain yourself."
Kyou immediately stopped laughing. He had heard that tone once before and it hadn't gone well for the one on the receiving end of it. "I was just trying to wake him up. I told him you went skinny dipping with Yuki, but Black Haru woke up instead."
She puzzled over that for a moment, "So he called me and then decided to take me to bed?" She turned towards Haru, "Maybe don't do that again while things are so tense? Make sure I know it's you then jump me?"
"Ah! I don't need to hear this!" Kyou stomped out of the tent.
Yuki tilted his head, "I'm going to have breakfast now." He turned gracefully and left.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
Haru smiled at her, "I'm fine. Let's get breakfast before they eat it all." He cleaned up and got dressed quickly and they joined the others for breakfast.
Once everyone was finished Michiko excused herself to set up some barriers. Haru and the rest followed because they were curious about what that meant. They watched her pace a large circle around the cabin murmuring quietly and waving her wand this way and that. As it was not the most interesting thing in the clearing they eventually started talking among themselves as she worked. It was nearly lunchtime before she walked over to them and flopped down in the grass.
"Are you all right?" Tohru asked with worry shining in her eyes.
"I'm fine. Just tired. I'll need to rest before we go home. For now, I'll just lay here while I explain the barriers, if that's okay with everyone."
At their nods she raised a hand and indicated to the circle she had been pacing around all morning. "I laid a barrier around the cabin that made it so no one that you didn't already know could see it. Anyone that comes near it will feel an uncontrollable urge to leave immediately so it will be difficult for anyone to see you accidentally. Hardly anyone comes up here so you should be fine, but I'll sleep better knowing you're protected. It will also repel harmful creatures, should any try to get close. The nearest town is over one hundred miles away so don't wander aimlessly and get lost. It's fine to explore but make sure you know how to get back to the cabin. As long as you are within the barrier you will be protected. Questions?"
"How do we know where the barrier is?" Yuki asked.
"When you walk through it you'll be able to feel it tingle across your skin."
She pulled off two necklaces and tapped them with her wand so they duplicated. She put two of them back on before holding one out to Tohru and the other to Yuki. "Wear these at all times while you are here. If you need anything, hold the pendant and think of me. The more urgent you feel the stronger it will come through and the faster I'll be where you are. Kyou, your pendant is charmed similarly. Remember – it will only take me a moment to get here so don't hesitate to use it. It won't put me out of my way and I want to know that everything is all right or that you need help. No exceptions. Nothing is too small. Haru and I will try to visit every day to make sure you have everything you need. Questions?"
They shook their heads slowly.
"Lovely. I'm going to catch a quick nap then." she said before closing her eyes and promptly falling asleep.
The four teens looked at her with disbelief before Haru spoke, "I guess making barriers uses a lot of energy."
"Why don't you put her in the cabin or tent so she's not sleeping on the ground?" Tohru suggested.
"That's probably a good idea." Haru said before kneeling and scooping her up. He disappeared into the tent and returned a couple of minutes later. "I think we're going to be here for dinner. She's out."
"Wonderful. It will be nice for you and Yuki to have some time to visit with each other. I know he mentioned you've both been so busy lately that you haven't had much time to talk." Tohru said.
Haru gave Yuki a questioning look and the violet eyed teen shrugged and glanced at the other two.
Kyou growled, "We know when we're not wanted. Come on." he said as he took Tohru's hand and dragged her away from the cabin.
Once they were out of ear shot Haru asked, "What's going on?"
Yuki shrugged, "Nothing. I just like sending them off together."
Haru chuckled as he sat down next to Yuki.
"Have you told her yet?" he asked.
Haru glanced over at him, "Told her what?"
"About your new class schedule?"
"No. I want to surprise her."
"How long will it be before you finish?"
Haru shrugged, "If I can keep up the same pace I'm working at now, I should be done by the beginning of the next school year."
"That's amazing, Haru."
He shrugged, "I need to finish school. I have a family to take care of and I can't do that if I'm in classes all day."
"What about college?"
"I'm not sure yet. I think I'm going to work for a while so I can see what's out there and what would be useful to learn. I don't want to spend time in classes for a degree I'm not going to use."
"That's very reasonable."
"Yeah." he leaned back and stared at the sky.
"Are you planning on having children at some point?"
Haru picked up his head to look at Yuki, "Eventually. Why? Are you looking for some little cousins to spoil?"
"Maybe. Think of how much fun it'll be to have little Harus and Michikos running around tormenting Hatori, Shigure, and Ayame."
Haru smirked, "Wait until there are little Kyous running around."
Yuki laughed at that, "Oh, that would be something, wouldn't it?" He chuckled again before asking curiously, "How did she find out about the curse?"
"She's a spell researcher and she got curious about us. She found a description of the spell in a book. It's very old and written in Sumerian she said. She showed the book to me after she told me she knew."
"Do you think she'd let me see it?"
"Of course. She'd even teach you Sumerian so you could read it for yourself if you asked."
Yuki chuckled, "I really like her. She's good for you, for all of us. Like Tohru, but with rougher edges."
"She and Tohru have become close friends. Maybe they'll rub off on each other. Michiko will be softer and Tohru will be harder . . . No, I don't think Tohru has it in her to actually yell at someone."
"She might surprise you."
"It would surprise me to hear Tohru yelling."
They continued chatting until Kyou and Tohru strolled back to the clearing, looking slightly flushed but happy.