Chapter Text
"AEIJA, MEET KYO." HER DAD SAID with a soft smile as she stared idly at the ginger haired boy. He looked to be about three years younger than her, so she assumed around six. He looked almost annoyed to see her. Why was he so upset? And who was he?
"Hello." She said, quite blandly as he hid behind her Dad's legs and sent her a glare.
Kazuma sighed, "Kyo, this is my daughter Aeija. Aeija, he's going to be staying with us at the dojo. Like a little brother."
A little brother? She didn't want a little brother! She liked being by herself or with her Dad, like how it had always been. Kyo didn't answer, neither did she, they just stared at each other with some sort of dislike. She didn't know what his problem was, she was here first, not him.
"Why don't you two get to know each other a little more." Kazuma smiled, then trailed off into the dojo where a few kids were stood waiting for his arrival.
Aeija casted her gaze down onto the red and white rosary that sat on his wrist, "You're the cat?" She asked.
His face dropped and he took a small step back, "Why do you care?"
"I'm the fox." She answered. The cat and the fox.
They were never supposed to be friends. Two hot heads. Two enemies.
The fox was the best friend, and messenger of the God. The cat was a betrayer of the God by not attending the banquet.
Kyo sent the girl a sharp glare before stalking off towards the dojo.
Three years later.
A twelve year old Aeija sat boredly on a bench with her best friend, Akane Sohma. She was supposed to be home when school ended, two hours ago, but she was sat in Akane's back garden as they ate ice pops. It was the height of summer and summer meant her pollen allergies would make a reappearance, which then meant she had to take a trip to Hatori's clinic. Not that she didn't mind, he was nice to her. He was the only one that listened when she rambled on about how annoying Kyo was being.
"I think you should maybe call your Dad from the landline. He's probably worried." said Akane as they swung on the chair outside.
Aeija rolled her eyes, "I'll go home soon. I bet he's making a fuss over Kyo as per usual so I doubt he's even noticed me being absent."
"Isn't there a lesson on today?" Akane replied with a tilt of her head.
"Well, yeah, but who cares if I skip. He's my Dad, he can teach me martial arts whenever." The dark haired girl answered.
Akane frowned, "I care, it's my lesson too!" She exclaimed.
"I mean, if you're that bothered then we can go. I don't think he'll care if we miss it though." Aeija said.
"But this is the fifth time we've skipped, Aeija." Akane informed her with a raised eyebrow, "You know your Dad loves you both equally, I think he's more attentive to Kyo because he's lost his parents, and he is the cat."
Aeija looked at her in annoyance, "Gee, thanks. I've lost a parent too you know. I don't have a mother, and that was his own wife!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." responded Akane as she jumped up from her seat on the swing chair.
"I suppose we can go. I do feel bad making you skip." Aeija smiled and accepted Akane's hand she held out to help her up, "I bet if we sprint we'll be a couple minutes early, and may gain a few extra muscles."
Akane let out a loud laugh.
Three years later.
"I'm going to-" She paused as she glanced up at her father and Kyo who were stood in the kitchen, laughing.
They were baking cookies.
No, she was too old to bake cookies. Fifteen is when you get more maturer, apparently, or, According to Akito, because he had told her that she didn't need her dad, nor Kyo. They were useless.
He was right.
Aeija let out a miserable sigh as she wandered out of the room and towards the front door, although Kunimitsu, her Dad's assistant, was also walking through the door as she was about to leave.
He smiled brightly at her, "Good evening, Aeija-san." He said, sliding his shoes off.
She nodded at him, "Hello, Kunimitsu-sama."
"Where are you off to? If you don't mind me asking, that is." Kunimitsu questioned.
"I'm just going to Akane's for the night, I'll be back in the morning." She replied, a little white lie never hurt anyone.
He hummed, "I see, that explains the backpack." Kunimitsu let out a small laugh, "I hope you have fun." He tousled her hair slightly.
Aeija beamed, "See you soon."
She walked idly along the cobbled pathway, her headphones shoved on her head as she listened to music. A few gentle tears slipped from her eyes as she watched people pass the streets. It was awfully busy for eight o'clock in the night.
After a couple minutes of walking, she finally arrived in front of a house. Hatori's house to be exact. Aeija took in a few deep breaths before knocking delicately on the door.
Kana, his new girlfriend had answered with a soft smile, "Aeiya, are you alright?" She asked, noticing her red patchy face.
"No." She answered truthfully, "I don't want to stay at the dojo anymore." The young girl let out a shaky sigh.
The woman frowned before ushering her into the house, "Come and sit down." She grabbed a tissue from a box that lay on the table, and dabbed Aeija's eyes gently, "Let me get Hatori."
After a couple of minutes, the man himself came wandering into the room.
"Aeija." He stated, a serious tone laced his words, yet his eyebrow was slightly furrowed, "You can't run away from home, you know your Dad will be worried." Hatori told her, sitting on the chair across from her.
The girl shook her head with a frown, "I don't want to live there! It's all Kyo this and Kyo that."
His face remained stoic as usual, "I understand that, but you're fifteen, you can't just leave."
"Do you think Shigure would let me stay at his house?" He had recently been kicked out of the estate by Akito for a reason Aeija didn't know.
"Yes, but you aren't." replied Hatori, "You wouldn't be allowed. Shigure had to go for a reason."
"I don't want to stay there." Aeija answered, losing her cool slightly.
Hatori paused for a moment, "I can't force you to go home, so tonight you'll stay here. It's late and I have a spare room. We can sort something out tomorrow."
Aeija gave him a bashful grin, "Thanks Hatori, you've always been my favourite Sohma."
He rolled his eyes at her, swatting her head with the book in his hands, "Second door on the left."