Kyo and Tohru had gone to bed rather early that night. Kyo said if he was going to put up with Shigure tomorrow, he'd need a good night sleep. So they went up stairs at nine thirty.
When they went into the bedroom, Kyo immediately flopped down on the bed.
"Now, Tohru. I don't want you getting up early tomorrow morning." He said.
"Alright." She replied crawling into bed and under the covers.
"I'm serious. Don't think you have to go paint the moon at twilight or anything like that." He said.
"I won't. Good night, Kyo." She said falling off to sleep. He pulled her close and fell asleep after her.
They awoke the next morning at five.
"Tohru…" Kyo said nudging her shoulder.
"Hmm?" She asked, still half asleep.
"Time to get up." He said.
"Alright." She stretched and yawned before crawling out of bed. She changed and then went downstairs to make breakfast.
Kyo followed after her.
She made a quick breakfast of waffles. Kyo put butter and syrup on his. Tohru just added some syrup.
"This is good. I have to eat quickly. Gotta get over to Shigure's before seven." Kyo said shoveling a piece of waffle into his mouth.
Tohru ate hers slower. He finished before she did, washed his plate, and put it away.
"You're done already?" She asked.
"Yep. Got to go. See you later." He said. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and ran out the door.
Kyo went over to Shigure's house. He checked his watch. It was six thirty.
"Better early than never." He told himself. He rewrote the quote 'Better late than never' for this occasion.
He walked up to the door and knocked twice.
Akito answered quickly.
"Welcome Kyo. Shigure is still asleep, but I'm sure you wouldn't mind waiting." She said ushering him into the living room.
"I'm not waiting." He said. He turned and walked out of the living room, leaving a stunned Akito.
He walked up the stairs and into Shigure and Akito's room. Shigure was still asleep on the bed. He walked over to it. He saw that Shigure had an alarm clock, that wasn't even set. He also saw a note that said 'To Kyo' by it.
He went over and picked it up. He unfolded it. In Shigure's handwriting was a note to him.
Dear Kyo,
Master, I think I'm too sick to train today. As I write this letter, I feel extremely sick, and I might be hospitalized. If you read this note, it assures you that I am either in the hospital, or no longer on the Earth. It pains me to write this, but I have no choice.
Your Faithful Student,
Shigure
"Right. Hospitalized or 'no longer on the Earth'. And yet, he's still here. Okay, two can play at that game." Kyo said. He folded the note and stuck it in his pocket.
He walked over to the side of the bed Shigure wasn't on and lifted the mattress up. Shigure fell off the bed with a loud thud.
"Earthquake!" He yelled struggling to his feet. He looked over as Kyo dropped the mattress.
"Kyo?" He asked.
"Training begins now." He said.
"What? But it's only six forty five in the morning." Shigure whined.
"I know that. That's why I'm here. You should always be prepared for your master. Now quickly change and come out side." Kyo said leaving the room.
"And if I don't?" Shigure asked.
"I'll get Akito. And Hatori." Kyo said.
"Oh, no. Master please, don't!" Shigure begged.
"Don't call me that! Now hurry. You have less than ten minutes." Kyo said. He left the room.
Shigure quickly got ready and went outside. Kyo was in the backyard waiting for him.
"I'm ready master." Shigure said.
"A kimono? How do you expect to do martial arts in a kimono?" Kyo asked. This was really not worth what Akito was paying.
"I guess I wasn't thinking. Maybe I should just sit this one out and watch you." Shigure said, taking a seat on the porch.
"No! Go change into pants and a t-shirt and come back out here. Quick!" Kyo yelled.
"Okay." Shigure said disappointedly and went back inside.
"What am I doing?" Kyo asked. He sat on a rock and waited for Shigure to come back.
Shigure returned a few minutes later in a pair of sweats.
"Those look a little big." Kyo said.
"Well, I really didn't have anything else. I usually wear these after Thanksgiving and the New Years Banquet." Shigure said patting his stomach.
"Never mind. Just get over here." Kyo said standing up. Shigure walked over.
"What will I learn today?" Shigure asked.
"Basic punches and kicks."
"You mean we don't get to play with swords or guns or knives?" Shigure asked.
"For you, no. Now just watch this." Kyo started showing him basic moves. Shigure watched for a few minutes and then took a seat on the porch.
"Why are you sitting down?" Kyo asked.
"Watching you is making my legs hurt." Shigure said.
"Stand up. You've got to build endurance. You try some of the stuff I just showed you." Kyo said. Shigure stood up and started throwing punched.
"Ha ha ha. Some of your handy work, Kyo?" Yuki laughed from the doorway.
"What's it to you?" Kyo barked back.
"I just find it rather funny." Yuki said.
"If you think you can do a better job, you get over here." Kyo said.
"With pleasure." Yuki said. He walked over to Shigure.
"Look Shigure. You have to let your whole body follow your wrist into the punch. Then, you have to pull back in a swift motion. Just reverse the motion." Yuki said.
"Oh. It makes sense." Shigure said.
"See, that was easy." Yuki said.
"Like this." Shigure threw a punch and it hit Kyo.
"I thought a master was supposed to be better than his student." Yuki said.
"Shut up stupid rat. Who asked you anyway? Who asked you for help?" Kyo gasped. Shigure had a strong punch.
"You did. Now, I must be going." Yuki said with a laugh and went back into the house.
"Was that good?" Shigure asked.
"Yes. We will train again tomorrow." Kyo said and headed into the house. Akito saw him and rushed over.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Shigure learned how to punch." Kyo said sitting down in on of the kitchen chairs.
"Good! Here's your payment, as promised." Akito said handing Kyo a check.
"Thanks." He said standing to leave.
"No, thank you." She said. He walked out of the house and went home.
Tohru opened the door when she saw him coming up the sidewalk.
"Welcome home. How was training?" She asked.
"I need another ice pack." He said. She moved out of his way and he made it to the couch before collapsing.
"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly as she went to get him an ice pack.
"I'll be fine." He said when she returned. She handed him the ice pack and he rolled up his shirt to reveal another bruise.
"What happened?" She asked concerned.
"For someone who doesn't act like he can do anything, Shigure has a powerful punch. But then again, it was all that rat's fault." He said.
"Shigure didn't want to learn? But what about yesterday, he seemed so eager", Tohru said thoughtfully.
"It was an act." Kyo said. He winced as he rearranged the ice pack.
"Oh."
"Here. Read this. It's funny." He said handing her the note Shigure had written. She took it and started reading it.
"What does he mean 'no longer on the Earth'?" Tohru asked.
"He means he died." Kyo said taking the note back.
"He thought he would die?" Tohru asked.
"No, he was just trying to use every possible excuse not to exercise." Kyo said.
"Oh." Tohru said.
"Yep." Kyo said.
"Are you going to go over there tomorrow?" Tohru asked.
"Yep."
"So I guess Shigure's training begins now, huh?" Tohru asked.
"Yes. His training has begun. Just look at this check." Kyo said handing Tohru the check that Akito had given him.
"Oh, but I couldn't! It's your money, Kyo." She said.
"Look. We live together, right? I think you could look at my 'pay check'." Kyo said. Tohru took it.
"Nineteen thousand five hundred and sixty four yen?" She asked surprised. (19564 Yen= Two Hundred U.S. Dollars)
"Nice, huh?" Kyo asked when she handed it back.
"Just for teaching him how to punch?" Tohru asked.
"Yeah. By the time I'm done, we could be rich." Kyo said.
"Wow."
"Shigure's training has definitely begun." Kyo said.