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Post by Fateful on Jan 16, 2012 4:05:00 GMT -5
Mansuke knew that Kazuma was watching. He could feel his grandson's presence. He was worried about the boy, but there was really nothing he could say to him right now. "I... I don't really know how long it will be. Until I can get him back to where he needs to be. I'd say a month at least. And Kiyomi can come visit him. I will never shun my daughter." He smiled fondly at the young woman who was watching nervously from the kitchen. She had once interrupted a fight that caused this one, and she'd never make such a mistake again, despite her love for both men.
"Tou-san..." She whispered. "Please, Kazuma--"
"Is my pupil. I will take good care of him, you have my word." He didn't even turn. "Kazuma, never mind this hiding nonsense, come here."
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Post by otakulady89 on Jan 16, 2012 4:12:11 GMT -5
Kazuma jumped, terrified, suddenly wanting to run back into his room. But he shuffled forward, awkardly, trying not to look at his father. His shoulders were hunched, his hands in his pockets, and he couldn't look at the other man. Hadn't been able to for almost a year. "Hai, Sensei... I'm all packed." He wanted his teacher to know that he was going to do as he promised. Kazuma tried not to break promises whenever he could.
The sound of sniffles on the other side of the room heralded his adorable sister with tears in her eyes, one hand wrapped in their mother's dress. Kazuma almost broke, almost said, fuckit, he'll stay here, and it didn't matter if he didn't have wifi... But it did...
"Mai-chan..."
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Post by Fateful on Jan 16, 2012 4:21:42 GMT -5
The way the thin, non-muscular boy shifted toward him broke Mansuke's strong heart. It didn't show of course, but his expression softened. He rubbed the back of his neck, worried about the boy now. He sighed and rested his hand on the back of Kazuma's head and gave it a rough rub, just like he used to do when he was a boy, just as his father and grandfather had done to Mansuke when he was a child.
"I promise this will help you." He whispered, as the boy noticed his confused sister, who was stiffing back tears. Although he loved her dearly, she could never hold the place in his heart that Kazuma did. Sometimes, he thought of Kazuma as the son he never had. Or, perhaps it was better to say that Kazuma was the son he lost when he was just a boy. And Mansuke wasn't going to lose Kazuma too.
"Mai..." He said, bending down in front of the child, his old bones creaking. Mansuke was getting up there in years. He was now a ripe 74 years old, and even though he looked young, his bones didn't feel young. He rubbed the top of the girls head, messing up her hair even more considering Kiyomi had not yet put it up in pigtails. "Now listen here, Oji-san is getting old. Tou-san is letting Kazuma come stay with me because I need some help at home. But you can't let anyone else in the family know, alright? You have to be my little samurai, okay there Mai-hime? I need someone strong to protect Oji-san's weakness from being known, ne?"
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Post by otakulady89 on Jan 16, 2012 4:29:54 GMT -5
Kumai nodded, putting on her strong face, even though her lip wibbled, and her large browne yes were filled with tears. "Kay, Jii-jii... Nii-chan will help! Nii-chan strong too!" She chirped, sounding really really sad, but she attached herself to her grampa's middle, and hugged him, strong as she could.
Kazuma frowned, trying not to cry himself, because Mai-chan would see something was wrong with him. He swallowed back tears, and nodded, "I'll take good care of Sensei, okay, Mai-chan? Come give onii-chan a hug before I go?" He offered, kneeling too, only for the little girl to dive right into his arms, and hug, her sniffling going to full blown whining sobs now, and he just hugged her.
Kunisuke didn't know what to say... So he said nothing.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 16, 2012 4:44:41 GMT -5
Kiyomi came to her husband's side, taking his hand softly. She smiled at him, unsure of what to do. So she also said nothing. Leaning closer to him, she smiled weakly. She truly did love her husband and her children. SO she wanted to do what was best for her son. But seeing her daughter cry at her big brother leaving, she felt like she was choking. Oh... "Kamai..." She whispered, wanting to pick up her daughter. "We can go see Kazuma... t-this isn't goodbye." She said it, but it sounded more like a prayer, because Kami, please, she didn't want to lose her son.
Mansuke smiled, picking up the little girl as she was hugged. She rubbed the top of her head happily. "He is strong, and I promise that he'll be back before you know it." Standing, he let the girl run to her brother after he put her down and sighed. He felt guilty, separating the two siblings. When the two had their exchange, he walked to his daughter, wrapping his arms around her. He squeezed her tightly, kissing her forehead. "I love you, Musume." He mumbled softly. "And I promise that I will help Kazuma. I'll make him strong again."
Kiyomi clung to her father, sniffling. She felt like she was feeling her son. "Oh, chichi..." she mumbled, gripping his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I-I failed--"
"No, Musume. You're just struggling. Kazuma just needs more." He smiled at her as he let go. Then, he walked over to Kazuma and rested both hands on his shoulders, squeezing them. "Let us go pack up your things."
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Post by otakulady89 on Jan 16, 2012 4:49:35 GMT -5
The hikikomori nodded, turning back to his bedroom. But he'd only taken two steps, the sounds of his feet hitting the floor nearly silent next to his sister and his mother's tears, when his father cried out.
"Wait. Kazuma..." He paused, and a look of discomfort came across his face. "I want you to know... I do love you, and I want what's best for you... So please. Come back home soon."
All the hurt and pain bubbled up inside Kazuma, and before he could bawl like the child he still was, he retreated to his room, leaving his father there, waiting for a response that would never come. He crouched in the corner of his room next to his bags, and wrapped his arms around his legs. His face buried into his knees, and the seventeen year old finally cried, knowing that he shouldn't, knowing that there was no reason to cry just because his father said he loved him.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 16, 2012 4:56:34 GMT -5
Mansuke glanced to his son in law, and, for the first time since Kazuma was born, he was proud of Kanisuke. He was truly proud of them. A smile met his lips and he waited. He expected Kazuma to run, but instead, he stopped Kanisuke from running after him. "No." He mumbled. "Let him be alone. Give him a few minutes." he stated, looking after the boy. Mansuke wanted to give Kazuma a minute. He needed to cry, and to relieve his emotions.
As much as he wanted to follow the boy, he lingered. Then, he slowly got up and walked out of the room. He knocked on the door, pausing. "Kazuma? Do you want me to wait while you get ready?" His voice was soft, trying to be soothing toward the boy. He was so damaged, and felt so alone. But Mansuke was not sure if he wanted to let the boy be alone.
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Post by otakulady89 on Jan 16, 2012 5:07:17 GMT -5
At the sound of his grandfather's voice, Kazuma quickly sniffed back his tears, wiping them from his eyes with long pulls of his forearms, and harsh rubs of his knuckles against the offending eyes. "N-No... It's okay, Sensei. I'm ready." He called back, wanting Mansuke to know that he wasn't crying, that he was fine.
Picking up his two bags, One filled with clothes, the other his laptop case, he carted them out into the entryway, and into Mansuke's car. Then, he turned around to meet his family at the front door for one more goodbye.
"Kaa-san, I'll be good, so don't worry. I love you. You too, Mai-chan. Tou-san." He nodded to his father, not saying anything, really, to the male. He couldn't look at him without feeling a jumbled mix of emotions, so he just kept his head down and looked away.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 16, 2012 5:20:39 GMT -5
Mansuke nodded and came into his bedroom. He helped with his things as they went out to the car. Once everything was settled, he smiled. He watched his grandson say goodbye to his family. He looked at Kanisuke and nodded to him, wanting him to believe that he would take care of Kazuma.
He got into the car, driving once the boy was in the car. The trip to his home wasn't a quick one. It would be at least a two hour drive in this traffic. "How're you feeling? You look tired." He stated, wondering how Kazuma would adjust to living on the sea. Mansuke was used to the sounds and living directly on the water, within the harbor, but he wasn't sure if his grandson would be able to deal with that. There was a chance he'd hate it, but it definitely meant he would be unable to sleep during the day. It would be too loud for him to do so. That was one thing that would adjust his sleep schedule.
"How long has it been since you studied or trained?"
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Post by otakulady89 on Jan 16, 2012 5:29:44 GMT -5
The drive would have been unbearably boring, if not for talking to his sensei and answering emails through his phone. He sighed a little, looking out the window, when Mansuke asked about his health. "I'm okay, sensei. I'm just... not used to being up during the day." He murmured in reply. Typing away, he sent an email to Mercury, letting him know his grandpa's address.
However the question about his training and his studies brought a bit of shame to his heart, and he looked down at his lap, fingers fiddling with his phone. "I... last went through the Kata's about a month ago... And I haven't turned in an assignment since winter vacation (three months ago)." It was the truth, even though he wasn't proud of it.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 16, 2012 5:38:19 GMT -5
Well, him being awake during the day was obvious. He smiled, glancing to the boy and rubbed the top of the other's head as he drove. But he didn't want to be too distracted. "We'll get you used to that. You're going to stay up all day and we're going to work you, so we can have a good night sleep tonight. Alright? I want you on a normal schedule. I didn't exactly lie to Mai-chan. I want you to help me with some things."
As they drove, he didn't mind that the boy was sending emails. at least he was talking to him. But he looked so defeated at the mentioned he studied. So, he sighed. "We're going to get you caught up in school as well. I want you to return to school." He knew that Kazuma was about to panic, so he continued. "I will not force you to go back until you are ready, but you are going to study every day," He was firm, not giving him a choice in this matter. "And we will work on your Kung Fu every day as well. Train the body in the morning, training the mind during the day."
He sensed something else was wrong. "I will allow you to go on Oz." he added, almost as if he was reading the boy's mind. "However, I will not allow it to consume the majority of your day. I believe that you need to work on King Kazuma, so we will work out a schedule for that. Does that sound agreeable?"
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Post by otakulady89 on Jan 16, 2012 5:55:04 GMT -5
The talk of being up during the day wasn't too bad, Kazuma had pretty much figured that would be the case. The world around him was bright during the day, something he wasn't used to anymore. He couldn't tell if it was beautiful or daunting. Maybe both. It was like the world was more open, more... spread out, during the day. At night it was close, quiet, and it felt like you were all alone. So far, he liked nighttime better.
However... The mention of returning to school tensed the boy, his hands gripping his cellphone hard. He didn't WANT to go back to school. Why? Why would he have to go to school where no one would accept him, and where he'd be made fun of, over and over?! He could just turn in the assignments and graduate that way.
But he'd promised... "Hai, sensei..." He murmured, swallowing. What was he going to do everyday if he wasn't on OZ? OZ was his life... It was the only good thing about him, and he liked it... Everything else seemed boring...
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Post by Fateful on Jan 16, 2012 6:13:06 GMT -5
Mansuke wasn't sure how to go about this in the best way. He wanted Kazuma to be happy, so he figured they needed to do a casual readjustment. He'd talk to someone he knew that worked in the high school and try to get assignments. He was also going to need to learn to tutor him, because he wanted to be able to help him if he needed it, so it seemed he was going to have to learn everything he was going to teach. Let's hope his mind wasn't so rusty.
"I'm sorry, Kazuma. I don't want to push you too hard. I do want you to be happy, but I also don't want you to fail. You need to go to college, be successful. You're so smart and gifted, it's a waste for you to hide that from everyone." He loved this boy so much, and he wanted him to be successful. "We can start slow, and we will. I want to make sure that your kung fu is up to My standards. Without your fung fu, I'm sure that King Kazuma's battle standards is slipping."
Xerxes sent him a message before bed. "Alright. I have a few books left from when my sister and I were learning English. I'm sending them over. I have a few kids books, but I figured that would be an insult to you, so I sent you a short novel. It's short, simple, it's for someone of high intelligence. It's a Greek story, so... I really like it. I hope you like it. The Oz snail mail system says it'll take two days."
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Post by otakulady89 on Jan 16, 2012 6:19:09 GMT -5
Kazuma couldn't think of anything to say. The idea of going to school... Well, the learning part wasn't so bad. He didn't mind doing the assignments online, but... When he was in a classroom... Well, just the thought of BEING in a classroom now made his jaw lock, and his body tense, and he wondered if someone could die from being stared at?
But his sensei was worried... and looking for some sign of obeisance... So Kazuma swallowed, and spoke. "I... I've already gotten an english tutor... online through OZ. An avatar named Mercury. He's offered to send me books... and to teach me how to switch OZ parameters so that it will only let me speak english to him... to practice..." He offered, hoping it would be a good enough placation.
And he didn't comment on King Kazma, because it was true. He'd had severe problems in the last few fights. His instincts were getting rusty and so was his mind. He didn't know what to do.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 16, 2012 6:30:40 GMT -5
An English tutor? Through Oz? Well, he was impressed. "Well, that is a good thing, but there's more to the world than just English. I want you to learn more math and science. But, I want you to work on Kung Fu first. I don't know too much about math and science, but I'm sure I could find a way to teach you. But your body is weak, so your mind is scrambled. KUng fu will calm you, and it will help you much more than any book. I'll take care of that before we move on. I need to build you up to be able to support my expectations of you. I do expect a lot of you Kazuma. Your'e strong, and you're someone who helped saved the world. I'm more proud of you than you could ever know." He smiled.
"We can get you settled, get something to eat. I wish I'd have stayed for breakfast. I miss my Kiki's cooking." And it was for a good reason. Kiyomi was an amazing cook, better than his wife, ironically. "We can work on some Kung Fu, then you can show me Oz."
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