Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a strange bedroom. Actually, it didn’t even look like a bedroom. It was just an empty room with a futon in it. There was also a table and an old chair, a built-in sliding wardrobe, and a set of shelves– a little dusty, with nothing on it. The floor was a little dusty too, as if the room hadn’t been used for quite a long time. The futon was new, though, and it smelled like fresh laundry. It was also quite comfortable. Kyo had never slept in a futon before. At home he had a bed. His bedroom at home was smaller than this room, but maybe it only seemed that way because this room was so empty. Also, the ceiling was very high. At home the ceiling wasn’t this high, but maybe it just seemed that way because the futon was lower than his bed. No, here the ceiling was definitely higher. Generally, this room felt very… spacious. Everything looked much bigger than what Kyo had in his bedroom at home. The table and chair were big. If Kyo sat on that chair, his feet wouldn’t reach the floor, and he would probably have difficulty reaching the table anyway. At home, he had a small table and chair, suitable for his size. Even the window was big, covered with a very thick grey curtain. It must have been night, because the room was very dark, and Kyo could see the moonlight coming from in between the curtains. 

I don’t remember sleeping this long , Kyo thought. When did I even go to sleep?

By the window there was an old black wall clock. 

I wonder who needs to know the time in such an empty room as this , Kyo thought. 

It was ten past nine. Kyo was quite proud of himself because he had recently learnt how to read the clock. At home, he had a digital clock on his nightstand, but he had asked his mom to teach him how to read the “grown-up” clock. 

Mom . 

Kyo squeezed his eyes shut and pulled the blanket over his head. 

Maybe this is all a dream. Maybe if I go back to sleep, I’ll wake up in the morning with my digital clock on my nightstand , Kyo thought. 

With my small table and my small chair. 

With Mom. 

Kyo’s thoughts were interrupted by loud voices from downstairs. The room was dark, but the door was ajar, and there was a light glow coming from the hallway. He pulled the blanket away, got up and reached the door, opening it slightly. He peeked outside, keeping a hand on the knob just in case. Someone was yelling. 

“I just had the most terrible day of my entire life! I just buried my beloved wife! And you’re telling me to keep quiet?”

That was… Dad ? 

Hearing his father’s voice sent a shiver down Kyo’s spine. He tightened his grip on the doorknob. 

It’s not my fault . 

“The child is sleeping, and he’s had quite a day as well. If you could only keep your voice down, maybe we can…” 

“Like hell, I’ll keep my voice down! That thing is going back to the main house right now! The head of the family will deal with it!” 

“The head of the family is a child himself. He is probably sleeping right now, as he should be. I am sure we can all have a reasonable conversation in the morning.” 

“You had no right to interfere in this way! If only I didn’t have more important matters to deal with, I would…” 

“I only took the child away from a very uncomfortable situation. He is staying here tonight so he can get some rest in a peaceful environment. As you said, you have your hands full with important matters to deal with right now. Let him stay here for a while, and at the first convenient time for everyone, I would be willing to discuss…” 

“There is nothing to discuss! Everything has already been decided! That thing will be locked up straight away! It will pay for its crime!” 

Kyo shut the door. He looked for a key in the keyhole but there wasn’t one. For a second, he thought about grabbing the chair and putting it against the door, but it looked too heavy for him to lift and he would probably make too much noise dragging it, so he opted for hiding instead. He ran to the wardrobe, slid it open, curled up into the lower section, and slid the door closed. In the black darkness of his tiny hiding place, he squeezed his eyes closed and covered his ears. He knew what his father was talking about. He knew because he had seen it with his own eyes. A small, square cottage with a heavy door and no windows, in the middle of a bamboo forest so thick the sunlight couldn’t reach it, even in the middle of the day. His father hadn’t wasted any time. He had brought Kyo there the day after his mother died. With eyes that seemed possessed and a strong grip on his upper arm, he had looked at Kyo and told him “This is where you’re going! This is where you’ll spend the rest of your tragic life!” He was almost smiling, although in a frantic way, as though he were relieved. Kyo was too terrified to say anything, so he had remained silent. He hadn’t talked much in the few days between his mother’s death and the funeral, and he had hoped that his father had just gone crazy. But now, his father was here. His father was here to take him, and he had mentioned that place again. He’d also said everything was already decided. Kyo curled up even more, trying to make himself as small as possible. 

I don’t want to go in there! I don’t want to go in there! Please don’t let me go in there! Please! Please, don’t let me go in there!

The two men downstairs continued talking.  

“There’s nothing to discuss! Everything has already been decided! That thing will be locked up straight away! It will pay for its crime!” Kyo’s father was shaking his fist in the air, and it almost looked like he was trying to keep himself from stomping his foot at every sentence. 

“I am willing to discuss this with the head of the family, but I’m sure you agree this is not a convenient time to have this kind of conversation. Please, let the child stay here for tonight. I will go to the main house first thing in the morning. You can meet me there,” Kazuma opened his arms in a placating gesture, but took a step forward, with the intent of politely pushing the other man toward the front door.  

“You are signing up for something bigger than you realize, Kazuma! You have no idea what that thing is capable of!” Kyo’s father reluctantly approached the door and started to put his shoes back on. 

“I would like to remind you that my grandfather was the previous Cat. I know exactly what I am talking about.” Kazuma said, taking another step forward to make sure the other man wouldn’t have the space to come back in. 

“You haven’t seen it though! It’s not just a cute little cat! It’s a monster!” Kyo’s father straightened, shaking one of his shoes in the air, as if he were about to throw it.  

“I am very much aware of that implication, thank you very much. As I said, I am willing to discuss the details of this unfortunate situation first thing in the morning with the head of the family. Let’s all meet up with a fresh mind tomorrow,” Kazuma replied with a gentle smile, not intimidated in the slightest. 

“You are not going to avoid the unavoidable, Kazuma,” was Kyo’s father's last remark before leaving the house with a furious look in his eyes. 

“Have a good night, Hinote. I will see you tomorrow.” Kazuma closed the door. 

Kazuma headed to the kitchen. Another man was sitting at the kitchen table with a concerned look on his face. Kazuma simply smiled. 

“I am sorry you had to witness this, Kunimitsu, and on your first week of work. I can assure you it’s not usually this hectic around  here. These are rather extraordinary circumstances,” he said with a small bow. 

Kunimitsu stood. “Please, Sensei, don’t feel like you have to apologize. If anything, I’m sorry for intruding on private family matters. I was just finishing cleaning the kitchen and I didn’t want to leave without saying goodnight. But now I’ll retire to my room if that’s okay with you.” 

Kazuma smiled again “Absolutely. It’s past my bedtime too, actually. I will see you in the morning.”

Kunimitsu bowed and started to approach the door, but Kazuma stopped him. “I will have to ask you to be discreet about what you have heard tonight. It’s a complicated situation and I cannot share all the details with you. Not right now, at least. But I hope I will be able to explain later on.” 

“You can count on my discretion, Sensei,” Kunimitsu replied. 

“Thank you. Goodnight now.” 

“Goodnight Sensei.” 

Kazuma switched off all the lights and started to head upstairs. He had put a new futon for Kyo in the empty room right next to his own bedroom. The room wasn’t exactly clean, as nobody had used it since Kazuma had moved in, and the maid dusted the floor only once a week. There were other available rooms downstairs that were cleaned more regularly, like the one Kazuma used for his morning meditation, but he had thought that the best thing was to keep Kyo close, just in case he needed anything during the night. Kazuma’s bedroom was the last one at the end of the hallway, so he had to walk by Kyo’s door, and he immediately noticed the door was closed. 

Strange, I’m sure I left it open just in case... 

Kazuma opened the door without a sound. He peeked inside, and, in the moonlight coming from the window, he saw the empty futon. 

Oh, dear… 

He entered the room and switched on the light. Kyo was nowhere to be seen. He took a few steps around as if he hoped to see Kyo materializing in front of his eyes. He was just about to go and check the bathroom when he heard a small noise coming from the wardrobe. The noise of something shifting. He approached the wardrobe and he was just about to open it without thinking too much, but he stopped halfway through, his hand on the handle. He knocked.  

“Kyo? Are you in there?” 

He knocked again. No response whatsoever. 

He slowly slid the wardrobe door open. 

Kyo was there, curled up, his forehead resting on his knees and his hands covering his ears.

“Kyo? Are you okay? What are you doing in there?” 

The child didn’t even move and didn’t give any sign of acknowledging Kazuma at all.

Kazuma crouched down and touched Kyo’s shoulder, but the boy flinched as if Kazuma’s touch had burnt him. Kazuma immediately withdrew his hand. 

“I am not going to touch you if you don’t want me to. I promise. But please, would you come out? It can’t be comfortable in there,” Kazuma said with a smile. 

Kyo slowly shifted his head without lifting it from the top of his knees. He met Kazuma’s gentle eyes, and Kazuma could see he had been crying. His face was puffy and his eyes were red and swollen. 

“Please. Come out. I promise, everything is fine.” 

Kyo stared at Kazuma for a full minute, then seemed to look beyond Kazuma, as if he were checking to see if there were anyone else in the room. Kazuma followed his gaze for a moment before looking at the scared child again. 

“There’s no one here, I promise. Just me. Just me and you and no one else.” 

Kyo didn't move for a while and just kept staring at Kazuma. Then, very slowly, as if he were moving in slow motion, he released his grip on his knees and started to come out. He stopped and looked at Kazuma with wary eyes. Kazuma got the message and stepped back to give him some space. 

“That’s better!” said Kazuma with the gentlest smile he could provide when the boy had come all the way out of the wardrobe. Kyo still looked quite uncomfortable and started rubbing his eyes, clearly disturbed by the bright light of the room after being in the dark for quite a long time. 

“Oh, sorry about that. Let’s see…” Kazuma turned around and in two steps he reached the table where there was a small desk lamp. He switched it on, then switched off the main light. The room fell into a soft warm light. 

“Better?” Kazuma asked. Kyo just nodded. 

Kazuma crouched down again, remembering to keep some distance between him and the boy. 

“Listen, Kyo, I don’t know how much you heard, but everything is fine. No one is taking you away. You can just go back to sleep and we can talk in the morning if you want. Sounds good?” 

Kyo didn’t look very convinced. He kept looking towards the door, as if he were scared someone would appear in the door frame from the hallway. Kazuma followed his gaze again and then looked back at him. 

“How about this: for tonight, we can move your futon into my bedroom, okay? Just for tonight. I know you’re very brave, and you’re perfectly able to sleep alone in your own bedroom, but maybe just for tonight? It’s your first night here, and this room is not exactly clean. I should have had it cleaned before your arrival, but you know, this afternoon things were… rather hectic, right?” 

As he spoke, Kazuma realized Kyo was still wearing his black clothes from the funeral. When he had brought him home that afternoon, the boy had been so exhausted and shaken, and Kazuma had just put him into the futon completely dressed, without really bothering to find an old T-shirt or something. 

Kyo was still staring at Kazuma, probably evaluating his proposal. He looked down at his futon, then at the door and then back at Kazuma. He nodded. 

“Good! I’m so glad! Let’s go then. Grab your pillow, and I’ll take the rest” 

They moved Kyo’s futon into Kazuma’s bedroom, which wasn’t much different from Kyo’s, only there were books on the shelves and some more things on a table, but everything was very clean and tidy. Kazuma prepared Kyo's futon right next to his own and then found a fresh white T-shirt in one of the drawers. Kyo didn’t protest. The T-shirt was big enough for him to swim into it, but he didn’t complain. When he was ready, Kyo got into his futon without a single word, but before he lay down, he looked at the open door. Kazuma noticed his gaze again. 

“Would you like me to close the door?” he asked. Kyo nodded again. 

Kazuma closed the door and waited until Kyo was settled into his futon before switching off the main light. Then, he switched on a small night light he had by the head of his futon.  

“I’ll leave this small light on, okay? It’s small, so it won’t disturb us, but at least it won’t be completely dark. I mean, just in case you need the bathroom or something” Kazuma said while laying down.  

Kyo stared at him again and then nodded. 

Kazuma smiled. “If you need anything, I’ll be right here.” 

Kyo lay down, facing Kazuma. For a split second, Kazuma was sure Kyo was just about to say something. Or maybe he hoped so. But then the boy turned to the other side and pulled the blanket over his head. 

“Goodnight Kyo,” Kazuma whispered.

Chapter Text

Kazuma was an early riser. The classes at the dojo started at nine and he could have easily slept until eight, but since he had taken over the dojo, he had settled into an enjoyable morning routine that started at five. He was so used to it now he didn't need an alarm clock, he would just wake up at the usual time. Those few early hours were his favourite of the day because they were his. He would dedicate that time to his favourite activities like reading, meditation, or a nice walk outside, even in winter. Kazuma loved his students and his job as a dojo sensei. Generally, he was sociable, someone who truly enjoyed having people around, but he also took great pleasure in the solitude of the early morning, when everyone was still asleep, and he could just enjoy the marvelous miracle of the daily sunrise. 

He had not always been an early riser. When he was young, he had struggled to find a morning routine that would suit him, and, during his teenage years, he had gone through a difficult period due to his complicated relationship with his parents. But those days were long gone now, and since he had taken the job as the dojo master, he had become a creature of habit. 

It was a good thing he didn’t need an alarm clock, Kazuma thought, because the last thing he wanted was to disturb Kyo, who was sleeping right next to him. He would have never thought in a thousand years that the very first thing he would see when he opened his eyes the following day would indeed be Kyo, wholly awake and crouched right next to his head, staring at him with his big amber eyes. Kazuma blinked a couple of times and returned the gaze for a few seconds before flinching abruptly. Kyo jumped too at his reaction, falling on his backside and crawling backwards into his futon. 

“Kyo! Hey! I mean… Hi! Ehm… good morning!” Kazuma said, trying to quickly recover from the shock.

Kyo looked at him with wide eyes, covering himself with the blanket. 

“Sorry! I… I mean… I… I didn’t mean to scare you!” Kazuma said, lifting himself into a sitting position. "I just… I really didn't expect to find you awake, I guess… it's… it's very early! Didn’t you sleep well?” 

Kyo didn't answer and kept staring, his eyes still wide, as if he were looking at an alien. 

Kazuma scratched the back of his head and tried his best to regain his usual calm composure. He looked at the clock on the wall and wasn't surprised to see it was indeed five. A feeble light was coming from behind the curtain, and he could hear birds chirping outside. Thinking about it, it wasn't strange that Kyo was already awake. After all, the previous day he had slept for almost the entire late afternoon and into the evening. Kazuma wondered how long the child had waited for him to wake up. He took a deep breath and looked back at Kyo. 

“I am very sorry, Kyo. I didn't mean to scare you. I can see you are an early riser like me, right?" He said with a gentle smile. 

Kyo was still silent and tense but didn't look scared anymore. 

“How did you sleep?” Kazuma asked “I mean… did you sleep well?” 

Kazuma knew that Kyo was still too uncomfortable to talk, so he was trying his best to ask questions Kyo could answer with just a nod or shake of his head. He didn't want to force him to talk if he didn't want to, and asking an open-ended question would have meant putting Kyo on the spot. 

Kyo nodded. 

“Good! Do you need to use the bathroom?”

Kyo nodded again. 

"Sorry, I should have shown you where it is last night. Come, I'll show you." 

They both stood, and Kazuma reached out a hand for Kyo to take. Kyo hesitated, and for a second, Kazuma hesitated, too. He didn't want to force Kyo to do anything he didn’t want to. However, he was also unsure about what Kyo wanted. The previous evening, when Kazuma had touched Kyo’s shoulder, the boy had flinched so abruptly he thought it better to avoid any physical contact. But now, Kazuma was starting to believe they wouldn't be able to take any step forward if he couldn't convince the boy he could trust him enough to at least hold his hand. He kept his hand out, and after what looked like a long and deep evaluation, Kyo grabbed it. Kazuma could feel his heart melting. 

"It looks like we are all a bunch of early risers!" Kazuma said, getting into the kitchen, hand in hand with Kyo. 

"Great minds think alike! Good morning Sensei!" Kunimitsu replied with a smile. "And who is this little fella?" 

Kazuma smiled, looking fondly at the child. "This is Kyo. Hopefully, he is going to stay here with us for a while." He crouched down, level with him, "Kyo, this is Kunimitsu. He just started working here. I hope the two of you can become good friends!" 

Kunimitsu crouched down, too, and reached out a hand "Hello, Kyo! I love your hair! Such a bright colour!" 

Kyo seemed a bit overwhelmed by all that attention and looked at Kunimitsu with wary eyes. Nonetheless, he shook his hand.

"Good! Now that we are done with the introductions, why don't we think about putting something together for breakfast?" 

"I am steaming some rice and have some miso soup on the way, too, Sensei." 

"That will do. Thank you very much, Kunimitsu. You must have been up quite a while already." 

"I like to have breakfast done by six-thirty so I can have some time for myself before the working day starts," Kunimitsu replied, checking the rice steamer. 

"Great minds do think alike indeed." Kazuma smiled. "Do you like miso soup, Kyo?" He asked him. 

Kyo didn't look particularly convinced but nodded anyway. 

"Good. Let's grab some water, too" 

Kazuma opened the fridge to take the jug of water from it, and Kyo looked up at him, slightly pulling the hand he was still holding. 

Kazuma looked at him “Mmm? What is it?” 

There was a carton of milk in the fridge and Kyo pointed at it.  

“You want some milk?” 

Kyo nodded vigorously and his lips curved slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Was that a smile? 

“Of course you can have some milk! I’m so glad we found something you like!” 

Kazuma grabbed the milk from the fridge, poured some into a mug, and put it into the microwave. Kyo sat on the kitchen table and looked almost impatient, looking at the microwave timer counting down the one minute needed. 

He is a kitten, after all. 

When the timer rang, Kazuma grabbed the mug and placed it into Kyo’s tiny hands. 

“Careful, it’s hot!” Kazuma warned him. Kyo blew on it a couple of times and then sipped it. He looked up at Kazuma and… smiled. 

Wow! This is progress! 

That little smile, for something as simple as a mug of milk, came so unexpectedly, Kazuma found himself staring at Kyo with a shocked look on his face. Kyo’s expression darkened immediately, as if he thought he had done something wrong to deserve that look. 

Kazuma quickly replaced his shocked expression with the most loving smile. Hoping with all his heart the boy wouldn’t flinch, he reached out and stroked the top of Kyo’s head. 

“I am so glad you like it” 

Kyo didn’t flinch. He looked Kazuma straight in the eye and then that tiny smile returned on his face.

Kazuma made a mental note to always have an extra carton of milk in the fridge. 

The problem was that Kazuma was a bachelor. He was only twenty-seven years old, technically still young enough to get married, but the truth was that he had never pictured himself as a family man, whether he was willing to admit it or not. Since he was a teenager, he had devoted his life to his biggest passion, and, later on, he successfully turned that passion into a long-term job. He’d had a girlfriend once. And maybe, for a very short period, he thought marriage could have been a possibility. But the delight of being a loving husband and father had never overcome the thrill of dedicating all his time, strength and energy to what he loved the most. So eventually, he ended up a bachelor, and had no particular intention of changing that. 

Being a bachelor was not a problem, per se. He loved his job and usual routine, and, thanks to his position, he still had the chance to meet many people who shared his passion. But all the implications of being a single adultman were now becoming a little inconvenient, as he found himself puzzled as to how to entertain a five-year-old child for an entire day and all the days to follow. Kazuma had absolutely nothing in his house that could be considered even remotely entertaining for a child. Obviously, he didn't have any toys or children's books. But the problem was that he was missing something he had always considered unnecessary, but would have been incredibly useful in this new scenario: a TV. 

After breakfast and after helping to clean up the kitchen, Kyo sat on the table and looked at Kazuma with a clear “what-are-we-doing-now?” gaze on his face.  

It was a Monday morning, so technically, Kazuma had to work from nine onwards. But the classes were not a problem because Kazuma could count on the teaching skills of four other Sensei who worked for him, five with the arrival of Kunimitsu. 

Kunimitsu was truly a blessing because he was extremely capable and experienced, despite his young age. He had grown up in a dojo run by his parents in the countryside, so he was very independent, skilled at running the usual duties and chores, and he was also a very good karateka. He had applied for a job at the Sohma dojo to gain external experience, and Kazuma had already assigned him a couple of classes.

Also, it appeared Kunimitsu had some very useful problem-solving skills, because, as Kazuma was still wondering how to respond to that questioning gaze Kyo was giving him, he said, 

“Sensei, I am quite sure I saw some stuff down in the dojo storage room that might be useful right now. It’s all the material left from the last festival you told me about, the one the dojo held for the kids at Christmas. I can go and check for you.” 

“That would be so kind of you! I hadn’t thought about that!” 

Kunimitsu came back from the storage room with two incredibly useful items: a kid-size winter tracksuit and a box of crayons. 

"You are a lifesaver! I had no idea we still had those!" Kazuma thanked him. 

"That's because organising the storage room is not your job! Sensei Tanaka showed it to me during my induction," Kunimitsu replied with a smile. 

“Fair enough. I am going upstairs with Kyo now. Can you meet me here in half an hour? I would like to organise the classes for today, as I will probably have to take some time off. I have some matters to deal with." 

"Sure, Sensei. See you later." 

It was almost eight o’clock, and the dojo was starting to get busy. The cleaners usually worked in the evening, but they would also take shifts in the morning to ensure everything was tidy at the beginning of the day. The morning classes started at nine, but the teachers and students usually arrived earlier to do meditation or stretching.

Kazuma spent half an hour with Kunimitsu organising the classes for that day. He didn’t know when and if he would be available at all, so he ensured all the classes were covered. 

Kyo had changed, and he was now wearing the tracksuit provided by Kunimitsu. It was a bit too big for him, but Kazuma had refused to let him wear the black clothes from the funeral for another day. He was sitting at the kitchen table, colouring with the crayons, when Kazuma dismissed Kunimitsu and approached him. 

“I need to make a couple of phone calls. Wait here and make a nice drawing for me, okay?” Kazuma said, stroking Kyo’s head. 

Kyo nodded, but Kazuma noticed his expression darkening a bit when he mentioned the phone calls. 

This is not going to be easy. 

He walked down the hallway, where the phone was. He searched for a number in a small black diary and dialled it. While waiting for someone to pick up the line, he realised he was more nervous than he would like to admit. 

The line connected. 

“Good morning. Apologies for the early hour. My name is Kazuma Sohma. I would like to request an appointment with the head of the family."

Chapter Text

Kyo was still drawing when Kazuma went back to the kitchen. He walked down the hallway on tiptoes and peeked in to make sure Kyo hadn't eavesdropped on his phone calls. He lingered a little longer at the door frame. Kyo had all the crayons spread out on the table, his hands dirty from colouring, his legs dangling and shaking from the chair that was too big for him, and he was so focused on his work he didn’t notice Kazuma was there. He was also humming something. The whole picture of him was so endearing and heartbreaking at the same time. How could a child who had been so horribly mistreated and abused have stayed so innocent and pure? Capable of showing gratitude for something as trivial as a mug of milk? Capable of finding enjoyment in simple things like drawing? Sure, he had been wary and still seemed cautious about what to expect from this new scenario. But right now, looking at him enjoying such an ordinary activity like drawing, Kazuma realised Kyo was craving some sort of normality. He could see a desperate need for peace in that moment of light-heartedness, a break from all that chaos, a need for a safe place where he could forget, even just for a couple of hours, that he was the Cat and his mother had committed suicide because of it.

Kazuma didn’t realise he had been staring for quite a while until Kyo finally looked up at him. 

"So, any nice drawing for me?" Kazuma asked with a smile whilst stepping in. 

Kyo blushed, as if the idea of being caught having so much fun embarrassed him. He quickly covered the sheet he was drawing on with his arms and shook his head. 

"No?" He asked, faking a disappointed expression. "Oh, that's a shame. I guess producing art takes time, right?" 

Kyo frowned, unsure if Kazuma was making fun of him. Kazuma thought Kyo's pout was so cute it might have been worth it to tease him a bit more, but he also didn’t want to offend him. 

"Just joking. It's okay if you don't want to show me. Maybe later." 

Kyo folded the sheet and put it into his pocket. Then he looked at Kazuma with the same questioning gaze he had given him after breakfast. For a second, Kazuma thought about telling him about who he had spoken to on the phone, but quickly decided otherwise. He had a few hours to spend with Kyo before his appointment at the main house, and he didn’t want to kill Kyo's good mood by mentioning that place.

"Would you like to take a walk? It's a beautiful day out there and I was thinking about showing you around a little. This place is pretty big, and if you are going to stay here with us, you will have to learn how to navigate it. It can be confusing because all the buildings look the same, but I am sure in just a couple of weeks, you’ll know it like the back of your hand." 

Kyo looked intrigued. As much as he tried to hide it, that barely visible smile was back on his face, and Kazuma hoped to turn it into a grin soon.

"Also, I was thinking about letting you watch some of the lessons taking place right now. As you might have understood by now, I run the dojo here. I may not look it, but I teach martial arts. You could try it out, if you want to." 

Now Kyo looked very intrigued and Kazuma felt pleased. 

“It seems like I tickled your interest! I’m glad! Shall we go?” 

Kyo quickly gathered all the crayons and put them back into the box one by one, under the amused gaze of Kazuma, who waited patiently. Then, without asking either permission or help, he jumped down from the chair and slowly pushed it over to the sink. He then climbed back on it and proceeded to wash his hands, which were dirty from using the crayons. Kazuma kept looking at him and stepped forward to be close enough to grab him, just in case he fell, but he didn't say anything and waited for Kyo to finish. He asked himself if it was usual for such a small child to act so independently, or if it had something to do with his mother being unable to hold him without turning him into a cat. He wondered what it had meant for Kyo to spend his very early years never being held. His mother simply couldn’t hold him and his father didn’t look like the affectionate type, to say the least. From a practical point of view, it looked like Kyo had learnt to be almost entirely independent in his actions. Kazuma had already noticed this when Kyo had refused his help in the bathroom that morning. But Kazuma was thinking more about the emotional implications of that lack of touch. Could a child properly develop without being held? Would they feel the lack of affection? Could they miss something they never experienced? How would his mother comfort him if Kyo had a bad dream at night? By holding his hand? By patting his head? If Kyo had felt scared, worried, or upset when he was too little to talk, what had it meant to be denied a hug, which was the only non-verbal comfort an adult could give a child? 

Suddenly, Kazuma felt the need to grab Kyo and hold him tight. He wanted to keep him close to his heart and let him feel all the love and physical affection he had been denied until that moment. He wanted Kyo to know he was safe and that Kazuma wouldn't allow anything bad to happen to him. He was right behind him, he just needed to stretch his arms and pull Kyo into his embrace… 

Kyo closed the tap, shook his hands, and turned to face Kazuma. And Kazuma realised it was the second time in ten minutes he had been staring at Kyo, lost in his thoughts.

I must stop this, or he'll think I’m a weirdo. 

“There you go,” he said, grabbing a towel from the counter and passing it to Kyo. 

Kyo dried his hands slowly, looking Kazuma in the eye. He then folded the towel, put it back on the counter, and, still staring, reached out a hand, palm up. Kazuma felt a tingling at the corner of his eyes. He took Kyo’s hand, and Kyo jumped down. Then he looked up and smiled again. 

This kid is going to break my heart, Kazuma thought, stepping into the hallway, hand in hand with Kyo. 

The dojo was a massive complex of five main buildings, several smaller blocks, and Kazuma's house. One of the main buildings consisted of only one huge room which was rarely used, reserved only for special occasions like tournaments or festivals. The other four included the training rooms used daily for the classes, the changing rooms, the lockers and the showers. The smaller blocks were dedicated to the students' and teachers’ quarters, a communal kitchen and dining room, a large storage room, and a library. The dojo was not currently hosting any boarding students, and Kunimitsu was the only teacher who lived there, so, despite sleeping in the teachers’ quarters, Kazuma had given him permission to use the kitchen in his house so they could have breakfast together and organise the daily schedule. It had worked fine for the first few days, but Kyo’s arrival had momentarily messed up their routine, and now Kazuma had different plans for his day. 

He had no intention of bringing Kyo with him to the main house. Actually, he had no intention of telling Kyo about where he was going at all. He had already organised a diversion with a second phone call he had placed that morning after speaking to the main house.  

" Good morning, Ichika-san. I sincerely apologise for the early hour. I hope I am not disturbing you. "

" Not at all, Kazuma-san! I am delighted to hear from you! I wasn’t expecting it to be so soon, but as I said yesterday, if I can be of any help, it would be my greatest pleasure ." 

Kazuma had met Kagura's mother the day before at the funeral. He had already seen her a couple of times because little Kagura had just started training at the dojo and they had exchanged courtesies. But at the funeral, Ichika had approached him when he was on his way out with Kyo. The boy had waited by the door whilst the two adults had had a brief conversation, and she had kindly offered her help should Kazuma need it. Apparently, Kyo and Kagura knew each other, and Ichika didn't mind them playing together. It had been a pleasant surprise for Kazuma, learning not all the zodiac kids' parents ostracised the Cat. 

" I wasn’t expecting to have to trouble you so soon, actually. Unfortunately, the boy's father is upset about this arrangement, and I will have to attend a meeting with the head of the family to clear things up. Would it be too inconvenient for you to look after Kyo for a couple of hours this afternoon?" 

And so it was settled. Ichika's offer to help had been a godsend. Also, learning Kagura was so fond of Kyo was an incentive for Kazuma to take advantage of it. The more he could keep Kyo in the dark about what was happening, the better. He thought Kyo had already shown significant progress in the barely twenty-four hours he had spent with him getting adjusted to this new situation, and Kazuma didn’t want to waste it. The boy hadn't started talking yet, but he was clearly more comfortable than he had been the previous evening. Also, he seemed to take a keen interest in the activities of the dojo. He had stared with sparkling eyes at students dressed in their gi passing by, and he gaped when Kazuma showed him the main room. 

"Do you like it?" asked Kazuma with a chuckle. The room was so enormous his voice echoed a little. 

Kyo nodded vigorously, glancing around in awe. 

"I am glad. Maybe, if you work hard, you will be able to have your first fight in a proper tournament in this room," Kazuma said, with a hint of a challenge in his voice. 

Kyo looked at him as if Kazuma said he would one day be able to walk on the moon, but determination sparkled in his eyes.

Kazuma was glad indeed. It wasn’t a given Kyo would be interested in martial arts, and seeing he was interested made Kazuma daydream about all the possibilities this would open: classes, one-to-one sessions, training camps, tournaments. He could see Kyo wearing his gi, tied up with a brand-new black belt. 

You’re doing it again, stop spacing out . 

"Come now, let's go and have a look at the classes. Let's see how Kunimistu is doing with his students," Kazuma said, walking towards the exit. Kyo trailed along, his face shining with excitement. 

The next few hours passed very quickly. Kazuma had only intended to stay for a short while, but once inside one of the training rooms, Kyo didn’t want to leave. He sat in awed silence in the corner and watched, gaping in utter amazement. He was so well-behaved that at a certain point, Kazuma thought he could afford to leave him sitting alone and take over the lesson, as the class they were attending had initially been his class to teach before the reshuffle of that morning. 

Before they knew it, it was lunchtime. Lunch was the only meal Kazuma didn't have to worry about because it was provided by the dojo cooks in the communal kitchen. It was also the only meal where he would eat edible food. Kazuma wouldn't admit it, but he couldn't cook to save his life. 

Kazuma was supposed to be at the main house right after lunch, and he still hadn't said anything to Kyo. They were eating together in the communal dining room when Kazuma carefully approached the subject. 

“I have some business to deal with after lunch. I will have to leave you here for a couple of hours." 

Kyo’s expression darkened.

“I don’t want to leave you here alone, so I have asked a friend to spend some time with you. I have heard you are dear friends with a sweet girl named Kagura." 

Kyo’s expression darkened even more, a disapproving frown on his face and his eyes narrowed. 

“Or maybe not?” Kazuma asked with a nervous chuckle. Ichika assured him the two children were fond of each other. 

Kyo was looking at him straight in the eye, with that usual wary expression, but Kazuma could catch a hint of something else. Something like… anger. He was about to talk again, but Kyo opened his mouth. 

“We…” 

YES? 

"We… we are not exactly friends." 

Kazuma didn’t want to look like he was making a big deal of the fact that Kyo was finally talking to him, so he steadied his voice and tried to keep a neutral expression as much as possible. 

“No? So, what are you, exactly?” 

“We… we used to… we used to play together," Kyo answered slowly, as if carefully choosing his words. 

“Oh. But not anymore?”

“No. Not anymore,” Kyo said, eyes locked with Kazuma's, his breathing deepening. Kazuma felt he was suddenly walking on eggshells. 

“And… why not? Did you have an argument?” 

Kyo was now clearly angry and Kazuma had no idea why. “I mean, I had no intention to upset you, but I can see I have been misinformed. I was told you and Kagura were good friends.” 

“Who… who told you that?” Kyo asked, his voice shaking a little. 

“Kagura’s mother. It’s that nice lady I spoke with yesterday. I talked to her on the phone this morning." 

“You did?” 

“Yes. She said you and Kagura played together several times at the playground, and she would be happy for the both of you to keep doing so."

Kyo's eyes slightly widened when Kazuma mentioned the playground and he suddenly withdrew his left arm from the top of the table. Kazuma was downright serious, as he understood something was clearly going on here and knew nothing about it. He could see something hiding underneath Kyo's anger and wariness: fear. 

“And… and what… what else did she say?” Kyo asked. 

"Nothing," Kazuma answered promptly. "Nothing else. Just this."

Kyo stared at him for another few seconds before looking down and resuming his meal without a word. 

Kazuma thought dropping the subject for now was probably a good idea. 

Kazuma walked slowly on his way to the main house, thinking about the developments of that day. 

Kyo hadn't said a single word since lunch, and Kazuma cursed himself for being so impulsive as not to ask Kyo about Kagura before arranging for him to spend time with her. He didn't want to force Kyo into an uncomfortable situation, and he really wanted to investigate further what had happened between Kyo and Kagura to cause such a strong reaction in the boy. So he had left Kyo with Kunimistu, with the promise he would behave whilst watching the afternoon classes. On the way, he stopped at Kagura's place and bowed to her mother to apologise for the sudden change of plans. Ichika hadn't minded and she confirmed her availability to help. 

Approaching the main house’s entrance, Kazuma recalled something Kyo's father had told him. 

“ You are signing up for something bigger than you realise, Kazuma! ” 

Kazuma knew what Hinote meant. He meant the Cat Spirit’s True Form. Kazuma couldn’t care less about the Cat’s True Form. Though he had never seen it, he wasn't particularly bothered by what he knew. That wasn't his concern as long as Kyo's beads were in place. But now he couldn't help thinking maybe Kyo's father was right in some respects. Kazuma knew nothing about Kyo. He knew nothing about his family, about his relationship with the other zodiacs, whether or not he had met Akito before, and what Akito’s disposition towards him was like. 

Looking at the maid coming down the path to attend to him, Kazuma thought, if nothing else, he was about to find out.

"Good afternoon. I am here to meet with the head of the family."

Chapter Text

A famous proverb recites, "If you wait long enough, it will be good weather." It wasn’t like Kazuma to dismiss old folk wisdom, but he couldn't help thinking that another proverb also recites, "To wait for luck is the same as waiting for death." Kazuma didn’t mind waiting. He had a very calm and patient approach to almost everything in life, or at least he had learnt to do so growing up. He would take advantage of an unexpected long wait by doing meditation. He sat on a large, comfortable cushion in an almost entirely silent, empty room. The place was perfect for meditating and Kazuma felt he needed it to wash away the nervous feelings he had had while walking up to the main house. But after almost half an hour, Kazuma thought maybe that delay wasn't unintentional. There was some sort of hidden meaning in making someone wait, perhaps as a subtle way to establish the balance of power. Kazuma was here to ask for something and someone else would come to either grant or refuse his request. It wasn't an equal dynamic and maybe the delay served as a reminder. Kazuma wasn’t easy to intimidate, though, and the more time passed, the more he could feel determination with a slight hint of annoyance growing inside him. He wasn’t here to wait, either for good weather or for luck. He was here to have his own way. 

The door opened and the same maid who had welcomed him appeared. 

“The head of the family is ready to see you. Please, follow me.”

They both walked to another room at the end of the long hallway. Kazuma entered and bowed before sitting down on the cushion placed in front of his host. 

“Good afternoon, Akito-sama. I hope I find you in good health." 

"Quite the opposite, actually, Kazuma-san. I apologise for making you wait, but unfortunately, my health is not very good at the moment and I had to have some unexpected medical checks. I was hoping to have a briefing with you before the father of the Cat joins us, but he should be here any minute now, so I guess we will all discuss this together." 

Kazuma had met Akito before. He had to attend regular meetings with the Sohma board regarding the dojo, and Akito had often been present since his father had passed away. Kazuma had always been a little stunned by the fact that such a young child would technically be in charge of making decisions in important matters, but that was simply how things were in the family. In fact, he was equally stunned by Akito’s manners and general demeanour. The child indeed talked and behaved like a grown-up.  

“So, I understand you are here because you want to keep the Cat with you at the dojo.”

“That’s correct.” 

“Any particular reason?” 

“Well, I think that…” Kazuma started, but he was interrupted by the maid, who opened the door to let Kyo’s father in. 

“Good afternoon. I hope I'm not late,” Hinote said, bowing. His voice was neutral, but his eyes revealed a certain bellicose determination. Kazuma bowed his head in acknowledgement, maintaining his placid composure, whilst Akito smiled at Hinote with a mixture of annoyance and condescending politeness on his face.

“Not at all. Please, sit down,” he said, gesturing at a second cushion. Hinote sat and waited to be addressed. 

Akito glanced at both men. “I understand we are here to discuss the Cat’s fate after the tragic accident that befell his mother.” 

“It wasn’t an accident!” Hinote exclaimed, his voice rising already. 

“Excuse me?” Akito said with a flat voice, but with fire in his eyes. 

Hinote bowed his head. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt." 

“Well, Hinote-san, I can see you clearly have something to say, so why don’t you start presenting your argument?” 

“Absolutely, Akito-sama. I am here to request the Cat be imprisoned at once! That thing is an abomination, and it killed my beloved wife. It might not have pushed her itself, but it certainly drove her to do what she did! The poor thing was devastated by the disgrace and shame that thing brought upon us, and she just couldn't take it anymore! That monster has to pay for what it did. I am asking nothing more than for that thing to fulfil his fate now rather than later. It has already proved what it is capable of, and it should be locked up straight away to prevent it from hurting anyone else!” Hinote didn’t realise that his voice had risen and that he had basically shouted his last sentence. 

“I see.” Akito wasn’t impressed with Hinote’s manners, but he didn't look like he completely disagreed with what Hinote was saying. 

Kazuma listened to what Hinote said without batting an eyelid, his face not showing a hint of emotion. But deep inside, he was torn apart by guilt. Listening to Hinote’s angry speech, he couldn’t help thinking there had been a time when he viewed the Cat in more or less the same way. He had been ashamed of being related to the Cat and tried his best to distance himself from that disgraceful connection. He’d known his grandfather was locked up in the Cat's house, and he had never been bothered by that knowledge. He had thought it was the right thing because the Cat was indeed a monster and had to be locked up for everyone else’s safety. When his grandfather died, he hadn’t shed a tear. But now, waiting for him at home was Kyo, whose only fault was coming into this world carrying the most despised spirit of the zodiac within himself, just like his grandfather. And Kazuma could finally see the nonsense lying in all that hatred. Kyo had looked at him with eyes filled with terror, hiding inside a wardrobe, too afraid to speak. Kyo had gratefully smiled at him when he was offered a mug of warm milk. He had cheerfully drawn with crayons like any child his age would and looked in awe at the dojo main room, hoping for nothing more than a future, like any other human being should be able to do. That kid was just an innocent soul who had been mistreated and abused for a guilt that didn’t belong to him, for a crime that he didn’t commit. Had his grandfather felt the same way? Had he thought about the injustice he was enduring, being imprisoned all his life? Had he hoped for someone to stand up for him? Kazuma’s heart ached at the thought of how blind, selfish and cruel he had been. 

“It is tradition to wait until adulthood for the Cat to be locked up, but I appreciate the specific circumstances of this situation. What’s your opinion, Kazuma-san?” Akito asked. 

Kazuma knew he couldn’t play the sentimental card. It would be naive to hope Akito could understand his sense of remorse and guilt towards his grandfather, and it would be even more naive to think that either Akito or Hinote could see the nonsense and the injustice of such a horrible and cruel tradition, so he decided to use a different tactic. 

"I am here to volunteer to take care of the child until the right time for his confinement comes. I am aware of his duty and fate, but I am also aware of the tough living conditions the child will have to endure if he goes to the Cat’s House now. He is only five years old and still has to grow in body and mind. The lack of sunlight, physical activity and proper living conditions while he is still growing could massively shorten his life. He may die in the next few years and not even reach adulthood and that would be incredibly cruel and unnecessary. I am sure that's why it is tradition to wait. Besides, the Cat can fulfil his duty only if he lives. If I am well informed, the last Zodiac child was born just recently. And again, if I am correct, it is the first time in decades all the Zodiacs are alive at the same time. It would be unfortunate to deprive the Zodiac of the Cat and of his duty when they are finally complete. If the child died earlier than expected, who knows how long it would take for another Cat to be born." 

Kazuma paused to let the meaning of what he said sink in. Obviously, he couldn't care less about the Cat's duty towards the other Zodiacs, but he knew that if he wanted to convince Akito and Hinote to let him have his own way, he should speak a language they could understand. He had to find a way to make it look like he was doing them a big favour.

“I appreciate the feelings Hinote-san has towards the child. I am sure it must have been tough for him to deal with the implications of having the Cat, and I understand his resentment for losing his beloved wife. I am sure no one will judge him if he is unwilling to take care of Kyo alone, but it wouldn't look good to lock up the child at such a young age just because no one is there to take care of him." 

“It’s not just because of that! I want him to be locked up because he killed my wife!” Hinote spat. 

Kazuma smiled, raising his eyebrows with fake innocence. "I know that very well, but I thought the official version was that your wife's suicide was an accident." Hinote was taken aback, and Kazuma continued, "I understand you thinking that Kyo drove your wife into taking her own life, but you can’t really blame him publicly if you are not willing to admit that she did indeed take her own life.” 

"Everyone knows already! Just because they won't come and say it to my face, it doesn't mean they don't know!" 

“I know that people tend to gossip, but sending Kyo to the Cat’s House would be the final confirmation, don’t you think?” Kazuma promptly replied. "As I said, no one will judge you for not being willing to take care of him. And, as I volunteer to do it in your place, you have nothing to worry about." 

Hinote was taken aback again and didn’t know how to answer, so he addressed Akito instead. “What do you think, Akito-sama? Will you allow it?” 

Akito had an indecipherable expression on his face. He had listened to both men and now it seemed like he was evaluating the pros and cons of both proposals. His voice was neutral when he spoke, but Kazuma could detect a trace of disgust every time the Cat was mentioned. 

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less what people think about the Cat and the Cat's family. How you deal with your wife's death, Hinote-san, is none of my concern. But there is one thing I think we should consider.” He addressed Kazuma, "Are you aware of the Cat Spirit's True Form?"

Kazuma had expected this. "Yes, I am.” 

“Have you seen it?” Akito asked, raising his eyebrows. 

“No, I have not. My grandfather was already in the Cat's Room when I was born. But I know about it, and I know it is paramount for Kyo to keep his beads in place. I will make sure of it if you allow me to keep him.” 

“Well, that’s not good enough, Kazuma-san. You don't know anything about it unless you have seen it." 

This time, it was Kazuma’s turn to be taken aback. He hadn’t expected that . He had thought his relationship with the previous Cat was enough for him to be considered a suitable candidate for the task. 

Akito smiled condescendingly as if he thought Kazuma had no idea what he was talking about. "You see, Kazuma-san, the problem is that you seem to fail to understand that the Cat is indeed a monster. You keep calling him the child ." Akito chuckled. "I would say it's almost endearing." 

Kazuma could see a flash of approval in Hinote’s eyes and cursed himself for thinking even for a second that it would be so easy. 

Akito continued, "Taking care of that creature is quite a responsibility. No wonder his mother felt overwhelmed. It is already quite the burden ensuring that the Zodiac children don't trigger their transformations by getting too close to people of the opposite sex. But with the Cat, you must be extra careful. If my memory serves me well, we had to deal with an incident that happened a year or so ago. Apparently, the creature transformed into his True Form in the middle of a playground." 

“I remember that!” Hinote spat, "That stupid thing cannot even be trusted in keeping his beads on his bloody wrist! My wife was so mortified!”

It didn’t take a lot for Kazuma to connect the dots. So that was what happened between Kyo and Kagura. Kyo must have dropped his beads while playing and triggered the transformation. Was that the reason why Kyo was so scared and angry when he mentioned Kagura and the playground? Was Kyo afraid that Kazuma would be told about his True Form? 

"I cannot even begin to consider allowing you to keep the Cat unless you see him in his True Form," Akito told Kazuma. "That will give you an idea of what you are signing up for. I suggest you come back here with him tomorrow so we can be done with it quickly.” 

Kazuma’s gut twisted. He didn’t want that. He had no idea what that transformation would involve, but it certainly didn’t sound like something pleasant. He didn’t want Kyo to go through that if he could avoid it. 

"Is it really necessary?" he dared to ask Akito. "I can assure you that it will be my top priority to ensure that Kyo understands his beads must be in place at all times. I can…" 

“Yes, it is necessary,” Akito interrupted him. "It is absolutely necessary. Trust me, I don't look forward to it myself. I have seen that creature transform, and it's definitely not a good show. It's filthy and disgusting. You will see for yourself. After that, you can make an informed decision." 

“If you are doing this just for my sake, I can assure you that…” Kazuma tried again. 

“I am not doing this for you, Kazuma-san, and I suggest you stop arguing with me.” Akito started to look rather annoyed. "This demonstration is essential for you to understand what you will be dealing with if I allow you to keep the boy. Also, I have to say I am not totally persuaded that this would be a good solution. The dojo is a busy place, with many people coming and going. Not all of them are Sohma, and very few come from the inner circle. The Cat already has trouble going unnoticed because of his peculiar appearance. Not to mention, you are a busy man as well. You have classes to teach and students to manage. How can you make sure the Cat behaves? You certainly can't be with him the whole time. At least his mother did the right thing and kept him inside most of the time." 

Kazuma didn't know how to reply to convince him. "I appreciate all your concerns, Akito-sama. All I can say is I understand how important it is to maintain the Sohma secret, and I will do everything in my power to keep doing so. The boy will have to start school soon, so total isolation is out of the question anyway. At the dojo, I can train him. That will keep him occupied and his temper in check to avoid other incidents." 

“I'll think about it. Bring the Cat here tomorrow, same time. Nothing will be decided until you see his True Form.” 

And with that, the meeting was over. 

Kazuma cursed himself all the way back to the dojo. He had been a fool. He thought he had been so prepared, so ready. He had gone, thinking that everything would go smoothly, that this meeting would be nothing more than a nuisance. At the end of the day, he was indeed doing everyone a favour. Kyo wasn’t supposed to go to the Cat’s House until graduation. His father didn't want to take care of him whilst Kazuma was volunteering for the task. He had hoped Hinote was lying when he had said that everything had already been decided. He had hoped Akito wouldn't want to cause a scene unnecessarily. Instead, not only had Akito basically decided to force Kyo to perform a brutal and probably painful transformation, but he had also completely jeopardised all Kazuma’s efforts to get the boy to trust him. And all of this without even the guarantee of a positive outcome. How could he have been so foolish? Why didn't he think about possible questions and concerns in advance to have a prompt answer for every problem? And how was he supposed to explain everything to Kyo? Should he tell him prior, or should he just bring him and let it happen? He thought about how terrified Kyo had been when he found him hiding in the wardrobe. He thought about how heartbroken he had felt, looking at that small, helpless child, crying all his tears alone in the dark without anyone who would reassure him, comfort him, and tell him everything would be all right. How could he do it now? How could he face Kyo and tell him everything would be all right if he wasn't sure about it himself? 

Lost in his thoughts, he arrived at the dojo. He knew the schedule by heart, so he immediately headed for the class Kunimitsu was teaching. He slid the door open and Kyo was there in the corner, legs crossed, watching in awe as Kunimitsu performed kata. He seemed so hopeful. 

I am such a fool .

Chapter Text

Kazuma lingered at the door for a while, just enjoying the sight of Kyo, who was so mesmerised by Kunimitsu's kata that he didn't even notice him. He couldn't help smiling. What were the odds that Kyo would be so fascinated by martial arts? Sure, it wasn't uncommon for Sohma kids to train at the dojo, but most of them would consider it just another way to exercise or socialise. Some of them were sent by their parents to learn self-discipline. Others would come because they wanted to look like some cool fighter they saw on TV. Kazuma had enough experience to recognise at first sight which students were there just to kill time and which ones were actually passionate about it. Still, it was rare to see such a blissful expression on the face of a small kid approaching martial arts for the first time. Kunimitsu was assisting an adult class, so their practice was far beyond what Kyo could expect in his first lesson. But Kazuma could see a sparkle in Kyo’s eyes, a mixture of amazement, determination and something dangerously similar to hope. 

His smile faded. Did he give Kyo false hopes? All he wanted was to reassure him, to make him feel safe. But now, after his disastrous meeting with Akito, all the promises he had made to Kyo that morning - the prospect of living at the dojo, the training, the dream of competing in a tournament someday - all seemed like crumbling illusions. Had he been reckless? Should he have waited until formal permission was granted before saying anything to Kyo? What if Akito woke up in a bad mood and decided to grant Kyo’s father's request? The mere thought of that possibility made Kazuma sick. 

Kazuma was so lost in his self-reproach that he didn’t realise Kyo had seen him and was now looking at him with his usual questioning gaze from across the room. He waved him over, gesturing for Kyo to join him outside. Kyo stood and tiptoed out of the room.

“Hi!” Kazuma greeted him with a smile, closing the door behind them. "Enjoying yourself?” 

Kyo nodded but didn’t smile back. Kazuma wondered if he was still upset about their conversation at lunch or if he could sense Kazuma’s concerns. Sometimes, kids can be incredibly perceptive. 

On the way back from the main house, Kazuma had asked himself what the least cruel option was: telling Kyo about what was going to happen beforehand or not saying anything to spare him a night of fearful anticipation. He still hadn't found an answer but knew he had to say something, even if it wasn't going to be easy. 

“Let’s go home, Kyo. There’s something we need to talk about.” 

They sat at the chabudai, Kazuma with tea and Kyo with a mug of milk. Kazuma had taken his time to prepare the tea, trying to gather the right words. He didn’t want to keep Kyo on edge, but he was unsure what the best course of action might be. Should he mention the True Form? Should he ask him about what happened at the playground in more detail? Should he try to sugar-coat things, or should he be blunt? Kyo was silent, but his expression gave away an angry resignation, like a child who was about to be punished for something they hadn’t done.  

“Kyo, we have to go to the main house tomorrow. The head of the family requested to see you.” 

“Why?” Kyo asked immediately. 

Oh well, at least he is talking , Kazuma thought. However, that wasn't necessarily a good thing. Kazuma hadn't overlooked an interesting detail in their conversation at lunch: Kyo had started talking because he was angry. Maybe he was angry at Kagura. Maybe she had done something to upset him. Or maybe he was angry at Kazuma for plotting behind his back. But he was angry back then, and Kazuma could see he was angry now, too. So that was probably the reason why he was talking again. It seemed like anger was the only emotion Kyo was able to articulate verbally, at least with someone who was still a stranger to him. Kazuma had noticed this also the day before: at the funeral, Kyo had been loudly outspoken with his father, but he hadn’t said a single word to him on their way back and for the entire evening.

“I think he wants to make sure that this new arrangement is a good solution for everyone. For me and also for you." Okay, it wasn't technically the truth, but it wasn't a total lie either. 

Kyo didn’t buy it, though. “The head of the family doesn’t like me.” 

“No? How do you know?” 

“I just know.” Kyo was getting angrier by the second. 

“Have you met the head of the family before?” Kazuma knew the answer, but wanted to hear Kyo’s side of the story. 

Kyo nodded, but didn’t elaborate.  

“Would you like to tell me what happened when the two of you met? It would help me understand.” 

“What do you need to understand?” Kyo asked with a wary expression. 

“I want to understand why you think the head of the family doesn’t like you.”

"There’s nothing to understand! He just doesn’t like me!” Kyo said, his voice almost at a yell. 

Feigning innocence wasn’t working, so Kazuma decided to go for a more honest approach. 

“Kyo, I think I should make something clear to avoid any misunderstanding between us. I know everything about the Zodiac. I know you are the Cat. I know you transform when people of the opposite sex hug you, and I know you have a deep connection with Akito and the other zodiac children. You can speak freely about this subject because I am aware of everything.”  

“Everything?”

“Yes. Everything.” 

“If you know everything, how can't you understand why Akito doesn’t like me?” 

Kazuma couldn’t believe that he was being put on the spot by a kid. 

“I know the Cat has a rather special position in the Zodiac, but…” 

“There’s nothing special about being the Cat!” Kyo yelled again, his eyes teary. Kazuma didn’t say anything. He just looked at Kyo, waiting for him to continue. 

“It wasn’t my fault... What happened… what mom did… it wasn’t my fault! It just wasn’t my fault!” Kyo was weeping now. He wiped his cheeks with the back of his hands, but the tears kept falling. 

"I know that," Kazuma whispered. “You’re right. It wasn’t your fault.” 

“It's not my fault that I’m the Cat!” Kyo shouted between sobs. 

Kazuma couldn’t take it anymore. He stood and moved to the other side of the table to get close to Kyo, but the boy flinched when he crouched down next to him stretching his arms out. 

Kazuma froze. "You are in pain, and I would like to give you a hug. Can I?"

"NO!” Kyo shouted full force. "DON'T TOUCH ME!"  

"Okay." Kazuma stepped back and raised his hands in a sign of surrender. "Okay. Sorry. I don't want to upset you. I won’t touch you. I promise, I’ll never touch you without your permission.”

Kyo was furious; his breath was rapidly increasing, his whole body was stiff and his clenched fists were shaking. He desperately tried to fight back tears, but all his effort only contorted his face into a reddening mask of burning rage. Yet Kazuma could still see right through it. Kyo’s eyes were the only part of his entire body that betrayed the real emotion that was eating him alive; a paralysing, all-consuming fear. 

“All I want is to get to know you, Kyo. I want to hear your side of the story. I want you to tell me about yourself.” 

“You don’t want to get to know me,” Kyo said in a low, broken voice, gritting his teeth. 

“Yes, I do. I swear.” 

“You know NOTHING!” 

“That’s why I want to get to know you. I want you to tell me why you’re angry, why you’re scared...” 

“I AM NOT SCARED!” 

"Okay." Kazuma paused. The boy was hyperventilating. He had to leave him alone to let him calm down. “Breathe, please. Take a deep breath." 

As if it was some sort of physiological body reaction to the verbal affirmation he had just made, all the stiffness in Kyo’s muscles seemed to relax at once, and the fury burning on his face gave way to hopeless despair. He collapsed on the cushion and leaned over the table, resting his head on his arms. He tried to steady his breath, but his body violently shook with sobs. 

"I’ll fetch you a glass of water.” 

Kazuma stood and walked into the kitchen to grab the water. He felt sick. He didn’t want this. He wanted Kyo to feel safe. He wanted to tell him everything would be alright and that he had nothing to worry about. More than anything, he wanted to hold him. It felt like an unconscious instinct. Kazuma didn’t have any younger siblings or children of his own. He was a teacher, so he wasn't completely inexperienced in dealing with small children. But he had never experienced such an intense urge to protect someone. It was a bit scary, he had to admit. This kid had been with him for no more than twenty-four hours, and still, Kazuma could sense his  attachment growing with each passing moment. It was a feeling he couldn’t fully grasp. He returned to the living room, sat down next to Kyo and pushed the glass towards him. 

“Drink it. It will help.” 

Kyo lifted his head, reluctantly took the glass and drank. His face was a puffy, teary mess, and Kazuma almost couldn’t stand the sight of it. 

"Let me get you a tissue too, okay?" he said, his voice catching. 

Kazuma wasn't the weepy type. He could keep a calm and steady composure even in the most demanding of circumstances, yet Kyo had succeeded in pushing him to the brink of tears twice in one day. Quite impressive, he had to say. 

"There you go." he said, passing a tissue to Kyo. 

Kyo took the tissue, dried his eyes with it, and blew his nose. Kazuma couldn’t explain why, but the image of that tiny child trying to compose himself was almost too much for him to handle. He had to fight himself to honour his promise and not grab Kyo and hold him tight because right now, he needed a hug almost as much as Kyo. 

“What would you like to do now, Kyo? Ask me anything, anything you want.” 

“Do we… do we really have… to go to the main house tomorrow?” Kyo asked, still hiccupping. 

“Yes, we do. But I don’t want you to think about it, right now. There is no need for you to worry and there’s no need for us to keep talking about it. Tell me, what would you like to do? Tell me anything you can think of.” 

He was a coward. He knew that. But right now, Kazuma couldn’t bear to see that devastated expression on Kyo’s face for a moment longer.

“I… I want to… I want to go back and watch the lessons.” 

"That's a great idea. Let's go. The last class starts at six. We can watch it together and then come back home for dinner. How about that?" 

Kyo nodded, sniffling and rubbing his eyes. 

Kazuma reached out a hand. “Can I hold your hand?” 

Kyo looked up at him, frowning. "I’m not a baby. I can walk by myself." 

“As you prefer,” Kazuma replied. 

He was back at square one. 

They attended the last class together. Kazuma thought it was probably a good idea to leave Kyo alone to give him some space. He needed to clear his own mind too, so he changed into his gi and taught the class himself. Kyo sat in silence the whole time, and persisted in not saying a single word, even as they returned to Kazuma’s house once the class had ended. He walked alongside Kazuma, hands tucked in his pockets. Once at home, Kazuma headed to the kitchen, but Kyo stopped at the end of the stairs. 

“I’m not hungry. I want to go to bed. I’m tired.” 

It made sense that he was tired. After all, he had been awake since five that morning. Kazuma was quite surprised he was still on his feet. 

“I’m sure you’re tired, but you shouldn’t skip meals, Kyo. Can you have some rice, at least? There's some left from lunch. I don't want you to wake up hungry in the middle of the night." 

Kyo was tempted. Clearly, he was hungry. He was just trying to avoid another conversation.

“We don’t have to talk about anything. We can enjoy the silence together. But I really would like you to eat something.” 

“Fine.” 

Kazuma put together some leftovers from the communal kitchen, and they sat again at the chabudai to eat. Kyo didn't say a word or even look at Kazuma once. Maybe he was trying to make a point. More likely, he was just dealing with his feelings about the upcoming meeting. Kazuma gave him space, just as he promised. Kyo stood as he chewed his last mouthful. He gathered his plate and bowl and brought everything to the kitchen counter. He was just about to climb on a chair to reach the sink when Kazuma stopped him. 

“You don’t have to wash the plates, Kyo. I’ll take care of it. You are very tired, you should go to sleep.” He stood too, leaving all his stuff on the table. “Come. I’ll help you prepare your futon.” 

“I want to sleep in my own room tonight,” Kyo declared, not looking at Kazuma, instead walking past him to the stairs. 

Kazuma felt a pang in his heart. "That's okay," he replied, following him. “At least now the room is clean. I’ve asked one of the maids to prepare it for you.” 

They moved Kyo’s futon back into the spare room. Kyo changed into the T-shirt he wore to sleep the night before and pointedly waited for Kazuma to leave, staring at him with the same angry frown he had worn since their last conversation. Kazuma knew that Kyo’s angry demeanour was just a front. The boy was terrified of the meeting with Akito, but Kazuma didn’t know what to say to comfort him. Even if he did, he might end up saying the wrong thing anyway, and he didn’t want to upset Kyo again. He needed to rest. 

"It's still early for me to go to sleep. I will be downstairs for maybe another hour or so. I'll be right next door if you need anything during the night." 

“I know.” 

“I know you know.” Kazuma attempted a smile. "Just want to make sure you know you can wake me up if you need me."

“I’ll be fine.” 

"Okay then. Goodnight, Kyo. Sleep well.” 

“Goodnight.” 

Kazuma worked in his office for a while, taking care of some paperwork he had neglected because of the events of the day.

He headed back upstairs around ten, unusually late for his routine. He walked past Kyo’s door, thinking for a second to peek in just to check on him when he heard a small sob. He acted impulsively without considering whether it was a good idea or not, opening the door. The small light on the desk was on, and Kazuma could see Kyo curled up into the futon, hugging the pillow and sobbing quietly. 

“Kyo! Are you still awake? What…” 

“Just leave me alone!” Kyo cried with a small voice. 

This time, Kazuma didn’t listen to him. He walked into the room and crouched down next to Kyo. 

"No, I won't. You’re crying and I won't leave you alone until I’m sure you’re okay." 

"I’m not crying! I am okay!" Kyo exclaimed, his voice rising as he buried his tear-streaked face into the pillow. 

Kazuma sat on the floor and reached out a hand, but Kyo sat up and tried to move away from him. 

“I SAID I DON’T WANT YOU TO TOUCH ME!” 

Kazuma moved swiftly and, with a grave gaze in his eyes, he firmly clasped Kyo’s left wrist, covering his beads with his large hand. Kyo froze, his eyes widening. Their intense gaze locked, both holding their breath. For a moment, it seemed like time stood still, as neither of them made a sound or the slightest movement. After what felt like an eternity, Kazuma finally spoke. 

“I know you’re scared. I am, too. I can’t promise you everything will be alright because I don't know. All I can promise is that I’ll be with you the whole time.” 

He loosened his hold on Kyo’s wrist and started to trace small circles on the back of his hand with his thumb, all the while maintaining unwavering eye contact with Kyo.  

“Lie down. You need to sleep.” 

He didn’t release Kyo’s wrist, but gently tugged it, guiding him back onto the futon, his thumb continuing its soothing strokes on Kyo’s hand. Kyo complied without hesitation, as if Kazuma's words had cast a spell over him. His gaze remained fixed on Kazuma as he tucked him in. Once Kyo was comfortably settled, Kazuma brought the wrist he still held to his lips and placed a small kiss upon it. With his other hand, he softly caressed Kyo's head. 

“Sleep. I’ll be here.” 

Soothed by Kazuma’s words and gentle touch, Kyo finally closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Despite going to bed at such a late hour the night before, Kazuma's internal clock didn't fail him, and the next morning he woke up at five, his usual time. After putting Kyo to sleep, he had considered spending the night in his room to ensure he didn't awaken alone in the dark, but he didn't want to risk disturbing the fragile tranquility that had finally settled over the boy, so eventually he retreated to his bedroom.

He got up and went straight to check on Kyo. He peeked into his bedroom and was relieved to find the boy sound asleep. Kazuma lingered at the door for a while, silently watching him. Kyo looked so peaceful. The troubled frown he had worn the previous evening was gone and his features were relaxed in an expression that looked almost content. Kazuma couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Today would bring a momentous decision, whether or not he could officially keep Kyo in his care. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, he found himself overwhelmed with anxiety. Yes, sure, he was determined to prevent Kyo from going into the Cat’s House. He couldn’t bear the thought of the boy suffering such a cruel fate, but that wasn’t the only reason. Akito's words about the dojo not being the best place for a zodiac child echoed in his mind. Even in the fortunate scenario where early confinement was rejected, what if Akito had decided on an alternative solution that didn't involve him? What if Kyo was placed under the care of someone else, someone who might not have his best interests at heart? Kazuma knew perfectly well that such a scenario was highly improbable, given that no one would willingly volunteer for the task. If anything, he should have been more concerned about the possibility of Akito favoring the confinement due to a lack of options. Still, this strange anxiety wasn’t just about the Cat’s House. It was about the deepening attachment he felt towards Kyo. He wanted to protect him, to ensure his safety, and to see that peaceful expression on the boy's face remain undisturbed. And the only way to guarantee that was to take care of Kyo himself. With a resolute determination, Kazuma silently vowed to do whatever it took to keep Kyo safe and by his side. The day ahead was going to be challenging, but for now, he chose to cherish this moment. 

Kazuma was somehow relieved that the previous morning had been a one-off, and Kyo wasn't used to waking up so early. The boy slept until late and Kazuma had the chance to go through his usual morning routine. He rearranged the daily schedule with Kunimitsu to ensure he could take another day off from his teaching duties. He planned to spend the morning with Kyo to distract him from the upcoming meeting, so he worked in his office catching up on some paperwork. He was there, waiting for Kyo to wake up, when Kunimitsu interrupted him. 

“Sorry to disturb you, Sensei, but there is someone on the phone for you. They’re from the main house.” 

When he picked up the phone he recognized the voice of the same maid who had welcomed him the day before. 

“Kazuma Sohma speaking.” 

"Good morning. I am calling to inform you that your appointment for this afternoon has been postponed. Unfortunately, the head of the family is unwell and has been advised to rest for the day. Your meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow morning." 

So, Akito hadn’t been lying about feeling sick. 

“Thank you very much for letting me know. We will be there tomorrow. Have a nice day.”

“And you." 

Kazuma hung up. Dammit ! He certainly didn’t want this. He didn’t want Kyo to go through another long day of fearful anticipation. He, too, wanted to be done with this anxious wait as soon as possible. He didn’t know if he could manage another twenty-four hours of walking on eggshells with Kyo, unable to promise anything about the future. 

“Is something the matter?” Kunimitsu asked from behind him.

Kazuma sighed. “No. But maybe we can rearrange the classes again. Our appointment at the main house has been rescheduled for tomorrow morning, so I will be available today after all.” 

“What about Kyo?” 

“He behaved very well yesterday. He can sit in the corner for some of my classes.” 

Kazuma had noticed how watching the karate lessons had a calming effect on Kyo and he wanted to keep him distracted as much as possible.  

“Speaking of, I’d better go and check on him. Come and see me here in an hour or so.” 

“I will. See you later, Sensei,” Kunimitsu said, heading out. 

Kazuma went upstairs. It was almost nine, and he wondered whether to wake Kyo or let him sleep until he awoke on his own. He didn't have to wonder for long. As he gently opened the door, he found Kyo already awake, still cocooned inside his futon, his gaze distant. Kazuma remained silent, patiently waiting for Kyo to make eye contact. When their eyes finally met, he gave him a warm smile. 

“Good morning,” he said with a low, soft voice. “I hope you slept well.” 

Kyo stared at him but didn’t answer. After a moment he lowered his eyes again.

“May I come in?” Kazuma asked in the same soft voice. 

Kyo only nodded, without looking at him. 

Kazuma sat down next to Kyo’s futon.

“Have you been awake long?” 

Kyo shook his head, his gaze fixed on some distant point. Kazuma felt a pang in his heart as he realised he hadn't checked on Kyo for nearly four hours. He couldn't help but wonder how long he had left Kyo alone to deal with his thoughts. He gently reached out and began to stroke Kyo's head, and to his relief, Kyo didn't pull away or flinch; instead, he allowed Kazuma's comforting touch to wash over him. For a while, neither of them said anything. Then, unexpectedly, it was Kyo breaking the silence first, his voice only a whisper. 

“Last night…” he started, still not looking at Kazuma. He paused as though unsure whether to continue or not. 

“Yes?” 

“Last night… you said you’re scared, too.” 

Before falling asleep, Kazuma had thought about that moment too, when he had grabbed Kyo’s wrist, he had touched his beads and for a moment the two of them had just stared deep into each other’s eyes. The memory of that intense moment had replayed in his mind like a dream. Kazuma had seen a mixture of surprise, fear, and vulnerability in Kyo's eyes. He wondered if Kyo had understood the unspoken message conveyed through that touch, that he knew about the beads and the dreadful secret they concealed. Kazuma had wanted to say so much in that fleeting moment, to convey his support and understanding, but words had failed him, and all he could do was hold Kyo's gaze, hoping that his silent message had been received. 

“Yes. Yes, I did,” he said as he kept stroking Kyo’s forehead with his thumb. 

Kyo abruptly sat up, turned to face Kazuma, crossed his legs and looked him straight in the eye.

“Why?” he asked, the angry frown suddenly back on his face. 

“Why did I say that?” 

“Why are you scared?” 

Kazuma felt somehow trapped. Those words had spilt from his lips unfiltered, as if his heart had taken control and bypassed his rational mind. Yet, thinking about it rationally, he wondered if it had been wise to say them at all. He had plenty of valid reasons to be scared. He dreaded the possibility that Akito might decide to send Kyo to the Cat's House. He dreaded the thought of another abusive unknown guardian equally. The truth was, Kazuma was scared because he wanted to keep Kyo by his side, and at that moment, it didn't look like a very likely possibility.

But obviously, he knew he couldn’t share any of these thoughts without worrying Kyo even more. 

“I’m scared because I don’t know what to expect.” 

It was a lame reply, and Kazuma didn’t fail to notice that Kyo wasn’t satisfied. 

"Listen, Kyo, I understand this is an incredibly stressful situation for you, and I know you're not happy about having to go to the main house. Unfortunately, we do require permission from the head of the family for you to remain here. I can't predict the decision he will make, or whether it will be a permanent arrangement or a temporary one. He may allow you to stay here indefinitely, or he may choose to give your father some time to reconsider…" 

“I don’t want to go back to him!” Kyo almost shouted, standing and clenching his fists. “He… he doesn’t want me! He doesn’t want to… he doesn’t want to keep me with him… he…” 

Kyo was dangerously on the verge of tears again. Kazuma grabbed both his hands and held them in his own.

“I understand,” he said, squeezing Kyo’s hands and giving him the gentlest smile. “Don’t worry, okay? I understand. I’ll make sure Akito knows you want to stay here, rather than to go back to your father.” 

“Akito doesn’t care about what I want…” Kyo mumbled. 

The conversation was beginning to echo their discussion from the previous day, so Kazuma chose to interrupt and give them a fresh start. 

“How about we go downstairs and have breakfast?” Kazuma proposed, standing up. “I’m sure you must be hungry. Also, there’s something else I should mention before we…” 

Kyo pulled at Kazuma’s hands to stop him from standing. 

“What is it?” Kyo asked, concern and fear quickly overtaking his expression. 

Kazuma stopped halfway up. "We’re not going to the main house today after all. Our appointment has been postponed because Akito is unwell. We’ll be going tomorrow morning instead.” 

Kazuma could see the relief washing over Kyo’s face. 

"Really?" he asked. 

"Yes, really," Kazuma confirmed with a smile. "Today, we can do whatever you’d like. Would you like to watch some of the classes again?" 

Kyo nodded.

“Good! We’ll go together. But first, breakfast.” 

Kyo sat at the chabudai, and Kazuma handed him some crayons to entertain himself while he prepared tea and a mug of milk. Luckily, Kunimitsu had left some food. Kazuma wasn’t much of a cook, and he wasn't particularly brilliant at making tea either, but since he was the only one drinking it, no one would complain about his brewing skills, or lack of.

While waiting for the water, Kazuma thought about Kyo's reaction to the appointment being postponed. He had expected Kyo to share his frustration at having to wait another day. Instead, Kyo was clearly relieved, and that left Kazuma curious. He knew that Kyo dreaded going to the main house, but the appointment had just been postponed, not cancelled. Did it make that much of a difference whether the appointment was this afternoon or the following morning? It almost seemed as if Kyo were so certain he wouldn't be allowed to return to the dojo, he wanted to treasure every remaining moment. 

Once the tea was ready, Kazuma brought everything to the table and sat down.

“There you go,” he said, handing the mug of milk to Kyo. “Be careful, it’s hot.” 

They remained silent for a while, both of them eating their food. The fleeting moment of relief Kazuma had glimpsed on Kyo's face was now gone, replaced by a mix of stubborn anger and sad resignation. He avoided making eye contact and the atmosphere around them remained tense and laden with unspoken words. 

“I got the impression that you are very keen to learn karate,” Kazuma ventured, his voice gentle. “Did you enjoy watching the classes?” 

Kyo just nodded and didn’t look up. 

After another few minutes of painful silence, Kazuma tried again.

"You seem to be deep in thought," he observed. "Is there anything you'd like to talk to me about, Kyo?" 

Kyo finally looked up, his gaze meeting Kazuma's. "Why won't you tell me why you're scared?" 

Kazuma was taken aback by the directness of Kyo's question, but he maintained his composure. 

"I did," he replied calmly. 

"No, you didn't," Kyo promptly retorted, his frown deepening. 

"Yes, I did," Kazuma insisted. "I told you, I'm scared because I don't know what to expect."

"That was a lie," Kyo countered. 

"No, it wasn't. It’s the truth." 

Kyo's annoyance was palpable as he stared at Kazuma with narrowed eyes before returning to his meal. 

Kazuma couldn't resist a playful smile. "Well, why won't you tell me why you're scared?" 

Kyo looked up again with outraged eyes. "I'm not scared! You're the one who said you're scared, not me!"

Kazuma maintained his playful expression. "You're not scared?" 

"No, I'm not!" Kyo repeated. 

Kazuma tried a different approach. "Let's do this, then. I'll tell you why I'm scared if you tell me why you’re scared." 

"I said I'm not scared!" Kyo insisted. 

"Well, I think that's a lie, too," Kazuma said with raised eyebrows. "So I guess that makes us even." 

Kyo didn't appear offended so much as annoyed he had been caught in a trap. He resumed eating without another word. 

Kazuma made one more attempt. "Okay then, let's try something else. I'll tell you why I'm scared if you tell me something about yourself." 

"Something about myself?" Kyo repeated, confused by the request. 

"Yes, anything. Like, what's your favourite food, your favourite TV program, or your favourite game. Anything. Anything you can think of." 

Kyo appeared skeptical. "Why do you want to know something about me?" 

"Because I want to get to know you better. I told you yesterday." 

"That's a lie again," Kyo retorted.

"No, it's not. I swear to you it's not a lie. It's the truth." 

Kyo looked at Kazuma with narrowed eyes, and a brief silence hung between them. Then, he returned to his food and mumbled, "You don't want to know me." 

"No? Why not?" 

"Because..." Kyo hesitated, his gaze fixed intensely on his food. 

"Because?" 

"Because..." Kyo whispered, his voice barely audible. "Because I am an abomination." 

A heavy silence fell upon them. Kazuma, though maintaining his composure, felt a twinge in his heart. How could a five-year-old child know such a word, let alone use it to refer to himself? The mere thought sent a shiver down Kazuma's spine, but he forced himself to keep a neutral expression. 

"You're an abomination?" Kazuma repeated with a flat, gentle voice.

 "Yes," Kyo replied, still avoiding eye contact as he continued to focus on his food. 

"What is an abomination?" 

Kyo looked up, surprise evident in his eyes. Of all the reactions he could have imagined to a statement like that, this was the last one he expected. 

"I... I mean... I don't know," he replied, confused. "I know it's a bad thing, though."

Kazuma smiled and resumed his playful expression to soften the tension. "Have you just made it up?" 

Kyo looked genuinely perplexed. "No? Why would I make it up?" 

"Well, usually, people don't use words they don't know the meaning of," Kazuma pointed out. 

Kyo's expression shifted to a slightly offended one, prompting Kazuma to quickly clarify, "If you're using a word you don't know the meaning of, I am inclined to believe that either you made it up or... you heard it somewhere." 

Kyo once again stared down at his plate.

"Did someone say that to you?" Kazuma asked gently. 

Kyo nodded, his eyes still fixed on his food. 

"Who said that to you, Kyo?" 

"My... my dad did," Kyo admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“Well, your dad is wrong,” Kazuma stated matter-of-factly, offering a warm smile. "You are not an abomination." 

Kyo met Kazuma's gaze directly, his frown deepening. He seemed almost annoyed by Kazuma's persistent contradiction.

“How can you know I’m not? You don’t know me!” 

Kyo's voice was slightly raised, but Kazuma wasn't fooled. It was the same pattern he had observed the day before. Kyo's rising anger was a smokescreen, a defence mechanism to mask the profound fear and sorrow that lurked beneath the surface. 

“Well, that’s exactly why I want to get to know you better. And I’m sure that the more I get to know you, the more I will like you,” Kazuma said with a reassuring smile. “Don’t you think so?” 

“No.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because people don’t like monsters,” Kyo said. His gaze was harsh, almost challenging, as if he were challenging Kazuma to contradict him again on something so obvious. 

Kazuma returned the gaze, his expression unwavering. 

“Are you a monster, Kyo?” 

“Yes,” Kyo admitted in a whisper. “Yes, I am.” 

“You don’t look like a monster to me.” 

“You don’t know me.” 

Kazuma looked deep into Kyo’s eyes, his gaze steady. He felt as though he were finally chipping away at a protective wall, and he was determined to reach the core.

“You keep saying that, but you won’t allow me to get to know you. It seems to me you don’t want me to get to know you because you think that if I do, I won’t like you. Is that what you think?” 

Kyo stared at Kazuma, and tears of anger and frustration welled up at the corners of his eyes. Suddenly, a realization struck Kazuma like a lightning bolt. 

“Do you think I am scared of you, Kyo?” 

The door facing the engawa slid open abruptly, and both Kazuma and Kyo startled as Kunimitsu appeared in the doorway. 

“Oh! Sorry!” Kunimitsu exclaimed, noticing the startled expressions on both Kazuma and Kyo’s faces. “I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt! I came to reorganize the classes, but I can come back later.” 

Kyo seized the unexpected interruption as an opportunity to gather his bowl and mug, retreating quickly into the kitchen. Kazuma interpreted this as a clear sign that Kyo was done talking for now. Although slightly annoyed by the sudden interruption at such a crucial moment, Kyo's discomfort was evident, and Kazuma had no intention of pressing him any further. 

“Don’t worry, Kunimitsu. No need to come back later. Let’s get to work,” Kazuma replied, his thoughts lingering on his conversation with Kyo. 

The rest of the morning went on fairly quickly. Kazuma allowed Kyo to sit in the corner whilst he taught his classes. Kyo retreated into silence again and Kazuma didn't push him to talk. In between classes, he approached him just to ask him if he was enjoying himself, but didn't engage in conversation. Right before the beginning of his third class, he noticed a small group of teenage students staring at Kyo and whispering. He also saw that Kyo had noticed, too, and was staring back with the angriest face Kazuma had seen him make yet. As he was waiting for all the students to gather, he walked to Kyo and sat right next to him, ruffling his hair. He then gave a gentle smile to the group of students, who seemed very embarrassed and looked away. 

They had lunch in the communal kitchen again, this time in the company of Kunimitsu. Kazuma talked about work with Kunimitsu most of the time to give Kyo some space and not make him feel like he was forced to engage in conversation. After lunch, Kazuma and Kyo returned to the house, since the afternoon classes wouldn’t start for another hour. On the way back, Kazuma noticed Kyo yawning. 

“Would you like to take a nap?” 

Kyo looked up at him, pouting. “I’m not a baby!” 

Kazuma chuckled. “It wasn’t my intention to imply you are a baby. I usually take a short nap after lunch. It helps to recharge my batteries. Would you call me a baby for that?” 

Kyo didn’t answer and looked away, still pouting. 

"Well, if you don't need a nap, maybe we can do something else that helps recharge both body and mind." 

Kyo looked up again. “What is that?” 

Kazuma looked at him with a gentle smile. “It’s called meditation. Ever heard of it?” Kyo shook his head, trying to look uninterested. 

"To put it simply, meditation is a practice that helps reduce stress and anxiety by focusing on your breathing and on clearing your mind from every thought.” 

Kyo didn’t look impressed. “Sounds boring.” 

Kazuma chuckled again. "It can be boring at the start, but it's incredibly helpful once you get into it. And if you want to learn martial arts, meditation will be essential in your training. I would say that you can't get into martial arts unless you practice some kind of meditation. A clear mind is paramount in a fight, and meditation helps to achieve it." 

Kyo didn't look particularly excited about it, but mentioning how important it was for training in martial arts had an immediate effect. 

"Would you like to give it a go?" Kazuma asked with an encouraging smile. “It can help in many situations, not just in a fight.” 

Obviously, one meditation session wouldn't make any difference in the grand scheme of things, but if Kazuma could provide even the tiniest tool to help Kyo go through his transformation in the upcoming meeting, he would do it. 

Kyo shrugged, but didn’t refuse the offer. 

“Good! Let’s sit on the engawa.” 

Kazuma grabbed two cushions from the living room, and they sat together in the sun, facing each other.  

"Let's begin. Find a comfortable position. You can kneel or sit cross-legged, whichever is more comfortable for you." 

Kyo shifted slightly, finding a position that suited him, and Kazuma mirrored his posture. He took a deep breath, setting an example for Kyo. "The first thing we'll focus on is our breathing. Close your eyes gently, like you're closing a book, and take a deep breath in through your nose." 

Kyo followed Kazuma's instructions, closing his eyes and inhaling slowly through his nose. The air filled his lungs, and he could feel his chest rise and fall with each breath. 

"Good," Kazuma continued. "Now, exhale slowly through your mouth, letting go of any tension or worries with each breath." 

Kyo did as instructed and the rhythm of his breathing began to sync with Kazuma's gentle guidance. 

"Now, let's focus on our breath," Kazuma said. "Feel the sensation of the air entering your nostrils as you breathe in. Notice how it feels as it travels down your throat and fills your lungs." 

Kyo concentrated on the sensation. It was a new experience for him, to pay such close attention to something as simple as breathing. 

"As you exhale," Kazuma continued, "imagine you're letting go of any tension or discomfort. Visualize it leaving your body with each breath." 

Kyo looked frustrated. “How do I do that?” Breathing was one thing, but letting out tension and discomfort was a different matter. 

“You have to imagine all your thoughts gathering together in your chest like a cloud, and then push that cloud out with your breath,” Kazuma said patiently. “I know it sounds difficult, but close your eyes and try to visualise it. Visualise that cloud forming in your chest and blow it out.” 

Kyo closed his eyes and pictured the pain and unease as dark clouds dissipating into the air as he exhaled. It was a soothing image.

“It doesn’t matter if it seems difficult. Don’t stress yourself out. Just concentrate on breathing,” Kazuma said, his voice a whisper. "Try and think of nothing but your breathing. Breathe in… and out.” 

They continued in silence, the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze and the occasional chirping of birds the only sounds. 

Kazuma's voice had a calming effect, guiding Kyo deeper into the meditation. “Breathe in… and out,” Kazuma continued with his low soothing voice. “In… and out.” 

Minutes passed as Kyo tried his best to sync his breathing with Kazuma’s. Kyo's initial restlessness had transformed into a deep sense of relaxation. So much so that he soon yawned again. 

“This thing is making me sleepy!” Kyo said, opening his eyes and pouting again.

 “Yes, it happens, at the beginning.” Kazuma chuckled. “What about that nap now?” 

“Don’t you have to go back to work?” 

“Believe it or not, we’ve only been meditating for ten minutes. There’s still plenty of time before the next class.” 

Kyo yawned again and gave in. “Okay.” 

They went upstairs and Kyo lay down on his futon. Kazuma closed the curtains and crouched next to him.

“Close your eyes and keep practising,” he said, stroking Kyo’s head. “Breathe in... and out. In… and out.” 

Kyo did as instructed, but he didn’t look like he needed any help in falling asleep. Kazuma smiled, looking at the boy who was already half-asleep. 

“I’ll be next door,” he whispered. 

Kyo slept for much longer than Kazuma expected. After the second afternoon class, he decided to take an hour's break and returned to the house to wake Kyo up. 

Honestly, Kazuma would have been relieved if Kyo had slept through the entire afternoon, the night, and well into the next morning. It would mean avoiding another long, restless evening of anticipation, much like the one they had experienced the previous day. But he couldn't help but worry that if Kyo slept too much in the afternoon, he might have trouble falling asleep at night. 

Kyo got up without a word of complaint and silently followed Kazuma downstairs. He moved with the sluggishness of someone who was still half-asleep, rubbing his eyes. But Kazuma noticed that the boy looked miserable once again, exactly as he had the day before. It was clear that the approaching meeting weighed heavily on his mind. 

Kazuma was just as upset. As he guided Kyo downstairs, he found himself locked in a silent struggle, thinking about how to approach the situation for the remaining hours of the day. He wanted to continue the conversation they had started that morning before they had been interrupted by Kunimitsu. He wanted to offer Kyo reassurance, tell him that he was aware of the True Form of the Cat Spirit and that there was no reason for him to worry, but he wondered if that was the right approach. Bringing up the True Form so directly would essentially confirm to Kyo that it was indeed the reason for the meeeting, something Kazuma was hesitant to do. What was coming was already cruel enough, and he couldn't bear the thought of Kyo spending an entire sleepless night consumed by fear. Yet, Akito had witnessed Kyo's True Form in the past, and it seemed obvious that Kyo had been summoned to display it. Kazuma had good reasons to believe Kyo was already aware of what was about to happen. Keeping Kyo in the dark seemed cruel, yet confirming the truth in advance felt equally cruel. Not to mention the fact that Kazuma had no guarantees his acceptance of the True Form would make any difference. 

Unexpectedly, Kyo made the decision himself. 

"I want to go back and watch the lessons," he declared. 

“Would you like some milk first? Or maybe a snack?” 

Kyo just shook his head, avoiding eye contact. 

Clearly, Kyo didn’t want to talk. 

“Okay. Let’s go then.” 

They spent the rest of the afternoon without another word. Kazuma carried on with his classes as Kyo quietly occupied his usual corner. Kyo's mutism persisted during the breaks between classes and all the way back to the house. As they sat down at the chabudai for dinner, Kazuma couldn't help but reflect on how they were replicating the previous evening down to the smallest of details. He hadn't spoken during dinner then, only to find Kyo awake and in tears later. He didn't want to repeat that mistake. 

“You are no monster, Kyo.” 

Kyo nearly dropped his chopsticks, startled both by Kazuma's breaking of the silence and his unexpected, unequivocal statement. He looked up at Kazuma with wide eyes.

"I haven't been entirely honest with you, Kyo, and for that, I apologize," Kazuma admitted. "I should have been more straightforward from the beginning, instead of assuming that you might understand things left unspoken.” 

He could see the boy holding his breath. 

“I know about your bracelet. My grandfather carried the spirit of the Cat before you, and that bracelet once belonged to him. I know what happens when that bracelet is removed from your wrist, and I know that that is what you referred to when you said you are a monster." 

Kazuma paused, aware that he had taken a significant gamble, hoping for a positive reaction from Kyo. Kyo appeared stunned but not angry, at least not yet. 

“Your… grandfather?” Kyo stammered. 

Kazuma smiled. “Yes, my grandfather. He was the Cat before you. I only met him once, but I can assure you that he was no monster either. He was a good man. A good man who suffered terribly for something that wasn’t his fault. Just like you.”  

He paused again and leaned over the table, locking eyes with Kyo. 

“You are a good boy, Kyo. It wasn’t your fault. It simply wasn’t your fault.” 

For what felt like an eternity, Kyo stared into Kazuma's eyes. Then, his face contorted, and tears welled up. He covered his face with small, trembling fists, and this time, Kazuma didn’t ask for permission. He reached out, lifted the boy under his arms with ease, and held him close, pressing Kyo’s small, quivering body to his chest. He could feel him stiffen for a brief moment at the foreign sensation of being held, something he had been deprived of due to the curse and the unwillingness of his unloving father, but as the initial shock subsided, Kyo's body relaxed, almost collapsing with the sudden release of pent-up tension. He began to cry. Kazuma held him tighter. He had longed for that embrace nearly as much as Kyo, and now that he finally had the boy in his arms, a wave of fierce determination washed over him. He would find a solution to keep Kyo with him, no matter what. 

“It’ll be ok,” Kazuma whispered in Kyo’s ear, gently stroking the back of his head. “It’ll be ok. I promise. It’ll be ok.” 

Kyo kept sobbing and Kazuma kept shushing and cradling him. Neither of them could have said for how long they had stayed close in that comforting embrace, and neither of them cared. As far as they both were concerned, that moment could have lasted forever.

Chapter Text

Kazuma's eyes flickered open as the first ray of dawn crept through the bedroom window. It was a wonder that never failed to amaze him, how the human body worked. Regardless of how late he had gone to bed or how exhausted he felt, he awoke at his usual hour without fail. He might indulge in a little extra sleep if he felt particularly fatigued, but he'd still wake up at his regular time, unfailingly. Today was no different, even after what had probably been the most sleepless and uncomfortable night of his life. 

Holding Kyo close to his heart had stirred something deep within him. He couldn't quite put a name to it, but it felt like a primal instinct buried beneath years of self-assertions that he wasn't a family man. He had cradled the boy, feeling his small body trembling like a leaf, soothing his tears and patiently waiting until the desperate cries had subsided. He had held him until Kyo, exhausted from his inner turmoil, had finally succumbed to sleep. He had tucked him into bed and spent a long time just looking at the slumbering child, that primal instinct taking shape into words: 

I will protect this boy with my life.

He hadn’t left Kyo's side once that night, as if he feared the boy would vanish if he dared to close his eyes, and he had ended up falling asleep beside him, on the floor. When he woke up, Kyo was still sleeping soundly, his face serene and undisturbed by nightmares. His breathing was steady, his features relaxed. Kazuma gently adjusted the blankets around him and quietly rose from the floor. 

Never before had he yearned for a meditation session as much as he did now. He felt an overwhelming need to clear his mind of the anxiety that had consumed him, anticipation of the decision that hung over both their heads like a looming death sentence. Just a few more hours, he reminded himself, and this agonizing wait would finally come to an end. Just a few more hours. 

They walked side by side in silence. Kazuma had waited until the very last moment to wake Kyo up. He wanted the wait to be as short as possible for him, so he deliberately left just enough time for Kyo to get ready and have a small breakfast. The path to the main house stretched out before them, a winding trail flanked by cherry blossom trees, their delicate petals drifting lazily in the breeze. It should have been a serene and picturesque scene, but Kazuma was so nervous he couldn’t really enjoy it. Kyo trudged alongside Kazuma, in silence. His eyes were filled with anxiety, and his tiny fists clenched and unclenched as he tried to suppress the fear gnawing at him.

As they reached the main house, Kazuma took Kyo’s hand and squeezed it without looking at him. He could see the maid approaching from a distance, her eyes narrowing in a mixture of surprise and disgust as she realized Kyo was there. 

“Good morning and welcome,” she said with a cold and dry voice. 

They trailed her through the garden and into the house, to the same room where Kazuma had waited two days prior. They settled onto the cushions, a heavy silence hanging in the air. Kyo trembled, and Kazuma reached for his hand once more.

“I’m here. Don't be afraid. Everything will be okay.” 

They didn’t wait long. The maid returned within minutes. "Please follow me," she said. 

They proceeded down the hall, returning to the room where Kazuma had previously met Akito. This time, Akito and Kyo's father were already waiting. 

“Good morning to you both,” Kazuma said, pausing for a moment at the threshold. “I hope we aren't late.” 

“Not at all, Kazuma-san,” Akito replied with a smile. “Please, come in.” 

Kazuma entered, and he found himself having to gently pull Kyo forward as if the boy's feet were rooted to the floor. Kyo continued to stare at the floor, and Kazuma could feel his entire body trembling just from holding his hand. After bowing to their hosts, he squeezed Kyo's hand again, but the boy was clearly too frightened to look up, so he merely flinched slightly and offered a timid bow as well. 

Silence descended, casting an oppressive pall over the room. Kazuma felt forgotten amidst the intense scrutiny both Akito and Kyo’s father placed only on Kyo. Akito's narrow-eyed gaze bore into the boy, with an unsettling smile which seemed friendly, almost amused. In stark contrast, Kyo's father had nothing but disgust on his face, his teeth visibly clenched, looking very much like a rabid dog.

Kyo continued to avert his eyes, his eyes pointing downward. Akito remained silent, refusing to extend even the most basic courtesies, apparently enjoying the disquiet that hung heavy in the air.

When he finally spoke, his voice dripped with sweet condescension. 

“Long time no see, Kitten.” 

He stood, slowly as though he were acting out some sort of cruel play on a stage. He moved smoothly, his posture impeccable, his back straight, and his chin held high as if he were superior to everyone around him. His expression was neutral, and to the untrained eye, he might have appeared congenial, but his demeanour betrayed the contempt he clearly had for the young boy. 

Kyo had not yet lifted his eyes, his whole body trembling like a leaf in the wind. Akito, not that much taller than Kyo, crouched down, to look at Kyo's face from a lower angle. He gently lifted Kyo's chin, and their eyes finally met. His lips curved into what seemed like a pleasant smile. 

“I missed you. You should come and visit me more often. You know how much I love you.” 

Unexpectedly, he pulled Kyo into a tight hug. Kyo's body remained as rigid as a board, and he held his breath, his eyes wide open in terror. 

"My sweet, sweet kitten," Akito taunted, a chuckle escaping his lips.

He released Kyo unceremoniously, and, with little regard for Kazuma or Kyo's father, he straightened up and walked toward the door that opened onto the engawa. 

“Shall we all step outside? I would rather not have the show playing out here. I don’t want the stench to taint my house,” he said with an air of condescending nonchalance. 

Kyo's father swiftly rose from his seat, his gaze locked onto Kyo. His face bore nothing but disgust and contempt. Under his breath, he muttered a string of curses as he followed Akito out of the room. 

Meanwhile, Kyo remained as pale as a ghost, frozen in place, unable to move. 

Kazuma knelt beside him, gently caressing his head and gripping his cheeks with both hands.

"I'm right here with you. You'll be okay. Breathe, just like I taught you yesterday. In and out, Kyo. In and out." 

But Kyo didn't move at all, so Kazuma lifted him and carried him outside in his arms. 

"I'm here," he whispered to Kyo, who was already on the brink of tears. "I'm here. It'll be over soon. Keep breathing." 

Akito's patience wore thin, and, with a hint of annoyance in his voice, he interjected, "Put him down, Kazuma-san. We're not here for a cuddle session." 

Kazuma gently set Kyo down, his heart aching as he sensed how Kyo desperately tried to cling to him. It took every ounce of strength in his body to gently pry Kyo's arms away from him. He held Kyo's small hands in his own, locking eyes with the terrified boy, trying to convey his determination and inner strength through his intense gaze. 

“It’ll be over soon. I’ll be right here,” he whispered once again.

He stepped away, keeping his eyes locked with Kyo’s, his determined expression unwavering. 

As Kyo stood before the two adults and the head of the family, his body showed all his fear, humiliation, and pain. His tiny frame trembled uncontrollably. His fists were clenched at his sides, his knuckles white from the intensity of his own grip. His gaze was fixed on the ground, unable to meet the eyes of the adults before him. 

"Let's just get it over with," Akito declared, striding toward Kyo. 

He violently seized Kyo's left arm, the earlier facade of friendliness completely dissipated. Without another word, he removed the bracelet from Kyo's wrist and swiftly retreated. In the silence that followed, time appeared to freeze, and everyone held their breath. 

And then, it began. 

With a loud scream that Kazuma couldn’t believe could come from such a tiny child, Kyo fell on his knees, bracing himself in unspeakable pain. His skin seemed to stretch and tear, revealing the grotesque metamorphosis taking place beneath the surface. His bones cracked and shifted, producing sickening sounds that echoed in the air. His limbs elongated, and his joints contorted in unnatural ways, causing him to writhe in agony. Every inch of his body looked as though it were being torn apart from the inside. His fingers clenched and unclenched involuntarily, the nails growing into long, razor-sharp claws that dug into the ground beneath him. His face contorted into a horrific visage, his nose flattening into a snout, and his lips pulling back to reveal a maw filled with jagged teeth. His eyes, previously filled with tears and fear, became large and predatory, with narrow vertical slits for pupils. Kyo's cries of pain were guttural and raw, his voice wavered between human and animal, a haunting blend of anguish and fury. The transformation seemed to stretch on forever, each moment an eternity of unrelenting suffering. Kyo's body continued to twist and warp, until he stood as a nightmarish hybrid of human and monster, a creature caught in the liminal space between two worlds. An unbearable stench began to emanate from his distorted body. It was a foul odour, a putrid blend of decay and rot that filled the air like a cloud. The air grew thick with the acrid scent, and Kazuma, who had been witnessing Kyo's painful transformation with a heavy heart, was suddenly overcome by it. His eyes watered, and he gagged. He immediately felt the urge to cover his mouth and nose and to step back. He didn’t, but he had to gather every ounce of determination to resist. 

Akito and Kyo’s father didn’t even try to hide their open repulsion. 

Akito's typically composed demeanour shattered as he visibly recoiled from the stench. His expression contorted with disgust, and he made no effort to mask it. His hand instinctively moved to cover his nose and mouth. His revulsion was palpable, as if the very presence of the boy's monstrous form offended him. 

Kyo's father stepped back abruptly, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and repulsion. He grimaced openly as if the sight and smell of Kyo's transformation were too much to bear. His hands, too, went to his nose and mouth. 

But Kazuma didn’t have time to mind them. Kyo monstrous form was indeed terrifying and ferocious in appearance, enough to trigger an instinctive reaction in Kazuma to recoil from the creature that seemed ready to attack. However, as the moment passed, Kazuma found the strength within himself to resist the urge to flee. He steeled his resolve and reminded himself that beneath that horrifying exterior lay the essence of the small boy he had held in his arms only a few minutes earlier. He took a steadying breath and decisively approached the creature. 

“Kyo?” he called, trying his best to control his gag reflex caused by the stench. “Kyo, it’s me. Can you hear me?” 

The creature made a guttural cry, a sound that pierced Kazuma’s heart like an arrow. Kyo was crying. It was a cry of agony and despair, a cry that transcended the monstrous appearance and touched the core of their shared humanity. As Kazuma gazed into the creature's eyes, he saw tears spilling from those monstrous orbs. Kazuma could read the pain, the humiliation, and the profound suffering etched into every contorted feature. In that moment, Kazuma's affection for Kyo swelled to overpowering levels. He reached out and softly stroked the head of the creature. 

“I can see you, Kyo,” he whispered, looking deep into the creature’s crying eyes. “I can see you. Don’t be afraid.” 

He stood and walked towards Akito with fierce determination. 

“May I have his bracelet back?” 

Akito handed him the bracelet without a word. 

Kazuma walked back to Kyo. His monstrous paw was too big to wear the bracelet, so Kazuma pressed it onto his skin, making every bead adhere to his wrist. 

“Let’s go home, Kyo,” he whispered with a gentle smile. “Let’s go back home.” 

The touch of the beads, the comforting words, and the unwavering love seemed to trigger a miraculous transformation. In a matter of seconds, Kyo's monstrous form reverted at incredible speed, leaving him in his vulnerable human form, naked and shivering. Kazuma immediately put the bracelet back on his wrist and then used his haori to cover the boy. He cradled Kyo in his arms, pressing his teary and puffy face against his shoulder. 

He turned to face Akito, who appeared utterly unimpressed by the emotional display.

"I have witnessed this very important demonstration, Akito-sama, and I want to thank you for ensuring that I could make an informed decision. However, I haven't changed my mind. I still wish to keep Kyo with me. Please, allow me to take care of him." 

Akito regarded him with an inscrutable expression for a while, then broke into a smirk. 

"You're deluding yourself, Kazuma-san," he said, resuming his fake-friendly demeanor, despite his clear annoyance at how protectively Kazuma held Kyo. "Have you grown so attached to the boy in such a short time?" He paused, as if assessing the situation, though it seemed more for effect. "As far as I'm concerned, you can keep him. I've been advised against placing him where he belongs at the moment, so you're doing me a favor by taking care of him. Just be aware that this is a temporary arrangement. Don't deceive yourself into thinking you can save him from his destiny." 

Kazuma was tempted to offer a retort, but reminded himself that getting what he wanted so easily was more than he had hoped for, so he simply bowed his head. 

"Thank you, Akito-sama. I promise I will do everything in my capacity to prevent any inconvenience." 

"Very well," Akito said dismissively, and he began to walk back inside. 

Throughout this exchange, Kyo's father stood there, gaping and wide-eyed, shifting his gaze between Akito, who didn't even acknowledge him, and Kazuma, who was now looking at him as he contemplated the logistics of this new arrangement. 

"I suppose I'll arrange for someone to collect Kyo's belongings. I will provide for him financially from now on, of course, but he urgently needs some clothes," he suggested. 

"I'm sure you'll be well-compensated. It’s quite a generous stipend," the other man spat with his usual venom. "I can't think of any other reason for you to make such a decision!"

Kazuma's blood boiled, but he maintained his composure. "Feel free to speculate, Hinote. Honestly, I don't care." 

And with that, he turned and walked away without another word. 

Kazuma quickened his pace, striding all the way back to the dojo with one arm securely wrapped around Kyo, while his free hand gently caressed the boy's head. Kyo hadn't ceased trembling for a single moment. 

"We're going home, Kyo," he whispered into the boy's ear, his voice soft and reassuring. "It's all over now. We're going home." 

Kyo's tears had stopped flowing, but his head remained nestled on Kazuma's shoulder. His vacant gaze seemed lost, as if he were not fully absorbing Kazuma's words. He appeared utterly drained, both physically and emotionally, as if the transformation had taken away every ounce of vitality from him, leaving behind only an empty shell. His eyes lacked any spark of life, and his arms and legs dangled limply. It would likely take some time for Kyo to recover, but Kazuma felt a sense of relief washing over him. 

"No one is going to take you away from me, Kyo." 

And that was all that truly mattered.

Chapter Text

Kazuma loved cemeteries. If someone had asked him the reason, he probably wouldn't have been able to give a precise and definite answer. It was one of those things that could not be explained, a matter of deep and mysterious emotions, difficult to put into words. He certainly appreciated the silence and tranquility, and perhaps the respectful demeanor that everyone seemed to adopt as soon as they crossed the threshold. However, his particular preference had more to do with the feeling that, within that sacred place, even time, which always flowed inexorably and indifferent to human will, slowed down or even stopped altogether to pay respectful homage to the souls residing there. In a cemetery, even in the midst of a chaotic and noisy city, the clamor of traffic and the flow of life always arrived muffled, as if its walls and gates were able to repel anything that could disturb the peace and rest of its inhabitants. 

It was not unusual for Kazuma to go to the cemetery. He visited quite regularly, not only to pay homage to his deceased loved ones, but also to selfishly enjoy the timeless peace that fascinated him so much. However, today his soul was anything but at peace. When he had woken up that morning, he had looked at this moment with stoic optimism. He had hoped that the tightness in his stomach, which had gripped him since Akito had questioned the possibility of allowing Kyo to live at the dojo, would loosen with a positive resolution. And the positive resolution had come. Against all pessimistic predictions, Akito had granted him permission to keep Kyo with him. Kyo would live with him until high school graduation. It was more than thirteen years of life that he had managed to secure. And in thirteen years, a lot could happen, especially considering all that had happened to him in the past week alone. Only a handful of days ago, he had been a bachelor with no intention of starting a family, completely focused on his profession and passion. Now, within the space of four days, he had found himself suddenly responsible for a little human who would wait for him at home every day for the next decade. There were so many possibilities to look forward to, so many options that had opened up all at once. Kazuma should have been overjoyed, yet the tightness in his stomach had not loosened at all. If anything, it had become even tighter and more suffocating. 

The overwhelming fear for Kyo's future had lessened the moment he had held the child close, exhausted from that monstrous and inhumane transformation. However, a no less unpleasant feeling had immediately replaced it; a deep, oppressive, gut-wrenching sense of guilt. Kazuma already knew he had behaved despicably in the past, and, in a way, he had already made peace with his guilt. His training had always kept him dedicated to self-improvement, and that focus had allowed him to accept with relative ease the fact that past mistakes could not be erased, and the only worthwhile pursuit was to do one's best to ensure such mistakes would not be repeated. This was no doubt the main motivation that had driven him to plead Kyo's case. 

But witnessing that transformation, being forced not to look away from the pain and the humiliation that Kyo had endured, had rekindled in Kazuma that tearing sense of guilt he thought he had already processed and put away, and that guilt was now burning inside him like smoldering coals that consumed him from within. 

How many times had his grandfather undergone that excruciating transformation? Had he ever had someone to comfort him afterward? Had he ever received a smile, a gentle touch, any gesture of compassion at all? Or had he endured only looks of disdain and disgust, like those unmistakably painted on the faces of Akito and Kyo's father? Kazuma didn't know, and the reason he didn't know was precisely because he had never cared about his grandfather. He had always behaved as if his grandfather were not a relative, or even as if he did not exist at all. 

The only time he had met him, he had not shown anything but contempt, just like everybody else. He had rejected him and looked at him with terror, as if he had indeed been a monster. Instead, he was only someone who was suffering unfairly, and yet, at the lowest point of his unbearable suffering, he had still been able to offer a gift, and with it, his unconditional forgiveness. Kazuma’s stomach burned with shame. 

And now, in front of the entrance to this city cemetery, far from the Sohma Estate, he wondered if he had the right to ask for that forgiveness at all. If what he had just managed to do for Kyo was really enough to stand before his grandfather’s grave and say, with his heart in his hands, "I'm sorry."

Kunimitsu was an only child, but he had grown up in a dojo, and during his teenage years, he had become accustomed to having children around when he helped his father with the younger students' classes. He had always been told, by both his parents and the parents of the young students, that he was good with children. Furthermore, this had been his first week working at the Sohma Dojo, and he wanted to make a good impression. So, he hadn’t hesitated when Kazuma had asked him to look after Kyo for a few hours. Kazuma had told him he had something very urgent to attend to and had left almost immediately. However, the whole situation was bizarre. Kazuma and Kyo had left the dojo right after breakfast to meet with the head of the family. Kunimitsu had thought they would stay for a while, but they had returned less than an hour later, Kazuma with an uncharacteristically serious and troubled expression, and Kyo pale as a ghost, apparently naked and wrapped in Kazuma's haori. Kazuma had given no explanations, and Kunimitsu had asked no questions. He had simply asked if they needed anything, and Kazuma had asked him to wait in the kitchen just long enough to put Kyo back to bed. When he had come back downstairs shortly after, he had asked Kunimitsu to keep an eye on Kyo in case he woke up, and then left again without even looking at him. Kunimitsu wasn't the type to meddle in other people's affairs. Besides, he liked Kyo. Sure, he was quiet and strangely serious for such a small child, but he had behaved well when he watched the lessons, and overall, he seemed a good kid. 

However, Kunimitsu sensed there was something he didn't know about the child’s situation, and it wasn't something pleasant. The man who seemed to be Kyo's father had used strong and unequivocal words when he had visited a few nights before. Kunimitsu had maintained his characteristic discretion and hadn't broached the subject with Kazuma. Nevertheless, with Kazuma's frequent trips to the main house and Kyo's ghostly appearance upon their return, it was clear that something significant had happened, and the child had surely been under great emotional stress. 

Kazuma hadn't specified how long he would be away; he had simply said "a few hours." If Kyo had woken up early, Kunimitsu would have suggested attending the karate lessons of the other sensei, as he had noticed that watching the lessons had a calming effect on him. However, he hoped that Kyo would sleep until Kazuma's return, because, until that moment, he hadn't really interacted with Kyo without Kazuma present, and he didn't want to disturb the child too much. But when he peeked through the door to check, he found the child awake, albeit with the same vacant and lost eyes he had had when they had returned from the main house. For a second, Kunimitsu thought it might be better to leave him alone, but that lifeless and desolate expression squeezed his heart, and eventually, he knocked gently on the partially open door.

"Hey, Kyo... hi!" 

Kyo turned towards him, and his dull, half-closed eyes immediately flickered with vague concern. He was lying inside the futon, but Kunimitsu noticed he was wearing the same tracksuit they had provided for him  two days earlier. Kyo didn't respond to the greeting, and his gaze seemed to go beyond Kunimitsu, searching for someone else. 

"Oh... um... Kazuma is not here. He had an errand to run." 

Kyo's expression darkened even more, revealing genuine fear in his eyes. "He... went out?" 

"Yes, he went out. But don't worry! I'm sure he'll be back very soon!" 

Kyo averted his gaze, and his expression became vacant and sad again.

"By any chance, do you feel like watching the lessons?" 

Kyo shook his head without looking at him. 

"Are you hungry? Would you like me to prepare something for you?" 

Again, Kyo shook his head and pulled the blanket up over his head. 

Kunimitsu resigned himself to the fact that, for the moment, Kyo didn't seem to feel like talking or having company.

"In that case, I'll let you rest, but if you need anything, I'll be downstairs."

Kyo didn't respond and didn't move from under the blanket.

Kunimitsu pulled the door but left it partially open. He then leaned against the corridor wall, unsure what to do. Should he insist? The child seemed worried, as if he were afraid of something. Perhaps it was insensitive to leave him alone. Should he ask him to come downstairs with him? Maybe offer him the colouring crayons again? That gloomy expression on the child's face had unsettled him. Clearly, something had happened at the main house. Kunimitsu had noticed some details that had, at the very least, intrigued him. For instance, that morning, Kazuma had made Kyo wear the black clothes from the funeral, instead of the jumpsuit they had provided, even though he had previously mentioned he didn't want Kyo to wear them anymore. And when they had returned, Kyo, although wrapped in Kazuma's haori, had seemed to be wearing nothing. It was a curious coincidence that Kazuma had made Kyo wear clothes he no longer wanted him to wear, only to see him return without them. Then, there was the fact that both seemed rather troubled by that encounter, especially Kyo. What could possibly upset such a young child so much, considering he was still in the company of Kazuma, who, although not well-known to him yet, appeared to be a kind-hearted person? Also, the sudden absence of Kazuma without any explanation was strange because he hadn't mentioned any urgent errands that morning. It must have been something that had come up during their meeting with the head of the family, but what could be so urgent as to leave the child alone after he’d undoubtedly experienced a difficult morning? Kunimitsu had no idea what had happened, and he found himself in a tricky situation because he didn't know what to say or do to comfort the child, who seemed overly concerned about Kazuma's absence.

While he racked his brain for what to do, his thoughts were interrupted by a small sob coming from inside the room, perfectly audible through the partially open door. Kunimitsu listened carefully, thinking that he might have misheard. Another small sob, muffled from under the blanket, confirmed it. Kyo was crying. For a moment, Kunimitsu panicked. What should he do? It was clear the child didn't want to talk to him. And even if he did, what could he say? Kunimitsu had no idea what was happening or why Kyo was so despondent. Kyo wanted Kazuma, and Kazuma wasn't there. Kunimitsu didn't even have a phone to contact him. Yet he couldn't leave a crying five-year-old alone. He opened the door again.

"Kyo... are you okay?" he tentatively tried. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Kyo attempted, unsuccessfully, to stifle another sob from under the blanket.

Kunimitsu approached cautiously and gently stroked what must have been the child's head covered by the blanket. Kyo flinched and moved to the opposite side, still keeping himself hidden.

"L-leave me alone..." he said with a small voice.

Kunimitsu sat on his heels, torn on what to do. Should he do as he was told and leave the child alone? But how could he, knowing that he was crying?

"I don't want to bother you, Kyo, but I'm worried about you. I want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm f- fine. Leave me alone."

Kunimitsu was about to reply when he heard someone fumbling with the front door downstairs. Kyo abruptly froze and listened intently. When he heard the door close from the inside, he lowered the blanket, revealing a face streaked with tears.

Kunimitsu smiled at him.

"It's Kazuma. He's back. I'll go tell him to come to you right away."

This time, Kyo didn't avert his gaze and, in fact, looked at Kunimitsu with imploring eyes, as if silently asking for confirmation that it was indeed Kazuma downstairs and that he was coming to him.

Kunimitsu said nothing more and simply got up, heading downstairs. Kazuma was at the front door, removing his zori.

“Hi Kunimitsu. I’m sorry, that took longer than I thought. Is everything...”

“No worries, Sensei,” Kunimitsu interrupted. “No need to explain anything. Please, go to Kyo. He’s awake and I think he wants to see you.”

Kazuma smiled softly.

“I’ll go. Thank you for your patience.”

“Don’t mention it, Sensei. I’ll see you later.”

Kazuma went upstairs, taking two steps at a time. Kunimitsu had left the door open, so he didn’t even have to knock. As he approached the door, Kyo sat up in the futon and immediately locked eyes with him. Kazuma could see he had been crying and felt a lump in his throat at the thought.

“Hey, kiddo.”

Kyo didn't move. His eyes looked at Kazuma with a mixture of anxiety and hesitation. Kazuma had held him in his arms throughout the entire journey home, trying to reassure him, but Kyo had been so distraught that he seemed incapable of registering where he was or what had been said to him. Now that the realization of what had happened that morning at the main house was starting to dawn on the child, he appeared hesitant, as if he needed explicit confirmation that it had indeed happened.

Kazuma stepped in and sat down by the futon. He reached out and stroked the boy’s head.

“Are you okay?”

Kyo simply nodded, his eyes fixed on Kazuma's, searching for answers to all the questions swirling in his mind.

“Y-you... you left,” he stuttered.

Kazuma felt the lump in his throat grow bigger.

“I did. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you behind. It’s just... I mean... there was something important I had to do.”

Kyo was still worried, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

“Where did you go?”

Kazuma sighed. How to explain? “I went to see a person I haven’t seen in a while. Don’t worry about it. I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Kyo seemed to relax slightly, though a lingering uncertainty still clouded his eyes. Kazuma tried the playful expression that had worked previously to ease the tension.

“Actually, now that I think about it, I will have to go somewhere. I have to go to your father’s place.”

Kyo’s expression darkened again immediately.

“Why?”

“To collect all your clothes and toys. Anything that belongs to you. I will bring everything here. Maybe we can make this room a little more similar to the one you had at your parents’ place.”

“I don’t have many things...” Kyo replied, his tone almost apologetic.

“We can buy new things, then!” Kazuma offered with a big smile.

Kyo glanced around the room for a few seconds before returning his gaze to Kazuma.

“Can I really live here?”

Kazuma's smile softened at that innocent yet pleading request.

“Yes, you can. You heard Akito. He said it's ok for you to stay here. With me.”

Kyo remained silent. He seemed reassured by the fact that he could stay and live with Kazuma, but his eyes kept revealing a hidden uneasiness.

“And I will teach you karate, as I promised. Would you like that?”

Kyo gave a small nod, though the spark of excitement from when he first saw the dojo’s main room seemed to have faded.

“I can also teach you other things, you know,” Kazuma said, trying to sound encouraging. “You may have noticed I’m not a very good cook, but there are other things I can do. Have you ever gone fishing?”

Kyo shook his head.

“It’s fun! And you get to eat the fish afterward, so it’s a win-win!”

Kyo continued to stare, maintaining the same sad expression that persisted throughout the conversation. Kazuma remained silent for a while, keeping his eyes locked onto Kyo's. For a moment, it seemed as if their eyes could communicate without the need for words. However, Kazuma had already made the mistake of leaving things unsaid, and he wanted to be absolutely certain that the child would be reassured from any anxiety or fear that might still be haunting him. He reached out again and softly stroked Kyo’s cheek with his thumb.

“What's on your mind, Kyo? Would you like to share it with me?”

Kyo lowered his gaze and didn’t answer.

“Would you like to talk about what happened this morning?” Kazuma asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Kyo lowered his head even further, trying to hide his face from Kazuma and hugging his legs to his chest.

“You know, I think maybe it's a good idea that we talk about it, so we can put it behind us,” Kazuma said, his voice low and soothing.

Kyo looked as if he were fighting an internal battle. On one hand, he clearly didn't want to discuss what had happened that morning at all. On the other hand, he appeared uncertain and worried, and only addressing the issue could dispel any doubts he might have still had.

Kazuma waited for a response, but when it didn't come, he decided to approach the subject from a different angle.

“I went to see my grandfather at the cemetery.”

Kyo lifted his gaze to Kazuma with wide eyes at this unexpected information.

“I apologize for leaving you behind. Kunimitsu told me you have been waiting for me, and it was inconsiderate of me to leave without telling you where I was going and for how long I would be away. Please, forgive me.”

Kyo gaped, puzzled by the fact that Kazuma was apologizing to him.

“I went to see my grandfather to pay my respects to him. I didn’t lie to you when I said that I knew about your bracelet and its implications. However, I neglected to say that I never witnessed my grandfather transforming. Unfortunately, Akito had set as a condition that I witness the transformation to allow you to live here with me. He insisted that I could not fully understand the responsibility of taking care of you if I remained in the dark. I apologize for not being able to protect you from this; it was the only way to obtain Akito’s permission. And I apologize also for not warning you about what was about to happen. I was very conflicted as to what was the best thing to do, and in the end, I decided I didn't want you to unnecessarily anguish over something that was still inevitable. I hope you can forgive me, knowing that I tried to act in your best interest. I am sorry you had to go through that, but in a way I'm also relieved to have witnessed your transformation because now I can say with first-hand knowledge that you are no monster, Kyo. And I hope you won't doubt the sincerity of my words.”

Kyo continued to stare at Kazuma, completely astonished by the turn the conversation had taken.

“I have no intention of denying the fact that your body takes on a monstrous form when your bracelet is removed from your wrist. That monstrous form is part of the curse that fell upon you the day you were born, and that is something neither you nor I can do anything about. We can only acknowledge it as a fact. We must acknowledge it and we must accept it. It’s paramount that we do so, if we want to move forward. But it’s our actions that define who we are, Kyo, not our appearance. I could see you, even beneath that monstrous form. I could see your suffering and your fear. And I knew, no matter how terrifying or threatening you may have looked, you would never hurt me. I wasn't afraid of you, Kyo, and I am not afraid of you now.”

Kazuma reached out once again and took Kyo's left wrist in his hand, looking down at his bracelet and sliding his thumb along the string of beads.

"I was afraid of my grandfather, once. As I told you yesterday, I met him only once. And that one time, I couldn't even offer him a word of comfort because I was too afraid of him. Nevertheless, he was kind to me and harbored no resentment. My grandfather was a good man, far better than me. He endured pain and loneliness, facing a horrible destiny dictated by a cruel tradition and by the indifference and ignorance of those around him. Yet, his heart remained pure and kind until the end. His soul departed this world untouched by its cruelty. He was a remarkable human being, and I won’t live long enough to pay him the respect he deserves. That's why I visited him today. That’s why I couldn’t wait one more minute.”

He leaned forward and raised his gaze, locking eyes with Kyo once again, their faces only a few inches apart.

“I said it yesterday, I am saying it now and I’ll keep saying it, as many times as you need to hear it. You are no monster, Kyo. You are a good boy. And I am blessed to have you.”

It seemed to take ages for Kyo to absorb the meaning of what Kazuma had said. When, the day before, Kazuma had explained to Kyo the very basics of meditation, he had guided him to visualize all his negative thoughts as a cloud in his chest that could be blown away. Now, to Kazuma, it seemed like he was witnessing the reverse process. The profound meaning of his words, the complete and unequivocal acceptance he had just declared seemed to envelop Kyo like a tender embrace, and every single part of his body seemed to finally relax all at once. His features softened, his rigid shoulders loosened as if an invisible weight had been lifted, the breath he had been holding escaped, and his small, clenched fists relaxed. His gaze flickered from the bracelet on his wrist to Kazuma's gentle and patient eyes. Kazuma thought that Kyo might cry, as he had the evening before, but Kyo didn’t. He simply remained silent, as if indicating he needed a bit more time to fully understand what had been said to him. He didn't smile, but his expression was soft and endearingly confused, like that of a child who has just received unexpected praise but didn’t quite understand why. Looking again at his bracelet, Kyo slowly pulled his wrist away from Kazuma's hand. With his small fingers, he lightly touched each of Kazuma's, the fingers of the hand that had the courage to touch him, even in his monstrous and hideous form. Moving slowly and keeping his gaze down on that hand, he stood up, rubbed his eyes slightly, and ran the back of his hand over his nose, as if trying to compose himself. Kazuma straightened up to give him space, and Kyo, now at his eye level, raised his gaze to him, and with a serious but determined expression asked,

"You’re not afraid?"

Kazuma replaced his smile with an unwavering expression that mirrored Kyo’s.

"No. I'm not afraid."

Kyo stared straight into his eyes, searching for the slightest hint of falsehood. When he seemed to find none, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and, unexpectedly, without saying a word, reached out and wrapped his arms around Kazuma's neck. Kazuma remained still, surprised and overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions forming and simultaneously exploding, like a flood breaking through a dam. Suddenly, he was there again, in the darkness of that narrow and gloomy cell; the arms around him were not Kyo's, but his grandfather’s, the kind man he wrongfully rejected, who was now holding him tight through the bars of his prison, whispering in his ear the words he craved.

I forgive you.

The lump in his throat dissipated into a sob, and the tears he didn't realize he had held back until then began to fall. He raised his arms, wrapped them around Kyo as if his life depended on that touch, and cried.

Alarmed by the sobs he felt vibrating in Kazuma's chest, Kyo pulled back and looked at him with a stunned and worried expression.

"Why are you crying?"

Kazuma looked at him and felt his heart bursting with gratitude at the sight of that child, so innocent and so unaware of what he had just been able to give him. Words failed him, so he simply smiled through his tears and hugged the boy again.

"It doesn't matter. Everything will be okay, now."

Chapter Text

Kyo had never seen the cherry blossoms in full bloom. If he had glimpsed them when he was very young, he had no recollection of it. But he doubted he had ever seen such a breath-taking spectacle, because if he had, he surely would have remembered.

However, he did remember seeing a photograph of his parents once that had struck him. In it, they were young; both smiling and embracing each other under a tree with pink flowers. Kyo remembered thinking that it must have been precisely that beautiful display of flowers and colours that had made his parents so happy, because he couldn’t remember ever seeing either of them with such relaxed and carefree expressions. They seemed like different people in that picture, people who had nothing to do with his parents. His mother, with her dim smile that never reached her eyes, and his father, with that constantly furrowed expression, halfway between resentful disgust and thinly veiled terror; that was how Kyo had always seen his parents. And that photo with that tree full of flowers seemed to come from another world; a kinder world, where there were no monsters, and where people were happy.

He didn't know that the tree from the photo bloomed every year, just a few blocks from his home. He must have seen it some other time, during one of his brief escapes to the playground, before his mother locked him inside for good because of the incident with Kagura. But since he had never seen it in full bloom, he had never recognized it. And yet, here it was, in all its beauty, right in front of him. Exactly the tree from the photo, under which his parents had once embraced happily, without any worries in their eyes or hearts. If this tree existed in this world, within the Sohma estate, then that meant his parents had also once been happy in this world. But to Kyo, this still seemed impossible. Those serene eyes, those carefree smiles, they couldn't belong to this world, because Kyo had never seen them.

“Feeling contemplative?”

Kyo flinched as Kazuma's words abruptly interrupted the flow of his thoughts.

“W- What?”

“You have been staring at that tree for a full minute,” Kazuma said.  “The cherry blossom has inspired some of the finest verse ever produced. Perhaps you were considering giving your own contribution.”

Kyo pouted, having quickly learned to recognize when Kazuma was making fun of him. 

Kazuma smiled, also having already learned when to stop teasing so as not to annoy Kyo too much.  

"Just kidding."

Kyo cast one final glance at the blossoming tree before turning around to walk alongside Kazuma.

“As I was saying, there’s a new class starting at the end of the month. For beginners. You could try it out. See if you like it,” Kazuma said, looking down at him with an encouraging smile. 

Kyo didn’t have the chance to articulate an answer as he heard someone whispering on the other side of the path.

“So Kazuma really did take him in…”

Kyo didn’t raise his gaze, but he could sense the two gossiping ladies out of the corner of his eye.

“The poor man shouldn’t have to care for that boy just because his father couldn’t handle him…”

Kyo could feel his blood rushing, his cheeks burning, and his ears pulsing with anger.

“Imagine being responsible for such a creature.” Kyo could feel the stare of those two ladies on his shoulders. “Who would want to look after the Cat’s child?”

“Yeah, maybe there’s something wrong with Kazuma, too…”

Kyo stopped in his tracks, his fists clenched, and his whole body tense with fury. He wanted to yell. He wanted to hit someone. He wanted to look up, to stare straight into the eyes of those two ladies and tell them to shut up. It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t…

Suddenly, two hands reached under his arms and the ground shrank away from under his feet as a branch of the delicate blossoms filled his vision. Before he realized what was happening, he was lifted into the air, his face just an inch away from the pink flowers, their scent filling his nostrils. He looked up at the top of the tree and thought he could reach out and touch the highest branch. He had never been lifted like this, not this high, and it gave him a whole new perspective.

“Time for a change.” 

Kyo looked down at Kazuma, who was looking back up at him with the gentlest smile he had ever seen. 

“From now on, you are going to breathe the air of higher places,” Kazuma said, and Kyo could see that gentle smile shining in his eyes, too. “Sound good?”

Kazuma lowered his arms, but instead of putting Kyo down, he set him on one of his hips, supporting him with his strong hands. Kyo tried to keep his balance by grabbing Kazuma’s neck.

“Sound good?” Kazuma repeated, his soft smile still on his face.

Kyo looked at him for a moment and then gave a small nod. Kazuma nodded too and gave him a gentle stroke on his cheek.

“Good.”

He held Kyo tightly in his arms and started walking again, looking ahead at the path to the dojo.

Kyo, meanwhile, fixed his gaze on Kazuma’s face.

This man was strange. It seemed like he never got angry, worried, or distressed. There were no shadows in his eyes like there were in his mom’s. There were no lines or wrinkles on his face like the ones always appearing on his father’s when his features contorted into a mask of rage and disgust. His posture was firm yet relaxed, completely carefree. His whole figure didn’t emanate any negative sentiment at all, no anger, terror, or disdain. Just that gentle smile that seemed to never leave his face. This man was indeed strange, so foreign to anything that Kyo had ever known. Foreign like that picture of his parents, happy and smiling under that beautiful tree that existed not in another world, but just a few steps away from him. 

Maybe Kyo hadn’t gotten to see his parents’ gentle smiles. But this man had a gentle smile, too. And perhaps this meant that it wasn't entirely impossible to be happy in this world. Kyo didn't know. The mere thought scared him.

But at the same time, with his arms clinging around Kazuma’s neck and his head nestled against his shoulder, Kyo felt safe. And that, at least for now, was enough.

.