Chapter Two
The Maury Show
The
next morning Yamato was woken up from his brother's tossing and turning. It was
obvious that the young boy was having a nightmare. He gently shook him and said
his name. " T.K. wake up! It's only a bad dream."
T.K.
suddenly jolted up with his eyes opened wide. His heart was beating fast and
his breathing was heavy. After a minute he calmed down and slowly leaned
against Matt who was hugging him.
"It's
okay T.K. It was only a dream," Matt said reassuringly. "C'mon, we have to
leave in a few minutes."
The
little boy looked at Matt in confusion. " How come? Where are we going?"
"
Just some where. Go on get ready. I'll be downstairs." He was just about to
leave when he remembered one more thing to be said. " Mom and dad are really
stressed so try not to do anything wrong okay?"
Takeru
nodded and was now alone in his brother's room. He got up and walked to his own
room where he changed and combed his hair. " Takeru we're leaving," his mother
yelled up the stairs.
Hearing
this he quickly tied his shoelaces and ran down the stairs. " Okay lets go!" he
said happily. Mrs. Ishida smiled wearily at him as they walked out to the car,
which made him confused.
Yamato
noticed Takeru's bamboozled look and stopped walking so he could catch up. " I
don't get it. Did I do something wrong?" he asked.
"
No T.K., you didn't. They're under a lot of stress like I said," Matt replied.
" Don't worry about it. Pretty soon everything will be back to normal, I
promise."
The
car ride seemed to last forever when in reality it only took an hour. As they
came to the parking lot a man dressed in a black security shirt stopped them. "
Passes and ID."
Aieka
quickly flashed the four passes and her license at the man. Checking which show
they were designated for he pointed to the left. " Section M. Park in one of
the front spaces labeled guest and go through the door labeled Maury guest. He
will direct you from there."
It
wasn't hard finding the parking space. When they parked the car little Takeru
looked around amazed at the size of just on building. Then Matt grabbed onto
one of his hands. " Don't lag behind," he stated pulling him along.
When
they reached the door a man greeted them. He was average height, had wavy,
short gray hair and blue eyes. " You must be the Ishidas. I've heard much about
you. Please, come this way."
He
led the family down a long hallway until they stopped at one door. He then
looked down at Takeru and smiled. " Would you be so kind as to stay in this
room while we take care of a few things. It will only be an hour."
Takeru
looked sadly at his parents and then at Yamato. "You're leaving me?" he asked
him.
Matt
bent down and placed his hand on his little brother's shoulder. " We won't be
long. We'll be back before you know it. Then we can go back home okay?"
He
nodded and then watched as they continued down the hall. Finally Takeru opened
the door and walked inside only to frown at the surroundings, nothing. It was a
completely empty room except for one cushion chair. He sighed and sat down on
the chair, his chin resting in his palms. " Boring…boring boring boring!"
Meanwhile
his parents and brother were sitting on a stage flooded with lights and cameras
for broadcasting. " I must tell you, not even I know the test results yet, so
I'll find out when you do," Maury stated to them.
Suddenly
a man behind one of the cameras began to shout. "We're on live in 5, 4, 3, 2,
1."
"
Hello and welcome to the Maury Show. Today's subject is 'Are you the father of
my child?' We have with us Aieka, Shingo, and Yamato Ishida. It's a very
interesting case indeed. Along with her son Yamato she also has a son named
Takeru. If you look up at the screen you can see him. I'd like to assure
everyone he can not see or hear what goes on in here."
"
Now, Aieka has been married to Shingo now for 6 years and has been Takeru's
father. But who should show up but his brother in the middle of Takeru's
birthday party and claim to be the father! Now Aieka what do you think about
his accusation?"
Aieka
had tears forming but forced herself not to cry remembering that she had to be
strong. " It's bull. That's all there is to it. I've never even spent a day
with him in my life so how the hell is he supposed to be Takeru's father?"
"
Well, I'm going to go on and bring him out and then we'll hear the results of
the paternity test. Come on out Kenji."
As
Kenji walked out most people would have suspected there'd be booing but instead
most of the audience was gasping and pointing to the screen. Maury looked at
them strangely and continued with the show.
While
this was happening Takeru had gotten very bored and had decided to look around
a little. There couldn't be much harm in that could there be? Soon he came to a
large door. Being the curious one he was he opened it and found himself staring
at the side of his parents, brother, uncle, and the man who had made him stay
in that boring little room. Not wanting to give himself away he stayed behind
the curtain and watched and listened.
"
Now," Maury said, " are you ready for the results of your test?"
All
four of the people nodded and waited with anticipation as he slowly opened the
envelope and read the results. He then looked at all of the people and then the
audience. " Kenji, you are the father."
As
soon as this was announced Aieka stood up in anger. "How? How the hell is that
possible? It's not, it's not," she said breaking down into tears.
"
Maury!!!" someone in the audience shouted.
Beginning
to get annoyed with this Maury walked over to the person. " What? What is it?"
"
The child, he knows," the young man said pointing to where Takeru was standing.
Right
when he said this everyone looked at the small boy who looked as though he were
in tears. When Kenji noticed him and began to walk towards him Takeru stepped
back away again. His mind flooded with thoughts and tears streaming down his
face he turned around and ran.
Pushing
his uncle out of the way, Yamato ran after him. " T.K. stop!" he yelled after
him. Soon he caught up to him and grabbed his arm making him stop.
"
No let go!" T.K. yelled as he desperately tried to get free. "Please let go,"
he said one last time before breaking down into tears.
Almost
on the verge of tears himself Matt pulled T.K. into his arms and held him close
and tight. " Why…why is this happening to me? He's not my daddy, he's not!"
Not
wanting to say something he'd regret Matt remained silent and just let his
brother cry. Neither of them noticed the hidden cameras around that were not
focused on them. After a few minutes T.K. sniffled and looked up at his
brother. " Do you still love me?" he asked trying to stop crying.
"
What?!" his brother asked bewildered.
T.K.
looked at the ground sadly. " Now that I'm not your real brother I mean. I'm
scared, that you won't love me anymore."
Matt
lifted his brother's head so that his eyes looked directly into his. " T.K…no
matter what anyone says, you'll always be my little brother, and I will always
love you, always. Don't you forget that okay?"
At
this T.K. slightly smiled and hugged his brother tightly. " I won't."
On
stage the whole thing was being played and half of the audience was in tears or
close to it. Even Maury was touched by the two children. Regaining his
composure Maury announced the commercial brake.