Thank you everyone for your reviews both for the purpose of praise and critic. They have been very helpful to me.

I've been getting lots of questions and I thought I'd reply to some of them. First, in response to a critic that I received I'd like to say that I know this plot is a cliché and overdone, but for some odd reason it has caught my attention. I'm trying to throw in some twists along the way to make it a bit more interesting.

Also, I was told that the character I portray is not Kyoko. This may be so as Kyoko from the manga is a very straight forward person. However she is also a very committed person. She would not tell Ren about their children because in the situation she was in it was impossible, and once she had made up her mind that she was doing the right thing nothing could stop her. That's more the angle I'm writing from anyway.

OK.

1: Who is the man?

You'll find out this chapter… Maybe.

2: How did Ren not hear about Kyoko in those seven years if they had been introduced to the public?

They had only been introduced about a month before this takes place and only within France.

3: How did Kyoko end up in Paris?

You'll find out soon…

4: How did Ren not see a resemblance?

None of the children really look like him. Well Marie is the spitting image of him with her blonde hair and blue eyes, but she is a girl so that disguises it.

Ryo is a good mix of his parents having Ren's (AKA Kuon's) blue eyes and Kyoko's dark hair, so his resemblance to either of them isn't all that prevalent either.

Kuon is an exact replica of his mother despite being a boy and Ren will put that together before long. He was to shocked at seeing Kyoko again to think about it at the time.

I think that's it. All other questions will be answered in the course of the story. Thanks for reading. Please review! You're critics are extremely helpful.


Chapter 4

*French is bold*

"Just a bit higher Ryo," the blond child insisted. The boy standing on the chair protested, "But you just told me to lower it!"

"You went to far," was her only reply. Ryo adjusted the decoration. "There. Now you have it just right," Marie said as she turned to survey the rest of the room. The triplets were helping out with the final touches on the main hall of the restaurant for their birthday party tonight. The room looked interesting to say the least covered in multi-colored streamers and balloons. Mama had put up a banner earlier and was now busying herself in the kitchen which the triplets were not allowed to enter. It was tradition. The birthday cake was always a surprise. Mama made a different kind every year and the three guests of honor were never allowed to see it even a moment before the party started.

The grandmother rushed into the room while attempting to tie her loose strands if hair back into her tight bun. It would seem she had been helping Kyoko. "Come on, you three," she said. "It's time for you to get ready for your party." She grabbed Kuon by the back of his shirt and pulled him along as he had the tendency to lag behind. "Ryo, get off that chair before you hurt yourself," the woman called over her shoulder. The eldest child obeyed and proceeded to follow him Grandma. He had learned a long time ago not to contradict her. Last time he tried it did not end well.

Marie came behind them last. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs to look over the party area once again and sighed thinking back to her earlier conversation with her mother.

"Mama, why are we celebrating our birthday today instead of on our real birthday?" she had asked. Marie remembered how her mother's mood dampened considerably at the question. "Because -name that the author isn't gonna tell you yet- has to leave tomorrow morning and can't be here for your actual birthday." Marie thought of this for a moment before she asked another question. "Why does it matter if he's here or not? He was never here for our other birthdays. It's always been just me, Ryo, Kuon, Grandma, and you." Her mother had looked very sad when Marie said this, and as hard as she tried Marie couldn't understand why.

"Marie! Hurry up! We have a lot to do before the guests arrive." the elderly woman shouted from above. "Yes, Grandma," Marie said as she sprinted up the stairs to their living area.


Kyoko couldn't stop thinking about what Marie had said. It wasn't that he had never been there that bothered her. It was Ren. Ren had never been there either, but now he was. There was no way that she could keep there children from him now that he was here and had met them, but what would she do if that man found out?…

It was possible she could hide it from him. No one but her knew that Ren was the father, and none of them really looked much like him. Maybe she could keep it a secret…

She had to talk to Ren. He would know what to do. Whenever she was at a loss, he always knew a way to make it better. When all this started there had been no way. If she had contacted Ren at all he would have known. Now it was different. He was here with her. Tonight she had to tell him everything.


Ren sat brooding as he watched the final scenes to be filmed for the day. His giddiness had toned down to a soft glow after some hours and with each new question that entered his mind it was diminished just a bit more.

'Who was that man that could make Kyoko show such a worried face? He had never seen her like that. What had happened to her during all this time?

And then there were those children. When he had first met them the girl said that their mother would cook for him. Did that make Kyoko their mother? That girl didn't look anything like Kyoko, but that boy did…'

This thought pushed all the remaining happiness out of Ren's heart. Now he was worried.

'If they were her children, who was the father? Just how old were those children? Could Kyoko have cheated on him after he left her in Siberia? Was that man her husband? That would explain why she had chased him out of the restaurant when she heard him coming. Had she been wearing a wedding ring? No, he was sure she hadn't, but if she was cooking she may have taken it off. Why would she tell him that she loved him if she was married?'

Ren could stand it no longer. He marched to the make-up trailer with a dark cloud around his head. He changed out of his costume quickly and began walking. It was just after six o'clock. If he walked he would get there near seven. Surely that was late enough for her.

Unfortunately for Ren, Yashiro had seen him leave the trailer and had immediately run to catch up with him. When he finally managed to match Ren's long strides the tall actor hardly even glanced his way. "Go back Yashiro," was all he said.

However, Yashiro wouldn't hear of it having lost Ren once already today. The two argued for the first twenty minutes that they were walking before settling into a tense silence.

Yashiro could not understand why Ren was so against him coming along. It's not like he could have any personal business in Paris, could he? The last time Ren had done this it had been because of Kyoko, but she was long gone. She had totally disappeared. Yashiro knew. He had helped Ren search for her for months. No, there was no way this had to do with her, but Yashiro couldn't think of what it could have to do with. So he walked on occasionally glancing at the tall actor who now seemed to be in a great hurry to get somewhere.

Ren had quickened his pace in hopes of wearing Yashiro out. He had a plan now. He would tire Yashiro on the way to that park where he had meant to go this afternoon. Here he would leave his nosy manager and double back to the restaurant himself. He would have to pass by the place without any recognition so that his observant companion would think nothing of it. He couldn't so much as glance at it.

When they came to the place Ren preformed flawlessly, never once looking in the direction of where he knew his love was waiting. However, fate was against him.

"Mr. Tsuruga!" they heard the clopping of dress shoes rushing over the cobblestone road. Ren turned to find the little girl from earlier today, Marie, running toward them. "You came back," the child said while smiling brightly at him.

It was his smile, the smile that Yashiro had only ever seen when Ren was with Kyoko. This little blond girl's smile was exactly the same, but… how was that possible?


Marie was so excited to see the tall man that she could barely contain herself. She was so glad now that Grandma had made her take the extra time to style her hair. If she had known that she'd be seeing Mr. Tsuruga she wouldn't have put up such a fuss over it.

Ren smiled down at the girl politely. "My friend and I were just taking a walk," he replied looking at her outfit which, with all its frills and lace, reminded him of Maria when she was still young. "Is there a special occasion?" he asked.

The young girl was pleased that he had noticed her attire. She began to twirl like a ballerina showing off her dress. "Of course," she beamed at him. "We're celebrating my birthday."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Mrs. Lambert stepped out of the door of the restaurant. "Mar- Oh, Mr. Tsuruga, back already?" she asked. "We were just passing by," he said smiling at her politely.

The old woman smiled invitingly. "Why don't you come in for a bit?" the woman said. "The party has only just started so you won't have missed much." Ren, his mind staying focused on his mission, merely shook his head. "I really can't. My friend and I have somewhere we have to be, so-" "No, we don't." Yashiro received an overly warm smile from Ren, the kind of smile that said, 'If you don't shut up, I'll make sure you never speak again.'

Ren began again, "Still…"

A small hand sliding into his stopped him. "Please Mr. Tsuruga…" The girl looked so cute, Ren found that he couldn't refuse her. Something in the way her large blue eyes peered up at him was hypnotic. The child was absolutely beautiful. Now in his mind there was no denying that this girl was Kyoko's daughter. Ren finally nodded and allowed the now smiling girl to lead him into the restaurant with Yashiro only a step behind.

'I hope this is a good idea,' was the last thing he thought before the door closed behind them, cutting off any thoughts of escape.


Kyoko was busying herself in the kitchen cleaning up from all the work she had done earlier. In reality she didn't have to do it. It could have waited until later. She could have been enjoying the party, but this gave her an excuse to avoid that man and his reporters. The longer she stayed out of sight the better.


Ren looked around the main room of the restaurant. It had totally changed from this afternoon. Colorful decorations were hung all over the place. Above the stage was a giant banner proclaiming 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY', and there was a long table just under it that held all kinds of sweet treats and gourmet delicacies. The room was filled with people. Several children were gathered together on one side of the room, consequently the side closest to the food, and the adults sat conversing amongst themselves at long tables.

The children didn't seemed to be bothered by it but Ren noticed almost immediately. Maybe it was the obvious division within the adult group and the disapproving glances one group kept sending to the other. The displeased group seemed to be the parents of the present children and they were the larger of the two groups.

The second group consisted largely of people that seemed to be interviewers of some type carrying notepads and laptop computers as they were. Aside from these there were two men sitting in their midst. One looked to be about Ren's age give or take two years, but he was characteristically European with light hair and crystal blue eyes. He might have been handsome had he not looked so nervous and uncomfortable. The other man suddenly clapped him strongly on the back startling him and nearly knocking him from the chair; however, the young man recovered quickly and forced a smile for his audience.

Ren found the second man somewhat repulsive even before he had seen him. This man had a booming kind of laugh that was pitched at just the right tone so that when Ren heard it he couldn't help but cringe. It was an obnoxious kind of laugh, and his voice was no more appealing. It was loud to the point of annoyance. Furthermore he was smelling up the restaurant with his cigar which may have been a large portion of the reason he was receiving evil looks from the children's parents.

The man appeared to be older, maybe in his late forties. He had dark hair and eyes that were just beginning to show signs of aging. By no means did he look as if he had ever gone hungry. In fact it seemed to Ren that he had spent one to many nights up drinking and playing poker.

Ren felt something squeeze his hand. He looked down to find little Marie looking at the obnoxious man, a mix of sadness and anger in her eyes. Ren couldn't stand to watch it. It wasn't right for this child who always seemed so cheerful to display such a face. He couldn't let it happen.

"Marie, I think your friends are calling you," he said. Luckily for him a little girl had just turned around and was looking at them. Marie looked up at him for a moment before her smile returned and she ran toward the other girl calling a 'thanks' over her shoulder.

By this time Yashiro was utterly confused, but Ren looked to be in no mood to answer his questions. The dark cloud hung over his head so thickly that Yashiro could barely make out his features; or maybe that was the cigar smoke that seemed to permeate the room.

The manager had just opened his mouth to risk his life on a question when the woman who had invited them in took hold of his arm. "Forgive me sir, for not introducing myself. I am Marie Lambert. Why don't you come and sit for awhile so we can talk? It has been along time since I've had the pleasure of speaking with many foreigners."

Up until now Yashiro had considered himself very fluent in French. He didn't know is he had just gotten out of practice or if the woman was just speaking to quickly for him to understand, but whatever the case was he found that he could do nothing but smile and nod politely.

Turning to Ren the woman spoke, "Mr. Tsuruga, I think I may have left my handbag in the kitchen. Would you mind going to get it for me? I trust you remember the room's location."

Ren's face only displayed a confused expression for a moment before he nodded to her and turned his back to the pair.

Yashiro noticed but had no time to analyze this as he was whisked away to a table where he was surrounded be native French speakers. The older woman who was responsible for his being here apparently announced him as an executive donkey from a large flower somewhere in Asia; or at least that's what Yashiro gleaned from the conversation. He sighed deeply. This was going to be a long night.


Ren's body couldn't seem to make up it's mind what it wanted to do. He had nearly run to the kitchen, but now he couldn't seem to bring himself to open the door. The woman he loved was just on the other side. He was so close. He could already feel her warmth in his arms, but now it seemed almost forbidden. That obnoxious man. Ren could never have mistaken the voice; it was the same voice he had heard that afternoon. Kyoko's husband?…

Ren forced the thought from his mind. There was no way Kyoko would end up with someone like that. It was impossible. It had to be impossible…

And yet… here it was. Right before his eyes, Ren saw it. Kyoko was the mother of triplets who were obviously half-bloods. Her anxious face when she heard that man coming said it all. Looking back on what had happened this afternoon Ren couldn't help but see himself as the lover of an unfaithful wife. With the way she had rushed him out like that it certainly seemed plausible. If he knew Kyoko she was probably antagonizing herself over it now, wishing that they had never laid eyes on each other. If he went to her now she would tell him that she could never see him again.

'Still…' he thought. 'Still I must know for sure.'

The tall man took one deep breath and turned the door handle.


Sorry, didn't get all your questions answered this chapter. It wasn't my intention to drag it out like this, but this chapter has been setting around for a week so I thought it was time to upload it. All questions will be answered in chapter five, I promise.

I apologize for the dreariness of this chapter. Being a director is difficult. You must make sure that everything is in place and is ready to go. Finally all performers are in place. Time for curtain call.

Please review. I'm always looking for new ideas.