Cherry blossoms hung heavy on the branches outside. Tourists flocked to Kyoto, intent on seeing some of the best blossoms the country had to offer. The Fuwa ryokan had every room booked solid for the next month, and it was only until after that busy time that it occurred to the okami that she had only one part of her son's friend's name.
"Kyouko-chan," she asked, when the advertisements began on TV "What's your last name?" An innocent enough question, and with innocent intent, but necessary if she was going to introduce the girl to anyone else.
Shotaro, lying on his stomach next to Kyouko, felt his mouth drop open at the question. He hadn't heard his mother come in. No, he hadn't anticipated this question.
"Uhm..." he heard Kyouko begin, "Pa-"
"Mogami," came a low voice from behind his mother. If Shotaro jumped a bit at the voice, Kyouko jumped a mile. Standing in the doorway, behind Shotaro's father, was Elizabeth Palone, cool and calm as if she belonged there. "Her family name is Mogami."
"Mother!" Kyouko exclaimed, a small exhalation.
None of the grown-ups noticed it, but Shotaro tore his eyes from Elizabeth to see if Kyouko would burst into tears again. "Kyouko?" he asked, leaning in to see if those were tears on her face.
Elizabeth, intent to carry on a normal conversation, caught Shotaro's mother's eye, and she bowed in greeting. "I am Mogami Saena, Kyouko's mother. I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I would like to talk to you and your husband about a proposition."
"Of course, Mogami-san," she said, recovering from the surprise of suddenly seeing the woman there, "Would you like to meet in one of the dining rooms?"
The adults left, leaving Shotaro and Kyouko, the former staring at the latter, waiting for the tears that he felt were inevitable. She surprised him, though, and settled back in her spot, watching the children's show again. In the end, he told himself that the shining light he saw in her eyes was just the reflection from the TV screen.
A/N: In a ryokan (which is a Japanese inn...sliding doors, onsen baths, tatami mats, people in yukatas, the whole deal) the woman who runs the place is called the okami (usually with an honorific after it like -san) while the man who runs it with her is called the taisho (also with an honorific at the end.) Kyouko refers to both Sho's parents and the Darumaya couple as okami and taisho. (The okami/taisho names apply to owners of certain kinds of restaurants as well as ryokans.)