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Forgive and Forget

Trey's heart was beating double time as he made his way to the manor's kitchen. He was still afraid to open back up to his uncle, but knew it had to be done. And he knew that his uncle deserved to know the whole truth.

"Ok, just breathe..." He muttered just outside the door. He saw his uncle sitting at the table, taking peeks at the TV mounted on the wall between bites of his eggs.

Trey took a moment to look around the, quite spacious, kitchen. Despite Hanbei's late birth-father being of Japanese descent, he was still surprised that the Kagami household featured mainly modern day American furnishings.

"Good morning! Did you want something to eat?" Gai said looking away from the TV.

He stood there in the doorway for a moment before he finally spoke up.

"Um...no thanks." He stuttered.

Gai was almost beside himself with disbelief. After four long months of complete silence, his young nephew actually spoke. They both stood there silently until finally, Trey chose to speak up once again.

"U-uncle Gaisei, I'm sorry for how I've treated you these past few months..." He said staring at his feet. "It's just that after what happened with mom, I didn't know what else to do. I didn't think it was fair for people to know what a terrible person I was, so I kept to myself. It wasn't until recently that I began questioning her opinion of me and Hanbei...he gave me that last little push that I needed to finally consider opening back up."

He looked up and jumped slightly when he realized that since he started talking; Gai had walked up to and was kneeling in front of him. Gai smiled at his nephew and gave him a big hug.

"It'll be okay. But it's like I said, her death is no fault of your own." He started.

"No, Gaisei," Trey interrupted, leaving his uncle embrace. "It IS my fault."

"Trey..." Gai frowned, noticing that his nephew had begun to sob.

"No, listen...I wasn't completely honest with you that night I showed up on your doorstep. When mom finished her rant? She stood up, with what I believed was the intention of hitting me." Trey pulled back the sleeve on his T-shirt, exposing the scar on his shoulder, tears streaming down his face. "She lunged at me with a knife...the same knife she killed herself with. But she stumbled forward and only got me in the shoulder. I think she killed herself, because she failed to kill me."

Gai just stood there looking at his crying nephew, tears forming in his own eyes. No more than two seconds passed before he pulled his nephew into another tight hug.

"...I'm so sorry, boy," Gaisei replied, as tears formed at the corners of his somber face. "This is something that no one should have had to go through. Had I known, I might have been able to help you both more."

"I'm not honestly sure that you could have helped..."

"Be that as it may? We're talking now and that's all that matters. Is that it? Is there anything else you need to tell me?" He asked.

"No...That's it."

"Come on," the Gaioumon patted the Gaomon on the back gently. "Let's get you something to eat. We've got plenty of catching up to do."

He finally did it. Trey was finally able to open back up to his uncle. It was as if a huge burden was lifted from his shoulders, knowing that he wasn't worrying his uncle any longer. They sat at the table and talked for what must have been hours. It wasn't until Hanbei walked in later that they finally took a break.

"I am trusting that everything went well?" Hanbei asked.

"Yes. Thank you, Hanbei." Trey smiled.

"Glad to hear that." He replied, offering a small smile in return.

"So Uncle Ga...err Gai," He quickly corrected himself remembering his uncle's opinion on formalities. "...you were telling me that the two of you were planning a trip to Japan in about a month?"

"Yes, it has been something that the two of us have been meaning to do for a long time. Now that I've finished up at Aubrey, the appropriate time has presented itself." Hanbei responded.

"We've actually been meaning to talk to you about it, Trey. But we weren't exactly sure how to go about doing so." Gai added.

"Understandable, considering my actions these past few months." Trey replied with a sigh.

"What's in the past is over and done with." Gai said patting his nephew on the shoulder. "Time to look forward."

"Easier said than done..." Trey thought to himself, knowing full well that his issues were nowhere near "over and done with."

"Whatever the case," Hanbei interrupted, "we are in fact discussing it now. The only question that remains is...would you like to come with us? If not, arrangements could be made with a friend of mine for you to stay here, if that is your wish."

Trey thought it over. He didn't know how to speak any Japanese, but perhaps he could learn some while there. He could, no he should, and this was his uncle after all. Not to mention, this was a once in a life time type of opportunity he was looking at here.

"...I'd like to go with you," he finally replied.

"Wonderful! It should be a great experience for you," Gai said.

"So, it's settled then. We'll need to make sure to get your passport ready." Hanbei replied monotonously as he got up to leave.

"Oh, Hanbei!" Gai spoke up.

"Yes?" Hanbei said turning to his adoptive father.

"I almost forgot! The preparations are all set for your protégé's arrival in a few days."

"...Protégé?" Trey asked.

"I shall explain." "Hanbei stated. "You see for about a year now, I've been volunteering for a foreign exchange program through River Hill Academy. And I've been sponsoring a young man around your age named Jonathan S. Johnston, III."

"That's...quite the name." Trey chuckled.

"Quite. He's actually taken a liking to me calling him Jojo, so I'm sure that's what he'll have you refer to him as." Hanbei continued. "Anyway, he is coming to the US to finish his schooling here. He will be staying with us for a few weeks until his permanent residency is determined. He'll be staying in the room next to yours."

"I see...so what's he like?"

"You'll see for yourself soon enough..." Hanbei smirked before finally leaving the room.

"Well! That's a lot to go off of! At least a little information would have been nice; he knows how I am with new people..." Trey sighed.

"Yes, he's always been like that. Even with his best friend." Gai chuckled. "After all these years, I just think he likes having that 'air of mystery' around him. Even I don't know what he's thinking half the time...anyways, don't worry too much. I'm sure you and Jojo will get along fine. Now, I have some things to go and do in Charm City, you going to be ok?"

"Yes, I'm feeling a lot better, thank you Gai." Trey smiled.

"Good, I won't be home late." Gai waved as he walked out of the room.

Trey let out a deep breath, he really was feeling much better, but there was still something that was bothering him. He just couldn't put his finger on it, so he shrugged it off and went about his own business. The rest of the day went rather well, he spent it practicing a little more for his training session tomorrow and played some video games with Hanbei later on. Even Gai joined in when he returned home, although he wasn't very good at it.

It wasn't until he went to bed that night that he really knew there was something wrong. Even after coming forward to Hanbei and Gai, he still was having the nightmares that have plagued him since the night he fled home. His mother's words still clinging to him.

He woke up the next morning completely exhausted from the lack of sleep.

"Uuuuugh," he moaned getting out of bed, "Oh crap!"

He ran to get dressed and made his way outside. He had almost completely forgotten that today was his first official martial arts session with Gai and Hanbei.

"Morning kiddo, sleep well?" Gai greeted.

"Um, not really." He replied sleepily.

"Is everything alright Trey?" Hanbei asked.

"Yeah...well I'm not sure actually." He admitted.

"Ok, let's hear it," Gai stated, "no more secrets."

Trey went ahead to explain to Gai and Hanbei about the nightmares he'd been having since moving in, both of them listening intently.

"I figured once I finally opened back up to you guys they'd stop, clearly that wasn't the case." He finished.

"Don't worry Trey, we're here to help in any way we can." Gai said reassuringly.

"If I may," Hanbei started, "I believe I may have a theory about these nightmares of yours."

"Let's hear it."

"It may be that these dreams were created from your feelings towards yourself. Opening up to us was a good start, but if you truly wish to be free of them, you need to be able to accept yourself for who you are." Hanbei finished.

Trey knew that what Hanbei had said was true. He never really let himself think about it much, but he knew that he didn't have the highest opinion of himself. Years of verbal abuse from his mother were taking their toll on his will.

"Forgive me if that's not the case." Hanbei added.

"No, you're right." Trey let out a long sigh. "The things my mother said to me still have a hold over me. I just need to try and move on and forget it."

"And we'll be here to help." Gai smiled.

"Thanks guys," Trey smiled back, "so can we start my lessons now?"