I been doing some thinking about this fic. I think I just might finish it. Still not sure though. I've come up with some interesting ideas and I'd like to use them. I just want this fic to be interesting and different and I fear that it won't. Anywho! Thanks for all the great reviews! 7-2-13
Chapter 3 – Chess for Two
"Uo, please leave." The brunette commanded sternly and Uo bowed, leaving her unfinished food on the table. That made Kyo nervous. Her voice made him even more nervous. She seemed like she grew a backbone from the last time they talked. Perhaps she was going to deliver some bad news to him.
Kyo was just about to take a fork and dig in until the mistress spoke, "Mr. Sohma." Tohru placed her hands on the table, more rings shinnying brightly under the dim light. All the maids froze in a fright as she began to speak. "About what we talked about earlier…"
Here it comes…
"You don't want to be here, correct? You want freedom…" Tohru said the special word that made the man hold his breath.
"Wouldn't you?" he cooed back, his ruby eyes filled with a stern expression. He sat back, finally exhaling— looking for some type of relief.
"Certainly…" the woman nodded, "Who wouldn't want their own freedom. That being so, I'll make a deal with you…"
A deal? "Huh?" Kyo blinked bemused. "Wait… you'll make a what?"
"I'll make a deal with you." Tohru repeated, "If you agree, you'll get your freedom back. You have my promise…"
"…A deal?" the man muttered out of disbelief. This woman, sitting across from him, was actually going to give back his freedom?
"I see I have gotten your attention, Mr. Sohma." Tohru remained stern, only a ghost of a smile shimmered in her eyes, but the orange haired man was too oblivious to see that.
"You been had my attention." He admitted. And that's hard to do… trust me.
"Of course." She nodded. She proceeded to lean forward quietly, as if she was trying to be secretive about the situation. "The deal is quite simple…You give me what I want, and I'll give you what you want." She explained, "Now I bought you for a reason, Mr. Sohma— and that is to entertain me." She watched his face shrivel up in a pout. "Fit for companion ship or not, you will stay by my side day to day…"
"For how long?" Kyo rolled his ruby eyes. At least she wasn't asking for sex. So why was he still pissed off at her request?
"For forty days." She replied.
"Why forty?" he spat back in the rudest manner.
The brunette shrugged, smiling lightly, "Not sure."
"Cus you're the boss, am I right? You bought me and you make the rules?" Suddenly he wasn't hungry anymore.
"Not necessarily…" Her hand rested on the table as she thought, "In the story of Noah's Ark, it rained forty days and nights until the surface of the whole earth was covered with water and no land was visible… Forty days could mean anything…"
He was shocked she would say something like that. It was so random. Why? "You're basing our deal off a 600 years old fart who built a boat and sailed the seas for like a year… Thought you weren't religious?" Kyo raised a brow, watching the woman chuckle bit at his response.
"Religious or not, it's an intriguing story. In fact," Tohru cleared her throat, "It is believed that before the flood the earth's surface was fairly even, less valleys and mountainous regions than what we have today— Possible explanation the weight of the water upon the surface of the earth would have created valleys for waters to run into, continental drift and erosion so it could be likely that Mt Everest in Nepal was once coastal— weird huh?"
A smart gal she was. Kyo could bet that she finished college. That didn't matter though. "Actually, not really…" Kyo muttered pushing his plate away, gushing out a little smartness of his own. "It's true that Mt. Everest did rise from the ocean, but by India crashing into the continent caused by tectonic forces and continues today. Sure Everest is really high, but by the workings of tectonics— not with the 'religious claim of weight of water'." Nothing could beat common sense and street smarts. All the waiters and maids gasped, for Kyo just talked back to the mistress without remorse.
"Oi, he's a dead man now…" one maid whispered.
"Wonder what she's gonna do…" another one added. "Perhaps bite him…"
And then another one replied, "No, no. Uo is gonna kill him I'm sure…"
But Tohru beamed a knowing grin, "Precisely. Mr. Sohma. I am not your average common believer, yet I take what I hear into consideration."
"Well from you not believing in angels and reincarnation, I would assume you are a skeptic." Everyone gasped again, this time Kyo caught it and glared evilly at them.
Tohru smiled again, nodding slowly at his response. "I guess you can say that… just depends on what it is…" She giggled, "Speaking of where we stand," She changed the subject, "What do you believe in, Mr. Sohma?"
"Huh?" Kyo blinked.
"You know, your view points? Since you claim to not be that religious as well…"
"Umm…" Kyo's eyes widened in shock. He was suddenly caught off guard with that question. Guess he should have been more of the skeptic. Since his whole life was pretty much beaten and dreadful. No saint ever helped him which is why he never believed in miracles or hope. "I'm nor a believer or a skeptic. I just tend to view things as they really are."
"So… a realist." Tohru wondered.
"I guess…" he shrugged. "Just depends on what it is…" he mocked.
"I see…" Tohru got up, taking a napkin and dabbing the corners of her mouth. "I'm off to bed now, I will see you tomorrow, correct?"
"You're giving me a choice?" Kyo blinked at the woman. He wouldn't be surprised. Tohru didn't seem like she knew exactly how make deals how much less, be a 'boss'.
"No I guess I'm not." Then her voice turned stern, "I mean, you will be here tomorrow. And, and if you aren't… I'll, I'LL…" she thought for a second, her diamond ringed finger rested on her chin, "Aha!" she snapped, "…I'll add a day onto the forty days we agreed on!" She waited on his response. Which wasn't all that amused.
What he really wanted to say was 'Greeat. What does that make? Forty-one days now? That's it? That's all you got?' but that would kill her dignity. Making a scene and acting as if it were a horrifying punishment would make her feel better. So he pouted and slammed a hand on the table, inducing everyone to jump in fear. "DAMN IT TO HELL! ONE DAY? AW COME ON LADY! I'LL NEVER GET OUT OF THIS PLACE!" he sighed dramatically and stood up, "Alright fine. You irk my nerves, lady. You really, really do…" he proceeded to walk off but her voice stopped him.
"Kyo…"
"What now?" he cooed glaring back at her.
"You're a very intelligent person. Keep conversations like that going and I think you will do fine. Good night." Tohru bowed to him and disappeared down the hall.
"What…" Kyo raised a brow, "…What conversation?" but the woman had already disappeared without a trace. "Hm. Weird."
This morning was practically a fairytale. Birds were chirping peacefully, soft music was playing. Then Kyo was awaken by the blinds as they opened swiftly. Sunlight pierced into his eyes as he suddenly winced in aggravation. "What the fu—"
"Good morning Master Sohma." A maid smiled, pulling back more curtains. "A new day today…" she lightly hummed. When she didn't receive any feedback she turned quickly to meet his evil penetrating gaze. One that read, what the hell are you doing in my room! Can't ya knock? She smiled regardless, as a mother would to her crying baby— the same way the mistress did— so warm and inviting. "What's the matter? Don't you agree, Master?"
Kyo paused, pulling the covers over his shoulders, her attitude was so daunting, "Just because it's a new day doesn't mean it's going to be a good day…" he glowered, forcing his head back onto the pillow and placed another on his head. Too bad that wasn't enough to kill him. Abruptly the pillow was lifted. The maid just shook her head.
"Whether you have a good day or not is up to you." She chuckled, pulling the pillow cases off, "So turn that frown upside down." She paused, "I'm your personal maid by the way. Just call me Jade."
"Well Jade," He spoke in passive aggressive manner. "I prefer to keep my frown right side up, thanks." And he pulled the covers back, getting out of bed. The maid shook her head again, continuing to strip the bed. A robe was placed on the bed post, so he grabbed it and put it on.
"You know…" the maid started again, "They say it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. I can only imagine how many stiff muscles you have in that handsome face of yours." She paced around to the other side of the bed and straightened out the fresh sheets. Kyo's frown deepened hearing that. Was she hitting on him or trying to make him smile?
"Plenty." he cooed. He took note to the fresh coffee sitting in its own pot, tea cups and crumpets surrounding it. The idea was great and all, only he hated coffee and crumpets. He preferred green tea but how were they supposed to know that. Then His stomach growled.
"Breakfast is coming soon." She assured him, "Would you like that to the room or join the Mistress in the dining room?"
Then he remembered, "I mean, you will be here tomorrow. And, and if you aren't… I'll, I'LL… I'll add a day onto the forty days we agreed on!" She didn't say where and with that being Tohru's orders, Kyo shrugged. He wasn't one to follow authority very well.
"I think I'll have it here." He partially smiled in which the maid caught it right off. She shook her head for a third time. "What?" he blinked, "Why do you keep shaking your head at me?
"Seems you do smile but only if your being factious…" the maid sighed, "You rebellious boy." She gathered the dirty linen and pranced out whistling at tune.
"Boy?" Kyo glared, dead pan. "I'm no boy…" soon he shrugged that off. He made him a cup of coffee anyway. It would be a while before breakfast was actually here. He sauntered outside to the balcony and sighed. Literately four days ago, he was homeless, running away from trouble and sleeping in alleys. A week prior to that, he was a dancer, owned by a ruthless woman who pimped him for business. He remembered back when he stayed at Shino's bar, every night he would pray that he'd get out of that place. That she would no longer use him and now it seemed that his prayer came true. Now he was forty days from getting his freedom back. That's if Tohru was serious.
But his life wasn't always so low and dreadful. He had memories of home with his cousins. He lived there while he was in school. Shigure, the older cousin, the author… the one who supported him and cared for him. Damn, and that Yuki, his other cousin… That stupid son of a bitch. He missed fighting with him and starting shit. Back then they were immature boys. They had every right to be. It's only now, that he had to grow up, sell himself and make a profit to survive. Now he wondered why Akito had Shigure kick him out. What was the purpose? The curse of the family was already broken. It had been broken for several years. So why? He was no longer the curse cat… he just couldn't get it.
He walked back inside. It was so chilly out. He needed more than just a robe. Ambling to the closet, Kyo opened it and just as he expected, it was a walk in closet, filled left to right— up and down with clothes. It was as if she was expecting him long before he knew it himself. He grabbed something random and put it on.
Two taps at the door, startled the young man. Immediately after the door flung open. "Seriously no peace?" He thought.
A butler came in with a tray which smelt like hot breakfast. "Sorry to startle you sir." He bowed and placed the tray on the coffee table. "Toast, eggs, bacon and a hash brown, sir…" he spoke with a British accent. Kyo almost wanted to mock him. "Tah very much, my good man…" But Kyo couldn't possibly pull it off enough for the man to think it was impressive. "Thanks." Kyo ended up saying with a dead frown. He didn't realize how hungry he was until he saw all the food's steam snake around his face, teasing him. He was just about to take a fork and dig in until Uo's sword stopped him. The blade was just about an inch from his face.
The butler left already. Kyo growled. "Really? You couldn't get my attention any other way?" She was standing at the door. He didn't even hear the sword come out of its sheath.
"I could but that would be too hard for you to comprehend." She fussed.
"How about knocking. Any of you bitches know how to knock?" Kyo cooed back, raising his fork at the woman.
"I don't have time to fight with you." Uo bit her lip in irritation.
"Likewise." The lad snarled back.
"…The Mistress wanted me to give you a message. That's the only reason why I'm here." The mysterious masked blonde glared, she stood there with her leather gloved hand tightly on her blade. Quickly she put it back in its place as he put down his fork.
"Fine. Then give it to me and scram. I got better things to do than fool with you…" He crossed his arms and growled.
"She says meet her in the courtyard. You know where that is?" Uo didn't really care to know, he could get lost for all she cared. But, orders were orders.
"I'm sure I can find it just fine, thank you." The orange haired lad picked up his fork and proceeded to grub. "Scram…"
"Egotistical pompous bastard." Uo turned around, her blonde hair flashed behind her.
Why was she a pain? He couldn't think of one thing he had done to her. Yet, she was giving him a hard time for no apparent reason. "Bitch." He hissed taking a bite of his salty bacon. "Humph…"
"Some more tea ma'am?"
The brunette looked up suddenly, slowly chewing what was in her mouth before speaking. "That will be all… um…" her fork stabbed another piece of egg. This time she just stared at it, trying not to lose her appetite, her maids warned her about doing that. Yet she couldn't help it. The food was always scrumptious but food didn't satisfy her anymore. It had been while since it had. Abruptly she realized that she hadn't finished her sentence, but since she couldn't remember, she sighed. "Thank you… I'm finished."
"Something the matter?" the lady balanced the empty plates steadily in her hand. Her mistress was looking down this fine morning. The feelings were solid and bold— she wore them on her sleeves to the point anyone could see it. Just then Tohru beamed a smile, a forged smile.
"What? Me?" Tohru giggled, "Nothing is the matter with me." She held up her half full tea cup and shook her head, "OH Marla, you always worry about me… you always ask me what's wrong… yet, it's never at the right time…"
"When your face is paler than usual and you seem to be sulking— that's more than enough proof to ask what's wrong." Marla assured her, retrieving her tea cup as well. "But what do I know… I'm just an old scrumph."
"You aren't old. Sixty- three isn't old. You don't look a day over thirty." Tohru muttered, "And why do you think something is wrong with me?"
Marla sighed at her mistress, placing the plates down on the table and sitting beside her. "In my younger days— many, many moons ago." Tohru knew it was story brewing when Marla started off like that. "Back when my gals were little, they would come to me with that face… They would tell me the same thing: Nothing was wrong, I'm fine, and why do you think something is wrong with me… But you see, I know because it's that look— aside from all looks, that one particular sticks out at a mother. It's an empty look of deep depression, despair and profound thoughts." Tohru said nothing only blinked, however she understood. "Pardon if I'm too bold, but could it be that you're now facing the true burden of being lonely… Maybe life has finally left you to fend for yourself." It was a onetime chance to pry in her mistress's head. Tohru never really spoke about her feelings. Which is why everyone thought she was fine, but she knew better.
"I'm not that lonely." Tohru chuckled, "I mean, I have you all… and now I have Mr. Sohma…"
The maid nodded, "Oh yes, the young human that's staying us now." She sighed, refusing to suggest to her mistress to make better life choices.
"He's a fine man isn't he…?" Tohru smiled, still a little hurt that he didn't have breakfast with her this morning.
She noticed Tohru seemed to be at home when talking about that man. As if she knew him forever. "Well he's a man. If anything else."
"You don't like him either?" It would be awhile before anyone liked him she supposed.
"I can't say that I do." Marla shrugged, "He seems to have a history. It's not pleasant."
"True. But I can see he's a good person." Tohru reassured her. "He needs a chance…"
"Yes, but once he has the chance to know you, will he still come through?" Marla uttered, searching for a type of reaction from her mistress.
"I have faith he will…" Tohru nodded.
"I mean… the other you…" the part of Tohru that only Uo and she weren't afraid of because they were all the same kind.
Tohru sighed. "I would not like to think about that. For now he sees me for me. Not for being different. That's the way it should be. It's why I know he's a good person."
"Tsk, tsk… Good is a type of point-of-view. You are good, therefore you see everyone else as good. But really darling you need to be mindful. Once an innocent soul has conceived one wickedness, it can nurse no good thereafter."
Tohru raised a stern brow, clearing her throat at her grey haired woman. "Marla I'm sorry but that was too bold…"
"Forgive me. I shall not say anymore." Marla stood up and retrieved the empty plates. "Just be careful dear." And the older lady left without saying another word.
"Though…" Tohru stared at the chess piece on her crystal board and eventually grabbed it, rolling it between her pale diamond fingers. "Maybe it is I that has more wickedness than he…"
Kyo sighed.
He realized this was the first time venturing away from his room by himself. Yes, the view from the stair way had been quite a sight, and Tohru called this her house but this was palace for sure and it had an unusual look and attractiveness to it. "Hm…" Kyo thought silently to himself, noticing many pictures on the hall's walls as well as a statue of angels and saints on every corner he turned. Red becomes of this palace, he thought. For it was that color, he saw every time he blinked.
But seriously, it had been twenty minutes and still, he had no clue where he was going. "You know where it is, she said… I can find it just fine… I said." He glowered. "Why did I say that…?" The screeching of doors opening distracted him from his thoughts. Another one of Tohru's butlers opened the doors to some grand room which happened to be another dining room.
Intriguing.
Tohru never showed him this. What caught his attention was the crystal chandelier that hung brightly in the middle of the room. And second, was glass-stained windows everywhere he glanced, and it seemed more like a holy place than someone's home. And the adventure didn't stop there, he followed the butler to another set of doors, staying quietly behind him. It was better than getting lost alone. At least this guy knew where the fuck he was going. Soon they reached a small hallway— very dim and gloomy. Of course along the way, there were endless tiny candles that hung in a line on the walls which told him that he had awhile to walk.
He took one of the candles off the wall and began silently walking behind the oblivious butler. He was sure the courtyard Uo spoke of was coming up soon. Finally, the last set of doors opened up and it was as if he reached the end of the tunnel. The sun shinned so brightly in his eyes. Then as Kyo came to realize it, what he thought was the sun, was actually a light fixture. Yet he had stumbled upon flower beds and grass. …Weird. It was as if he had stepped into a giant sunny dominion— or element of some kind. Birds were chirping as they flew from tree to tree. Frogs and rabbits hopped about. "Where the hell am I?" and the butler was nowhere to be found.
"You've made it." Tohru sat by a stained glass window in the far corner, her face raised from under her sunhat, "Welcome to my courtyard." She paused, "Well not exactly a courtyard, just a little imitation of one."
"Oh…" Kyo never pictured anything quite like this and he could actually walk around as if he was outside, only he was enclosed. This place had grass, a pond, birds, butterflies, even bugs. There were about five trees and a few bushes scattered everywhere. He couldn't tell the difference between this place and outdoors. Then Kyo hesitated, realizing what the woman had said, "Wait… imitation? But what do you mean by that…" he spoke softly, confused.
"Well, I don't go outside very much." Tohru admitted. "I'm a bit of a homebody…" she quickly muttered before Kyo could ask why. She should have known that wouldn't shut him up though.
"Wa? A homebody? But… You could still go outside, couldn't you? I mean it is your house." He rudely pointed out.
"It is my house. Still," she rolled her eyes, "I like to stay inside where it is safe." The brunette hoped that would be the end of that. But Kyo still went on prying.
"But… what's so dangerous about going outside? Shit, you got Uo securing the whole place like the fucking terminator— couldn't hurt you too much." He crossed his arms. By the way the brunette looked at him, she was hiding something. "Well?"
"I rather us talk about that some other time." Tohru smiled, her eyes twinkled with warning. Which made Kyo look twice at her with curiosity. She wasn't the same from yesterday. He just couldn't figure out in what way though. "James," she called over one of butlers, "Please fetch us two glasses of water."
"Yes my lady, right away…" the man scurried to the back where there seemed to be a wet bar.
Kyo blinked, "Really I'm fi—"
"Please sit…" with a diamond hand, Tohru elegantly gestured to the seat in front of her. She had been playing chess, "I need an opponent."
He proceeded with caution, still wondering why she was shady all the sudden. "Who you were you playing with before I came?" he pondered.
"Myself." Tohru restarted the board.
Boy, she was lonely. "I see…" he sat down. The butler came back with two glasses of water and scurried off. "Eh, why does everyone around here act like they're all scared of you?" He really couldn't see why though. Tohru acted like a harmless pushover. But he remembered the maids talking smack yesterday during their conversation. All he was doing is stating his honest opinion and they acted as if he was talking back to her.
"They do?" she wondered, "Meh, I haven't noticed." Kyo couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or serious. She seemed way too nonchalant to answer seriously. "You ready?"
NO. He wanted to say. He really wanted to know what the deal with her was. "Fine. If I win. You gotta tell me what's going on with you."
"Am I creeping you out?" Her eyes sparkled again, inducing Kyo to blush.
"You kiddin' me, lady?" Kyo moved his first chess piece, frowning. "It's gonna take much more than you to creep me out. I don't get creeped out that easily."
"That's good to hear…" she partially smiled, making her first move.
"But…" he moved again, "…when I win, you still have to answer my questions…" like why she didn't go outside and why everyone around here was scared of her.
"But Mr. Sohma, I'm very good at chess." She made her second move, capturing one of his pieces, "It might be hard for you to beat me, plus you are off to a bad start."
Kyo didn't even seem concerned about losing that one piece. "No worries. I won the chess tournament in fifth grade." His eyes gawked the board carefully. "Just shhh…" he heard the woman laugh, "I know that seems so long ago but… I got this." This pride he felt nice for once.
"Okay. And if I win, we forget about me and talk about you…" Tohru made another move, taking two more of his pieces. "And for challenging me, I'll add another day onto the forty- one days you have."
"Wa?" Kyo blinked now he was shocked, "Forty-one! BUT I thought if I didn't come see you…"
"You didn't have breakfast with me this morning." She giggled. "If you lose this game you'll be at forty-two days."
So she was going to be that bitch. Just add on days for no apparent reason. "Deal…" he bit his lip in aggravation. He didn't bother to argue about it. It was her game, her rules… "Add as many days you want. You'll bite the dust soon enough." He replied, still not at all worried about losing more chess pieces. He was much too curious about her— how far their agreement would go— how long it would be until he reached his boiling point or if he would even reach a boiling point in the end? But his only option was just to play role of a companion the best way he knew how. That really wasn't saying much. But maybe the role of being a friend would come naturally.
Meh hopefully…