AN: I hope you guys enjoy the little trick that Kyoko will do
Chapter 6 – The Answer Is Family
The six-year-old Kuon watched his parents closely as they started to get everything ready for the family reunion. It was strange that his parents would be hosting it this year because they usually did two, they went to his mother's parents and his father's parents. He was starting to get use to using enough of the different language to impress his maternal grandmother and his paternal grandfather.
"Do you think that my Russian is good enough?" Kuon asked as he went to Julie who was looking over her dress again and Julie ruffled his hair up.
"Yes, the fact that you can speak any Russian is really good," she smiled before smoothing her dress out again. "I'm so proud of you my little Kuon," she said before looking over at Kuu who had been cooking and preparing the food.
"Not to mention your Japanese," he said and Kuon sighed, "Hey, Japanese is better than Russian," he declared earning a cold and disapproving look from Julie. "You should really study some of the kanji and the different calligraphy styles, it'd be fun."
"Acting is fun," Kuon said and Kuu sighed.
"You're right," he grinned to his son, "Acting is very fun. We'll have to tell your grandmother about your acting classes," he said and Kuon looked at his dad.
"Grandfather always tells me that I need to work hard and that's the mark of a true Hizuri, working hard to improve on your flaws," he looked down. "He never likes coming here, he keeps saying Japan is better."
"Well, I was born and raised in Japan but I fell in love and so I had to move here," he joked with Kuon as he finally brought the last dish out. "So, let's have an awesome reunion and nobody mention anything about war," he said looking over at Julie.
"I didn't bring it up," she protested, "and who knew how much a bunch of Japanese guys can argue with a group of Russians," she looked over to Kuon and sighed, "This dress will probably get creased anyway and I'd prefer to be a mother without fear of holding her kids," she said as she wrapped her arms around Kuon. "Plus, look at how adorable he is."
"Mom," Kuon smiled as he wiggled out of the embrace.
"I do have to agree with your mother on this, you are adorable," he said as Kuon started to get his own clothes straightened.
…
…
"You're Japanese-American, right?" Kyoko asked as she smiled at Kuon and he smiled before looking down.
"Well, Ren Tsuruga is a Japanese gentleman in terms of the role but as for Kuon or my proper self, I'm one half American, one quarter Japanese and one quarter Russian," he told her before looking down uneasily. Kyoko didn't have the best memories of her own mother and he felt a little bit guilty saying that his family mattered most to him. He was at a complete disconnect to his family.
However, seeing his dad that time meant so much to him. Even if they really hadn't been able to talk for a long time as father and son, his dad had proved that he was loved and Kuon could only hope that the video was doing the work of reminding his parents that he truly cared about them both.
"Did you travel a lot? I know that you came here," Kyoko said and Kuon looked at her before seeing that there wasn't a question about travel on the paper. He looked to her with a smile as she turned to the paper, "I could always write in a question," she told him which made Kuon laugh.
"Yes, I went traveling all over the world. Until I was thirteen we used to go to about six new countries a year, well some of them my parents were booked for an international job and I would travel with them. I think that by traveling all over the world I got to have a love for the natural world and the plants and animals that I saw," Kuon told her honestly and Kyoko smiled seeing how happily he talked about those things.
"We can say that you love travel and maybe that you're conscious about the environment," Kyoko wrote down on her paper, "I mean, those would definitely be impressive things to your average fan," she said and Kuon sighed, pushing his hand through his hair again before nodding.
"Okay," he said and Kyoko watched him, tilting her head a little.
"Are you okay?" she asked. She paused before looking down and took a deep breath in, "Kuon, I'm still getting used to bridging that gap between being your kohai and being your girlfriend," Kyoko blushed a deep scarlet after using that word. "As your kohai, I wouldn't dream on stepping over any line by inquiring about my sempai's personal life but as your girlfriend, is there anything that I can help with?" she asked and Kuon looked at her.
"Sorry, it's just thinking about my parents. For years I've been thinking of myself as Ren Tsuruga and because Ren's not that fully formed as a character because a lot of it was myself, he doesn't have a family. I mean, what was I supposed to do, hire actors to say their my parents and…you've met my father," Kuon tried to explain and Kyoko sighed before nodding.
"I know, your dad is amazing and I'd really love to have grown up with him as my father," she said before pausing as she got an idea. She looked to Kuon before putting the notebook and questions on the counter. "The president said we could use this room, right?"
"Well, I think he meant in order to get this questionnaire filled out," Kuon smiled before raising an eyebrow, "Have you got another idea of how we should use the room?" he asked before seeing that Kyoko was looking through her phone. "Are you -"
"I'm just calling someone to get some help on interviewing major celebrities," Kyoko smiled as she held his hand and let her thumb run over the back of it, "It's going to be okay, Kuon. It's going to be just fine," she said as Kuon looked at her confused.
"Let me tell you step one is usually that you don't phone somebody up in the middle of the interview and if you do, you definitely don't put them on speak-"
"Hello, Kyoko?"
Kuon turned pale as he heard his father's voice. He didn't know what to say or what to do so he just sat there with his hand on his knee staring at her. He didn't know how to communicate with his dad. He knew that Kyoko was just trying to help but if people found out that he had spoken to his father then would his secret come out? He wasn't ready to have that made public knowledge.
"Hi, Father. Are you able to talk?" Kyoko asked politely and Kuu chuckled.
"Yes, I am. How are you? I hoped that you'd call me more often, maybe I'd have been able to give you a little help as far as jobs and acting. You are my son after all and Julie and I are watching you on as many Japanese network channels as we can. You're doing an amazing job," Kuu praised her and Kuon looked down remembering the times when his father had praised him in that way.
"I'm sorry, Father, it's just that I know that you're such a busy actor and I definitely wouldn't want to burden you with calling but I just wanted to ask you for some help," Kyoko said with a playful smile as Kuon sat with his eyes glued to the phone. He started to twitch a little.
"You wanted my help, okay, go ahead," Kuu laughed happily and Kyoko paused.
"Well, you know that I don't like to talk about my family and I haven't had a happy childhood where my mother is concerned, we spoke about that before you left to go home to America," Kyoko began and Kuu sighed.
"Yes, I do know, were you asked to do the role of a loving daughter, you were definitely able to do the role of my loving and adorable son. I have full faith in you, Kuon," Kuu chuckled and Kyoko saw Kuon shift.
"Father, I'm sitting here doing an interview with an actor and he just said that family was the most important thing to him but I'm not sure how to respond so maybe you can do it for me?" Kyoko asked with a playful smile and Kuon had to wonder whether this was payback for toying with him various times.
"Kyoko, are you telling me that you're in the interview right now?" Kuu asked concerned, "because let me tell you, step one is usually that you don't phone somebody u-"
"We're not taking it that seriously, honestly," Kuon finally said and looked at Kyoko who was getting excited about the fact that Kuu and Kuon were getting to speak a little bit more. "First of all, she knows, second of all she's my girlfriend, and third of all, I'm really sor-"
"Don't make me poke you in the head again," Kuu laughed happily sounding as excited as someone being told they won a luxury car from a radio show. "It is you, right? I mean…are you out? Did you tell everyone who you -"
"I told Kyoko who I am," Kuon sighed, "I took out my contacts and everything. I think she knows that I wanted to talk to you but I wouldn't dare to call you myself because I'm supposed to not be related to you. So, right now, in this room I'm…..I'm Kuon and I'm trying to get used to it but I'm not there yet."
"Oh my god," Kuu said with happy laughter, "I'm just, I'm thrilled to be able to talk to you and don't worry. Kyoko and I have a great connection to each other, one that will rival the father and son bond so we can just say that she phoned me and I got to talk to her boyfriend."
Kuon laughed, "Maybe even better than the father and son bond?"
"Being on speaker phone isn't fair," Kuu said and both of them could see him pouting. Kyoko smiled as she realized that he just didn't want to hurt her feelings. If she were Kuu then she would most definitely prioritize the real Kuon over the one who was just pretending to be Kuon. Those were just the facts.
"I know," Kyoko said, "but Kuon, the real Kuon did say that the most important thing to him is his family."
"I…I.." Kuon said nervously and bowed his head, "I love you guys but if my own parents would be happier without me in -"
"Are you kidding me? Your mother wants me to bring you back to America with me kicking and screaming if I ever go over there again," Kuu said and Kyoko saw the pain but also the joy on her boyfriend's face.
"I mean if it would make -" Kuon said and then heard the sound of Kuu going into another room.
"Kuu," Kuon could hear his mother's voice, "[Who is on the phone? Who is so important that you have to interrupt me yet again and please don't tell me it's takeout?]" she asked all of this in English.
"[Hi,]" Kuon replied, "[I'm not sure if you would recogni-"]
"[Kuon, darling, oh my sweet Kuon, is that you?]" Julie asked, her voice coated with many layers of emotion and Kuon had to take a deep breath.
"[It's me.]"
End of Chapter Six
Thank you for reading
Thank you for the reviews of Chapter Five
Kris XD, ktoll9
Response to Reviews
Thank you, so happy that you're enjoying it 😊
