For the record, this is my second story that isn't inspired by a fairy tale or movie outside of the Cat Returns genre. It wasn't my usual cup of tea (I don't even drink tea), but what the muse says goes. I really should think of a name for her.
Warning; this fanfic contains sensitive family and honesty issues that may offend some of the readers. As a blanket note, I don't write to offend, but to entertain. Translation; if you don't like it, don't read it. Sorry, I felt that had to be said before I got drowned in angry reviews.
And, without further ado; the first chapter!
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Chapter One: A Dark Secret
Car tires screeched as the dark green vehicle came to a sudden halt in front of an old home. Out of the driver's side erupted an exceptionally handsome young man with golden hair, who started running for the front door almost as soon as his feet hit the ground. But just as his fist rose in order to pound on the door, it fell away to reveal a dark youth about the same age as the blonde. His obsidian eyes were haunted as he pulled the tawny friend into his home.
"Hurry!"
The tawny-haired man growled with irritation.
"Enough games, Toto! What was so important that I had to come so quickly?!"
"You'll see."
The two ran up the impressive stairway and into a room that had previously been all but forbidden from them. A fairly fat young man looked up from the books; heavy relief clear in his gaze.
"Thank heaven you came, Baron."
The blonde man ran one hand through his hair in irritation.
"Come now; I'm here, so what's the big emergency?!"
The fat brunette sighed, and handed over the book he had been reading from.
"I found this an hour ago. Start from the second paragraph on the right."
Baron glared at him.
"Out loud or privately?"
"It doesn't matter. Bird Boy and I know what's there."
With growing anger, Baron looked down, and slowly became entranced by the story encased in the careful handwriting that had faded slightly with age.
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I don't understand how this happened. It shouldn't have, we both knew it, but it still did. Melody deserves so much better than a cheating husband, and I did swear to love her forever, when we were married. I still love her, but…
I can't erase the moments I spent with Naoko. First, she was just my student, and then my friend. I should have told her that I was married with two wonderful boys before we let our passion go so far.
Naoko deserves better, too. She's a wonderful woman, and I ruined her for a real relationship with another man.
I saw her for the last time today. She knows the truth.
Naoko met with my wife and two boys, and found out that they were mine. She was such a jewel, that she didn't tell Melody about her own relationship with me. I truly was going to tell her today, but when I came to her apartment, I found that she was almost done packing to return to Japan. She is so ashamed of herself, for going this far with any man that she wasn't married to. Naoko told me that she was planning on asking me to marry her before finding out about my beautiful little family, and after meeting them, she couldn't do it. Turns out she's been admiring my wife from afar, and had hoped to gain her friendship.
She hates me, more than I hate myself; a feat I didn't think possible. Then came the killing blow.
Naoko's pregnant with my child.
She's made it clear that she won't destroy my family for our moment of weakness, but she also never wants to see me again, and I don't blame her. After this, I have no idea how I'll ever look at myself in the mirror again. Both Melody and Naoko deserve better than what I gave them, and my punishment is terrible.
I must pretend that nothing is wrong with my family, while half a world away, my third child is growing up without a father figure in his or her life, for I doubt that Naoko will ever trust a man again, after what I did to her, and I also doubt that she will let go of the one family she is able to keep. She had so often told me of the agony of growing up alone in a foster home, and how wonderful it would be to have a big family. I can't ever dare check on her, or my third child, for my Melody would notice if I did. I can never even know if I have another son or a daughter.
No, the only piece of Naoko I can ever keep is this measly piece of paper. And no one must ever find out about even this. Oh, what have I done?
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Baron looked up from the journal entry, shocked beyond words.
"Your father had an affair?!"
Renaldo grimaced, and nodded.
"I was hoping you'd say it was a written lie."
The tawny haired man shook his head firmly, having a special gift with truth and lies.
"This paper stinks of truth. You and Toto have another sibling."
The darker brother slammed one fist on the solid desk.
"How could Dad have cheated on Mom?! He always treated her like a queen!"
Renaldo growled, and leaned over his father's desk.
"He must have been trying to make up for cheating on her. If I had known about this while he was still alive, I'd have decked him!"
Baron sighed, and sat down in a high backed chair.
"Well? What are you two going to do about this?"
The twin brothers looked at their best friend.
"You have another sibling out there somewhere. Don't either of you have an idea on what to do about this?"
Toto glared at the cat paperweight his father had loved so much.
"I was too busy hoping it was a lie."
Renaldo humphed.
"Well, can you track her down, Baron?"
The tawny haired man cocked an eyebrow at the fatter brunette.
"No one can work the internet like you can. You could probably find Naoko with ease."
Toto looked up.
"What, you want to find her?"
The elder twin glared at the younger one.
"It's just you and me, Bird Boy. If something happens to one of us, the other one won't have any family left. And… maybe our little brother's cool."
Toto cocked his head.
"What makes you so certain that it isn't a little sister?"
"I've got a feeling."
"Since when can you feel?!"
"Take that back!"
"Enough!" Baron shouted, standing up from his chair in order to claim Renaldo's seat in front of the computer. "I'll find Naoko and her child for you!"
The fatter brunette grinned at the blonde and slapped his shoulder once, to say thank you. But the tawny-haired half-lawyer was already lost inside the mechanical device, looking through Renaldo's old files.
"There! Naoko Yoshioka!" Baron clicked on a small photo, which enlarged to reveal a fairly pretty redhead, who was smiling shyly at the camera. Renaldo and Toto looked over their friend's shoulder in order to look at her.
"She doesn't look familiar," Toto said skeptically. Renaldo tilted his head one way, his face screwed up with concentration.
"No… she gave me a lemon lollipop once. She said it was a sweet little treat for a sweet little boy."
Toto scoffed.
"Dang, she was delusional."
"Take that back!"
"Not now, or I'll leave," Baron said firmly, tapping on the keyboard like mad. A few more links…
"Congratulations, boys; you have a little sister. Born August 13, seven pounds, seven ounces, sixteen inches long. Name; Haru Yoshioka."