Autumn In My Heart
Note: This is an AU, parody fic. So expect major OOCness in the characters. I based the story from the Korean drama, "Autumn In My Heart."
Prologue
(15 years ago)
A tall man, who appeared to be in his late 30's, was standing in front of the nursery, eyes shining in merriment as he watched his youngest son sleeping quietly inside. A small hand was wrapped around his own, and he turned to his older son standing at his side. He picked up the small boy and made him face the nursery's glass window. "Look at that Kaede, there's your brother, right there! Can you see him?" He pointed at the baby lying on one of the nursery beds.
The boy named Kaede, only two years old then, looked quietly at the babies inside the room. He wasn't particularly listening to what his father was saying, nor was he understanding any of it, but he was a little amused to see all of those little "creatures" –as his child mind would put it– lined up in rows, as if it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen in his two years of existence.
The man was still smiling as he dropped his son down and spoke. "Ne Kaede, I'm just gonna check up on your mother okay? You stay here and wait for me. Go sit on this bench while I see your mother's condition. Don't go wandering around okay?" He patted his son softly on the head and turned to the direction of his wife's room.
Little Kaede was having a hard time grasping what exactly his father wanted him to do, but he caught on some words like "see" or "wander". He didn't know what those words meant, and out of boredom, he stood up from where he was sitting and walked to the direction of the nursery. At that time, a young nurse walked out of the room hurriedly, oblivious that she left the nursery room door open. Kaede saw this and on impulse, he walked towards the door and entered.
The room was of medium size and smelled pleasantly. Kaede could hear soft sounds of mewling and breathing as he took hasty steps towards the nursery beds. Two particular beds caught his attention and he stopped in front of them, eyeing the name tags hanging on the sides. Again, out of impulse and simple curiosity, he took the two tags from where they were hanging. But because his small hands couldn't completely hold each of the tags, he dropped both on the floor, sending each flying on opposite directions.
By then the young nurse had returned, surprised to see a young boy inside the nursery room. She marched towards the boy and picked him up. "Hey little fella, what are you doing here? Where are your parents?" The young nurse inquired cheerfully as she picked up the scattered tags and placed them on their original places… or so she thought. Completely unaware that she misplaced the name tags, she brought the boy outside the room and met the boy's worried father.
"Ah, there you are Kaede! I was looking all over for you! Didn't I tell you not to go wandering around?" The man scolded his son as he picked him from the young nurse's arms.
"I saw him inside the nursery room when I returned. I'm sorry I didn't notice I left the door open! But your son was such a good boy sir, he didn't particularly do anything like annoy the babies. He was just standing there quietly, though he got hold of some of the name tags. But I've arranged them already, so there's no problem." The nurse smiled at the man.
Kaede's father bowed and smiled back at the nurse in gratitude. "Thank you for returning him miss. And sorry for the mess he made," he grinned sheepishly and continued, "you know how kids are."
The young nurse laughed and nodded in agreement. "I agree sir. Well, four years of working in the nursery taught me that however cute these kids may seem to be, they can be annoying little monsters at times."
"You couldn't have said it better." The man gave her a warm smile as he put his son down and held the boy's hand instead. "Well then, we should be going now. Thanks again for your help."
"It's been my pleasure sir!" The young nurse replied cheerfully as she returned inside the nursery room. Mr. Rukawa and his son on the other hand, walked towards the direction of his wife's room, unmindful of the problem that lies ahead of them.
The problem that would probably change their lives forever.