Title: Irreplaceable
Plot Writer: NerdyInuProductions
Manga/Anime: Skip Beat
Status: Complete
Disclaimer: I don't own this Anime, Manga and its characters, but I proudly own the Plot and the Story which I thought and loved to share, hope you give me some reviews and tell me what you think.
Salamat!
"What?" a certain mother of modern fashion stared at her beloved husband in disbelief on what she was hearing, "Repeat that again?"
Her husband sighed and repeated his words to her carefully again, "This is Drei. He's going to be our son from now on."
"What do you mean our son? Are you replacing Kuon!" she burst in anger.
"I'm not replacing our boy... it's just maybe it is time for us to redeem ourselves a bit and give another home." he looked at her softly, "Trust me I am not replacing our son. Drei here is a good kid, just give him a chance." the boy looked anxious and had been looking down.
With dirty blonde hair and dark forest green eyes; his clothes were a bit ragged and old, still holding his worn out backpack, the woman stared at the boy coldly.
"Keep him if you want." it sounded offensive similarly like she was intending him to keep a pet instead of a child. After she left, Kuu sighed and stood facing the boy placing his comforting hand over his shoulder.
"Don't mind what your mother said, she'll warm-up." he said with a soft smile, while the boy just gave a torn and hurt smile. "Come?" and they went to his new room.
Heading the second floor of the grand modern mansion of the couple, they entered a vacant bedroom, upon opening the plain gray and black motif interior greeted them, the eyes of the boy lit up seeing the place, "Can I really sleep here?" that broke Kuu's heart to pieces hearing him say those words.
"You're our son, of course you can." he patted him and they arrange some things to his comfort, however the child kept on inquiring if he can touch or move things as he wanted.
Dinner came and Kuu's wife gave them the silent treatment, Kuu wasn't used to it since he only experienced such after their real and first son left home without saying goodbye.
"Mr. Hizuri... Maybe you should take me back, Mrs. Hizuri disliked having me here." it was painful for him to listen to those words, the thirteen years old boy understood what was going on and to stop the man from being ignored by his wife, it was better to take him back.
"I promised your grandmother, I would care for you." He flatly said, "I will not leave you to fend for yourself and suffer through the system." With his comforting hand on the boy's shoulder, "I know my brother abandoned you, and your mother wasn't the greatest, but let me give you a family you deserve… it's just your aunt isn't over the fact our son left, she's still upset and thought that by bringing you home we're replacing him." He explained.
"I understand, Mr. Hizuri."
"Stop calling me Mr. Hizuri… I am still your uncle and now your father after I signed those papers. I wanted you to be part of our family and you to experience what's being cared feels like." He pulled Drei for a hug and little did they know Julie from behind saw their exchange.
"But, Mr… Uncle, if Mrs. Hizuri still hates me it's better for you to send me back… I'll manage." Kuu sighed and dropped the conversation.
After dinner, the boy insisted washing the dishes, Kuu gave up and let him do the chore, "Come with me." Julie called for her husband who looked surprised and followed her to his study.
"Explain why that boy is here?" she sat comfortably on his plush sofa and crossed her arms and legs stylishly.
Kuu leaned back to his desk and sighed, "He is my nephew that I never met or even knew existed. My late twin-brother actually knocked up someone and abandoned them." Julie listened intently, "He was cared by his grandmother from his maternal side after his mother died in overdose, as a child he grew up to a messy streets and bad people around him, but I am surprised how matured and polite he is…" he gave a chuckle, "It reminds me of our other daughter Kyoko-chan." He thought.
"His grandmother died and before she passed away she somehow managed to contact me with the desire to save the boy from falling into more bad things, she refused her grandson Andreas to go to the system and I took up the job to be his father after the thought of raising another lost and sad soul, we might not have saved ours and he decided to do his own soul searching, but what we can do in this situation is save a family and make him feel what he missed thirteen years of his life." Looking hopeful to his wife, Julie on the other hand is still unconvinced.
She never said anything and just walked out the room, however she went to see the boy who silently did the chore by himself and placing everything neatly to where Kuu instructed him to keep the kitchen and table wear.
The next morning, Julie steps in her car only to find the boy in his worn out cargo shorts, beat-up-high-top Vans shoes and thin hoodie with his backpack walking to school, the old beanie did not help him warm up for the cool breeze as the winter is about to roll in for the season.
Unfortunately Julie's direction to work is the opposite, she wanted to give him a ride after seeing his state.
And by evening when she arrived, she found the boy sitting outside the mansion, balled-up and sitting by the garage gate, scrunching her eyebrows with a frown she stepped out her vehicle and called for him, "What are you doing out there?"
"I… I don't want to impose and go in." he stammered and replied in a low voice, '' Julie did not mean to sound scary to him.
"Come." She called and he stood. Eyeing the boy; his lips were chapped, nose a little bit red, so as his ears but his hands were all pale. Upon heading in he told him to go straight to his room and change, and indeed he bolted up after thanking her.
Since her husband wasn't around yet, being aware of her terrible cooking skills she still went to the kitchen and tried to make something. When everything she needed was prepared, "Mrs. Hizuri, do you need help?" Drei offered some help.
"Suit yourself." She said and he watched her first what she wanted to make and then helped by handing her things and assisting her in managing the pans and pots as well as the stove.
"I'm sorry if I'm troubling you both… I shouldn't have been here." He looked down but continued to work on the food they are making. Julie remained quiet and watched him work.
Julie afterwards took over the work of placing everything in a nice plate, delighted with the outcome she turned her head looking for the boy but he wasn't there anymore. When her husband arrived he was surprised that she made a decent dinner and tasted it, it wasn't good as his but it was delicious nonetheless.
"Drei helped me prepare food." It was the first time Kuu heard his wife call the boy by his name which made Kuu smile.
"Where is he by the way?" he asked gleefully and excitedly, "I got him some clothes and shoes."
"I think he went up." Julie replied and continued to arrange their dinner on the table, "Go get him for dinner." She requested and he bounded up to look for the boy.
Julie noticed Kuu was taking his time and went up to get them. However she was greeted by a frantic husband, "I can't find Drei." He explained and opened the empty closet and holding a piece of paper with words, "I'm sorry to trouble you." Immediately Kuu bolted downstairs to get his car and look for the child, dead in the cold evening.
Julie scrambled to follow her husband and thought of what the child said earlier; an image of him looking guilty and scared gripping his arm tightly, looking pitiful while apologizing; Julie felt the pang in her heart remembering her own son. Kuon having to go through pain thinking he doesn't belong anywhere after he was bullied.
Her husband is in panic driving around the city looking for a boy in shorts and thin hoodie freezing to death, Julie was about to call the police when her husband pulled over in front of a laundry shop, watching her husband rush in she found the boy sitting in one of the chairs. Stepping out and following her husband, Kuu was in there hugging the daylights out of the boy, Julie sat beside the boy with worried eyes.
"Why did you leave? I thought we talked about this?" Kuu asked, cupping the boy's cheeks. Guilty, sad and troubled, Drei looked up to them.
"I just can't live thinking I'm causing another trouble for people, and making Mrs. Hizuri hate you." He admitted.
"She doesn't hate me… see she even came with me to look for you." He explained in a warm tone.
"Andreas, never ever run away again… I'm sorry that I was upset… it's just, I thought badly of your uncle about replacing Kuon." She placed a comforting hand to his shoulder but he flinched. Kuu noticed the fearful hitch and he looked at his wife, "I'm sorry." The second she touched him again he did not resist.
They took him home and Julie sat in the back seat with Drei, the old bag, his thin clothes that did not help warm him up and the ragged beanie, "Why were you in the store?" she inquired.
"It is open twenty four-seven and its warm in there." He replied and Kuu had to clench his jaw feeling pity out of the boy.
"Please, don't run away. You're not bothering us alright?" her tone became warm and loving, similar to how she would speak to their son.
He gave a nod and looked out the window watching the snow starting to fall. When they arrived back, Julie took him to his room and asked to change into warm clothes, she rummaged through Kuu's purchase and disappointed that there were no thicker shirts or sweater there, however found a camouflage colored thick long sleeved sweatshirt.
After changing Kuu re-heated their dinner and added one more menu to the bunch and Julie smothered the boy with attention, she never felt so good having to smother another child. After their meal, Kuu insisted he would do the chore of cleaning up since his wife and new son made dinner, Julie took time to make some hot cocoa for her and Drei.
She later found him by the balcony looking distantly into the sky and catching some stray bits of snow, "Drei?" she called for him and he whipped his head to turn to her, "Tell me why are you afraid to trouble people?" she inquired.
He sat there silently at first, "My mom…" he spoke and Julie had to stifle her shock, "She said I shouldn't have been born… she hated me because I was a maintenance to keep, I should've just died or she would've just killed me…" the woman's eyes grew wide upset at the mother, "That's what she used to tell me and beat me because I'm a bother." Julie is now furious hearing those words from the child, "Then my grandmother came… She is nice but I'm still guilty for bothering her when she's supposed to be retired and enjoying her life instead of caring for me."
"Don't think about things like that!" she said and pulled him to a hug, "Listen, it is not your fault for being born, she's just not fit to be a mother… I know I was a little mean when you met me because I am still not over our son leaving, but with you around maybe I can take this longing and pressure away, I know you are not replacing him but rather filling the lonely void that he left, you can be also our son." She explained.
"Kuu, your uncle signed some papers and you are now part of the Hizuri family, you are now our son, I hope you'll adjust and please let your father or me know if you need anything."
He blushed and nodded, "Now come, it's cold out here." And brought him in to the dim living room where the high tech fireplace to warm up.
For the whole week, the couple could see how Drei was fairing and adjusting, he was responsive to all their affections and Julie overdid her smothering after she bought him a full walk out closet of street and formal clothes that he likes. Drei was horrified at the sight of the spoiling actions of the couple, however he was grateful that they are accepting him.
"I want to take Drei shopping tomorrow!" pouted by Julie hearing her secretary and other employees tell her boys at that age loves video games and other hand held games.
"Alright." her husband chuckled, "I think he got home early, go see him upstairs." And they went to his room only to find it dark and their son sitting on the floor clutching his side, Julie turned to Kuu and they rushed to see what was going on.
Kuu switched the lights open and they found his hand covered in blood and clutching the source of it. Julie panicked but Kuu took off the boy's shirt and saw the deep wound, "Honey, get the first aid kit!" and Julie rushed to get the item. Temporarily Kuu used the blood drenched shirt to stop the bleeding.
Drei looked pale, coughing low moans in reaction to the pain. Julie brought in the kit and opened it for Kuu, applying a little bit of aid to help lower the bleeding, Julie called in an ambulance. Right away their son was taken care off and brought to the emergency room. One bad news after another came when the doctor told them some results; three ribs were broken, there was a concussion on the back of his head which needed to be operated to avoid hemorrhage, but they were thankful that the weapon used to stab their son did not reach his liver.
Shortly he was taken to the operating room to fix his head injury. Kuu on the other hand was furious on what happened to him, he and his wife knew their youngest wasn't tough and adventurous like their eldest but rather mellow and polite, he would never be into those gang fights or even try to piss someone off.
Julie, who is also upset, decided to call the family lawyers and immediately contact the public school where their son is currently enrolled. The director and principal were responsive and called for a meeting the next morning.
Drei didn't open his eyes yet which worried his parents. Julie never left his side and cried thinking she'll lose another, Kuu was all red in fury on whoever did this to their boy, he'll make them pay.
The next day, to the couple's surprise there were teen girls outside the hospital suite, "Do you need anything girls?" Julie inquired, the girls stood there awestruck staring at the mother of modern fashion and her beauty.
"Is this Andre's room?" they asked, "The nurses told us this is his number."
"Are you friends with my son?" she asked again and they looked at each other blinking and shocked.
"We thought Andre doesn't have a mom…" they whispered.
"Yes… we're his classmates." One shy girl from the back replied while the others gossip and whisper.
"I see… Drei is still asleep and he isn't awake yet." She said softly, the girls all looked down and gave her their cards and gifts instead, although that one girl remained and let her friends leave first.
"Uhm… ma'am?" the girl then caught her attention.
"Yes?"
"I need to tell you something." Anxiously rubbing her hands, Julie looked at the girls' backs heading in the elevator, "I told my parents about this and they told me to tell you because it is the right thing to do." She smiled and knew what it was.
"Come, let's sit first." She guided the girl inside and she awed at the beautiful expensive interior of the room, however looking at her classmate it was pitiful after he was hooked in many tubes and apparatus, especially the oxygen and the thick bandage on his head.
"Andre was bullied, beaten and stabbed by Kyle Arches." she confessed, "He's the school bully and had been picking on Andre for the longest time. They call him names and tease him about his mom that doesn't love him, however when they called his mom a whore and everyone's bitch yesterday he started to fight back and Kyle stabbed him with a cutter and fell from the stairs down the second floor." Julie's eyes were on tears.
"He said his mom was beautiful and never a whore and told everyone she loves him before Kyle stabbed him." She looked down, "He was right, his mom is pretty." She gave a shy smile and Julie softly patted her head from the compliment.
"Thank you, dear. This would help us give Drei justice." She turned to her son with a tear in her eyes thinking he defended her. After the girl left Julie burst out into tears holding her son close thanking him for what he did.
Collecting herself, she called her husband. Immediately Kuu rushed back with his manager, they asked his manager if he could watch their son for a while since they had some business to attend to. Julie again called their family lawyers and together they planned on what actions to take. Julie was looking forward to spoiling her son again, however it was ruined after the incident that almost took the life of her child.
Monday quickly rolled in and the couple was preparing to leave and head to confront the director and principal of their son's middle school, Drei however finally opened his eyes and looked for Julie first. Kuu was little hurt after their son turned into a huge momma's boy, Julie immediately rushed to his side and gave him her full attention.
"Sweety, Jen told us everything." She informed him and he wasn't himself and just hummed, "Are you in pain?"
"No…"
"Do you need anything? Are you hungry?" Kuu inquired as he stood on his side.
"A little." And he coughed which scared Julie.
"Alright, I'll go get you something. What would you like though?" Kuu turned to him.
"Anything would be okay, please."
Kuu dialed his phone and tried to remember their son's favorite dish, "He liked hotdogs, wieners, hams and bacon." He thought and then ordered some soft dough pizza and soup for him.
"Where are you going?" he turned to Julie.
"Oh, sweety, we're just off to see your school and have that boy punished, we'll be fast, I promise." And Julie planted a kiss on his bandaged forehead. Kuu on the other hand was instructing his manager that Drei needs more sleep after his food and to watch him closely.
The white luxury SUV convoyed by three black ones pulled over a public school and teachers as well as students came out to investigate, however after seeing the famous model and designer as well as her veteran actor husband steps out, the Principal was there to greet them, "We want this to be quick, Andreas is waiting for us." Juliana Hizuri snarled with a terrifying and loud tone.
"We just want to know what exactly happened and why was our son stabbed and almost murdered?" Kuu's anger was unstoppable.
"Excuse me?" the Director standing beside the Principal asked confused.
"Angelo Jules Andreas Hizuri." Julie cleared, however they might not be aware of the new name, "Or better known as Kurt Andreas Stephens." Their eyes were showing how shocked they are.
"There are reasons why he keeps that name in the records and decided to go to a small public school like this." Kuu sighed trying to calm himself. The Principal almost panicked and guided the couple to his office together with the lawyers, immediately they called the parents of the boy named Kyle.
Kuu and Julie met the chubby boy and his parents, indeed he was a brat, "What did my son do to you and why did you almost murder him?" asked Julie in anger. Kyle's mother tried to defend her son however the word murder was heavy after lawyers were involved and staring down at the other couple.
"Let me remind you, Mrs. Arches that young master Drei received a three inches stab wound that almost reached his liver if it weren't for his forceful hand stopping the slashing weapon, three ribs on his right broke as well as his left arm, and a concussion that needed to be operated leaving him with thirteen stiches. Young master fought for his life for fifty-five hours and just woken up this morning, surely it would be a crime of attempted homicide.
Kyle's father sat in his place pale looking at his son, "We also had some witnesses that you were the one who keeps on bullying the young master as well as provoking him until you called Madam Juliana colorful names?" the boy looked petrified after Julie stared him down.
"I do not care if you call me names, but almost causing my son's death, you deserve to be punished."
"Do you have proof that my boy did those?" asked the woman arrogantly.
"Looks like we need to pull some evidence so your son can be convicted?" Julie glared at her, "Trust me we have sufficient evidence."
"That's enough." Sighed by Kyle's father, "What can we do to compensate you?" he asked, he looked like a businessman.
"Even your livelihood could not compensate for the life of our son." Kuu this time retorted.
"What I want is that your son to be expelled from this school." Julie thought of calling every school in the country to blacklist the name and give information that the child almost killed another, by pushing another on the stairs and stabbing.
As promised they left however Julie looked for the little girl who helped them, "Jen, sweety, come and visit again." She gave her a hug, "Drei's now awake and he would be happy to see a friend coming over."
"Jen has a crush on Andre~" someone teased and the poor girl blushed hiding her embarrassed face, Julie found it cute and amusing.
"Ah… puppy love." Kuu spoke in Japanese.
"Oh… really now?" she giggled, "Well, then he might be more than happy to see an admirer?" she winked in tease.
Back in the hospital, Julie and Kuu were excited to see him, however he was laid in his bed awake and playing chess with Kuu's manager, "Kuu, for the love of everything, I lost thirty seven times!" he complained and Julie lost it and made fun of her husband's manager.
Kuu teased him about not losing to anyone until the injured boy beat him to a streak, "Thank you, Mr. Paul." Drei thanked him and he sighed.
"You are welcome. Goodness he's too polite unlike Kuon who always prank me." Shaking his head, "How is he by the way?"
"Oh… he's already dating our dream daughter and doing fantastic in the Japanese industry actually." Julie bragged.
"That's nice, it is good he found something where he finally fits." Paul nodded.
"Sweety, Jen is here~" Julie excitedly bounced in the living room after the twelve years old girl with her parents visited after a dinner invitation.
There was no reply but she can hear him slowly walking down the stairs, his arm tightly bounded in black shoulder immobilizer sling and thick rib binder, Jen winced seeing his state but after three months he was able to walk.
The Hizuris bonded with the girl's family for a while and praised the couple on how they raised their daughter, "We're transferring Drei from now on." Jen looked sad, "Although, you can always visit and play here with him, besides you're his first real friend." Julie comforted and Drei smiled at her, she smiled back.
"Thank you for telling them on what happened."
"It was the right thing to do." She blushed.
After dinner they chatted a bit until the Hizuri couple invited the family for Christmas which the family happily accepted.
The head bandage finally came off, Kuu took Drei to have a new haircut and was surprised to know he was a bright blonde boy, identical to their son, especially the eyes, although his was a little deeper in green.
He can be mistakenly identified as their own child which made things more easy for them to introduce him in the future. After his operation, his shaggy thick dirty blonde dyed hair was cut into an ugly style, so Kuu brought him to his personal stylist and now his original bright blonde hair is styled in two-by-four fade cut, Kuu brushed the remaining hair on top sideways and it looked perfect.
The pompadour fade looked slick which Paul, Kuu's manager approved, "Do you have a piercing?" Paul noticed his left ear.
"Oh… my friend pranked me three years ago and pierced me, I thought it would heal but the hole is still there." Kuu realized he had a high pain tolerance knowing his friend pranked him by piercing.
As winter passes, his rib and arm are completely healed after therapy and treatment, Kuu and Julie never thought having another child in their home fills the void of their missing son. And having Drei around means Julie can fuss over and spoil another.
After months of staying with the couple he grew comfortable but still gave reservations when it comes to asking them anything, Kuu learned his son is fond of music and has a power cord voice hitting high notes. One day when Julie took Drei to her company Kuu busied himself redecorating his room placing speakers in two corners near the television, added a floor lounge set and added an acoustic guitar with a ukulele beside it.
The poor boy when he arrived was startled after his father bought some things again for him, however he was grateful for it and thanked him. "It doesn't change the fact he's a momma's boy though." Julie stuck her tongue again Kuu in teasing.
"You ready for your new school tomorrow?" Julie asked as she takes out his new uniform; simple white dress shirt, with navy blue waistcoat with the academy insignia and name, she however disliked the necktie and started to search from her boutique a similar color but the design is much better.
"I am, but not excited though." He sighed.
"Still afraid?" she asked and he nodded.
"It is fine, sweety, you'll do just fine, however from now on you are a Hizuri, understand?" and he nodded, "I am so proud of you after you passed that hellish entrance exam and got ninety-eight score!" she gushed over how smart he is, "They placed you with the special section so your classmate population is small."
"I guess it would be nice to have my circle small, I don't want to have another incident."
"Don't worry, like I said you'll do just fine."
"Okay."
Drei was surprised when Julie and Kuu insisted to take him to school. The white luxury SUV rolls in the fancy looking gate. Students watched the white vehicle pull over the dropping ground with the new student who enrolled late yet passed the entrance exam with flying colors, topping the former student President and setting another high record in their school history.
"Call us if you need anything alright?" Julie smothered him with kisses which Drei did not refuse, he just nodded and let his father ruffle his hair, "Goodness darling, don't mess up his hair!" and Julie styled his hair back to its pompadour brush state.
"Do your best today, kid." Kuu chuckled and Drei smiled in reply.
As their son walked away, the couple couldn't help but worry, the thoughts of their boy being stabbed and placed in the same apparatus in his hospital bed kept on repeating, "Can't we just home school him?" Julie asked her husband who had similar worry shook his head.
"I know he'll have a new life here. We just need to trust him." Kuu pulled his wife to his chest.
During at work, Julie couldn't help but worry, "Are you alright, ma'am?" her apprentice asked in concern.
"I am, but I don't know about Angel." She sighed thinking about her youngest son.
"Drei will be fine, ma'am. He's a tough little cookie." Her apprentice comforted.
"Thank you, Annie." She sighed, "I can't wait to fetch him from school." Still with a worried look.
Kuu on the other hand wasn't any better, worried about the boy in school, "Paul, I'll be out for a while." Pulling his phone out and dialing his son knowing it is lunch and he can bother him.
"What happened?" Paul turned to his charge.
"Nothing, I was just worried for nothing." Came a snort from Kuu and a sigh of relief, "He's doing okay." he thought and smiled sending his wife a message that their boy is fine, so he can give her a peace of mind.
Afternoon quickly passed and the couple is back at the school to get their son, spotting the boy walking out with three other boys happily chatting, for the first time of the whole day Julie finally smiled seeing her son scratch free and safe.
"Oh, your Mom and pops are here." Another blonde boy noticed and gave Drei those cool-bro-handshakes, another boy taller than the three have him a bro-hug as well as the raven haired one.
"Are they your friends?" Kuu inquired in delight, his quiet son nodded.
"This is Richard Rachester Hirose." Introducing the blonde, "And this is Haruki Kuran." Patting the tall brunette, "And this is Liam Tsukimori." Kuu noticed that the boys are Japanese and children of his acting colleagues. He chuckled at the coincidence.
"Well, thank you for taking care of our boy, why not come and play with him on weekends?" the boys looked at each other and smiled at him nodding, "Great, don't worry about your parents, we're all friends in work too, they'll be fine letting you boys come to our place."
For the evening Kuu made a ton of food which they had enjoyed and after dinner Drei excused himself first to do his homework leaving the couple to talk. Sharing a bottle of wine and enjoying the cool breeze, "I love Angel and I care a lot but I am still guilty that we are driving our attention to another while we forget our Kuon." Julie muttered.
"Remember what I told you?" Kuu comforted, "We love them equally, Kuon is a big boy now and living well and perfectly in Japan, while Angel is here with us. He is young but been through a lot, he needs care and love, he needs us." Kuu explained it to her again.
"Kuon is alright." Julie scooted closer to her husband and opened her iPad to see her son's recent post. With a gasp, "He's dating our baby girl!" shocked.
"Oh…" Kuu blinked, "I think I should prank Tsuruga-san a bit." He chuckled, "A little shovel talk for dating our favorite girl." Julie giggled. Kuu is delighted that despite they may not call their eldest son his name and bond with him, they still had a mode of communication through his new name and his new girlfriend.
Weekend came by, "Hey, kiddo!" Kuu entered the kitchen and found Drei and his three best friends cooking in the kitchen some heavy snacks, "What are you guys making?" he gave a good sniff at the meat plated.
"Mr. K!" the boys greeted.
"We're making some cheese tacos…" Drei replied.
"Oh… you're not using tortillas?" Kuu quizzed, "Is that cheese?" he mused after seeing the grated dairy cooking flat on the iron pan.
"Uh-huh… we're trying some other recipes we found online." Drei showed the said article to Kuu who looked impressed.
"Well, I just came down to tell you that your mom and I are leaving for the day since I need to take her to the studio and fashion venue, can you man the house for me boys?" he patted Haruki, they all gave a thumbs up in response, "Great, just call me if anything happens alright?"
"We will." Drei replied.
Julie all dressed for business entered the kitchen, "Smells nice~" she complimented.
"Thanks Mrs. Jules!" the boys welcomed and she giggled.
"Well, we're leaving, please take care of Angel, alright?" and the couple left, the boys teased Drei being called Angel by his parents.
"Hey guys?" Drei caught his friends' attention.
"Sup?" they turned to him.
"I heard my folks talk about Kuon…" he started and the boys dropped what they were doing and eating, "I never met Kuon and they never told me anything about him, I don't want to pry but I just want to communicate to him that I am not replacing him or stealing his parents…" they noticed his sad guilty eyes. "In fact… I just want to thank and care for him as much as I can for all they've done for me, I want to let him know that they are okay and I want to keep them company while he is away." They comforted him with a pat.
"I'm not that smart and all, but I think social media can help." Liam explained and they turned to him with questioning look.
"Explain, dunce." Richard demanded.
"So mean." Pouted by Liam, "Why not try to upload photos and daily blogs about your parents on social media and tag Mr. K and Mrs. Jules, he might stumble on your photo and message there, and speaking of message subtly let him know that they are in a good company and while he's not around you'll be there for them."
"From all bad ideas you've made, this is a decent one." Haruki nodded and Liam did not take offense on such.
"Thanks." Drei smiled and continued his work on their food.
While the boys are hanging out the kitchen that afternoon with their laptops and phones out dealing with social media making their little platform for their future videos and posts for either food and their jam sessions.
"Hey boys, got anything left for me?" Kuu looked for any plate for him and Drei brought out two plates instead, Kuu happily munched on his treat and to the boys' surprise Julie walked in with their mothers.
After dinner when their guests left, Kuu called Drei down to the garage and showed him brand new skateboards placed on a stand rack, "That's yours, kid. Your grandma told me a while back that you're good at this." Kuu patted him, the boy still in awe struck seeing something he always wanted.
"Are they really mine?" Kuu nodded.
"Go give it a try." And without any second words Drei did an ollie which impressed Kuu in the process, Kuu thought about converting the old unused tool shed in their poolside as his maintenance garage and realized all these things where they would cook, bring him to school every day, make him his own space and eating dinner with his friends' family are new and never experienced it with their Kuon.
Indeed the next day, Kuu bought matching full glass door and windows and few wood supplies that Sunday morning. Piled in one side of the shed, he is dressed in simple faded jeans and shirt ready for his little handyman work. Drei helped him around installing everything and organizing the tools on the new wall rack Kuu placed, Julie in amusement took photos of them and shared it on her social media in excitement, never in her life with Kuon they would have this kind of bonding.
Yes, she and Kuu took Kuon wherever they were and bond with him in a cutest way, however after Kuon turned to a teen, they rarely spend time with him doing such things. Julie wished her son Kuon would come home soon so they can all bond, however she was a little worried of what Kuon would think if he knew they took in another child.
She had to open that topic with her husband when she can, however for now she would love to spend time with her little family in a quiet weekend where there are no guests, business or work, she sat by the shaded area in their giant pool side and watched her boys do some work.
However she noticed Drei's recent post capturing a beautiful picture of her and Kuu sweetly talking inside the vehicle, it was a backseat photo but Kuu and Julie are looking at each other with a smile while waiting for the green light, his caption was heartwarming and sweet subtly calling out a brother ne never met and letting him know that he will be keeping the couple company until the day he would come home. Of course because it was tagged to her and Kuu it created a little mayhem since they never disclosed or told people that they have a second son.
They would have to deal with damage control soon and create a story, besides people can be easily be fooled after her little Angel is a carbon copy of her husband.
"Darling?" She called and Kuu turned his head in response, "You'll be filming your latest movie next Saturday, correct?"
"I am, why?" Kuu confused.
"Well, you can take Angel with you." she winked and Kuu understood what she meant.
"I'll take him." he grinned and turned back his head at his son working inside the shed.
A week later, Kuu dressed to impress with his casuals and his dress shirt half unbuttoned showing his toned chest. Paul his manager as usual tailed him, however on their heels was the rumored son of the Hizuris.
Fitting black short sleeved button down shirt with matching khaki fit shorts, Kuu's young co-stars squealed seeing he boy who is a perfect carbon copy of his father.
They were about to flock him when Kuu placed a protective arm on his son and asked him to sit with Paul.
The director took a peek and shined on the boy after he had his father's looks, however he is the quiet type unlike his old brother that everyone knew as a prankster.
When Kuu is all dressed and prepared for his role, he went to work and the boy sat beside his manager and intently watched him do his thing on camera.
When lunch time came, "Good job everyone!" Kuu flashed his smile making girls squeal in excitement, "You hungry, Angel?" the girls caught on his son's name and awed at the cuteness.
Drei nodded and followed his dad across the filming set, fans and other on lookers are being held by the barricade. Still it didn't stop flashing cameras of phones and other recorders to steal pictures of his dad.
"Smile." Kuu instructed him and darted towards the camera following his dad's instructions. By evening he was all over the showbiz news and tabloids, Kuu was handling his manager's advice after handing a reality TV show invitation.
Now the the couple is preparing their home for a TV crew visit, "Are you now bothered?" asked by Julie to her son. Drei shook his head.
"I know both of you are famous and people would love to see your lifestyle and home." Julie impressed with his open mind.
"But you know you'll be exposed as our son now, is that okay?" she asked.
"I am fine, but I don't know how to feel or understand such fuzz." was his honest opinion.
"Don't worry about anything, your dad and I will protect you from all those bad words or any articles about you." she hugged him tightly.
"I am used to being talked badly, you don't need to worry." Julie's heart was being clenched and felt awful knowing her son experienced a lot of awful things in his young age. Kuu was right, he needs to be protected.
After the Host and her crew arrived at the Hizuri mansion, they toured the interior of the home and awed at the modern rustic design, especially the impressive backyard and garage, "Tell me, why was your youngest son hidden from the cameras till recently?"
"We wanted to protect him." Kuu with a sad smile, "Because we weren't abl to protect his older brother." he admitted, "Julie and I wanted the best for him, have a normal childhood, go to school and be himself, he went with a different name so people wouldn't recognize him."
"But, why reveal him now?" the host pressed.
"Things happened because people assumed he had no parents, he was placed in danger and almost killed." Kuu revealed, "And I want the world to know that he is my son and no one can harm him."
"What danger? And killed!" she gasped.
"Stabbed and almost damaging his liver, three ribs and arm broken, and concussion that caused him to be operated to save his life leaving thirteen stitches." explaining in detail, the host was shocked to hear it.
"We wanted to home school him but we knew he would disliked that." the host saw the legendary actor as a dotting and loving father, not as a well respected actor like everyone else, the industry knew how he loved his wife but now, they knew him to be a loving father to his children.
"Mr. K!" three boys barged in from his backyard, one is holding a guitar and the other with a beat box. Kuu chuckled heartily while the host is familiar with them being the youngest sons of famous actors and models.
"He's in his room, probably studying. Go bother him." he instructed and they playfully laughed and stormed the house.
"Was that the boys?" Julie came out from her home office in giggles.
"You're already used to those naughty laughs." Kuu laughed along. Shortly they heard some loud laughter and shouts, "Come, they are probably jamming." Kuu invited the crew.
And indeed the boys are seated in a circle at Drei's balcony jamming to a song, "Hey Angel! This is Miss Marge and she's here to tour around the house. Marge, this is my youngest son, Angelo Jules Andreas Hizuri."
"Hello, nice to meet you Miss Marge." the boy was polite and had a mellow voice, indeed like the photos circulating the web, he is a carbon copy of his father.
The crew stayed for lunch and they witnessed father and son in the kitchen making delicious meal for them. "Thank you for letting us into your home." Marge thanked Kuu and Julie.
"No problem, besides you had been meaning to get us in your show. Sorry about it."
"It is fine." the woman giggled, "Besides, this visit was really personal and people would understand why you kept your son from the camera."
"Thank you." Julie smiled hugging her husband's arm. After the crew left, Kuu's phone started ringing and noticed it was an unknown number, deciding to answer it.
"Hello?" he asked a little wary.
"Dad?" Kuu's heart sank after hearing his eldest son's voice calling him dad again.
"Kuon?" Julie stopped from her tracks and whipped her head to Kuu in shock.
"Hi dad. I'm glad you gave me a little brother." Kuu placed his phone on loud speaker and Julie listened.
"I'm happy you're not upset that we got you a baby brother without you knowing." Kuu responded.
"I'm okay with it, besides with all his blog I can see that he is taking care of you. I bet it was his way to reach me and tell he is keeping you company."
"That boy." Kuu chuckled.
"Although, how come he looks like you?" Kuon wondered.
"He is your first cousin." he explained the details after, Kuon understood.
"And we decided not to tell anyone that he is your adopted brother, he refuse to put him in a disadvantage situation where people would ridicule him for what he was, we want people to know he is our blood." Julie honestly replied. "Hold on, let me call your baby brother, he was been meaning to meet you, you know." she excitedly bounced to her other son's room.
"By the way what made you call? I know its not about Angel."
"About that..." Kuu heard a giggle from the background and he almost gasped, "Its because I finally reached my goal, although it is far to be in the same level as you but I realized things now after Kyoko and I started dating."
Kuu started jumping hearing his son announce he's dating their desired daughter, "FINALLY! Your mother would be so delighted!"
Kuon chuckled, "And I told her everything about me. She also told me to call you and make up for the years lost."
"She is an angel!" Kuu praised, "When are you going to visit?"
"I'm sorry dad, I can't right now since I never revealed who I am in public. I only did it with Kyoko."
"I see, I understand." When Julie came back, the bother finally interacted, and the couple can hear how Kuon cherishes the boy.
"You can always call me, okay?" Kuon assured him, "And if anyone bully you, tell me."
"Its okay, I'll have Haruki take care of that." Julie laughed explaining that Drei has friends that can beat bullies if they try to.
"Well, I have to go. I wish I can see you soon." Kuon bid his goodbye. Julie and Kuu had their hearts melted at their sons' wholesome interaction and how Kuon was happy to know there is someone that would keep them company, it placed their hearts at ease.
~END~