Chapter Three: Seeing Something Great

After Chiyo's first day at her new job at the maid café Kinzo would make the trip from Kyoto to True Cross Academy Town every day to visit her. She had told him several times that he didn't need to do so. It had to be troublesome for him to make the trip all the way to True Cross Academy Town just to come see her.

"Kinzo, I told you that you don't need to come all the way down here from Kyoto to see me. You must have family duties that you need to worry about." Chiyo scolded the blonde Shima. The two were spending some time together on one of Chiyo's days off from the café, but she still had summer school work she had to get done.

"I don't mind the trip down here, and I like spending time with you. If my family needs me to head back, then I will. Until then, I'm staying here with you with my little beauty."

Kinzo would often say these kinds of things. Words that a boyfriend would say to a girlfriend. But that's not what they were. They weren't together, they weren't boyfriend and girlfriend, but to everyone else, that's what they looked like.

There had been several times when her coworkers and friends from True Cross Academy would ask if the two of them were together, and time after time Chiyo would say that they weren't together. But as the two spent more and more time together Chiyo started to wonder if the two of them could become a couple. Chiyo has grown to really like Kinzo, but did he really like her that way.

"Kinzo, why do you make the trip down here to see me? What am I to you in your eyes?"

Kinzo looked at Chiyo confused.

"What brought this up all of a sudden?"

"It's just... many of my friends and coworkers always ask me if we're together. Every time I tell them we're not, but each time I say it a little part of me sees it as a lie I keep repeating. I don't know why I feel that way each time. I guess in a way I wish what they kept asking me was true, but I guess there's no way someone like you would be interested in someone like me."

"What are you talking about?! You're a lot of fun to be around. You're pretty, a hard worker and from what I've seen, really smart. Any guy would be lucky to be with you."

"But you didn't answer my question! Why do you spend time with me? I'm sure there are other girls who are much better them I am."

"There's no other girl I'm interested in seeing or hang out with. Besides, it's like I said, any guy would be lucky to date you, but they won't get the chance to."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Kinzo wrapped one arm around Chiyo's shoulder and tilted her chin up with the other. Suddenly she felt his lips press up against hers. Automatically a red blush washed over Chiyo's face. What was this crafty Shima doing?

When their lips parted from each other Chiyo's saw that usual bright smile he always wore in front of her.

"The reason why none of the other guys will get a chance is because you're already taken. By me."

"Really? I don't remember you asking me for my blessing their young man."

The two teens looked over to see Chiyo's father standing in her bedroom doorway.

"Father!?!?"

"Mr. Bato? I guess you're right. I didn't ask for your blessing," Kinzo stood up from Chiyo's bed and went to stand in front of Mr. Bato. Suddenly, he dropped to the floor, hiding his face in the carpet.

"Please, Mr. Bato! I care greatly for your daughter and I'll do anything to keep her safe and care for her. Please, may I have your blessing to be with Chiyo?!"

Mr. Bato looked from Kinzo to his daughter who was still sitting on her bed. Her face was still flushed, and a look of shock was still on her face. Mr. Bato let out a heavy sigh and then he started to laugh.

"Father, what's so funny?"

"Nothing... it's nothing. Stand up son," Kinzo did as Mr. Bato had asked, look up at him a bit confused. "look Kinzo I can tell that you make my daughter happy. I can see it her face when the two of are together. It's been a long time since I've seen her this happy. If there's anyone who would be interested in my daughter, I'm glad it's you. Take care of her for me son." Mr. Bato patted Kinzo on the shoulder before heading down the hall to his mother's room.

"Father!? What was all that about?!" Chiyo jumped up from her bed and went to chase after her father. But she was suddenly grabbed from behind be Kinzo.

"Kinzo, what are you doing?!"

"You heard him didn't you Chiyo?! He gave us his blessing, but there's still one thing I want to ask you. Chiyo Bato, with your father's blessing I would like to ask you if you would let me make you happy? Let me protect you anyway I can. Please Chiyo, will you be my girlfriend?"

Chiyo's body felt like it had suddenly gained so much weight in her legs that she would suddenly collapse to the floor. She held tightly to Kinzo's arms, fearing that she would fall if she didn't hang onto something. Tears started to fill her violet eyes as she tried to come up with the words to say.

"Chiyo, are you alright?"

"Kinzo... you really are an idiot."

"What?"

Chiyo quickly turned around, wrapping her arms around Kinzo's neck before encasing his lips with hers. When the two parted both wore flushed faces.

"What does this mean, Chiyo?"

"It means I accept your offer. I'll be you girlfriend."

There was a look of absolute happiness on his face. It was a look that made Chiyo smile even bigger. Kinzo suddenly picked Chiyo up and spun her around her room until the two of them fell on her bed. This was the happiest day of her life. For the first time ever in her life she has a boyfriend.

"This is great Chiyo and I have a great idea! If it's alright with your dad I want, you to come back to Kyoto with me to see my family."

"Go to Kyoto?! I don't know."

"Why do you sound so hesitant? Don't you want to go with me and see my family?"

"I-I do! Your family sounds wonderful by how you talk about them, but do you really think that they would want me there? It's not just your family that lives at the Myodha temple, right? There's three other families besides yours am I right? I'll just be in the way if I go." Chiyo was coming up with every excuse in the book that she could to not go to Kyoto with Kinzo.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go, it's just that she didn't want to leave her Soba. If something was to happen to her while she was away, Chiyo would just feel awful.

"Actually, including me, family we have a total of five. We had a family just join the Myodha Temple, but it'll be alright. I just need to make a call really quick my father and he'll relay it to Ossama, The Most High Priest. I'm sure Ossama will be pleased to meet you. I'll be right back. I'm going to ask your father if it's alright for you to come to Kyoto with me."

Before Chiyo had a chance to say anything, Kinzo was out the door and running down the hall to talk to Mr. Bato about taking his daughter to his home in Kyoto.

"Kinzo... but I get nervous about meeting big crowds so quickly." Chiyo mumbled to herself.

Kinzo ended up getting his way. Once he told Mr. Bato that he wanted to take Chiyo to the Myōō Dhasect, Mr. Bato actually encouraged that she go. Saying that it would be good for her to go someplace new. She couldn't believe that he was okay in letting her go someplace so far away with a boy that she just started going out with.

When the day came for Chiyo to head back to Kyoto with Kinzo after another one of his trips to come see her, she was a nervous wreck. It wasn't the fact that she was going to meet Kinzo's family, she was going to be meeting the other four families that lived at the Myōō Dhasect as well.

"Good god, why am I so nervous about this?" Chiyo started to mess with the rim of her shorts she was wearing.

"Chiyo..." Kinzo broke Chiyo out of her daze. "are you alright? Are you really that nervous about meeting everyone?"

"It's that obvious is it? I'm sorry for this Kinzo. I don't mean to make your worry about me."

Kinzo reached over and took Chiyo's hand. As a sign that everything was going to be alright and that everyone was going to love her when they meet her.

It took a while to get to Kyoto. Kinzo decided that it would be a lot more fun to take the train. From the train station they took a bus the rest of the way. When they came to their stop Chiyo found herself standing in front of an inn.

"Kinzo, I thought we were going to a temple, this is an inn."

"Oh, the temple was struggling so we moved to this inn that the wife of the Mist High Priest inherited. Everyone should be waiting for us inside. Just follow me."

Kinzo lead Chiyo into Toraya Inn and was greeted by many of the workers who worked at the inn. Many of them also welcomed Chiyo.

"Kinzo, I really feel out of place here. Are you sure it's alright for me to be here?"

"Don't worry Chiyo. Everyone here is really friendly and will love to meet you. I've told them so much about you that everyone got so excited." Kinzo gave Chiyo a smile.

"Welcome back Kinzo. Where's this girl you've been going on about?" A voice suddenly reached Chiyo's ears. She stepped out from behind Kinzo, since she's on the short side Kinzo easily hid her from others.

"Don't be mean Ju! She's standing right here. Chiyo, this is my older brother Juzo. Ju, this is Chiyo Bato. She's a bit nervous about meeting everyone."

"H-hello, I'm Chiyo Bato. Th-thank you for allowing me to stay here." Chiyo politely but nervously introduced herself.

"She's a polite one, unlike this idiot here. Come on, everyone is waiting for the two of you. Even the Most High Priest is here."

Kinzo and Chiyo followed Juzo a little further into the inn until they reached a large sliding door. When it opened Chiyo was overwhelmed with how many people were actually there.

"Hey, Kinzo's, back!"

A group of young kids suddenly swarmed Kinzo. From what Chiyo could tell, many of them had to be related to him. Seeing how everyone was so happy to see Kinzo return home she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have so many people like siblings come running up to great you home.

"Oh, everyone, I have someone I want you to meet," Kinzo grabbed Chiyo's wrist and pulled her up next to him. "this is Chiyo Bato. She'll be staying here and visiting for a while."

"H-hello, I'm Chiyo Bato. Thank you for having and allowing me to stay here. I'm truly grateful." Chiyo bowed her head to thank everyone for their kindness."

"Miss Bato, it's a pleasure to have you here at the Toraya Inn."

Chiyo looked up to see a bald man with a mustache shard like oval dots above the sides of his mouth and was wearing priest robes.

"Welcome Miss Bato to the Myōō Dharani Sect. My name is Tatsuma Suguro, The Most High Priest. I'm honored to have someone of the Bato name standing here in front of me." Tatsuma bowed in respect to Chiyo.

"Ossama, what do you mean by that? Do you know the Bato family?" Kinzo asked when he saw the confused look on Chiyo's face.

"Oh, I don't think it's really my place to say anything. But the Bato family was once a family of powerful exorcist. The numbers of the Bato family have dwindled over the past couple of decades but, I can see something great in you."

Chiyo still didn't understand what it was Tatsuma was talking about. Never once did her father say something about her family being famous for having strong exorcist.

"Chiyo, are you alright?" Kinzo asked as he took her hand in his with a worried look on his face, a worried look for her.

"I'm fine Kinzo. I guess I have a lot of questions for my father when I get home." Chiyo faintly smiled to give Kinzo a feeling of reinsurance.

"Father, what have you been keeping from me?"

Kinzo took Chiyo to the room where she would be staying in. A room right next to his. Kinzo allowed Chiyo to get herself settled in by herself. With a sigh of relief Chiyo started to unpack her things. Putting clothes in drawers and putting a family picture next to her bed.

"Sobo, I hope you're alright without me there with you. I'm happy that Kinzo wanted me to meet everyone, but I'm worried about you. And now I hear something about how great our family once was. Maybe I should give dad a call."

Chiyo took out her call phone and dialed the number of her father's phone. The phone rang three times before her father answered.

"Chiyo?! Did you make it to Kyoto alright?"

"Yeah dad, and everyone here at the Dahsect are really friendly and have been good to me. But dad, there's something I need to ask you."

"What is it honey? You sound different than usual."

"It's just... The Most High Priest here, Tatsuma Suguro, he said something a bit odd to me."

"Odd?"

"He said that it was an honor to meet someone with the Bato name. And he said something about our family coming from a long line of powerful Exorcist. What did he mean by that dad?"

A sudden silence took over the father daughter conversation. Chiyo didn't understand what was going on. Was what Tatsuma Suguro said really true.

"Father?"

"I have to go Chiyo. We'll talk about that when you return home."

"But dad!"

Her father hung up on her. Never before had her father ever done something like that before. Chiyo listened to the dial tone of the call being disconnected. It seemed like she listened to it for an hour when it really was only a few minutes. Suddenly there was a light knock on the door.

"Chiyo, is it alright if I come in?" Kinzo's voice suddenly snapped her out of the trance she seemed to be in.

"Yeah, come in Kinzo." Chiyo shut her phone and placed it back in her pocket vs he turned just as the door opened and quickly put on a smile.

"Are you alright Chiyo? You looked a little upset when Ossama talked to you earlier." Kinzo walked up and knelt next to Chiyo and gently caressed her face.

"I'm fine, I guess I was just a bit surprised and confused at the same time, that's all. It's not something a normal person hears every day. Oh, by the way you come from a family of powerful Exorcist! I mean, come on, who hears something like that!?"

Chiyo's calm expression was slowly starting to crumble right in front of Kinzo. Nothing like this has ever happened to her before. Never before has her father kept secrets like this from her, and never as she felt this confused about who and where she comes from.

"Kinzo... I'm just, I'm just so confused. Ossama said he saws something great in me, but I don't even know who I am anymore. How can you see something great in someone who doesn't even know who they are?!" Tears suddenly started to spill from Chiyo's eyes.

Seeing this sudden look of distress on Chiyo's face upset Kinzo. Quickly, he pulled Chiyo into him. Trying to calm her down before she had a complete meltdown.

"Chiyo, listen to me. Maybe your father thought it would be best to raise you to not be an Exorcist. He probably wanted to keep you safe, out of danger. So please, don't be made at him."

Chiyo grabbed a hold of Kinzo she didn't want to let someone who was going through so much trouble to make her feel welcome in a strange place. To make her feel special when she never saw herself as being. Kinzo really was being good to her. Her, someone who wasn't special at all.

"Thank you Kinzo, for being so great to me. I really am lucky that it was you who found my Sobo's CD." Chiyo softly whispered in Kinzo's ear and then kissed his neck. When she looked up at Kinzo his face was a bright red. Making Chiyo smile with still tear stained eyes.

Slowly the two closed the gap that was between them until their lips finally came together. For a while their lips stayed together and wrapped up in each other's arms, until the two finally parted to catch their breaths.

"Ossama was right Chiyo, you really are something special."