Sho was enraged when he saw no traces of Kimiko in their room. "That bitch dared to leave me!" He threw the take outs that he bought, requested by her. He hurriedly booked a ticket back to Japan as early as possible.
"Just wait Kimiko, you think you can ran away from me? In your dreams! No one can run from Fuwa Sho!"
He muttered angrily.
Kyoko gasped awake, she had a bad dream. She dreamt of Kimiko, destroying her face with an acid or something. She jerked when a small hand grasped her waist, looking beside her, she saw Maria's sleeping peacefully. She slightly blushed when she saw Kuon, sleeping.
Maria interrupted their making out earlier, and she didn't whether to be pleased or disappointed. She sighed before carefully get out of the bed. She needed to freshen up her thoughts. In the bathroom, she stared at the unfamiliar face in the mirror. Kimiko is really beautiful, no wonder why Kuon fall in love with her.
Bad thoughts, Kyoko. She mentally slapped her face. He's already married and who he sees is his wife, not you.
Unbeknownst to her, Kuon woke up when he felt her move. His eyes caught her phone lighting up, taking it from the table, he furrowed his eyebrows at the email that she received.
I'm back, my dear. I'll call you tomorrow to meet up with me, okay? I brought you lots of souvenirs~
Kimiko... He gripped the phone, gritting his teeth in anger. Don't you dare hurt her... He deleted the message before putting it back.
Kimiko gracefully walked in the mansion's hallway, with Ruriko on tow, she raised her neat eyebrow seeing the distress appearance of Julie, and as usual, Kana was comforting her.
"You!" Julie growled seeing the woman she hated the most. "You still have audacity of coming back here, acting like nothing happen?"
Kimiko only raised her eyebrow. "Whatever, Julie-san." She was about to walk past them when Kana blocked her way. "What is it, old hag?"
Kana stared at her. "We know your secret." She hissed. "You are not Kimiko, aren't you? You just pretending to be her, to what? Are you in cahoots of the real Kimiko and make a fool out of Kuon?"
"Kana-san, are you out of your mind?" Ruriko snorted. "What made you think she's not the real one?"
Kimiko's laughter echoed in the whole mansion. "Are you insane?"
"Prove it to us that you are the real one!" Julie exclaimed.
"What's your proof that I'm not the real one?!" Kimiko countered.
"Let's go to your ob-gyn!" Julie challenged.
Kimiko confidently smirked. "Fine. You just wanted to embarrass yourself." She faced her friend and said. "Let's go the hospital."
"Roger!"
Julie and Kana followed the two. They drive on separate cars, few minutes later, they arrived at the hospital where Kimiko's ob-gyn worked. The doctor was surprised seeing the four of them entered her office without prior notice.
"Sorry for barging, Doc." Julie apologized. "We just wanted you to check on Kimiko."
The doctor warily looked at Kimiko. "Is she sick? Is she pregnant?"
Kimiko rolled her eyes. "That would be impossible, you, of all people, should know that."
"Right..." The doctor nodded.
"What do you mean?" Kana asked the doctor curiously.
"I think it's better for you to show to these stupid people than explaining it to them, isn't it?" Kimiko stated irritatingly.
"Of course." The doctor helped Kimiko on the bed, to make an ultrasound. Though she was surprised, she didn't let it show in her face.
"I want you to keep it a secret." Kuon said to her.
Few weeks after Kuon rushed Kimiko to her clinic, and when she informed her about her discovery on her body, the man came back to her.
"She's indeed not my wife, but she's the person whom I wished to be my wife."
The doctor softly smiled at him. "You can count on me, Hizuri-san."
"And... I know this secret will be out sooner or later, my parents – especially my mother, will eventually noticed the changes in her, and being her personal doctor, the first person that my mother will contact to verify her persona is you."
"I know, I will protect her."
"Thank you so much." Kuon bowed, thanking her cooperation.
The doctor recalled her conversation with Kuon, seeing the binding in her Fallopian tubes, she reached into a conclusion – she's the real Hizuri Kimiko.
"Well?" Julie impatiently asked, seeing the doctor remained silent. "Is she the real Kimiko or a faked one?"
"She's the real one, Julie-san."
"That's impossible!" Kana inserted. "Are the two of you working together? How much did she pay you?"
The doctor sighed and glanced at the woman on the bed. "Tell them, doctor." Kimiko knew what the doctor was asking. Getting her permission, she told them about the ligation that she'd done on her. She showed them the binds on both of her tubes.
"Kimiko-san hates taking contraceptive pills, so she chose this method as contraception. Very rare women in Japan chose this method, and Kimiko-san is one of them." The doctor ended her explanation.
Julie and Kana were both dumbfounded.
Kimiko chuckled, getting up from the bed, she smirked at Julie, with taunting looks she said. "I really don't know where you get the idea that I'm a fake one, mother-in-law." She looked at Kana, snickering. "You know what? Why should you lie in there and let the doctor estimate the expiration of your womb?" The woman's face becomes red, both in anger and embarrassment. "Are you still hanging at the thought about Kuon divorcing me? Can't you see how he treated me well? I mean, he treated me very well..."
Kana got enraged at her suggestive tone.
"Kana, Kana, Kana... There are lots of fish in the sea, too bad for you, I caught the biggest one. So why don't settle on the little ones instead? Hm? Before your womb expires."
Kimiko left the clinic with Ruriko, and Kana can still hear taunting laughter from the inside.
Just you wait Kimiko! She gritted her teeth. You will pay for this humiliation!
Kyoko was helping the bakery when her phone rang, she excused herself to answer the phone.
"Hello?" She cautiously answered the unknown number.
"Hello my dear~"
Kyoko gasped at the familiar voice on the other line. "Kimiko-san?"
"Yup~ the one and only." She chuckled. "Can I meet you right now?"
"You are back in Japan?"
"Yes dear~ I'll give you the address where we supposed to meet, okay?"
Kyoko nodded. "Okay, I'll be there."
After she hang up, she received a message. It was quite far from the city, but she decided to meet her, now that the real Kimiko is back, she's hoping that all these charades will end, and she can have her real face back, and start a new life.
She texted Kuon. "I'm meeting a friend today. I'll be late, kindly tell Maria-chan for me."
After a few minutes, he replied. "Okay, be careful. I love you."
Kyoko shook the warm feeling in her chest. This is not for me, it's for his wife. She reminded herself.
She drove to their meeting place, after an hour or so, she arrived in front of a small penthouse. Kyoko gasped at the beautiful place before she rang the doorbell.
A maid opened the gate for her and ushered her to the garden, and there, she saw Kimiko leisurely reading a magazine.
"Kimiko-san."
The woman looked up and smiled at her. "Hi!" Kyoko became uncomfortable when the woman stared at her face. "Gosh! My face is really beautiful, whether the original or the handmade one." She praised.
Kyoko chuckled awkwardly.
"Come, sit down. It's been a while since we met."
"Uhm... Now that you are back, does it mean my job is done?" Kyoko asked after a while.
Kimiko stared at her before she softly laughed. "No, no, no!" She waved her hand. "That's the reason why I called you here." Kyoko looked at her, confused. "I want you to continue what you are doing right now. I'm not yet ready to be back."
"But, Julie-san –"
"I already took care of it." Kimiko smirked at her. "I actually went home, and I found her there, together with Kana. They insisted that I am a fake, and then we went to my ob-gyn to prove them wrong." Kimiko grinned at her surprised reaction. "You should've seen their faces! It was hilarious! Hahah!"
"Well... I guess... You came home at the right time..." Kyoko muttered.
"Yeah... so you should thank me. Now, that bitch Kana, and that lunatic mother-in-law of mine will no longer doubt you."
Kyoko sighed, and nodded. "Thank you..." She mumbled. She stayed there for a while, listening as Kimiko talked about her travels around the world.
She was surprised when Kimiko gave her several paper bags. "That's for you."
"Oh no, you don't have to!"
"Please!" Kmiko rolled her eyes. "At least you can tell Kuon you went shopping, it's already late." Kyoko sighed and accepted the gifts. "Ah, by the way Kyoko-chan." Kimiko called before she can leave. Kimiko narrowed her eyes at her. "Remember, who Kuon saw is 'me'. Every time he became affectionate, it's because of 'me' okay? Don't get too attach to him or to my daughter. Because sooner or later, I will take it all back."
Kyoko lowered her gaze from Kimiko's fierce one. She mentally sighed before she faced her with confidence.
"Of course." Kyoko smiled at her. "I know where I stand. And I'm not doing this for myself, but for you. So when you decided to come back, you already have a loving and doting husband, and lovable daughter."
Kimiko scoffed. "Fine. I will believe you this time."
"Kimiko-san, if you are worried that I will fall in love with Hizuri-san, I won't." Kyoko assured her for the last time. "I already have someone I like, and when this set up is over, I'm going to find him." She bowed before she excused herself to leave.
Kimiko watched Kyoko as she left the garden, Ruriko approached her when Kyoko is no longer in sight.
"Gosh! I am really not used to it, seeing that there are two of 'you'!" She exclaimed. Kimiko lit a cigarette, chuckling at her friend. "So? What are you going to do now? I'm sure Sho is on the plane right now when he saw you gone."
"Whatever, I don't care." She deadpanned. "He's getting boring. I want something new, someone exciting."
Ruriko grinned. "Let's go to the club then! I know a newly opened place."
"That's why I love you!"
Don't get too attach to him or to my daughter. Because sooner or later, I will take it all back.
She can hear her heart pounding on her chest. I will never be in love with him. I'm doing this for Kimiko-san. Hizuri-san is in love with his wife, not with 'me'.
Kyoko jerked when her phone rang. "Hello?"
"Sweetheart, come to the hospital. Maria got in an accident." Kuon's worried voice echoed from the speaker.
"What? Which hospital?" She drove as fast as she can after he told her which hospital Maria was admitted.
When she arrived, she saw Kuon, Julie, and Kana on the lobby. Kuon immediately brought her to his arms.
"What happen?" Kyoko asked nervously.
"Maria got hit by a car when she tried to cross the street." Kuon explained to her.
"What?!" Kyoko exclaimed. "Where's the driver? I'm going to kill him!"
Kuon rubbed her back. "Sh! Calm down, I already called the police to report the incident."
"Where have you been?" Kana narrowed her eyes at her. It is still a sore to her eyes seeing Kuon being affectionate to her. Although they prove that she's the real Kimiko, it still baffled her how Kuon suddenly changed his attitude towards her completely.
"I was meeting a friend whom I never seen for quite some time, and we went shopping."
"Shopping?" Julie slowly stood up. "Your daughter was in the hospital and you went out shopping?! This was your entire fault, if only you watch your daughter instead of going out, this could be avoided."
"Mom!" Kuon raised his voice. "The accident was unexpected, you can't blame it to her."
Kana comforted Julie when the woman was about to cry. "Kuon, your mother was just worried about Maria."
"We are all worried." Kuon corrected.
The four stopped arguing when the doctor came out from the room.
"How's my daughter?" Kyoko immediately asked.
"She's stable now, but she lost an amount of blood." The doctor explained simply.
"Then what are you waiting for? Do your job!" Julie exclaimed.
"Maria-chan's blood type is AB negative, and the hospital doesn't have enough stocks with that type of blood." The doctor sighed.
Kyoko gripped the doctor's arms. "Please, tell me you can save my daughter. Please save my daughter."
"Hey, I'm sure they will do everything." Kuon comforted her.
"Only you can save your daughter Kimiko-san." The doctor stated, looking straight at her eyes. "I checked your record, and found out that you have the same blood type as Maria-chan."
Kuon felt Kyoko stiffened.
"I…" Kyoko got cornered. She can only copy Kimiko's appearance, but not what's inside. She's A positive! "I'm… on my period, and I have menstrual cramps right now."
"It's alright Kimiko-san, we can still have a direct transfusion even if you are in your period. It won't harm you." The doctor assured her.
"B-But…"
"Why are you making excuses? It is your daughter's life for heaven's sake Kimiko!" Julie exclaimed angrily.
"Mom, please understand her." Kuon protected Kyoko from his enraged mother. "You never saw how Kimi fainted when on her period. Her cramps are that severe, and I don't want her to be in pain more than necessary."
Kana slightly blush hearing Kuon talked about periods.
Kuon looked at the doctor. "While my wife is on her period, can you look for other sources of blood to be transfused to Maria?"
The doctor nodded. "Yes, I will call the other hospitals and asked them to give us at least one bag."
"Thank you, doctor."
The woman clad in doctor's coat left the four of them. Kyoko mentally let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm… I'm going to change…" She excused herself from them to look for a comfort room. Kyoko went to the emergency stairs, to make sure no one can hear her conversation, and dialed Kimiko's number.
"Kimiko-san!" She sighed in relief when the woman answered her call.
"What is it?" Kimiko asked nonchalantly. Kyoko explained Maria's condition to her. "And? Why are you calling me about that?"
"She's your daughter!" Kyoko exclaimed. "She needs you right now! You are the only one who can save her! Please, Kimiko-san!"
Kimiko groaned from the other line. "You know what? I don't care whether that kid lives or die! No, it's better if that kid dies."
Kyoko gasped. "How could you say that! She's your daughter!"
"She's your responsibility now dear~"
"But –!" She was cut off when Kimiko dropped the call.
"Are you sure you're not going to help Maria-chan?" Ruriko asked in concern for the child.
Kimiko rolled her eyes. "That brat irritates me. This is going to be her lesson."
"But Kimi, if things get worst, you can use this as leverage against Kuon." Ruriko stated. Kimiko turned and raised her eyebrow.
"What are you talking about? Are you telling me that Kuon will leave me?"
"I'm not saying exactly that." Ruriko shrugged. "It is just a possibility."
That's right… Kimiko pondered for a moment. If Kuon will divorce me, I can use this as me saving his beloved daughter.
She smirked. "I am really glad that you are on my side, Ruriko." Her friend looked at her confusedly. "I'm going to save Kuon's beloved daughter."
"She's your daughter too, Kimi." Ruriko reminded her.
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes before dialing Kyoko's number.
In the hospital, Kuon watched as Kyoko is taking care of Maria. The child is still unconscious. They are still waiting for the response from other hospitals.
Kimiko… Kuon clenched his hand remembering the conversation he overheard. He was sure that Kyoko contacted her for help and the woman refused. What kind of mother are you? Ignoring your daughter's life.
Kyoko excused herself when her phone vibrated, she went to the comfort room, her eyes slightly widened seeing the caller ID.
"Kimiko-san?!" She gasped, answering the call. "Wha–"
"I changed my mind." Kimiko interrupted her. "I'm going to help Maria. Meet me at the underground parking lot in an hour."
"Of course, I'll be there!" Kyoko sighed in relief. The woman from the other line didn't utter another word as she ended the call. When she came out from the room, Julie and Kana are also there.
The latter looked at her suspiciously.
"Are you still on your period? We can't let Maria-chan wait for any longer." She said, crossing her arms.
Kyoko smiled at her. "Just let me rest for an hour, and I'll be good. I can ask the doctor to do the transfusion."
Kuon snapped his eyes at her. "An hour?"
"Yes." She smiled at him.
"I see…" He muttered softly.
The room was dead silent, and Kyoko was fidgeting on her seat, waiting for Kimiko's text. She almost jumped when she finally contacted her.
West Wing Parking Lot. Blue van.
Kyoko stood up. "I'm going to have some fresh air before they will take my blood." She stated before she sprinted out of the room.
"Fresh air? What is she? Some kind of royalty or something?" Julie complained before she glanced at her son. "You spoiled her too much, Kuon!"
"And I love doing it, mom."
Kana gritted her teeth in anger. That btch!
Kimiko wore Kyoko's dress when the latter arrived at their meeting place, and copied Kyoko's hair style.
"Wait." Kyoko stopped when Kimiko's about to go out. "Your lipstick. It's not the same shade as mine."
Kimiko glanced at the rearview mirror. She wore a dark shade while Kyoko wore a nude one. "Ugh! Fine."
After all said and done, Kimiko get out from the van while Kyoko remained inside, she decided to take a nap while waiting for her to come back.
All heads turned when Kimiko entered the hospital's lobby, Ruriko was waiting for her there too. Her friend grinned at her.
"As expected from the head turner." She teased as they entered the elevator.
"It's because I'm beautiful." Kimiko confidently said.
When they arrived at Maria's private suite, her eyes automatically landed on Kuon, her gorgeous husband, ignoring her mother-in-law, Kana, and the doctor. This is the first time she saw him after she made Kyoko as her substitute.
"Sweetheart!" She exclaimed, she went for a kiss but Kuon avoided it.
"The doctor is here." He simply stated. The doctor, along with a nurse, immediately gave instructions to Kimiko. The woman lie down on the bed next to the unconscious Maria.
Kimiko inwardly smirked as she watched her blood went up to the tube. Maria… Maria… Maria… you will be a huge help for me in the future… You need to live for my sake. She glanced at Kuon, she remembered Ruriko saying that Kuon become affectionate to Kyoko as her.
She smiled at him, but he only stared at her with no emotions at all. The transfusion lasted for almost half an hour.
Kimiko felt lightheaded, she glanced where Kuon is and swayed on his direction. The man caught off guard and catches her.
"I'm dizzy…" She muttered, clutching into his arms.
"It's normal." He said, he can't push her away or his mother and Kana will be suspicious. He let her sat next to him to rest.
The doctor gave Kimiko list of foods she needed to eat to regain her strength. Kimiko softly nodded.
"Make sure to take care of her Hizuri-san."
Kuon nodded to the doctor. "I will."
Kimiko hid her smirk.
Kyoko woke up when her phone rang. "Yes, Kimiko-san?"
"Change of plans, I'm going to stay with Kuon for a while." She said, smirking at the mirror. "As for you, you can go home for a while and spend time with your mother."
Kyoko nodded. "Alright." Before she can come out, the van opened and saw an enraged Dr. Fuwa Sho. The man grabbed her out of the vehicle.
"Wait, I'm not Kimiko-san!" She exclaimed. Sho didn't respond, instead, he threw her to the passenger seat.
"Where is that btch?!" Sho snarled at her.
Kyoko gulped, he is really mad. "S-S-She said she's going to stay with Hizuri-san for a while."
The man gritted his teeth and stomped the gas. Kyoko hurriedly wore the seatbelt as the man speed up.
"How dare her! I gave her everything! Everything!" He yelled.
Sho dropped her out in front of her mother's house. "Don't tell Kimiko that I'm back, or you're dead."
Kyoko can only nodded stiffly. When the red sport's car is already out of her sight, she heaved a breath that she's been holding.
"That scared me!"
Where is she? Kuon impatiently thought. The transfusion is done, but Kimiko is still here… He was waiting for Kimiko to make excuses to go out, but it didn't happen. She asked Ruriko to run an errand for her instead.
"Kuon…" Kimiko leaned on her arms. "Aren't we going home?" She asked sweetly.
"You can go home to have a rest." He answered nonchalantly. "I'm going to stay with Maria."
Kimiko wanted to roll her eyes. "C'mon, she's already fine. I already gave her my blood." She glanced at Ruriko. "We can have Ruriko to stay with her tonight."
"Yes of course! I have nothing else to do tonight." Her friend immediately agreed. "You know Hizuri-san, Kimi is weak right now from the transfusion. She needs you. How can you expect her to go home and to take care of herself alone?"
Kimiko grinned at her friend.
"You are right." Kuon agreed after thinking about it. "How can I let my wife be alone in the penthouse?" He muttered.
Kimiko nodded immediately. "Yes, yes… I felt dizzy… you know." She dramatically held her head.
Kuon smiled at her. "I can't let you be alone in that condition of yours, can I?"
Kimiko's ears perked. "So, are we–"
"That's why go home with Matsunai-san." He interrupted. "And I'll stay with Maria."
"Eh?" All the excitement that Kimiko felt washed out.
"But–" Ruriko wanted to protest, but Kuon cut her with it.
"You are really a good friend of hers Matsunai-san, I can leave Kimiko's well-being to yours." He smiled at her. He glanced at his wife. "Now, go… you need to rest."
"But–"
"Excuse me." Kuon stood up, never wanted to hear whatever Kimiko will say as an excuse, and went to the comfort room.
Kimiko gritted her teeth.
"That bastard!"
Maria woke up the next day after the transfusion, and Kimiko kept telling her that she saved her life, and with that she must be grateful.
The child can only nod at her mother.
Three days… in those three days, Kimiko tried to seduce him to go home to sleep with her, but Kuon refused every time.
The man was frustrated. He was waiting for Kyoko to come back. He was in their bedroom drinking alone, Kimiko went out with Ruriko again.
He was hoping that the one who will come back this time will be Kyoko.
Meanwhile, Kimiko was on her penthouse together with Ruriko. She was frustrated. VERY frustrated. She thought that Kyoko already rekindled her relationship with Kuon as 'her', but as she sees it, he was avoiding being intimate with her.
Kyoko arrived not a little longer, she called her to meet up with her. Kimiko can't help but glare at Kyoko.
"How did Kuon usually treat you as me?" She directly asked.
"What?" Kyoko was suprised at the sudden and unexpected question. "Normal, I guess? He works really late though." Kyoko was surprised at herself for telling such lies. Working late? Geez! He even arrived before the usual time out of regular employees. "Why did you asked?"
Kimiko glanced at her, reading her expression whether she's telling the truth or not. She mentally smirked, she's going to test this girl. "Nothing, it's just that… Kuon become insatiable lately… It seems that he turned into a hungry wolf in bed."
Kyoko's eyes dilated. She blushed looking at Kimiko, and she felt unnecessary jealousy imagining his lips kissing her body.
"Really?" Kyoko managed to choke out. "You are the only one who can satisfy his carnal desires Kimiko-san." She grinned at her. "As expected from the real one."
Kimiko raised her eyebrow at her reaction.
"Uhm... Is that why you called me here?"
"No, go back to him tonight. Ruriko and I have somewhere to go."
Kyoko blinked. "Okay..."
Kimiko narrowed her eyes watching Kyoko's retreating form.
"No one can take Kuon away from me."
Kuon jerked when their bedroom door opened, looking at her, he was relief and delighted. It's her! Her Kyoko-chan is finally back! Kyoko widened her eyes, shocked and surprised, when without warning, Kuon strode on her and kissed her deeply. But she was saddened when she remembered what Kimiko told her, that Kuon become insatiable.
Did he also kiss Kimiko-san like this?
Did he also touch her like this?
Kuon stopped when he felt her trembling. He wanted to slapped his self, he scared her. He can't help himself, he just... missed her so much.
Kyoko acted to be naughty. "After being insatiable for few days, you still can't get over me?"
Kuon raised his eyebrow. "Insatiable?" Analyzing her words, he concluded that Kimiko was spouting nonsense to her. "Sweetheart, I was busy with work, I even slept in the office." He smiled at her, he wanted to clarify her thoughts, that he didn't touch Kimiko while she's with him.
"Slept in the office?" Kyoko blinked at him. "So you didn't... I mean, we didn't sleep together?" She muttered, correcting herself.
Kuon smirked, scooped her up. "We didn't. Why? Are you in the mood of doing it tonight?" He teased, seeing her reaction is everything to him.
"I'm not in the mood!"
She huffed, albeit, blushing.