Ch. 3

After the two women were done hugging Mr. Irie had gotten everyone inside, so they could make proper welcome. "Wow this place is bigger than the old house," said Kotoko as she and her kids walked in the house. "What happen to the old house?"

"Well when we found out that Yuki was helping your father find you knew place to live here, they told us about you and your kids…" Mrs. Irie started to say before she was interrupted by a startled Kotoko.

"What!?" shouted Kotoko looking at the younger man and her father.

"We didn't tell them everything," said Shigeo. "You can continue, Noriko."

"Um right," said Mrs. Irie looking a little suspicious at her friend and son. "Anyway, when they told us about your husband I was sad, not just because you married someone else, but the fact he was…" she stopped right there seeing her "daughter" and her children looking sad. "Well when they told us that you would be moving back who knows when, and that you are nurse we decided that you should move back in with us."

"But the house was too small and we had been thinking about moving or building another home for a while," said Mr. Irie. Actually it was a little after Kotoko and Naoki had started college they had thought about building a bigger home, but they had at one point thought that the two of them would end up together.

"So a few months ago we got the best builders to construct this house. I hope you kids like your rooms. Yuki told us all about you kids and what you like," said Mrs. Irie now looking at the children. "You kids are so cute, and I can't believe my sweat Kotoko had a girl; not that you aren't handsome Yuga." As Mrs. Irie and her husband looked at Yuga, they could not help but think that the young boy looked a little familiar. When Yuki had shown them a picture of the kids, they could not help but think that the boy looked like…

"How long have you guys been living here?" asked Kotoko trying to break their train of thought. She had a feeling what they were thinking.

"We've been moved in for about a week," said Yuki who also knew what his parents were thinking.

"What?" said Kotoko a little surprised that not only was the house built in a matter of a few months, but everything was now moved in for them to use, minus the stuff that they had brought. The last few weeks Kotoko had shipped their furniture to her father to set up their house before they moved in.

"Don't worry we still have your furniture in your rooms, but some of it is in a nice storage unit until you know what to do with the rest of it," said Mrs. Irie not noticing that Kotoko was a little upset.

Kotoko however could tell that the older two Iries' really wanted to talk to her. "Thank you, but um, I think the three of us need to talk first," said Kotoko.

"Yes, I think so too," said Mr. Irie. "We can talk in the study if you would like."

"Sure," said Kotoko as she began to follow them to the study. "Dad, Yuki, can you watch the kids?"

"Sure, we can even show them their rooms," said Yuki as he led the kids and her father off. Kotoko wasn't sure if staying here was going to be a good idea after she told them the truth.

"So, I'm guessing you want to know why Yuga looks a little similar to Naoki?" asked Kotoko as they all sat down.

"Yes, how can that be unless…" Mr. Irie started to say. His eyes got bigger when he looked at Kotoko's reaction. "Kotoko-chan, did you and Naoki…?" he could hardly finish his sentence, while his wife was on the edge of her seat.

"Yes," said Kotoko quietly, but clearly.

"Oh my goodness, Kotoko," said Mrs. Irie. She wanted to jump in joy that her oldest son and the young woman she considered to be a daughter had a child together, but there were so many questions to what happened and when it happened. "When did this happen?"

Kotoko took a deep breath as she told them what happened. "It happened after uncle came home and Sahoko left. I was about to head to bed after I washed the dishes when Naoki came back in. I told him that Kotoko really loved him, and wished him luck but then…"

As Kotoko told her story as to what happened that night, it felt like it was happening all over again.

"She really loves you, I hope you two will be happy," said Kotoko as she began to walk up the stairs. She was suddenly stopped when she felt something grabbed her hand. When she looked down Naoki was holding her hand with his face looking at the floor. "Naoki, what are you doing?"

"I wonder can I be happy, truly happy with her?" thought Naoki as his grip on her hand grew tighter. Kotoko had a slight hope for a moment that he might back out of the marriage agreement, but she knew though that wasn't it. Sahoko was everything she wasn't; she was a better cook she was intelligent and bright.

"Why wouldn't you be happy you're saving your father's company, and getting a very lovely woman who will make a great wife to you," Kotoko said looking away from him.

"That may be true, but then why don't I feel the happiest when she is by my side, or that my father's company will be saved.

Kotoko smiled a small smile, "Mr. 200 IQ can't figure this problem out?"

"Actually, I think I figured it out," said Naoki as he pulled Kotoko into his arms. "I think I can be happy with you because…"

"No," said Kotoko pushing him away. "You've made your decision and I know it's not me you want." Kotoko then felt a pair of lips on hers.

"I want to know what it feels like to be happy, with you," said Naoki looking into Kotoko's eyes.

That night they spent together making each other happy, and loved. But the next morning Kotoko found out that they had planned the engagement ceremony,for Naoki and Sahoko. Heartbroken that even after they spent a night together that he still chose to be with Sahoko, she decided to leave not just the Irie home but Tokyo.

Shigeki, Mr. Irie, was astonished at what his own son did. The little boy in his house was his own grandson. He had about given up that his oldest son would give him any grandchildren, for the youngest he and his girlfriend Yoshimi had been talking about getting engaged at some point. He had come to believe that his son wasn't just keeping secrets about Kotoko's life.

Noriko, even though she was happy that she was the grandmother to one of Kotoko's children, she couldn't believe that her son chose another woman over the woman he had confessed too. She had never been more disappointed in her son, other than the day he got married to the wrong woman.

"Yuga, is, Naoki's…" Kotoko had not said this in so long, "son."

Before anyone of them could say anything else Naoki and Yuki came crashing down to the floor.

"Uncle Yuki are you okay?" said Yuga running into the room. Yuga then noticed the man that his uncle had landed on, he looked just like him almost. Naoki when he sat up, after throwing his brother off, noticed the younger boy.

He had overheard Kotoko talking to his parents, but before he could go into the room Yuki had tried to stop him. He was struggling to get away from his brother when he heard Kotoko confess on who her son's father was. Both brothers were frozen until Naoki made one more last attempt to get away from his brother. When Yuki noticed his brother once again try to get away again, both of them crashed through the door.

Now here was Naoki and Yuga staring at each other for the first time. Both turned away when they heard a thud.

"Kotoko/mom."