The Fallen Women

DISCLAIMER: I own many things but skip beat is not one of them

Chapter 61 Discovered

Asahi Suto stared down at his phone as he sipped at his cup of tea and only felt more intrigued, she was indeed an actress and not just some unknown, untalented want to be, if anything he would probably say she was on her way to super stardom.

"what is she doing here" he wondered and then decided that maybe today was indeed a good day to book a tea ceremony after all. He walked swiftly to the front desk and smiled what he hoped was his most charming smile.

"would it be possible to book a tea ceremony with Mogami this afternoon or tomorrow".

"Oh no I'm sorry but Mogami won't be here sir, she was just filling in this week and I believe she has already gone but I can book you with our usual girl she does an excellent service."

Asahi shook his head "no that okay, umm I don't suppose you know where she has gone".

The girl looked at him uncomfortably "No I don't".

Asahi nodded he looked at the young woman in front of him and decided that maybe a different approach was needed "would anyone here know how to get in contact with her, it's just I have something important to ask her, I promise I'm not a crazy stalker." He smiled again and gently place some money on the desk "I'd just like to talk to her".

"I'm sorry but I really can't help you, we do not give out personal information about anyone who works or stays with us" she paused looked around the room discreetly and then lent forward placing her hand over the money sliding it towards herself before dropped her voice a little "one of my friend told me that a film was being shot near the bar she works at Kibune Fujiya"

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"it's so pretty here" Kyoko noted as she got out of the car and looked at the rustic looking castle.

"it is" Ren agreed as he came to her side and grabbed her hand.

They walked to the entrance and smiled when they spotted Kuu and Julie standing by Shingai.

"good afternoon" Ren said when they reached the group.

"ah good, now we are only waiting on Sukata" he pulled out a bag from his pocket and started searching it intently.

"this is your room key Tsuruga-san, you're on the top floor and Mogami- chan this is your key, you are on the third floor."

Kyoko smiled and took her key from him "thank you Shingai-san".

"you're welcome, we will be having a welcome dinner at seven at the bar down the road and tomorrow we will start filming at eight am. Until then feel free to explore, we have the whole village pretty much to ourselves, there are some very pretty gardens and some natural hot spring just in forest.

"okay" Kyoko smiled and turned towards Ren "I think I'll go up and get changed into something more explorer friendly".

Julie smiled "but you look so beautiful in this, it gives me so many ideas."

Kyoko blushed "oh thank you, you also look very lovely today".

"yes, I know, I was particularly pleased with how my outfit turned out today" Julie moved towards her and quickly wrapped her arm around Kyoko elbow "well let's go, I can help you pick something to wear, it is one of my favourite things to do after all, we will see you boys later".

And before Kyoko realized what was happening, they were halfway to her allotted room.

"umm Julie, I think Ren still has my bag".

"you can get that later dear, I have plenty of clothes for you and look here we are room 319."

"Julie I'm in room 302".

"yes, but this is my room where I have all the clothing, now you go pour us a drink and I'll go pick out some options".

Kyoko moved away from Julie and investigated the mini fridge "what do you want to drink".

"is there a peach tea in there" Kyoko scanned the content of the fridge and quickly pulled out two bottles of peach tea, searched for glasses and poured the drinks.

"so we have three choices" said Julie as she re-entered the room with her hands full " we have the light and flirty summer dress and cardi " she held up a red dress with a pink floral pattern and then put it onto the counter " the faded jeans and flower power shirt ,which would be great if you plan on hiking into the forest" she set them to side "or the slightly sexy but still modest skirt and button up shirt"
"could I mix and match ?" asked Kyoko as she looked over the pieces in front of her .

"hmm I suppose so."

"then can I have the button up shirt, the faded jeans and the cardi".

"sound perfectly fine but before I approve, I must see it on" Julie smiled and sat on a chair and grabbed her glass of peach tea "do you need help getting out of that."

Kyoko shook her head "no I should be alright" she gathered the selected items and moved into the bedroom off to the left. Kyoko quickly changed and walked out.

"so, do I pass".

Julie looked her up and down and smiled.

"hmm, unbutton the top two buttons" Kyoko did as instructed as Julie walked into the bedroom and then came back with a necklace, three beaded bracelets and a red lipstick.

"add these".

Kyoko added the items and then walked into the bathroom and put on the lipstick in front of the mirror.

"Yes, now you look perfectly ready to explore the world and break hearts".

"I doubt I'll be breaking any hearts Julie".

"oh, Kyoko trust me with very little effort you could have the world wrapped around your finger, you are a beautiful woman inside and out and I'm so glad I got to meet you and if Ren doesn't marry you, I may have to slap him".

Kyoko felt tears come to her eyes and quickly wiped them away "you would want me as your daughter in law".

Julie wrapped her arms around her "I would be crazy not to want you in my family, you are probably the best thing to ever happen to my son, I don't think I've ever seen him happier or healthier."

"well, I do make sure he eats properly now "

"and I know what a challenge that would have been".

Kyoko laughed "very challenging".

"Well anyway let's not talk about him, how are you, I hear it's been a bit of a hard week for you and that you needed to deal with some old dresses".

"Old dresses?" Kyoko asked.

"I believe Kuon was using it as a metaphor, he didn't go into detail, but I hope it all worked itself out".

"oh, I suppose old dresses works as a metaphor and yes it has worked out so far."

"well, if you ever want to talk about it, I hope you know I'm here to listen whenever or wherever you need".

Kyoko just nodded and felt slightly overwhelmed, not that she didn't appreciate what Julie was offering but she also didn't know what she felt about someone wanting her to be part of her family, wanting to know her, help her and coming so soon after dealing with all the repercussions of Saena inability to love her, she suddenly really needed to be away from Julie and her kindness.

"umm I need to go , " Kyoko said as she backed away from Julie and wrapped her arm protectively around herself " I should find my room , unpack ,umm ,yes I'll go do that " she walked to the door and paused briefly as she opened it "I'm sorry, thank you for the outfit" and she exited the room and looked around at the long hallway and felt panic start to take over her ,as she walked she felt like the walls were closing in and all she wanted to do was escape . She hardly noticing when she ran down the stairs, pass Shingai and Kuu, out of the building, down the street and into the forest that surround the town. She ran until her breath left her and all she could do was drop onto floor and just lay there trying to calm her mind down.

"Are you okay Kyoko" asked a voice just to the left of her. Kyoko turned her head to the voice and saw Anna standing slightly offset to a small group of people.

"oh yes I'm fine, I just really love nature" Kyoko answered weakly.

Anna nodded "I always feel better among the trees too, I hear in Scotland doctors can prescribe time in nature as part of treatments for all kinds of thing".

"oh really, that's interesting I guess I have always come to nature when I was sad or stressed, there use to be a forest much like this one behind where I grow up, I was there recently, and it was the same but different".

"the forest or the house?" asked Anna as she lowered herself next to Kyoko and waved off the other members of her group.

"both I guess or maybe it was me that was different."

"I felt the same when I went back to visit my grandmother , when I was young I used to visit her all the time ,she had a lovely place I always felt safe there but then my mother divorced my father and grandmother banished us for years and years because of the shame and when she did finally let us back that house still looked the same ,still had my happy memories but it no longer felt safe and that changed it for me."

Kyoko reached out and grabbed Anna hand "I'm so sorry you had to experience that but yes that's what it was the feeling , I always knew the couple that took me in and my mother didn't love me but I think when I was a child I deceived myself into thinking if I worked hard enough at that place I would one day belong and now I know I never will but I don't know where I belong or want to belong , I have people trying to show me that maybe I could belong with them that they would accept me but I can't, it overwhelming it's too much love , I keep telling everyone that I'll be fine and that I know I'm loved and I believed it until just now but I don't think I am okay"

"oh Kyoko , I don't know much about you or what has happen in your life but I think it completely normal to be overwhelmed , I know I would be if my boyfriend told the whole world about our relationship and an ex came back and haunted me and by the sounds of it you have also been dealing with some heavy family shit , if you need space that's normal , if you're not ready to trust or become part of something new yet that fine you don't have to , just Like I don't have to forgive my grandmother yet ,or my father for his cheating ways that lead to the divorce in the first place if they love me ,love you they will give you the time ,life is a long road you can take your time to heal "

"don't people always say life is short" Kyoko asked.

"well, it is both short and long and completely fucked up, so now how about you and I go to that bar just at the end of the street and have some drinks and maybe a little bit of fun."

"I could use a little bit of fun".

They both stood up and walked towards the bar chatting happily.

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Julie stared at her door thinking over every word she had said, all the things she had done trying to figure out where she went wrong, she was probably on her fifth review when she hear the door open and saw Kuu walk in.

"umm, don't take this the wrong way love but did something happen with Kyoko?"

Julie started walking around in circles "Yes I think so, but I can't figure out what happened, one minute things were fine and the next minute she was rushing out the door like the room was on fire".

"she did seem in a rush when she left the building "

"she left the building, and you didn't follow her."

"no, I kind of figured that her rushing off by herself was a sign that she needs some space, I instead came up here to find out what happened and see if you were okay, which clearly you're not".

"I just don't understand, I was trying to be supportive, I just said she could come to me whenever she was ready, that I would love to have her in my family."

Kuu reached over and pulled Julie into his arms.

"is it me, she never runs from Kuon or you".

"oh, honey I don't think that's true after all didn't, she just return from a week away which from what I gather she didn't tell Kuon she intended to do".

"I guess that true".

"and I doubt her week has been fun filled, she returned to her childhood home maybe she just isn't ready to talk about it".

"I wasn't trying to force her to talk".

"I'm not saying you were I'm just suggesting that maybe you should try a slower approach, just be available and if your lucky she will come to you when she is ready".

"Fine slow and steady" Julie said grumpily.

"now how about we head down to the bar at the end of the street after all I need a pre-dinner snack."

"fine but you need to buy me the biggest most expensive cocktail they have on the menu".

"seems fair".

They made their way out of their room and to the elevator Julie pushed the button and waited impatiently.

When the doors slide open to reveal Ren leaning lazily against the back Julie found herself wishing she had taken a couple more minute, she watched as he straighten when he noticed who had entered the elevator and that one person was missing. "where is Kyoko?"

Julie swallowed "I'm not sure,"

"she went for a walk" supplied Kuu "we are going to the bar; you should join us after all that is where we are having the welcome dinner later so she in going to end up there soon".

Ren looked at his watch and nodded.

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Asahi Suto watched from the corner of the bar as Kyoko slammed cards onto her table and yelled "unicorn magical attack" causing the other four people with her to groan and pick up a shot glasses from the platter in the centre of their table.

"how are you so good at this" yelled the girl sitting next to her.

Kyoko laughed "beginners' luck" and Asahi felt his heart tightened and his mind flashed back to watching his son playing card games in front of a fire laughing and the joy in his golden eye as he outsmarted everyone in the room. Recollections of his son life continued to swirl by his mind eye until he hears the girl next to Kyoko slam her hand on the table and yell "unicorn dance party" and music started playing. He looks up and watched Kyoko quickly take four shots and then stand up with the other members of her party and started dancing.

He sighed he started to think that maybe this was not the wisest choice, he stood up and decided one last drink and he would go, he made his way to the counter ordering the same again. He wrapped his hand around the glass when he felt something bump into him.

"oh sorry, are you ok "he turned around and looked down at the woman he had been watching since he arrived.

"no, it's all good, no harm done".

"wait didn't I see you this morning at the Fuwa's" Kyoko asked slightly unnerved.

"yes, we had a very brief conversation over breakfast, I know it may seem disturbing, but I was hoping to continue talking".

Kyoko stepped away from him "did you follow me".

"no, I asked around and was told that they were filming here "

"oh, I'm not sure that's any better, I honestly didn't think my conversation was so thrilling "

"I know it seem disturbing but it's important and you never answered my question is your mother Saena Mogami your mother?

"legally I can't answer that" responded Kyoko.

"I'm going to assume you are".

"I can't stop you from making your assumptions, why does it even matter?"

"maybe we could sit down somewhere more private and talk".

"fine lead the way"

Asahi guided her out of the main area and up the stairs to a small room that overlooked the hall. There was a table with four seats surrounding it he pulled out a seat and Kyoko sat down.

"thank you for agreeing to talk with me".

"well, you seem determined to talk to me "

"I guess I am, it's probably guilt that driving me."

"I really don't see how you could have any guilt associated with me".

"Have you ever heard of a man name Itsuki?"

"no not in connection to me anyway, it is after all a rather popular name "

"oh well you see Itsuki was my son, he died a while ago now, but he was a most handsome man for a while, very smart but also extremely foolish, he did things that hurt people and got himself into very big trouble and in the end, it killed him."

"I'm sorry for your loss but I still don't see how this is connected to my mother or me".

"before it got bad Itsuki did tasks for people, companies, they hired him to find out information, steal secrets, destroy deals by any means necessary and he was good at it, he was hired to target Saena, she was the weak link in some case, but he took it to far and after that he wanted to disappear, so I helped him disappear. I had hoped he would start a new life but instead he just fell deeper into that world. Anyway, I think it was about 13 years ago Saena Mogami got in contact with me, I don't know how she got to me, but she did, she was looking for Itsuki, she didn't tell me why I just thought she was another ex-girlfriend there had been plenty that had popped up since I moved him, I blocked all her attempts to get to my son and then I decided it would be best to leave japan all together and moved to Singapore"

"so, you think I may be your granddaughter" Kyoko said.

"yes, you have my son's eyes and his charm too".

"what happened to him?"

"he went in on a big jewellery heist and got trapped with a trigger-happy partner, he stepped in between him and the poor unfortunate worker she wasn't supposed to be there, but the boss was a bit of a bitch and was making her work late."

"oh, I'm not sure what to make of that "

"I love my son, but I hate the path he picked, it not easy knowing what to feel"?

Kyoko sat and looked at this man "so what do you want?"

"I don't know I saw you and it all just clicked, and I had to find out, would I be out of line to ask you to do a DNA test for me".

Kyoko sighed "well I've sorted out all my other family stuff I guess it can't hurt to do this for you".

He grabbed her hand "oh thank you I'll get the test by tomorrow and I can have the testing done fast".

"I have a full day of filming tomorrow, but I'll put you on the approved list for tomorrow, so just come find me when you have the test really for me to do, now I think I just saw my boyfriend enter so I should probably go greet him and leave you to enjoy the rest of your day."