Chapter 1: Something Beginning and Something Ending
Over twenty years have passed since Kyoko began acting at LME. Since starting officially dating Kuon when she turned 21, Kyoko and Kuon spent most of their time between the United States and Japan: sometimes together, and sometimes not. This meant months at a time with only video calls and letters.
Though they had a lot of time apart their relationship stayed strong. After getting married 5 years later when Kyoko was 26 and Kuon was 30, they both made more of an effort to be in the same place at the same time. They sometimes were lucky enough to work on the same projects, but it was still difficult to be in the same place at the same time. After 10 years of marriage, both knew they did not want to spend as much time apart and had decided it was time to find somewhere to call home for more than a few months at a time. After Kyoko got a long term job offer in Japan, they bought a house in Tokyo to call their home and decided to take less jobs away from home.
Six months after officially moving back to Japan, Kyoko's alarm sounded early in the morning. She tried to turn it off before Kuon woke up, but he started sitting up as soon as she turned it off.
"You can go back to sleep." Kyoko told Kuon. "You don't have to leave until later"
"What if I want to be able to say good morning and good luck to my wife? I'll go make you breakfast. Go ahead and get ready." Kuon replied, smiling sleepily at his wife.
"Ok, you win this time." Kyoko replied with a very exaggerated sigh and a smile. "I'm not really hungry now, it's too early to eat a lot. There will be breakfast at the studio for breaks. Why did I agree to do a morning show?"
Kuon chuckled at his wife. "I don't mind getting up with you. It's a nice change from a few months ago when we were finishing jobs in different continents" Kuon replied. He left their bedroom to pour up a latte for Kyoko.
Kyoko sat in bed for a couple minutes before getting ready for the day. She would start out as a guest on a morning news segment and then spend the rest of the day at LME at the office that she has been using while training for her new position.
When Kyoko got to the kitchen she saw Kuon had a plate with some fruit and a coffee next to it. When she looked at the cup she saw he had created a heart inside the cup with cream. "You've gotten good at this." Kyoko told her Husband. "Thinking of leaving the entertainment industry to become a barista?"
"With you as my only customer I would do anything" Kuon replied sitting next to her at the bar. "Do you feel ready for the show today? It's not easy hinting at an announcement without making it"
"Of course, we can't let the public know until the party next month." Kyoko laughed before becoming more serious. "It would be easier if I didn't know Hikaru-san. If nothing else, I can always deflect the conversation to what you are working on" Kyoko replied.
"Kyoko, You don't need to use me at all." Kuon smiled. "You are much more amazing than I am with all that you have accomplished since starting acting. Being able to work in multiple entertainment industries is what has brought you to where you are."
Kyoko stared seriously at Kuon for a moment before replying. "Kuon, if you wanted to, you could branch out too. Every time you try something new you learn it quickly, just like the artwork in my drink this morning. When was it you started trying to learn how to make latte art? Two months ago when you were bored?"
Kuon leaned closer to Kyoko. "I learned it because you were telling me about the designs made the last time you met with Kanae at that coffee shop. Let's leave it as we both are amazing and need each other to remind ourselves of that" and with that he gave her a kiss. "I'll let you finish, are you driving this morning or being picked up?"
"I was going to drive today and let Yukihito-san sleep. One of the new LoveMe members is meeting me at the studio to act as my manager for the morning."
"Ok. I'm sure Yukihito wouldn't mind, you know. It would be like old times."
Kyoko laughed. "I will enjoy working with him again. He's head of acting and training for his new position, he doesn't really have the time for managing me right now. I don't really need a manager this morning. It just helps to have somebody onsite to take my calls in case something important happens so Takahashi-kun will have to do." She finished the last of her coffee and continued. "Thank you Kuon. I love you and will see you this afternoon."
"I love you too. Drive carefully. "
Later that morning Kyoko was sitting on a couch opposite the two hosts of the entertainment section of Tokyo daily news, Hikaru Ishibashi and Yumiko Ikeda.
"Good morning Tokyo" Hikaru started. "Today we have a special guest. Best known for her acting and fashion designs, it's Kyoko!"
"We're very excited to have you on the show Kyoko-san." Yumiko continued. "It's been very difficult to schedule you for the past few years. What is next for you back in Japan?"
"Thank you for having me," Kyoko replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you Yumiko-san, and to be able to work with Hikaru-san again"
"Again? I didn't know Hikaru-san acted." Yumiko's eyes widened with excitement of finding out something new about her co-host.
"I have never acted." Hikaru replied. "One of the first shows I hosted in the beginning of my career was a show called Yappa Kimigure Rock. We had a lot of fun on that show. It aired for ten years before everyone involved moved on in their careers. Kyoko was the first to leave when she started working more in America."
"I was actually the mascot, Bo. It was one of the first roles I ever did" Kyoko smiled, thinking about the beginning of her career. "Like Hikaru said, it was a lot of fun. Sometimes I miss the anonymity that came with being in a chicken suit."
"You were the chicken?" Yumiko's eyes went even wider. "I remember it seemed a bit different a couple of years into the show. That must have been when you left"
"The show wasn't quite the same without Kyoko-san." Hikaru replied. "Enough of the past, let's talk about the future"
"That's right!" Yumiko continued. "We have been trying for years to get you on this show but every time we try you are traveling or if you are here you are busy. Has anything changed?"
Kyoko smiled softly. "I suppose over time both my husband and I have gotten tired of splitting our time between different countries. It also became so much harder to travel in the first year of the pandemic. We decided now was the time to come back home to Japan. I'm in a transition period between roles. Right now there is not a lot to say about what I am working on but I am excited. It's something I've never done before"
"We can't wait to see what you do next." Hikaru grinned.
In Kyoto another conversation was happening at the Fuwa ryokan.
"Have you contacted Kyoko yet?" Yayoi asked her son quietly.
Sho looked at his mother wearily. He had been avoiding talking to Kyoko since he was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. At first it was denial over his diagnosis and now it was not being sure how to bring it up.
Over the years his relationship with Kyoko evolved to be like distant siblings. They would send each other birthday cards. This past year he skipped her birthday and she did not know that he was back in Kyoto so if she had sent anything it was likely waiting for him with his Tokyo mail.
"I haven't yet." He replied.
"Does she know about Aiko?"
"I give updates and pictures of Aiko when I send birthday cards. She does not know that I have her down as Aiko's guardian when I ..."Sho stopped for a moment. He has had a few months to come to terms with being sick, but it was hard to talk about death to his parents or daughter. "When I'm gone"
Sho's mother looked at him sadly. "Aiko's having a hard time here as well. You could see if Kyoko would be willing to take her in now. It may be good for us too so we can focus on your health."
"You heard the doctor at the last appointment. It's time for me to get everything in order. The medicine is just keeping me comfortable but there is nothing they can do to keep me alive for more than a couple more months. It may be easier for Aiko to not watch me die but at the same time I can't send her away while I still have time to spend with her."
A small whisper is heard from the doorway from an eight year old girl. "Daddy, grandmother, what's going on? Are you trying to get rid of me? Is daddy going to die? Who is Kyoko?"
"Kyoko is a woman who grew up here with your father. He has her down as your guardian if anything happens to him but he hasn't talked to her about it yet." The Okami sighed. "What are you doing out of your room? I thought you were working on schoolwork".
"I was hungry so I decided to take a break." Aiko replied. "What about what I want? I want to stay with Daddy."
Sho looked sadly at his daughter. "I want to stay with you too, but my body is getting weaker. Kyoko lives in Tokyo where we were before. You will be able to see your friends there again."
"She doesn't even know me and none of my friends have called since coming here so I don't care about them. I want to stay with you." Aiko replied
"Nothing is decided yet." The Okami interjected. "Why don't we let your father rest and see if your grandfather has a snack ready for you. Sho, you should at least email Kyoko. She would at least want to know about your health. Would you like me to do it for you?"
"No." Sho replied. "I'll do it". After his mother and daughter left the room he brought up an empty email screen, but after a few minutes of staring at it, he pulled up Kyoko's number on his phone, getting ready for what he knew would be a hard conversation.
Author's note: Hope you enjoyed this look into the future. Basically this started from thinking about where the characters would be if they kept aging from when the Manga started. This chapter was more world building than anything. Next chapter should be the start of the main story. I'm not sure how often I'll upload. I'll try do to at least once a month.