"Not who I pictured Rick with." I overhear someone say for the umpteenth time. "I always thought he liked gorgeous, sophisticated woman. At the very least I never imagined him being with someone so common and plain."
If I had grown up to be vain, I might take offense to their remarks. If I thought, there was anything pretty about myself it might hurt to hear a mansion full of mourners whispering about me behind my back. It doesn't really make me feel anything though. There is nothing they could say about me or my appearance that I haven't heard a thousand times before. Besides, I sort of deserve the hate for the con I am pulling on the Hizuri family.
I tug at Tina's ill fitting black dress as Kuon dutifully introduces me to their guests. His cousins and their friends blush up at him as he speaks. I roll my eyes and try to make my rolled-up sleeves look elegant. The worst part about wearing Tina's clothes is that her undergarments pinch me in places I'd rather not mention, and her shoes squeeze my feet.
"Cedric this is Tina." Kuon says while introducing me to another tall, gorgeous blond.
Though his beauty doesn't quite compare to Kuon's there is no denying that the man is gorgeous but also completely fake. The smile he gives me as he pulls me in for a hug is well practiced but I can see the disgust in his eyes.
"My number and e-mail." He says handing me a card. "In case you ever need anything. Money, a place to stay, someone to complain about this ogre to." He says and there is a look shared between the cousins that speaks volumes. It says that if nobody else were here they'd kill each other.
Cedric's date, Kimiko, also has a saccharine smile plastered on her cherubic face when as she pulls me to her and kisses both my cheeks. Everybody keeps doing that and I suppose it's a good thing because it reminds me that I am supposed to be American.
"I know that we will be great friends." Kimiko says also handing me her card. I wonder if the family will make cards for me too.
"Come along Tina, there's a lot more guests for you to meet." Kuon says. He really wants to be done with this task his father forced onto him. I can tell he doesn't particularly like any of his relatives or family friends.
"Do you see that dumpy dress?" Kimiko whispers when she thinks we are out of earshot.
"It doesn't even fit her, poor thing." Cedric says and Kimiko scoffs. She must give him some sort of look because then he says, "What at least I know she'll put out."
"Are we even sure the baby is Rick's?" I hear someone else ask and stiffen.
Kuon smiles brightly and steers me around to interrupt the conversation of another blonde and her friend.
"Tina, this is my cousin Koenji-san and her friend," He pauses and the cute girl blushes.
"Ruriko." She supplies with a pout.
"Right, Matsudai-san. This is Tina, Rick's wife."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Erica." Koenji-san says in English.
"She speaks Japanese beautifully Koenji-san there's no need for you to think so hard just to speak." Kuon says and I would mistake it for a compliment if not for the insult aimed at his cousin. Behind Erica Yashiro-san raises his hand and signals to Kuon to come over. "Excuse me for a moment." Kuon says only to me but Erica-san and Ruriko-san seem to think he is speaking to them.
"Take your time dearest cousin." Erica says fluttering her eyes at him.
"We'll keep Tina-chan entertained. Ruriko says with a flirtatious lilt to her voice.
I sigh at the notion of being left alone with these two. They remind me of the type of girls Sho would ogle; gorgeous, vain, and mean.
"Tina-chan, hi." Ruriko-san says with false sympathy laced in her voice. "So sorry for your loss. I never imagined Rick would be the first Hizuri brother to go. I mean between us girls, Kuon is much more the type to go to an early grave."
"Ruri-chan don't condemn my cousin like that." Erika chides but the way she calls Kuon her cousin gives me the chills. There is nothing normal about the way this woman looks at her cousin who clearly can't stand her. "Of course, we're only cousins by marriage though." She explains.
"It still doesn't make what the two of you did in junior high right." Ruriko says with a giggle.
"You mean you wouldn't have if he had offered?" Erika asks.
"Oh, he did and of course I did, but I'm not related to him in any way." Ruriko says.
I think they either forgot I am here, or they think that their intimacy with Kuon will irk me somehow. It only mildly disturbs me the way they're speaking so casually about both having slept with a guy while in front of his new sister-in-law at a funeral.
"Kuon-chan was such a wild child." Ruriko says dreamily. "Rick was always so much more mature. I never expected Kuon-chan to inherit the business and become such a recluse while Rick ran off to explore the world. Though Rick wasn't too innocent either."
"Ruri, don't gossip about the deceased! She's, his widow." Erika says but I can tell that she's happy her friend said it.
"Sorry. Sorry." Ruriko says with a nonchalant wave.
"What does my cousin do all day? He never comes out to visit with us anymore." Erika says with a pout on her painted lips. "I blame Cedric and his misplaced jealousy. Always picking on our poor Kuon."
"Well maybe Tina-san could convince him to come hang out with us. He seems to treat her so nicely." Ruriko says and I try not to let the confusion slip onto my face. "He even calls her by her first name. He's known me my whole life and still uses my family name. Even you Erika, are always Koenji-san to him."
Erika's plastered on smile twitches, but she doesn't frown. "She's his sister Ruri-chan, of course he uses her first name." There is a hate filled glint in her eyes as she speaks to Ruriko-san while looking me up and down. "Honestly though anyone would be nice to someone so unfortunate. Don't you think so too Tina? Kuon may be anti-social, but he isn't such a monster that he can't show someone like you pity."
What pity? He isn't nice to me at all! The only time he opens his mouth around me is to bully me like everyone else only he says what he's thinking! At least he doesn't call me unfortunate with the intent that I will assume he means Rick's death when it's really about my looks or poor upbringing! I want to scream at them, but I hold my tongue not wanting to cause trouble. It isn't as though Ruriko-san and Erika-san care about my opinions anyway. I nod to whatever they are saying, and I think I've agreed to something, but I don't know what.
"Tina!" Julie calls to me and I think she must have seen my discomfort with the women. "Tina my darling come here."
"Coming!" I call back then bow to Erika-san and Ruriko-san. "Excuse me." I say politely.
"Of course, but don't forget your promise." Erika-san says with a wicked grin. "Make sure that Kuon comes with you."
"Right." I say dumbly as I have no idea what she's talking about. Had she invited me out somewhere?
I bow again before going over to join Kuu and Julie. Kuu has my son nestled in his arms and the sight makes my heart skip. I suppose this is what a father looks like, calm and collected as he cradles a baby ignoring the ache in his arms. Then again Kuu is much stronger than I am so maybe his arms just aren't bothered by the weight no matter how long he holds the little guy.
"Here she is." Julie says holding an arm out for me to go to her side. When I step close enough, she wraps me in a gentle hug facing me towards two older gentlemen.
"Tina, I would like you to meet Eltra Duris and Lory Takarada." Kuu introduced.
"Eltra is grandpa to you though." Julie whispers in my ear. "He's likely to cry if you call him anything else. Especially since that child over there refuses to." She inclines her head towards Kuon who is leaning against a pillar speaking to no one. I eye the plate in his hands, no doubt brought to him by Yashiro-san.
"Eltra, Lory this is Tina our new daughter. Cute isn't she." Kuu says as I bow and greet them.
"So polite!" Eltra says seeming delighted.
"She is, isn't she," Kuu says with an enthusiastic nod.
"Ahem, if I may give a critique Julie." Lory says causing Kuu to deflate. Lory motions to my form and I look down. "Her clothes don't fit."
"Don't be rude she just had a baby. You give birth in a train wreck, and we'll see how put together you look." Julie's voice is like a whip. I am reminded of the moment Rick saved me from the group of giggling schoolgirls.
"I wasn't trying to insult her." Takarada-san insists. "In fact, I was going to offer to introduce her to Ten."
"No fair, why should you get to play dress up with her?" Eltra-san asks with a whine. "I'm her new grandfather, I should be the one who gets to spoil her first."
"As her new father I believe that right is mine." Kuu states.
"Hold up! It's the mother's job to take daughters out for clothes. I should be the one who gets to introduce her to Ten-san. The two of us can have a day of pampering and you three can babysit." Julie declares and before I can object to them having to babysit the three men are fighting over who gets to have the first watch.
I could cry over my baby being fought over. It almost feels like we belong here. If I'm not careful I could become addicted to the feeling of being wanted. My eyes wander over to Kuon as I feel his intense gaze on me, and I remember my precarious predicament. It would be prudent of me to convince Julie not to spend any money on me. Maybe if I tell her, I would rather tailor my clothes by myself she'll let me. That might require them to purchase a sewing machine though and I couldn't let them do that. Even though I fully intend to pay them back.
"Julie-san," I start to say making her sparkling eyes look down at me. "I don't need new clothes or anything. If you could get me a needle and thread, I could bring up the hems and maybe even make some baby clothes out of the scraps after I take in the waist of my outfits."
The three men stop fight over who is quicker at changing diapers to look at me with disappointment. Crap now they'll think I'm ungrateful.
"Don't be silly Tina." Kuon's chilling voice chimes in. When and why did he come over here? "Spoiling their children is their favorite hobby. Don't take their fun away." There is a slight threatening tone in his voice. Why do I feel like he wants to force me to take their money?
"Kuon!" Julie chirps. "Perfect timing, you can join Tina and I tomorrow to meet Ten-san. I think you're due for a haircut. Then you can take us out to lunch."
Kuon makes a face and for once I don't think I'm the cause of his disgust. His plate of food is suspiciously missing even though it was still full a moment ago. I think he has a problem.
"I have a full day of work tomorrow mother. I couldn't possibly…" Kuon stops talking and stares at his mother's unsmiling face. "You are absolutely right mother; I do need a haircut. I could use a new suit as well I think, and we'll all have to eat afterwards."
His words cause Julie to squeal with delight and say, "I get to take my boy shopping!"
I can't help the teasing smile that crosses my face. It's cute how scared of his mother he secretly is. There is a softness in his eyes as he gazes at the happy blushing woman that makes him look ten years younger. The effect is ruined when he opens his mouth.
"Finally, you won't look so unkempt and out of place." He says raking his eyes over my form.
"Kuon don't pick on Tina." Julie scolds him and he lets out a swift insincere apology. I am treated to a deathly glare when I let a giggle slip out.
"I was only teasing." Kuon says and places a hand on my elbow. "I still haven't introduced her to everyone. Come this way, Tina."
"Alright you can take her but don't ditch her this time." Julie permits before I can protest.
Kuon drags me away and I stumbled along in Tina's small shoes. Having enough I yank my arm out of his grasp and bend down to remove the pinching shoes so I can finally wiggle my toes. He gives me a disgusted look but says nothing. I'd like to seem him walk around in shoes that are too small for him all day.
"Hurry up. I'll never hear the end of it if you don't meet everybody." Kuon grumbles and walks over to an older woman.
She blushes up at him too as he introduces me. It's another Kimiko but this one is an aunt.
"Tina-san, how lucky for us that you were so fertile." Aunt Kimiko says. What she really means is that Tina was lucky to get pregnant and trap Rick.
"Tina that lipstick is so unique." The next cousin says in a tone that implies I must be too stupid to do my own makeup.
"Tina-san, you must go shopping with us sometime. We simply must know how you put together such a chic outfit." Said by another cousin who thrusts their card at me.
Kuon smiles at me seeming thoroughly amused as I glare up at him holding another card.
"They're hoping you'll give it to me." He explains.
"I didn't ask." I say despite the itching need to know why his own family would need me to give him their information.
"Do you not know what LME's main branch does?" he asks, and my ignorance must be written all over my face because he explains. "We're an agency that houses all the top celebrities in Japan. We also own a bank, a couple hospitals, and some hotels but mostly we produce talent."
"I didn't ask." I reiterate.
"No but you had a stupid look on your face that asked for you." Kuon says then a neutral expression comes over his features.
It's almost a smile but not quite. I suppose he's spotted a family member he likes. Without a word he drops to one knee and holds his arms open.
"Kuon!" a small child screams as jumps into his arms and wraps her slim arms around his neck. "I missed you!"
They embrace for a moment then he stands up holding the little girl in his arms and turns to me.
"Tina this is Maria." He says and for once his voice isn't unpleasant. "Maria-chan this is Tina."
The little girl pouts at me but then jumps out of his arms and gives me a curtsy.
"I am deeply sorry for your loss. Please let me know if there is anything you might need." She says and for the first time all day those words sound sincere.
"Thank you." I say returning her curtsy.
"Maria-chan is Lory's granddaughter. So, she has no need to suck up to either of us." Kuon says as though he were answering a question. I resist the urge to tell him that I never asked but it think he already knows what I'm thinking, if his smirk is any indication.
"You met grandfather already?" Maria asks and I nod. She throws a pout at Kuon asking, "Why am I the last person to be introduced to her?"
"I figured she could meet all the annoying people first then you two could run off somewhere far away from me." he says but I can tell he's only half joking with the little girl. I'm sure he completely means it about me though.
"Kuon-sama is so rude. I was hoping I could play with you too. Don't tell me you're planning to sneak off to do more work again." Maria says with her hands on her hips.
"I brought you a new playmate Maria-chan. Please forgive me and go play with your new cousin." Kuon says with a bow before he somehow speeds away from us in a graceful manner.
Maria's pout deepens and she turns her face up to me. I flinch away. Is she going to hate me now because I caused him to leave? I think but then her face falls into a sad smile.
"He never does anything but work so I thought that he might like you a little. He was out here talking to people and showing you around. I thought it meant he was finally coming out of his shell again. But he wouldn't do that even if you are cute, you are his brother's widow." She says sulking.
Cute? She thinks I'm cute? She thinks Kuon thinks I'm cute? We've known each other for less than a week and I'm pretty sure he hates me. I tell her this denying that he could like me in any capacity and insisting that he was only showing me around for his mother's sake.
"That's just it though, Kuon never does anything but work. Julie-san cries and begs and threatens him, but he just sits in his study or goes to the office. He doesn't even want to work in the main branch of LME anymore. He'd rather avoid anything to do with acting." She says then turns to glare at Cedric across the yard. "It's all his fault."
"Did Kuon-san used to manage an actor?" I ask wondering what Cedric could have done. Erika too had said that he had teased Kuon.
"Kuon-sama used to be an actor." I want to ask her to elaborate but her teary gaze steals my voice. "Will you come play with me for a bit? Kuon-sama doesn't like my games. He says that he's grateful but that I should quit meddling with such things."
Confused but curious I nod and allow the young girl to lead me away from the party. Behind a large pillar she pulls out a wax candle shaped like a man and a box of matches.
"What are you doing?" I ask watching as she places a picture of Cedric next to the candle as well as a lock of hair.
"Cursing that stupid bully." Maria replies motioning for me to sit. "We can also say a prayer for Rick if you'd like. And the other girl, your friend, what was her name again?"
"Mogami." I say sticking to my lie.
When I had insisted on a proper burial for the other pregnant woman found on the train next to me, they had wanted to know who she was. For obvious reasons I couldn't say that she was Tina, so I gave them my name instead. Mogami Kyoko who had no home and nobody except me to mourn her death. Even Kuon had softened at that and said it was sad.
"Kyoko." I say as the little girl lights the candle. "Should we be casting dark magic spells. We're at a funeral too…" I trail off wondering if we'll be cursed now. Not that I'm not already cursed.
"I said no." I hear Kuon's irritable voice hiss.
Maria rolls her eyes and whispers. "One of those vulture women is either trying to get him to date them again or get them an audition. Maybe both." She pulls out a picture of Erika and another lock of hair. How did she get close enough to all of them to cut their hair? Unconsciously I touch my head feeling for any strands missing.
"Kuon." An annoying voice whines and I peek my head out from behind the pillar. Kimiko in leaning into him walking her fingers up his chest. Isn't Cedric enough for her? Now she's after Kuon too. "Rick always helped me."
"Rick thought you were a good kid. I know better." Kuon sys flicking her hand away. "Go ask your boyfriend to get you on set."
Instead of being discouraged Kimiko amps up her flirtations. "No need to be jealous Kuon, you know I only went after Cedric because you turned me down. I still think you are way more attractive."
"I don't care what you think, if you want an audition than fill out an application. I won't take you to the set to meet with the actors so you can flirt and cause scandals." Kuon says stepping around her. "If you'll excuse me, I was on my way to my study."
"I could join you." Kimiko purrs catching his arm and hugging it to her body. Kuon looks like he's going to be sick.
Risking being bullied I stomp over to them and plaster a smile onto my face.
"Kuon, there you are." I say surprising him. "You promised to sit and eat with Maria-chan and I but then you vanished." I pout at him, and he blinks the confusion out of his eyes.
"Right, I had to go grab something from my study to show you two, but Morizumi-san stopped me to talk." He says allowing me to take his arm and pull him away from Kimiko.
"Maria that creepy little freak is here?" Kimiko gasps her face going white.
"Who are you calling a freak?" Maria asks popping up behind Kimiko who jumps away. "You need better insults. I'd rather be a creepy little freak than a gold digger who bed hops to get fame."
"Maria-chan." I scold wondering if she even knows what bed hopping is referring to.
"I mean it wouldn't be so bad if you actually liked the men, but you just go after famous guys who look good." Maria says and Kimiko grimaces holding her hands up and shushing the little girl. "Don't shush me! You leave Kuon-sama alone. Go bug Cedric. I'm sure he's somewhere harassing some other poor young girl."
Kimiko bares her teeth but turns on her heel and stomps away.
"Thank you, ladies. I will go to my office now." Kuon says and tries to get away, but I hold onto his arm.
"You said you'd eat with us." Maria says and the two of us drag him over to the nearest table.
Kuon sulks as Yashiro-san places a fresh plate of food in front of each of us. It seems that Maria and Yashiro have the same thought process as I do about this man's eating habits.
Kuon glares at me but picks up his fork and stabs into a cucumber. It is the first time I have seen him eat anything. Behind him my eyes catch Julie and Takarada-san watching me with their heads tilted to the side. Takarada-san says something which seems to surprise her but then after a moment of thought she smiles sadly and nods her head.