Kazuki's Strawberry Keychain
Kazuki watched the two silently sleep. If only he was a painter he would be able to paint a masterpiece, a painting of mother and child peacefully sleeping together. As he turned off the lights and closed the door he couldn't help but bring his attention to Kahochan's belongings, her red suitcase that had all her valuable earthly possessions. Knowing Kaho-chan, she wouldn't bring frivolous and useless items rather she probably only took her necessities, her clothes, personal belongings and other items that had sentimental value.
"Sentimental huh?" Kazuki said to himself. He wondered what kind of sentimental item Kaho-chan brought. She didn't seem to be wearing her wedding ring so he assumed she left it with Azuma. So how sentimental could you get than again wasn't that the point…. To leave it all behind, to leave it to change...
His thoughts were disrupted when Kaho-chan's phone began ringing. He couldn't decide whether he should answer it or not but finally decided to answer thinking it was probably important. As he opened Kaho-chan's suitcase thoughts played in his mind how she'd react with his intrusion of her belongings. He smiled when he saw the strawberry key chain still hanging on her cell phone. "Sentimental value." he said to himself.
"Mochi Mochi." Kazuki said. "Shimizu-kun….. She's sleeping Shimizu-Kouhai you do know it's improper to call at this hour………… I'll tell her." Without even saying goodbye he ended the conversation there. For some reason a feeling of possessiveness overwhelmed him. "Just for one night, one single night the two of you belong to me." Kazuki whispered in the darkness.
As he laid on the couch, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't fall asleep. His thoughts were preoccupied with the two red heads sleeping on his bed, the two most important persons in his life. He didn't know how it came to be…. But one day he just woke up and found them owning his heart. His hand sternly clutched Kaho-chan's cell phone as he reminisced the momentous day of his life.
(Three years ago)
Kazuki held Kaho-chan's hand as she went in labor this was beyond the duties of assistant manager he thought. His life along with his two best friends changed in the course of just a few months. As Yunoki's best friend he was obviously hired not from experience but rather for connection. Than the saying must be true it's not what you know rather who you know. On the other hand he was just the assistant manager of one little shop to add further grievances he was Yunoki's only employee so in other words he was just a glorified help.
During the whole labor process he often thought Kaho-chan broke his hand from all the squeezing she did. "What exactly kind of vitamins did she take steroids for supplements? How can one little girl have the strength of an angry bear? Oh… right… she's in labor." Kazuki thought to himself as he heard Kaho-chan's screaming go louder. His thoughts drifted to whether or not Kaho-chan could've made a good Opera singer from the high notes her shrieking produced. The truth was there were only two ways this was going to end. It was either Kazuki goes home with a broken hand or worse he ends up deaf and what good would his hands do if he wouldn't be able to hear his music.
It still surprised Kazuki up to this day how Azuma chose work over his own family. Sure there were very important investors he had to meet with on that day who could potentially expand the flower shop business but wasn't all his money making efforts for his family.
He did find comfort during the intervals of Kaho-chan's labor. It was those brief moments where he played the "what if game" which as it turned out was a very dangerous game. What if he was the first to tell her that he loved her? What if he told her he loved her? What if it was his child? What if she had married him instead? What if Yunoki didn't get her pregnant? What if…. And the what ifs hurt him the most. The fact that there could have been other possibilities and those possibilities weren't meant to be.
"Are you the husband?" the nurse asked. "Uh…. No…." Kazuki hesitantly answered. "Than I'm sorry you can't come in." the doctor stated. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T COME IN!?" Kazuki shouted. "What did they mean I couldn't come in?" Kazuki thought. Couldn't they see she was in so much pain? Couldn't they see she was terrified? She was going to give birth alone well not technically alone but nevertheless she was going to be left in the care of strangers. Couldn't they see she needed him? His mind truly and utterly couldn't comprehend the situation but as he heard her call his name he snapped back to reality. "KAZUKI!" She cried out in pain. It was the first time she called him that. "I'm sorry sr. but only the husband can come in, hospital policy!" The nurse stubbornly stated. "I'M THE FATHER!" he yelled.
Father, what does that mean? The biological male parent. Does blood really matter? After all wasn't he more of Kazu's father than Yunoki himself. He was there in all the important events of his childhood. He was there during his birth. He was there during his first word. He was there during his first step. He was there during his first recital playing the violin. He was there not only for ChibiKazu but for Kahoko as well. He was there when Yunoki Azuma wasn't.. He was there…
He watched as the new mother soundly sleep as he held the baby in his arms. He was reluctant at first to hold the baby but when the nurse insisted it was the right of passage for every father he ended up obeying her. Holding the tiny little miracle made him experience the most bizarre feeling in his life. As he observed the child's features he resembled his mother in so many ways. The baby's red hair, innocent golden eyes, even his smile reminded Kazuki of Kaho-chan. In other words the baby was too cute for his own good that it should be a crime. For some reason to which he couldn't understand he was exuberated at the new life created. It wasn't even his but still… He felt joy beyond belief. It was probably because that time gave him to play the what ifs without being disturbed. The what could've beens… in those brief moments of euphoria he was enthralled but it soon passed for after all it was only pretend.
When the baby started crying its mother immediately woke up searching for the source of the weeping. "Kazuki-senpai." Kaho-chan said. "Oh… sorry… here" Kazuki said as he slightly paused and gave the child to his mother. As Kaho-chan held the baby the newborn discontinued his tirade and returned to his slumber. In Kazuki's eyes he never saw Kaho-chan more beautiful than in that moment. The angels in heaven would grow jealous due to her loveliness. Her tender eyes, affectionate smile and extraordinary face as she made that expression while holding her baby could melt any man's heart.
As Kazuki decided to give the new mother privacy with her son he was stopped when she asked him where he was going. "Where was he going?" he thought for he truly didn't want to be anywhere else than here. He could probably go buy her flowers as a gift but than doesn't she have enough of them at home. He could probably buy her chocolates or something for the baby. What was appropriate for a newborn anyway? His thoughts where interrupted when he realized that he was completely broke. He had only a few yens to spare due to the fact he spent all his money paying for the cab ride to get her to the hospital. So he simply closed his eyes, grabbed the first thing that was in his pocket and presented it.
"Uhm… Kazuki-senpai?" Kaho-chan said in confusion. "It's for the baby…" Kazuki said as he opened his eyes realizing his stupidity. As he looked at the tiny strawberry keychain he wondered how idiotic Kaho-chan thought of him. The key chain would probably end up choking the infant while playing with it thinking it was food or something, besides what was a baby supposed to do with a keychain. As Kazuki withdrew his gift and drew his attention away from the new mother, she spoke making him return his gaze at her. "Kawaii… Can I have it? Kaho-chan asked as she smiled the most charming smile he's ever seen.
(end flashback)
In the end it was no wonder why Kaho-chan named his son after him for after all he was there from the beginning and there he'll remain till the end…
Up to this time he still couldn't believe what Kaho-chan told him a little while after she arrived at his place seeking haven from her husband. He wasn't surprised though since she left her Kazu in his care but up to this point the words kept ringing in his head… She said….
Author's Note:
The idiot Kazuki thinks its Yunoki's kid. Readers as you know by now I've already disproved this theory. Those who don't know read Yunoki's chapter! But remember this is how Kazuki perceives all of this.
In case you're wondering Kazu is the abbreviation of Kazuki. I think it would've kinda been weird if I made kazuki-senpai keep calling kaho-chan's kid Kazuki. That would've probably caused much confusion to the readers. So the baby's name is Yunoki, Kazuki kinda weird hahaha!
So since Yunoki's not the daddy, Kazuki's not the daddy who do you think the daddy is?
This chapter isn't really that dramatic. I think it suits Kazuki since he's usually so cheery so I wanted his chapter a bit cheery yet had a mellow dramatic feel to it.
I wonder what Kahoko's reply to Len was?
I wonder what Kahoko's letter said to Yunoki?
I wonder what Kahoko said to Kazuki?
Read and Review : )
