BECOMING FUJISAKI RIMA

~: Prologue :~

In a small house in the outskirts of Tokyo, Fujisaki Rima sat on her couch, quietly thumbing through an old scrapbook. She gazed at the pictures fondly, a nostalgic smile on gracing her features. She missed those days, back when the only things she had to worry about were boys and schoolwork.

"Mama!" Kristen, as her daughter preferred to be called, shouted as she stumbled down the stairs. "Mama, where are you? I gotta tell you something!"

"What's wrong, Kris?" Rima asked, taking in Kristen's disheveled appearance. Her daughter's mane of unruly blonde curls was a tangled mess, her face smeared with the colored ink of her markers. "You didn't break anything, did you?"

"Of course not!" she huffed. "Papa sent you an email! C'mon Mama! Come on!"

Rima's eyes lit up like a child's on Christmas morning, allowing Kristen to drag her to her feet and lead her to the computer. For the past three months, Rima had lived alone with only her eight year old daughter to keep her company while Nagihiko worked abroad. In the beginning, she and Nagihiko had exchanged emails at least twice a day. But as time passed and Nagihiko's schedule grew more hectic, the number of messages they exchanged decrease. It had been weeks since the last one she had received. Rima hurriedly logged on to her account, opening the most recent email.

Fujisaki Nagihiko

To: Fujisaki Rima

To my dearest Rima,

I'm so sorry I haven't been able to reply to any of your emails; you wouldn't believe how busy I've been lately - what with all the performances and all. I miss you and Kristen so much! I'm still unsure of when I'll be to go home, but I'm sure it'll be a little while longer. Things are so different here in America; it was a little overwhelming at first, but I had Ikuto and Kukai to help me out.

Did I mention that Ikuto finally got his teaching license? He teaches the violin to students at the high school. Kukai's still working that desk job at that big shot company, but he's started coaching the community soccer team. I think it helps keep his mind of Utau-chan.

Kristen, don't forget that Papa loves you and misses you with all his heart. Make sure to be good for your mother and please, please, please behave, okay?

Love you both,

Nagihiko.

Rima was overcome with a wave of emotions. Happiness, sadness, disappointment, elation - she felt it all at once. She swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, not wanting to her daughter to see her cry. Despite her efforts, a stifled sob fell from her lips, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly. Sensing her mother's distress, Kristen wrapped her arms around her mother's slight figure, rubbing gentle circles against her back, trying her best to comfort her mother.

"You okay, Mama?" Kris asked. "Please don't cry; it makes me sad when you're sad."

"I'm alright," Rima gave her daughter a small smile. "I just miss Papa."

Kristen returned the gesture and gave her mother another hug, peeking over her shoulder as Rima quickly sent Nagihiko a reply, updating him on what had happened over the past few weeks. When she had finished, Rima powered off the computer and got up to get ready for bed.

But before she did, Kristen tugged on the hem of her shirt and asked, "Mama, will you tell me a story?"

Rima laughed, taking the eight year old's hand. They raced up the stairs, flinging Kristen's bedroom door wide open. They curled up comfortably among the many pillows and stuffed animals that resided on her bed, and Rima reached for the hairbrush that rested on the night side table and began to brush her daughter's unruly mane of blonde curls. Outside, they could hear the now-familiar rumble of thunder as the weather raged.

"What do you want me to tell you about?"

"How did you and Papa meet?"

"It began several years ago, long before you were born..."