The Art of Teaching
Chapter 8
It was chaos in Shigure's living room when Kumiko and Hatori came inside. Kyo was yelling at Ayame, who didn't seem to be hearing a word of the death threats being hurled at him. Much to Kumiko's surprise, Yuki was also screaming at the silver-haired man. Tohru was standing in the doorway looking too startled to know what to do and Shigure was watching the scene from the safety of his seat at the table. No one seemed to notice their entrance.
"Tohru, you're looking as adorable as ever," Ayame was saying. He took a step toward her and immediately, she looked overwhelmed. Yuki stepped between them.
"Brother, you have no right to make her feel uncomfortable like that!" he yelled. It took a moment for the way Yuki had addressed Ayame to register in Kumiko's mind.
"He's…your brother…?" she asked slowly. Everyone paused to look at her in her moment of realization. The green-eyed girl smiled widely and slapped her fist into her palm. "No wonder he seemed so familiar. You guys look so much alike!" she exclaimed. Yuki immediately took on a gloomy air. "I'm sorry. Is something the matter?"
"No," her student replied, the sour look never leaving his face, "it's nothing." Before anyone else could say anything, Hatori stepped in.
"Miss Hishida has something she would like to tell us," he said. She looked up at him sheepishly. He gave her a small nod and she took a deep breath.
"I've decided to stay here until I have things in order," she said quickly. Tohru's wide eyes brightened and she approached the older girl.
"You have? Oh, that's wonderful!" she said enthusiastically, clasping her hands together.
"Indeed it is," Shigure agreed happily as everyone took a seat around the table.
"What made you decide to stay?" Yuki asked curiously, forgetting about his teacher's earlier offense.
She glanced at Hatori. His expression told her he might be a bit embarrassed if she told them he had convinced her to live with his cousin.
"Let's just say I realized that there were more reasons to stay than not to," she responded tactfully.
"Gure, you just want to keep Kumiko all to yourself!" Ayame accused. Shigure opened his mouth to defend himself, but before he could say anything Kyo quickly rose to his feet and darted from the room. Kumiko frowned in confusion.
"Ah, Kyo," Tohru said as he left. The red-head ignored her and shut the door.
"What up with him?" the older female asked, gesturing in the direction of the boy's exit. Shigure sighed and leaned his head on his hand.
"I wouldn't worry about it. He's probably just upset because another person is moving in," he explained nonchalantly. The pianist hesitated for a moment.
"Is it really okay for me to move in then? I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable," she told them.
"Don't let it bother you," Yuki interjected. "He'll get over it." Kumiko grinned slightly, feeling a bit reassured.
"I guess I should start making dinner," Tohru announced, standing up.
"I'll help," Kumiko offered. "It'll be my first official task as Shigure's newest tenant."
"Well then, I guess we should be going," Hatori said.
"Aw, but Ha'ri we were having fun," Ayame whined.
"We're leaving," he reiterated, heading to the door. Ayame hopped to his feet then.
"Goodbye everyone!" he called loudly, following his cousin outside. Yuki heaved a sigh of relief as his brother left.
"That man…He's exhausting," Kumiko heard the teen say as she and Tohru went to the kitchen.
The meal was easy enough to make—vegetable soup and left over chicken. The two girls talked and laughed as they chopped carrots, potatoes and miso. After they tossed the vegetables in the waiting broth, Tohru busied herself making tea.
"Are you sure you don't want me to do it?" Kumiko inquired as she stirred the soup.
"No, it's okay Miss Hishida," Tohru replied.
"Kumiko," she corrected.
"Eh?" the girl replied confusedly, turning to look at her older companion. The raven-haired young women looked away from the soup and gave Tohru a smile.
"I want you to call me Kumiko," she clarified. The teen looked stunned.
"B-but, are you sure?"
"Of course, we're roommates now, after all. You don't have to be so formal when you're being generous enough to share your room with me," she explained. Tohru smiled brightly.
"Okay, then, Kumiko," she said, as if to test the sound of it.
By the time dinner was ready, night had fallen and Kyo seemed to have cooled his head enough to come and eat. They managed to get through the meal with only one argument between Yuki and Kyo. Once they were finished eating and the dishes were washed, the three teens went off to finish their homework and Kumiko managed to slip away to complete her paper.
Not twenty minutes later, Kumiko hit print and stretched satisfactorily. She gathered her papers together and skipped into the living room happily. Shigure looked up from a crossword puzzle he was bent over.
"Finished?"
"Yep!" she replied, sitting across from him and grinning. He smiled back.
"Good. Here," the man said, handing her the thermometer that was becoming very familiar to her. "Hatori wanted me to keep an eye on your fever." She placed it in her mouth. "By the way, when do you want to get your furniture?" Kumiko took on an embarrassed air.
"Actually, all that stuff came with the dorm," she admitted. "The piano is a rental." Shigure's expression was less than surprised. She seized the opportunity to change the subject. "Do you think I could get a ride to school tomorrow? I have class at noon."
"Certainly. I'm sure Ha'ri can give you a ride and afterwards you can get your things from your place. I'm guessing you need to stop by before school to get your paper as well. I'll be sure to call him first thing in the morning." Kumiko was a little surprised by the man's thorough planning.
"Thanks," she said. After a few minutes she took the thermometer out of her mouth and examined it.
"What does it say?" the novelist asked, carefully taking it from her. "Not too bad. Just be careful." She nodded in acknowledgement.
"Hey, Shigure?"
"Yes?"
"I um…I just wanted to thank you for everything," she said quietly.
"It's no trouble," he replied, setting aside his crossword. "And no matter what Kyo says, we're happy to have you here." He smiled and walked around the table to pat her head. She laughed and smoothed her hand over her hair.
"I'd better move the sleeping mat upstairs," she said, going to the corner where the mat was neatly folded in the corner and waiting for her.
"Do you need any help?" Shigure inquired politely.
"I think there's still another bag on the stairs. Could you grab it for me?"
"Sure thing," he replied, following her to the staircase. He watched cautiously as she made her way up the steps with the large bundle in her arms. He followed as soon as she was halfway up.
Tohru looked up from her desk when Kumiko entered with the bedding.
"Oh, here, let me help you," she offered, getting up. The teacher shook her head and set the sleeping mat down in the corner adjacent to Tohru's bed.
"No, it's alright. Just go on with your homework," she answered. The teenager nodded and went back to work as Kumiko quickly unfolded the mat. She left the room to get her bag from Shigure. As she rounded the corner into the hall, she saw the young writer for a spit second before she ran right into him.
There was a loud pop! and a cloud of smoke. The impact knocked Kumiko backwards onto the floor. Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru all rushed into the hall as the smoke cleared and the pianist looked up to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, are you—?" she cut herself off at the strange and bewildering sight before her. Instead of seeing the man she had bumped into, there was a black dog sitting on a pile of Shigure's clothes. Kumiko jumped to her feet and reeled back in disbelief.
"Shigure?" she questioned dumbly as she continued to back up, bumping into Kyo and Yuki.
Pop! Pop!
The woman spun around to see what had happened. This time, there was a grey rat and an orange cat surrounded by another heap of clothing. Her dark eyes went wide and she dropped to her knees in shock.
"Wh-Wh…" she stuttered, "What is going on?!"
A/N: Dun dun DUNNN! Sorry It's been so long, guys! I kept meaning to update, but well...Er...Yeah, I got nothing. Just being forgetful I guess. There's a lot going on. I'm actually feeling a bit like Kyo in this story because there are sooo many people in my house. XD But, it's all good. Anyway, chapter 9 is in the works. Reveiws please! Flames? No, thank you. ^-^
-Camie